Linkee-poo has been running the marathon

So, a few things this morning that make me realize that I need to finish the book soon. First up is the news that last year smart phone sales overtook computer sales (which they believe were cannibalized by tablet - aka iPad - sales). The second is this thing, the noteslate. It's an e-ink technology notepad. If they're able to keep their promises, this could be very big. Imagine no longer carrying around a notebook. With a little tweaking, say like displaying PDFs, while allowing you to write on top of them like smartboard technology can do with Office programs, this could be a monster. And at $99, it's a good price.

When I first read about e-ink (what was it, a decade ago?) I could see devices like this in the future. Imagine what will happen when they make this 1) higher resolution, 2) faster and more capable processor, and 3) network ready. Imagine a thin client/tablet machine you can unroll, access any web-based material, and do most computing functions. All on a screen technology that utilizes deep memory functions (as in deep in your brain, the same areas books use) and… well, it's fargin' incredible. It is a grail technology. Plus, a week long battery life.

And from Eric, because it's Valentine's Day, and it's the subject after the current test (in 2 or 3 weeks), a real Valentine. If you're going to give your heart to someone, then by gadtree, give your heart to someone. Although now I'm rerunning Neil Gaiman's Harlequin Valentine.

Here's another article on just how clueless people are about their government and reality. Those number are samples of people who receive federal assistance who don't know it's federal assistance. YOu may remember the old fogies on medicare fighting against government run health care during the Summer of 2009. I'll add to this the amazing word twisting that happened the other night at a meeting of council where members refused to believe that the earmark LaTourette put into the spending bill that would send $225,000 to Orwell for our stop light at the intersection to our school, industrial sites, and state highway was an earmark. So I'm approaching the same conclusion that Bill Clinton came to, that there is a major portion of our population that are living in an alternate reality.

Speaking of that alternative reality, now that the canonization is over, a little reality on what really was Reagan's legacy. (Grokked form Jay Lake)

Elizabeth Moon wades in on health care. And she isn't exactly the raging liberal either. How many more times does this kind of thing have to be said before people get it. I know, how many roads must a man walk down. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Say, here's another example of the language people were talking about after the Arizona shootings. "The (GOP) won big, slaying Nancy Pelosi, wounding Obama, picking up seats in historic numbers…". Oh yeah, almost forgot this one. Someone please show me where the liberals who have such high contacts, were directly involved in politics, and could have been working for a Congressman (if not the Congressman themselves) have said such things?

Aw, hell, it might be worth it to donate, just to keep the comedians in good material. Notice the persecution complex going on here, as well as the pleading for money. It reeks of those various online, "we need money" requests. But see, now I'm thinking of Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, and Christine O'Donnell touring the country as a political "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" type of event. Maybe they could get Sharon Angle to be the opener.

It's a little old, but we're heading back into that cycle again. The New Politics has brought the crazies out. Now that they're in the open, maybe we can see that we need state mental hospitals reopened. Oh, wait, that's exactly what these people are warning us about. Oh noes, the irony! (Grokked from Eric)

So, how's that lower taxes and business friendly atmosphere working out for you in Texas. I don't know if I posted about it before, Texas is having almost as much problem as California (relatively speaking). Yet, nothing in the MSM. Why? Because it doesn't fit the narrative. Your liberal media at work. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

And it's good to know that the conservatives in congress are all about creating jobs. Well, no, they're about reducing taxes and getting government out of they way of you and your doctor making medical decisions. Well, no, in fact they're not about any of those things. Okay, I guess they are about cutting your taxes (maybe), you know, unless your insurance covers abortions. Well, then, you're going to have to pay more in taxes. After the whole "forcible rape" thing, and this, and the attacks against Planned Parenthood, you're seeing the real agenda. It's all about social control and government just small enough to crawl in your bedroom window. Thanks TP, for helping the social conservatives gain control. You didn't want a nanny state? Well, welcome to the nanny state. Didn't want the government in your healthcare? Welcome to government in your healthcare. What's next, "Homes for Wayward Girls"?

