Archive for the ‘In the news’ Category

Seventy Years Past

Wednesday, March 26th, 2014

It was the 70th anniversary of the Great Escape this week. Technically, the night of the 24th into the 25th for the escape from camp itself.

I have, of course, seen the movie several times. I’ll watch it any time I come across it. I don’t remember if I read the book before or after I’d seen the movie the first time.

A very good story, in either form. If you’re not familiar with the story, the movie is probably more accessible. The book is more in-depth, and more accurate – there are differences. Either one is well worth your time.

Miscellany 24

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

Big roundup here of things that have been hanging around (non-political version).

It’s war! The ants are coming for our chocolate. The article is actually much wider-ranging, and quite interesting.

A Faberge egg not seen (and known for what it is) since 1902 was purchased a decade ago at a Midwestern antique fair.

Need a handy reference for musical intervals? This may help.

Planning to record some audio at home? This may help.

How to take excellent notes and be productive with paper. I can always use the help.

This looks like an interesting resource for computer science.

I’ll want to spend some time reminiscing at this site.

Two scary economic charts, billed as documenting the demise of the American Dream.

An interesting list of Google Easter eggs.

I like these thoughts on the Starship Troopers movie. I didn’t much care for it myself; I’ve usually referred to it as “Paul Verhoeven’s rebuttal to Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers.”

Google makes an emulator in Chrome for the Amiga 500. I still have two Amiga 2000s in my basement, although I’ve only got one monitor for them, and the hard drive on one needs to be reformatted. It’s too bad there was never a widely-available Ethernet board for them.

Men’s Health says these are the best over-the-counter medications.

The Smithsonian says these vitamins and supplements are worth taking.

Continuing on the subject of health, how old is your heart?

Here are photos of various famous locations. There are two photos of each location: one showing the normally-presented view, and one showing surroundings that aren’t normally seen unless you’re there. I’ve been to the pyramids of Giza, and it’s startling how close development has come to them.

Wanna learn something? Try here.

You can find over 22,000 comics that are out of copyright here. Via.

Man sublets his apartment, comes home to find a plus-sized orgy going on. Then he loses his apartment, because his lease doesn’t allow him to sublet.

Do incorrect and inappropriate use’s of quotes (like that one) bother you? Best stay away from this site, then.

I’ve seen the movie Head, but it was many years ago. There’s a link to the movie in this article.

It looks like there’s some good information in this gardening thread at Ace of Spades HQ.

They’ve found more Dead Sea scrolls.

Interesting art. I’ve seen similar things, but it’s still cool. Now, imagine the following in a Cockney accent: “That’s not a bird, that’s a bird! Via.

Speaking of birds, but not really

And not speaking of birds, but really! Rogue Chihuahuas overrunning a town?

I like this guy’s obituary. He’d have been fun to know.

What if the Winter Olympics had been held on Hoth?

I’m not surprised that this happened in Japan.

In 1731, King Frederick I of Sweden gave a lion to a taxidermist who had never seen one. Some of the comments are hilarious, also. I particularly like the first reply to this one.

Information you can use: 7 Myths About Storing Beer.

More Information you can use: Picking a lock with a hairpin.

Some people believe that this is the best newspaper correction ever. I’m not so certain of that, but I don’t have any other suggestions handy.

As a European, this is how I imagine Americans have breakfast. Via Protein Wisdom. The comments at both locations are good, too.

Looking for back issues of Starlog magazine?

Why do we do some of the things we do at weddings?

An interesting clock presentation.

These are impressive tattoos. Not that I’d ever get one, but …

Some carbon fiber musical instruments. I’ve played a Blackbird tenor ukulele and liked it, and I have a friend who is trying to set himself up producing carbon fiber soprano ukes.

I knew people drank more in the past, but damn! That’s a lot of booze!

How to make a sling from woven paracord. The site is often NSFW, but this post isn’t (unless your company employs extreme hoplophobes).

