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Today had exploratory work being done, as I try to hammer out a good data model for my own project. As I said, it’s looking less complex already that the site I was assigned to work on. What I need from the viewing populace is - if you were going to organize your books in a computerized system, what attributes of the book would you want to include in the record? Your suggestions may make it into my data model.
Anyway, onward with the compression of data that is the link listing. After you’re done here, head over to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
twoheadsbetter where ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
2dlife and I take a more in-depth look at the sorority squall I linked to yesterday.
If in need of a good author, perhaps it would be worth trying Gnooks, which uses gnod to make recommendations based on what authors you like. There’s also a mapping done, so that if you have one author, you can see what gnod places as near that author in the web it constructs. If it works well, it might be a really good reader’s advisory tool for librarians. Of course, with only a name, then the books must be obtained, and depending on the books, may or may not be suitable for a particular audience. Exercising with care and caution (and making sure there aren’t any scrota around) will be recommended.
As it turns out, apparently fire-breathing is environmental, not hereditary. Now, all I need to do is pick up the trick on how to do it.
What is likely a big thing running across the blog world - China has successfully implanted electrodes in a pigeon that gives the researchers control over the bird's flight. This is all research for an upcoming game, no doubt. Look for “Getrude and Heathcliff: Forty Years Later” in software stores near you. On the biological side, the New York Times has an article about Steven Brand, a predictor of the future and one of the people working on the Clock of the Long Now, with a short summary of what he’s predicted that does come to pass, his opinion on genetic engineering (we’re going to accept it as normal), nuclear power, and megacities. Of course, this is all about what he’s done right. On the whole, though, is he better than chance in his predictions? Is he able to predict whether incremental changes, like bike boulevards and bike-up windows in Portland will be effective, or which ones will be effective? Or is this going to be a bit more like Salvor Hardin’s psychohistory?
What will likely explode outward in a furious wave of rage and other red-shifted emotions, staring with a post by Kelly Sue that expressed incredulity that, in Missouri, those making rape allegations may have to pay for their own examinations and evidence gathering. For something that can run nearly $1000, those without insurance may find it yet another barrier to reporting rapes that occur. Current law says that insurers must pay for those costs, but from the sounds of things, there is a disproprtionate number of sexual assault victims without medical insurance. There is, at last update, a bill in the State Senate designed to afford more protections to victims of sexual assault.
Speaking of those who are poor or uninsured, the Slacktivist is floored by a statistic that ultimately originates from Tony Pugh’s "U.S. Economy Leaving Record Numbers in Severe Poverty" - that nearly 16 million Americans are living in what is considered “severe poverty”, defined as individuals making less than $5,080 U.S. per year or a family of four making less than $9,903 U.S. per year. That second figure is half of the amount that places the family under the federal poverty line. Sixteen million people are making do on that small of an amount of money per year. And some of that is probably with the help from government assistance programs. If people want to put some meat on the claims that America is a Christian nation, assisting their brethren to get out of poverty would be a good place to focus effort, rather than wasting it crusading against homosexuals or other “deviants” that don’t do harm to anyone. When every person in the country can be secure that they won’t have to decide between food and another necessity, then there may be cause for trying to get Christian morality across, and it might have a little more weight because of all the good works that Christians did in getting rid of poverty.
A sixteenth century nautical almanac was recently rediscovered in the Czech Republic when research librarians were in the process of moving their old and rare documents. Plans are underway to digitize the content and then create a replica, which could be exhibited or showcased around the world. Amazing how some things manage to survive long enough to be noticed and archived, even after situations happen that should have destroyed them, or their being forgotten. I wonder what artifacts of our time will survive to the future, and whether they’ll paint any sort of semi-accurate picture of life in the twenty-first century. Will they keep records of Louis Farrakhan, who is stepping down from leadership of the Nation of Islam? (Link is to P!, who will miss the voice of the minister) Or will Paul Craig Roberts’s suggestion that the world stop acts of United States aggression by not lending it the money it needs to continue, which would also likely crash the economy? Or, instead, will the things that survive be a tale of two jaguars, one named Jorge and the other Osama, involved in the killing of a Denver zookeeper, and the future will have some trouble figuring out whether this was a serious article or poking political fun? We’ll never know.
Hitachi fired a warning shot in the technological arena by unveiling the world's first commercially-available 1TB hard drive. At the cost of $399 U.S., the 1TB drive competes with the currently-available high-storage drives that are often about half its size. This drive probably made it that much easier for people to set up an HD-capable Mythbox/DVR. We’ll see how many people take advantage of the new storage ability. (And whether game sizes inflate to match the new high end of storage.)
Trying to conceive a child? Pay attention to your ice cream cravings. Or is it only women who have actually conceived that are supposed to crave ice cream? As things are, the Telegraph article reports that high-fat dairy content, like whole milk and ice cream, are apparently helpful in regulating fertility periods, and thus may help a couple conceive. Just be careful and read over the etiology and treatment of childhood before you start having family members contract that condition.
