So, for everybody else who carries their cell phone in their front pocket, do you also get an internal chuckle by saying, "Excuse me, my crotch seems to be ringing. I better answer it." Or is it just me and my sometimes juvenal sense of humor?
Friday, July 30, 2010
Friday and just what am I talking about? I don't know.
From Jeff VanderMeer's Ecstatic Days, Jeff ProTem Lavie Tidhar gives some bulleted advice for writers. Yes. That. Loved it. "They don’t send people to Australia any more for stealing bread." Water through nose moment.
I've been getting asked for some of my "secrets" of landing the new job. Well, they aren't secret, first of all. Here's a good primer on interviewing. It boils down to do research, targeting yourself to that company, and being personable and open.
And speaking of secrets, well, I'm getting a little feed up with the media lately. We've now had both a Russian spy scandal and the wikileaks release of documents and I really haven't commented here about them. There's somewhat of a good reason for that, but maybe not so much anymore.
Here's the thing. Everybody in the media has been wrong about this. Dead wrong. Those Russian Spies? The media liked to portray that what they were after you could get the same with a CNN feed and home delivery of the NYT. The wikileaked documents only tell us what we already knew about Pakistan, civilians getting caught in the fog of war, and how it hasn't been going very well since we decided that Iraq was more of a problem. Well, if you believe that than you don't remember or know just what the spy game was all about and it points out just how far the internet has dulled our senses. Personally, I blame the Bush II Administration and their stance on the "Osama Plans to Bomb the US" briefing not having any "actionable intelligence."
Seriously.
Okay. First up, with the wikileaks, as it's being now reported in some places, the documents have names of locals who have helped us. Wave goodbye to those people. Either they'll go in hiding, be killed, or live in fear for the rest of their lives. It's not so much the problem of outing Valerie Plame, since she was in the US at the time and losing her as an asset meant at least we could still use her knowledge and skills, for a bit. No, it was the connection to a few people showing up dead in some of the former eastern block countries. People who knew her and had met with her over the years. The forth coming deaths in Afghanistan and those previous have one effect, it chills anybody who may have thought of sharing information with us (and now you know why there's all those cutesy code words for operatives). While I don't completely fault wikileaks for leaking the documents, understand they did it for no other purpose than to increase their brand (see earlier comments on "there isn't anything new here"). You all now know their name now, don't you. Isn't that great (for their monetary prospects). Thanks for that, wikileaks. Maybe you'll actually learn your job soon, or figure out it is a job and do the work so fewer people need to have to die. And yeah, if you don't think the Taliban/Al Qaeda isn't pouring through those documents, you really don't know how this war is being fought and won (or not as the case may be). We seem to have forgotten there is a dagger in that cloak and dagger work. Lose lips sink ships, but a knife in the dark can save or damn a country.
As to the Russian spies. Puh-lease. Do you really think that we say everything openly? Do you really think it doesn't matter to the Russians if we say we want, say, help on pressuring Iran to stop their nuclear program to know just how hard we're willing to press and what we're willing to give up? So we may say that we are going to talk, but if they can suss out that it's mostly for domestic consumption and we have no intention of giving the Russians anything (say, like freeing up their accounts of Iraqi money), their position is stronger. If you think that secrets are only "photocopy THIS", you're missing over 80% of the game. Let's say someone close to the President, or a CEO, suddenly isn't showing up on meetings and their house it dark, you can infer what is going on. Nobody needs to say anything. And we warren's even talking about what the poker players call "tells" (the former president had severals, including that annoying mouth twist when he was hiding the truth, the previous Bush did it with hand movements which is really why his handlers worked him hard to stop doing it).
No, I can't say more or some people out there will figure out my skills. And I'm not willing to let those out. Because I know what this game is and how it's played.
I've been getting asked for some of my "secrets" of landing the new job. Well, they aren't secret, first of all. Here's a good primer on interviewing. It boils down to do research, targeting yourself to that company, and being personable and open.
And speaking of secrets, well, I'm getting a little feed up with the media lately. We've now had both a Russian spy scandal and the wikileaks release of documents and I really haven't commented here about them. There's somewhat of a good reason for that, but maybe not so much anymore.
