Hey

Hey,

At year's end, I wanted to mention a few of the new (to me) podcasts I've been listening to over the past year in case you're looking for more ways to fill up your drive time. These are listed in no particular order.

LeVar Burton Reads -- Does what it says on the tin. LeVar Burton picks a short story and reads it to you. As you would expect Mr. Burton is an accomplished narrator and he's selected a wide and interesting set of stories to read. There are also a couple of episodes where he talks with the writers from some of the stories. Well worth checking out.

Ear Hustle -- Produced at San Quinten by the inmates, this podcast discusses various aspects of life in prison. San Quinten isn't a super-max prison so inmates have a bit more leeway in their activities (I mean, they're making this podcast), but it's still prison and there are a lot of unique challenges. The first episode discusses the ups and downs of "cellies", your roommate in the 6'x10' cell you share. Good stuff.

The Paris Review -- The literary magazine now has a podcast and it's really good. Drawing on archival interviews with famous authors of the late 20th century along with readings of short stories and poems previously published in the magazine, most of the episodes have been really good and again, I highly recommend it.

This Podcast Has Fleas -- a podcast for kids. Waffles the Dog and Jones the Cat have competing podcasts (Dog Talk and Live from the Litterbox respectively) and you can listen to them both on this show as various events unfold in their house. Special guest voices Eugene Mirman (as Benny the Gerbil) and Alex Baldwin (as Mr. Gubbs the fish) are a fun and surprising addition to the show. The episodes are all light and breezy without a ton of "lessons to be learned" issues and it makes for some nice filler.

Leah Bloom, Joanne McLernon, Catya Belfer -- and anyone else interested in ad hoc book club.

Leah Bloom, Joanne McLernon, Catya Belfer -- and anyone else interested in ad hoc book club.

Although these come out in January (meaning it'd be February before we could really discuss them), here are a number of genre books that grabbed my attention and might make a good book to read:

Gunslinger Girl by Lyndsay Ely
Heartland by Ana Simo
Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
The Infinite Future by Tim Wirkus
Gnomon by Nick Harkaway

As an aside, Nick Harkaway's books are a bit tricky to read (less so than Lincoln in the Bardo) but the payoff is usually very, very good. The Gone-Away World is flat-out amazing.

Also, two recommendations for books that are actually out:

Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of Ymr by John Crowley -- Crowley is one of America's great magical realists and this looks to be pretty good.

Creatures of Will and Temper by Molly Tanzer -- I'm not a big fan of most Victorian Occult books, but I really liked the blurb for this one.

Elderly Couple Stopped In Nebraska With 60 Pounds Of Weed 'For Christmas Presents'

"Here we come a-wavering among the buds so green..."


https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/22/572844666/elderly-couple-stopped-in-nebraska-with-60-pounds-of-weed-for-christmas-presents

Title

#IveOnlyGotATitle "Narwhal Scrimshaw -- Arctic Detective"

Undergrad solves knotty problem...

Undergrad solves knotty problem...


https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/khipus-inca-empire-harvard-university-colonialism.amp

The Decemberists - Ben Franklin's Song (from Hamildrops) [Official Video]

Lin-Manuel is working with different artists to produce additional/bonus Hamilton content. New songs every month in 2018. First up, the Decemberists with a song all about Founding Badass, Benjamin Franklin. Honestly, I think this would've been better covered by a more hard-rock kind of band, but it's still a lot of fun.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVmVVkbx3jE

Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal - Melville

From hell’s heart...


http://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/melville

So now that Net Neutrality is dead, what can you do?

So now that Net Neutrality is dead, what can you do? Well, ISPs don't have to be jerks and if your ISP is a locally-owned and run co-op or utility then maybe they'll be more incentivized to work for customers and not profits.

Here's another local ISP project to keep an eye on...

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/j5djd7/motherboard-and-vice-are-building-a-community-internet-network-to-protect-net-neutrality

Get your Friluftsliv today!

Get your Friluftsliv today!


http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20171211-friluftsliv-the-nordic-concept-of-getting-outdoors

A lot of foreign oil companies had assets in Libya before Gaddafi was kicked out.

A lot of foreign oil companies had assets in Libya before Gaddafi was kicked out. One of those companies sent a compliance auditor to investigate a situation on the ground. It's an amazing read. Also, I want to be an action-adventure lawyer!


https://www.lrb.co.uk/v39/n24/william-carter/diary

I mean, sure, I'd love to have a high-end, exotic sports car, but even if I was the kind of person who could buy one...

I mean, sure, I'd love to have a high-end, exotic sports car, but even if I was the kind of person who could buy one without blinking an eye, I'd still be terrified to drive it around. You can't just leave it in your garage though, it's not a car if you don't drive it (how will everyone know you're an insufferable alpha male?).

Also, whether you drive it or not, the meter is always running. Here's a video about one man's experience owning a McLaren F1.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsKDGdcb6BQ

Oh this seems fun.

Oh this seems fun.


https://www.treehugger.com/culture/icelanders-give-books-christmas-eve.html

An Honorary Masshole. I have so many plans now...

An Honorary Masshole. I have so many plans now...


http://m.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2122252/chinese-man-repaints-road-markings-make-his-commute-quicker

An excerpt from a book blurb:

An excerpt from a book blurb:

"The electrical grid sputtered; law and government collapsed—and more than half of the world’s population was decimated."

sigh "half of the world's population was decimated."

Look, I know it's meaning has shifted but combining it with "half" just makes the disconnect between informal and official definition more jarring.

And sure, losing 5% of the total world population would be a terrible event in human history but it's probably not nearly as bad as the blurb's author wanted it to be.

Needless to say, I won't be reading this book (I mean, the blurb wasn't great even outside the bad math).

It pays to increase your word power...

It pays to increase your word power...


http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20171122-twenty-six-words-we-dont-want-to-lose

Hummingbirds Are Where Intuition Goes to Die

Hey,

Life's pretty rough right now in a number of arenas. Let's learn about hummingbird tongues.


https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/11/hummingbird-tongues/546992/

The New Sewer Socialists Are Building an Equitable Internet

Maybe the Internet is a public good...


https://www.thenation.com/article/the-new-sewer-socialists-are-building-an-equitable-internet/

There is literally a giant hole where Johnny D’s used to be.

If you own/use bitcoins, the people of Africa would like you to consider divesting away.

If you own/use bitcoins, the people of Africa would like you to consider divesting away.


https://powercompare.co.uk/bitcoin/

Title

It would appear that my front steps are where you leave your small, painted rocks. Please don't leave them directly on the steps, painted rock fairies. The railing is perfectly fine.

Bringing the Internet to the people.

