My RSS feed is back over 600. Sigh. I remember a time when I would clear that out daily. It's almost like this "Blogs Are Dead" thing is a complete lie.
Strange Horizons' fund raiser.
The Oatmeal schools Ted Cruz on Net Neutrality. If only he could learn when it doesn't involve money in his pocket. But, it's a good primer in case you know people who may revere Theodore. (Grokked from almost everyone in my feed)
Remember Solyndra? Remember the "ZOMG we're losing money" argument? Well, not so much. I'm not sure I agree with the government making a profit, but will all their successes the Department of Energy loan program is making money for us. Betcha won't hear about that on Fox News. Also "'It literally kick-started the whole utility-scale photovoltaic industry,' (Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz) says." That's what governments are supposed to do. This is why whenever I hear conservatives talking about how great the "market" is, I chuckle into my sleeve. If "the market" were in charge, we'd all be riding horses and sending messages by carrier pigeon. "Still, when the Solyndra case emerged Republicans on Capitol Hill had pointed criticism for the Obama administration… Now that the loan program is turning a profit, those critics are silent. They either declined or ignored NPR's requests for comment."
"The city of Solon reimbursed local businesses with about $890,000 from employee's income tax as part of the city's jobs creation grant." I wonder how many of those companies are giving that money back to their employees? I kid. Of course none of them are. Hey, GOP, here is rank "redistribution of wealth". No, seriously. That income tax money isn't the companies' money. That's the employees' salary. While most people's employers pay the income tax to the municipality (state and federal governments), it isn't the company's money. Just look at your pay stub. Who is paying the income tax?
Kansas. In addition to being $1B in the whole next year, "(t)he estimates also said the state will use up $380 million in reserves and still have to cut another $280 million for fiscal year 2015 to balance the state's current budget. In addition, in 2016, revenues are expected to be $436 million short of expenditures according to the forecast." Just how the hell did Brownback win re-election? Books will be written. Politicos will study and cite.
This is what happens when you both don't regulate and/or make those regulations toothless. "A joint investigation by NPR and Mine Safety and Health News found that thousands of mine operators fail to pay safety penalties, even as they continue to manage dangerous — and sometimes deadly — mining operations." Just keep that in mind whenever someone says, "the beleaguered coal mining industry."
The post mortem begin. "It's clearly a partisan divide, the study found. Eighteen percent of Democrats picked voter fraud while 64 percent picked voter disenfranchisement. By contrast 68 percent of Republicans picked voter fraud while 16 percent picked voter disenfranchisement." Guess who watched which news outlet.
"That means as Afghans evaluate economic and security conditions, the more uncertain or fearful they are about the future, the more they hedge by growing opium." Strange, this is how drug sales and use in the US increases as well.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Holiday Cards
Not entirely successful, but here's today's doodle. Guess what I'm working on… about six months after we should have finished (old-man designer tales).
Linkee-poo is just a girl with her head screwed on, is just a girl with a smoking gun
The poppies of the Flanders Field. In this case, 888,246 ceramic poppies planted in and around the Tower of London. A reminder to never forget what we have so often forgotten. War should never be wished for. War is never the answer. War is the failure of States.
A radio interview with Kameron Hurley with some really great SF/F writing and marketing advice. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)
Landing on a comet turns out to be more of a problem than initially thought. Reminds me of why Neil Armstrong landed in Tranquility Bay. When Neil made that broadcast that the Eagle had landed, what you didn't see on the cameras was all the controllers puzzled expressions as the wondered just where the hell their astronauts were. Because they weren't supposed to land there. However, as Neil came down he realized that where they were supposed to land was covered in boulders and they would have crashed and not been able to launch off the surface. So he used up almost all his fuel trying to find a safe place to put down. So it turns out that a comet also has cliffs and boulders on its surface. But, hey, SCIENCE! That's what happens and why we do it.
"How bad is the gridlock in Washington D.C.? So bad that the nation's retailers are calling for federal legislation on cyber security and data protection to protect consumer information — even though they would bear the brunt of whatever legislation is passed… 'A single federal law applying to all breached entities would ensure clear, concise and consistent notices to all affected consumers regardless of where they live or where the breach occurs.'" And they can't get anything passed. Also it points out that most regulation is either welcomed by the industry, or formed in response to some industry wrong doing. (Grokked from Dan)
Reuters decides to close comments on their news stories. (Grokked from Gabriel Novo)
"Fructose, a common type of sugar, can damage your liver more than other kinds of sugar — just like too much alcohol can." More on how our foods are killing us.
