My thought for the day...
Sometimes opportunity knocks.
Sometimes it's just kids who knock and run away...
Sometimes it's just kids who knock and run away...
(no subject)
Apparently, voting in Ohio is not necessarily anonymous.
According to this article you can obtain a list of who voted in what order, and you can obtain the list of votes, also in order. All you have to do is line up the two lists!
I suspect this will be used by Diebold (and others) as an argument for not keeping paper records.
According to this article you can obtain a list of who voted in what order, and you can obtain the list of votes, also in order. All you have to do is line up the two lists!
I suspect this will be used by Diebold (and others) as an argument for not keeping paper records.
space shuttle landed safely!
As you've probably heard by now, the space shuttle landed safely today, returning from orbit a little early to avoid possible interference by Hurricane Dean (currently battering the Yucatan and heading for Mexico City). During liftoff, a chunk of something (speculated to be foam or maybe ice) gashed the belly of the shuttle, leading to fear of a repeat of Columbia.
Prior to the Columbia disaster, foam and other lift-off debris frequently hit the shuttles during lift-off, but concern over normally minor damage was minimal. Now half of each mission is spent going over the shuttle with cameras to identify possible damage and determine if repairs are necessary.
My thought: shield the nose, belly, and wings of of the shuttle with an extra skin -- one that can take the impact of debris during lift-off, and be discarded like the fuel-tanks. Maybe even have it fixed to the main external fuel tank, and separate with that tank. Yes, some extra weight, some extra expense, some extra fuel needed, but if it decreases the amount of time in-space currently used to search for damage, wouldn't it be worth it?
Actually, it doesn't matter much -- the space shuttle program is supposed to be replaced by "Orion" sometime after 2010 anyway, but still -- finding a way to stop the damage, rather than deal with it after the fact, seems a better way.
Prior to the Columbia disaster, foam and other lift-off debris frequently hit the shuttles during lift-off, but concern over normally minor damage was minimal. Now half of each mission is spent going over the shuttle with cameras to identify possible damage and determine if repairs are necessary.
My thought: shield the nose, belly, and wings of of the shuttle with an extra skin -- one that can take the impact of debris during lift-off, and be discarded like the fuel-tanks. Maybe even have it fixed to the main external fuel tank, and separate with that tank. Yes, some extra weight, some extra expense, some extra fuel needed, but if it decreases the amount of time in-space currently used to search for damage, wouldn't it be worth it?
Actually, it doesn't matter much -- the space shuttle program is supposed to be replaced by "Orion" sometime after 2010 anyway, but still -- finding a way to stop the damage, rather than deal with it after the fact, seems a better way.
Harry Potter soundtrack
It just occurred to me, as I listen to the soundtrack to HP:Goblet of Fire, that there aren't a lot of memorable themes. Certainly, Hedwig's theme (the main motif of the soundtracks) is recurring in the movies, but I there isn't a readily recognizable "Voldemort's theme" or "Luna's theme." Certainly ominous music for the bad stuff, light music for the fluffy sequences (um, not meaning the dog, by the way), but character-related motifs are missing. I suspect they are there, somewhere, but they don't stand out, like Leia's theme, or Vader's theme (the Imperial March).
Maybe I'm wrong...I'll have to listen through them again!
Maybe I'm wrong...I'll have to listen through them again!
HTML/CSS question
Frames, tables, CSS positioning, all can be used for placing elements where you want them. I know that tables are very old-school for this, and I'm under the impression that CSS is the current vogue, but frames seem more intuitive to me for positioning. Why the move to CSS? Or is there another new method coming?
Copyright links
The Copyright law
Nice plain-language copyright page with a link to information on the DMCA.
So what about parody? A lot of people abuse the notion of parody to excuse copyright infringement. According to Wikipedia's parody article, "The Supreme Court of the United States stated that parody 'is the use of some elements of a prior author's composition to create a new one that, at least in part, comments on that author's works.'"
The important part here is the intent to "comment on that author's works." Note, "comment" not "make fun of." Filks and fan fic are generally not parody, though they can be. This means that you can use Star Wars ideas and characters to comment on Star Wars. But if you sing a song poking fun at Han Solo's relationship to Chewie based on a tune by Madonna, then you aren't commenting on Madonna's song, and are at risk of violating Madonna's copyright.
Nice plain-language copyright page with a link to information on the DMCA.