Linkee-poo is watching the river and thinking of the sea

Design stasis as applied to rocket design and its persistence. As someone once said, "If we were to design a car now, nobody would go near the internal combustion engine." However, it's the tech we've had for nearly a century, and only the fact of $4+ gasoline in the near future has been enough to shock us into alternatives (witness the evolution of both electric cars and batteries, which have gone through several generations of evolution in the past decade). Lots of good Skiffy stuff in that article. Geopolitics, physics, costs, insurance (of all things) and a good dose of reality. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Tobias is selling signed copied of the hardcover Crystal Rain for a ridiculously low price. I've already got one, but maybe you don't.


Jim Hines jumps into the HCR debate with both feet. The money shot? "Basically, many of these countries with evil, scary, government-run health care appear to be kicking our ass when it comes to actually taking care of their people." Yes, that. For those people who fear "socialized medicine", I think you'd be more motivated to show how much better our system could be instead of supporting the overly costly, poor delivery system we have now. We have some of the best medicine available (although, that's not the forward trend, BTW, one example is SE Asia has become the health care tourism destination, when in the 80s and 90s it was the US), but only if you have the cash to afford it (even if you have insurance). Jim has lots of links and data to share.

Here's an article on some other Myths We Tell Ourselves™. It's about how we all want to cut the budget, but really can't agree what to cut. It's also about how we wildly overestimate some budget items, while wildly under estimate other budget items. I would go on a bender and talk about how we come to these conclusions given the debate over those items and intentional spinning of reality, and then tie that into our perceptions of wealth distribution and just say that as a society, we're basically clueless about the reality around us. And there are those who mean to keep it that way.

And, it's good to see the Dems in a progressive mode instead of wishy-washy at the edges. And I agree, we're at 3 bills up before the house, and not one on cutting the budget or about creating jobs. Glad to see the priorities of the conservatives haven't really changed. Just wish the people who voted for them would realize this. I just hope they figure out the sound-byte and keep repeating it, unlike the usually 20 point rebuttal (which are typically good, but nobody can remember).

Evening Tuberocity - And addendum

First test of A&P II class, endocrinology. For this one we only have the lecture test, and we only had one extra credit. My score? 98%. So I got 49 out of 51 questions correct.

And the thing is I know the two questions I got wrong. I initially marked the correct answer for them and then talked myself out of it.

So, still an A, but I have to work harder now to get back above 100%. And you know I need to do my best to get it there.

And I forgot to add, we just got an extra tax document. Seems that the benefit we're using to pay for some of the classes is taxable as income. Great. So, full tax, but with no withholdings. Guess we're going to be paying a good chunk in extra taxes this year.

But, hey, good thing we don't tax short-term capital gains at the full income bracket. 'Cause that would be bad and would be picking on those poor short term investors.

The boy who cried, "bullshit"

Here's something I expect to hear about, mostly on Fox News, as a part of the ongoing, "I'm the victim here!" tour of Sarah Palin.

The SKP Foundation cancelled an event featuring Sarah Palin giving their statement below (with my commentary in italics) on their Facebook page. Quoted here in an attempt to get the word out about the cancellation.

The Sharon K Pacheco Foundation (SKP Foundation) announced today the cancellation of the 2011 Patriots & Warriors Charity Gala, featuring former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, citing safety concerns resulting from an onslaught of negative feedback received by the organization after yesterday's announcement.
Wow, only one day and they received so much "negative feedback" they're canceling the whole event instead of replacing the keynote speaker. That's amazing they'd get so much feedback. Especially on a Friday. And so much so quickly you'd think 1) it was a very bad idea, or 2) there are people who have way too much free time.

"Due to an onslaught of personal attacks against Governor Palin and others associated with her appearance, it is with deep sadness and disappointment that, in the best interest of all, we cancel the event for safety concerns," says the Foundation's Director.
Uh, yeah, Bob. Hell, I'm surprised you could even get your board together for a meeting to cancel the event so fast. Unless they were all standing around doing nothing in the offices. Oh, I know, they were afraid to leave the building after announcing the event because of all the massive, negative feedback. There must have been Liberals in the streets, marching and chanting, I'm sure they were waving pitchforks and torches (we're a simple folk, we are).