They have always fought. The women heroes of The Great War, some fought in secret, some fought openly. (Grokked from CC Findlay)
There's a theory that mitochondria are actually a separate life form that early cells formed a symbiotic relationship and incorporated that other form wholesale. The reason they believe this is that mitochondria has it's own genetics. We inherit all of our mitochondria from our mothers (the father has no input to this part of the cell). And just like people, sometimes the mitochondrial DNA can get errors in transcription. However, what you can do is transplant the human DNA from a zygote that has dysfunctional mitochondria to an egg with normal mitochondria. But remember all that "no human cloning" and "no chimeras" legislation? Yea, that gets in the way.
Glenn Beck announces that he has a disease that made him appear "crazy" on the air. While I do have sympathy for his disease, his actions aren't what made the rest of us label him as "crazy". It was his ideas and political positions along with the inherent victimization and persecution complex added into his conspiracy theorizing that made me label him as "crazy." Tell me your autoimmune disorder disrupted your thinking and that now you can see the error of your ways and I'll begin to re-evaluate my position. Until then, I name thee "whackaloon."
The things that give us pause. Poor Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky law prohibits him from being on a ballot twice. So in 2016 he'll have to decide if he's running for President (or a VP slot) or to rerun for his Senate seat. And since one half of the Kentucky legislature is controlled by Democrats, it's unlikely the law will be changed in time (although the Speaker of the House has a good excuse, that the constitution forbids him to make law that affects only one person).
What Speaker Boehner's "poison the well" comments were really about. And it's just stupid politics, as usual. Dear Speaker Boehner, if President Obama acts "outside his authority" then not only should you just take your little red ball and go home, you must act on impeachment. That's you're damn job. Get to work.
A radio interview with Kameron Hurley with some really great SF/F writing and marketing advice. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)
Landing on a comet turns out to be more of a problem than initially thought. Reminds me of why Neil Armstrong landed in Tranquility Bay. When Neil made that broadcast that the Eagle had landed, what you didn't see on the cameras was all the controllers puzzled expressions as the wondered just where the hell their astronauts were. Because they weren't supposed to land there. However, as Neil came down he realized that where they were supposed to land was covered in boulders and they would have crashed and not been able to launch off the surface. So he used up almost all his fuel trying to find a safe place to put down. So it turns out that a comet also has cliffs and boulders on its surface. But, hey, SCIENCE! That's what happens and why we do it.
"How bad is the gridlock in Washington D.C.? So bad that the nation's retailers are calling for federal legislation on cyber security and data protection to protect consumer information — even though they would bear the brunt of whatever legislation is passed… 'A single federal law applying to all breached entities would ensure clear, concise and consistent notices to all affected consumers regardless of where they live or where the breach occurs.'" And they can't get anything passed. Also it points out that most regulation is either welcomed by the industry, or formed in response to some industry wrong doing. (Grokked from Dan)
Reuters decides to close comments on their news stories. (Grokked from Gabriel Novo)
"Fructose, a common type of sugar, can damage your liver more than other kinds of sugar — just like too much alcohol can." More on how our foods are killing us.
They have always fought. The women heroes of The Great War, some fought in secret, some fought openly. (Grokked from CC Findlay)
There's a theory that mitochondria are actually a separate life form that early cells formed a symbiotic relationship and incorporated that other form wholesale. The reason they believe this is that mitochondria has it's own genetics. We inherit all of our mitochondria from our mothers (the father has no input to this part of the cell). And just like people, sometimes the mitochondrial DNA can get errors in transcription. However, what you can do is transplant the human DNA from a zygote that has dysfunctional mitochondria to an egg with normal mitochondria. But remember all that "no human cloning" and "no chimeras" legislation? Yea, that gets in the way.
Glenn Beck announces that he has a disease that made him appear "crazy" on the air. While I do have sympathy for his disease, his actions aren't what made the rest of us label him as "crazy". It was his ideas and political positions along with the inherent victimization and persecution complex added into his conspiracy theorizing that made me label him as "crazy." Tell me your autoimmune disorder disrupted your thinking and that now you can see the error of your ways and I'll begin to re-evaluate my position. Until then, I name thee "whackaloon."
The things that give us pause. Poor Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky law prohibits him from being on a ballot twice. So in 2016 he'll have to decide if he's running for President (or a VP slot) or to rerun for his Senate seat. And since one half of the Kentucky legislature is controlled by Democrats, it's unlikely the law will be changed in time (although the Speaker of the House has a good excuse, that the constitution forbids him to make law that affects only one person).