So what about parody? A lot of people abuse the notion of parody to excuse copyright infringement. According to Wikipedia's parody article, "The Supreme Court of the United States stated that parody 'is the use of some elements of a prior author's composition to create a new one that, at least in part, comments on that author's works.'"
The important part here is the intent to "comment on that author's works." Note, "comment" not "make fun of." Filks and fan fic are generally not parody, though they can be. This means that you can use Star Wars ideas and characters to comment on Star Wars. But if you sing a song poking fun at Han Solo's relationship to Chewie based on a tune by Madonna, then you aren't commenting on Madonna's song, and are at risk of violating Madonna's copyright.
Connie Willis
I read Connie Willis' Doomsday Book several months ago, and I'm currently reading her To Say Nothing of the Dog. There are relatively few authors whose characters or events or narrative captivate me so effortlessly -- Charles DeLint is another that springs to mind, and I've been drawn in by Card and Jordan and a few others. The surprise in this case is that Willis has been writing hordes of short stories, novellas, and novels since 1980 (maybe earlier?), has won 6 Nebulas and 10 Hugos, had gobs of additional nominations, and somehow, I'd never even heard of her until I stumbled upon an audio copy of Doomsday Book in the library.
Both "Doomsday" and "To Say Nothing" are set in near-future Oxford, a credible time-traveling department within the University, but the similarities end there. "Doomsday" is a very serious novel that explores the nature and effect of epidemic in the modern day as well as during medieval times. Somehow, Willis manages to keep the same tone, the same manner of writing with "To Say Nothing" and yet produce a delightfully comical story as the main character tries to get some rest in Victorian times. Willis does a great job of capturing human qualities, and exploring the problems with modern society and politics.
Certainly, I'll be reading more of her work in the future! Any recommendations?
Both "Doomsday" and "To Say Nothing" are set in near-future Oxford, a credible time-traveling department within the University, but the similarities end there. "Doomsday" is a very serious novel that explores the nature and effect of epidemic in the modern day as well as during medieval times. Somehow, Willis manages to keep the same tone, the same manner of writing with "To Say Nothing" and yet produce a delightfully comical story as the main character tries to get some rest in Victorian times. Willis does a great job of capturing human qualities, and exploring the problems with modern society and politics.
Certainly, I'll be reading more of her work in the future! Any recommendations?
Metro Dream Homes -- Ponzi scheme?
There is a highly suspect housing market scheme going on in Maryland, primarily in PG County, called "Metro Dream Homes" -- it reads like a pyramid scheme (also called a Ponzi scheme). You "buy" a house, paying perhaps $75000 more than asking price, and the excess goes not to the seller, but to Metro Dream Homes. None of your money goes into the deal -- you've got a 100% mortgage. Metro Dream Homes claims they'll pay off your house in five to seven years, and then you sell the house and split the equity. You pay nothing! No mortgage payments, just free housing for several years, and a profit at the end.
There is some suspicion that new entrants into the scheme are actually paying the mortgages of early entrants, and that when the number of entrants decreases, the whole thing will collapse, leaving the final group of homebuyers completely and totally screwed.
It's difficult to find additional information because they are very hush-hush, and people in the scam have signed legal contracts to keep it hush-hush. However, there is a very nice recent article from the Washington Post to give you some details, at least: ARTICLE by the Washington Post
There is some suspicion that new entrants into the scheme are actually paying the mortgages of early entrants, and that when the number of entrants decreases, the whole thing will collapse, leaving the final group of homebuyers completely and totally screwed.
It's difficult to find additional information because they are very hush-hush, and people in the scam have signed legal contracts to keep it hush-hush. However, there is a very nice recent article from the Washington Post to give you some details, at least: ARTICLE by the Washington Post
California Tortilla
Today was another California Tortilla day. I think maybe I go there too often.....naaaahhhhh...
As is my habit, I got the Havana burrito in a bowl (266 calories for small, 333 for regular size), and added a different spicey sauce to each half of the bowl. Today I went for Rasta Fire, a very nice curry/habenero mix with some sweet fruitiness, a 5 out of 10 on the hot scale. I really like curry, but I rarely use it or order it, not sure why. My other choice was "Pickapeppa Green" -- an 8 habenero-based sauce. Oops! I think the much milder Pickapeppa Red was in the "green" slot -- it's only a two, and I really detected no heat at all, and I'm not sure if the flavor I tasted was the sauce, or the Havana flavor sauce that normally comes on the burrito.