On the same website: If you ever feel stupid

Remember the warehouse scene at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark? It might not have been too unbelievable.

Figure skaters caught in mid-spin. They look much more graceful and elegant when you don’t catch all the details.

When it goes, it all goes at once.

Giant desert art project in Egypt.

Sarah Hoyt is a local science fiction author. I met her at a party at a mutual friend’s place a couple years ago. This post on her history with SFWA is absolutely hilarious.

There may still be time to apply for this job – it’s got to be hard work. Then again, a lot of people like swords.

Ever seen a ship break apart?

Were you aware that France was still conduction executions by guillotine as recently as 1977? Were you aware that the actor Christopher Lee attended the last one?

I wasn’t able to find an update on his recovery, but the fact that he survived going through a wood chipper is amazing. When I was in the Navy, if you were going to work on anything that could be dangerous if it were turned on during the process, you’d attach a red tag to the power switch. I wonder if they’ll implement a system like that for the wood chipper?

Boy, the Aussies don’t hold back with their PSAs, do they?

I have a friend who photographs most of his restaurant meals. I should send him to this site.

I think that’s about enough for now. I may do another one (with older accumulated links) later.

Nasty Politics

Thursday, October 31st, 2013

Evie Hudak is my representative in the Colorado Senate. I’ve voted against her in every election since I moved here. Her campaign literature always seems to be depend on scare tactics and misleading information about her opponents. Unfortunately, it’s worked for her.

She made news earlier this year when she blew off a rape victim’s testimony in opposition to a gun control bill (one of several that were passed this year).

There was an attempt to recall her earlier, but it didn’t succeed. Recalls against two other legislators were successful. There’s now a second recall effort against her. I signed the petition both times, and talked with one of the signature gatherers this time around. He said that they’d learned from the successful recall efforts, in that they were gathering phone numbers or emails as well as name and address this time, and they had liquid-proof cover sheets on the clipboards this time. Apparently, without contact information the first time, they were unable to verify a large number of signatures challenged by Hudak’s people, and the cover sheets were to prevent people from walking up and “accidentally” spilling coffee on the signature sheets.

Tonight, I came home to find a flyer hung on my doorknob. It doesn’t mention Hudak by name, but it’s the sort of scare tactic I associate with her.

Here’s the text of the flyer (any commentary I have will be in italics):

PUBLIC AWARENESS ALERT

Signature gatherers who have not gone through background checks could be in our neighborhood – as soon as tomorrow – asking us to sign a recall petition.

DO NOT SIGN THE PETITION

The petition gatherer at your door, asking for your personal information, could have a criminal record.

And, if you sign the petition, your signature and personal information will become public record, available for anyone to access. Because they have to be filed with the Colorado Secretary of State. If you own real property, your personal information is already public record.

Don’t Give This Company Your Personal Information. Don’t Sign The Recall Petition. I like how they characterize the recall effort as a company. Makes it sound like an evil big business. They do this more than once.

TO REPORT ANY CASES OF FRAUD, PLEASE CALL 720-588-8496 Here, they’re characterizing signing a recall petition as being defrauded.

(End of that side of the flyer)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY BEHIND THE RECALL PETITIONS

* History of hiring petition gatherers with a criminal history, including sexual assault on a child

* History of fraud and forgery allegations in other petition gathering efforts in Colorado Anyone can allege fraud and forgery, and I understand it’s not unheard-of for people to try to disqualify signatures on petitions by challenging them in this manner.

* History of paying people who leave the state after they have your personal information Democrats have been known to use hired petition gatherers, also. If they’re from out of state, as they sometimes are, of course they’ll leave once the petition drive is over. This makes it sound as though the petition gatherers themselves will be taking your personal information with them when they leave.

Don’t Give This Company Your Personal Information. Don’t Sign The Recall Petition. Again, implying that the recall effort is a “company” that will retain your personal information.