What Speaker Boehner's "poison the well" comments were really about. And it's just stupid politics, as usual. Dear Speaker Boehner, if President Obama acts "outside his authority" then not only should you just take your little red ball and go home, you must act on impeachment. That's you're damn job. Get to work.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Linkee-poo shorty without a good title
On his birthday, Neil Gaiman would like to give you some free stuff.
Viruses are tricky. "Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Medical School and the University of Nebraska have discovered an algae virus that makes us more stupid by infecting our brains." (Grokked from Dan)
Who watches the Watchmen. An article on the people who keep your social media feeds (mostly) free of picture of dicks and beheadings. Isn't grand we live in a world that requires this? Ah, technology, pulling out the deepest monsters of the id. And while they scrub our feeds and dream of better lives, they find they're working for the monsters themselves. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Sure, it's not about racism. Except that when it is. Seriously, if you have to retreat to the 1st definition in a dictionary to defend yourself, unless you're a lexicographer, you've just made an ass of yourself. And the "I apologize if anyone was offended" is no longer good. And while we're at it, it's called a "Freudian Slip."
On how we're not saving for retirement. "According to the report, more and more consumers are beginning to realize the importance of saving early on." Unfortunately that realization is coming too late. "Of the survey respondents, nearly 72% say they should have start saving earlier, a significant increase for 65% who believed the same thing just a year ago." (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Me? I plan on winning the lottery. That's John Oliver's Last Week Tonight on state lotteries.
And just in case you needed further proof that the GOP doesn't have your interests at heart, Ted Cruz believe Net Neutrality is a bad thing. Because businesses should be in charge of your internet access.
Tweet of my heart: @EgbertoWillies ISIS & Ebola disappeared from front page after election. GOP used 'liberal' media to scare folks to vote for them. #gullible
Viruses are tricky. "Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Medical School and the University of Nebraska have discovered an algae virus that makes us more stupid by infecting our brains." (Grokked from Dan)
Who watches the Watchmen. An article on the people who keep your social media feeds (mostly) free of picture of dicks and beheadings. Isn't grand we live in a world that requires this? Ah, technology, pulling out the deepest monsters of the id. And while they scrub our feeds and dream of better lives, they find they're working for the monsters themselves. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Sure, it's not about racism. Except that when it is. Seriously, if you have to retreat to the 1st definition in a dictionary to defend yourself, unless you're a lexicographer, you've just made an ass of yourself. And the "I apologize if anyone was offended" is no longer good. And while we're at it, it's called a "Freudian Slip."
On how we're not saving for retirement. "According to the report, more and more consumers are beginning to realize the importance of saving early on." Unfortunately that realization is coming too late. "Of the survey respondents, nearly 72% say they should have start saving earlier, a significant increase for 65% who believed the same thing just a year ago." (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Me? I plan on winning the lottery. That's John Oliver's Last Week Tonight on state lotteries.
And just in case you needed further proof that the GOP doesn't have your interests at heart, Ted Cruz believe Net Neutrality is a bad thing. Because businesses should be in charge of your internet access.
Tweet of my heart: @EgbertoWillies ISIS & Ebola disappeared from front page after election. GOP used 'liberal' media to scare folks to vote for them. #gullible
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Drawing Type
As some of you know, to relax I do math in my head. Also, I doodle. And when I doodle, I sometimes go back to my schooling and thumbnail layouts of projects I'm working on. Lately I've been drawing type, like I also used to do in school. Although, my repertoire has grown stale and mostly it comes out as a form of intermediate type (think Baskerville). So, I'm hoping if I share this I'll start branching out reestablish my skills in a wide range of faces. So here's one to start.
Weekend Linkee-poo should have jumped out of that airplane after all
Elizabeth Bear on the "Howie" World Fantasy Award. In my own personal opinion, had I won (or will win) one, I would cherish it as the accomplishment it represents. But I agree with those who champion changing the award, except in one thing. I don't think it should be a bust of anyone. Everyone gets all knotted up when discussing whose bust it should be. As humans we are all flawed (to various degrees and extents - even Tolkien can be limiting to Northern European mythos and a disturbing racism streak as well - just look at the First Men and the Wild Men for an example), so anyone chosen for that honor would be found wanting in some manner. So we should remove that part from the equation.