Alas, I can still feel my tongue, and no tears today. Sigh. The curry was good though.
As is my habit, I got the Havana burrito in a bowl (266 calories for small, 333 for regular size), and added a different spicey sauce to each half of the bowl. Today I went for Rasta Fire, a very nice curry/habenero mix with some sweet fruitiness, a 5 out of 10 on the hot scale. I really like curry, but I rarely use it or order it, not sure why. My other choice was "Pickapeppa Green" -- an 8 habenero-based sauce. Oops! I think the much milder Pickapeppa Red was in the "green" slot -- it's only a two, and I really detected no heat at all, and I'm not sure if the flavor I tasted was the sauce, or the Havana flavor sauce that normally comes on the burrito.
Alas, I can still feel my tongue, and no tears today. Sigh. The curry was good though.
The slackers are spawning!
OK, maybe it's not as bad as all that, but I did see a man, maybe mid-20s, and his young son skateboarding hand-in-hand down the sidewalk yesterday morning. I'm not sure how, but I went "Awwwwwww..." and "Nooooooo!!!!" at the same time.
Comcast being bad to customers again
If you are a Comcast customer, they are trying to take away your right to sue them. Check out this wtop news article for details.
Basically, it's an arbitration deal: if you do nothing, you lose the right to sue them even when they do bad things, but they keep the right to sue you.
You can opt out of the arbitration deal (so you keep the right to sue), but you have to act now. Read the article.
Basically, it's an arbitration deal: if you do nothing, you lose the right to sue them even when they do bad things, but they keep the right to sue you.
You can opt out of the arbitration deal (so you keep the right to sue), but you have to act now. Read the article.
Muppet meme
| You Are Animal |
 A complete lunatic, you're operating on 100% animal instincts. You thrive on uncontrolled energy, and you're downright scary. But you sure can beat a good drum. "Kill! Kill!" |
muppet donation to atlanta
A good chunk of Muppets will be donated to a puppetry center in Atlanta. For more on this, read this article. Of note: a fair portion of the collection is falling into disrepair from age, so Henson's survivors are donating them hoping that the collection will be better preserved at the center.
Relativity limerick
There was a young lady named Bright
Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day,
In a relative way
And returned on the previous night.
(by A. H. Reginald Buller (1874-1944))
Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day,
In a relative way
And returned on the previous night.
(by A. H. Reginald Buller (1874-1944))
CalTort flavors of the day!
Today was another California Tortilla day for me, so I tried a couple more hot sauces on my burrito bowl.
( Flavors of the Day! )
( Flavors of the Day! )
Only water vapor exhaust from normal engine?
In Wales, a group has developed a modified exhaust pipe that converts greenhouse gas emissions to biofuel and water vapor. If this is real, it could be a really huge change in pollution rates!
clicky for details
clicky for details
religion in Harry Potter?
Does Harry Potter go to church? They celebrate Halloween and Christmas (not Yule), Harry has a godfather, there is an afterlife, as demonstrated by the existence of Peeves and Nearly-Headless Nick and Moaning Murtle. It has been suggested online that Harry was raised Protestant, Ron is from a large Catholic family (stereotyping?), and that Hermione is Jewish (though she does send Harry a Christmas present). I don't remember if the graveyard scene in Goblet had a cross (movie or book). The Dursleys tell neighbors and relatives that Harry goes to a school called Saint Brutus'.
So I think church and God exist in the world of Harry Potter, but we are seeing the world through Harry's eyes, not an objective lens. If the Dursleys went to church it was to meet societal expectations, not to pray, and they would not have taken Harry, so there was really no religion in the Dursley house. And without a religious upbringing, Harry (and thus the audience) may be oblivious to the religious inclinations of those around him.
So I think church and God exist in the world of Harry Potter, but we are seeing the world through Harry's eyes, not an objective lens. If the Dursleys went to church it was to meet societal expectations, not to pray, and they would not have taken Harry, so there was really no religion in the Dursley house. And without a religious upbringing, Harry (and thus the audience) may be oblivious to the religious inclinations of those around him.
Who's a modern Bach or Beethoven?
What is the nature of 21st century orchestral music? Yes, John Williams does a masterful job of scoring films, but is there any distinctive sound for non-programatic "classical" music in the current millenium?