Bringing the Internet to the people.


https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/kz3xyz/detroit-mesh-network

I mean, I never paint along, but he's just so soothing to listen to:

I mean, I never paint along, but he's just so soothing to listen to:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-Cjsnq8kVU

At long last, our national nightmare is over...

At long last, our national nightmare is over...


http://www.foodandwine.com/news/kinder-eggs-arrived-america

Back in my day we just watched Lucas McCauslin play and tried to tell him when to jump even though none us made it...

Back in my day we just watched Lucas McCauslin play and tried to tell him when to jump even though none us made it past the Ice World Level.

Good times.


https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/11/20/how-to-get-rich-playing-video-games-online

I feel like this article has more than a whiff of pearl clutching, but it is describing something very real and...

I feel like this article has more than a whiff of pearl clutching, but it is describing something very real and prompts a lot of hard thinking about the Internet in general.

In short -- children's programming on the Internet doesn't even rise to the level of pablum and it's an obvious example of how mis-aligned incentives and algorithms can get a little bonkers.


https://medium.com/@jamesbridle/something-is-wrong-on-the-internet-c39c471271d2

How Lincoln’s embrace of embalming birthed the American funeral industry

A fascinating article, but of extra interest for eclipse book club readers:

https://theconversation.com/how-lincolns-embrace-of-embalming-birthed-the-american-funeral-industry-86196
https://theconversation.com/how-lincolns-embrace-of-embalming-birthed-the-american-funeral-industry-86196

Max Gladstone's newest book The Ruin of Angels is another installment of his excellent Craft Series -- which...

Max Gladstone's newest book The Ruin of Angels is another installment of his excellent Craft Series -- which re-imagines modern global finance in a fantasy milieu. There's a couple of excellent bits of dialog I want to excerpt here:

First -- Kia is talking with R'ok about its past dealings with Kai's sister Ley. R'ok is a spider-mantis demon-thing made of glass:

Kai felt something twist in her stomach. “Were you and Ley close?”

“We never slept together, if that’s what you mean,” R’ok said.

“Is that even— I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“Quite all right. It is possible, if one is willing to be patient and respect the range and diversity of . . . apparatus. But, no.

----

Later on, Zedda is talking to Vogel, a zombie crime lord she owes money to:

“I wanted to talk about my debt,” Zeddig said.

“I’m listening.”

“You mentioned a train job.”

“It’s a job,” Vogel said. “There’s a train involved. The rest is somewhat negotiable.”

Good stuff and highly recommended.

I'd like to meet with a financial planner to discuss the state of my 401(k) among other things.

I'd like to meet with a financial planner to discuss the state of my 401(k) among other things. Do people have any recommendations for a independent financial planner (i.e. they aren't in bed with any particular financial services company)?

How long would it take you to run 238 miles?

How long would it take you to run 238 miles?


https://gearjunkie.com/courtney-dauwalter-moab-200-winner

Paul Bunyan's Northern Nemesis -- Canadian tree planters.

Paul Bunyan's Northern Nemesis -- Canadian tree planters.

The photos are amazing and the story behind it is pretty great too.


https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/d3d887/seriously-metal-photos-of-canadas-tree-planters

I'd like to recommend a book to people.

I'd like to recommend a book to people. In part this is an ad-hoc book club suggestion (so special shout-out to Leah Bloom, Joanne McLernon, Catya Belfer, and others), but I think lots of people should check it out.

In the late 60's an intentional community was formed out in the scrubland of eastern Columbia. Over the next few decades, the community grew and transformed the area. They established a permaculture forest and used high-tech thinking to create low-tech solutions to solve real problems they and other Columbians faced -- getting water, power, heat, and food. A thriving community in the middle of a war-torn part of the country.

This book follows their progress and this 10th anniversary edition has some supplementary material discussing how they've fared into the 21st century. I recommend it because it's a story of hope and community and applied thinking and applied feeling.


https://www.amazon.com/Gaviotas-Village-Reinvent-World-2nd-ebook/dp/B005LOPNA2/

Hey folks in MA!

Hey folks in MA!

Get out and enjoy some trees...before they're gone.


https://earther.com/an-art-installation-in-the-massachusetts-woods-sheds-li-1819778734

An intriguing article about an unusual difficulty in forming intentional communities in the US

An intriguing article about an unusual difficulty in forming intentional communities in the US


http://www.geo.coop/story/overcoming-our-americanness

Presented without the context you will desperately want after seeing it.

Presented without the context you will desperately want after seeing it.

Jim White call your office


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYxw8ZvoPpU

Well, it's mid-October and our corporate overlords tell us that it's time to start thinking about Christmas.

Well, it's mid-October and our corporate overlords tell us that it's time to start thinking about Christmas. If you're wondering what hot new toy you should be getting the tykes this year, here's a review of one product. (Note: It's a bit of a slow build, but give it a chance, the video is great)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcDgOGC5Lcc

Jeremy, The Lonely, Left-Twisting Snail, Dies — But Knows Love Before The End

So, it's tough being a snail. It's harder if you have a rare genetic condition that means your shell curls to the left (you can't properly stab your love darts into your hermaphroditic hottie). Which is how geneticists tried to play matchmaker for a snail named Jeremy.

And you can learn more about Jeremy's story (and see some very sweet snail love ballads) here:


http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/10/13/557652159/jeremy-the-lonely-left-twisting-snail-dies-but-knows-love-before-the-end

So, I stayed up all last night writing a play. Now some actors are rehearsing it.

So, I stayed up all last night writing a play. Now some actors are rehearsing it.

If you want to see my play (and help raise money for hurricane relief) come down to Unity Church tonight.

http://www.theatreatfirst.org/shows/giving_at_first/giving_at_first.shtml

Is Your D&D Character Rare? | FiveThirtyEight

You can't go wrong by bulking up and sticking a sharp piece of metal into whatever stands between you and that sweet pile of GPs:


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-your-dd-character-rare/

This may resonate with a few folks...

This may resonate with a few folks...


http://www.marriedtothesea.com/index.php?date=100617

Um...holy crap this is amazing. Both in front of and behind the camera.

Um...holy crap this is amazing. Both in front of and behind the camera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLH1MHezfx0&feature=share

This Is What It Looks Like When the President Asks People to Snitch on Their Neighbors

I wonder if other "crime hotlines" deal with this stuff. It sounds like the US needs more family counselors than ICE agents.


https://splinternews.com/this-is-what-it-looks-like-when-the-president-asks-peop-1819077393

Re: Legalized weed in MA

Re: Legalized weed in MA

For those who are interested, the Cannabis Control Commission of MA will be holding a series of "Public Listening Periods" where they'll be talking to the public about regulation of cannabis.

They're being held at various spots across the state staring tomorrow and running for about a week. Most of them start in the morning (sometimes early in the morning) -- so that may skew the sampling of public opinion that they'll be receiving.