Here's the thing. Everybody in the media has been wrong about this. Dead wrong. Those Russian Spies? The media liked to portray that what they were after you could get the same with a CNN feed and home delivery of the NYT. The wikileaked documents only tell us what we already knew about Pakistan, civilians getting caught in the fog of war, and how it hasn't been going very well since we decided that Iraq was more of a problem. Well, if you believe that than you don't remember or know just what the spy game was all about and it points out just how far the internet has dulled our senses. Personally, I blame the Bush II Administration and their stance on the "Osama Plans to Bomb the US" briefing not having any "actionable intelligence."
Seriously.
Okay. First up, with the wikileaks, as it's being now reported in some places, the documents have names of locals who have helped us. Wave goodbye to those people. Either they'll go in hiding, be killed, or live in fear for the rest of their lives. It's not so much the problem of outing Valerie Plame, since she was in the US at the time and losing her as an asset meant at least we could still use her knowledge and skills, for a bit. No, it was the connection to a few people showing up dead in some of the former eastern block countries. People who knew her and had met with her over the years. The forth coming deaths in Afghanistan and those previous have one effect, it chills anybody who may have thought of sharing information with us (and now you know why there's all those cutesy code words for operatives). While I don't completely fault wikileaks for leaking the documents, understand they did it for no other purpose than to increase their brand (see earlier comments on "there isn't anything new here"). You all now know their name now, don't you. Isn't that great (for their monetary prospects). Thanks for that, wikileaks. Maybe you'll actually learn your job soon, or figure out it is a job and do the work so fewer people need to have to die. And yeah, if you don't think the Taliban/Al Qaeda isn't pouring through those documents, you really don't know how this war is being fought and won (or not as the case may be). We seem to have forgotten there is a dagger in that cloak and dagger work. Lose lips sink ships, but a knife in the dark can save or damn a country.
As to the Russian spies. Puh-lease. Do you really think that we say everything openly? Do you really think it doesn't matter to the Russians if we say we want, say, help on pressuring Iran to stop their nuclear program to know just how hard we're willing to press and what we're willing to give up? So we may say that we are going to talk, but if they can suss out that it's mostly for domestic consumption and we have no intention of giving the Russians anything (say, like freeing up their accounts of Iraqi money), their position is stronger. If you think that secrets are only "photocopy THIS", you're missing over 80% of the game. Let's say someone close to the President, or a CEO, suddenly isn't showing up on meetings and their house it dark, you can infer what is going on. Nobody needs to say anything. And we warren's even talking about what the poker players call "tells" (the former president had severals, including that annoying mouth twist when he was hiding the truth, the previous Bush did it with hand movements which is really why his handlers worked him hard to stop doing it).
No, I can't say more or some people out there will figure out my skills. And I'm not willing to let those out. Because I know what this game is and how it's played.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Finally gotten around to checking the scores
Got what I thought, a 39 out of 40 (with 2 extra credit questions). However, instructor did adjust the points form the first quiz to what she told us. So over all, I still have a 100% now instead of 99% (140 out of 140 points). Tonight is last of lecture. Next week is the final chapter quiz/test and then the comprehensive final on Thursday.
Unfortunately the week after is pretty much meetings Monday through Thursday. No rest for the wicked.
Unfortunately the week after is pretty much meetings Monday through Thursday. No rest for the wicked.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The obligatory politics post
Okay, getting some of this out of my system, and also so I don't lose some of the links.
Might be a little post hoc ergo prompter hoc, but this is interesting. That's a chart showing the difference between the top 1% earners and the rest of us. I haven't delved too deep into the data set yet (I'd be interested in seeing, say, how the demographics play out between those in the top 20% to the lower 80%). But food for thought when the battles come about how we need to have the rich have more so they can create more jobs. This chart definitely talks to that point and pretty much makes a raspberry in its face.
