Chuck Wendig's 25 things you should know about creativity.
How far away are we from Skynet? New report concludes that 51% of website traffic is from non-human sources. (Pointed to by John)
Mysterious hog farm explosions stump scientists. How can you not read an article like that? Exploding hog farms! It's Animal Farm terrorists, that's what. Well, and to be fair, they know why and how the explosions occur, they just don't know what's changed that causing a new foam to form on the top of poo pits. Still, I blame the terrorists. Or the evolutionists. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
WTF, conservatives? Arizona moves forward with a bill that will allow employers to fire female employees for using their insurance to get birth control pills that will be used for actual birth control. Hey, Nanny-state assnards (hey, look, John, I used your word), just what in hell do you think you're doing? Just another example of when a conservative tells you their worried about government control over your lives, they're really worried that you'll let them do it. It's like the DUI driver that asked to be put in jail before they kill again. So, you have to have the pill covered by insurance (you know, it's still a good idea because it lowers your overall liability/rates), but fuck it all if you actually use it? (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
I mean, seriously, are conservatives auditioning for the roles of Blue Meanies?
Yep, I guess so. And they're coming out in cattle call numbers.
You know, I was going to make the statement about "Wasn't this supposed to be about jobs." Notice, everybody, no jobs bill but damn if there isn't a lot of social conservative bills on all the Republican controlled Legislature and Governor's Office agendas. And then I realized, "Hey, I'm trying to reboot my career into radiologic tech, of which ultrasound is one of the certifications. Will all these mandated ultra sounds (notice, these health care mandates are coming from the very people who supposedly oppose health care mandates), they're creating jobs for me!" Yeah, don't need the extra job prospects. Thanks.
Catherine Shaffer is wise in her disagreement with my position on free speech. Just in case you wanted to see the opposite argument. Also, more on the conservative hypocrisy regarding boycotts. (Grokked from Jay Lake). I say, "goose, meet gander."
Under which administration did we have the highest gas prices? Why, if you have any memory at all, it was the GW Bush administration. You know, the Presidency that has been excised from conservative memories because of it's long storied embarrassments and counter-orthodoxy positions. Like how deficits don't matter. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Alligator Quotient: Snapping at things higher than my heels.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Linkee-poo has a crummy job, it don't pay near enough
And I'm working like a dog at that job, so not a long one today.
Also, I'd like to mention that last night I happen on that last sign of spring. The spring peepers are up and singing. There were several spots on the commute home where they drown out the radio.
Cat Rambo waxes on transitions and Joe Abercrombie. Transitions are a tough one, and it's a skill that I think plenty of us can work on. And now I go to put Joe Abercrombie on my to read list.
The title of this article is "The Reproduction of Privilege". IT should be, "The Reinforcement of Privilege." I should feel lucky. I'm probably from the last generation of kids from low income families that could go to college on grants and scholarships. That's not to say I wasn't saddled with over $15,000 of debt by the time I graduated (it was nearly 3x as much for my wife). But it was doable at the time (I still wonder how I did it). And that doesn't include the debt my Mom incurred when she was able, but just the loan amounts. And I think our country is poorer because kids like I was don't have the same opportunities (not only from a gross-finance perspective, but as evidenced by my experience with the local school system, because they're told they shouldn't even try and aren't given the tools to make the attempt). (Grokked from Jay Lake)
John Scalzi on how movie profits works. Also note, this is how most entertainment products (music, books, etc) work (although to different percentages).
"A lot of these things are in his heart." Ricky's statements about Holland's euthanasia "program" gets challenged by a Dutch reporter, only to be stymied by the Santorum spokesperson constantly repeating talking points only tangentially related to the question. So, what does that make a "Christian" who has falsehoods in their heart? (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Ah, the fabled Reagan economy and recovery. Yeah, begin to see the hypocrisy? Hey, TPers, time to face reality. Who am I kidding, it's not about reality, is it. I mean, domestic oil production is significantly up under Obama's rules but the fringe-right likes to talk about how it's down.
Alligator Quotient: I'm draining the swamp while nobody is looking. That might help.
Also, I'd like to mention that last night I happen on that last sign of spring. The spring peepers are up and singing. There were several spots on the commute home where they drown out the radio.
Cat Rambo waxes on transitions and Joe Abercrombie. Transitions are a tough one, and it's a skill that I think plenty of us can work on. And now I go to put Joe Abercrombie on my to read list.
The title of this article is "The Reproduction of Privilege". IT should be, "The Reinforcement of Privilege." I should feel lucky. I'm probably from the last generation of kids from low income families that could go to college on grants and scholarships. That's not to say I wasn't saddled with over $15,000 of debt by the time I graduated (it was nearly 3x as much for my wife). But it was doable at the time (I still wonder how I did it). And that doesn't include the debt my Mom incurred when she was able, but just the loan amounts. And I think our country is poorer because kids like I was don't have the same opportunities (not only from a gross-finance perspective, but as evidenced by my experience with the local school system, because they're told they shouldn't even try and aren't given the tools to make the attempt). (Grokked from Jay Lake)
John Scalzi on how movie profits works. Also note, this is how most entertainment products (music, books, etc) work (although to different percentages).
