Not sure this is exactly holiday music, but I'm always reminded of the holidays when I hear it. Here is Steeleye Span's The King.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Thursday, December 12, 2013
The Treachery of Images
Of relevance to the day thing, it was time to revamp this classic.
Also
Ceci n'est pas une author.
Also
Ceci n'est pas une author.
Holiday Playlist - Mr. Grinch
Slaid Cleaves, Mr. Grinch. Besides the original sung by Thurl Ravenscroft, this is probably my favorite cover.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Linkee-poo is almost done with Fall Semester
Mary Robinette Kowal's debut author series.
Andrew Stanton's how to tell a great story TED talk as a poster.
Whatever happened to Susan Pevensie. Fanfic comes in all sizes. (Grokked from Sarah Goslee)
Tobias Buckell on Confusion in Detroit. The convention that is. Note to sell, plan to stay later on Sunday.
WANTS! Not only a nice lookinghouse castle, but it's someplace I'd like to live (although the nearly $6000 property taxes might be a problem). I wonder if I could crowd source it? (Grokked from Rae Carson)
Logos gone bad. When I viewed the page there was an add for $5 logos. I think I see the problem. (Grokked from Dr. Phil)
The Lycanlibrarian on value of Christmas Ornaments.
The problem with stealing radioactive materials. A matter of discussion in my classes for the past few weeks.
Wormholes may be entangled black holes. Wait, what? :: brain exploded :: (Grokked from Jay Lake)
The largest true-color photograph ever taken of the night sky. Okay, well, it's a composite of 37,000 photographs, but still. (Grokked from Jim Hines)
Just who is being helped by raising the minimum wage? Here's a quick graphic. Or, in other words, the talking points of the conservatives are at least two decades out of date. (Grokked from Mary Robinette Kowal)
And why pay the low-income people more when you can continue to fleece them for the small amounts they make. Usury, it's not just for pay-day loan companies anymore.
"How do hospitals set prices? They set prices to maximize revenue, and they raise prices as much as they can — all the research supports that." (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"Being around death all the time makes you different." A mortician putting the fun back in funeral. Posted for both the in sites into the business and because of the WIP. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Tweet of my heart: @AdviceToWriters There’s no point in writing about somebody unless they’re flawed. AARON SORKIN
Andrew Stanton's how to tell a great story TED talk as a poster.
Whatever happened to Susan Pevensie. Fanfic comes in all sizes. (Grokked from Sarah Goslee)
Tobias Buckell on Confusion in Detroit. The convention that is. Note to sell, plan to stay later on Sunday.
WANTS! Not only a nice looking
Logos gone bad. When I viewed the page there was an add for $5 logos. I think I see the problem. (Grokked from Dr. Phil)
The Lycanlibrarian on value of Christmas Ornaments.
The problem with stealing radioactive materials. A matter of discussion in my classes for the past few weeks.
Wormholes may be entangled black holes. Wait, what? :: brain exploded :: (Grokked from Jay Lake)
The largest true-color photograph ever taken of the night sky. Okay, well, it's a composite of 37,000 photographs, but still. (Grokked from Jim Hines)
Just who is being helped by raising the minimum wage? Here's a quick graphic. Or, in other words, the talking points of the conservatives are at least two decades out of date. (Grokked from Mary Robinette Kowal)
And why pay the low-income people more when you can continue to fleece them for the small amounts they make. Usury, it's not just for pay-day loan companies anymore.
"How do hospitals set prices? They set prices to maximize revenue, and they raise prices as much as they can — all the research supports that." (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"Being around death all the time makes you different." A mortician putting the fun back in funeral. Posted for both the in sites into the business and because of the WIP. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Tweet of my heart: @AdviceToWriters There’s no point in writing about somebody unless they’re flawed. AARON SORKIN
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Madiba
In the days of yore, giants walked the Earth. This past week another one passed from the living.
When a person reaches the level of influence that Mr. Mandela had, a simple recounting of their biography is wholly inadequate. Instead, the wake of their passage is an easier subject to quantify.
It's hard to explain Mr. Mandela's influence in my life. For me, Mr. Mandela was part of my personal journey. He was probably the first political mega-movement that I came to realize my first impression of had been entirely wrong. And because part of my impression was right, this realization caused me to re-examine everything. And that eventually drove me to change my personal politics.