Points at Eric and says, yes. And I'll add to the argument that the crazy right seems to have lost context. They're all about the "But they got that for Xmas and we want one too" style of revenge attacks. Well, buddy, just because the one side actually has a case for being lead into an unpopular war, suffered under debilitating tax cuts (yes, you read that right, see "deficit" if you're wondering what I'm talking about), and had the fear drum pounded more than enough times doesn't mean you also have to have a little red ball because you lost the election.
Roger Ebert may no longer be able to speak, but man, he still has a powerful voice.
And then there's the "Official Michigan Tea Party", the one that will actually be on the ballot, that may be a sham. I wonder how my conservative friends feel seeing the same rhetoric and responses coming out of this sham organization that mirror similar arguments I've heard from the right "we are too legit, and we're so put upon by you asking these questions and feel we're under attack so we're not coming out" feel about it? Probably the same way I feel about it (although in this case I'm chuckling - doesn't mean they aren't stupid arguments).
And finally, the "Huhn, why didn't I think of that" file about Bell City Council and their salaries. Oh, yeah, I remember. Because we'd go to jail because of it. Hope they enjoy their time wearing Orange.
Might be a little post hoc ergo prompter hoc, but this is interesting. That's a chart showing the difference between the top 1% earners and the rest of us. I haven't delved too deep into the data set yet (I'd be interested in seeing, say, how the demographics play out between those in the top 20% to the lower 80%). But food for thought when the battles come about how we need to have the rich have more so they can create more jobs. This chart definitely talks to that point and pretty much makes a raspberry in its face.
Points at Eric and says, yes. And I'll add to the argument that the crazy right seems to have lost context. They're all about the "But they got that for Xmas and we want one too" style of revenge attacks. Well, buddy, just because the one side actually has a case for being lead into an unpopular war, suffered under debilitating tax cuts (yes, you read that right, see "deficit" if you're wondering what I'm talking about), and had the fear drum pounded more than enough times doesn't mean you also have to have a little red ball because you lost the election.
Roger Ebert may no longer be able to speak, but man, he still has a powerful voice.
And then there's the "Official Michigan Tea Party", the one that will actually be on the ballot, that may be a sham. I wonder how my conservative friends feel seeing the same rhetoric and responses coming out of this sham organization that mirror similar arguments I've heard from the right "we are too legit, and we're so put upon by you asking these questions and feel we're under attack so we're not coming out" feel about it? Probably the same way I feel about it (although in this case I'm chuckling - doesn't mean they aren't stupid arguments).
And finally, the "Huhn, why didn't I think of that" file about Bell City Council and their salaries. Oh, yeah, I remember. Because we'd go to jail because of it. Hope they enjoy their time wearing Orange.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Oh, the things you'll see
I swear this morning there was a road-kill chinchilla on the side of the road.
Don't have much today. Tired. Stressed. Can't seem to get ahead no matter what I do.
The quiz/test tonight I'm sure I got at least two wrong (spelled "graft" as "graph" - occupational hazard, and forgot what the Thalamus does - but then we were told we didn't need to know the functions, just the part names). And I might have gotten a third wrong. Exam was 40 points, with an extra 2 point bonus. We'll see tomorrow.
Did take a picture this morning. No, not of the chinchilla (that was on a hill and I was attempting to get to work at a faster rate of speed than Slow Poke Amish Taxi in front of me wanted to drive). Hopefully get that posted soon.
Don't have much today. Tired. Stressed. Can't seem to get ahead no matter what I do.
The quiz/test tonight I'm sure I got at least two wrong (spelled "graft" as "graph" - occupational hazard, and forgot what the Thalamus does - but then we were told we didn't need to know the functions, just the part names). And I might have gotten a third wrong. Exam was 40 points, with an extra 2 point bonus. We'll see tomorrow.
Did take a picture this morning. No, not of the chinchilla (that was on a hill and I was attempting to get to work at a faster rate of speed than Slow Poke Amish Taxi in front of me wanted to drive). Hopefully get that posted soon.
Monday, July 26, 2010
I can read the writing on the wall
Mamma don't take my Kodacrhome away.
Well, she may not, but Kodak will.
