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Today confirms that there’s going to be a lot of pages printed before this semester is over. I’m sorry to the ents and the trees. It’s not really too late to turn around, but this class looks interesting enough to slog through, even if it does waste paper tremendously.
Top story for tonight - Robert Anton Wilson Defies Medical Experts and passes onward into the bosom of Eris. Hail and farewell. Bring about the coming of Eris in her own due time. In honor (or just poking fun at a few things) of RAW, we have The Nigerian Illuminati and several objects of attention for the Discordian faith.
Canadian coins being used as espionage equipment? That’s what the government is claiming happened, although they’re understandably mystified as to what purpose the coins are serving, as well as why coins were used as transmitters. (The CBC article echoes the confusion of coins being the espionage object.) In other spy-type things, the CIA has been authorized to take action against Hizbollah, according to the Telegraph. For a classified document, and one likely of that apparent importance, I wonder what it’s doing being leaked out...
Last year was the warmest on record. This looks like a warming trend. Can’t tell, of course, whether it’s natural, artificial, or natural with significant help. All I know is that it’s January and there’s been one snowfall where the stuff actually stuck around for a bit.
House of Reps. passes a minimum wage increase. If it goes through the Senate as well, I wonder what the President will do with it. Hopefully, he’ll pass it. Having a good minimum wage is well-overdue, despite claims that raising the minimum wage means jobs get lost. The other House bill, just as important, was an embyronic stem cell bill, supporting the process. There could be another veto in the future, but if this one goes through, I think someone’s betting on an override.
A humorous look at some spectator drugs the American populace wants to have. Stuff to make baseball interesting, eight-dollar hot dogs palatable, and average Joes able to stand shirtless in Green Bay in December.
Wil Wheaton describes his transition from hating Star Trek to loving it at Suicide Girls. It’s interesting to read - finally experiencing Star Trek as an observer, with all the neat stuff in place, as it was meant to be experienced, rather than as the actor, combined with the memories of the shooting that he had, brought him around to realizing just what a phenomenon Star Trek is. And now, while he still may have played a character that some Trekkies find distasteful, he’s okay now, really.
PayPal offers rotating password keys as a means of trying to thwart phishers. Even with your credentials, though, the six-digit code is required to access the account. Since it rotates every half-minute, that can help. I wonder, though, whether it rotates through a sequence of pre-defined keys, or whether it generates completely new and random ones every time. Eventually, yes, there will be repetition, and I suppose if one had credentials, one could eventually get in through persistence, assuming PayPal didn’t notice and remove that six-digit code from the list of possible options.
Bringing up that blockable topic, sex, again, follow me through this sequence - The Guardian discusses aphrodisiacs, mentioning classical ones and a chemical one, bremelanotide. According to this article, bremelanotide actually increases the libido by working on the nervous system. The ease of potential manufacture as well as this libiido-enhancing effect has at least a few heads turning about possible abuses, including as a form of mind-control date-rape drug (ish - think increasing libido past the point of rationality and then casually suggesting to someone to have sex who would otherwise turn you down), and all the potential problems with an increase in sex, like kids, STDs and sexual crimes. Some of that might fly if this sparks libido to the point where protection isn’t used in the haste to have sex. I’m not entirely sure what to make of it, myself. I’m assuming it will be prescription-only if it does increase libido as described, if not banned entirely. I’m all for more people having better sex, but I’m not in favor of irresponsible or non-consensual sex if it should result from this, regardless of the libido and arousal state of one of the partners.
I’d make a climax joke here, but I think that might arouse boos and stuff getting thrown at me. So, instead, Wired posts an interview that says women can have orgasms without even needing to touch themselves. So toys may be nice, but in a pinch, even a good picture will do for the right people. Moving forward from the orgasm to the children that can result from one, cash rewards are being given to Khasi tribe members in India for having more than 15 children. That’s 15 children alive. 1,000 rupees per kid. This is while the nation is trying to get population explosion under control. Women’s rights groups aren’t real happy about it, either. And to complete the crash from the highs of sex, a mother who threw her children off a pier is acquitted of murder. She wasn’t in her right mind when she did it, though. So that’s at least a little comforting. Not much, though.
And from here on out, it probably gets worse. So if you don’t want depressing stuff, stop here. Finish out your perusal with an Air Force sargeant getting into trouble because she posed for Playboy.
Starting with the not-so-great, but bearable, Although it is disconcerting that we seem to be exporting our particular brand of stupidity. In British Columbia, Canada, the CBC reports that a yoga class designed to fight obesity is being attacked as teaching a religion. Attacked by (surprise, surprise) Christians who feel that the yoga practice is a Satanic opening or a religious practice. The school board chair insists that the yoga is stretching and exercise, not religious instruction, and notes that those who don’t want to do yoga are free to do different exercise or leave the classroom. I’m inclined to agree - while yoga can be associated with a spiritual practice easily, by itself, I don’t see it as a religion. Those who have more experience than me in yoga are welcome to comment and tell me that I’m wrong and that the spiritual component is necessary.