"A lot of these things are in his heart." Ricky's statements about Holland's euthanasia "program" gets challenged by a Dutch reporter, only to be stymied by the Santorum spokesperson constantly repeating talking points only tangentially related to the question. So, what does that make a "Christian" who has falsehoods in their heart? (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Ah, the fabled Reagan economy and recovery. Yeah, begin to see the hypocrisy? Hey, TPers, time to face reality. Who am I kidding, it's not about reality, is it. I mean, domestic oil production is significantly up under Obama's rules but the fringe-right likes to talk about how it's down.
Alligator Quotient: I'm draining the swamp while nobody is looking. That might help.
You Daily Dose of Irony
PMO Scientist Pest Control, for when those pesky scientists are about to ruin your well thought out political stance with their objective research, data, and projections. It's funny, because it's true. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
There goes Tokyo, go, go Rush Limbaugh
This whole issue of censoring Rush Limbaugh has gone way overboard. (Grokked from Jay Lake) First off, Limbaugh's speech is actually "commercial speech" (or it used to be before the Supreme Court decided that corporations were people endowed with every right as regular citizens, excepting the right to go to jail for violating the law, but I digress). This would be different if Rush was standing on a soap box at the local park spouting his poison at passersby. Instead, Rush is the head of a corporation, he is paid for his speech, and his speech sells products. That pretty much takes it out of regular "freedom of speech" categories and places it into "commercial speech." Fortunately for Rush, President Reagan helped push through a repeal of "truth in news" laws back in the 80s. If those were still in place, Rush wouldn't have a show (and neither would Fox News, but I digress again).
And even free speech has had it's limits. While everyone (okay, most people) know the infamous, "Can't yell fire in a crowded theater" argument, fewer people know that it's not just about panic but about incitement to riot, encouraging violation of laws (ask any civil rights leader about that one), and a few other categories. And we have plenty of things that we censor. Do you have a copy of the Anarchists Cookbook? Should you be allowed to send death threats or white powder through the mail? What about your right to tell a joke in line (just try to joke about a bomb in a TSA or Customs line - it's a felony)?
I don't think that the FCC should pull Clear Channel's license on the "public interest" argument (and this is frankly the first I've heard of that). However, I do believe it is our right to contact all those sponsors of Rush's show and let them know that because of their support, we won't buy their products or shop at their stores. That isn't censorship, that's the free market, baby. So I strongly disagree with the authors contention that this is morally wrong. Rush isn't being stopped from saying what he wants to say, we're just looking to remove his megaphone. There's a difference. Also, if you're a corporate sponsor, you are supporting that show. If we say, "I don't like these opinions and that reflects badly on you for supporting them," I don't see anything wrong about that. Suck it up, Buttercup.
I also disagree that it's wrong to stand up and refute someone's argument on stage. See, there's all those other people in the room and as we've seen at various conservative political events, those people also have the right to shout down the hecklers. All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good (people) to do nothing. And by not responding, if you sit there meekly on your hands, you're giving tacit approval to what is being said.
The radical right has coasted for too long on the left's willingness to be courteous and tolerant, while they have not reciprocated. How many people remember actual discourse before it was a shouting match? I do. The right no longer accepts that, and they shouldn't be given the courtesy. Eventually that "do unto others" gets turned into "as they have done unto you." So it's time to talk over them, as they do to us. It's time to not let them get away with three attacks and we only get to respond to one. It's time for our own GOPAC memo.
"Free speech means tolerating views that you despise." Bullshit. Free speech is I get to call you on being an idiot when you're being an idiot. Like I said, I'm against using the government arm to push Rush out of the public sphere. That is censorship that we shouldn't do. However, I'm not above using other means to remove the man's microphone. And that includes shouting him down, hitting him in his income stream, and exposing his lies. Free speech means knowing that people don't agree with you and have different opinions. I need to protect their ability to express those opinions. But nothing says I have to tolerate them. That is a false argument. In this case, we don't have free speech. Rush's radio show, his microphone, distorts the acceptance and prevalence of his views. The opposition voices start with a disadvantage. Rush's "free speech" drowns out other voices (just listen to how he handles callers who disagree with his opinions). Don't think that's true, just ask any stand-up comedian about hecklers. The person on the stage has the microphone, if you make it a "fair fight" the person with the microphone will always win out.
Conservatives in this argument like to throw out Bill Maher as an example. As someone said, "like a b-rated comedian on a c-rated show is a comparison for Rush Limbaugh's presence in the market place." Jon Stewart would be a closer comparison. But, hey, conservatives, pony up to the bar. You've actually have had Bill Maher thrown off the airwaves before. He keeps coming back, just as I expect Rush will too.
Jim Hines has a good primer on this (although he's specifically talking about his own blog - also this should not be taken as an endorsement by Jim Hines of the position I'm outlining here).
And finally, you want to see what censorship actually looks like? Here it is. (also grokked from Jay Lake) This isn't the first time Doonesbury comics have been taken off the comics pages. So, hear the conservatives shouting about this censorship? Nope, what you hear is them saying, "Ah, it was all well and good 'cause we wouldn't want to trouble anyone on the comics pages with reality and satire."
