Don't Screw With The Librarian

Something I learned long ago. Librarian's are useful and make them your friends. They make painful enemies.

No… F--- you. Librarian gets revenge on "junk" faxer.

Frankly, I don't believe most people think, either.

Here's an excellent article on dog behavior at Slate.com. I was struck by this passage:

Do Dogs Think? - Owners assume their pet's brain works like their own. That's a big mistake. By Jon Katz: "This time, Heather got my full attention. I took notes, asked questions, then called a canine behaviorist at Cornell and explained the problem in as much detail as I could.'Everybody says the dog was reacting to her going back to work,' I suggested. 'Everybody is probably wrong,' was his blunt comeback. 'It's 'theory of mind.' This is what often happens when humans assume that dogs think the way we do.'"

I've lived my life around dogs and other animals. And I've found that the more I treat a dog like a dog and not like a child, the better it responds. Animals have emotions. They get angry, scared, get bored, and experience pleasure and pain. But like this article says, they don't think about things in the same way that humans do.

I grew up on a farm and always remember being around animals of all types and one of my earliest memories is going with my Grandpa Murray to pick out a long hair German Shepherd pup, Duke. Duke was a huge, dignified dog who was hit by a school bus when he was nearly a year old and walked with a limp for the rest of his life. One of his pups, sired with a neighboring collie, became my first dog, Nicky.

Nicky had Duke's size, but not his long hair. I remember getting him when I was six, the same year my brother was born. He and I were constant companions. He accompanied me on my daily cores. He stood by me and blocked the icy wind howling across the prairie as I pumped water for the cows. He played with us kids and never complained with any ill treatment, but he terrified adult strangers that came to the house and stared at them through their car doors, eye-to-eye. And I once saw him pick up a concrete cinder block that someone had left in the barn yard, carry it off under a tree, and chew it into pieces.

I thought of Nicky as my best friend. But I always thought of him as a dog. I don't know. Perhaps it was because I was raised on a farm and worked with lots of animals. But I'm also a big believer that humans and dogs have co-evolved, so we need each other. Dogs, above all other animals, have adapted themselves to living with us and providing us companionship. In a way, they're a very successful species because of that.

I strongly recommend Desmond Morris's book, Dogwatching. It was very helpful for me an my relationship with dogs.

Hey, I wanted one of these when I was a kid!

Well, not this thing, but close. Wired News: Machine Makes Dishes on Demand

When I read this paragraph, I knew exactly what they were doing.

"MIT Media Lab's Counter Intelligence Group, which develops innovative kitchen designs, has created a machine that makes dishes on demand and recycles them after diners have finished a meal. The dishes are made from food-grade, nontoxic acrylic wafers, which are shaped into cups, bowls and plates when heated, then resume their original wafer shape when they are reheated and pressed."

My friend, Bill Bailey (yes, just like the song) had one and it was so cool. It was the Mattel Thingmaker Strange Change Lost World Set! You had these little plastic cubes, but when you put them in the special chamber, they turned into dinosaurs! Then you could compress them back into little squares.

Oh, and I remember burning my fingers on the hot plate that caused them to change. That's probably why they took them off the market. But from my perspective as a 7 year old boy, the danger was part of the attraction.

I also will note that as a sign of my growing self control, I did not automatically buy one of these off of eBay the second I remembered this bit of childhood.

A Fresh Coat Of Paint

I spent all of yesterday, a few hours Sunday evening, and most of a previous Saturday a week back painting the "Bonus" room.

This T-shaped room has been the "play room" since we moved into the house nearly 12 years ago, a place for the kids to store their toys and play, watch TV, and study, often all at the same time. But now the toys are put away and sold off at garage sales. The room was long overdue for a touch up.

Now, almost finished, we have a comfortable alcove with a lounge chair and bookshelves, painted in an eggplant purple. Diane has two desks there as well, one for sewing and another for paying bills and sorting papers. And the main room is a duck's egg green, a mellow and comfortable color.

I've take the opportunity to upgrade the TV to a flat screen, high definition unit and included a Mac mini for web surfing, slide viewing, but mostly access to our music library. Soon we'll install decent speakers to fill the room with music.

I wondered during the transformation if I would find this a melancholy task. But no, it's a time of comfortable maturity, both for ourselves and our children.

Diane and I moved the furniture and painted the walls, but I'm hiring a pro to paint and apply a faux finish to the theater lobby downstairs. Few will see our little sanctuary up over the garage.

And following up on our previous story . . .