He points out that no direct threats have been made against anyone, well, that's good, because if there were there would have to be a police report about it but the recent increase in negative rhetoric against the former Alaska governor "raises concern for her safety and the safety of others despite the call for civility in America," following the tragic Tucson shooting.
And this is where it kicks into, "I'm the victim here" that Sarah has been going with. Oh poor Sarah. If only all those nasty liberals would just let her be herself. Why, she'd be right as rain. And we'd be able to do all these good things. Oh, the humanity.

The organization deeply respects Sarah Palin, and appreciates her willingness to come and honor our military. She said yes, OMG, we can't believe she would be willing to be seen supporting military families and come to Colorado, a possible swing state in the next election (wait for it). It's almost like a win-win for her.

The organization plans to host the event at some point in the future, featuring another speaker.
We didn't have a backup plan, and obviously our fund raiser isn't that important. No, really, we just wanted Sarah, and now that those mean headed Liberals got all poppy pants about her coming, we'll, we're just not going to be able to help all those military families because we can't possibly go on with someone else. Oh, woe is us.

Because, you know, it has nothing to do with something so trivial as scheduling conflict. No. Can't be that. Poor Sarah. So vilified. It's a tragedy, it is. Poor victimized Sarah.

(This satire and parody brought to you by Sarah Bellum, when it's a good thought, it's a Sarah Bellum Production)

And everyday is the right day

Relistening to some Floyd thanks to Eric and his post. There are worse ways to start your day. So then I went to one of my favorite (and lesser known/played) albums (yes, damnit, albums, it's albums, get offa my lawn you kids) Meddle.

Meddle starts off with what is perhaps one my favorite "rock-out" tracks, "One of These Days."



And in an album (yes, damnit, album) full of great tracks like "San Tropez" and "A Pillow of Winds", my all time favorite is "Fearless". It always reminds me of what it means to be a creative.

Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd
Smiling.
Merciless the magistrate turns 'round
Frowning.
And who's the fool who wears the crown?
And go down, in your own way
And every day is the right day
And as you rise above the fear-lines in his brow
You look down, hearing the sound of the faces in the crowd.

That, friends, is shear genius. This song is about many things, but it's about not allowing small minded people to break you down, as they often try to do. It's about going forward and being yourself every single day. It's about facing the future, even against overwhelming odds, and daring to go beyond your comfort zone. And all the while knowing the crowd won't really appreciate what you've done. And not all hills you're meant to climb are physical mounds of earth.

You say the hill's too steep to climb.
Climb it.

What's so super about the Super Bowl

When I was a young the Super Bowl was in January and it was about the football. Now, because of cost of putting on the display, it's all about the corporate. People actually watch to see the commercials now, or to see the halftime show. And while there are still football fans who go to see the game, the stadium is filled with corporate guests and shakers. And now, quite frankly, the derivatives (Puppy Bowl, the interminable "best commercial" shows, and reviews of those commercials will take more news space than the game will) are more popular.

Things change, as they always do, but these past few years I've really had no desire to watch the Super Bowl. There's things I'm off doing instead (like the writing, or repurposing the baby monitor so my wife can hear the birds outside). It's no longer a "must see", and I guess I'm kinda sad about that. In fact, since the NFL let Modell move my beloved Browns (it was a love hate relationship, even from the beginning), I really haven't watched football all that much. When I was younger, that was what we had on the TV every Sunday in the Fall (and plenty of Monday nights as well). And while I do wish the Neo-Browns would get their act together, I don't find that I must watch them or pay attention.

People all around me (work, friends, even the Sam's Club receipt checker) seem to take joy form watching. I just can't get myself motivated to care. I think it's because, in general, and what was made perfectly clear by the NFL allowing Model to move the team, is that it's not about the football anymore. It's about the money.

There's also the subtalk about another work stoppage next year. Some of you probably don't remember the substitute year back in the 80s, when the teams hired substitute players while the regulars were on strike. Some how I don't even think that would get my interest in football again (because, while lots of people dissed the subs, they played like they meant it and gave it their all). And while I wish the player luck in their negotiations, I'd really rather see the breakup of the star system. But I doubt that will happen either.

So this afternoon, picture me with the Puppy Bowl on for background. And when people ask about the Super Bowl this week, that look on my face is "meh."

Linkee-poo keeps digging out

Still working. Well, mostly studying. I feel more prepared for this test now. So for right now, a short linkee-poo.