Continuing in the direction of religious fanaticism, we get to see the same reasoning that brought about intelligent design courses being taught as science being applied to Al Gore’s film. A Seattle-area school district has put a moratorium on the film, citing that it doesn't meet policy guidelines. Said policy guidelines say that there has to be a credible opposing view presented. No problems there - all that would need to be done is for the view to be presented. But the article-writer gets a few extra jabs in with some choice quotes - “Condoms don’t belong in school, and neither does Al Gore...The Bible says that in the end times everything will burn up, but that perspective isn’t in the DVD.” says one parent, who is a Young Earth Creationist. Later in the article, his wife says, “From what I’ve seen (of the movie) and what my husband has expressed to me, if (the movie) is going to take the approach of ‘bad America, bad America,’ I don’t think it should be shown at all,...If you’re going to come in and just say America is creating the rotten ruin of the world, I don’t think the video should be shown.” Another YEC, the school board president, said “It’s only a theory” when asked whether there should be an evolution alternative presented by the teachers. Even though it’s what’s actually quoted, one could probably safely say that the article writer has a particular slant in mind while writing. That I’m both amused and annoyed by them is secondary. I hope they are the outlier in the Seattle area, rather than the norm.
This may be a case of someone reading the wind right, or a case of the thousand monkeys actually managing to bang out something that comes to pass, but six years before it happened, someone predicted the United States attacking Somalia. In pursuit of al-Qaeda, a name so saturated, and so empty, that it could have been anyone they were firing upon.
In regular world events, it looks like hell could be about to break loose... The plotter of the USS Cole attack, among other prisoners, has escaped. That’s problematic. But it gets worse. The Pres wants 21,500 extra troops, there are serious rumblings that Iran may soon be attacked, the Pentagon just abandoned the cumulative-duty time limit for soldiers, which makes them infinitely recallable to service, and in the country, the people are debating whether Congress can actually force the President to pull troops back. (The answer is: They can.) What the President would like, no doubt is for the Onion article about 800,000 privileged youths enlisting to be absolutely true. Of course, there’s always the possibility of a draft to get those numbers. Would Bush risk it? If he’s going to attack Iran, I’d say there’s a good chance of it.
Anyway, I’m headed bedward now. In the morning, I shall throw myself at my work with reckless abandon, as is my usual custom.
Top story for tonight - Robert Anton Wilson Defies Medical Experts and passes onward into the bosom of Eris. Hail and farewell. Bring about the coming of Eris in her own due time. In honor (or just poking fun at a few things) of RAW, we have The Nigerian Illuminati and several objects of attention for the Discordian faith.
Canadian coins being used as espionage equipment? That’s what the government is claiming happened, although they’re understandably mystified as to what purpose the coins are serving, as well as why coins were used as transmitters. (The CBC article echoes the confusion of coins being the espionage object.) In other spy-type things, the CIA has been authorized to take action against Hizbollah, according to the Telegraph. For a classified document, and one likely of that apparent importance, I wonder what it’s doing being leaked out...
Last year was the warmest on record. This looks like a warming trend. Can’t tell, of course, whether it’s natural, artificial, or natural with significant help. All I know is that it’s January and there’s been one snowfall where the stuff actually stuck around for a bit.
House of Reps. passes a minimum wage increase. If it goes through the Senate as well, I wonder what the President will do with it. Hopefully, he’ll pass it. Having a good minimum wage is well-overdue, despite claims that raising the minimum wage means jobs get lost. The other House bill, just as important, was an embyronic stem cell bill, supporting the process. There could be another veto in the future, but if this one goes through, I think someone’s betting on an override.
A humorous look at some spectator drugs the American populace wants to have. Stuff to make baseball interesting, eight-dollar hot dogs palatable, and average Joes able to stand shirtless in Green Bay in December.
Wil Wheaton describes his transition from hating Star Trek to loving it at Suicide Girls. It’s interesting to read - finally experiencing Star Trek as an observer, with all the neat stuff in place, as it was meant to be experienced, rather than as the actor, combined with the memories of the shooting that he had, brought him around to realizing just what a phenomenon Star Trek is. And now, while he still may have played a character that some Trekkies find distasteful, he’s okay now, really.
PayPal offers rotating password keys as a means of trying to thwart phishers. Even with your credentials, though, the six-digit code is required to access the account. Since it rotates every half-minute, that can help. I wonder, though, whether it rotates through a sequence of pre-defined keys, or whether it generates completely new and random ones every time. Eventually, yes, there will be repetition, and I suppose if one had credentials, one could eventually get in through persistence, assuming PayPal didn’t notice and remove that six-digit code from the list of possible options.