I may very well attend the Worcester or Boston sessions.

Here are the dates/times places:

Oct. 4 — HOLYOKE: Holyoke Community College at 10 a.m.

Oct. 5 — HYANNIS: Barnstable Town Hall at 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 6 — ROXBURY: Bolling Municipal Building in Roxbury at 8:30 a.m.

Oct. 10 — VINEYARD HAVEN: West Tisbury Public Library at 10:30 a.m.

Oct. 11 — WORCESTER: Worcester Public Library at 10 a.m.

Oct. 12 — BOSTON: McCormack State Office Building at 9 a.m.

Oct. 13 — PITTSFIELD: Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield at 1 p.m.

And you can find the official statement here:


https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/09/26/Public%20Listening%20Period%20October%201-31%202017and%20Public%20Listening%20Session%20Dates%20and%20Locations.pdf

Legal Weed Smokers Agree: McDonald's Is Their Favorite Joint

Consume responsibly and make good decisions, people. Make Future Sober You proud!


http://uproxx.com/life/mcdonalds-legal-marijuana-sales-surge/

Title

Fried Chicken Retrospective is my new 70’s-inspired alt-country band name.

A fun article about memory systems around the world.

A fun article about memory systems around the world. I'm tempted to make a lakusa board or convert my local walks into mnemonic devices.


https://aeon.co/ideas/this-ancient-mnemonic-technique-builds-a-palace-of-memory

The Week My Husband Left And My House Was Burgled I Secured A Grant To Begin The Project That Became BRCA1

A story both inspiring and infuriating. Also, Joe DiMaggio made a valuable contribution to the war on breast cancer -- childcare.


http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-maryclaire-king/brca-marriage-testing_b_17908074.html

Hey

Hey,

I finished up Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill and it's very good. Sort of a Western/Noir novel set after the robot uprising where the robots won it all.

As a straight work of fiction it's very engaging (I really tore through it), but it also gets to address philosophical questions from a robotic (vs. biological) bent. Lots of fun stuff here.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MRWLGD9/

While everyone was wasting time fretting about a take-over by Artificial Intelligence, no one worried too much about...

While everyone was wasting time fretting about a take-over by Artificial Intelligence, no one worried too much about Ancient Intelligence until it was way, way too late. Julia Ellingboe


https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2017/sep/18/octlantis-the-underwater-city-built-by-octopuses

Lucky Logan is a great redneck heist movie. Very enjoyable and wonderful performances by everyone.

Lucky Logan is a great redneck heist movie. Very enjoyable and wonderful performances by everyone.

Gee...ya think?

Gee...ya think?
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/06/health/blood-clots-health-risk-height-study/index.html

Title

The joys of home ownership.

So...when looking for a new hot water heater (powered by natural gas) what should I be looking for? I'll go downstairs and look up the specs on what I have, but is there anything in particular I should be considering for a new unit?

An inspiring and infuriating story. H/t to Jere Genest

An inspiring and infuriating story. H/t to Jere Genest
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/08/31/magazine/the-incarcerated-women-who-fight-californias-wildfires.html

The Democratic Socialists Are Here to Fix Your Brake Lights

...and speaking of pragmatic politics:


https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/xwwkaa/the-democratic-socialists-are-here-to-fix-your-brake-lights

"Even if you do not consider yourself (yet) to be a business or political leader, you have somehow found the luxury...

"Even if you do not consider yourself (yet) to be a business or political leader, you have somehow found the luxury of spending ten minutes doing nothing more than reading this article. So, whether you know it or not, you’re probably more successful than most Americans."

An intriguing article about pragmatic politics:


https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2017/08/rob-ford-donald-trump-new-direction-political-polarization/

Sometimes, you just need a Keith...

Sometimes, you just need a Keith...


https://www.fastcompany.com/40456604/these-women-entrepreneurs-created-a-fake-male-cofounder-to-dodge-startup-sexism

The new Duck Tales seems pretty good.

Hey, Greg Stolze, I'm not entirely sure I should have this breakfast. #MaxAttaxLives

Hey, Greg Stolze, I'm not entirely sure I should have this breakfast. #MaxAttaxLives

Because I still can't post to more than one group at a time....

Because I still can't post to more than one group at a time....

Florida Man, Forklift...follow me down the rabbit hole...

http://nypost.com/2017/08/14/man-says-hookah-smoking-caterpillar-sent-him-on-liquor-store-forklift-rampage/
http://nypost.com/2017/08/14/man-says-hookah-smoking-caterpillar-sent-him-on-liquor-store-forklift-rampage/

Man says ‘hookah-smoking caterpillar’ sent him on liquor store forklift rampage

I mean, Florida Man, Forklift...you can see where this is all going. Right down the rabbit hole:

http://nypost.com/2017/08/14/man-says-hookah-smoking-caterpillar-sent-him-on-liquor-store-forklift-rampage/
http://nypost.com/2017/08/14/man-says-hookah-smoking-caterpillar-sent-him-on-liquor-store-forklift-rampage/

Leah Bloom, this would've been good for ad hoc book club (and might be good for one in the future)...

Leah Bloom, this would've been good for ad hoc book club (and might be good for one in the future)...


https://moneyish.com/ish/this-brooklyn-feminist-novel-is-also-a-twisted-tale-of-financial-crime/

Uh-oh! Looks like that Duke boy is in a heap o' trouble...

Uh-oh! Looks like that Duke boy is in a heap o' trouble...


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4758138/Dukes-Hazzard-Tom-Wopat-arrested-cocaine-assault.html

Today I learned -- wombat poop comes out in cubes.

Your weight can affect how “American” you look

Go Big or Go Home:


https://qz.com/1043643/your-weight-can-affect-how-american-you-look/

Leah Bloom -- be careful driving out on that Sunday.

Leah Bloom -- be careful driving out on that Sunday.


https://www.space.com/37564-solar-eclipse-2017-one-month-away-anticipation.html

Leah Bloom maybe this should've been our book...

Leah Bloom maybe this should've been our book...


http://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/19/american-eclipse-david-baron-book-review/

WCT2 - Highlights 1 - The London Chase Off

Tag! You're it!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hBzrVOxlII

You may remember that House and Senate both had proposals for legal weed in the state.

You may remember that House and Senate both had proposals for legal weed in the state. You may also remember that the House version was crazy-pants and the Senate version generally more reasonable. They were supposed to reconcile their bills for a July 1st signing by the governor, but that didn't happen.

Today the compromise bill got signed.

I'll include the link but the main points are;

1.) No changes to amount you can possess or number of plants you can grow. The compromise bill actually de-criminalizes possession of small amounts (2oz or less) in public for people under 21 which means if you're underage and caught with a joint, you won't get a criminal record for that. So that's pretty good.

