I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Linkee-poo knows you wouldn't believe the most amazing things that can come from some terrible lies

Todd Wheeler's 2012 summer reading program has closed. Janiece's summer reading program is still open. So get those titles in soon.

They probably won't ship in time to qualify for Janiece's summer program, but Subterranean Press is offering 50% off forthcoming books (and a handful of in print books). There's a lot of addendum, please read that page. However, Subterranean Press makes gorgeous books. They're just like I remember books when I was young. The printing, binding, and paper (including deckle edges - I'm pretty sure The Sky that Wraps has deckle edges, at least it does in my mind's eye) are exquisite. It is one of my writing goals to have one of my books reprinted by them. (Grokked from John Scalzi)

Yesterday was HP Lovecraft's birthday. Irene Gallo did a post on the call of Lovecraft. I think visual artists are drawn to Lovecraft because of his poetic descriptions (and non-descriptions) that fire the imagination.

"'Ninja just don't fit in the modern day,' (Kawakami, the 21st head of the Ban clan) said. The "last ninja" calls himself the end of the line. (Grokked from Morgan J. Locke)

Telepresence robots are getting cheaper. In this case, the platform builds off of iPads. Still not sure if it'll catch on, at least not for the reasons and groups shown in the demo video. Although, at this price point, it could be offered as a rental device to visit other places. However, I'm not sure it's a better substitute than a good website. (Pointed to by Dan)

"So when the Bloomberg Revisionists attempt to convince us that Iceland's strong (and real) economic recovery was a 'surprise'; this could only be true if none of our governments, none of the bankers and none of the media's precious 'experts' understood the most-elementary principles of arithmetic and economics. Is this the message the media wants to convey?" An interesting "independent" opinion article on "The Street" regarding the crazy around "austerity" vs letting the people at fault for the economic crisis suffer the consequences (hint, "austerity" doesn't work until after the recovery is well entrenched). (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Think that opinion is a little over the top? Well, the UK is coming to the realization that austerity doesn't work. That only took three years. Say, what's the Republican Plan for the economy if Romney/Ryan get elected? Oh yeah. "Osborne is now in a real hole. He is under mounting pressure to come up with a Plan B to boost growth, but is reluctant to do a U-turn, both because it would be an admission of failure and because he is worried that the financial markets would freak out. Yet, it is becoming harder and harder for supporters of the government to argue that the strategy is working." I guess they don't get Fox News in the UK. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)

2. Ryan keeps attacking Pr(e)sident Obama’s stimulus program now. But in 2002 when then President George W. Bush proposed stimulus spending, Ryan supported it. 'What we’re trying to accomplish today with the passage of this third stimulus package is to create jobs and help the unemployed,' Ryan told MSNBC in 2002. You know, as did most conservatives. Because, if nothing else, conservatives are principled in their consistency (money for us, none for you). (Grokked from Jay Lake)

It sounds like an Onion article without the cultural satire, but a powder made from pig's bladders helps regrown tissue. While the article also claims "limbs" in the title, it just appears to be very small scale effects and is mostly for regenerating tissue. So I did some quick googling, here's a CBS article from 2009 and one from boing boing. Note that everybody is quoting the same case (which gives me pause). Of course, some charlatans have already gotten into the mix (no, I don't suggest you but any, and especially not from this outfit). I'll wait until I see the press release from the military doctors. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

"Though she was initially upset following the brutal sexual assault last month that left her pregnant, victim Martha Byars told reporters she was relieved Sunday to learn from Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) that her ability to conceive her unwanted child proves she was not, in fact, legitimately raped." Sometimes it takes the jester (in the form of the Onion) to point out the absurdity of people's positions. (Grokked from Eric)

@AndrewKirell: FUN FACTS: Total mentions, thus far, of Todd Akin on the cable networks. MSNBC 53, CNN 20, Fox News 1

"It would have been worthwhile for Ferguson to explain why Obama doesn't deserve re-election in this real world we actually live in. Instead, we got an exercise in Ferguson's specialty -- counterfactual history." The Atlantic factchecks Newsweek. Say, remember when reports had to be able to back up everything they said in their news pieces? Also, the article is a fairly good take down on the various myths being toss around as conservative talking points. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)

Good thing the whole Ohio early election brouhaha isn't about race. Cause that would be bad. Very bad indeed.

Given Romney's statement yesterday that the Obama campaign continues to deceive people, I'm sure they won't want you to read this list from Fred Clark showing their duplicity. Seriously conservatives, it's call projection. You can get therapy for it. People are openly calling the Romney Campaign the first "post-truth" campaign.

Alligator Quotient: I seriously hope the language on the Sears Parts Direct site about my order is boiler plate. Because 1-2 days to process, then 5-7 business days to deliver is NOT expedited in anybody's book.

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