And I really don't see digital as a replacement. Comparatively, digital sucks, but that's also a circumstance of lens quality, apertures available, speed of exposure, and focal length. But digital is cheap. And everybody is doing it. People wonder how I take such good photos (when I take them as photos instead of snapshots). It's because I have photo training using film. Trust me, forcing a CCD to behave like chemical film is a bitch. And there are several techniques (light painting for instance) that will disappear. Many people don't know that the photos they've seen everyday can't be done on digital (tire photography, many of those tire images you see in the ads have exposure times best rated in either whole or fractions of hours). CCDs have a time limit, unlike film where you can let an image build up. After so long a CCD will lose it's charge.
But then there are cool things you can do digitally that you couldn't do with film. I'm not sure the trade off is worth it, but ask me in twenty years. By then we should have seen the digital analog to Ansel Adams or Al Stieglitz.
Well, she may not, but Kodak will.
And I really don't see digital as a replacement. Comparatively, digital sucks, but that's also a circumstance of lens quality, apertures available, speed of exposure, and focal length. But digital is cheap. And everybody is doing it. People wonder how I take such good photos (when I take them as photos instead of snapshots). It's because I have photo training using film. Trust me, forcing a CCD to behave like chemical film is a bitch. And there are several techniques (light painting for instance) that will disappear. Many people don't know that the photos they've seen everyday can't be done on digital (tire photography, many of those tire images you see in the ads have exposure times best rated in either whole or fractions of hours). CCDs have a time limit, unlike film where you can let an image build up. After so long a CCD will lose it's charge.
But then there are cool things you can do digitally that you couldn't do with film. I'm not sure the trade off is worth it, but ask me in twenty years. By then we should have seen the digital analog to Ansel Adams or Al Stieglitz.
Friday, July 23, 2010
I get pulled back in
Feeling the need to craw in a hole and not come out. Instead, at the end of work, I'm off to Pittsburg for Confluence. No rest for the wicked. And on top of it all, I'm behind in my reading for the class (that's not going to get done before Monday), and I have one and a half more stories to get through for the Hamster critique on Sunday. The plus is that Confluence isn't really a party Con. Considering that one of the pillars of the community passed away this year and much of the first night is devoted to a memorial, I'm guessing it'll be even less this year. And in the "it's good news, but bad news too" category, most of the people I hang out with won't be here this year. So I'll have some more time, but will miss them and will be feeling out new connections. And while at other cons the bar is the good place to hang, Confluence is also different in that context.
And, lastly, some others thoughts on Breitbart, from language log, some more thought's from John Scalzi, and finally an interesting twist to what this might have been about. As I've said in the comments, he isn't stupid. Although he's trying that as a defense. No, I'm pretty sure Breitbart did the full political calculation before releasing the edited video.
(the gods but I keep from trying to be political, and then I run across something like this) Dear Mr. Gingrinch, for your desire to bring Saudi Arabia style bigotry here to the US, please, sir, (expletive deleted) and die. As someone who is an elite (say, how many years did you teach college?) you have few stones to throw. Also, since you are a student of history, know full well the Christians also converted Mosques to Churches in the areas they conquered during various crusades. Such activity (the conversion and reconvertion of holy sites were very common in history). You've adopted the stance of "I must leave, there go my people and I must lead them." We, the USA, are not Saudi Arabia, and your desire to remake us into the Christian version of that land can not be tolerated. You political calculations, desire to run for national office again, and lateness to this issue show you to be the opportunist bottom-feeder you are. Please, sir, return to your private home and lecture your fourth wife on the virtues of Family Values and leave the rest of us humans alone. Your return to the vitriol farms you cultivated in the 1994 "Republican Revolution" is neither needed or warranted. You are a smart person, stop behaving like an idiot. And please take your admonishment of "No self deception" to heart. Because, frankly, you've refined it to an art form.
And, lastly, some others thoughts on Breitbart, from language log, some more thought's from John Scalzi, and finally an interesting twist to what this might have been about. As I've said in the comments, he isn't stupid. Although he's trying that as a defense. No, I'm pretty sure Breitbart did the full political calculation before releasing the edited video.