And even free speech has had it's limits. While everyone (okay, most people) know the infamous, "Can't yell fire in a crowded theater" argument, fewer people know that it's not just about panic but about incitement to riot, encouraging violation of laws (ask any civil rights leader about that one), and a few other categories. And we have plenty of things that we censor. Do you have a copy of the Anarchists Cookbook? Should you be allowed to send death threats or white powder through the mail? What about your right to tell a joke in line (just try to joke about a bomb in a TSA or Customs line - it's a felony)?
I don't think that the FCC should pull Clear Channel's license on the "public interest" argument (and this is frankly the first I've heard of that). However, I do believe it is our right to contact all those sponsors of Rush's show and let them know that because of their support, we won't buy their products or shop at their stores. That isn't censorship, that's the free market, baby. So I strongly disagree with the authors contention that this is morally wrong. Rush isn't being stopped from saying what he wants to say, we're just looking to remove his megaphone. There's a difference. Also, if you're a corporate sponsor, you are supporting that show. If we say, "I don't like these opinions and that reflects badly on you for supporting them," I don't see anything wrong about that. Suck it up, Buttercup.
I also disagree that it's wrong to stand up and refute someone's argument on stage. See, there's all those other people in the room and as we've seen at various conservative political events, those people also have the right to shout down the hecklers. All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good (people) to do nothing. And by not responding, if you sit there meekly on your hands, you're giving tacit approval to what is being said.
The radical right has coasted for too long on the left's willingness to be courteous and tolerant, while they have not reciprocated. How many people remember actual discourse before it was a shouting match? I do. The right no longer accepts that, and they shouldn't be given the courtesy. Eventually that "do unto others" gets turned into "as they have done unto you." So it's time to talk over them, as they do to us. It's time to not let them get away with three attacks and we only get to respond to one. It's time for our own GOPAC memo.
"Free speech means tolerating views that you despise." Bullshit. Free speech is I get to call you on being an idiot when you're being an idiot. Like I said, I'm against using the government arm to push Rush out of the public sphere. That is censorship that we shouldn't do. However, I'm not above using other means to remove the man's microphone. And that includes shouting him down, hitting him in his income stream, and exposing his lies. Free speech means knowing that people don't agree with you and have different opinions. I need to protect their ability to express those opinions. But nothing says I have to tolerate them. That is a false argument. In this case, we don't have free speech. Rush's radio show, his microphone, distorts the acceptance and prevalence of his views. The opposition voices start with a disadvantage. Rush's "free speech" drowns out other voices (just listen to how he handles callers who disagree with his opinions). Don't think that's true, just ask any stand-up comedian about hecklers. The person on the stage has the microphone, if you make it a "fair fight" the person with the microphone will always win out.
Conservatives in this argument like to throw out Bill Maher as an example. As someone said, "like a b-rated comedian on a c-rated show is a comparison for Rush Limbaugh's presence in the market place." Jon Stewart would be a closer comparison. But, hey, conservatives, pony up to the bar. You've actually have had Bill Maher thrown off the airwaves before. He keeps coming back, just as I expect Rush will too.
Jim Hines has a good primer on this (although he's specifically talking about his own blog - also this should not be taken as an endorsement by Jim Hines of the position I'm outlining here).
And finally, you want to see what censorship actually looks like? Here it is. (also grokked from Jay Lake) This isn't the first time Doonesbury comics have been taken off the comics pages. So, hear the conservatives shouting about this censorship? Nope, what you hear is them saying, "Ah, it was all well and good 'cause we wouldn't want to trouble anyone on the comics pages with reality and satire."
Linkee-poo is your one way ticket to midnight
Jim Van Pelt on one of the stories we tell ourselves. This time it's the "it has to be good, I worked very hard at it." I've had stories I've worked like a dog on, and they suck. In fact, I worked hard on them probably because I was trying to vacuum all the suck out of them. And then I failed. And then there's stories I've tossed off quickly that actually work quite well. And you know how they work quite well? Because I worked like a dog on all those stories that sucked. Working hard on something doesn't mean that thing will be good, but hopefully you will be better for having worked hard on it. (Grokked from Catherine Schaff-Stump)
The infographic on US manned space launches. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
The ACA is reducing Medicare costs? It's doing what it was designed to do instead of turning us all into socialist? Shocked, shocked I am… (Pointed to by Dan) But that doesn't mean conservatives won't try to continue to flog a dead horse. (Grokked from Jay Lake) You know, Romney is basically running out the lie that helped get a lot of conservatives elected in 2010. Then they realized they themselves, by voting for the Ryan Budget, were vulnerable on the exact same point. To which they tried to say, "we need a truce on the Medicare scare thing." Live by the sword…
Hacking the judicial system by insisting on our rights. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"We struggle with the right words to describe the design process at Apple, but it is very much about designing and prototyping and making. When you separate those, I think the final result suffers." That's Jonathon Ive on industrial design. And it pretty much mirrors what I feel about graphic design, you have to own the whole process. In this post-computer design world, a designer needs to understand the whole process from branding, concept, production, and ink on paper or pixels on a screen. Mostly because in most houses, one person does the whole chain of what used to be four or five people's jobs. And it always astonishes me when I meet designers who don't understand this. How many times have I heard a designer lament that they just can't find a reliable printer that can make their designs work? Enough that I'm tired of hearing it. And it's typically because the designer has created an impossible design (ranges from "if all your lines are hairlines, chances are it's not going to work" to "color doesn't work that way on a subtractive media"). "…but one of the things that really irritates me in products is when I’m aware of designers wagging their tails in my face." Oh, yes. I so hear that. (Pointed to by John)
An NPR story on the pharmacology of phytochemicals (although they don't call them that). "(Sheila West's) study found that a spicy meal helps cut levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in the blood — even when the meal is rich in oily sauces and high in fat… It's good news for those of us who love a rich curry made with lots of turmeric or bold amounts of garlic and oregano. During the study, they used a blend that included these spices, as well as paprika, rosemary and ginger." Look, someone's actually doing the research on what people have known since before Marco Polo went in search of new spices in the Orient. Now, those people didn't know how they worked, or on what principles they functioned, but they new these things made them feel better and live longer. Of course part of the research is to find the exact part of these spices that work (because spices in and of themselves are not patentable). I know people look at me weird when I try to explain how food is a drug, but maybe this will make it easier.