It's easy to explain his influence on the world. His death dominated all news organizations not obsessed with Obamacare for the past week. Leaders from all over the world are traveling to South Africa for his memorial service. Very few people in the world have had such an influence on the world-wide zeitgeist than Mr. Mandela.
Mr. Mandela, if history has any righteousness, will be remembered in South Africa the same way we remember George Washington in the US. Political religions will be based around his hagiography. In a fifty years he will be mythic and the rougher parts of his life will be smoothed.
Nelson Mandela has left this world, and the rest of us are richer for his being here and poorer in his absence.
When a person reaches the level of influence that Mr. Mandela had, a simple recounting of their biography is wholly inadequate. Instead, the wake of their passage is an easier subject to quantify.
It's hard to explain Mr. Mandela's influence in my life. For me, Mr. Mandela was part of my personal journey. He was probably the first political mega-movement that I came to realize my first impression of had been entirely wrong. And because part of my impression was right, this realization caused me to re-examine everything. And that eventually drove me to change my personal politics.
It's easy to explain his influence on the world. His death dominated all news organizations not obsessed with Obamacare for the past week. Leaders from all over the world are traveling to South Africa for his memorial service. Very few people in the world have had such an influence on the world-wide zeitgeist than Mr. Mandela.
Mr. Mandela, if history has any righteousness, will be remembered in South Africa the same way we remember George Washington in the US. Political religions will be based around his hagiography. In a fifty years he will be mythic and the rougher parts of his life will be smoothed.
Nelson Mandela has left this world, and the rest of us are richer for his being here and poorer in his absence.
Holiday Playlist - Father Christmas
One of my all time holiday favorites.
The Kinks' Father Christmas.
The Kinks' Father Christmas.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Holiday Play List - Arbolito
One of the favorites from my holiday play list.
Tish Hinajosa Arbolito.
Tish Hinajosa Arbolito.
Linkee-poo, give us your money, we've got no time for your silly toys
"You might think those five golden rings pushed up the prices. But in fact, the price spike was driven by a spike in the cost of lords-a-leaping and ladies dancing." Price of the 12 Days of Xmas is up 7.7% this year.
Just in case you're writing that medieval fantasy and you want to use the old lie of arrows being silent. They aren't. Oh, and hey, doppler effect for the win! (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
Worldbuilders 2013 is off and running.
"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." Irene Gallo and picturing The Hobbit.
Ah, the human mind. There's six modern playgrounds to unleash your inner child at. We won't speak of Pennsic Wars (which aren't listed, but should be). (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Okay, so you may think I'm a little too intense when it comes to typography. Honestly this conversation about a recurring trend in type is probably a little more than I normally do in public, but not nearly as in depth as some of my professional conversations.
"'Shouldn't we demand higher quality hoaxes?'… I say to you, my friends: we should. And we can, and it's not that hard." This story about "winning Thanksgiving" from a series of tweets reminds me not only of some of my writer friends who get on airplanes and tweet about the experience (let us not talk about what is out on the wing), but also about late 19th century photographs showing ghosts in houses or fairies at the bottom of gardens. We should look at the web as a subjective experience. Not every one is a trustworthy narrator. Of course you all know you can trust me, though.
"Our present lives, however, are not forever. But to think: 'Death is the enemy' is totally wrong. Death is part of our lives. Of course, from the Buddhist viewpoint, this body is in some sense an enemy. In order to develop genuine desire for moksha – liberation – then we do need that kind of attitude: that this very birth, this body, its very nature is suffering and so we want to cease that. But this attitude can create a lot of problems. If you consider death is the enemy, then this body is also the enemy, and life as a whole is the enemy. That’s going a little bit too far." The Dalai Lama on death and living. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)
The sociopath in the corner office. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"'When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.' Proverbs 11:10" Alternatively, ding dong, another witch is dead. I know that being a good person means not taking delight in another's misfortunes or death, but sometimes I can't help myself. Paul Crouch, the founder of TBN (of which my local cable provides two channels - both of which I've blocked), is dead. Having watched TBN for the entertainment factor (like drinking games) when I lived in West "By God" Virginia, there's another quote in my head whenever I think of TBN, "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy." I think it was the teleplay that showed some very white indians celebrating the arrival of the Europeans because they brought them Christ. Never mind those European slaughtered most of them in the name of that same Christ.
The new normal when it comes to part time work. The employers are saying, "you need to be available full-time, but we'll call you when we need you."