(the gods but I keep from trying to be political, and then I run across something like this) Dear Mr. Gingrinch, for your desire to bring Saudi Arabia style bigotry here to the US, please, sir, (expletive deleted) and die. As someone who is an elite (say, how many years did you teach college?) you have few stones to throw. Also, since you are a student of history, know full well the Christians also converted Mosques to Churches in the areas they conquered during various crusades. Such activity (the conversion and reconvertion of holy sites were very common in history). You've adopted the stance of "I must leave, there go my people and I must lead them." We, the USA, are not Saudi Arabia, and your desire to remake us into the Christian version of that land can not be tolerated. You political calculations, desire to run for national office again, and lateness to this issue show you to be the opportunist bottom-feeder you are. Please, sir, return to your private home and lecture your fourth wife on the virtues of Family Values and leave the rest of us humans alone. Your return to the vitriol farms you cultivated in the 1994 "Republican Revolution" is neither needed or warranted. You are a smart person, stop behaving like an idiot. And please take your admonishment of "No self deception" to heart. Because, frankly, you've refined it to an art form.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
My GPA slips below 100%
Well, my over all hasn't. On the quiz last night I scored 29 out of 30 (there were no extra credit questions). And I know what I got wrong. I had originally selected the correct answer and then, on my third review of the question, changed my answer. The correct answer was cheilosis, and I changed it to chielosis (it was a multiple choice question). BTW, cheilosis is an abnormal condition of the lips (typically cold sores).
I have a longer post about my class. Short story is that medical terminology is sold as "a precision" language, but in reality it is a language of exclusion. It is meant to make those who don't know the secret handshake feel stupid and left out. It is meant to confuse the average person. Some terms, sure, help greatly. Most terms, however, are meant to keep the lay person at arms length and to keep you from questioning your doctor. You may have heard about how many mistakes are made in hospitals/doctors offices everyday? Part of that is the language used. When an abbreviation can mean several different things, it invites confusion and error. And now that medical terminology is used in the public sphere, the terms keep changing.
Oh, and overall I have 101 out of 100 points so far.
I have a longer post about my class. Short story is that medical terminology is sold as "a precision" language, but in reality it is a language of exclusion. It is meant to make those who don't know the secret handshake feel stupid and left out. It is meant to confuse the average person. Some terms, sure, help greatly. Most terms, however, are meant to keep the lay person at arms length and to keep you from questioning your doctor. You may have heard about how many mistakes are made in hospitals/doctors offices everyday? Part of that is the language used. When an abbreviation can mean several different things, it invites confusion and error. And now that medical terminology is used in the public sphere, the terms keep changing.
Oh, and overall I have 101 out of 100 points so far.
Two for a Wednesday
Okay, I give up. When this kind of thing shows up, it means the culture is dead and about to be overthrown. That is the very definition of decadence. It happened to the Romans. Near the end of their run their columns and monuments became nearly indecipherable. Type became ornament. As in all of it became ornament. Same with the Greeks, Asyrians, Egyptians, Mayans, Aztecs, etc. It's a symptom of cultural decay.
So, is Breitbart next up for the "We don't know who you're talking about" (aka Mark Williams) treatment? Probably not. Seriously, you didn't see this happening when you posted the (admittedly) edited video? Sorry, just not buying it, but I guess it's a good story. Much better than Williams response. Well, I guess you could say that when you have the world view Andrew does. "Woe, poor is us because they're all against us and nobody else has to meet these standards, we are put upon," it can make sense. Strange how the world isn't exactly they way he thinks it is. Note to Breitbart, it's called a bubble, and you're living in one.
And given the kerfluffle over the 2007 Onion piece on internment camps, sometimes I don't think live in the same reality as some people.
So, is Breitbart next up for the "We don't know who you're talking about" (aka Mark Williams) treatment? Probably not. Seriously, you didn't see this happening when you posted the (admittedly) edited video? Sorry, just not buying it, but I guess it's a good story. Much better than Williams response. Well, I guess you could say that when you have the world view Andrew does. "Woe, poor is us because they're all against us and nobody else has to meet these standards, we are put upon," it can make sense. Strange how the world isn't exactly they way he thinks it is. Note to Breitbart, it's called a bubble, and you're living in one.
