A surprisingly Ohio oriented Writer's Almanac, (for July 17) including a nice, twisty poem about a nearby local.
After going through some nut-worrying over the JK Rowling outing and a little about a new book, Niall Alexander gets to the point I wanted to share, gender representation in submissions to Tor UK.
Some vampire graves unearthed in Poland. Also with a nice quip that basically being a pagan (and using herbs and traditional lore) was enough to get one labeled a vampire. (Grokked from Vince)
North Sentinel Island in the Sea of Bengal. I suspect they're hiding the aliens and it's all just a clever rouse. Plus, so many Story Bones in there (a planet that behaves the same way, "lost island" type stories, and the "what does it look like form the inside). (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"There are people who are pointing out that… Sharknado is trash, crowding out worthwhile films while pandering to the masses… Oddly enough, these people do not point out that there’s no scientific basis for Gregor Samsa turning into a cockroach. That’s because Gregor is throwing the kind of party they like, while Fin is dissecting a shark with a chainsaw." Jennifer Crusie with about the best deconstruction of the event known as Sharknado. Full disclosure, I also have no intent to watch that movie, and it just brings up all sorts of permutations for SYFY "jumping the shark." But, as she states, if life gives you sharks, write Sharknado. Bread and circuses, people. That's what sells. Also good for the comments about "committing" to the art and how that changes everything.
And… "Oh look, a Sharknado!" Actually, waterspouts have been known to drop fish miles inland. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Tesla (cars) working on getting recharging down to 5 minutes. That would be cool (especially if it's just a software upgrade).
Random Michelle K begins to review her pedometers.
"Individuals buying health insurance on their own will see their premiums tumble next year in New York State as changes under the federal health care law take effect… State insurance regulators say they have approved rates for 2014 that are at least 50 percent lower on average than those currently available in New York. Beginning in October, individuals in New York City who now pay $1,000 a month or more for coverage will be able to shop for health insurance for as little as $308 monthly. With federal subsidies, the cost will be even lower." Huhn, same thing in California and Oregon. Why, it's like Obamacare actually does lower costs. Good thing we have, what, 40 some odd GOP "Repeal Obamacare" bills in the last 4 years. Otherwise we wouldn't know who wanted to make sure you were paying higher premiums. And how does it accomplish this amazing task? By "… competition and transparency in the marketplaces…", you know, like those free-market solutions rolled out by the GOP (which weren't more than "don't sue your doctor" bills) kept promising to do, but always seemed to fail to accomplish on the state level. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)
I guess Newt Gingrich believes the 38th time is a charm, or something. Why is this idiot still on TV (see other link about Crazy Uncle Pat as well)? Well, I guess they also kept renewing the Jersey Shore as well. It's appeals to about the same intellectual level.
"The Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican court that rules on the forgiveness of sins, has said that indulgences may be given to those who follow the 'rites and pious exercises' of the (the Pope's visit to Brazil) on television, radio and through social media… The Penitentiary said that Pope Francis' Twitter account, which has already gathered seven million followers, would be one such medium." Retweet if you want to absolve yourself. Or, if I retweet the Pope's message to all my followers, do I get even more indulgences/reduced Purgatory time? (Grokked from Saladin Ahmed)
"A Republican lawmaker in Utah outlined a proposal last week to abolish compulsory education in the state… 'Let’s let them choose it, let’s not force them to do it,' (State Sen. Aaron Osmond - R) said." There goes the baby with the bathwater. Plus, wait, what? :: points :: Hahahahaha.
Just in case you still think voter ID laws are about stopping "voter fraud", "When asked by a Pennsylvania cable news reporter earlier this week if the laws affected last year’s elections, Gleason responded: 'I think we had a better election. Think about this: we cut Obama by 5 percent… I think Voter ID helped a bit in that.'" When you can't win elections outright, you not only try to get your dwindling number of supporters to the polls, you try and keep the other person's supporters from being able to vote. (Grokked from Sarah Groslee)
Never argue with the man who buys ink by the barrel. This is the problem when all these media companies merge and lay off local staff. And it's not really fixed by the rise of the hyper-local freelance services that will sell to the formerly local news outlets.
Paranoia strikes deep, into your heart it will creep. Oh Crazy Uncle Pat and his minions. Again I'll say, who is it that's the Father of Lies? Apparently we have a worshipper in our midst. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
3 comments:
I am amusing the crap out of myself with these pedometers.
I mean really, I have CHARTS and EVERYTHING!
:)
You blog posts certainly make it seem like you're having fun. Plus, I've also been looking at pedometers and thinking about fitbit, but not if I then have to subscribe to a service. That's the purchase that keeps on costing you.
The thing the FitBit has going for it is the social aspect--you can see what everyone else is doing.
If you want a pedometer to set and track goals for yourself, I'd highly recommend the Omron. If it had an altimeter, I'd probably have gone back to it.
I like the Pulse so far, but it's early days yet. :)
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