Congrats Mer Haskell on your Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature nomination. Well done, and well deserved. And, I believe, this isn't your first nomination. :)
The writer's life. Well, she might have gotten good exposure for her poetry at the wedding – to all the people who will never buy a book of poetry.
Aw hell. Amazon to collect sales tax in Ohio. Well, it was good while it lasted. I guess now I'll start ordering from other outlets (Amazon wasn't always the lowest, but with free shipping it could be the total lowest price, not any more.)
"Ellen Pao’s long legal fight against her former employer Kleiner Perkins isn’t over… Pao and her legal team filed a notice of appeal in her gender discrimination and retaliation case against the high-profile venture capital firm…" I guess their attempt to buy her off with the offer to waive the million dollars worth of legal fees she would owe KP for losing the first stage of her fight didn't work. (Grokked from Annalee Flower Horne)
"A completely new alkaline battery is rated to generate 1.5 volts, but once its output drops below 1.35 or even 1.4 volts, it effectively becomes useless to many devices… It’s important to note that while 'dead' batteries typically have 80 percent of their energy remaining inside, Batteriser doesn’t suck these cells completely dry… Let’s say you buy a new battery. You use it for a month and its voltage drops to 1.4. It’s now ostensibly dead at 1.4 volts, but if you slip on a Batteriser, its output increases to 1.5 volts for another month." How miniaturizing old tech can provide new life to an old business. In this case, extending the life of disposable batteries by 8x using a device that will cost around $2.50. And it'll fit in the current battery compartments. I'm going to have to watch for their Indigogo campaign. (Grokked from Dan)
The cavalry is making a come back in the Special Forces. Turns out, a horse or mule is much better in back country than anything else. You may or may not know about this. From what I heard, the Northern Alliance was skeptical of accepting American help to fight the Taliban, until that charge down the hill by Special Forces, most of whom didn't know how to ride very well. That showed the Afghanis that Americans could be trusted and that we wanted in the fight (also that we were crazy as hell). At the next battle, the soldiers held the Northern Alliance back as they called in air strikes on the Taliban forces that were dug in. Nobody saw or heard the planes who dropped the new JDAMs from miles away and decimated the entrenched tanks and heavy weapons (here's a more sanitized version, the NA may have been ragtag, but they had been keeping the Taliban at bay for a decade, draw your own conclusions). That cemented our alliance and gained cooperation of the Northern Alliance. (Grokked from Janiece)
What's holding the economy back? The rich aren't spending nearly enough. Okay, well, the nearly rich or as this article calls them "HENRYs, or high earners not rich yet." Those "Americans who earn $100,000 to $249,999 a year…" Apparently they aren't feeling like they're on solid ground, yet. Because, unlike their richer "peers" they don't make most of their money in the stock market. An interesting article for a couple of reasons. First, yes, consumer spending is a large portion of our GDP (70% according to this article). Also some insight on how the rich see themselves (note that a quarter million dollars a year is someone who is not rich yet). (Grokked from John Scalzi)
Air America now in America. The FBI has set up front companies to operate an air force that is spying on us all. Not only with the use of Stingrays (which I had heard about a while ago), but apparently they're also doing video surveillance. Sure you can trust the government, just ask the nearest Indian or whale.
Oh look, Fox News finally wants to talk about the Duggars. "Fox News host Megyn Kelly… (a)fter playing a CNN clip noting that several Republicans have posed for pictures with Josh Duggar in the past… lambasted the media for 'trying to make this the problem of the Republican presidential field.'" It's all about the politics and I'm sure the Duggars are the real victims here (well, actually, some of them are because Josh molested his sisters).
"Melting ice in the Arctic is creating opportunities for access to oil and gas, and shipping lanes. But the area is still mostly frozen and navigating the inhospitable region on top of the world still requires an icebreaker, the heavy duty ships that are able to crash through massive layers of ice." And we've got one heavy icebreaker left, and she's at least 10 years past retirement. You know all those supposed "hawks" in Congress, they wouldn't know what actual security was if they had a map and two sherpas to help guide them find it. I'm sure the business sector will supply some real soon now. Not.
Photographer David Jay's Unknown Soldier series. The price of war and the cost of our freedom. It's my wish that every politician who espouses in favor of more war, or from whose lips tumbles the easy phrase "last full measure of devotion" (or its kin) should see these. (Grokked from Janiece)
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Monday, June 1, 2015
Linkee-poo bet your mama was a tent show queen and all her boyfriends were sweet sixteen
Jim Hines with more thoughts on the Scalzi deal. Plus, are people seriously arguing that $3.4 over a decade is not enough cash to enjoy life? That's an average of $340,000 a year (note, deal most likely isn't based on a yearly amount, but as books are delivered, edited, and published), or (without doing hard math)$150,000 after taxes, agent cut, fees, titling and delivery charges. WT Total F?
S. Andrew Swann on foreshadowing the crap out of everything and how that leads to the page turning.
What should come as no surprise at this time, an "(a)nalysis of the last 15 years of winners of six major literary awards by the critically acclaimed author Nicola Griffith has found that a novel is more likely to land a prize if the focus of the narrative is male" But, shh, the puppies aren't listening. Also, women are still hitting the glass ceiling in an industry that supposedly had shattered it. (Grokked from Terri Windling)
An electronic billboard that recognizes police uniforms and can switch ads depending on who is looking. For your dystopian-future world-building exercises. (Grokked from Dan)
Drunken chipmunk. A cellphone game of the "like this if you agree" type in an attempt to go viral. With ads (or public service messages).I suggest listening to the story.
Why you should always get a receipt. Woman drops off late husband's Apple I computer at recycling center without knowing it was worth a few hundred thousand. The center sold the computer for $200,000, half of which should go to her. Unfortunately, because she didn't want a receipt for taxes, the center doesn't have her name or contact info. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
Message to my Freshman Class. Wow. Okay. First of all ::slow clap::. But I have a feeling someone is going to learn a lesson with this class, and I'm not entirely certain it's only going to be your students. Dr. Keith M. Parsons, if you're tenured, god bless you, sir. I'll point out that doesn't have the same level of imperviousness as it used to have. But your administration may differ from your stance on your roll in educating students. Your view was the prevailing thought when I went to university. Much of the world has changed since then. Your administration no longer sees those kids (and not-so-kids these days) as students, but as customers. And they expect you to behave like that's the case. And if you were an adjunct, you'd most certainly understand that by now. BTW, if you can do this, I hope you're working hard on your committees to help protect the adjuncts so that they have the same freedom who think you still have. And if you're not (or you don't think it's your responsibility), I'll just call you the asshole you are at this point and move on. Also, as someone who has just gone back to school for retraining, if I was taking your course it most certainly matters how you help me learn, and the quality of your presentation. And if it's not helpful to me, you can bet I'll ask for my money back (because if you haven't seen what you charge for tuition lately, you might want to look and then compare it to the average income). If you stand in my way, I will steamroller you to get to that fountain of knowledge you believe you are the keeper of. And finally, while I can't find the youtube video of it, I'll point you to the line in the Big Bang Theory, Season 2: Episode 4 - "The Griffin Equivalency" when Dr. Gablehauser asks the boys what the goal of the University is. The answer? "To make money." - Dr. Gablehauser, "See, I told ya so" - Howard Wolowitz. (Grokked from someone, sorry, dropped the link)
"As more and more parents choose to skip vaccinations for their children, public health professionals and researchers have been looking at new ways to ease the concerns of parents who are hesitant… But that turns out to be tough to do. Studies have found that simply educating parents about the safety and efficacy of vaccines doesn't increase the likelihood that they will get children vaccinated." Stupid is as stupid does. There are other studies that have found that as people who hold unsupported positions based on emotional response, when presented with factual information that refutes their beliefs, they cling even more closely to those beliefs and are not swayed. Plus, the researchers must have missed the other studies where people have been shown to not follow doctor's directives regarding their own health care.
"The string of massive snowstorms and bone-chilling cold on the US east coast, as well as flooding in Britain and record temperatures in Europe, are linked to rapid ice loss in the Arctic, new research appears to confirm." We're boned. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
Professional skeleton and part-time Fox Gadfly, Ann Coulter said, "No fat chicks… when it comes to immigration. When she's in charge. Fortunately, a civil society would never let a sociopath in charge of anything.
Remember when conservatives were all against frivolous lawsuits? Well, now that their 30 year plan to instill ideologically-aligned judges into the federal judiciary, they see the courts as their strongest ace in the hole.
Apparently it is a thing. "Ritzheimer said he organized the protest in response to a similar cartoon contest in Garland, Texas that was interrupted by two alleged Islamic State sympathizers… Ritzheimer told television station KSAZ on Friday that he was going into hiding after the rally, which drew hundreds of people, including many who opposed him." You know, this peaceful guy. And now he wants your cash to keep his family safe, or run for Senate (I guess he's never heard of election reporting rules). $10 Million should do it, he thinks.