"Everybody is so busy telling us how we should act in the bedroom, they’re letting the country fall through the cracks," said Fran Kelley… who voted for Senator John McCain over Mr. Obama in the 2008 election. Of the Republican candidates this year, she added, "They’re nothing but hatemongers trying to control everyone, saying, 'Live as I live.'" Hi, welcome to the social-conservative agenda for America, you can pick up your American Burka at department stores now. And as you can see in all the states that went to GOP controlled Governors and Legislatures, the social issues are more important than the economic issues. Now as long as the economy continues to improve (did I mention the revising of the jobs created figures and the growth of the GDP for the past few months?) the conservatives will have to fight on their social agenda. They do have another arrow in their quiver, but I'm not going to help them by reminding them of their own policy goals. "'I’m looking for a candidate that will be honest, that will come out and say, "Yes, I support women, I want you advanced and not trampled upon,"' said Ms. Stevens, 63… 'I want candidates to tell me, "I’m not overturning Roe v. Wade." It’s there. Leave it there.'" Dear Ms. Stevens, you may have missed that it's a plank of the party platform to overturn Roe v. Wade. They've been working hard at it since 1984. They're almost there. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"Right now, all (Obama and his campaign advisors) have to do is sit back as Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul claw each other for the right to oppose the president this fall." False. And this is the Democrats weakness. While Napoleon was correct in "never interrupt your opponent when they're making a mistake," there are three responses to seeing a house on fire. First is to do nothing and watch it burn. Next is to fight the fire and save what you can. The last option is to make sure the fire has enough oxygen to keep burning bright. Conservatives have been good at the last one, and Democrats need to learn. While in a fair fight you don't kick someone when they're down, politics is no longer a fair fight. At the very least we should be selling popcorn and drinks to all those people watching the fire. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Erich takes on The Lifespan of a Fact. When non-fiction crosses the line to "enhance" the truth.
From today's Writer's Almanac, it's the birthday of Janet Flanner, who said of all her journalism work she was more proud of her 1936 piece on Hitler. "…he says he regards liberalism as a form of tyranny, hatred and attack as part of man's civic virtues, and equality of men as immoral and against nature… His moods change often, his opinions never. Since the age of twenty, they have been mainly anti-Semitic, anti-Communist, anti-suffrage, and Pan-German. He has a fine library of six thousand volumes, yet he never reads; books would do him no good — his mind is made up." Just in case you believe the conservative canard that Fascism is a "liberal" thing. They are diametrically opposed.
Tweet of my heart: @ReadtheShorts: "The biggest thing separating people from their artistic ambitions is not a lack of talent. It's the lack of a DEADLINE." Chris Baty
Alligator Quotient: Eye to crocodile-teary eye.
The infographic on US manned space launches. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
The ACA is reducing Medicare costs? It's doing what it was designed to do instead of turning us all into socialist? Shocked, shocked I am… (Pointed to by Dan) But that doesn't mean conservatives won't try to continue to flog a dead horse. (Grokked from Jay Lake) You know, Romney is basically running out the lie that helped get a lot of conservatives elected in 2010. Then they realized they themselves, by voting for the Ryan Budget, were vulnerable on the exact same point. To which they tried to say, "we need a truce on the Medicare scare thing." Live by the sword…
Hacking the judicial system by insisting on our rights. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"We struggle with the right words to describe the design process at Apple, but it is very much about designing and prototyping and making. When you separate those, I think the final result suffers." That's Jonathon Ive on industrial design. And it pretty much mirrors what I feel about graphic design, you have to own the whole process. In this post-computer design world, a designer needs to understand the whole process from branding, concept, production, and ink on paper or pixels on a screen. Mostly because in most houses, one person does the whole chain of what used to be four or five people's jobs. And it always astonishes me when I meet designers who don't understand this. How many times have I heard a designer lament that they just can't find a reliable printer that can make their designs work? Enough that I'm tired of hearing it. And it's typically because the designer has created an impossible design (ranges from "if all your lines are hairlines, chances are it's not going to work" to "color doesn't work that way on a subtractive media"). "…but one of the things that really irritates me in products is when I’m aware of designers wagging their tails in my face." Oh, yes. I so hear that. (Pointed to by John)
An NPR story on the pharmacology of phytochemicals (although they don't call them that). "(Sheila West's) study found that a spicy meal helps cut levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in the blood — even when the meal is rich in oily sauces and high in fat… It's good news for those of us who love a rich curry made with lots of turmeric or bold amounts of garlic and oregano. During the study, they used a blend that included these spices, as well as paprika, rosemary and ginger." Look, someone's actually doing the research on what people have known since before Marco Polo went in search of new spices in the Orient. Now, those people didn't know how they worked, or on what principles they functioned, but they new these things made them feel better and live longer. Of course part of the research is to find the exact part of these spices that work (because spices in and of themselves are not patentable). I know people look at me weird when I try to explain how food is a drug, but maybe this will make it easier.