FedEx plane crashes in downtown Winnipeg"Oct 6, 2005 — WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - A small aircraft carrying cargo for FedEx Corp. — including six vials of research viruses — crashed in downtown Winnipeg on Thursday, killing its pilot, the only person on board, but sparing injury on the ground."

If I were writing a horror movie script about a deadly virus that wipes out most of life on earth, this is how I'd start it.

Say Hello To Captain Trips!

Now here's a "gee wiz" article that is also an "nothing good can come of this" article.

CNN.com - Researchers reconstruct 1918 virus - Oct 5, 2005: "The public health risk of resurrecting the virus is minimal, U.S. health officials said. People around the world developed immunity to the deadly 1918 virus after the pandemic, and a certain degree of immunity is believed to persist today. Also, in previous research, scientists concluded that modern antiviral medicines are effective against Spanish flu-like viruses."

At first, I'm extremely impressed that they've been able to "recreate" the virus. That's a hell of an impressive feat. But I'm also concerned about their lack of concern. " . . .a certain degree of immunity is believed to persist today." I'm glad they hope so. Any one of them want to test that theory?

Flu and disease control needs too be a top priority with the science and health communities. And add to that Bush's interest in controlling a flu outbreak, you could say I'm rather worried.

Oh, for those of you reading this, but not strong enough in the google fu, seek out Mother Abigail.

NASCAR's For Pussies - This Is Racing!

CNN.com - 'Star Wars' NASCAR? Get ready for rocket racing - Oct 4, 2005

As far as I can tell, NASCAR is to racing as WWE is to wrestling. Staged, one big soap opera, and one step away from bread and circuses (there are those Romans again).

But rocket racing! Now that's cool. Real men race rockets.

Uh, er, real women, too. I have a feeling that women could be really good rocketeers. And thinking about that link, jet pack racing would be even cooler!

I hope she wins

I don't know if you follow the lawsuits that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been pushing against people, but I'm tickled pink someone is fighting back.
Disabled woman sues RIAA

I don't know what her being disabled has to do with the story, but it's good to see someone go on the attack.

Frankly, the recording industry is completely in the wrong. They can't sue illegal downloads out of existence. They're making lots of enemies.

I'd dance with glee if they were convicted under the organized crime laws!

Loyalty, Cronies, and Favors, or Everything I Know About Politics I Learned From The Godfather

I must admit, the Bush administration is becoming absolutely fascinating, in a train-wreck sort of way.

You know the scene I'm talking about. It's at the wedding. The Godfather is accepting supplicants.

Corleone: Why did you go to the police? Why didn't you come to me first?
Bonasera: What do you want of me? Tell me anything, but do what I beg you to do.
Corleone: What is that? (Bonasera whispers his request in the Don's ear.) That I cannot do.
Bonasera: I will give you anything you ask.
Corleone: We've known each other many years, but this is the first time you ever came to me for counsel or for help. I can't remember the last time that you invited me to your house for a cup of coffee, even though my wife is godmother to your only child. But let's be frank here. You never wanted my friendship. And uh, you were afraid to be in my debt.
Bonasera: I didn't want to get into trouble.
Corleone: I understand. You found paradise in America, you had a good trade, you made a good living. The police protected you and there were courts of law. And you didn't need a friend like me. But uh, now you come to me and you say - 'Don Corleone, give me justice.' But you don't ask with respect. You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me Godfather. Instead, you come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married, and you, uh, ask me to do murder for money.
Bonasera: I ask you for justice.
Corleone: That is not justice. Your daughter is still alive.
Bonasera: Let them suffer then, as she suffers. How much shall I pay you?
Corleone (after standing and turning his back): Bonasera, Bonasera. What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? If you'd come to me in friendship, then this scum that ruined your daughter would be suffering this very day. And if by chance an honest man like yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you.
Bonasera: Be my friend - - Godfather. (The Don shrugs. Bonasera bows toward the Don and kisses the Don's hand.)
Corleone: Good. (The Don puts his hand on Bonasera's shoulder.) Someday, and that day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But uh, until that day - accept this justice as a gift on my daughter's wedding day.
Bonasera: Grazie, Godfather.
Corleone: Prego.

Go, watch the movie. That's all you need to understand the Bush administration and the president himself.

Ouch

Somehow, and I can't for the life of me figure out how, I've apparently cracked a rib.

Ouch.

I suppose I should use the correct term and say fractured a rib. But then again, this is self diagnosis. I feel fine otherwise, but I've got a dull pain in my left side, about mid way up the rib cage. Feel fine, that is, until I laugh, cough, hiccup (oh, God, that hurt), or breath deeply.

Oh, or try to lay on either side. Especially on the left.