Guns, guns, and more guns. It's called a "fetish" and it doesn't look good on you all. And here, again, will I give you my advice for the Y2K hysteria, if you're going to go get a gun for "security", if you're not putting at least a thousand rounds through it every year, you aren't trained to use it properly. If those teachers aren't re-certified every year to use those riles (and you refresh you ammunition stock at least every five years) you're just asking for trouble.
S. Andrew Swann on foreshadowing the crap out of everything and how that leads to the page turning.
What should come as no surprise at this time, an "(a)nalysis of the last 15 years of winners of six major literary awards by the critically acclaimed author Nicola Griffith has found that a novel is more likely to land a prize if the focus of the narrative is male" But, shh, the puppies aren't listening. Also, women are still hitting the glass ceiling in an industry that supposedly had shattered it. (Grokked from Terri Windling)
An electronic billboard that recognizes police uniforms and can switch ads depending on who is looking. For your dystopian-future world-building exercises. (Grokked from Dan)
Drunken chipmunk. A cellphone game of the "like this if you agree" type in an attempt to go viral. With ads (or public service messages).I suggest listening to the story.
Why you should always get a receipt. Woman drops off late husband's Apple I computer at recycling center without knowing it was worth a few hundred thousand. The center sold the computer for $200,000, half of which should go to her. Unfortunately, because she didn't want a receipt for taxes, the center doesn't have her name or contact info. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
Message to my Freshman Class. Wow. Okay. First of all ::slow clap::. But I have a feeling someone is going to learn a lesson with this class, and I'm not entirely certain it's only going to be your students. Dr. Keith M. Parsons, if you're tenured, god bless you, sir. I'll point out that doesn't have the same level of imperviousness as it used to have. But your administration may differ from your stance on your roll in educating students. Your view was the prevailing thought when I went to university. Much of the world has changed since then. Your administration no longer sees those kids (and not-so-kids these days) as students, but as customers. And they expect you to behave like that's the case. And if you were an adjunct, you'd most certainly understand that by now. BTW, if you can do this, I hope you're working hard on your committees to help protect the adjuncts so that they have the same freedom who think you still have. And if you're not (or you don't think it's your responsibility), I'll just call you the asshole you are at this point and move on. Also, as someone who has just gone back to school for retraining, if I was taking your course it most certainly matters how you help me learn, and the quality of your presentation. And if it's not helpful to me, you can bet I'll ask for my money back (because if you haven't seen what you charge for tuition lately, you might want to look and then compare it to the average income). If you stand in my way, I will steamroller you to get to that fountain of knowledge you believe you are the keeper of. And finally, while I can't find the youtube video of it, I'll point you to the line in the Big Bang Theory, Season 2: Episode 4 - "The Griffin Equivalency" when Dr. Gablehauser asks the boys what the goal of the University is. The answer? "To make money." - Dr. Gablehauser, "See, I told ya so" - Howard Wolowitz. (Grokked from someone, sorry, dropped the link)
"As more and more parents choose to skip vaccinations for their children, public health professionals and researchers have been looking at new ways to ease the concerns of parents who are hesitant… But that turns out to be tough to do. Studies have found that simply educating parents about the safety and efficacy of vaccines doesn't increase the likelihood that they will get children vaccinated." Stupid is as stupid does. There are other studies that have found that as people who hold unsupported positions based on emotional response, when presented with factual information that refutes their beliefs, they cling even more closely to those beliefs and are not swayed. Plus, the researchers must have missed the other studies where people have been shown to not follow doctor's directives regarding their own health care.
"The string of massive snowstorms and bone-chilling cold on the US east coast, as well as flooding in Britain and record temperatures in Europe, are linked to rapid ice loss in the Arctic, new research appears to confirm." We're boned. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
Professional skeleton and part-time Fox Gadfly, Ann Coulter said, "No fat chicks… when it comes to immigration. When she's in charge. Fortunately, a civil society would never let a sociopath in charge of anything.
Remember when conservatives were all against frivolous lawsuits? Well, now that their 30 year plan to instill ideologically-aligned judges into the federal judiciary, they see the courts as their strongest ace in the hole.
Apparently it is a thing. "Ritzheimer said he organized the protest in response to a similar cartoon contest in Garland, Texas that was interrupted by two alleged Islamic State sympathizers… Ritzheimer told television station KSAZ on Friday that he was going into hiding after the rally, which drew hundreds of people, including many who opposed him." You know, this peaceful guy. And now he wants your cash to keep his family safe, or run for Senate (I guess he's never heard of election reporting rules). $10 Million should do it, he thinks.
Guns, guns, and more guns. It's called a "fetish" and it doesn't look good on you all. And here, again, will I give you my advice for the Y2K hysteria, if you're going to go get a gun for "security", if you're not putting at least a thousand rounds through it every year, you aren't trained to use it properly. If those teachers aren't re-certified every year to use those riles (and you refresh you ammunition stock at least every five years) you're just asking for trouble.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Linkee-poo has to turn my head until my darkness goes
Trophic cascade. Or, on the need of predators in an ecosystem demonstrated by the reintroduction of the wolf to Yellowstone. The park became heather and fuller of all kinds of life. Even the rivers changed how they flowed. Also pointed to because I've heard the arguments, tainted with hubris, about how man can manage the wild better than having a diverse biosphere. Remind me to tell you what happened to my lawn when we introduced worms (our soils in Ashtabula County are notorious for being poor ground to find worms, it's very heavy clay). (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
"The accident may have happened because owners have to pay for a special feature known as 'pedestrian detection functionality', which costs extra." Oh, you wanted it to NOT plough into people. Well, that'll be another few thousand. Frankly, I think we just saw Skynet's birth wail. And now, not only do you have to keep upgrading your computer, your tablet, your phone, your thermostat you now have to keep upgrading your car. Fantastic. (Grokked from John)
You have a face for radio. NPR uses software to just listeners voices. Damn, I missed this open call for samples. I've been told I have a voice that could put rocks to sleep.
"In a study published in the journal Environmental Psychology, the University of Melbourne’s Kate Lee and a group of colleagues found that interrupting a tedious, attention-demanding task with a 40-second 'microbreak' — in which one simply looks at a computerized image of a green roof — improved focus as well as subsequent performance on the task." Although it has also been shown that small breaks (of any kind) improve focus, and it might be that viewing images of concrete negatively impact performance. But given the choice, I'd take the grass and flowers image every single time. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
Bill Nye on the Universe talking to you (from "Inside Amy Schumer"). Hahahaha. Wait a sec, I use that line! Damnit! Bill Nye is cussing ME out. Okay, but, yea, I've seen others use it exactly (well, close) to how it's demonstrated in the show. For me, typically a theme needs to come up about 3 or 4 times from different vectors before I see it as the Universe trying to tell me something (it's mostly a shorthand for synchronicity). (Grokked from Dan)
The truth about that McDonald's Coffee Lawsuit that you've heard about. I don't know about you, but I hear it referred to as least once every other month (no, I'm not employing hyperbole here, it's probably more often, but just a quick mental check and I think I can prove the 6 times a year) from many different sources. What they don't talk about is why those McD's were serving coffee at 180° (which will scald your mouth, which, BTW, is illegal in most states, food can not be served at a temperature that will cause damage). But that's a whole entire post. But, yes, McD's has been very active in spinning this story, as have been the GOP. (Grokked from Saladin Ahmed)
"The Briefcase, premiering on CBS at 8 p.m. Wednesday, features 'American families experiencing financial setbacks,'… The family is given a briefcase with $101,000 in it, and then they're shown another family who's 'experiencing financial setbacks.' They have to decide how much money to keep and how much to give the other people, or whether they want to keep it all for themselves; neither family knows both families have in fact received a briefcase, and that their counterparts are also deliberating over if and how to share the money." Well, that sounds like fun. Hey, CBS, why don't we skip the human interest side and get straight to showing starving rats fighting over pieces of cheese, or if you want actual human interest I hear probate courts are just filled with it. Hell, you wouldn't even have to put up $202,000. And why am I reminded of the line from Drew Carry, "Why $68? Because we spent millions to find out that's what you people think of as 'a lot of money.'" I thought that with "reality shows" we already had the shark jumping moment, but I guess we now have to jump sharks with frickin' lasers on their heads. (Grokked from Kameon Hurley)
"The CEO of one of the world’s largest oil companies downplayed the effects of climate change at his company’s annual meeting Wednesday, telling shareholders his firm hadn’t invested in renewable energy because 'We choose not to lose money on purpose.'" Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, the heat wave in India has killed over 1000 and is melting the asphalt roads. No need to worry. "The company recently sent a representative to lobby the Vatican over an encyclical Pope Francis plans to deliver this summer on the impact of climate change. Exxon reportedly fears that such an encyclical could damage its business." Okay, maybe worry a little. (Grokked from Paolo Bacigalupi and Morgan J Locke)
"Potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said in an interview on Friday that mandatory ultrasounds for women hoping to get an abortion was 'just a cool thing.'" He seems nice. Well, to be fair, his actual quote is that having ultrasound pictures of your children are kinda cool. But the implication that forcing a woman to look at an ultrasound before we allow her to get an abortion because then she'll choose to not get an abortion goes to the very poison in the minds of the pro-life movement (that they think women willy-nilly get abortions and that the women just don't understand what they're doing with their bodies). While this will play well to the conservative base, my response is, "Okay, thanks, we're done here." Go home, Scott Walker, you're drunk.