Glenn Beck just gets weirder and weirder. If he wasn't so proud of having gotten sober I'd wonder just exactly what he's drinking. It's gotta be stronger than kook-aid.
"If the ritual of pledging allegiance to the flag is presented as an invitation to express one’s patriotism, then it might not be harmful. But if this ritual is commanded… then the whole business takes on an entirely different meaning — it’s… only an expression of compliance to a demand for obedience." Land of the free and home of the brave as it were. But if you don't do what we want you to, we'll take our little red ball and go home.
The top 10 reasons why the US may be the most corrupt country in the world. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Tweet of my heart: @mhoye Whenever I hear about a "skills gap" in the economy, my brain hears "people aren't taking the lowball offers", and I think well, golly.
Just in case you're writing that medieval fantasy and you want to use the old lie of arrows being silent. They aren't. Oh, and hey, doppler effect for the win! (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
Worldbuilders 2013 is off and running.
"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit." Irene Gallo and picturing The Hobbit.
Ah, the human mind. There's six modern playgrounds to unleash your inner child at. We won't speak of Pennsic Wars (which aren't listed, but should be). (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Okay, so you may think I'm a little too intense when it comes to typography. Honestly this conversation about a recurring trend in type is probably a little more than I normally do in public, but not nearly as in depth as some of my professional conversations.
"'Shouldn't we demand higher quality hoaxes?'… I say to you, my friends: we should. And we can, and it's not that hard." This story about "winning Thanksgiving" from a series of tweets reminds me not only of some of my writer friends who get on airplanes and tweet about the experience (let us not talk about what is out on the wing), but also about late 19th century photographs showing ghosts in houses or fairies at the bottom of gardens. We should look at the web as a subjective experience. Not every one is a trustworthy narrator. Of course you all know you can trust me, though.
"Our present lives, however, are not forever. But to think: 'Death is the enemy' is totally wrong. Death is part of our lives. Of course, from the Buddhist viewpoint, this body is in some sense an enemy. In order to develop genuine desire for moksha – liberation – then we do need that kind of attitude: that this very birth, this body, its very nature is suffering and so we want to cease that. But this attitude can create a lot of problems. If you consider death is the enemy, then this body is also the enemy, and life as a whole is the enemy. That’s going a little bit too far." The Dalai Lama on death and living. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)
The sociopath in the corner office. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"'When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.' Proverbs 11:10" Alternatively, ding dong, another witch is dead. I know that being a good person means not taking delight in another's misfortunes or death, but sometimes I can't help myself. Paul Crouch, the founder of TBN (of which my local cable provides two channels - both of which I've blocked), is dead. Having watched TBN for the entertainment factor (like drinking games) when I lived in West "By God" Virginia, there's another quote in my head whenever I think of TBN, "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy." I think it was the teleplay that showed some very white indians celebrating the arrival of the Europeans because they brought them Christ. Never mind those European slaughtered most of them in the name of that same Christ.
The new normal when it comes to part time work. The employers are saying, "you need to be available full-time, but we'll call you when we need you."
Glenn Beck just gets weirder and weirder. If he wasn't so proud of having gotten sober I'd wonder just exactly what he's drinking. It's gotta be stronger than kook-aid.
"If the ritual of pledging allegiance to the flag is presented as an invitation to express one’s patriotism, then it might not be harmful. But if this ritual is commanded… then the whole business takes on an entirely different meaning — it’s… only an expression of compliance to a demand for obedience." Land of the free and home of the brave as it were. But if you don't do what we want you to, we'll take our little red ball and go home.
The top 10 reasons why the US may be the most corrupt country in the world. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Tweet of my heart: @mhoye Whenever I hear about a "skills gap" in the economy, my brain hears "people aren't taking the lowball offers", and I think well, golly.
Monday, December 2, 2013
Linkee-poo is on a procrastination break
Charlie Stross on what scared H.P. Lovecraft. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Picturing Ray Bradbury.
Novelist error messages. Bwahahahaha. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Elizabeth Bear shares some pictures of The Alnwick Poison Garden.
Make lots of noise, kiss lots of boys, kiss lots of girls if that's something you're into. Except UK couples aren't making lots of noise. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Thirty must see powerful photos. The power of photography. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
I wish I had someplace to put this. A miniature printing press. So wants. (Grokked from Irene Gallo)
The good war for military design. Ah, World War II, the good war, as it were. But I've always loved these informational graphics, especially the silhouette recognition charts.