And given the kerfluffle over the 2007 Onion piece on internment camps, sometimes I don't think live in the same reality as some people.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
It's Tuesday, so it must be a Kindle
Well, I'm willing to be corrected, but there's a little hijinkery going on here. I'm talking about the news today of e-books out selling hardbacks at the Amazon store. Yes, expect to have the "Publishing is Dead, All Hail the New Format" folks doing happy dances all over the internets. Unfortunately, the news isn't all that good. First of all, this is just Amazon (and while Amazon is big, it's not that big). Next, it's just hardbacks, and if you read the whole thing, paperbacks are still the biggest sellers. Thirdly, for the past three years Amazon has had the Kindle at the top of it's home page. Also, there is no breakdown of if the books sold were new releases, or the $0.99 books. Or even the free ones offered by some self publishers.
As a secondary note, please see the whole, "When the iPad came out, Amazon slashed Kindle prices, which increased sales." Amazon also offers free Kindle readers for the iPhone and iPad. However, they aren't releasing numbers for their Kindle sales.
So good news for e-books. But not the world shattering news they want you to believe it is.
edited 7-20- 2:30pm Speaking of Amazon, here's an interesting look at the e-book kerfluffle of this past year. Not so good for the Amazon side. Warning, it's a long article (heck, I haven't finished it yet, but then I'm at work). The arguments about choice and "perspective" though are very informative. Also, lots of publishing as a business napery. Very good article.
As a secondary note, please see the whole, "When the iPad came out, Amazon slashed Kindle prices, which increased sales." Amazon also offers free Kindle readers for the iPhone and iPad. However, they aren't releasing numbers for their Kindle sales.
So good news for e-books. But not the world shattering news they want you to believe it is.
edited 7-20- 2:30pm Speaking of Amazon, here's an interesting look at the e-book kerfluffle of this past year. Not so good for the Amazon side. Warning, it's a long article (heck, I haven't finished it yet, but then I'm at work). The arguments about choice and "perspective" though are very informative. Also, lots of publishing as a business napery. Very good article.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Some midday writing thoughts
S. Andrew Swann has some very poignant things to say about a writer having a web presence. At this point, for the writing, this blog is it (and as I said in a previous blog I seem to be getting on a political jaunt instead of talking about the writing).
There is a reason for that political bent over the writing, being that I haven't been writing much as of late. Take the old job with the Census which really was an "on all the time" kind of position, even though it was sold as "when you can" (the difference between marketing and reality - deleted political comment here), new job which takes up 55 hours a week (40 hours of work, 5 hours of lunch - which, yes, we'd like to reclaim for writing RSN - and 10 hours of commute), and retraining (thankfully I'm down to just two nights a week - but after three weeks of class this is the first week I find myself wondering what I can do with my newly won back Mondays and Wednesdays). There's been some wordage along the way, but not much to talk about. Maybe 10,000 words all put together over the past three months (not including blog posts and comments - those don't count, see Steve's comments linked above, and I agree with that).
The gods, but I need to get back to writing fiction (just ask my friend Dan). It gnaws at me like a squirrel mainlining meth in the middle of a walnut grove near harvest time.
There is a reason for that political bent over the writing, being that I haven't been writing much as of late. Take the old job with the Census which really was an "on all the time" kind of position, even though it was sold as "when you can" (the difference between marketing and reality - deleted political comment here), new job which takes up 55 hours a week (40 hours of work, 5 hours of lunch - which, yes, we'd like to reclaim for writing RSN - and 10 hours of commute), and retraining (thankfully I'm down to just two nights a week - but after three weeks of class this is the first week I find myself wondering what I can do with my newly won back Mondays and Wednesdays). There's been some wordage along the way, but not much to talk about. Maybe 10,000 words all put together over the past three months (not including blog posts and comments - those don't count, see Steve's comments linked above, and I agree with that).
The gods, but I need to get back to writing fiction (just ask my friend Dan). It gnaws at me like a squirrel mainlining meth in the middle of a walnut grove near harvest time.
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