TO REPORT ANY CASES OF FRAUD, PLEASE CALL 720-588-8496

That’s most of the text from the flyer. The rest is the “fine print”: on the first side, it says “Paid for by the Democracy Defense Fund,” which has no web presence I can find, and when I search on the phone number, I’m told that it is not an assigned number. The Denver Post (in the article I linked earlier) says that there was no answer when they called them. On the second side, it has five media references (newpaper name and date or radio station call sign and date). There are no article titles or links to websites on the flyer.

I’ve searched the Denver Post’s archives, and found either a political article or a letter to the editor on three of the four dates, but only one actual article appeared to reference a recall effort, and I’m not willing to sign up for a Denver Post account and pay $2.95 per article to examine these articles, so I don’t know what they’re referencing in those articles.

I hope the recall effort gets enough signatures to go through, but tactics like this work, and they’re what I expect from Evie Hudak.

9/11 – 12 years later

Wednesday, September 11th, 2013

Once again, it is the anniversary of the attacks on the US at the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. This is also the first anniversary of the death in Benghazi of our ambassador and several other people abandoned by the Obama administration. There were at least two further attacks in Benghazi today.

I don’t know what to say at this point that hasn’t been covered already (and better) by others. Our response to 9/11/2001 started as an example of Category Error. Rather than going after the nation and/or culture which produced the attackers, we declared war on their chosen tactic.

And now, we’re providing weapons to the enemies who attacked us. What is it the Constitution says?

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.

Are the Syrian rebels really our enemy? Well, they’re associated with Al Qaeda, and Al Qaeda are our enemies, so I don’t see how providing them with weaponry and assistance can be considered anything other than treason.

Then again, as a well-known “American patriot” once asked, “What difference, at this point, does it make?” I know what difference it makes to me. It’s confirmation that the administration was lying about Benghazi from the start. What difference does it make to you?

I suspect the architect neglected a factor or two

Sunday, September 8th, 2013

Designing a building with windows that act as a concave reflector is bound to have some consequences.

I wouldn’t have thought they’d be good eating

Thursday, July 25th, 2013

I’m sorry to hear this

Sunday, April 7th, 2013

I never met Toren Smith, but I used to read his blog (when he had one). I didn’t run across the news when it occurred, but he passed away recently. He had an interesting life.

I think I’ve read this before

Sunday, April 7th, 2013

… but it’s not unwelcome. According to researchers, men get health benefits from looking at busty women.

It reminds me of the days I used to get up early to watch “20 Minute Workout.” I used to joke that it got my heartrate up even if I only sat and watched it. Apparently, I wasn’t wrong.

Now to adjust my workout plans.

Sounds like an opportunity to me

Sunday, March 31st, 2013

There are so many holidays anymore that I doubt that there’s a day in the year that isn’t multi-purpose, so to speak. New holidays are being proposed all the time (International Talk Like A Pirate Day, Festivus, and Kwanzaa, for example). Dave Barry points out this one, which has been in existence for a few years. It doesn’t appear that there are any suggested activities that have risen to the level of traditions for National Cleavage Day, however, so feel free to celebrate today in any appropriate manner.

Forget?

Tuesday, September 11th, 2012

Hell, no! I’m not going to forget. I was at work when I heard the news. I thought the first plane hitting was a tragic accident, but when the second plane hit, I knew that it was an act of war, and told my coworkers that. I went home, and brought back a small television, which we kept returning to the rest of the day.

I remember seeing the footage of Muslims (Palestinians, IIRC) passing out candy to children and dancing in the streets in celebration. I remember not being able to contact my father, who, although retired, still went to the Pentagon daily, until four days later.

Sarah Hoyt remembers, too.

It’s possible that the president remembers, but it apparently doesn’t have the same meaning for him. Decorum seems to be an area that some Democrats need to work on, also.

This isn’t directly related to 9/11, but it’s another indication of the respect that the Democrats have for the military, and would be the sort of story that the media would beat to death had it been the Republicans who had done it.

Remember the events of the day, the fallen and the heroes. Respect them, and resolve to learn from them.