J. A. Pitts on doing the hard work (fitness and writing). So very true, if all you get is 15 words/reps, that's 15 more than you had yesterday. So get them down. This is a lesson I'm relearning. After trying in vain to find bigger blocks of time, I'm settling for smaller blocks. And trying to get as much as I can.

Thanks, Tea Party, for getting these kinds of people elected. Really, Rep. Buerkle didn't know that she only pays a (small) portion of her health care and the rest of us tax payers pick up the rest? Really? And lets not forget Andy Harris who wondered why his government provided health care didn't start immediately and why he couldn't buy into it, you know, after running a campaign based on fighting that exact same thing. I'm continually reminded of GHW Bush being wowed by check-out scanners when the rest of us had been dealing with them for years. I now have a new group of people, other than those you couples on HGTV who are buying their first house for $500k, that I wonder, just what they do that they don't know these things or can afford these houses. Really.

edited to add these late comers

This is just one of the reasons I feel the Right-to-Life movement is morally bankrupt. The RtL isn't about what you think it's about. This law would have changed the outcome of this story to be both the mother and the fetus would have died, instead of the rift within the Catholic Church. In this day and age, I really have a hard time believing we're still arguing this.

Hey, I like Apple, and have been debating an iPad since last fall, but this idea is ridiculous. I'm all for tech, but it's not there for replacing text books. See, not everybody learns the same way, but we've increased on modality (lecture/oral) over all others (like kinetics). And now we'll reduce the successful student to even a smaller subset. It's the equivalent of chasing a shrinking demographic. We should, instead, be expanding educational modalities to increase the pool of successful students.

Linkee-poo is trying to catch its breath with a butterfly net

Still trying to get back into a groove since before Confusion. Tired as all get out. Spent much extra time this week on freelance. Shifting to studying for this weekend (test originally on Wednesday that I was unprepared, I'm still unprepared for it's snow delay to Monday). Hopefully soon will be getting back to regular posts as well. Before I do, I will be back to writing (either new, or editing... thinking new for lunches, editing for home). Need to take hour lunches to help, instead of the half hour legally mandated (and often ignored).

An interesting new book on grammar. Super heros, grammar, what's not to like?

Rick lays out the guidelines for his new magazine. Steampunkery mystery and suspense. If that isn't a call for a new Sherlock re-envisioning, I don't know what is.

Michelle Argyle over at the Literary Lab on the lies you believe. I think the one writing panel I was on discussed this a little. Also, to fit with this post, "listen to all the advice, try it out (if you need to), discard what doesn't work." The hard part is figuring out what's hampering you and what's helping, at least at first. (Grokked form Jay Lake)

I have words for this, but none of them are nice (the death of Melissa Mia Hall from a preventable heart-attack, she didn't have insurance and felt she couldn't afford to go to the doctor, who probably could have diagnosed her in 5 minutes or less). There's some personal stories in here that I'm not sure I can share, but Melissa Hall isn't the only one who delays seeking treatment because of the consequences (often ending up in a more expensive therapy track, which is then put on the tax and insurance payers to carry the bill). But, hey, we have the best system out there, don't we? You know, except for living in fear of losing everything because you had the temerity to be sick. (grokked from Jim Hines)

Absurd Overheard. I've had those moments.

Hi Contrast blog, a look at an exercise every designer should be able to do with their own logo solutions. I can't tell you how many times I've encountered logos that would fail this simple test. Really, Corporate ID 101 here, folks.

And some damn nice type.

And a little on point source generation. Expect to see more of these things.

What music videos should be like. (and what they were like once upon a time) Get offa my lawn!

A SF take on political rhetoric. This could be meta in many different ways lately. Including the "bipartisan" aka "do it our way and nobody gets hurt" bs that's going around. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

Linkee-poo is going to Wichita, far from this opera for evermore

Jill Corcoran on researching agents (with lots o' links). Yes, I'll be needing this sooner than later (I certainly hope). And on that thought, something to avoid. Yog's Law, "Money flows toward the author." (both links grokked from Absolute Write, retreated by several friends)

When people talk to me about cameras I state my preference for having full control over the beasties. Not that I need it for everything, but I would certainly like as much control over my next camera as I did over my beloved (and dearly departed) Minolta T250. When they ask why I would want such things (long shutter speeds, full control over aperture, focal length, etc), I can now point to this. Yeah. That's why. Because I miss creating images like that. (And, yep, I know, the rig I really want will run me about $1k, they're coming down in price, but I'm still a cheap bastard)