In the wake of the derailment of their train from speeding through a corner, Amtrak will now install cameras inside the control department of their trains. Because that'll help. You know, instead of using those funds and time to finish installing Positive Train Control along their routes.
What should come as little surprise, Fox News devoted less than 2 minutes for the Duggar story between May 21 and 25th. "The revelations drew widespread criticism in the media, with many outlets pointing out the Duggar family's reputation as a torch-bearer for conservative values and strong involvement in Republican politics and anti-LGBT activism." The friends we keep. (Grokked from CC Findlay)
Okay, most police officers are actually good people doing a tough job while trying to maintain their humanity. And then there are the assholes. Seriously, didn't they learn anything from Abu Ghraib? Posing with hunting rifles, over a black man (supposed drug dealer) on the floor with antlers on his head? Oh, you guys are so fucking fired (although one is appealing). To the good guys, you can't protect these people and retain the respect and trust of the populous. (Grokked from Ferrett Steinmetz)
Ricky don't lose that number. Just when we think he's out, Ricky Santorum pulls himself back in. Yea, actually if you've followed me you know I knew he would. Also, Ricky, unless he flames out will probably be the nominee (if history is any guide to go by). I would have, you know, Googled to find Ricky's website and his announcement, but, uh, you know.
"The accident may have happened because owners have to pay for a special feature known as 'pedestrian detection functionality', which costs extra." Oh, you wanted it to NOT plough into people. Well, that'll be another few thousand. Frankly, I think we just saw Skynet's birth wail. And now, not only do you have to keep upgrading your computer, your tablet, your phone, your thermostat you now have to keep upgrading your car. Fantastic. (Grokked from John)
You have a face for radio. NPR uses software to just listeners voices. Damn, I missed this open call for samples. I've been told I have a voice that could put rocks to sleep.
"In a study published in the journal Environmental Psychology, the University of Melbourne’s Kate Lee and a group of colleagues found that interrupting a tedious, attention-demanding task with a 40-second 'microbreak' — in which one simply looks at a computerized image of a green roof — improved focus as well as subsequent performance on the task." Although it has also been shown that small breaks (of any kind) improve focus, and it might be that viewing images of concrete negatively impact performance. But given the choice, I'd take the grass and flowers image every single time. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
Bill Nye on the Universe talking to you (from "Inside Amy Schumer"). Hahahaha. Wait a sec, I use that line! Damnit! Bill Nye is cussing ME out. Okay, but, yea, I've seen others use it exactly (well, close) to how it's demonstrated in the show. For me, typically a theme needs to come up about 3 or 4 times from different vectors before I see it as the Universe trying to tell me something (it's mostly a shorthand for synchronicity). (Grokked from Dan)
The truth about that McDonald's Coffee Lawsuit that you've heard about. I don't know about you, but I hear it referred to as least once every other month (no, I'm not employing hyperbole here, it's probably more often, but just a quick mental check and I think I can prove the 6 times a year) from many different sources. What they don't talk about is why those McD's were serving coffee at 180° (which will scald your mouth, which, BTW, is illegal in most states, food can not be served at a temperature that will cause damage). But that's a whole entire post. But, yes, McD's has been very active in spinning this story, as have been the GOP. (Grokked from Saladin Ahmed)
"The Briefcase, premiering on CBS at 8 p.m. Wednesday, features 'American families experiencing financial setbacks,'… The family is given a briefcase with $101,000 in it, and then they're shown another family who's 'experiencing financial setbacks.' They have to decide how much money to keep and how much to give the other people, or whether they want to keep it all for themselves; neither family knows both families have in fact received a briefcase, and that their counterparts are also deliberating over if and how to share the money." Well, that sounds like fun. Hey, CBS, why don't we skip the human interest side and get straight to showing starving rats fighting over pieces of cheese, or if you want actual human interest I hear probate courts are just filled with it. Hell, you wouldn't even have to put up $202,000. And why am I reminded of the line from Drew Carry, "Why $68? Because we spent millions to find out that's what you people think of as 'a lot of money.'" I thought that with "reality shows" we already had the shark jumping moment, but I guess we now have to jump sharks with frickin' lasers on their heads. (Grokked from Kameon Hurley)
"The CEO of one of the world’s largest oil companies downplayed the effects of climate change at his company’s annual meeting Wednesday, telling shareholders his firm hadn’t invested in renewable energy because 'We choose not to lose money on purpose.'" Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, the heat wave in India has killed over 1000 and is melting the asphalt roads. No need to worry. "The company recently sent a representative to lobby the Vatican over an encyclical Pope Francis plans to deliver this summer on the impact of climate change. Exxon reportedly fears that such an encyclical could damage its business." Okay, maybe worry a little. (Grokked from Paolo Bacigalupi and Morgan J Locke)
"Potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said in an interview on Friday that mandatory ultrasounds for women hoping to get an abortion was 'just a cool thing.'" He seems nice. Well, to be fair, his actual quote is that having ultrasound pictures of your children are kinda cool. But the implication that forcing a woman to look at an ultrasound before we allow her to get an abortion because then she'll choose to not get an abortion goes to the very poison in the minds of the pro-life movement (that they think women willy-nilly get abortions and that the women just don't understand what they're doing with their bodies). While this will play well to the conservative base, my response is, "Okay, thanks, we're done here." Go home, Scott Walker, you're drunk.
In the wake of the derailment of their train from speeding through a corner, Amtrak will now install cameras inside the control department of their trains. Because that'll help. You know, instead of using those funds and time to finish installing Positive Train Control along their routes.
What should come as little surprise, Fox News devoted less than 2 minutes for the Duggar story between May 21 and 25th. "The revelations drew widespread criticism in the media, with many outlets pointing out the Duggar family's reputation as a torch-bearer for conservative values and strong involvement in Republican politics and anti-LGBT activism." The friends we keep. (Grokked from CC Findlay)
Okay, most police officers are actually good people doing a tough job while trying to maintain their humanity. And then there are the assholes. Seriously, didn't they learn anything from Abu Ghraib? Posing with hunting rifles, over a black man (supposed drug dealer) on the floor with antlers on his head? Oh, you guys are so fucking fired (although one is appealing). To the good guys, you can't protect these people and retain the respect and trust of the populous. (Grokked from Ferrett Steinmetz)
Ricky don't lose that number. Just when we think he's out, Ricky Santorum pulls himself back in. Yea, actually if you've followed me you know I knew he would. Also, Ricky, unless he flames out will probably be the nominee (if history is any guide to go by). I would have, you know, Googled to find Ricky's website and his announcement, but, uh, you know.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Linkee-poo told you so many times before, you're gonna come back, baby
Happy birthday to Dashiell Hammett.
The comprehensive map of Clichea. That is excellent. (Grokked form Tor.com)
"Navy veteran Ron White honors fallen U.S. service men and women by writing their names on a wall, all from memory." White has won the USA Memory Championship twice. Now he's taken the skills he has learned and memorized the more than 2,300 military who have lost their lives in Afghanistan. And then he sets up his platform and writes every single one, in the order of their deaths. Stands and salutes.
"To some social observers, petting parties of the 1920s were a natural, post-First World War outgrowth of a repressed society. To others, the out-in-the-open hug-and-kissfests were blinking neon signposts on the Road to Perdition." Those damn kids with their hipping and their hopping.
Robert De Niro's NYU/Tisch School of the Arts graduation speech. "'Tisch graduates, you made it… and you’re fucked… The good news is, that’s not a bad place to start.'" Also, "Rejection might sting, but my feeling is that it often has very little to do with you."
You have a face for radio. NPR uses software to just listeners voices. Damn, I missed this open call for samples. I've been told I have a voice that could put rocks to sleep.
Good news, everyone! Bonuses for everybody! The rise of bonuses over getting, you know, actual pay and actual raises. Been here (part of my pay is tied to performance bonuses, and my "cost of living" raise for 2015 is now tied into those bonuses). Remember when companies actually paid people for their work? And why? "'It’s so much easier to not give a bonus than to cut someone’s pay,' Ms. Barrington said." Yep. BTW, no bonus for 3rd quarter 2015, no notice if the bonus plan is still in place (because that wold involve actual communications).
