And one more, then. - 18 October 2007
Oct. 19th, 2007 12:28 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silveradeptWell, I started my upgrade when I went to work. When I came back, it was about 50% done. By the time this entry publishes, it should be into the install phase. Or so I hope. Getting 7.10 should hopefully make a lot of things better and updated and cooler. And then I can wait for December and KDE 4 to appear. Then it’ll be March or April before the 8.04 release. It is kind of nice having a regular updating schedule to your Linux system, even if it does mean regular downloads of large amounts of files.
See what happens when Potterheads meet J.K.. That’s grade-school Potterheads, by the way. I think Rowling’s become the rock star of the Potter generation.
My professional self cringes at the idea of the Society for HandHeld Hushing, but I can see where people wouldn’t want to be interested in someone else’s cellular conversation in a public place. One of the gentlemen today in the library was on speakerphone with the mobile at his ear, so I wonder if it was not knowing that speaker was on, or wanting to make sure everyone heard both sides of the conversation.
The Slacktivist puts up Theory #2 on why Christians are primarily seen as gay-hating peoples - Theory #2 is that those who are complaining the loudest are the ones most likely to engage in the behavior, or are fighting that kind of behavior themselves. Plenty of examples abound of people who might fit that bill. It’s not the General Theory of Gay-Hatin’, though, so there’s more theories to be discussed. While we wait for those, we can marvel at the Regent Law student being disciplined because he posted a video of Pat Robertson scratching his forehead with the middle finger. Apparently, he has to undergo a psychiatric evaluation before they’ll let him back in.
And then we can have a chuckle at "the growing crisis of sexual addiction among Christian women". Hrm... something tells me that the idea of submitting to a male isn’t flying, excepting for those who are submissives, and that women want to be able to enjoy their sexuality, too. The World Health Organization says the best way to avoid abortions is to make contraception widely available. Naturally, taking that news to heart, the new Department of Health and Human Services contraception person is someone who has spoken out against it. I’d sigh and say “Only in America”, but I suspect we’re not the only ones.
Kohl's tries some solar panels on top of some new stores. Wouldn’t that be a great place to get energy from - if the system could somehow harness the heat that the blacktop gives off, too, that would make malls contribute some of their energy consumption back. Enough to power themselves? I don’t know, but that would be neat to see done.
In related envrionmental news, the maritime shipping industry generates about two times the carbon dioxide emissions as aircraft, according to a study released by Intertanko. I wonder how much that’s true of the entirety of the shipping industry - what’s their carbon footprint like compared to others?
Getting into things that are political, even when they’re judicial, the United States is an odd man out when it comes to sentencing juveniles to life sentences without parole. This idea that someone can commit a crime deserving of spending the rest of their lives in prison without release at a young age, such as 13 or 14, is unique to the United States compared to the European law which it is closest to. And there are some who don’t think it’s possible, and want juvenile lifers to have their sentences reconsidered and possibly paroled as the length of time served goes on. Since we do ban killing juveniles, it makes sense that sentencing them to die in prison might also be harsh judgment for someone who hasn’t fully matured or understood things.
Whoops! No nuclear sites here, says Syria, and the U.N. concurs, deciding that it was an errant translation. An even bigger gaffe, for many, is the Roman Catholic priest that gave Communion to two gay men dressed in nuns' habits. Of course, in hindsight, he realizes he shouldn’t have done it, but as he notes, there’s nothing in the code that says you deny the bread to anyone dressed flamboyantly. Something that’s not a mistake, however, is that Turkey approved a plan to enter Iraq to beat back Kurdish insurgents. And that the Canadian postal system refused to carry advertisements for a political group calling itself "The Sex Party", because of the potential offense the brochure could give. While apparently allowing a rather nasty anti-gay tract to go through. Must be something about the words being used in one and not the other. Something like that would probably happen in the States, too, with the material for the Sex Party being described as obscene. Next time, I guess the Sex Party has to use discreet envelopes for their pamphlets.