2.) Weed will be taxed at 20% vs. 12%. Even at this higher rate, it's still cheaper than Colorado, Oregon, or Washington. I'm not cheering for this, but I do support it. Colorado is currently clearing over $100 million/month in weed sales, which is about $30 million/month in tax revenue for them. If MA is the only place to get recreational weed on the East Coast, it's going to make a killing. I'm also betting that other states will start to move on this when they see the cash flowing in and then taxes will drop back through competition between states. But live high on the hog when you can.

3.) If your town voted Yes on recreational weed, your town council can't ban or restrict shops unless they produce a ballot question. If your town voted No, then the town council doesn't need to ask for your vote on the question, they can just ban shops. Almost every town in MA voted Yes so this should mean business can open just about anywhere. I'm mostly ok with this, I believe this provision holds until 2019 and then all towns have to put up ballot questions before making further changes (don't quote me). I'm sure I'd be irked if I lived in a "No" town, but it's not like I don't travel to nearby towns for things I can't get here all the time. It's a perfectly fine compromise.

There are some other provisions. Senator William Brownsburger is a state senator who worked on the committee that crafted the compromise bill. His notes are attached in the link.


https://willbrownsberger.com/the-marijuana-compromise/

Cheerio! Good show!

Cheerio! Good show!


http://variety.com/2017/tv/global/bbc-doctor-who-1202496884/

World’s Largest ‘Star Wars’ Toy Bandit Captured - By jkukura - July 11, 2017 - SF Weekly

Geeky crimes are the best crimes...


http://www.sfweekly.com/news/worlds-largest-star-wars-toy-bandit-captured/?google_editors_picks=true

I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but the people behind Cards Against Humanity have a pretty sharp sense of...

I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but the people behind Cards Against Humanity have a pretty sharp sense of humor when not doing poop jokes.
(proceeds from this game go to EMILY's List by the way)

https://cardsagainsthumanityforher.com/

You may be aware that the bail system in America is super-broken.

You may be aware that the bail system in America is super-broken. But it's not all profiting off the legal misery of others, there's also all the unofficial legal services.


https://contexts.org/articles/bail/

I live in a weird bubble.

I live in a weird bubble. I try to be aware of that, and I realize I can't have a passing familiarity with every social activity in existence, but sometimes you really get blindsided.

Over the weekend, there was a shooting at a "gender reveal" party. A woman was killed and several others were injured including children. It's a terrible crime and I hope the perpetrators are caught and brought to justice. It's the side of cognitive dissonance I want to discuss here though.

When I read "gender reveal" party, I didn't know what it was, but I thought it might be a celebration or coming out party for people who are transitioning. So my first impression was that this was some sort of trans hate crime.

No, turns out "gender reveal" parties are where you reveal the gender of your to-be-born fetus. This happens prior to the baby shower and sometimes the couple is announcing this fact to their friends and sometimes they hand the verdict unseen to a trusted friend who surprises them with the gender at the party.

And I find that concept really weird. Like, there's a whole industry around this thing with colored smoke bombs ("it's like you're electing a pope!) and all kinds of stuff. I get that it's a useful piece of information to know. and friends and family would be curious. and maybe gussy up the social media post a bit if you don't want to repeat the information a million times to different people. but a whole party just seems really weird to me. It seems like you're really doubling down on gender norms and the kid barely has the equipment yet.

I mean, you want to have a party cause you know the gender, ok, fine, it doesn't make you a bad parent. It just really surprised me as being a thing.

Another idea for Eclipse Trip book club.

Another idea for Eclipse Trip book club. The book is free for prime members this month and $5 otherwise and it's set in Omaha. Not necessarily lighthearted reading though.


https://smile.amazon.com/Kings-Broken-Things-Theodore-Wheeler-ebook/dp/B01LH2GQ9I?_encoding=UTF8&redirect=true&ref_=pe_625330_243136930_pe_row1_b6

Eclipse Trip book club ideas below. I'm interested in Word By Word but there are some others I might go for:

Eclipse Trip book club ideas below. I'm interested in Word By Word but there are some others I might go for:


http://www.avclub.com/live/v-clubs-favorite-books-2017-so-far-256598/entry/1124

Attention MA residents

Attention MA residents

There's been a lot of legislative activity around legalized marijuana over the past week. The House has passed a bill that raises taxes substantially, allows towns to override voter preferences and ban weed-related businesses, requires fingerprinting for any weed-industry employees, and various other bits of legal judo that makes weed legal, but generally unavailable.

The Senate has passed it's version of the bill which is generally a lot more chill, keeps most of the November referendum intact, and their provisions add to vs. re-write the referendum.

Right now, the bill is in committee where House and Senate legislators will try and hammer out a compromise bill, which they expect will go to the Governor to sign on the 30th.

If you care about legal weed in Massachusetts, you should call your representative and you should definitely voice your opinion to the legislators on the conference committee. There's a strong push to get the bill passed by July 1st so you need to voice your opinion now.

The House Bill is H.3776 and the Senate bill is S.2097 -- though I just said I supported the Senate bill over the House bill. Be sure and let the person who takes your call know that you don't require a response (it saves time and you won't get a form letter).

Committee Members:

Representatives:

Chairman Mark Cusack -- 617.722.2637
Dem. Majority Leader Ronald Mariano -- 617.722.2300
Rep. Hannah Kane -- 617.722.2430

Senators:

Chairwoman Pat Jehlen -- 617.722.1578
William Brownsberger -- 617.722.1280
Richard Ross -- 617.722.1555

I realize there's lots of other urgent issues going on in the world today, but if this is important to you, now is the time to make your voice heard...again.

Today at work, I've been watching workers assemble what will probably be a new cell phone tower to replace the...

Today at work, I've been watching workers assemble what will probably be a new cell phone tower to replace the makeshift antenna nest covering an old water tower. So I'm sitting here in my office and they're clambering all over a giant tinkertoy exposed to the elements. Admittedly, it's a pretty nice day and that's probably when they do this kind of work, but I appreciate my job today.

Our Lady of the Perpetual Chill.

Our Lady of the Perpetual Chill.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3vHbXDMNmE

Seemed relevant...

Seemed relevant...


http://www.marriedtothesea.com/index.php?date=062217

Stanford Open Policing Project

Stanford did some research into what happens when police interact with citizens (usually in the context of a speeding ticket or other traffic violation). The results are not at all surprising. You can access their data directly at:

https://openpolicing.stanford.edu/


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwOWcuFjNfw

Search for "spinner" on google and you'll get a little interactive fidget spinner.

Search for "spinner" on google and you'll get a little interactive fidget spinner.

BUT there's a toggle to switch it over to a number spinner (like the one in The Game of Life and other fine children's games).

Jeffrey Radcliffe -- Please call your office immediately.