"The only answer to all these questions is to keep writing and see. Keep trying to get better. Keep your eyes on your own paper." Your path is your own. (Grokked from Maureen Johnson)
You know how we think planets form around new stars accreting from the disk of material left over from the star's formation? Yea, it's all just been a theory. Until now. The first view of a new star (only a million years old, give or take) showing tracks through the accretion disk material. (Grokked from Dan)
Massachusetts heath insurers publish data on the cost of procedures. I basically applaud this move, but I have a concern. Many of the tests highlighted in the article fall into my sphere of knowledge (bone density, MRI, CT - aka CAT). Yes, there are great differences in pricing between institutions, but not all institutions are the same. They don't have either the same equipment, or the same skill levels of their practitioners, or even the various checks and balances. And the public doesn't have the information to make an informed decision. Take MRI for instance. Do you know the difference between a 1.5 Tesla magnet and a 5 Tesla magnet? Do you know that the 5T magnet will generate demonstrably better images, faster, and with finer detail? That might not mean much if you're looking for a torn meniscus, but it will make a great difference in the treatment of such, or if you have a cancer they're trying to identify (MRI grew out of MRS, which is a spectroscopy, which can tell us the composition of the cells within a certain voxel by their chemistry, which will aid in diagnosis). If it's a CT scan, are you on a 16 slice or 64 slice scanner? While a scan with a 16 slice device will be cheaper (because the machine should be fully depreciated), it'll be slower and you'll receive more radiation for a scan that doesn't have the detail as compared to the 64 slice. Also, operators make a huge difference. But, if we want to cut costs, I do approve of publication of the cost of the procedures. They just need to add a whole lot more information to the mix (and there needs to be a lot of public education). We won't even go into the "why are you taking a chest x-ray when it's my feet that are swollen and painful" discussions (hint: your feet may be swollen because of congestive heart failure).
The psychology of irrational fear. (Grokked from Janiece)
There's this psychiatrist on Fox News that apparently doesn't know the meaning of irony. So, having not interviewed the President, but able to make a diagnosis from his public statements he then can't comprehend how another psychiatrist can then diagnose him on just his public statements. Irony is dead, and they keep whipping its poor body into the dust.
So, to add to the new bag of tricks, such as the new tweet dog whistle of posting inflammatory material and then deleting it, we also have the correction at the end of an article that basically says, "Oppsie, sorry, wrong person." That the Beitbart site with an article on Obama's nominee for Attorney General who they claim was one of the Clinton's defense attorneys for Whitewater. Then at the bottom, "Correction: The Loretta Lynch identified earlier as the Whitewater attorney was, in fact, a different attorney." Ain't that grand. (Grokked from John Scalzi)
You know how we think planets form around new stars accreting from the disk of material left over from the star's formation? Yea, it's all just been a theory. Until now. The first view of a new star (only a million years old, give or take) showing tracks through the accretion disk material. (Grokked from Dan)
You'd think conservatives would be all over this. The For Profit colleges are suing the government over new rules about how many of their students are able to get employment and how much they make being tied to their ability to get Federal Financial Aid. I mean; frivolous lawsuits, people demanding government handouts, means testing, reduced government spending, looking at the problem from an ROI perspective - it hits all their main talking points. So, where do they stand? Oh, yea, the new regulation is just like the Nazi's invasion of Poland. Or at the very least, "Whatever they're for, I'm against it." Just some good ol' fashion political integrity right there.
Tweet of my heart: @splunge2000 Your restaurant can have a special called We Can Be Gyros, but just for one day.
"The only answer to all these questions is to keep writing and see. Keep trying to get better. Keep your eyes on your own paper." Your path is your own. (Grokked from Maureen Johnson)
You know how we think planets form around new stars accreting from the disk of material left over from the star's formation? Yea, it's all just been a theory. Until now. The first view of a new star (only a million years old, give or take) showing tracks through the accretion disk material. (Grokked from Dan)
Massachusetts heath insurers publish data on the cost of procedures. I basically applaud this move, but I have a concern. Many of the tests highlighted in the article fall into my sphere of knowledge (bone density, MRI, CT - aka CAT). Yes, there are great differences in pricing between institutions, but not all institutions are the same. They don't have either the same equipment, or the same skill levels of their practitioners, or even the various checks and balances. And the public doesn't have the information to make an informed decision. Take MRI for instance. Do you know the difference between a 1.5 Tesla magnet and a 5 Tesla magnet? Do you know that the 5T magnet will generate demonstrably better images, faster, and with finer detail? That might not mean much if you're looking for a torn meniscus, but it will make a great difference in the treatment of such, or if you have a cancer they're trying to identify (MRI grew out of MRS, which is a spectroscopy, which can tell us the composition of the cells within a certain voxel by their chemistry, which will aid in diagnosis). If it's a CT scan, are you on a 16 slice or 64 slice scanner? While a scan with a 16 slice device will be cheaper (because the machine should be fully depreciated), it'll be slower and you'll receive more radiation for a scan that doesn't have the detail as compared to the 64 slice. Also, operators make a huge difference. But, if we want to cut costs, I do approve of publication of the cost of the procedures. They just need to add a whole lot more information to the mix (and there needs to be a lot of public education). We won't even go into the "why are you taking a chest x-ray when it's my feet that are swollen and painful" discussions (hint: your feet may be swollen because of congestive heart failure).