According to the best information I can find, there's nothing to be done and without other symptoms it looks pretty clearly that yes, it is a cracked rib.

Ask the Medical Expert on Cracked Ribs

Unfortunately, I don't have a good story to go with the injury. No kick boxing, no rock climbing accident, no rough sex (although I think that's what I'm going to start telling people).

Ah, I have it. I was injured during an unfortunate bout of interpretive dance.

medical, humor

Ray Kurzweil's Full of Shit

OK, I get that Mr Kurzweil is smart and rich. But I also think it's clear that he's also a kook.

Ray Kurzweil deciphers a brave new world | Newsmakers | CNET News.com: "I'm quite aggressive in reprogramming my biochemistry. I take over 200 supplements a day. The thing that's unique about our program is that it's what we call aggressive supplementation. We're not programmed to stick around as long as I am. We need to reprogram our biochemistry, to reprogram our disease processes, processes that result in cancer, and various aging processes. My own personal program is detailed in the book."


And it's also clear that he doesn't get what Vernor Vinge is talking about in the Singularity. The Singularity is not "the geek rapture." It is the point where we can no longer predict that happens next. It's technology accelerating to virtually infinite power. We don't know if it mean the end of life as we know it (or just the end of life, period), or if it means cool, god-like, superhero powers for everyone. But then again, Mr. Kurzweil is interested in selling books. "My own personal program is detailed in the book."

But I'm pretty sure that taking vitamins won't help much. So keep munching your Flintstone chewables, Mr. Kurzweil. I wish you luck in your quest to live forever, I really do. But to live forever as a machine means to leave being human behind. We humans are big, messy and and unpredictable. Our thoughts and minds are made up of not just the things that happen to us, but the bio-chemical soup of our own bodies. You take my mind and record it into a machine and it's not me.

Do I want to live a long time? Hell yes. I want a very long life in a healthy body. I do not want an infinite existence as a running application staring out through digital cameras.

My own personal program is detailed in the blog.

science, kurzweil, shit

Remake, Rework, Reimagine. It's still a flop.

One of my favorite TV shows from my teenage years was "Kolchak: The Night Stalker". It was funny and scary at the same time. And Darren McGavin was perfect as Karl Kolchak.

And so, with all cherished childhood memories, someone it out to destroy them. I've seen the previews for the remake and it's so far off the mark that it has passed from bad, to funny, then on past that to just plain pathetic.

CNN.com - The new 'Night Stalker' -- and friend - Sep 29, 2005

TV

The Feel Good Movie Of The Year!

Two thumbs way up! Shining

Finally, there's a trailer that doesn't give the movie away.

Thanks Metafilter!

humor

And this is why they don't let me fly fighter jets.

Wow, never realized that I shared this with only 1/6th the population. Photic sneeze reflex

I thought everybody did this. It's really pronounced with me. When I step outside on a bright, sunny day, I sneeze, powerfully, at least twice.

But this still doesn't explain where I got X-Ray vision.

science

Those Funny Old Newsreels. Not So Funny This Time.

Today William Gibsonpointed to this short film on despotism.

When I started it up it looked like it would be another funny, dated educational film. After watching it, I'm not laughing. Watch it now. I'll wait.

From my perspective it's a clear, well thought out lecture on the dangers and possibilities of loss of democracy. I also noted that some of the comments on the Internet Archive page labeled it as Marxist propaganda. That's another sign to me that the content is accurate and all the more frightening.

As I've mentioned recently, I've been watching HBO's Rome and thinking about all things Roman. The Romans lost their republic and gained, for a while, an empire. But they paid for it in blood. They gave up their freedom for protection and entertainment. The Roman republic had their own Osama Ben Laden, too. He was called Vercongetorix. And the fight against him allowed Julius Caesar to seize power (lot of good it did him).

So, let's look at the factors. How concentrated is the media and information about the current war? How concentrated is wealth and respect? How free and open is education?

I remain hopeful for the world, for the United States, but I am also deeply concerned. Can our freedom and democracy be lost? Certainly. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

politics

Beware of geeks bearing billions.

Palm CEO Ed Colligan is trying hard to smile, but it's clear he knows he just sold his soul, if not his company, to the devil. Oh, I understand why he's abandoned his own operating system and run to the open, protective arms of Microsoft. He's scared silly of RIM and that ubiquitous brick-sized device you see attached to business travelers in airports, the Blackberry.

And the funny part? Blackkberries suck. They're huge, unwieldy, very difficult to use, and, well, ugly. So Palm has responded by making the Treo, bigger, uglier, and in an effort to make it really difficult to use, adopted the PocketPC OS. Great move.