Jeffrey Radcliffe -- Please call your office immediately.


https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hansr/unicorn-coat?ref=tag

Sound advice:

Sound advice:

These Teen Cadets Stole Police Cruisers, Went On A Joyride, Then Crashed When Officers Gave Chase

I suspect they were just practicing their "civil forfeiture" homework.


https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimdalrympleii/teen-cadets-steal-two-police-cruisers?utm_term=.ue9kOWq82#.wledoBe1X

Mike Caprio -- which team are we signing up for?

Mike Caprio -- which team are we signing up for?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iw1jTY-X3A

I never used to identify with Mario all that much but today...

I never used to identify with Mario all that much but today...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VlmPC7lPNw

Google is going to be filming during the upcoming solar eclipse and is looking for help.

Google is going to be filming during the upcoming solar eclipse and is looking for help. They've also got this nifty simulator to show you what the eclipse will look like where you live.

https://eclipsemega.movie/simulator
https://eclipsemega.movie/simulator

Because G+ is still terrible at cross-posting. Some useful tips for National Forklift Safety Day!!!

Because G+ is still terrible at cross-posting. Some useful tips for National Forklift Safety Day!!!


https://www.graphicproducts.com/infographics/10-rules-for-forklift-safety-infographic/

Because G+ is terrible at cross-posting. Happy National Forklift Safety Day!

Because G+ is terrible at cross-posting. Happy National Forklift Safety Day!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK2jFO_DaRQ

10 Rules for Forklift Safety Infographic

National Forklift Safety Day!


https://www.graphicproducts.com/infographics/10-rules-for-forklift-safety-infographic/

He Tried to Kill Me With a Forklift

It's National Forklift Safety Day!!!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK2jFO_DaRQ

You see, DC? It's not that hard to make a good superhero movie. Just have them be, y'know, heroic.

Malaysians hit back at racism – in pictures | Art and design | The Guardian

I was blown away by the photos and the stories behind them.


https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2017/jun/07/young-malaysians-witness-racism-daniel-adams-why-is-your-english-so-good-in-pictures

If you think your living space is kinda small...

If you think your living space is kinda small...


https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2017/jun/07/boxed-life-inside-hong-kong-coffin-cubicles-cage-homes-in-pictures

This long-form article from the New Yorker about the Opioid problems in a West Virginia town has some amazing quotes:

This long-form article from the New Yorker about the Opioid problems in a West Virginia town has some amazing quotes:

"Melcher, who is fifty-three, with abundant blond ringlets and a warm, husky voice, told me that she loved flower arranging and refinishing old furniture—activities that would be occupying her days more often if there weren’t a heroin crisis."

Well worth reading if you can spare the time.


http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/06/05/the-addicts-next-door

Embrace the power of "and":

Embrace the power of "and":


http://theweek.com/articles/700117/why-america-needs-both-ubi-job-guarantee

Harvard Rescinds Acceptances for At Least Ten Students for Obscene Memes | News | The Harvard Crimson

On the one hand, perhaps kids will take more care with their online activities. On the other hand, perhaps it will simply force them to figure out lower-profile ways to be assholes. Still, I think there's a valuable lesson here:


http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/6/5/2021-offers-rescinded-memes/

I'm reading this book and I realize that Science Fiction has a sub-genre that I don't think most other forms of...

I'm reading this book and I realize that Science Fiction has a sub-genre that I don't think most other forms of fiction have -- Adventures In Small Business Ownership.

In particular, I've read a number of books about starship captains (or people working their way up to starship captain). The key element is that it's the day-to-day business stuff that makes up the bulk of the plot. Sure there are usually other things that happen, but it never takes over from the simple "doing my job" narrative.

Often in mysteries, the detective runs a detective agency, but the bills are an abstracted problem as opposed to whatever mystery is being solved at the moment. Romances are...about the romance and hardly about the prosaic work the protagonists do -- at best it's just a key to set up the romance or cause complications somehow.

In the broader category of fiction, there are legal/financial thrillers that may delve into the minutia of a business, but generally as a subject of study not what the protagonist is really doing. I think the closest we get is Horatio Alger, rags-to-riches stories where hard work and pluck is rewarded.

I just thought it was interesting. And now I wonder if it could be broadened to more jobs in sci-fi. Alternatively, I wonder if it'd be interesting to chronicle a fictitious modern day business. A gaming/comic-book store would be great for the characters, but I'd be curious to see if running a hardware store or lawn-care service could be made interesting. At the very least, I like the idea of these modern-day business stories acting as sort of a template for entrepreneurship and good business practices.

Malaysia’s sword-wielding, hijab-wearing cosplayer superheroes

Keep on, geekin' on:


http://www.scmp.com/culture/arts-entertainment/article/2091978/hijabs-no-hindrance-when-youre-cosplaying-superhero

To start with -- I'm fine, Shazza Gilbert is fine, the deer was still running, my car is still quite drive-able.

To start with -- I'm fine, Shazza Gilbert is fine, the deer was still running, my car is still quite drive-able. But I totally did just hit that deer.

Oh C.W. McCall, where are you? Your people need your anthems once more...

Oh C.W. McCall, where are you? Your people need your anthems once more...


https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/22/us/trucking-jobs.html

I know there's a lot of big issue aggravations out there.

I know there's a lot of big issue aggravations out there. Here's a smaller one that you might be able to prevent. There's a link at the bottom of the article to a site where you can post your public comment.

In short: the FCC is considering allowing companies to deploy "ringless voicemails". These would be robocalls sent straight to your voicemail without causing your phone to ring. So you'll see a bunch of voicemails from political candidates or private businesses.


https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170524/06323637443/rnc-chamber-commerce-want-robocallers-to-be-able-to-spam-your-voicemail-without-your-phone-ringing.shtml

A fascinating article and one that offers some hope that we can actually provide a better outcome with early...

A fascinating article and one that offers some hope that we can actually provide a better outcome with early detection/treatment:


https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/06/when-your-child-is-a-psychopath/524502/

Good night 007.

Good night 007. You may not have been the most "authentic" Bond or even the "best" Bond but you were certainly my Bond.

Title

Last night, I was paid the most wonderful, the most delightful, the most wildly inaccurate compliment I will probably ever receive in my life. I'd tell you what it was, but there'd be a lot of explaining and the margins of this internet are too small to contain that explanation. But I'll be smiling about this for weeks.

Hey

Hey,

Geekery is often perceived as a white male thing, but there are a lot of other participants and reading about their experiences helps keep me honest.


http://www.themillions.com/2017/05/dragons-are-for-white-kids-with-money-on-the-friction-of-geekdom-and-race.html

How to Do Karate in a Victorian Dress

There have got to be a few people in my circles who are interested in this...

