… to the cautionary tale mentioned in this post.
The girl was lying. Not actually that surprising, really.
Archive for the ‘In the news’ Category
An update
Thursday, June 25th, 2009The Number-One Priority has nothing to do with the Primary Mission
Friday, June 19th, 2009I don’t know Bruce Fleming. My time attending USNA predates his time teaching. He has a guest column in The Capital about diversity at the Naval Academy that is disturbing, yet all too believable.
Admiral Gary Roughead, the Chief of Naval Operations, has stated that “diversity is the number one priority” at USNA. Vice Admiral Jeffrey Fowler, the Superintendent, agrees with him. When I attended, the mission of the academy was to produce professional officers for the Naval Services. Given that, according to the column, admission standards are lowered for minorities, it appears to me that the number one priority is in opposition to the mission.
I keep hoping that I can find a short science-fiction story I read many years ago. The story was written, at least in part, as though it were part of a history book, and described a military loss by the United States to a Latin-American country (I long ago forgot which). The applicable portion of the story brought to mind by Mr. Fleming’s column goes something like this:
General Mendoza said to his staff, “My generals, win me this war!”
This book does not have room for all the instructions given to the American military by the National Organization for Women, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, the …
The point has been made many times over the years – the military has a function. Using it as a platform for social engineering detracts from its ability to fulfill its function.
More here.
Miscellaneous news from Blighty
Friday, June 19th, 2009Postmen have it tough, at times. In particular, when someone owns a vicious animal and doesn’t keep it under control. However, since the animal in question here is a six-month-old kitten, I suspect that there’s something else going on. Note that one of the photos shows the delivery slot through which the hand was mauled.
Technology Saves The Day I: Girl is struck by lightning, but her iPod earbud wires direct it away from her vital organs. I’m impressed by her boyfriend, Mason, who carried her to help though he himself was blinded by the strike.
Technology Saves The Day II: Google Streetview finds muggers.
Technology Saves The … Oooh, look at the pretty pictures! The Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis from space.
If you’re thinking of buying a how-to book as a Father’s Day gift, don’t get this one.
Would you rather have killer bees or killer mosquitoes?
I wouldn’t have thought you could fall asleep while being tattooed. Pass out, maybe, but not doze off. Be that as it may, we have here a cautionary tale. Given today’s penchant for body modification, the following phrase from my copy of the Arabian Nights seems appropriate: “If my story were to be graven in the corner of the eye, it would be a warning to those who would be warned.”
And, speaking of cautionary tales, I’d recommend that this young lady get herself tested (presuming that such is available on the National Health plan). Although, it would have been humorous had the groom been hired for the bachelorette party. The Other McCain has a different take on this story.
Finally, there has been much talk over the years about the dumbing-down of education. I’ve even mentioned spelling reform in passing in an earlier post. However, it’s never had official government sanction before, to my knowledge. I do not expect this to end well.
I’d check the math, myself
Friday, June 19th, 2009Using iPhone with a prepaid plan?
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009Expect things to stop working if you don’t sign up for a two-year plan.
“I knew the pound has been falling in value …”
Friday, June 12th, 2009When you wish upon a star
Friday, June 12th, 2009… better hope it doesn’t go kaboom.
I find this interesting, and suspect that many, if not most, people alive today may actually get to see this happen … as Betelgeuse shrinks, gravity effects will force the shrinkage to occur more rapidly. How exciting to be an astronomer when this occurs! Normally, we don’t know of nova before they explode; this time it appears that we’ll get to watch it on 600-year “tape delay.”
At that distance, I’d expect that we’d be ok, as long as it doesn’t send a death beam in our direction.
Update: You know, most 14-year-olds don’t get to discover their own supernova, let alone one that’s a new type of stellar phenomenon.
I read the news today, oh, boy
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009And I didn’t do badly on the test (I got an 82%, with 11 of 12 questions correctly answered – I haven’t been able to save a copy of the result plot). It’s been about a year since I’ve done this. My score was better then, but since I only missed one question, I have to believe that there were more questions back then. Explanation of the results is here.
Thieving tree rats
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009I appreciate their patriotic decorating scheme, but they really shouldn’t be stealing from gravesites.
I should have known that Green …
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009… meant growing. Perhaps it’s time to go back to plastic?