The psychology of irrational fear. (Grokked from Janiece)
There's this psychiatrist on Fox News that apparently doesn't know the meaning of irony. So, having not interviewed the President, but able to make a diagnosis from his public statements he then can't comprehend how another psychiatrist can then diagnose him on just his public statements. Irony is dead, and they keep whipping its poor body into the dust.
So, to add to the new bag of tricks, such as the new tweet dog whistle of posting inflammatory material and then deleting it, we also have the correction at the end of an article that basically says, "Oppsie, sorry, wrong person." That the Beitbart site with an article on Obama's nominee for Attorney General who they claim was one of the Clinton's defense attorneys for Whitewater. Then at the bottom, "Correction: The Loretta Lynch identified earlier as the Whitewater attorney was, in fact, a different attorney." Ain't that grand. (Grokked from John Scalzi)
You know how we think planets form around new stars accreting from the disk of material left over from the star's formation? Yea, it's all just been a theory. Until now. The first view of a new star (only a million years old, give or take) showing tracks through the accretion disk material. (Grokked from Dan)
You'd think conservatives would be all over this. The For Profit colleges are suing the government over new rules about how many of their students are able to get employment and how much they make being tied to their ability to get Federal Financial Aid. I mean; frivolous lawsuits, people demanding government handouts, means testing, reduced government spending, looking at the problem from an ROI perspective - it hits all their main talking points. So, where do they stand? Oh, yea, the new regulation is just like the Nazi's invasion of Poland. Or at the very least, "Whatever they're for, I'm against it." Just some good ol' fashion political integrity right there.
Tweet of my heart: @splunge2000 Your restaurant can have a special called We Can Be Gyros, but just for one day.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Linkee-poo wants to guard your dreams and visions, just wrap your legs 'round these velvet rims and strap your hands 'cross my engines
I know I should spend more time with this, but things are awfully busy this week. But I've been seeing things in my twitter feed on #readergate. Well, I think this is all related, but here is Elizabeth Bear on some of it (also offering a very good tutorial on how abusive people behave and their internal rationalization), and Laura Mixon with some more information.
Adding blackbox capabilities to implantable devices to leave telltale traces if the device is interfered with (which may cause death). And so dies a thousand murder mystery plot lines. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
The Rolling Stone Stephen King interview. (Grokked from Tor.com)
Joe Hill on the place of horror in our modern consciousness.
The funniest blimp story you will ever read. (Grokked from Ferrett Steinmetz)
Did you ever want to know what kind of demographic information marking companies have for you? Well, here's just a little bit. You can type in your zip code and see some basic demographic information. Understand that with marketing, we can look at your street and get this kind of detail. And that detail goes much, much deeper than what you see here. (Grokked from John)
Another evolutionary gap filled. This one exists between sea and land reptiles. And now is the time when Dr. Banjo states, "Well, that only proves Creationism because you haven't shown the link between…" (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
"Microsoft must have thought it had pulled off a nice piece of product placement when it gave CNN election commentators a bunch of Surface Pro tablets to help with their coverage. CNN dutifully covered its desks with the devices… There was just one small problem… a closer look revealed that hidden behind the Surface tablets were the iPads that commentators were actually using." This is like when Samsung gave Galaxies to all those celebrities and while their tweets and posts all sung the song of the Samsung, the meta data showed they were posted from the celebrities iPhones. (Grokked from John)
Everybody on the conservative side is all hot over the Keystone XL pipeline, but no one is really fighting for the pipelines we need.
"After soaking up all the glory of the 2014 GOP wave, the editors of the conservative National Review issued a stern warning to Republicans: getting too much done could come back to haunt you." As the headline said, getting actual governance done, showing you can govern, and being competent to govern… "It's a TRAP!" Instead the new GOP majority should take symbolic votes to show the voters back home how much they care about their core values. You know, like what worked for them this last election.