The flippant response to finding out that a Taliban attack on a United States base that killed at least nine while Vice President Cheney was there is to say “They missed who they should have been going for.” But that’s not a good thought - for one, we don’t need to be making a martyr out of Richard Cheney. This could be the beginning of the long-awaited “Spring offensive” that the commanders in Afghanistan were pegging as a way of measuring the success of coalition forces in the country. Elsewhere, in teh domestic political sphere, Condoleezza Rice spoke out against binding resolutions on Iraq, saying that the President would not be constrained by "micromanagement of military affairs". I thought he was already unconstrained, with his willingness to send in more troops and let the military personnel in the arena call the shots on what’s going on. The Congresscritters are considering it a change in policy, rather than a restriction on an already-implemented policy, and thus are at least somewhat asserting that they are supposed to be in charge of the policy that governs warlike behavior. At least, if I’m reading this right, that’s what the Congresscritters are doing.
It wouldn’t be a daily linkfest without a reasonable dose of people on the Intarwebs. First offering tonight is from the writer of Majikthise, which I had linked to yesterday, in Salon explaining why she would not blog for the John Edwards presidential campaign - the ideology behind the campaign didn’t work for her, and she expressed concerns about what she had already written as being fodder for flamewars and mud artillery. She also had some reservations about what could be potential conflicts of interest in writing for a campaign, especially if the campaign wanted her to contradict her earlier material. The conclusion she draws is that it’s better for bloggers to not be endorsed, paid, or tied to a campaign, because the freedom of expression that makes them popular is squished when writing for someone with an agenda... and that bomb-throwing is much easier when you don’t have to worry about possibly having the campaign blow up behind you on the retaliation. Turning toward the other side of the American spectrum, Salon also offers us an insight into the tactics of making a "Victory Caucus" seem bigger than it really is, in hopes of saying that more people support the war, the neoconservatives, and the President than actually do. Well, there was the one spike, long enough to gather the attention of the media, but from there, it appears to have faded back into obscurity. And apparently, none of the Caucus members have volunteered that they want to help achieve victory by volunteering in the military. That’s probably the best place they could help out, if they really want Victory. Finally, DBMT gives a review of Conservapedia, an "alternative to Wikipedia, which is increasingly anti-Christian and anti-American". With a claim like that, I don’t think I’ll be vouching for the authenticity, NPOV, or completeness of the articles coming from that wiki any time soon. More than likely, those who would like a laugh can go over and see for themselves. For others, it might induce a rise in their blood pressure. Those people should probably stay away.
If none of this appeals you can rightly tell me to go to Hell. But be careful. The day I go, I might put up $100 and become the honorary mayor of the place for the day. And thus, make some decree or another as the Mayor of Hell himself. I think the town’s going to make quite some money off of this particular idea.
That’s what I have tonight. For better or worse. Take what you like out of it.
Anyway, onward with the compression of data that is the link listing. After you’re done here, head over to
twoheadsbetter where 2dlife and I take a more in-depth look at the sorority squall I linked to yesterday.If in need of a good author, perhaps it would be worth trying Gnooks, which uses gnod to make recommendations based on what authors you like. There’s also a mapping done, so that if you have one author, you can see what gnod places as near that author in the web it constructs. If it works well, it might be a really good reader’s advisory tool for librarians. Of course, with only a name, then the books must be obtained, and depending on the books, may or may not be suitable for a particular audience. Exercising with care and caution (and making sure there aren’t any scrota around) will be recommended.
As it turns out, apparently fire-breathing is environmental, not hereditary. Now, all I need to do is pick up the trick on how to do it.
What is likely a big thing running across the blog world - China has successfully implanted electrodes in a pigeon that gives the researchers control over the bird's flight. This is all research for an upcoming game, no doubt. Look for “Getrude and Heathcliff: Forty Years Later” in software stores near you. On the biological side, the New York Times has an article about Steven Brand, a predictor of the future and one of the people working on the Clock of the Long Now, with a short summary of what he’s predicted that does come to pass, his opinion on genetic engineering (we’re going to accept it as normal), nuclear power, and megacities. Of course, this is all about what he’s done right. On the whole, though, is he better than chance in his predictions? Is he able to predict whether incremental changes, like bike boulevards and bike-up windows in Portland will be effective, or which ones will be effective? Or is this going to be a bit more like Salvor Hardin’s psychohistory?
What will likely explode outward in a furious wave of rage and other red-shifted emotions, staring with a post by Kelly Sue that expressed incredulity that, in Missouri, those making rape allegations may have to pay for their own examinations and evidence gathering. For something that can run nearly $1000, those without insurance may find it yet another barrier to reporting rapes that occur. Current law says that insurers must pay for those costs, but from the sounds of things, there is a disproprtionate number of sexual assault victims without medical insurance. There is, at last update, a bill in the State Senate designed to afford more protections to victims of sexual assault.
