When learning storytelling, it sometimes helps to study how it fails. In this case, when story goes missing in a video game. "And while reading Tolkien spinning a yarn about Gondor's mightiest accountant might've been amazing, being him (even with an amnesiac elf as a sidekick) is just not nearly as engaging as it should've been."
"How to treat a lady on the Internet." Yes, this. (Grokked from Cherie Priest)
You might remember that when Amazon announced their whole "drone delivery" program I mentioned a major problem with it. Namely, energy density and how what would be more likely is to drive into a neighborhood and have drones go the "last mile" as it were. That's exactly what UPS is looking at but for rural delivery routes (waves hi).
"A Big Sur bridge on Highway 1 is the latest victim of this season's brutal rainy season… The Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge has multiple cracks in one of its support columns and and has been closed to traffic since Feb. 15. Caltrans announced after a bridge inspection on Tuesday that the structure is beyond repair, and it will take six months or more to build a new one… The problem began when heavy rains in the region caused landslides below the bridge; an entire hillside is slumping and sheared off where the support column on the north end of the bridge is anchored." I'm sure it has nothing to do with our nationwide problem of crumbling infrastructure and is only about damage caused by the rains. (Grokked from Michele)
They keep denying it, but I'll say it again, Syria is to Putin's Russia as Spain was to Hitler's Germany.
Kansas, how's that "guns everywhere" philosophy going? "A bartender at Austins Bar and Grill said Adam Purinton used 'racial slurs' before he opened fire as patrons watched the University of Kansas-TCU basketball game on television." But the FBI isn't sure it's a hate crime, yet.
"A Northern California raid ostensibly targeting violent gang members triggered a dispute Thursday, with Santa Cruz’s police chief angrily accusing the Homeland Security Department of turning it into a secret immigration sweep." Trump, bringing America together, again. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"With congressional Republicans discussing proposals to replace the Affordable Care Act, public support for the 2010 health care law has reached its highest level on record… The new survey finds that when those who disapprove of the law are asked about what should happen to it now, more want GOP congressional leaders to focus their efforts on modifying the law than on getting rid of it. One-in-four adults want Republican leaders to modify the law, while 17% want them to get rid of it entirely." A Pew Research Center report. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
One of the conservative plan for bringing healthcare insurance to more people is to make it not really healthcare insurance. "There are some big hurdles, however. The Affordable Care Act requires that insurers who sell policies for individuals and small businesses cover at a minimum 10 'essential health benefits,' including hospitalization, prescription drugs and emergency care, in addition to maternity services. The law also requires that the scope of the services offered be equal to those typically provided in the coverage that businesses offer their employees." And that's considered "generous." You might remember people being upset that they couldn't buy "catastrophic" insurance (which really only protected you, or paid, if you were admitted to a hospital or had some life changing medical problem, and then it didn't cover much). Well, that's what the GOP wants to offer you again.
"An embattled White House terrorism advisor whose academic credentials have come under widespread fire telephoned one of his main critics at home Tuesday night and threatened legal action against him, Newsweek has learned." Sebastian Gorka doesn't like bad press. So glad we have the most stable personalities in charge. And then, after demanding and cajoling Rep. Smith to come to the White House to discuss the issue… "Late Wednesday, Gorka withdrew his invitation." Apparently Sebastian Gorka has never been exposed to the internet or politics before. Listening to the call (or at least until the audio cut out for me), Sebastian Gorka acts the consulate bully by saying, "Come over here and say that to my face" (that's basically his total point in the call), but then can't back it up. My guess is he also vanity surfs (waves hi). (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
But then Mr. Gorka works in this administration. "In recent decades we have as a society radically changed our collective attitude toward bullying and abuse of various kinds - the denigration, the demeaning and damaging of the weak by the strong. With respect to Trump, Mexico and his wall, our position as Americans is comparable to being bystanders to abuse. We're complicit if we don't at a minimum speak up because between nations, on a national level, this is assault. It is one party with greater power using that power over a weaker party with the specific aim of demeaning and denigrating, of theft." (Grokked from Teresa Nielsen Hayden)
Ah, it looks like dog-pile time. "When photographs recently emerged showing Sebastian Gorka, President Donald Trump’s high-profile deputy assistant, wearing a medal associated with the Nazi collaborationist regime that ruled Hungary during World War II, the controversial security strategist was unapologetic." Also pointed to for the echoes of American political rhetoric used in anti-Semitic circles in Hungry. It seems strange for Gorka, who by all accounts is a smart guy, very knowledgeable in politics and national security (coughs into hand), the he would associate unknowingly with these groups. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)
"Rep. Martha Blackburn (R-TN) doubled down on her claim that only one-third of people in attendance at a town hall on Tuesday were from her district." Even though the Mayor of the town took a poll at the beginning of the meeting and the overwhelming majority were from her district.
Many representatives have opted for private events and phone town-halls, they aren't doing much better.
"A purported cyberhack of the daughter of political consultant Paul Manafort suggests that he was the victim of a blackmail attempt while he was serving as Donald Trump’s presidential campaign chairman last summer." Ahh, yep. (Grokked from Michele)
"Today, Politico reports the House’s response: It will divert the resolution to the House Judiciary Committee, which will (almost certainly) vote on Tuesday along party lines to kill the inquiry" into Trump's ties to Russia and violations of the emoluments clause. And that's how Democracy dies and is the real end to the Schoolhouse Rock, "I'm just a bill" song. (Grokked from Paolo Bacigalupi)
Video of twenty-one things the President Trump says make a "bing" sound. Just because. (Grokked from John)
"Crowd at CPAC waving these little pro-Trump flags that look exactly like the Russian flag. Staffers quickly come around to confiscate them." Sweet mother of God, people. I know competency is too much to ask at this point, but could they at least hire someone who has lived in the world and had experiences other that within the echo chamber? (Grokked from Jim Wright)
Tweet of my heart: @DrSprankle If you think sex workers "sell their bodies," but coal miners do not, your view of labor is clouded by your moralistic view of sexuality. (Grokked from Ferrett Steinmetz)
(Ed. note: my eyes, posture, and wrists for graphic design; my back/feet and general health (infectious diseases/cancer from radiation exposure) for radiologic technology)
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