I used to be a Palm fanatic. I carried one with me everywhere for quiet some time. And I'm in the "productivity" industry, so I know lots of Palm, Blackberry, and PocketPC users (and more than a few Newton holdouts). And you know the most common trend is? Many of us have simply stopped using them.

Why? Well, there are multiple reasons. Number one is that most of us carry our contacts in our cell phones. Frankly, that's most of what we need. And many, like myself, prefer our phones to be small and easy to use. I no longer need to feel like I'm strapping a calculator to my body. And most of us now have small, light laptops that we have with us most of the time. So why do I need a PDA? If I'm at home, the office, or traveling for business I have a laptop, which is better than a PDA. All other times I have a small, easy-to-use phone with all my contacts and my schedule.

Yes, some business users are enamored with their Blackberries, but if you look at the numbers, it's actually very few people - right around a million users in the US.

And my old Palm sits in it's cradle on my desk. Every once and a while I sync it up to my computer. But I don't take it out of it's cradle. Soon, it will move to the desk drawer of abandon gadgets.

What should have Palm CEO Ed Colligan done? Innovate. Do something bold, exciting, really terrific. Break out of the pack. But that's not going to happen now that he's joined the Borg.

So long, Palm.

Computers and Internet

You Should Know Dick

Doc Serls pointed me to this talk by Dick Hardt about Identity 2.0.

Great talk. "Simple and open wins."

Well, sometimes. Sometimes evil idiots win. For example, the evil idiots really want to monitor everything I do and control my behavior. I, of course, do not want them to know anything about me.

I am not so optimistic about verified identity. I hope people like Mr. Hardt has their way. Better for everyone. Except for the evil idiots.

Which reminds me of a book I've been meaning to recommend to you, dear reader. Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do : The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in Our Free Country. It's out of print, so get your hand on a used copy.

Computers and Internet, identity

If I'd Known It Was That Simple

But this makes it ever some much more clear.

Getting rid of illusion of time, reaching the state of integrated singularity type IV advanced alien civilizations travel instantaneously : "They do it by converting mass into zero point energy (ZPE), isolating illusion of time from the overlap and reaching the state of integrated singularity. The ZPE is then sent to the exact spatial in the Hyperspace or any part of the Universes. Isolating time this way allows type IV alien civilizations to travel to any part of the Universe, other Universes and the 5-D Hyperspace instantaneously."

humor, religion

Once again, the truth is scarier than myth.

The Devil's Gardens: "The Chuyachaqui is a mythical dwarf with one human foot and one hoof. He is able to transform himself to anyone's likeness. He often appears as a friend or family member to lone travelers in the jungle and leads them around in circles until they are lost.

'The devil's gardens are considered his home, and people avoid devil's gardens in fear of him, or at least traverse devil's gardens very cautiously,' Frederickson said."

But what really makes these gardens? Acid Spitting Ants. Ye gods!

You see, kiddies, this is why science is important. Yes, the stories we make up and tell each other about the way things are are fun. Just so stories are ever so entertaining. But really understanding how things works is pretty damn interesting too. And better yet, once we really understand how something works, it places another piece in the puzzle of how everything works.

And don't you think it might be useful to know how these gardens are formed and maintained? Might make a difference in your yard or garden some day. And much more effective than trying to hire an evil dwarf. They've got a pretty tough union and their hourly wage is staggering.

science

Forbidden Science

This is not a "There are some things that Man is not meant to know" post. This is another "let the chips fall where they may" post.

Cultural Survival: "The risks, on the other hand, are many, Harry said. Project findings may contradict indigenous oral traditions about their origins. In addition to psychological damage, this may cause political harm. 'How can they control that these findings will not be used against indigenous peoples?' Harry asked."

So, what exactly is Debra Harry (apparently not Blondie) saying? Is she saying, "we don't want to look too closely at our selves?" And what about the bit about "Project findings may contradict indigenous oral traditions about their origins." Is that a bad thing?

I am fully aware of the fate of many indigenous people around the world. And I am a great lover of myth and origin stories. But I completely reject the approach that I must treat them as the truth. Origin stories and myth tell us a great deal about the human experience, but they do not provide a map of the real. Culture is important, but not at the expense of truth and knowledge. Would Ms. Harry have us set up informational reservations for the preservation of indigenous cultures?

It is not only helpful, but it's vital that we understand the true origins of humanity. We are, after all, one big happy species.

And yes, I'm the same guy that says, "let people believe any damn stupid thing they want and long as they don't force it on me." But that doesn't mean that I have to protect and isolate anyone from knowledge because it might offend their belief system.

religion, science