Speaking of those who are poor or uninsured, the Slacktivist is floored by a statistic that ultimately originates from Tony Pugh’s "U.S. Economy Leaving Record Numbers in Severe Poverty" - that nearly 16 million Americans are living in what is considered “severe poverty”, defined as individuals making less than $5,080 U.S. per year or a family of four making less than $9,903 U.S. per year. That second figure is half of the amount that places the family under the federal poverty line. Sixteen million people are making do on that small of an amount of money per year. And some of that is probably with the help from government assistance programs. If people want to put some meat on the claims that America is a Christian nation, assisting their brethren to get out of poverty would be a good place to focus effort, rather than wasting it crusading against homosexuals or other “deviants” that don’t do harm to anyone. When every person in the country can be secure that they won’t have to decide between food and another necessity, then there may be cause for trying to get Christian morality across, and it might have a little more weight because of all the good works that Christians did in getting rid of poverty.
A sixteenth century nautical almanac was recently rediscovered in the Czech Republic when research librarians were in the process of moving their old and rare documents. Plans are underway to digitize the content and then create a replica, which could be exhibited or showcased around the world. Amazing how some things manage to survive long enough to be noticed and archived, even after situations happen that should have destroyed them, or their being forgotten. I wonder what artifacts of our time will survive to the future, and whether they’ll paint any sort of semi-accurate picture of life in the twenty-first century. Will they keep records of Louis Farrakhan, who is stepping down from leadership of the Nation of Islam? (Link is to P!, who will miss the voice of the minister) Or will Paul Craig Roberts’s suggestion that the world stop acts of United States aggression by not lending it the money it needs to continue, which would also likely crash the economy? Or, instead, will the things that survive be a tale of two jaguars, one named Jorge and the other Osama, involved in the killing of a Denver zookeeper, and the future will have some trouble figuring out whether this was a serious article or poking political fun? We’ll never know.
Hitachi fired a warning shot in the technological arena by unveiling the world's first commercially-available 1TB hard drive. At the cost of $399 U.S., the 1TB drive competes with the currently-available high-storage drives that are often about half its size. This drive probably made it that much easier for people to set up an HD-capable Mythbox/DVR. We’ll see how many people take advantage of the new storage ability. (And whether game sizes inflate to match the new high end of storage.)
Trying to conceive a child? Pay attention to your ice cream cravings. Or is it only women who have actually conceived that are supposed to crave ice cream? As things are, the Telegraph article reports that high-fat dairy content, like whole milk and ice cream, are apparently helpful in regulating fertility periods, and thus may help a couple conceive. Just be careful and read over the etiology and treatment of childhood before you start having family members contract that condition.
The flippant response to finding out that a Taliban attack on a United States base that killed at least nine while Vice President Cheney was there is to say “They missed who they should have been going for.” But that’s not a good thought - for one, we don’t need to be making a martyr out of Richard Cheney. This could be the beginning of the long-awaited “Spring offensive” that the commanders in Afghanistan were pegging as a way of measuring the success of coalition forces in the country. Elsewhere, in teh domestic political sphere, Condoleezza Rice spoke out against binding resolutions on Iraq, saying that the President would not be constrained by "micromanagement of military affairs". I thought he was already unconstrained, with his willingness to send in more troops and let the military personnel in the arena call the shots on what’s going on. The Congresscritters are considering it a change in policy, rather than a restriction on an already-implemented policy, and thus are at least somewhat asserting that they are supposed to be in charge of the policy that governs warlike behavior. At least, if I’m reading this right, that’s what the Congresscritters are doing.
It wouldn’t be a daily linkfest without a reasonable dose of people on the Intarwebs. First offering tonight is from the writer of Majikthise, which I had linked to yesterday, in Salon explaining why she would not blog for the John Edwards presidential campaign - the ideology behind the campaign didn’t work for her, and she expressed concerns about what she had already written as being fodder for flamewars and mud artillery. She also had some reservations about what could be potential conflicts of interest in writing for a campaign, especially if the campaign wanted her to contradict her earlier material. The conclusion she draws is that it’s better for bloggers to not be endorsed, paid, or tied to a campaign, because the freedom of expression that makes them popular is squished when writing for someone with an agenda... and that bomb-throwing is much easier when you don’t have to worry about possibly having the campaign blow up behind you on the retaliation. Turning toward the other side of the American spectrum, Salon also offers us an insight into the tactics of making a "Victory Caucus" seem bigger than it really is, in hopes of saying that more people support the war, the neoconservatives, and the President than actually do. Well, there was the one spike, long enough to gather the attention of the media, but from there, it appears to have faded back into obscurity. And apparently, none of the Caucus members have volunteered that they want to help achieve victory by volunteering in the military. That’s probably the best place they could help out, if they really want Victory. Finally, DBMT gives a review of Conservapedia, an "alternative to Wikipedia, which is increasingly anti-Christian and anti-American". With a claim like that, I don’t think I’ll be vouching for the authenticity, NPOV, or completeness of the articles coming from that wiki any time soon. More than likely, those who would like a laugh can go over and see for themselves. For others, it might induce a rise in their blood pressure. Those people should probably stay away.
If none of this appeals you can rightly tell me to go to Hell. But be careful. The day I go, I might put up $100 and become the honorary mayor of the place for the day. And thus, make some decree or another as the Mayor of Hell himself. I think the town’s going to make quite some money off of this particular idea.
That’s what I have tonight. For better or worse. Take what you like out of it.