"Everybody is so busy telling us how we should act in the bedroom, they’re letting the country fall through the cracks," said Fran Kelley… who voted for Senator John McCain over Mr. Obama in the 2008 election. Of the Republican candidates this year, she added, "They’re nothing but hatemongers trying to control everyone, saying, 'Live as I live.'" Hi, welcome to the social-conservative agenda for America, you can pick up your American Burka at department stores now. And as you can see in all the states that went to GOP controlled Governors and Legislatures, the social issues are more important than the economic issues. Now as long as the economy continues to improve (did I mention the revising of the jobs created figures and the growth of the GDP for the past few months?) the conservatives will have to fight on their social agenda. They do have another arrow in their quiver, but I'm not going to help them by reminding them of their own policy goals. "'I’m looking for a candidate that will be honest, that will come out and say, "Yes, I support women, I want you advanced and not trampled upon,"' said Ms. Stevens, 63… 'I want candidates to tell me, "I’m not overturning Roe v. Wade." It’s there. Leave it there.'" Dear Ms. Stevens, you may have missed that it's a plank of the party platform to overturn Roe v. Wade. They've been working hard at it since 1984. They're almost there. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"Right now, all (Obama and his campaign advisors) have to do is sit back as Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, and Ron Paul claw each other for the right to oppose the president this fall." False. And this is the Democrats weakness. While Napoleon was correct in "never interrupt your opponent when they're making a mistake," there are three responses to seeing a house on fire. First is to do nothing and watch it burn. Next is to fight the fire and save what you can. The last option is to make sure the fire has enough oxygen to keep burning bright. Conservatives have been good at the last one, and Democrats need to learn. While in a fair fight you don't kick someone when they're down, politics is no longer a fair fight. At the very least we should be selling popcorn and drinks to all those people watching the fire. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Erich takes on The Lifespan of a Fact. When non-fiction crosses the line to "enhance" the truth.
From today's Writer's Almanac, it's the birthday of Janet Flanner, who said of all her journalism work she was more proud of her 1936 piece on Hitler. "…he says he regards liberalism as a form of tyranny, hatred and attack as part of man's civic virtues, and equality of men as immoral and against nature… His moods change often, his opinions never. Since the age of twenty, they have been mainly anti-Semitic, anti-Communist, anti-suffrage, and Pan-German. He has a fine library of six thousand volumes, yet he never reads; books would do him no good — his mind is made up." Just in case you believe the conservative canard that Fascism is a "liberal" thing. They are diametrically opposed.
Tweet of my heart: @ReadtheShorts: "The biggest thing separating people from their artistic ambitions is not a lack of talent. It's the lack of a DEADLINE." Chris Baty
Alligator Quotient: Eye to crocodile-teary eye.
Sure signs of spring
Now that the political signs have bloomed and withered in the great state of Ohio, the other signs of spring have returned. For the past two weeks the hawks have been passing through. I've seen Redtail, Marsh, and Sharps hawks on the wing and perched by the roadside waiting for someone to hit their dinner. The redwing blackbirds have also been back for a week or two, but yesterday I heard them start their electrical buzz of courting songs. And on Sunday I saw the first turkey vulture (aka buzzard to us in NE Ohio). This Sunday is when the buzzards return to Hinkley (or at least the pancake breakfast fundraisers for it).
I've been hearing robin song all winter long (robins don't migrate, but follow their food sources to the deep woods, since it wasn't so cold this year, they didn't move very far). And my grass didn't die back as hard (note to self, if somewhat dry this weekend, I should go out and rake the rest of the leaves off the lawn before they create dead spots).
This morning I noticed a lot of field have been disced already. There was water in the fallows, so I don't think they'll be planning right away, but the farmers are getting ready. Last year many of them couldn't get their crops in because of the rain. I suspect they'll put them in the first chance they get (and risk a freeze).