As someone who works in the industry that uses a lot of paper, it may be boring, but paper isn't dead yet. What is dead is the market for speciality papers (not all paper is the same, how you make toilet paper is different than making paper for cartons and for printed materials). In the 90s as we moved toward the "paperless office" we saw a decline in specialty sheets, but a sharp uptick in copy paper. Now copy paper has leveled out (note, copy paper isn't on their chart), but newsprint and book paper have declined. The much scarier chart is the decline in mid-market print shops.
The Planetary Society Lightsail Kickstarter. The prototype is currently in orbit, however that cubsat is just a proof of system (it will deploy a lightsail to test the mechanics, but is it too low an orbit to escape Earth's gravity and will burn up in the atmosphere. You may also remember that the original Lightsail cubesat was set to launch from a repurposed Russian submarine ballistic missile, which never made it to orbit. (Grokked from John)
"Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves, Commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space, has announced the certification of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation’s (SpaceX) Falcon 9 Launch System for national security space missions." Okay then. (Grokked from Robert J Bennett)
Finally, after years of reporting on the corruption, FIFA gets the knock on the door from law enforcement. Also noted for how reach people are treated when they're arrested as compared to the rest of us schlubs.
Shooting the messenger. "Arkansas state Sen. Bart Hester (R) told local TV station KFSM that he believed Springdale Police Chief Kathy O'Kelly compromised the identities of the eldest Duggar's alleged victims by releasing the police report." Except "… In Touch Weekly on Thursday published the offense report, which it obtained through a public records request. The names of the victims, as well as Josh Duggar's name, were redacted." I'm sure this has nothing to do with being embarrassed by having one of those "Family Values" shows being exposed for harboring a rapist.
A municipality in Oklahoma decides it wants to restrict fracking within its borders, state government freaks out and bans them from banning. Because it's all about local control, folks. Just like Texas. Except when the GOP led state government disagrees with local decisions. Also note, in Ohio our "home rule" rights have also been taken away by our GOP led state government.
So, let's take those "parental consent" laws and make it even tougher for teens who can't go to their parents but need a judge to approve their abortion. Because that seems fair.
A Texas Militia leader tries to be recognized by the county as a back up contingency force (a reserve militia). My country continues to look like a 3rd world hell-hole as these idiots gain more and more notoriety. If they weren't given cover by the right, it would be easier to dismiss them.
The comprehensive map of Clichea. That is excellent. (Grokked form Tor.com)
"Navy veteran Ron White honors fallen U.S. service men and women by writing their names on a wall, all from memory." White has won the USA Memory Championship twice. Now he's taken the skills he has learned and memorized the more than 2,300 military who have lost their lives in Afghanistan. And then he sets up his platform and writes every single one, in the order of their deaths. Stands and salutes.
"To some social observers, petting parties of the 1920s were a natural, post-First World War outgrowth of a repressed society. To others, the out-in-the-open hug-and-kissfests were blinking neon signposts on the Road to Perdition." Those damn kids with their hipping and their hopping.
Robert De Niro's NYU/Tisch School of the Arts graduation speech. "'Tisch graduates, you made it… and you’re fucked… The good news is, that’s not a bad place to start.'" Also, "Rejection might sting, but my feeling is that it often has very little to do with you."
You have a face for radio. NPR uses software to just listeners voices. Damn, I missed this open call for samples. I've been told I have a voice that could put rocks to sleep.
Good news, everyone! Bonuses for everybody! The rise of bonuses over getting, you know, actual pay and actual raises. Been here (part of my pay is tied to performance bonuses, and my "cost of living" raise for 2015 is now tied into those bonuses). Remember when companies actually paid people for their work? And why? "'It’s so much easier to not give a bonus than to cut someone’s pay,' Ms. Barrington said." Yep. BTW, no bonus for 3rd quarter 2015, no notice if the bonus plan is still in place (because that wold involve actual communications).
As someone who works in the industry that uses a lot of paper, it may be boring, but paper isn't dead yet. What is dead is the market for speciality papers (not all paper is the same, how you make toilet paper is different than making paper for cartons and for printed materials). In the 90s as we moved toward the "paperless office" we saw a decline in specialty sheets, but a sharp uptick in copy paper. Now copy paper has leveled out (note, copy paper isn't on their chart), but newsprint and book paper have declined. The much scarier chart is the decline in mid-market print shops.
The Planetary Society Lightsail Kickstarter. The prototype is currently in orbit, however that cubsat is just a proof of system (it will deploy a lightsail to test the mechanics, but is it too low an orbit to escape Earth's gravity and will burn up in the atmosphere. You may also remember that the original Lightsail cubesat was set to launch from a repurposed Russian submarine ballistic missile, which never made it to orbit. (Grokked from John)
"Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves, Commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) and Air Force Program Executive Officer for Space, has announced the certification of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation’s (SpaceX) Falcon 9 Launch System for national security space missions." Okay then. (Grokked from Robert J Bennett)
Finally, after years of reporting on the corruption, FIFA gets the knock on the door from law enforcement. Also noted for how reach people are treated when they're arrested as compared to the rest of us schlubs.
Shooting the messenger. "Arkansas state Sen. Bart Hester (R) told local TV station KFSM that he believed Springdale Police Chief Kathy O'Kelly compromised the identities of the eldest Duggar's alleged victims by releasing the police report." Except "… In Touch Weekly on Thursday published the offense report, which it obtained through a public records request. The names of the victims, as well as Josh Duggar's name, were redacted." I'm sure this has nothing to do with being embarrassed by having one of those "Family Values" shows being exposed for harboring a rapist.
A municipality in Oklahoma decides it wants to restrict fracking within its borders, state government freaks out and bans them from banning. Because it's all about local control, folks. Just like Texas. Except when the GOP led state government disagrees with local decisions. Also note, in Ohio our "home rule" rights have also been taken away by our GOP led state government.
So, let's take those "parental consent" laws and make it even tougher for teens who can't go to their parents but need a judge to approve their abortion. Because that seems fair.
A Texas Militia leader tries to be recognized by the county as a back up contingency force (a reserve militia). My country continues to look like a 3rd world hell-hole as these idiots gain more and more notoriety. If they weren't given cover by the right, it would be easier to dismiss them.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Ad Fails for the End of May
There's this State Farm commercial, "Never" that just annoys the heck out of me.
Everything the guy says is turned around in the next scene (or near the end of the scene) and he ends up doing exactly what he says he'd "never" do. And then the ad ends on him saying he's "never" going to leave this. So, what do you think happens in the next scene? Yea, that's why it drives me crazy. Logical constructs, they'll bite you in the ass.
So, do they mean when you drive a Mercedes-Benz, it's like being eaten by a t-rex? Or it drives like a dinosaur? Or that it takes a whole boatload of dinosaurs to fuel this puppy? Or, "we're afraid you're too stupid and might miss our product placement in the movie"?
And call me "sensitive" if you will, but WTF?
Take the pledge… to allow the NBA to market to you directly. Where is the conservative outcry about this? They took the Pledge of Allegiance (and we could have a whole discussion about that, but let's skip that for the moment) and twisted it for commercial purposes, but they're also asking the consumer to pledge allegiance to the NBA. Dear Oathkeepers, not keeping up your end of the deal here. There's a benefit to companies (and the NBA is a company, have no doubts about that) wrapping themselves in the flag and patriotic fervor, but then subverting that to suit your corporate greed… ah, no. You lose. Ad agencies, don't do this. Just don't.
Everything the guy says is turned around in the next scene (or near the end of the scene) and he ends up doing exactly what he says he'd "never" do. And then the ad ends on him saying he's "never" going to leave this. So, what do you think happens in the next scene? Yea, that's why it drives me crazy. Logical constructs, they'll bite you in the ass.
So, do they mean when you drive a Mercedes-Benz, it's like being eaten by a t-rex? Or it drives like a dinosaur? Or that it takes a whole boatload of dinosaurs to fuel this puppy? Or, "we're afraid you're too stupid and might miss our product placement in the movie"?
And call me "sensitive" if you will, but WTF?
Take the pledge… to allow the NBA to market to you directly. Where is the conservative outcry about this? They took the Pledge of Allegiance (and we could have a whole discussion about that, but let's skip that for the moment) and twisted it for commercial purposes, but they're also asking the consumer to pledge allegiance to the NBA. Dear Oathkeepers, not keeping up your end of the deal here. There's a benefit to companies (and the NBA is a company, have no doubts about that) wrapping themselves in the flag and patriotic fervor, but then subverting that to suit your corporate greed… ah, no. You lose. Ad agencies, don't do this. Just don't.
Linkee-poo is proud to be an American, 'cause at least I know the corporations that own our government think I'll work for free
Sure, it may be a holiday for You. Okay, yea, I at least got to sleep in today.