Patients given fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) to treat recurrent Clostridium difficile infections (RCDI) cleared the bacteria in just days, and their intestinal microbiota were restored nearly to a pre-C. diff state within a year, according to a longitudinal study published in PLOS ONE today (November 26)." I know lots of people think it's disgusting, but I've seen lots of other things considered normal medicine that are just as gross, if not worse. Also, while fecal transplants are being used for C. diff, they're also be researched for other diseases. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"But I’ve learned a lot of lessons on the way to being 40. And one of those is that I don’t owe anyone an explanation for the way I look." It's a good lesson if you can internalize it. (Grokked from Mer Haskell)
"'Doctors do terminate the lives of children as well as adults, but today it's done in a gray zone or in the dark because it's illegal,' he said. 'This means that there's a lot of room to do things the wrong way.'" I find myself at both ends of this argument about allowing children with terminal diseases to choose euthanasia (actually, to have their parents choose it for them). Seeing people in the final, painful throws of life, I would never wish that pain on anyone. But then I also know that not all parents have their children's best interests at heart (that's a rough truth). (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"In August, Science published a landmark study concluding that poverty, itself, hurts our ability to make decisions about school, finances, and life, imposing a mental burden similar to losing 13 IQ points." Some times circumstances dictate behavior. Some times situations can only make sense if you're in those situations. (Grokked from Janiece)
From a Slactivist's 7 things post, "5. District court nominations by white presidents filibustered in U.S. Senate in all of American history: 3… District court nominations by black presidents filibustered in U.S. Senate: 20… Senate filibusters of executive nominees by white presidents since World War II: 20… Senate filibusters of executive nominees by black presidents since World War II: 54" Just in case you didn't have an idea why Harry Reid pulled the trigger on the nuclear option.
The growth of children living in poverty since the early 2000s. A rising tide tends to drown those who are tied to the bottom. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Picturing Ray Bradbury.
Novelist error messages. Bwahahahaha. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Elizabeth Bear shares some pictures of The Alnwick Poison Garden.
Make lots of noise, kiss lots of boys, kiss lots of girls if that's something you're into. Except UK couples aren't making lots of noise. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Thirty must see powerful photos. The power of photography. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
I wish I had someplace to put this. A miniature printing press. So wants. (Grokked from Irene Gallo)
The good war for military design. Ah, World War II, the good war, as it were. But I've always loved these informational graphics, especially the silhouette recognition charts.
Patients given fecal microbiota transplants (FMTs) to treat recurrent Clostridium difficile infections (RCDI) cleared the bacteria in just days, and their intestinal microbiota were restored nearly to a pre-C. diff state within a year, according to a longitudinal study published in PLOS ONE today (November 26)." I know lots of people think it's disgusting, but I've seen lots of other things considered normal medicine that are just as gross, if not worse. Also, while fecal transplants are being used for C. diff, they're also be researched for other diseases. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"But I’ve learned a lot of lessons on the way to being 40. And one of those is that I don’t owe anyone an explanation for the way I look." It's a good lesson if you can internalize it. (Grokked from Mer Haskell)
"'Doctors do terminate the lives of children as well as adults, but today it's done in a gray zone or in the dark because it's illegal,' he said. 'This means that there's a lot of room to do things the wrong way.'" I find myself at both ends of this argument about allowing children with terminal diseases to choose euthanasia (actually, to have their parents choose it for them). Seeing people in the final, painful throws of life, I would never wish that pain on anyone. But then I also know that not all parents have their children's best interests at heart (that's a rough truth). (Grokked from Jay Lake)
"In August, Science published a landmark study concluding that poverty, itself, hurts our ability to make decisions about school, finances, and life, imposing a mental burden similar to losing 13 IQ points." Some times circumstances dictate behavior. Some times situations can only make sense if you're in those situations. (Grokked from Janiece)
From a Slactivist's 7 things post, "5. District court nominations by white presidents filibustered in U.S. Senate in all of American history: 3… District court nominations by black presidents filibustered in U.S. Senate: 20… Senate filibusters of executive nominees by white presidents since World War II: 20… Senate filibusters of executive nominees by black presidents since World War II: 54" Just in case you didn't have an idea why Harry Reid pulled the trigger on the nuclear option.