The political stuff. While I'm concerned over what will happen with Egypt in the future, I'm not certifiably paranoid over it. Didn't we learn the lesson in Afghanistan that the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend? Apparently not. I guess not all conservatives are tone deaf. I'd be happier if I didn't get the feeling the removal of the "forceable rape" language was just a "we'll do it later, when nobody is looking" thing. And history and race relations have never been his strong point. Bu then, when has reality ever trumped talking points?

Damn socialists.

Linkee-poo feels fooled again

Classes cancelled for tonight, which is good. I wasn't ready for the test. Not ready at all. Do give you a hint of how much I've been running and been busy, the "not read yet" list of the regular blogs I read is approaching 100 again.

Because I'm a total geek, things like this and this totally get me geared. Those are two self-funded, low-tech space launches (using balloons to get to the middle stratosphere). Of course, it's only cameras going up, but still damn cool. Somehow I feel like this will be the "egg drop" experiment (can you drop and egg from two stories up, onto concrete, and have it survive using only 45 straws and a role of tape) of the future. Really. Want. To. Do. This! (pointed out by Dan, both times, because I'm sure he's going to do it).

Thinking geeky, how to do your own SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Brad Torgersen on on how writers don't quit. Having gone through this argument with myself over the past three months, yes. And Stacia Kane on the language of sex (writing sex scenes). Not work safe (no pictures though). Must read this when home. (both grokked from Miranda Suri)

In case it ever gets down to a your wackaloons are wackier than our wackaloons argument. Speaking of such, really (birther bills in CT and AZ), really (Huntsman shows some sense, and misses the point)? Well, we still have the high ground on duplicity. It's these kinds of things that make this satire possible. If only for the humor factor I would be secretly pushing the conservatives to greater heights. Unfortunately it may not be an asteroid that's coming for us, but their vision is just as devastating in the long run.

It's all fun and games until someone pokes an eye out. (moment by moment courage of Egypt's turn for the worse)

Heinous Fuckery

To all my "free-market" friends who like to go on about how companies are really good at heart and wouldn't ever hurt or take advantage of their employees or customers because that would just be wrong for business, I submit this for entry into the record.


And this is a lot more prevalent these days. This wasn't the only flyer offering "real world experience" for no pay on that board, but it was the one that got me. Also, notice that these postings have to be "approved" before going up (and really, why didn't the approval people catch this).

Say, isn't there a law forbidding unpaid internships? Why, yes there is. I believe this position fails on all 6 of the criteria. Fuckers.

Linkee-poo in the morning sunshine on this day of Ice-apocalypse

Tobias points out some food for thought regarding passenger rail systems. With some "just were does your tax money go." And to reiterate the point, I'd like to thank the taxpayers of Ohio for generously helping us repave 3 roads this coming summer. Trust me, they need it.

The ever delightful Catherine Schaffer talks about the perils of the writer being successful too soon. As I commented there, "Whew, dodged that bullet."

BIll O'Reilly on magical thinking. Okay, well, it's Bill O'Reilly giving a prime example of magical thinking, the God of the Gaps, being taken to school by Phil Plait. Not that Bill will actually notice. It's becoming a hallmark of the conservative movement to go beyond the "Know Nothings" and indulge in willful ignorance (IMHO) to maintain their world view. There's nothing like reality to either give one an object lesson in a low coefficient of friction (a lesson many people across the great white north are relearning today) or have the leopard take a hunk out of your haunches. Understand this isn't an argument against religion (of which, I'm sure, the full-on spin master O'Reilly will portray it as), it's about viewing the world as it is, not as we wish it to be. Bill is being willfully ignorant to maintain his world view. I'm willing to give anybody the benefit of the doubt when it comes to personal belief, but when it goes to this level, it's something else. (Grokked from Jay Lake)

But then it also helps when you forget forceable relocation of the Indians to "Indian Territory". Or that you've committed the same infraction you blame others for in a massive campaign to redefine yourself and you forget you have a past that is all too google-able.

Dudes, about the kool-aid, just say, "No."