I say ye, John Scalzi. Wow, $3.4M for 13 books over the next 10 years. Well, of course the real meat is in how the deal is structured (equal payments over the decade, or as books are delivered, edited, and then released). But this is excellent news. For John, of course. I know John, have met him, and dined in a group with him, he was an instructor at VP XIII and agreed to offer a critique of my story. As long as he keeps producing, this pretty well sets him for the next ten years, not that I expect this is the only thing he will be doing for income (let that one sink in a moment). John is good with finances so I have a feeling his daughter's college education is now paid for. But this is good news for all us other genre writers and wannabes toiling in the word mines. John is a cash cow to us as well, because Tor wouldn't be making this deal if they didn't know he can produce the cash. While he and PNH have this Zaphod Beeblebrox and Ford Prefect buddy movie going on (and both are hoopy froods who know where their towels are - makes notation I've fulfilled my Union and Guild obligation on International Towel Day), John is making Tor a metric boatload of cash. This cash, while John will get some (and the printers, editors and art directors/illustrators), will leave Tor with enough left over to take chances on us newbies and mid-listers. John is a river to his people, as it were. It also means we're going to have 13 more cool books to read. So, John, congrats, well done and well earned. Now get crackin' McGee (okay, I'm taking the "John skips class for the next nine years, then pulls a year-long all-nighter to write 13 books before the final exam" in the pool).
Eva "Kor says that when a victim chooses to forgive, they take the power back from their tormentors. But that it is their choice to make." A mighty woman. Also note how she delineates between forgiveness and forgetting. She doesn't think the "Accountant of Auschwitz" should go free, but "(s)he'd make him travel the country to talk to young neo-Nazis, and tell them what he saw and that the Nazi regime should never come back."
"A new paper by a team of researchers from Duke University, University of Georgia, and University of Colorado looks at not only how extremely competent people are treated by their co-workers and peers, but how those people feel when, at crucial moments, everyone turns to them. They find that responsible employees are not terribly pleased about this dynamic either." OMG. Fuck. Yes. If you've ever worked with me, you've probably heard me say something similar, or to the effect of, "I've done management before, don't ever need to again." There's a reason for it. Also, this is the reason that I work hard, damn hard, to not be that guy everyone goes to. Because I have been for much of my professional life. I want someone else to be the God-damn expert and mentor me (which, BTW, is one of the many reasons I love writing fiction and being a radiographer). Also note, these people are often overlooked (or specifically looked at and rejected) for promotions because the management wants them to stay where they are doing good work (and are often doing management's job for them, also won't do that again). (Grokked from Debbie Morrow)
How to solve the antibiotic problem (few companies are researching, let alone producing, new antibiotics in the face of ever increasing resistance)? One proposal is to give pharma companies that develop new one guaranteed profits to the tune of $2b. That would be one way. However, I have to disagree with the authors of the research, this is exactly where government research an involvement works best. Low profits, little incentive, but necessary service/product, this is ideal. The Post Office is an excellent example of this. The NIH already does amazing basic research (of which for profit companies benefit). Governments could develop a limited non-profit corporation (like Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac) that works with NIH to develop new antibiotics and vaccines. The profit model would be based on continuing development of new drugs. Such a proposal has zero chance in a GOP controlled legislature (which distrusts big government or government interference, but man they love the profits Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac are plowing into our treasury). But then, increasing government spending by $2b also has zero chance as well. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
I say ye, John Scalzi. Wow, $3.4M for 13 books over the next 10 years. Well, of course the real meat is in how the deal is structured (equal payments over the decade, or as books are delivered, edited, and then released). But this is excellent news. For John, of course. I know John, have met him, and dined in a group with him, he was an instructor at VP XIII and agreed to offer a critique of my story. As long as he keeps producing, this pretty well sets him for the next ten years, not that I expect this is the only thing he will be doing for income (let that one sink in a moment). John is good with finances so I have a feeling his daughter's college education is now paid for. But this is good news for all us other genre writers and wannabes toiling in the word mines. John is a cash cow to us as well, because Tor wouldn't be making this deal if they didn't know he can produce the cash. While he and PNH have this Zaphod Beeblebrox and Ford Prefect buddy movie going on (and both are hoopy froods who know where their towels are - makes notation I've fulfilled my Union and Guild obligation on International Towel Day), John is making Tor a metric boatload of cash. This cash, while John will get some (and the printers, editors and art directors/illustrators), will leave Tor with enough left over to take chances on us newbies and mid-listers. John is a river to his people, as it were. It also means we're going to have 13 more cool books to read. So, John, congrats, well done and well earned. Now get crackin' McGee (okay, I'm taking the "John skips class for the next nine years, then pulls a year-long all-nighter to write 13 books before the final exam" in the pool).
Eva "Kor says that when a victim chooses to forgive, they take the power back from their tormentors. But that it is their choice to make." A mighty woman. Also note how she delineates between forgiveness and forgetting. She doesn't think the "Accountant of Auschwitz" should go free, but "(s)he'd make him travel the country to talk to young neo-Nazis, and tell them what he saw and that the Nazi regime should never come back."
"A new paper by a team of researchers from Duke University, University of Georgia, and University of Colorado looks at not only how extremely competent people are treated by their co-workers and peers, but how those people feel when, at crucial moments, everyone turns to them. They find that responsible employees are not terribly pleased about this dynamic either." OMG. Fuck. Yes. If you've ever worked with me, you've probably heard me say something similar, or to the effect of, "I've done management before, don't ever need to again." There's a reason for it. Also, this is the reason that I work hard, damn hard, to not be that guy everyone goes to. Because I have been for much of my professional life. I want someone else to be the God-damn expert and mentor me (which, BTW, is one of the many reasons I love writing fiction and being a radiographer). Also note, these people are often overlooked (or specifically looked at and rejected) for promotions because the management wants them to stay where they are doing good work (and are often doing management's job for them, also won't do that again). (Grokked from Debbie Morrow)
How to solve the antibiotic problem (few companies are researching, let alone producing, new antibiotics in the face of ever increasing resistance)? One proposal is to give pharma companies that develop new one guaranteed profits to the tune of $2b. That would be one way. However, I have to disagree with the authors of the research, this is exactly where government research an involvement works best. Low profits, little incentive, but necessary service/product, this is ideal. The Post Office is an excellent example of this. The NIH already does amazing basic research (of which for profit companies benefit). Governments could develop a limited non-profit corporation (like Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac) that works with NIH to develop new antibiotics and vaccines. The profit model would be based on continuing development of new drugs. Such a proposal has zero chance in a GOP controlled legislature (which distrusts big government or government interference, but man they love the profits Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac are plowing into our treasury). But then, increasing government spending by $2b also has zero chance as well. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Linkee-poo, when Irish eyes are smiling
The Pencilsword comic "On A Plate." How privilege works, or doesn't. (Grokked from practically my entire twitter feed)
Consumer Reports video on effect mosquito repellent. The mosquitos around here can sense my sweet New Jersey blood (note, actually born in Pasadena, but grew up in Southern Jersey until 6th grade) and so while my wife and other friends can go unmolested for a long time while I'm being drained like a Gelfling. (Grokked for the Slactivist)
"Actually, I don't know whether or not he wanted that. That's not the point. The point was nobody could talk about it." On how medical people talk in code when we can't legally talk openly. It sucks, but remember, it's our livelihoods at stake. One ethical misstep and we can be excluded, for life, from working not only in the jobs we've trained for, but in the healthcare field as a whole. And now, sometimes it means never working anywhere again. For example, everyone will ask us if we see anything on the x-rays we take. We can tell you we took good x-rays, we can tell you they're diagnostic quality, and that the radiologist will read them and then call their doctor (or the ER doctor). We can't tell you, "Damn, but you really broke that good" or "Yep, there's a big honking kidney stone right there." That's practicing medicine by diagnosing you. It makes for awkward conversations, but that's the game we must play. (Grokked from Janiece)
NPR wants to know what's on your road trip playlist.
It's noctilucent cloud season in the Northern Hemisphere. More about them here (note SpaceWeather completely replaces their home page with every update, so this is time limited). Now that we're observing them closely, they aren't behaving as we expected.
When I was a kid, parents started worrying about the kids learning on the street about sex. I'm not sure they meant this. Former teacher sets up a cardboard sign offering to talk about sex.