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bradhicks doesn't believe the official, court-confessed story of Michael Devlin, who admitted to kidnapping two underage boys and holding them to him without their will. He suspects that there was likely consent involved, but it’s not socially acceptable“ for that to be admitted, and so kidnapping is the charge confessed to and everyone will think of Michael Devin as the dangerous kidnapping stranger and not someone who may have been an attractive person for a boy to run away to.
In contention for the Quiche of Stupidity tonight, the United States military, which was caught advertising recruitment on gay-friendly websites. Once their gaffe was exposed, the military said they would pull the advertisements immediately. If the surge strategy continues, though, they might have to put them back up to meet recruiting goals.
Also in contention is the original contents of a supposed "Canadian" talking about he health care system. The debunking done to it is very effective and shows the original e-mail for what it is - deceit.
Getting close to a winning entry is the accounts of younger and younger children being punished and arrested for sexual misconduct - one a four-year old giving a hug, the others 13 and 12 that were apparently all playing a butt-slapping game with the girls, who were participating just as much as anyone else. With the stigma that sexual offenses carry with them, arresting the kids rather than calling in the parents seems to be a really extreme step. Especially for a four-year-old. Does he even have the concept that what he’s doing could be sexual in nature?
Running neck-and-neck with the winner as we turn down the stretch, the United States Congress, for giving in and granting some telecommunications companies immunity over their warrantless wiretapping.
Regarding the SCHIP debate, here’s a perfect contrast (whichericmonster already put up and I’m shamelessly swiping because it’s that damn good). First, Senator Pete Stark's remarks about how the administration just likes to blow things up, be it Iraq, the United States, or bills in Congress. He also finds it unlikely that the administration that spends so much money fighting in Iraq can’t find money to insure more people. On the Republican side of the coin, and a clear victor in tonight’s Quiche awarding, Representative Steve King, who said that SCHIP stood for "Socialized Clinton-style Hillarycare for Illegals and their Parents.", including a visual of the backronym. I don’t think it can get any worse. Can it get any worse? Well, Congress couldn't must sufficient votes to override the veto, so I think it did just get worse. As has income inequality.
Something fun that I found while trying to answer someone’s question today is the Museum of Talking Boards, or as they are known by a famous brand name, Oujia boards. Plenty of examples in the gallery, along with some other material on history and the superstitions that abound around these devices.
A really great thing to read about (and to keep any ego ideas I might have firmly in my head) are the Gallileo fallacy and the Gadfly corollary, both of which tell us that thinking you’re alt and outside the mainstream and getting plenty of people mad at you does not make you an original, popular, or oppressed person. You are not Galileo. And neither am I.
Finally, if you want to spend some time flexing your vocabulary might for what appears to be a noble cause, try on Free Rice, which claims to donate ten grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme for every time you can pick the correct matching word for the one given. And it adjusts down and up to your vocabulary as needed, showing off your level, if you want to have some bragging rights. I’ve hit forty-four (of fifty, and Humes are said to rarely get above forty-eight) as my highest level, and that’s some pretty weird stuff up there. Turns out that learning roots here and there really does help. Might be perfect to use for someone studying for the verbal parts of the SAT or the GRE. Or those looking to brag about the size of their lexicon. Either way, your call. After 2000 grains, I think that’s enough for me tonight.
See what happens when Potterheads meet J.K.. That’s grade-school Potterheads, by the way. I think Rowling’s become the rock star of the Potter generation.
My professional self cringes at the idea of the Society for HandHeld Hushing, but I can see where people wouldn’t want to be interested in someone else’s cellular conversation in a public place. One of the gentlemen today in the library was on speakerphone with the mobile at his ear, so I wonder if it was not knowing that speaker was on, or wanting to make sure everyone heard both sides of the conversation.