Oh look, it's the Permanent Majority talk again. Be careful, GOP, there were others who talked about the longevity of their politics. It didn't go so well for them (and not much better for everyone else). And then there's Reince "Take No Prisoners" Priebus. Plus, you'll have the Tea Party all up in your grill. That's hilarious, BTW, how they howled and wailed during the primaries that "establishment" Republicans were getting the nod, and now they say that the GOP won on "Tea Party Principles."
Adding blackbox capabilities to implantable devices to leave telltale traces if the device is interfered with (which may cause death). And so dies a thousand murder mystery plot lines. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
The Rolling Stone Stephen King interview. (Grokked from Tor.com)
Joe Hill on the place of horror in our modern consciousness.
The funniest blimp story you will ever read. (Grokked from Ferrett Steinmetz)
Did you ever want to know what kind of demographic information marking companies have for you? Well, here's just a little bit. You can type in your zip code and see some basic demographic information. Understand that with marketing, we can look at your street and get this kind of detail. And that detail goes much, much deeper than what you see here. (Grokked from John)
Another evolutionary gap filled. This one exists between sea and land reptiles. And now is the time when Dr. Banjo states, "Well, that only proves Creationism because you haven't shown the link between…" (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
"Microsoft must have thought it had pulled off a nice piece of product placement when it gave CNN election commentators a bunch of Surface Pro tablets to help with their coverage. CNN dutifully covered its desks with the devices… There was just one small problem… a closer look revealed that hidden behind the Surface tablets were the iPads that commentators were actually using." This is like when Samsung gave Galaxies to all those celebrities and while their tweets and posts all sung the song of the Samsung, the meta data showed they were posted from the celebrities iPhones. (Grokked from John)
Everybody on the conservative side is all hot over the Keystone XL pipeline, but no one is really fighting for the pipelines we need.
"After soaking up all the glory of the 2014 GOP wave, the editors of the conservative National Review issued a stern warning to Republicans: getting too much done could come back to haunt you." As the headline said, getting actual governance done, showing you can govern, and being competent to govern… "It's a TRAP!" Instead the new GOP majority should take symbolic votes to show the voters back home how much they care about their core values. You know, like what worked for them this last election.
Oh look, it's the Permanent Majority talk again. Be careful, GOP, there were others who talked about the longevity of their politics. It didn't go so well for them (and not much better for everyone else). And then there's Reince "Take No Prisoners" Priebus. Plus, you'll have the Tea Party all up in your grill. That's hilarious, BTW, how they howled and wailed during the primaries that "establishment" Republicans were getting the nod, and now they say that the GOP won on "Tea Party Principles."
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Linkee-poo says "Don't drive like my brother"
Well, that was disappointing. And how the hell did Brownback keep his seat? Seriously, Kansas, just how much does he have to fuck up before you toss him? Anyway, as I said in a tweet last night, apparently we all as a nation, and as the State of Ohio, need another lesson in just what it means to have conservatives run a government they so loath. At least the comics and late night show hosts will have great material for another few years.
Neil Gaiman on scaring children. Or, to paraphrase an early quote from him, yes, fairy tales tell you dragons exist, but they also tell you they can be slain. (Grokked from Christine Purcell)
"Yes, $75,000 sounds like a lot, but when it takes five years to complete a book and your agent is taking a cut of 15 per cent, you’re still below the poverty line if this is your sole source of income." And now that NaNoWriMo is off and going, here come the reality checks. A little bit about the writing life most writers live (YMMV, but you often don't hear about this in the media, you know, the place where you blithely rip the last page of the novel from the typewriter and a publisher shows up at your door with bags of money to take it away from you). (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
And the economics of being a writer. And, once again, I'm in the wrong business. (Grokked from Saladin Ahmed)
XKCD is excellent about language. (Grokked from Dan)
Sugar, by any other name, would taste just as sweet. And it does. And the food manufactures use an awful lot of names for sugar. Even though I know most of these, I've been caught off guard by some (evaporated cane juice was the most recent). (Grokked from Cat Rambo)
You know how some of us talk about our democracy for sale in the era of dark money? "This is the year of the mega-donor: just forty-two people are responsible for nearly a third of Super PAC spending in the 2014 election cycle. That's pretty much what we're talking about. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
I always love how some people want government to run like business. This is how business is run. That's some quotes from the MCX representative on why some of their members shut off the function that allows ApplePay on their cash registers. Funny, shutting off that function also shuts off their competing software. This is just stupidity on so many levels it's hard to comprehend. I certainly don't want my government to behave in such peevish ways. (Grokked from Dan)
"It is the nature of our profession." The head of Naval Warfare Special Command reminds his SEALs of their vows to keep mission information confidential.
