Excerpts from the Locus interview with Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling.
"The quid pro quo for this arrangement is that the publishers would have to stop shafting libraries on e-books. It’s a win-win, because the libraries will just use that extra money to buy more e-books, and the publishers will get actionable market intelligence they can use to sell more e-books and writers will get a publishing ecosystem that is less dependent on a single, remorseless, giant retailer." Cory Doctorow on the ebook markets and how they can be improved. Of course he's arguing for mineable data that could be used by the major publishers to actually gain real intelligence into the book buying public. And while it may be my own ignorant view of the industry, but despite calls from several editors, the publishers don't seem to actually want this data, preferring to rely on their own judgements.
Just because. "At 65 million years old, this carnivore from the Cretaceous period dominated the course in a way we’ve never seen anyone or anything do it. The Tyrannosaurus rex surprised the audience at the Atlanta trials, making it WAY farther than most expected him to — especially because of his short arms." (Grokked from John)
"With the United States facing a daunting array of problems at home and abroad, leading historians courteously reminded the nation Thursday that when making tough choices, it never hurts to stop a moment, take a look at similar situations from the past, and then think about whether the decisions people made back then were good or bad." Never change, Onion. We love you just like this. (Grokked from Ferrett Steinmetz)
Ever wonder why some phone support isn't all that helpful (I should add here, for the times where the person on the other end actually knows how to help you instead of someone on technical support who isn't as skilled as you). Most hacks aren't done with code and network connections. Most hacks are social engineering. That is, the hacker calls (or goes in person) and convinces the help desk to give them information. For those of you older, this is known as hacking the wetware. For those of you even older, this is the conman's game. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)
You know how the GOP likes to say they're anti-regulation, pro-competition and "market forces"? Funny thing is that when push comes to shove, they're actually very pro-regulation and anti-competition. Like in Georgia. "The reason for the moratorium (on new drug-treatment centers), according to (Georgia) state Sen. Jeff Mullis, a Republican, is the state needs to figure out why so many opioid treatment programs have opened in Georgia." See, while doctors and programs there already need to go through Federal and State licensing and approvals, Georgia doesn't have a "need" certificate requirement. That is, to open a drug treatment program, you don't have to show "the need" for one. Note here, not all doctors can open such clinics (you have to have special certification from the FDA and most state physician oversight boards). But while most people involved in the epidemic are crying for more beds and more doctors to help treat addiction, the conservative lawmakers in Georgia now think they have way too many which is creating competition, but also bringing in people from other states who don't have enough clinics. And apparently actually helping people who have addictions isn't what conservatives want to do. As a part of the night thing I've seen way too many people who have tried to get into clinics like these only to be told to come back in a few years when they may have an opening.
The Hidden Brain podcast on the draw of terrorism and psychology that drive radicalization.
Hey, another thing we have in common with the mother country, England. Their citizens are just as badly misinformed about their own government spending and the benefits they receive being a part of the EU. Just like we don't know how much we spend on things like foreign aid and our own social safety net. (Grokked from Neil Gaiman)
Committing crimes while white. "This is how whiteness works. It provides protection… It provides instant redemption and unearned respect." (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)
In that vein, the judge who ruled in the Brock Turner case is removed from another sexual assault case by the prosecuting lawyers.
What makes America great? "After a mass shooting, the number of laws passed to loosen gun restrictions rose by 75 percent… in places where mass shootings lead to any legislative changes at all, it tends to be in the direction of guns becoming more easily available, like lowering the minimum age to buy a handgun to 18 from 21 or eliminating a waiting period for a gun purchase." If more guns were the solution, we'd all be safe by now. (Grokked from someone, sorry, lost the link)
"The US broadband industry has lost its lawsuit attempting to overturn the Federal Communications Commission's net neutrality rules and the related reclassification of Internet service providers as common carriers." And the villagers rejoiced. At least until the appeal is filed. (Grokked from John)
Metadata, it'll kick your ass every time. "But it appears that (NY Rep) Clarke and her staff didn’t write the letter (warning about solar industry bad practices and fear mongering about them abandoning customers); utility industry reps did. Grist has obtained the letter that Clarke’s office distributed to other members of Congress, and the metadata on the Microsoft Word document show it was created by Eric Grey, director of governmental relations at the Edison Electric Institute, the trade association representing investor-owned electric utility companies. The last person to save changes to the document was Vincent Barnes, a lobbyist for Gray Global Advisors, which has EEI as a client. The letter makes no reference to EEI’s role in its creation." (Grokked from Ferrett Steinmetz)
The Greensboro Trump Rally live tweeted (storified). Or what happens when the sane encounter the batshit crazy. Also why the Trump campaign keeps the press in their assigned areas. (Grokked form Chuck Wendig)
For a long time I've heard conservative talk about how they're a big tent with lost of disagreement and how Democrats vote "in lock-step" just down party lines. Well, here's an NPR report on how Trump is doing with Republican Women. Yeah, some of them know he's a trash fire, but they'll still vote for whomever has the R after their name. There are also other reasons, like the overly paranoid (it reminds me very much of the elderly in the 80s and 90s being afraid of kids because they might get attacked). Dear Democrats, this is the kind of mentality you need to breech. Unfortunately most of these women live in the GOP bubble/echosphere. Reaching them is going to be difficult, probably more so than convincing them to vote anything but Republican.
I've held the belief that there are organized teams of GOP sponsored trolls, but I know in my heart that there are way too many people willing to carry water for the GOP in order to curry favor thinking they'll be rewarded by daddy for bad/good behavior (hint: it never actually happens). But this is precious. "Ever feel like you’re arguing with a brick wall? Scores of Trump supporters have been doing something just like that—fighting with an automated Twitter robot that spouts nonsense." I for one welcome our spambot-troll slayers. (Grokked from Joe Hill)
Hey vets, who loves ya, baby? "Republican Donald Trump claimed American troops embezzled untold millions of dollars meant for rebuilding Iraq during wartime and are 'living very well' off those funds at a campaign event Tuesday night." Obviously not the Trumpster.
Tweet of my heart: @tnielsenhayden Going strictly by the record, Trump's "business genius" is the magic ability to turn five dollars into a buck and change.
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