Bringing up that blockable topic, sex, again, follow me through this sequence - The Guardian discusses aphrodisiacs, mentioning classical ones and a chemical one, bremelanotide. According to this article, bremelanotide actually increases the libido by working on the nervous system. The ease of potential manufacture as well as this libiido-enhancing effect has at least a few heads turning about possible abuses, including as a form of mind-control date-rape drug (ish - think increasing libido past the point of rationality and then casually suggesting to someone to have sex who would otherwise turn you down), and all the potential problems with an increase in sex, like kids, STDs and sexual crimes. Some of that might fly if this sparks libido to the point where protection isn’t used in the haste to have sex. I’m not entirely sure what to make of it, myself. I’m assuming it will be prescription-only if it does increase libido as described, if not banned entirely. I’m all for more people having better sex, but I’m not in favor of irresponsible or non-consensual sex if it should result from this, regardless of the libido and arousal state of one of the partners.
I’d make a climax joke here, but I think that might arouse boos and stuff getting thrown at me. So, instead, Wired posts an interview that says women can have orgasms without even needing to touch themselves. So toys may be nice, but in a pinch, even a good picture will do for the right people. Moving forward from the orgasm to the children that can result from one, cash rewards are being given to Khasi tribe members in India for having more than 15 children. That’s 15 children alive. 1,000 rupees per kid. This is while the nation is trying to get population explosion under control. Women’s rights groups aren’t real happy about it, either. And to complete the crash from the highs of sex, a mother who threw her children off a pier is acquitted of murder. She wasn’t in her right mind when she did it, though. So that’s at least a little comforting. Not much, though.
And from here on out, it probably gets worse. So if you don’t want depressing stuff, stop here. Finish out your perusal with an Air Force sargeant getting into trouble because she posed for Playboy.
Starting with the not-so-great, but bearable, Although it is disconcerting that we seem to be exporting our particular brand of stupidity. In British Columbia, Canada, the CBC reports that a yoga class designed to fight obesity is being attacked as teaching a religion. Attacked by (surprise, surprise) Christians who feel that the yoga practice is a Satanic opening or a religious practice. The school board chair insists that the yoga is stretching and exercise, not religious instruction, and notes that those who don’t want to do yoga are free to do different exercise or leave the classroom. I’m inclined to agree - while yoga can be associated with a spiritual practice easily, by itself, I don’t see it as a religion. Those who have more experience than me in yoga are welcome to comment and tell me that I’m wrong and that the spiritual component is necessary.
Continuing in the direction of religious fanaticism, we get to see the same reasoning that brought about intelligent design courses being taught as science being applied to Al Gore’s film. A Seattle-area school district has put a moratorium on the film, citing that it doesn't meet policy guidelines. Said policy guidelines say that there has to be a credible opposing view presented. No problems there - all that would need to be done is for the view to be presented. But the article-writer gets a few extra jabs in with some choice quotes - “Condoms don’t belong in school, and neither does Al Gore...The Bible says that in the end times everything will burn up, but that perspective isn’t in the DVD.” says one parent, who is a Young Earth Creationist. Later in the article, his wife says, “From what I’ve seen (of the movie) and what my husband has expressed to me, if (the movie) is going to take the approach of ‘bad America, bad America,’ I don’t think it should be shown at all,...If you’re going to come in and just say America is creating the rotten ruin of the world, I don’t think the video should be shown.” Another YEC, the school board president, said “It’s only a theory” when asked whether there should be an evolution alternative presented by the teachers. Even though it’s what’s actually quoted, one could probably safely say that the article writer has a particular slant in mind while writing. That I’m both amused and annoyed by them is secondary. I hope they are the outlier in the Seattle area, rather than the norm.
This may be a case of someone reading the wind right, or a case of the thousand monkeys actually managing to bang out something that comes to pass, but six years before it happened, someone predicted the United States attacking Somalia. In pursuit of al-Qaeda, a name so saturated, and so empty, that it could have been anyone they were firing upon.
In regular world events, it looks like hell could be about to break loose... The plotter of the USS Cole attack, among other prisoners, has escaped. That’s problematic. But it gets worse. The Pres wants 21,500 extra troops, there are serious rumblings that Iran may soon be attacked, the Pentagon just abandoned the cumulative-duty time limit for soldiers, which makes them infinitely recallable to service, and in the country, the people are debating whether Congress can actually force the President to pull troops back. (The answer is: They can.) What the President would like, no doubt is for the Onion article about 800,000 privileged youths enlisting to be absolutely true. Of course, there’s always the possibility of a draft to get those numbers. Would Bush risk it? If he’s going to attack Iran, I’d say there’s a good chance of it.
Anyway, I’m headed bedward now. In the morning, I shall throw myself at my work with reckless abandon, as is my usual custom.