I haven't noticed any of the flowers popping out yet, but then I haven't looked very hard. And now that it's getting warmer it's time to start gearing up for the house improvement projects of this year. On deck is adding solar tubes to the living room ceiling (we don't have a southern facing window, so the main room is dark even in bright daylight, it's time to remedy that). I'll be putting in two 14" tubes and we'll see how much light that lets in. And I have to finish taking out the cement pad out back and put in the stone (ie. brick) patio. I'm also thinking of putting in crushed stone walkways to the composting heaps and the shed. I'm going to have to get a lot of stone delivered, might as well double the order and get those two projects out of the way and only pay one delivery charge.
So what's on your plate this Spring?
I've been hearing robin song all winter long (robins don't migrate, but follow their food sources to the deep woods, since it wasn't so cold this year, they didn't move very far). And my grass didn't die back as hard (note to self, if somewhat dry this weekend, I should go out and rake the rest of the leaves off the lawn before they create dead spots).
This morning I noticed a lot of field have been disced already. There was water in the fallows, so I don't think they'll be planning right away, but the farmers are getting ready. Last year many of them couldn't get their crops in because of the rain. I suspect they'll put them in the first chance they get (and risk a freeze).
I haven't noticed any of the flowers popping out yet, but then I haven't looked very hard. And now that it's getting warmer it's time to start gearing up for the house improvement projects of this year. On deck is adding solar tubes to the living room ceiling (we don't have a southern facing window, so the main room is dark even in bright daylight, it's time to remedy that). I'll be putting in two 14" tubes and we'll see how much light that lets in. And I have to finish taking out the cement pad out back and put in the stone (ie. brick) patio. I'm also thinking of putting in crushed stone walkways to the composting heaps and the shed. I'm going to have to get a lot of stone delivered, might as well double the order and get those two projects out of the way and only pay one delivery charge.
So what's on your plate this Spring?
Monday, March 12, 2012
Newt Gingrich Is Full of Crap
Okay, one of the things Newt is promising he'll do is bring gas down to $2.50 and make us less dependent on "foreign oil" (and here we'll continue to include Canadian imports, because we really can't quit the Canadians without making us more dependent on places like Venezuela, African West Coast countries, and the dreaded Middle-East). About every price fluctuation of $10 a barrel translates to $0.25 in gas prices. Light sweet oil is about $106 a barrel right now. Current average gas price is $3.80. Okay, so to get to $2.50 a gallon oil prices per barrel would need to be reduced by approximately $52. Sounds doable, right?
Wrong. That gives us a per barrel price of $54. To keep oil flowing from the Canadian Oil Sands the price per barrel needs to be above $70. Let's say they're making 15% profit at $70, that gives us a break even point of $59.50 a barrel to mine that oil (if they'll continue to pump the stuff for costs, anybody believe they'll do that?). Canada accounts for over 20% of all our imported oil (they are by far and away the largest single contributor to our imported oil).
All that "domestic oil" that people are salivating over? That's shale oil which costs even more to produce (notice not much is being made from shale oil). Deep sea oil drilling? Not really economical for below $60 a barrel (for what we're exploring now, all the cheeper oil is being produced). PRetty much all the new oil we're looking for in the US has a bottom base price of around $60 (median, some areas are as low as $30, some as high as $80 with most being on the upper end).
So, let's say Gringrich is actually able to wave his fairy wand and make gas $2.50 a gallon (let us not discuss the over control of the market that would be necessary here, and how antithetical that control is to conservatives). Domestic oil exploration ceases. Canadian oil imports dry up (which might be good for Canada who still imports much of their oil, oddly enough). And we'll be at the mercy of countries that actually do hate us.
So, still think Gingrich has great ideas? He's farting in the pews and everybody is thinking that someone delivered roses.
Unless we have a severe program for conservation, somehow make cars that get over 80mpg, or everybody stops driving and our economy crashes to the ground, we aren't going to see $2.50 gas anytime soon. If ever again.
And before anybody says, "but if we produce more domestically…", look, oil is sold on a world market. Doesn't matter where it's produced. The only difference is that we'll stop making other countries rich from our oil habit. At best we can hope for is $2.80 a gallon. And unless we stop speculators (which is the real reason oil prices are above $80 a barrel), we won't see that either. And does anybody believe that with the current political environment that we'll be able to reign in commodity speculators?
Wrong. That gives us a per barrel price of $54. To keep oil flowing from the Canadian Oil Sands the price per barrel needs to be above $70. Let's say they're making 15% profit at $70, that gives us a break even point of $59.50 a barrel to mine that oil (if they'll continue to pump the stuff for costs, anybody believe they'll do that?). Canada accounts for over 20% of all our imported oil (they are by far and away the largest single contributor to our imported oil).
All that "domestic oil" that people are salivating over? That's shale oil which costs even more to produce (notice not much is being made from shale oil). Deep sea oil drilling? Not really economical for below $60 a barrel (for what we're exploring now, all the cheeper oil is being produced). PRetty much all the new oil we're looking for in the US has a bottom base price of around $60 (median, some areas are as low as $30, some as high as $80 with most being on the upper end).
So, let's say Gringrich is actually able to wave his fairy wand and make gas $2.50 a gallon (let us not discuss the over control of the market that would be necessary here, and how antithetical that control is to conservatives). Domestic oil exploration ceases. Canadian oil imports dry up (which might be good for Canada who still imports much of their oil, oddly enough). And we'll be at the mercy of countries that actually do hate us.