The Slacktivist puts up Theory #2 on why Christians are primarily seen as gay-hating peoples - Theory #2 is that those who are complaining the loudest are the ones most likely to engage in the behavior, or are fighting that kind of behavior themselves. Plenty of examples abound of people who might fit that bill. It’s not the General Theory of Gay-Hatin’, though, so there’s more theories to be discussed. While we wait for those, we can marvel at the Regent Law student being disciplined because he posted a video of Pat Robertson scratching his forehead with the middle finger. Apparently, he has to undergo a psychiatric evaluation before they’ll let him back in.
And then we can have a chuckle at "the growing crisis of sexual addiction among Christian women". Hrm... something tells me that the idea of submitting to a male isn’t flying, excepting for those who are submissives, and that women want to be able to enjoy their sexuality, too. The World Health Organization says the best way to avoid abortions is to make contraception widely available. Naturally, taking that news to heart, the new Department of Health and Human Services contraception person is someone who has spoken out against it. I’d sigh and say “Only in America”, but I suspect we’re not the only ones.
Kohl's tries some solar panels on top of some new stores. Wouldn’t that be a great place to get energy from - if the system could somehow harness the heat that the blacktop gives off, too, that would make malls contribute some of their energy consumption back. Enough to power themselves? I don’t know, but that would be neat to see done.
In related envrionmental news, the maritime shipping industry generates about two times the carbon dioxide emissions as aircraft, according to a study released by Intertanko. I wonder how much that’s true of the entirety of the shipping industry - what’s their carbon footprint like compared to others?
Getting into things that are political, even when they’re judicial, the United States is an odd man out when it comes to sentencing juveniles to life sentences without parole. This idea that someone can commit a crime deserving of spending the rest of their lives in prison without release at a young age, such as 13 or 14, is unique to the United States compared to the European law which it is closest to. And there are some who don’t think it’s possible, and want juvenile lifers to have their sentences reconsidered and possibly paroled as the length of time served goes on. Since we do ban killing juveniles, it makes sense that sentencing them to die in prison might also be harsh judgment for someone who hasn’t fully matured or understood things.
Whoops! No nuclear sites here, says Syria, and the U.N. concurs, deciding that it was an errant translation. An even bigger gaffe, for many, is the Roman Catholic priest that gave Communion to two gay men dressed in nuns' habits. Of course, in hindsight, he realizes he shouldn’t have done it, but as he notes, there’s nothing in the code that says you deny the bread to anyone dressed flamboyantly. Something that’s not a mistake, however, is that Turkey approved a plan to enter Iraq to beat back Kurdish insurgents. And that the Canadian postal system refused to carry advertisements for a political group calling itself "The Sex Party", because of the potential offense the brochure could give. While apparently allowing a rather nasty anti-gay tract to go through. Must be something about the words being used in one and not the other. Something like that would probably happen in the States, too, with the material for the Sex Party being described as obscene. Next time, I guess the Sex Party has to use discreet envelopes for their pamphlets.
bradhicks doesn't believe the official, court-confessed story of Michael Devlin, who admitted to kidnapping two underage boys and holding them to him without their will. He suspects that there was likely consent involved, but it’s not socially acceptable“ for that to be admitted, and so kidnapping is the charge confessed to and everyone will think of Michael Devin as the dangerous kidnapping stranger and not someone who may have been an attractive person for a boy to run away to.In contention for the Quiche of Stupidity tonight, the United States military, which was caught advertising recruitment on gay-friendly websites. Once their gaffe was exposed, the military said they would pull the advertisements immediately. If the surge strategy continues, though, they might have to put them back up to meet recruiting goals.
Also in contention is the original contents of a supposed "Canadian" talking about he health care system. The debunking done to it is very effective and shows the original e-mail for what it is - deceit.
Getting close to a winning entry is the accounts of younger and younger children being punished and arrested for sexual misconduct - one a four-year old giving a hug, the others 13 and 12 that were apparently all playing a butt-slapping game with the girls, who were participating just as much as anyone else. With the stigma that sexual offenses carry with them, arresting the kids rather than calling in the parents seems to be a really extreme step. Especially for a four-year-old. Does he even have the concept that what he’s doing could be sexual in nature?