Originally shared by Meguey Baker

Edith Garrud would approve.

http://www.tor.com/2017/05/03/how-to-do-karate-in-a-victorian-dress/
http://www.tor.com/2017/05/03/how-to-do-karate-in-a-victorian-dress/

Dutch King reveals he piloted KLM passenger flights

The Prince and the Pilot:


http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/18/europe/netherlands-king-willem-alexander-klm-pilot/index.html

Hey

Hey,

Twitch is streaming Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

All of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

Eighteen days straight of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.

Boomerang Toomerang Zoomerang, baby!

Title

So, it turns out there's no Oscar award for a movie score unless the music is all original -- which is a shame because Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is one of the best scored films I've ever seen in my life.

I mean, the film as a whole is a delightful sci-fi, comic book romp, but that music just carries it to new heights. Well worth seeing and hearing.

Hey

Hey,

These got painted up about a week ago, but I finally got the photos moved over and the whole thing written up. These guys are Fantasian troopers from Legions of Steel, one of my favorite (though long out-of-print) miniature games. Attention: Chris Jachimowicz and Invader Haywire

A blast from the past -- a squad of Fantasians from the old Legions of Steel game by Global Games:

A blast from the past -- a squad of Fantasians from the old Legions of Steel game by Global Games:

Some of the most joyful sex comics you'll ever read:

Some of the most joyful sex comics you'll ever read:


https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/erikamoen/oh-joy-sex-toy-volume-4

For those of you with kids or a human heart.

For those of you with kids or a human heart.

Originally shared by MZ MegaZone

Ghibli Fest! Six movies spread over six months at theaters this summer:
https://www.fathomevents.com/series/studio-ghibli-fest

To be fair, he was a Japanese-Canadian, but I'll never hear the end of this from Joanne McLernon...

To be fair, he was a Japanese-Canadian, but I'll never hear the end of this from Joanne McLernon...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SwX8ANq7Ls

Sometimes they wrestle, sometimes they climb mountains...

Sometimes they wrestle, sometimes they climb mountains...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGxxvefRk9A

Although they were using it to perpetrate scams using their fellow inmates' personal information among other things,...

Although they were using it to perpetrate scams using their fellow inmates' personal information among other things, I do admire their initiative.


https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/five-inmates-built-two-pcs-and-hacked-a-prison-from-within/

Legendary Los Angeles Hiker Sam Kim Found Dead Near Mountain He Summited Almost Every Day

This guy had it all figured out.

(and here's the LA times article with more info: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-baldy-death-20170411-story.html

http://deadspin.com/legendary-los-angeles-hiker-sam-kim-found-dead-near-mou-1794279578

I won't suffer this alone:

I won't suffer this alone:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzxePa9D3jg

The headline is a bit sensationalist, but there's some fascinating meat in the article itself.

The headline is a bit sensationalist, but there's some fascinating meat in the article itself.


https://www.technologyreview.com/s/604087/the-dark-secret-at-the-heart-of-ai/

I'm sure this only applies to Facebook and no other social media so go ahead and +1 this:

I'm sure this only applies to Facebook and no other social media so go ahead and +1 this:


https://hbr.org/2017/04/a-new-more-rigorous-study-confirms-the-more-you-use-facebook-the-worse-you-feel

Some exciting new developments in the fight against HIV. Now to see if it works outside the lab.

Some exciting new developments in the fight against HIV. Now to see if it works outside the lab.


https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-04-approach-cells-resistant-hiv.html

Monday Media Dump!

Monday Media Dump!

Edgar Wright decided he wanted to do a Fast and Furious movie so...

Coming in late June I believe:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2z857RSfhk

Monday Media Dump!

Monday Media Dump!

Open TV is a streaming video service focused on producing content for QUILTBAG and POCs. They've got a webseries called Brujos about 4 gay, Latino witches. Looks interesting and the show (and the service) may be of interest to some of my circles:


https://vimeo.com/206113370

Monday Media Dump!

Monday Media Dump!

Eight minutes of high weirdness. It's tough to be the king.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_MSFkZHNi4

Monday Media Dump!

Monday Media Dump!

OK, it's a commercial, but...it's adorbs

Joanne McLernon you should recognize Dipper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YLfwZBvMGk

Title

Just a followup from the other day:

After years of on-again, off-again fighting, Nopantzistan and Noshirtzistan realized they had more in common with each other than with their surrounding neighbors. After a couple decades of careful diplomacy, a Reconciliation Council was formed and eventually the countries united to form Greater Nudenstan.

So a happy ending all round.

Only some of you will get this:

Only some of you will get this:

I want a miniatures line of soldiers (I'm thinking in the style of 17th to early 19th Century European??). One faction has no pants while the other has no shirts.

Thus, I can refight the numerous wars between Nopantzistan and Noshirtzistan. They mostly fought over the Waistland border region. Though both did send contingents to the Spanish-Austrailian War.

'Banksy of punctuation' puts full stop to bad grammar in Bristol | Education | The Guardian

He's not the hero we need. But he's almost certainly the hero we deserve:


https://www.theguardian.com/education/2017/apr/03/banksy-of-punctuation-puts-full-stop-bad-grammar-bristol

This Photographer Photographs Farm Animal Like No One Else

They're ready for their close-up...


http://www.boredpanda.com/farm-animal-portraits-rob-macinnis/

Teen Girls Are Now Having Hobbyhorse Competitions And That's Fine

I love odd hobbies and the people who love them. Especially when the hobby is horses...


http://deadspin.com/teen-girls-are-now-having-hobbyhorse-competitions-and-t-1793785640

Walking Bike in Action

Spider-bike, spider-bike does whatever a spider might
Can it climb up wall?
No it can't spider-bike


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA6GSD4OOkw

I paint little dudes...

I paint little dudes...

Originally shared by Blue Gargantua


Tackling my pile of lead...er plastic. In this case, I finished painting up the starter forces in the Gates of Antares box set.

Title

Tackling my pile of lead...er plastic. In this case, I finished painting up the starter forces in the Gates of Antares box set.

You're Hired!

A policy position I am strongly in favor of -- a Federal Jobs Guarantee.


http://democracyjournal.org/magazine/44/youre-hired/

Guided By The Beauty Of Our Weapons

This is a longer piece, but I was captivated by it and there are some great quotes. Worth spending the time on.

"Improving the quality of debate, shifting people’s mindsets from transmission to collaborative truth-seeking, is a painful process. It has to be done one person at a time, it only works on people who are already almost ready for it, and you will pick up far fewer warm bodies per hour of work than with any of the other methods. But in an otherwise-random world, even a little purposeful action can make a difference. Convincing 2% of people would have flipped three of the last four US presidential elections. And this is a capacity to win-for-reasons-other-than-coincidence that you can’t build any other way."


http://slatestarcodex.com/2017/03/24/guided-by-the-beauty-of-our-weapons/

I think this one is pretty great too:

I think this one is pretty great too:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-wm0EdoeN8

From the Wes Anderson school of music videos:

From the Wes Anderson school of music videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcnIhzaDTd0

News about #gopdnd on Twitter

Oh there's a fun little twitter hashtag...


https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gopdnd

Case-Deaton just published a new paper looking more closely at the rise in mortality rates among middle-aged white...