"It's easy to get cynical about politicians. Remember the story of Andy Dinniman when people tell you that none of them are worth a damn or make a lick of difference." Sen. Dinniman of Pennsylvania helped push a rule forward that allowed PA firefighter, EMS, and police to be trained on how to administer Naloxone (Narcan). I can't imagine the shit he is taking for that from people who believe our War on Drugs is still winnable. But I see heroin overdoses almost every weekend I work at the hospital. I typically have to take a chest x-ray to make sure they didn't aspirate something while they were going down. None of them are people you'd expect (given popular culture). None of them behave the way the TV and movies portray. Most of them are very depressed. And I watch the parents and love-ones come in and cry and lose their shit. I wonder how many of them quit (relapsing increases your chance of overdose), and how many times they tried. And I wonder how many of those overdoses were accidents, and how many were done in the hope to finally get away from the drug. Naloxone saves lives. Allowing first responders to both have and be able to administer the drug (it comes in the same form as an EpiPen) is, IMHO, what governments are supposed to do. Now we need to expand our rehab centers to deal with everyone who wants to leave the drug. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Sure, it's only radical Islamic extremists that commit acts of terror. A list of some of the other people who have committed acts of terror, recently. (Grokked from Janiece)
Just how scared is the right of a Hillary Clinton presidency? This scared. "Impeach Clinton" feels almost nostalgic.
Sweet Zombie Reagan, asked the question, "Who is the greatest living president", most of the current batch of GOP hopefuls answer "Reagan." (Grokked from the Slactivist)
"Also, it makes you the rudest Canadian we've ever run across." Hahahaha. A humorous Pentagon response to Sen. Cruz and the Jade Helm hysteria. (Grokked from Janiece)
Why are Israeli settlements a problem for future peace? "Settlement construction in E1 would effectively divide the West Bank and make the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state… almost impossible." And now you know why there are "settlements" (like the West Bank is the Wild Wild West of America, with the same irony). (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Consumer Reports video on effect mosquito repellent. The mosquitos around here can sense my sweet New Jersey blood (note, actually born in Pasadena, but grew up in Southern Jersey until 6th grade) and so while my wife and other friends can go unmolested for a long time while I'm being drained like a Gelfling. (Grokked for the Slactivist)
"Actually, I don't know whether or not he wanted that. That's not the point. The point was nobody could talk about it." On how medical people talk in code when we can't legally talk openly. It sucks, but remember, it's our livelihoods at stake. One ethical misstep and we can be excluded, for life, from working not only in the jobs we've trained for, but in the healthcare field as a whole. And now, sometimes it means never working anywhere again. For example, everyone will ask us if we see anything on the x-rays we take. We can tell you we took good x-rays, we can tell you they're diagnostic quality, and that the radiologist will read them and then call their doctor (or the ER doctor). We can't tell you, "Damn, but you really broke that good" or "Yep, there's a big honking kidney stone right there." That's practicing medicine by diagnosing you. It makes for awkward conversations, but that's the game we must play. (Grokked from Janiece)
NPR wants to know what's on your road trip playlist.
It's noctilucent cloud season in the Northern Hemisphere. More about them here (note SpaceWeather completely replaces their home page with every update, so this is time limited). Now that we're observing them closely, they aren't behaving as we expected.
When I was a kid, parents started worrying about the kids learning on the street about sex. I'm not sure they meant this. Former teacher sets up a cardboard sign offering to talk about sex.
"It's easy to get cynical about politicians. Remember the story of Andy Dinniman when people tell you that none of them are worth a damn or make a lick of difference." Sen. Dinniman of Pennsylvania helped push a rule forward that allowed PA firefighter, EMS, and police to be trained on how to administer Naloxone (Narcan). I can't imagine the shit he is taking for that from people who believe our War on Drugs is still winnable. But I see heroin overdoses almost every weekend I work at the hospital. I typically have to take a chest x-ray to make sure they didn't aspirate something while they were going down. None of them are people you'd expect (given popular culture). None of them behave the way the TV and movies portray. Most of them are very depressed. And I watch the parents and love-ones come in and cry and lose their shit. I wonder how many of them quit (relapsing increases your chance of overdose), and how many times they tried. And I wonder how many of those overdoses were accidents, and how many were done in the hope to finally get away from the drug. Naloxone saves lives. Allowing first responders to both have and be able to administer the drug (it comes in the same form as an EpiPen) is, IMHO, what governments are supposed to do. Now we need to expand our rehab centers to deal with everyone who wants to leave the drug. (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Sure, it's only radical Islamic extremists that commit acts of terror. A list of some of the other people who have committed acts of terror, recently. (Grokked from Janiece)
Just how scared is the right of a Hillary Clinton presidency? This scared. "Impeach Clinton" feels almost nostalgic.
Sweet Zombie Reagan, asked the question, "Who is the greatest living president", most of the current batch of GOP hopefuls answer "Reagan." (Grokked from the Slactivist)
"Also, it makes you the rudest Canadian we've ever run across." Hahahaha. A humorous Pentagon response to Sen. Cruz and the Jade Helm hysteria. (Grokked from Janiece)
Why are Israeli settlements a problem for future peace? "Settlement construction in E1 would effectively divide the West Bank and make the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state… almost impossible." And now you know why there are "settlements" (like the West Bank is the Wild Wild West of America, with the same irony). (Grokked from the Slactivist)
Friday, May 22, 2015
Linkee-poo laid myself out, I was so tired and I started to dream, in the morning the parking tickets were just like a flag stuck on my window screen
If I don't get to talk to you all before then, I hope you have a great Memorial Day Weekend if you're in the US. If you're not in the US, have a great weekend and then back to work on Monday (or Sunday for those of you in certain parts of the world) you slackers. Yes, I'm working all weekend (after working 50+ hours Mon-Friday). Sucks to be me.
Linked to in the comments on the previous post, the Rejected Princesses list of women in combat. Note how many led women warriors. Also, nobody becomes a war leader or general overnight. For every one of these historical figures, there are hundreds to thousands of others we don't know because they didn't make a name for themselves (just like you don't know the names of all 4,000+ soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan).
The poem on the Writer's Almanac for Friday, May 22, 2015, was especially good. May Opens Wide by Marge Piercy. Nice. She has two other poems used for the WA, The rented lakes of my childhood and Hard rain and potent thunder. Those last two were on Saturdays, so I missed them the first time. I might need to get that book of hers (it has a 4 outa 5 on GoodReads).
The jagged, golden script of scars. On what composes us, and accepting of who we are and not whom society expects us to be. (Grokked from Terri Windling)
"'I’ve been LARPing as a competent person for over five years. I’ve only broken character a few times.'" On turning impostor syndrome into a superpower. (Grokked from Dan)
It's amazing what they're doing with robots these days. Well, actually it's an interactive male rectum so doctors can practice prostate exams. I will note here, while the PSA test is a good indication, manual manipulation is still the gold standard for diagnosing prostate problems. And just like heart doctors need to know what the different types of heart murmurs sound like and what they mean, for the prostate the size and texture also are diagnostic.
"Pains Pipeline, the large Texas-based company responsible for the pipe that ruptured in Santa Barbara County, has accumulated 175 safety and maintenance infractions since 2006, according to federal records." But, hey, they made a bucketload of profit. Oh, and it get's better form there. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
Would be President Gov. Walker believes in pre-emptive war, doesn't understand the war powers act, and by trying to John Wayne around the stage, gets tangled up in his father's shoes. But using "Islamic Extremists Terrorists" tagline he thinks he's gaining points.
"All four of the GOP governors with 2016 ambitions are facing budget shortfalls back home that their critics would argue are disasters of their own doing." Unfortunately, economics makes bad TV. Also, I'll note GW Bush was able to skate out of office fast enough to not get saddled with his disaster. (Grokked from Teresa Nielsen Hayden)
Eric on the circular, backended genius that is Rep. Louie Gohmert.
Nazi stuff. And sure, it's not about racism.
Fox News requires presidential candidates to show photo ID before being allowed on stage, conservatives get pissy. Okay, they're asking that you are polling above 10%, but same thing for a candidate. Show us you're who you say you are, or that you have a legit chance of making it through some primaries, and then we'll let you vote or participate in the debate.
Linked to in the comments on the previous post, the Rejected Princesses list of women in combat. Note how many led women warriors. Also, nobody becomes a war leader or general overnight. For every one of these historical figures, there are hundreds to thousands of others we don't know because they didn't make a name for themselves (just like you don't know the names of all 4,000+ soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan).
The poem on the Writer's Almanac for Friday, May 22, 2015, was especially good. May Opens Wide by Marge Piercy. Nice. She has two other poems used for the WA, The rented lakes of my childhood and Hard rain and potent thunder. Those last two were on Saturdays, so I missed them the first time. I might need to get that book of hers (it has a 4 outa 5 on GoodReads).
The jagged, golden script of scars. On what composes us, and accepting of who we are and not whom society expects us to be. (Grokked from Terri Windling)
"'I’ve been LARPing as a competent person for over five years. I’ve only broken character a few times.'" On turning impostor syndrome into a superpower. (Grokked from Dan)
It's amazing what they're doing with robots these days. Well, actually it's an interactive male rectum so doctors can practice prostate exams. I will note here, while the PSA test is a good indication, manual manipulation is still the gold standard for diagnosing prostate problems. And just like heart doctors need to know what the different types of heart murmurs sound like and what they mean, for the prostate the size and texture also are diagnostic.