The growth of children living in poverty since the early 2000s. A rising tide tends to drown those who are tied to the bottom. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Weekend Linkee-poo goes into an extended set for an extended weekend
"Sadly, reports of violent altercations linked to holiday shopping have already started to trickle in." It's the most wonderful time of the year… my ass. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
And it's all retail theater, anyway. Also, want to know another secret? Some of this "door buster" items aren't the same quality as the regular merchandise. Hint: check the part numbers and UPC codes.
In what I hope is a successful attempt to change the market, SFWA raises the pay rates for what they will consider "pro" markets. And the teeth gnashing andgarnet garment rending begins in 3… 2… 1…
The emerging new adult market (for books).
Thirteen quote on writing from Octavia Butler. "You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence." Yes, that.
I'm pretty sure I've linked to this before, but authors respond to a questionnaire about symbolism in the novel. A lot of symbolism is subconscious (that is, after all, symbolisms playground). A lot of symbolism is unintended because everybody will bring their own thoughts, experiences, beliefs, and mind state to the work. You can't control that. In case you haven't noticed, about a third of the time the linkee-poo music quote is somewhat linked to something in the content. As a reader you may or may not see that, and I'll wager donuts to dollars that some of you have seen connections I've not intended. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Terri Windling with a good quoted passage about writing. I'll let you go read it there.
Here's 9 ways to undermine your character's best laid plans. Create people we care about, and then torture them.
Because the internet wasn't shiny enough, all things linguistic. Say goodbye to your productive time. (Grokked from Dr. Doyle)
While you're thinking about what to get the kids (your own, nieces, nephews, cousins), don't forget the books that will helpwarp form their little brains. (Grokked from Matt Staggs, I think)
How to work with a graphic designer, part two. :: points :: Also that graphic at the top, yes, that. You get to pick two.
Aw, aren't those sea horses so cute they're just swimming along and OMG what was THAT!. Birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim, sea horses gotta eat. And it turns out they're pretty good at hunting their prey.
Earliest evidence for a shine at Siddhartha's birthplace is uncovered. It's under several incarnations of the same shrine. Imagine the Catholic Church allowing archeologists to dig at Paris's Notre Dame to find out what shrine was originally there (there is some evidence it was a pagan worship site). All while holding services. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
An NPR story on the rise of cider drinks. I'm a part of this trend. Even with the commercial brands, I like the taste, I like how I feel at the end of a bottle (and I'm not talking about the alcoholic content). But then I think I have some problems with gluten (as we all do to some extent). If you drink have haven't tried ciders, I recommend you do. There is a wide variety of tastes (personally I like Magners, but it's also somewhat expensive, Woodchuck's Granny Smith, but don't really like Strongbow's, but they seem to be the most common brand in bars).
This is what happens when you have unexamined privilege. You end up saying stupid things. Unfortunately this past week was full of them (fortunately not mine). (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
A Mormon bishop disguises himself as a homeless man to see how his congregation would respond. And I hate to say there was a predictable response.
"When one of the Help Desk men answers a question or solves a problem, he’s put in for the weekly employee recognition even though he’s just doing his normal job. When the sole woman on the help desk does the same, she’s just doing her normal job and nobody thinks to put her name up for that recognition. Why is that?" Brandie Tarvin on the prevalence of sexism in the workplace. Yes, this. Also this is one of my blind spots in seeing it in the workplace.
"The empirical evidence finds that states with the most antiabortion policies are also the same states that have significantly lower indicators of infant/child well-being. This supports the contention by pro-choice supporters that efforts by pro-life supporters to protect the life of the fetus end at birth." Kinda sucks, doesn't it. But, again, the pro-life movement isn't about anti-abortion or the rights of the unborn and is instead about restricting women's rights and anti-feminist. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
"There are fates worse than sleeping with the fishes." An Italian mob boss is fed to pigs while still alive in a revenge killing. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
Boris Johnson, asshat Mayor of London is an asshat. That article keeps on talking about how, basically, he spoke an uncomfortable truth by saying that the smart people make more money and that's the way the world works. So let me just correct the record, it has been my experience that most people who have lots of money are not the brightest crayons in the box. Some are far from it. He isn't speaking the truth, he's living in a bubble of unexamined privilege. So while some are being hush hush and wondering why people get persecuted for speaking the truth let me say this loud and clear, he isn't speaking anything close to the truth. And if he was a s smart as he thinks he is, he would know he is making an unjustified comparison (aka "false cause"). (Grokked from Jason Sandford)
And it's all retail theater, anyway. Also, want to know another secret? Some of this "door buster" items aren't the same quality as the regular merchandise. Hint: check the part numbers and UPC codes.