Running neck-and-neck with the winner as we turn down the stretch, the United States Congress, for giving in and granting some telecommunications companies immunity over their warrantless wiretapping.
Regarding the SCHIP debate, here’s a perfect contrast (which
ericmonster already put up and I’m shamelessly swiping because it’s that damn good). First, Senator Pete Stark's remarks about how the administration just likes to blow things up, be it Iraq, the United States, or bills in Congress. He also finds it unlikely that the administration that spends so much money fighting in Iraq can’t find money to insure more people. On the Republican side of the coin, and a clear victor in tonight’s Quiche awarding, Representative Steve King, who said that SCHIP stood for "Socialized Clinton-style Hillarycare for Illegals and their Parents.", including a visual of the backronym. I don’t think it can get any worse. Can it get any worse? Well, Congress couldn't must sufficient votes to override the veto, so I think it did just get worse. As has income inequality.Something fun that I found while trying to answer someone’s question today is the Museum of Talking Boards, or as they are known by a famous brand name, Oujia boards. Plenty of examples in the gallery, along with some other material on history and the superstitions that abound around these devices.
A really great thing to read about (and to keep any ego ideas I might have firmly in my head) are the Gallileo fallacy and the Gadfly corollary, both of which tell us that thinking you’re alt and outside the mainstream and getting plenty of people mad at you does not make you an original, popular, or oppressed person. You are not Galileo. And neither am I.
Finally, if you want to spend some time flexing your vocabulary might for what appears to be a noble cause, try on Free Rice, which claims to donate ten grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Programme for every time you can pick the correct matching word for the one given. And it adjusts down and up to your vocabulary as needed, showing off your level, if you want to have some bragging rights. I’ve hit forty-four (of fifty, and Humes are said to rarely get above forty-eight) as my highest level, and that’s some pretty weird stuff up there. Turns out that learning roots here and there really does help. Might be perfect to use for someone studying for the verbal parts of the SAT or the GRE. Or those looking to brag about the size of their lexicon. Either way, your call. After 2000 grains, I think that’s enough for me tonight.
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no subject
Date: 2007-10-19 09:43 am (UTC)As for
no subject
Date: 2007-10-19 02:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-20 07:49 am (UTC)"There were times and opportunities when he could've gotten away but he didn't. The only reason why he didn't leave is because there was something about the situation he liked. What young kid doesn't like the idea of no parents, no school and you can play all the time?"
The knowledge we have after-the-fact of the sexual abuse performed upon the kid from the age of 11, as well as the fact he offered himself to the kidnapper just to keep him from finishing the choke-hold & snuffing Sean's life out throws out any arguement in my mind of "He should've gotten out when he had the chance. If he didn't then he was wanting to be there."
It just really gets my goat when I hear this "attack the victim/messenger" ploy being used. No one's arguing that he wasn't kidnapped at the age of 11, was raped repeatedly (whether he agreed or not, it's still statutory - ie under age of consent) and was in that situation for years. If people want to have some skepticism about the confession and say, "This has the smell of just getting a confession to close the case" they can do that but they also have to have proof of said malfeasance. You DO NOT go after the victim and say, "Well part of this is your fault because you didn't try to get out when you had the chance."
no subject
Date: 2007-10-21 04:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-20 03:37 am (UTC)As for the Hornbeck case, I don't know much about it, but every time I read anything by Brad Hicks, I can't help feeling like I'm being railroaded and not in a good way. It's his use of language. He writes like he's trying to make an objective point but uses very biasing language. This happens to the extent that even if I could come to the same conclusion he does given the same evidence, I feel almost manhandled by his words and instinctively distrust him.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-21 04:41 pm (UTC)I guess I haven't quite picked up on the railroading effect, but considering how often he has disputes in his comments, I can certainly believe that it's there. Next time he posts something, I'll try to find where the biasing is.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-20 04:17 am (UTC)