"Pains Pipeline, the large Texas-based company responsible for the pipe that ruptured in Santa Barbara County, has accumulated 175 safety and maintenance infractions since 2006, according to federal records." But, hey, they made a bucketload of profit. Oh, and it get's better form there. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
Would be President Gov. Walker believes in pre-emptive war, doesn't understand the war powers act, and by trying to John Wayne around the stage, gets tangled up in his father's shoes. But using "Islamic Extremists Terrorists" tagline he thinks he's gaining points.
"All four of the GOP governors with 2016 ambitions are facing budget shortfalls back home that their critics would argue are disasters of their own doing." Unfortunately, economics makes bad TV. Also, I'll note GW Bush was able to skate out of office fast enough to not get saddled with his disaster. (Grokked from Teresa Nielsen Hayden)
Eric on the circular, backended genius that is Rep. Louie Gohmert.
Nazi stuff. And sure, it's not about racism.
Fox News requires presidential candidates to show photo ID before being allowed on stage, conservatives get pissy. Okay, they're asking that you are polling above 10%, but same thing for a candidate. Show us you're who you say you are, or that you have a legit chance of making it through some primaries, and then we'll let you vote or participate in the debate.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Just a comment
Can you tell we were on the two week break between classes? Note, back in clinicals tomorrow. Need to complete 16 hours per week until August. Just a warning.
Linkee-poo sees a red door and I want it painted black
"And that difference comes down to the dividing line between plot and plot device."
John Scalzi on using rape as a plot device.
Vindolanda and the Roman Fort three generations of Birley's have been excavating.
Did shield maidens exist? While the article equivocates, they do provide answers that most scientists would. Also a pretty good explanation of "well, we expect this because of our culture, so we see this" which is a plague on many sciences. Also to note that recently a number of viking grave sites (and other grave sites of antiquity) were reclassified from male to female (because of the aforementioned problem). Also, one does not mess with shield maidens, they are favorites of the gods. And finally, of course there were. Women have always fought (even in our more patriarchal society where women disguised themselves to fight). Our concept of sex roles (hunter or gatherer) determined by biological differences and which genes you have is a relatively modern concept.
But what if yeast could brew morphine from sugar? Well, that would be a game changer. If we were a rational species this would be fabulous. Until you think about people being able to brew their own high-quality heroin the same way (or just morphine, it would sell just as well). Also I'd like to leave you with the lesson I learned from having a kidney stone. If the nurse asks you if you would like one more dose of morphine before going home, say "Yes."
A paper thin 55" display that you can hang on the wall with magnets. Note I didn't say TV, because the actual guts of the device are elsewhere, but the screen is thin, light and flexible. (Grokked from John)
Frank Deford on Tom Brady. This is also why I believe Pete Rose should never get into the Hall of Fame. He was the greatest player, but he also committed the greatest sin you can in baseball.
What exactly will the X37B Space Place being doing during this launch? Well, the Air Force has released some of the experiments it will be conducting, including testing 3 new propulsion technologies and a satellite TCP/IP server. So, they're totally not running guns to our alien overlords. (Grokked from John)
Designing better workspaces by observation. Or, as I like to think about it, designing a better maze by watching the rats run the maze. And, speaking of running rats, more on the ruse of the robots. In this case, software (not exactly a robot) can write a news story faster than a reporter, albeit with less style and informative language.
"Michigan pastor who railed against same-sex marriage resigns after being caught seeking men on Grindr" Puts another mark on the board, notices board is getting quite filled with marks. The church also is circling the wagons, deleting social media accounts, telling their members to be wary of reporters, and "Should a member of St. John’s church come across information on the Internet pertaining to Makela’s Grindr travails, Kempin urges them not to panic, not to respond to media wanting to 'generate traffic to their website,' and to alert church leadership with “any information the members need to have.” You know, separatist movements had the good sense to move to the wilderness. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
Oops. "'Plains (All American Pipeline) deeply regrets this release has occurred and is making every effort to limit its environmental impact,' the company said in a statement." You'd think something named "All American" wouldn't hurt us. And don't worry, Plains, I'm sure you'll get the bill (that won't really cover the recovery costs that the tax payers will pickup).
Oops. That's the problem when you crowd source information, especially for something like Google Maps. Not all people are Good Actors. (Trigger warning for the n-word)
Conservatives believe in local control of political decisions. Except when the local governments don't do what they want. Then they're all for taking the rights of self-rule. In this case, Texas kneels before the oil/gas industry and not only overturns all local laws banning oil and gas exploration (fracking), but wiped away local regulations on the oil and gas industry. Yes, the poor little gas and oil industry were being picked upon. Tell you what, okay, let's remove all regulations on a heavy industry and allow them to drill anywhere they can, but let's also invalidate any NDAs the industry has signed with land owners regarding the effects of drilling.
But, on the other hand, look at government working for you. "After the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a complaint against PayPal today, the company quickly agreed to refund $15 million to customers it ripped off over the past few years… PayPal will also pay an extra $10 million in fines to the CFPB, so the total settlement is $25 million." Remember which party didn't want the CFPB, attempted to filibuster any nomination until the President watered down their power, and which party runs Texas. Just remember it when it comes to election time. Although "It’s telling that the company ponied up the money within a day of the complaint." Makes you wonder just how much they made illegally. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
John Scalzi on using rape as a plot device.
Vindolanda and the Roman Fort three generations of Birley's have been excavating.
Did shield maidens exist? While the article equivocates, they do provide answers that most scientists would. Also a pretty good explanation of "well, we expect this because of our culture, so we see this" which is a plague on many sciences. Also to note that recently a number of viking grave sites (and other grave sites of antiquity) were reclassified from male to female (because of the aforementioned problem). Also, one does not mess with shield maidens, they are favorites of the gods. And finally, of course there were. Women have always fought (even in our more patriarchal society where women disguised themselves to fight). Our concept of sex roles (hunter or gatherer) determined by biological differences and which genes you have is a relatively modern concept.
But what if yeast could brew morphine from sugar? Well, that would be a game changer. If we were a rational species this would be fabulous. Until you think about people being able to brew their own high-quality heroin the same way (or just morphine, it would sell just as well). Also I'd like to leave you with the lesson I learned from having a kidney stone. If the nurse asks you if you would like one more dose of morphine before going home, say "Yes."
A paper thin 55" display that you can hang on the wall with magnets. Note I didn't say TV, because the actual guts of the device are elsewhere, but the screen is thin, light and flexible. (Grokked from John)
Frank Deford on Tom Brady. This is also why I believe Pete Rose should never get into the Hall of Fame. He was the greatest player, but he also committed the greatest sin you can in baseball.
What exactly will the X37B Space Place being doing during this launch? Well, the Air Force has released some of the experiments it will be conducting, including testing 3 new propulsion technologies and a satellite TCP/IP server. So, they're totally not running guns to our alien overlords. (Grokked from John)
Designing better workspaces by observation. Or, as I like to think about it, designing a better maze by watching the rats run the maze. And, speaking of running rats, more on the ruse of the robots. In this case, software (not exactly a robot) can write a news story faster than a reporter, albeit with less style and informative language.
"Michigan pastor who railed against same-sex marriage resigns after being caught seeking men on Grindr" Puts another mark on the board, notices board is getting quite filled with marks. The church also is circling the wagons, deleting social media accounts, telling their members to be wary of reporters, and "Should a member of St. John’s church come across information on the Internet pertaining to Makela’s Grindr travails, Kempin urges them not to panic, not to respond to media wanting to 'generate traffic to their website,' and to alert church leadership with “any information the members need to have.” You know, separatist movements had the good sense to move to the wilderness. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
Oops. "'Plains (All American Pipeline) deeply regrets this release has occurred and is making every effort to limit its environmental impact,' the company said in a statement." You'd think something named "All American" wouldn't hurt us. And don't worry, Plains, I'm sure you'll get the bill (that won't really cover the recovery costs that the tax payers will pickup).
Oops. That's the problem when you crowd source information, especially for something like Google Maps. Not all people are Good Actors. (Trigger warning for the n-word)
Conservatives believe in local control of political decisions. Except when the local governments don't do what they want. Then they're all for taking the rights of self-rule. In this case, Texas kneels before the oil/gas industry and not only overturns all local laws banning oil and gas exploration (fracking), but wiped away local regulations on the oil and gas industry. Yes, the poor little gas and oil industry were being picked upon. Tell you what, okay, let's remove all regulations on a heavy industry and allow them to drill anywhere they can, but let's also invalidate any NDAs the industry has signed with land owners regarding the effects of drilling.