In what I hope is a successful attempt to change the market, SFWA raises the pay rates for what they will consider "pro" markets. And the teeth gnashing and
The emerging new adult market (for books).
Thirteen quote on writing from Octavia Butler. "You don’t start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it’s good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That’s why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence." Yes, that.
I'm pretty sure I've linked to this before, but authors respond to a questionnaire about symbolism in the novel. A lot of symbolism is subconscious (that is, after all, symbolisms playground). A lot of symbolism is unintended because everybody will bring their own thoughts, experiences, beliefs, and mind state to the work. You can't control that. In case you haven't noticed, about a third of the time the linkee-poo music quote is somewhat linked to something in the content. As a reader you may or may not see that, and I'll wager donuts to dollars that some of you have seen connections I've not intended. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
Terri Windling with a good quoted passage about writing. I'll let you go read it there.
Here's 9 ways to undermine your character's best laid plans. Create people we care about, and then torture them.
Because the internet wasn't shiny enough, all things linguistic. Say goodbye to your productive time. (Grokked from Dr. Doyle)
While you're thinking about what to get the kids (your own, nieces, nephews, cousins), don't forget the books that will help
How to work with a graphic designer, part two. :: points :: Also that graphic at the top, yes, that. You get to pick two.
Aw, aren't those sea horses so cute they're just swimming along and OMG what was THAT!. Birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim, sea horses gotta eat. And it turns out they're pretty good at hunting their prey.
Earliest evidence for a shine at Siddhartha's birthplace is uncovered. It's under several incarnations of the same shrine. Imagine the Catholic Church allowing archeologists to dig at Paris's Notre Dame to find out what shrine was originally there (there is some evidence it was a pagan worship site). All while holding services. (Grokked from Jay Lake)
An NPR story on the rise of cider drinks. I'm a part of this trend. Even with the commercial brands, I like the taste, I like how I feel at the end of a bottle (and I'm not talking about the alcoholic content). But then I think I have some problems with gluten (as we all do to some extent). If you drink have haven't tried ciders, I recommend you do. There is a wide variety of tastes (personally I like Magners, but it's also somewhat expensive, Woodchuck's Granny Smith, but don't really like Strongbow's, but they seem to be the most common brand in bars).
This is what happens when you have unexamined privilege. You end up saying stupid things. Unfortunately this past week was full of them (fortunately not mine). (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
A Mormon bishop disguises himself as a homeless man to see how his congregation would respond. And I hate to say there was a predictable response.
"When one of the Help Desk men answers a question or solves a problem, he’s put in for the weekly employee recognition even though he’s just doing his normal job. When the sole woman on the help desk does the same, she’s just doing her normal job and nobody thinks to put her name up for that recognition. Why is that?" Brandie Tarvin on the prevalence of sexism in the workplace. Yes, this. Also this is one of my blind spots in seeing it in the workplace.
"The empirical evidence finds that states with the most antiabortion policies are also the same states that have significantly lower indicators of infant/child well-being. This supports the contention by pro-choice supporters that efforts by pro-life supporters to protect the life of the fetus end at birth." Kinda sucks, doesn't it. But, again, the pro-life movement isn't about anti-abortion or the rights of the unborn and is instead about restricting women's rights and anti-feminist. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
"There are fates worse than sleeping with the fishes." An Italian mob boss is fed to pigs while still alive in a revenge killing. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
Boris Johnson, asshat Mayor of London is an asshat. That article keeps on talking about how, basically, he spoke an uncomfortable truth by saying that the smart people make more money and that's the way the world works. So let me just correct the record, it has been my experience that most people who have lots of money are not the brightest crayons in the box. Some are far from it. He isn't speaking the truth, he's living in a bubble of unexamined privilege. So while some are being hush hush and wondering why people get persecuted for speaking the truth let me say this loud and clear, he isn't speaking anything close to the truth. And if he was a s smart as he thinks he is, he would know he is making an unjustified comparison (aka "false cause"). (Grokked from Jason Sandford)
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