So, still think Gingrich has great ideas? He's farting in the pews and everybody is thinking that someone delivered roses.
Unless we have a severe program for conservation, somehow make cars that get over 80mpg, or everybody stops driving and our economy crashes to the ground, we aren't going to see $2.50 gas anytime soon. If ever again.
And before anybody says, "but if we produce more domestically…", look, oil is sold on a world market. Doesn't matter where it's produced. The only difference is that we'll stop making other countries rich from our oil habit. At best we can hope for is $2.80 a gallon. And unless we stop speculators (which is the real reason oil prices are above $80 a barrel), we won't see that either. And does anybody believe that with the current political environment that we'll be able to reign in commodity speculators?
Linkee-poo, some get drunk on demon-rum and some get drunk on glory
Happy birthday to the Girl Scouts, fine purveyors of sugar-crack cookies since 1917.
Terri Windling shares several songs from some of my favorite performers (Alison Krauss and Sarah Jarosz, the last I'm just discovering). Also, they're good examples of why I love folk music, the full range from story, to jamming, to evocative. All we need is a train song and we'd be complete. Whenever I listen to good folk I want to write fairy stories steeped in deep mountain forest green and lit by blue moon light. "I buried my heart in a willow tree, you came along and gave it back to me." Fuck yeah. And now I really yearn to write a short that's been banging around my head for a few years based on "The Demon Lover."
And here is where I realize it's been months since I've listened to folk music. Time to rectify that omission. Time to feed the beast.
The Collected Cat Rambo. Congrats on that deal, Cat.
If you've been anywhere on the internets with past weekend, you can't miss the passing of Jean Giraud (aka Mobeius). If there is one person who is responsible for the look of SF post 2001, it's this man.
Jay Lake waxes rhapsodic about characters with backstory. Notice he's not saying you need to include all the backstory, but that older characters come with history and preconceptions. While younger characters also have those, if you look at the world, younger people are more flexible than older folks. Sometimes we have things so fixed in our minds because of our experience, it's hard to see around those boulders. The easiest way to get these in the story is to make oblique references (like the mission briefing in Return of the Jedi), but the better way is to show how those experiences shape the character and their response. Or, as I say at work, this ain't my first time to the rodeo.
Any advanced civilization is indistinguishable from nature. It's a take on Clarke's Law, and not one I agree with. While our future seems to turn on more biological integration, I wouldn't say everyone would make the same choice (hell, even we are having a discussion, in a sideways manner, about that direction - note the political consternation over biotech, greenhouse emissions, stem cell research, medical advancements). (Grokked from Tor.com)
Vince brings to us examples of why being on Facebook may not be a good idea, especially if you're a douchebag.
I doubt it'll actually change much, or that Cuccinelli will actually be hurt by it, but the VA Supreme Court has finally shut down his witch hunt against Dr. Mann. It always amazes me that the people who scream the loudest about government waste and frivolous lawsuits are typically the very ones who waste government resources and file frivolous (and groundless) lawsuits. It's like the alcoholic who decries the availability of alcohol at the corner bar and then dares you to stop them before they drink again. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
Terri Windling shares several songs from some of my favorite performers (Alison Krauss and Sarah Jarosz, the last I'm just discovering). Also, they're good examples of why I love folk music, the full range from story, to jamming, to evocative. All we need is a train song and we'd be complete. Whenever I listen to good folk I want to write fairy stories steeped in deep mountain forest green and lit by blue moon light. "I buried my heart in a willow tree, you came along and gave it back to me." Fuck yeah. And now I really yearn to write a short that's been banging around my head for a few years based on "The Demon Lover."
And here is where I realize it's been months since I've listened to folk music. Time to rectify that omission. Time to feed the beast.
The Collected Cat Rambo. Congrats on that deal, Cat.
If you've been anywhere on the internets with past weekend, you can't miss the passing of Jean Giraud (aka Mobeius). If there is one person who is responsible for the look of SF post 2001, it's this man.
Jay Lake waxes rhapsodic about characters with backstory. Notice he's not saying you need to include all the backstory, but that older characters come with history and preconceptions. While younger characters also have those, if you look at the world, younger people are more flexible than older folks. Sometimes we have things so fixed in our minds because of our experience, it's hard to see around those boulders. The easiest way to get these in the story is to make oblique references (like the mission briefing in Return of the Jedi), but the better way is to show how those experiences shape the character and their response. Or, as I say at work, this ain't my first time to the rodeo.
Any advanced civilization is indistinguishable from nature. It's a take on Clarke's Law, and not one I agree with. While our future seems to turn on more biological integration, I wouldn't say everyone would make the same choice (hell, even we are having a discussion, in a sideways manner, about that direction - note the political consternation over biotech, greenhouse emissions, stem cell research, medical advancements). (Grokked from Tor.com)
Vince brings to us examples of why being on Facebook may not be a good idea, especially if you're a douchebag.