Case-Deaton just published a new paper looking more closely at the rise in mortality rates among middle-aged white Americans.

The short summary (and I haven't read the whole paper myself), is that middle-aged white Americans who don't have a college degree have been losing out economically. More importantly, they aren't doing as well for themselves now as their parents did. So there's a sense of failure that drives a feeling of hopelessness and despair.

The paper also suggests that there won't be any quick fixes. This has been building up for over 20 years so even if the government was inclined to aggressively attack this problem, it's a lot of trauma to undo.
https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/6_casedeaton.pdf

Unpaywall: The Browser Add-on That Finds (Legal) Free Copies Of Academic Papers You See As You Browse The Web

If you do a lot of academic work and have difficulty accessing research papers, here's a tool that may help:


https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20170319/02251236949/unpaywall-browser-add-on-that-finds-legal-free-copies-academic-papers-you-see-as-you-browse-web.shtml

Andi McCollam -- Of possible interest to you.

Andi McCollam -- Of possible interest to you.

(and perhaps some others interested in health care/technology as well)


http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2017/03/vista-computer-history-va-conspiracy-000367

Lack of Oxford Comma Costs Maine Company Millions in Overtime Dispute

Oxford, comma, dammit.


https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/16/us/oxford-comma-lawsuit.html

No, seriously, not everything needs to be connected to the Internet:

No, seriously, not everything needs to be connected to the Internet:

As a professional bug hunter, Henderson couldn't resist looking under the app's hood. He quickly realized that everything about security in the world of connected cars revolves around the first owner. They literally haven't thought through what happens when someone sells it.

Henderson tested four major auto manufacturers and found they all use apps that allow previous owners to access the cars from a mobile device. In his talk, he was careful not to tell us who his car's manufacturer is. And he discovered that only the manufacturer can remove users from its car.

The new car owners remain unaware. "There's nothing on the dashboard that tells you 'the following people have access to the car.'"
https://www.engadget.com/2017/02/24/how-used-cars-became-a-security-nightmare/

Look, I'm not a Luddite. I like technology and I also recognize that The Internet of Things is a complete shitshow.

Look, I'm not a Luddite. I like technology and I also recognize that The Internet of Things is a complete shitshow.

Also, at least it's not an American company this time.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/14/520123490/vibrator-maker-to-pay-millions-over-claims-it-secretly-tracked-use

New York Judge Grants Threesome Participants Shared Custody Rights

Of interest to poly folks. The underlying story here is sad as domestic affairs often are, but the judicial ruling could have a lot of repercussions.


http://jezebel.com/new-york-judge-grants-threesome-participants-shared-cus-1793199794

Jail sucks. But if you've got the money it can suck less...a lot less...

Jail sucks. But if you've got the money it can suck less...a lot less...

Monterey Park even offers the option of serving time in half-day increments, for $51. “We just basically let them book their time,” said D.J. Casey, the lead records clerk for Monterey Park’s police department. “Sometimes they call and cancel and say, ‘My kid’s sick.’"

Most of these are DUIs and related minor offenses, but even felons can get an upgrade if they can afford it (though I doubt they get to schedule their time for these particular crimes).

To be clear, I think that US jails/prisons shouldn't be hellholes and I also think you shouldn't be able to buy your way to improved incarceration.

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2017/03/09/afraid-of-jail-buy-an-upgrade

Is It Better to Be Poor in Bangladesh or the Mississippi Delta?

An interesting interview with Nobel Prize winner Angus Deaton. A lot of the work that got him the Nobel Prize was co-authored with his wife, Anne Case. Deaton himself seems pretty quick to bring up his wife's contributions to his work. It's too bad they weren't interviewed together.

However, in looking up his bio on wikipedia it mentions that Deaton and Case enjoy the opera and trout fishing. Which is just brings a delightful set of images to mind.

Anyway, the interview is thought-provoking.


https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/03/angus-deaton-qa/518880/

Title

This may not be the greatest book ever, but it's a lot of fun:

"But crypt slimes, not unlike people, rarely reacted kindly when someone jammed a fist inside them."

Eames, Nicholas. Kings of the Wyld

No, seriously, whoever is doing Cookie Monster these days just gets the character.

No, seriously, whoever is doing Cookie Monster these days just gets the character. Although Frank Oz still does him from time to time, it's probably David Rudman in this...utterly delightful video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2D2MlLKnbM

The Cast of 'Sesame Street' Answer the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED

So this video is delightful for every possible reason but 3 things jumped out at me:

1.) Oh man, those voices have all changed haven't they? (at least for the long-running characters). I mean, I get it, but it's still a little sad.

2.) I feel like whoever is doing Cookie Monster still has most original muppet sensibility. By which I mean he happily plays with the people around him and taps hard on the forth wall even if he doesn't break it.

3.) If the Count is being honest, that makes him the Eldest Vampire which I want to be true in every White Wolf Vampire game I play in from now on. I mean, he's clearly achieved Golconda, he walks around in daylight and doesn't kill anyone.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc2yFoq09ug

Oh, Sweden, you're the best:

Oh, Sweden, you're the best:


http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/laid-off-swedish-workers-could-be-given-paid-sex-breaks-improve-well-being-1607836

Stop reading this on your phone...

Stop reading this on your phone...


https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603730/constant-phone-checkers-are-totally-strung-out/?set=603711

Not From Venus, Not From Mars: What We Believe About Gender and Why It’s Often Wrong

Of interest to many of you, I suspect:


https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/23/books/review/testosterone-rex-myths-of-sex-science-and-society-cordelia-fine.html

Fighting a wildfire on a gun range, or, the sensuous memories of #fieldwork

I read a book about Smokejumpers last year. Wildfires are a big deal out West. Some states use prison labor to help fight these fires and an anthropologist went out to do some fieldwork among them. Although the article here is more about her experiences than her research subjects, I did find it to be an interesting article about what it's like on the line.


http://allegralaboratory.net/fighting-a-wildfire-on-a-gun-range-or-the-sensuous-memories-of-fieldwork/

Attention Epidiah Ravachol

Attention Epidiah Ravachol

Japanese Professional Wrestling is the best Professional Wrestling.


http://kotaku.com/japanese-wrestling-photos-that-look-photoshopped-but-a-1792666577

Beethoven's Ode of Joy played with pistols

It's a Glock-enspiel.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8hL2Ml9WHo

SNL Dr. Strange (eng sub)

That's what I've been missing from my life...hype men.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXOZFrnOBVA

Attention Joanne McLernon

Attention Joanne McLernon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2KxL7pEy8s

Title

Metropolis, Gotham, Star City, Central City...you ever think the citizens of Bludhaven are like..."it won't solve our underlying structural issues, but maybe we should change the name of our town"?