Turns out that "armed felon" in the elevator with President Obama wasn't actually a felon. He's still fired, though.
"At least two electronic voting machines in a North Carolina county have been taken out of service after early voters reported that the machines repeatedly registered their Democratic choices as Republican votes in Sen. Kay Hagan's contentious reelection bid." Nothing to see here, citizen. Move along. (Grokked from John Scalzi)
Neil Gaiman on scaring children. Or, to paraphrase an early quote from him, yes, fairy tales tell you dragons exist, but they also tell you they can be slain. (Grokked from Christine Purcell)
"Yes, $75,000 sounds like a lot, but when it takes five years to complete a book and your agent is taking a cut of 15 per cent, you’re still below the poverty line if this is your sole source of income." And now that NaNoWriMo is off and going, here come the reality checks. A little bit about the writing life most writers live (YMMV, but you often don't hear about this in the media, you know, the place where you blithely rip the last page of the novel from the typewriter and a publisher shows up at your door with bags of money to take it away from you). (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
And the economics of being a writer. And, once again, I'm in the wrong business. (Grokked from Saladin Ahmed)
XKCD is excellent about language. (Grokked from Dan)
Sugar, by any other name, would taste just as sweet. And it does. And the food manufactures use an awful lot of names for sugar. Even though I know most of these, I've been caught off guard by some (evaporated cane juice was the most recent). (Grokked from Cat Rambo)
You know how some of us talk about our democracy for sale in the era of dark money? "This is the year of the mega-donor: just forty-two people are responsible for nearly a third of Super PAC spending in the 2014 election cycle. That's pretty much what we're talking about. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
I always love how some people want government to run like business. This is how business is run. That's some quotes from the MCX representative on why some of their members shut off the function that allows ApplePay on their cash registers. Funny, shutting off that function also shuts off their competing software. This is just stupidity on so many levels it's hard to comprehend. I certainly don't want my government to behave in such peevish ways. (Grokked from Dan)
"It is the nature of our profession." The head of Naval Warfare Special Command reminds his SEALs of their vows to keep mission information confidential.
Turns out that "armed felon" in the elevator with President Obama wasn't actually a felon. He's still fired, though.
"At least two electronic voting machines in a North Carolina county have been taken out of service after early voters reported that the machines repeatedly registered their Democratic choices as Republican votes in Sen. Kay Hagan's contentious reelection bid." Nothing to see here, citizen. Move along. (Grokked from John Scalzi)
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Stags Bellow
Not exactly holiday music, but definitely Autumnal.
Martha Tilston's Stags Bellow.
Martha Tilston's Stags Bellow.
Can you come around again.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Linkee-poo gets out the vote
I would love to say that after tomorrow we can all go back to sleep, but you do realize we're already engaging and have already seen the opening moves in the 2016 Presidential Race. And you thought hearing and reading scary things were over because it's after Halloween.
But go out and vote. And if you're not registered to vote, and you're qualified to vote (mostly, you're not disqualified, everyone else over 18 is qualified), register now. It's never too early.
The truth is, every vote counts. That's an article on some of the more common attempts to suppress the vote. So, exercise your franchise, go and vote (if you haven't already, I did weeks ago by absentee).
I'm not saying Ricky Santorum is a bottom-grubbing low-life who would use the fears of people to raise money and increase his political prospects, but it could happen.
Sure, guilt and shaming may work to get people to the poles, but it's still a dick move. (Grokked from John Scalzi)
What might happen if the GOP gains control of the Senate. Hint, not much besides optics (which may not work well for the GOP).
What's wrong with American politics? I think John Oliver pretty well sums it up in this video.
Rand Paul hasn't learned you can't have your cake and eat it, too. So, he supports voter ID laws, which suppress the vote (mostly of minorities and the poor), but thinks the GOP shouldn't, like, be proud they helped promote all these laws.
But go out and vote. And if you're not registered to vote, and you're qualified to vote (mostly, you're not disqualified, everyone else over 18 is qualified), register now. It's never too early.