But, on the other hand, look at government working for you. "After the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a complaint against PayPal today, the company quickly agreed to refund $15 million to customers it ripped off over the past few years… PayPal will also pay an extra $10 million in fines to the CFPB, so the total settlement is $25 million." Remember which party didn't want the CFPB, attempted to filibuster any nomination until the President watered down their power, and which party runs Texas. Just remember it when it comes to election time. Although "It’s telling that the company ponied up the money within a day of the complaint." Makes you wonder just how much they made illegally. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Linkee-poo knows where you've been, it's all been a pack of lies
Apparently the writers of the HBO take on Game of Thrones pissed in the punch bowl again. There are so many enabling comments on my twitter feed (mostly from friends and people I know taking heat for saying, "This was a stupid thing for HBO to do" and retweeting the worst of the trollage). I understand rape is a convenient shorthand for may things in our culture (as is kicking or killing a dog - I erased and rewrote that line 3 times, so I'm keeping it in as an example of "things to do to make the character despicable", not as to make an equation of the seriousness of the crimes). But it's easy, and it changes things (both in real life, and it should in the story). Now, they could turn this into something that makes Sansa a stronger ruler, but my money is on "not". They will use it to cripple her. I don't have HBO, so I haven't seen the scene, but they say that the scene turned into character development for Theon and shifted off of Sansa. If so, this is a fail. Full disclosure, there are a number of rapes in my first book, but they're all implied (the aftermath of the last one is shown) and for an actual plot reason in the storyline. Because they didn't happen with a main character, there was no reason to have them on stage. I'm not proud of that, I'm sharing to say, "Yes, I fell for the easy route as well." I've learned from that. The runners for GoT should have learned from last season. (Grokked from Saladin Ahmed)
Seth Godin on avoiding the custom bully. Good advice for anyone working freelance (also for anyone working in an office with an overbearing boss). "Part of the challenge of selling custom work is that it sometimes seems that everything is up for grabs." Your talents and time (i.e. your work) are for sale, not your life. In this day and age, that's often forgotten. (Grokked from Jer)
"The obvious truth about global warming is this: barring miracles, humanity is in for some awful shit." We're boned. I might have posted a link to this article before. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
Terrorist. Gee, I wonder which party this asshat ran under?
The rise of the white-collar robot. Remember when They said, "hey, increase minimum wage and we'll develop robots"? Yea, they already were developing them.
And a little history on the Luddites. Just in case the robots come for your job. Same as it ever was.
Ever wonder what happens to you when you die? Well, for your physical body, we do know a little bit about that process. If you have very active imaginations and a weak stomach, you may want to avoid that article (no pictures). (Grokked from John)
The LA "Witch House." (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
So, right after a major (school) shooting incident, that's not the time to talk about gun control. But apparently, in Texas, it's the perfect time to talk about expanding gun rights for open carry. Or at least pass laws that expand the right to open carry. Dear Texas, if you ever wonder why the rest of us think you all are nuts, here's an example of why.
"Two open-carry activists. One white, one black. Two very different police responses." Because REASONS. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
"The IMF… says the figure is an 'extremely robust' estimate of the true cost of fossil fuels. The $5.3tn subsidy estimated for 2015 is greater than the total health spending of all the world’s governments." The hidden cost of fossil fuels, or what you have to pay because they're screwing up the world (also, there are some direct subsidies). This is exactly the same argument about Obamacare, what most people missed were the hidden costs to all of us by having so many of us not being insured. So, for fossil fuels, here are the costs of cleaning up after them, mitigating climate change damage (which is already happening), as well as health issues and other costs which come out of your tax dollar ($700b of that amount is what the US subsidizes). (Grokked from Paolo Bacigalupi)
It's called fucking with your enemy. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. On telling the tale about the Abu Sayyaf raid. Every now and then, it can backfire (classic arms race, you get a better sword, they develop a better shield). The key is to keep the scam running. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
Remember when Bristol Palin got pregnant during the 2008 presidential election cycle and us lefties pointed at the righties shouting J'ACCUSE! 'Cause, you know, pre-marital sex, unmarried mother, yadda yadda all the things the right likes to say are causing the collapse of Western Civ. But, hey, it's okay, she's gonna get married. That guy is going to do right by her. Only that didn't work out. And her most recent try of getting to the altar has fizzled out. So, yea, say, what's the right's word for that?
The paper on "How Fox News Changed American Media and Political Dynamics." I haven't read it all yet (it's an academic paper, which means it takes a little bit of time to work through), but I'm told on good authority that it's a worthwhile read. Pointed to here because you may need it to talk to your parents about the subject. I'm my quick look, there are some problems with the paper (such as the author claims that the general public held the belief that the news was "too liberal" when Fox News started, the footnote points to surveys done mid 2000s, but Fox New started in 1996). Also, there are plenty of "this is just the way it is" (typically the conservative view of the world and liberalism) without any proof or backing (note, no footnotes to these bald statements of "facts", such as "And even in cases where the dominant morning paper was the conservative one, loss of competition tended to push it toward the left; that is, leftward toward the center from a position on the right." whereas the author believes that with the consolidation of the newspapers, the liberal papers got even more liberal). There are also a few times where the subject of the sentence changes radically from beginning to end. (Grokked from TPM)
Seth Godin on avoiding the custom bully. Good advice for anyone working freelance (also for anyone working in an office with an overbearing boss). "Part of the challenge of selling custom work is that it sometimes seems that everything is up for grabs." Your talents and time (i.e. your work) are for sale, not your life. In this day and age, that's often forgotten. (Grokked from Jer)
"The obvious truth about global warming is this: barring miracles, humanity is in for some awful shit." We're boned. I might have posted a link to this article before. (Grokked from Morgan J Locke)
Terrorist. Gee, I wonder which party this asshat ran under?
The rise of the white-collar robot. Remember when They said, "hey, increase minimum wage and we'll develop robots"? Yea, they already were developing them.
And a little history on the Luddites. Just in case the robots come for your job. Same as it ever was.
Ever wonder what happens to you when you die? Well, for your physical body, we do know a little bit about that process. If you have very active imaginations and a weak stomach, you may want to avoid that article (no pictures). (Grokked from John)
The LA "Witch House." (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
So, right after a major (school) shooting incident, that's not the time to talk about gun control. But apparently, in Texas, it's the perfect time to talk about expanding gun rights for open carry. Or at least pass laws that expand the right to open carry. Dear Texas, if you ever wonder why the rest of us think you all are nuts, here's an example of why.
"Two open-carry activists. One white, one black. Two very different police responses." Because REASONS. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)
"The IMF… says the figure is an 'extremely robust' estimate of the true cost of fossil fuels. The $5.3tn subsidy estimated for 2015 is greater than the total health spending of all the world’s governments." The hidden cost of fossil fuels, or what you have to pay because they're screwing up the world (also, there are some direct subsidies). This is exactly the same argument about Obamacare, what most people missed were the hidden costs to all of us by having so many of us not being insured. So, for fossil fuels, here are the costs of cleaning up after them, mitigating climate change damage (which is already happening), as well as health issues and other costs which come out of your tax dollar ($700b of that amount is what the US subsidizes). (Grokked from Paolo Bacigalupi)
It's called fucking with your enemy. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. On telling the tale about the Abu Sayyaf raid. Every now and then, it can backfire (classic arms race, you get a better sword, they develop a better shield). The key is to keep the scam running. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
Remember when Bristol Palin got pregnant during the 2008 presidential election cycle and us lefties pointed at the righties shouting J'ACCUSE! 'Cause, you know, pre-marital sex, unmarried mother, yadda yadda all the things the right likes to say are causing the collapse of Western Civ. But, hey, it's okay, she's gonna get married. That guy is going to do right by her. Only that didn't work out. And her most recent try of getting to the altar has fizzled out. So, yea, say, what's the right's word for that?
The paper on "How Fox News Changed American Media and Political Dynamics." I haven't read it all yet (it's an academic paper, which means it takes a little bit of time to work through), but I'm told on good authority that it's a worthwhile read. Pointed to here because you may need it to talk to your parents about the subject. I'm my quick look, there are some problems with the paper (such as the author claims that the general public held the belief that the news was "too liberal" when Fox News started, the footnote points to surveys done mid 2000s, but Fox New started in 1996). Also, there are plenty of "this is just the way it is" (typically the conservative view of the world and liberalism) without any proof or backing (note, no footnotes to these bald statements of "facts", such as "And even in cases where the dominant morning paper was the conservative one, loss of competition tended to push it toward the left; that is, leftward toward the center from a position on the right." whereas the author believes that with the consolidation of the newspapers, the liberal papers got even more liberal). There are also a few times where the subject of the sentence changes radically from beginning to end. (Grokked from TPM)
Monday, May 18, 2015
Story Bone
"When things go bump in the night…"
"Yea, we bump back, right?"
"Bumping is for dancing. We unleash hell on them."
"Yea, we bump back, right?"
"Bumping is for dancing. We unleash hell on them."
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