I doubt it'll actually change much, or that Cuccinelli will actually be hurt by it, but the VA Supreme Court has finally shut down his witch hunt against Dr. Mann. It always amazes me that the people who scream the loudest about government waste and frivolous lawsuits are typically the very ones who waste government resources and file frivolous (and groundless) lawsuits. It's like the alcoholic who decries the availability of alcohol at the corner bar and then dares you to stop them before they drink again. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Linkee-poo skates through a Sunday
Robots being put to good use. Like getting close to predators feasting on their prey. Now this is a robotics technology I can get behind. (Grokked from phiala)
Oh, God says global warming is a hoax. Okay, great. Glad we have that settled now. But wait, considering God also told Bachmann and Perry to run for President, I'm not all that unsure that God isn't an unreliable narrator who is just fucking with us. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Unions take a hard look at their strategy. Just in case you thought that Obama was giving everything to labor or that labor was doing all those horrible things the republican governors said they were doing. Part of the ongoing fight in labor about where to focus our resouces. (Grokked from thc1972)
In what comes as no news to those of us who live by the lakes, Great Lakes ice coverage falls 71% over 40 years (and that's not including this past year where I don't think Lake Erie, the shallowest of the lakes, failed to closed at all). So is that a bad thing? Only if you like to swim, want to avoid toxins in your fish, and just wait until you see the annual invasion of the Canadian Air Force this year. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
How bad is the US private insurance system? It's so bad people are upset their own countries may be about to imitate it. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Oh, God says global warming is a hoax. Okay, great. Glad we have that settled now. But wait, considering God also told Bachmann and Perry to run for President, I'm not all that unsure that God isn't an unreliable narrator who is just fucking with us. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Unions take a hard look at their strategy. Just in case you thought that Obama was giving everything to labor or that labor was doing all those horrible things the republican governors said they were doing. Part of the ongoing fight in labor about where to focus our resouces. (Grokked from thc1972)
In what comes as no news to those of us who live by the lakes, Great Lakes ice coverage falls 71% over 40 years (and that's not including this past year where I don't think Lake Erie, the shallowest of the lakes, failed to closed at all). So is that a bad thing? Only if you like to swim, want to avoid toxins in your fish, and just wait until you see the annual invasion of the Canadian Air Force this year. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
How bad is the US private insurance system? It's so bad people are upset their own countries may be about to imitate it. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Outing
Yesterday was a beautiful day. So we spent it outside. Where did I go?
The Cleveland Aquarium. After hearing about how Clevelanders wouldn't support an an aquarium. It was one of the reasons why they pulled Sea World out of Aurora. So, imagine my surprise when it was an hour wait to buy tickets.
And then we went to the West Side Market. Just for kicks.
The Cleveland Aquarium. After hearing about how Clevelanders wouldn't support an an aquarium. It was one of the reasons why they pulled Sea World out of Aurora. So, imagine my surprise when it was an hour wait to buy tickets.
And then we went to the West Side Market. Just for kicks.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Linkee-poo out and about
Spent the day outside and not on the internets. Hopefully will have pictures tomorrow.
Todd Wheeler goes the self-publishing route with Mad Endeavor Books. Good luck, Todd.
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, it's fairy tale on fairy tale action. Or at least the battle of Snow White Retelling Trailers. I'll agree with most of what the reviewer is saying about these, however I've also seen "Snow White and the Huntsman" before. At least if I mix several movies together. And the T2 mirror? Puh-leaze. Look, mirrors are magic doors. No need to "spice it up." Also, the exploding into fractals, yeah, seen it. But wait, Julia Roberts is the old witch/fairy? Sigh. Watched her career all the way through maiden, matron, and now crone.
Well, so much for "personalized medicine" being the cancer killer. Now, it works for some cancer, but like all cancer therapies, doesn't translate well to other cancers (or even cancer patients). (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Sometimes I really hate my profession. While it's probably not much worse than having booth babes sell your merchandise, putting QR codes on their butts feels like a line has been crossed somewhere.
On the politicization and misinterpretation of science. At least as to how it relates to the Gulf Oil Spill. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
And in the latest whackaloon aspect of this campaign, apparently federal lands and national parks are on the chopping block. Holy crap. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Todd Wheeler goes the self-publishing route with Mad Endeavor Books. Good luck, Todd.
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, it's fairy tale on fairy tale action. Or at least the battle of Snow White Retelling Trailers. I'll agree with most of what the reviewer is saying about these, however I've also seen "Snow White and the Huntsman" before. At least if I mix several movies together. And the T2 mirror? Puh-leaze. Look, mirrors are magic doors. No need to "spice it up." Also, the exploding into fractals, yeah, seen it. But wait, Julia Roberts is the old witch/fairy? Sigh. Watched her career all the way through maiden, matron, and now crone.
Well, so much for "personalized medicine" being the cancer killer. Now, it works for some cancer, but like all cancer therapies, doesn't translate well to other cancers (or even cancer patients). (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Sometimes I really hate my profession. While it's probably not much worse than having booth babes sell your merchandise, putting QR codes on their butts feels like a line has been crossed somewhere.
On the politicization and misinterpretation of science. At least as to how it relates to the Gulf Oil Spill. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
And in the latest whackaloon aspect of this campaign, apparently federal lands and national parks are on the chopping block. Holy crap. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
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