The truth is, every vote counts. That's an article on some of the more common attempts to suppress the vote. So, exercise your franchise, go and vote (if you haven't already, I did weeks ago by absentee).
I'm not saying Ricky Santorum is a bottom-grubbing low-life who would use the fears of people to raise money and increase his political prospects, but it could happen.
Sure, guilt and shaming may work to get people to the poles, but it's still a dick move. (Grokked from John Scalzi)
What might happen if the GOP gains control of the Senate. Hint, not much besides optics (which may not work well for the GOP).
What's wrong with American politics? I think John Oliver pretty well sums it up in this video.
Rand Paul hasn't learned you can't have your cake and eat it, too. So, he supports voter ID laws, which suppress the vote (mostly of minorities and the poor), but thinks the GOP shouldn't, like, be proud they helped promote all these laws.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Weekend Linkee-poo bites into the sweet cakes
If we don't talk before then, and you haven't already, go and vote on Tuesday.
While everyone conflates Halloween, Samhein, and Dia de Los Muertos, they're actually on different days. Like Nov 2 is actually the day of the dead, and when you should feed them. Noted because this has been plot points in some of my stories. Not also that it's not only a mid and South American custom. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
Thirteen writing prompts from McSweeny's. Ha! (Grokked from Christine Purcell)
St Cuthbert Gospel sells for $9M. The Gospel is Europe's oldest surviving, intact, book. It apparently survived by being buried with St. Cuthbert and so avoided being pillaged by vikings. (Grokked from Sarah Goslee)
Thirty household uses for Coke. Note, some of these are apocryphal. (Grokked from George Takei)
Space is hard.
Corporate lobbyist tells how he creates fake expert groups to sow doubt into the public's mind. Just in case you ever wanted to know how it's done (and where Fox News gets their "experts"). (Grokked form Matt Staggs)
Proof that conservatives aren't dealing with reality. Seriously, Mitt Romney, it's the Democrats blocking legislation? They have drugs to help with this. But he is correct that the GOP lead House did look at the Senate immigration bill and thought waiting to see if they could win the Senate and get something more in line with their ideology.
Tweet of my heart: @DjangoWexler Vote against the guy who hasn't filled out his website's metadata, so Google lists it as "My campaign site info here!"
While everyone conflates Halloween, Samhein, and Dia de Los Muertos, they're actually on different days. Like Nov 2 is actually the day of the dead, and when you should feed them. Noted because this has been plot points in some of my stories. Not also that it's not only a mid and South American custom. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
Thirteen writing prompts from McSweeny's. Ha! (Grokked from Christine Purcell)
St Cuthbert Gospel sells for $9M. The Gospel is Europe's oldest surviving, intact, book. It apparently survived by being buried with St. Cuthbert and so avoided being pillaged by vikings. (Grokked from Sarah Goslee)
Thirty household uses for Coke. Note, some of these are apocryphal. (Grokked from George Takei)
Space is hard.
Corporate lobbyist tells how he creates fake expert groups to sow doubt into the public's mind. Just in case you ever wanted to know how it's done (and where Fox News gets their "experts"). (Grokked form Matt Staggs)
Proof that conservatives aren't dealing with reality. Seriously, Mitt Romney, it's the Democrats blocking legislation? They have drugs to help with this. But he is correct that the GOP lead House did look at the Senate immigration bill and thought waiting to see if they could win the Senate and get something more in line with their ideology.
Tweet of my heart: @DjangoWexler Vote against the guy who hasn't filled out his website's metadata, so Google lists it as "My campaign site info here!"
The Holly and the Ivy
Since it's now past Halloween, it's somewhat okay to start playing holiday music. Yes, I know you purists believe it should wait until after the giving of the thanks in late November, but I'm going to need this whole time to hopefully be in the mood by the time Wintertide arrives. Heck, I'm still amazed it isn't August, okay?
Kate Rusby's take on The Holly and the Ivy. It's one of my favorites ever since I first heard it (yes, the song I love, but her version, I think, captures the mood of the song nicely).
That's some old timey religion right there.
And since it's not that far from Halloween, did you know that not any wooden stake can kill a vampire? It must be either a stake of holly, or live oak. There's a reason for this.
Kate Rusby's take on The Holly and the Ivy. It's one of my favorites ever since I first heard it (yes, the song I love, but her version, I think, captures the mood of the song nicely).
The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
That's some old timey religion right there.
And since it's not that far from Halloween, did you know that not any wooden stake can kill a vampire? It must be either a stake of holly, or live oak. There's a reason for this.
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