And now...something delightful:

And now...something delightful:


http://londonist.com/london/best-of-london/foxes-of-london?utm_content=buffer39c19&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Scout | The Rise of the Weaponized AI Propaganda Machine

Remember kids, stay the hell away from social media...

(the title is a bit sensationalist, but the reporting seems pretty solid.)
https://scout.ai/story/the-rise-of-the-weaponized-ai-propaganda-machine

Hey

Hey,

I found this really helpful the other day. I realize it's not applicable to every situation, but it really helped shut up my brain weasels so...


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hale-dwoskin/a-simple-but-radical-way-_b_840998.html

This seems relevant to some of you -- mostly as a cautionary tale, but a couple of you will probably get inspired:

This seems relevant to some of you -- mostly as a cautionary tale, but a couple of you will probably get inspired:




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMGBvcGBZL8

Wind Games 2017 freestyle Maja Kuczyńska final Exceptional

I would love to do this...well, there's no way I'm going to do this, but the general experience seems fun.

Also...now I want a burlesque done in a wind tunnel...I'd call it Blowjob Burlesque.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN3-4Z4ae_0

Ericka Crouse -- A new mix for your office dance party.

Ericka Crouse -- A new mix for your office dance party.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAdJpm1gchA

Leah Bloom Gold, Fame, Citrus You want to talk about it and I mostly remember reading it so here's a thread for...

Leah Bloom Gold, Fame, Citrus You want to talk about it and I mostly remember reading it so here's a thread for that.

Looking back at my review, the book had a solid opening third, a weird middle third (where that thing happens to Ray) and then the last third just falls apart.

What I wouldn't give to know that he actually wrote this for The Onion:

What I wouldn't give to know that he actually wrote this for The Onion:


http://www.theonion.com/blogpost/you-people-made-me-give-my-peanut-farm-i-got-be-pr-55143

Hey

Hey,

So August 21st, 2017, my hometown of Ravenna, Nebraska will be under the line of totality and will experience a total eclipse of the sun. I'm going home to watch it and there's crash space available at my parent's place. If you're interested in checking it out, please let me know.

This is my last reminder, I need to get a solid head count early so that we can start planning for the trip. Securing plane tickets and rental cars may be a bit tricky so better to get that stuff locked down earlier rather than later.

I know a few of you have expressed actual or tentative interest. This is basically Last Call. If you really want to go please email me. Don't just leave a comment -- email me -- even if I know you want to go. I need to build up a contact list and I don't want to miss anyone because I forgot to check the comments to a post. Also, I want to set up a short meeting in mid-February so everyone who wants to go can meet up and we can cover the basics of scheduling for the event. I don't think this will take too long. Probably an hour, maybe two if there's a lot of discussion -- I'll try and keep things moving along. So when you email me, let me know dates that are good for you to have this meeting. I'm thinking this will probably happen on a weeknight rather than weekend. Hopefully I won't have to resort to a doodle poll.

So. Eclipse Viewing Trip to Nebraska in August 2017. If you're set on going, send me an email and let me know some dates you'd be ok with sitting down for about an hour to discuss the trip and get organized.

Thanks

It's like they made it just for me, but I still think this looks pretty amazing:

It's like they made it just for me, but I still think this looks pretty amazing:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi6wDhqg9_w

Some Peso Traders Want Mexico to Buy Twitter and Shut It Down

It would be a blessing from Mexico to the entire world:


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-12/-shut-down-twitter-cry-goes-out-among-exasperated-peso-traders

Double check where you're going when you click email links...

Double check where you're going when you click email links...


https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2017/01/gmail-phishing-data-uri/

Leah Bloom & Joanne McLernon And here are some more options for 2017:

Leah Bloom & Joanne McLernon And here are some more options for 2017:


http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-best-science-fiction-and-fantasy-books-coming-in-20-1790828758

In these troubled times, who can help us find our center and restore our sense of purpose?

In these troubled times, who can help us find our center and restore our sense of purpose?

Aw, girl, you know who...


http://www.theonion.com/blogpost/treat-yourself-right-55003

Leah Bloom -- maybe we can get a jump on the next ad hoc book club.

Leah Bloom -- maybe we can get a jump on the next ad hoc book club. Joanne McLernon -- you'll want to check out the new Marvel title America which is focused on America Chavez, a butt-kicking heroine.


http://www.avclub.com/article/lose-yourself-2017-these-17-books-and-comics-248139

Title

I'm getting back into painting minis after about a year and change away. First up, I had to finish up a character for the Shadworun game I'm in. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

I'm playing Civilization -- the old Avalon Hill boardgame not the Sid Meyer one you're probably thinking of -- and I...

I'm playing Civilization -- the old Avalon Hill boardgame not the Sid Meyer one you're probably thinking of -- and I just had the most spectacularly bad turn based on one dumb decision and I have absolutely cratered my chance to win. It's hard to describe exactly what happened if you don't know the game but it's very hard to truly bone yourself on one decision and somehow I did it. I still love this game but man.

If you do know the game, I wound up in a situation where all my dudes were money so when I reduced cities I had to eliminate them instead and on the next turn I still don't have any dudes to turn into money so the cities that survived were lost because I couldn't pay my taxes. On top of that I can't repopulate (still no people). So I went from 9 cities to 0 and at most I'd only be able to recover 1 but this late in the game that's no good.

So it is, strictly speaking, a case of corrupt public officials, but if there was ever a definition of "good graft"...

So it is, strictly speaking, a case of corrupt public officials, but if there was ever a definition of "good graft" this might be it.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-chuck-finley-lake-library-fake-reader-20161227-story.html

Marta S.

Marta S. Rivera Monclova, Martin Paczynski, Jessica Wandrei -- On January 13th, Netflix will be premiering A Series of Unfortunate Events, based on the books and starring Neal Patrick Harris as Count Olaf. You might have known this, but I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't let you know.

Look, I know that now more than ever it's important to be paying attention to what's going on in Federal politics...

Look, I know that now more than ever it's important to be paying attention to what's going on in Federal politics and not tune out things because we're unhappy or afraid. I also think that we shouldn't let that fear or anger swallow us whole and that it's important to do what we can to find our center.


http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/free-marijuana-on-inauguration-day/381730160

A.R.T. - American Repertory Theater

Hey,

I went to see Fingersmith at the A.R.T. last Friday.

It was amaaaazing. The story is good, the acting is good, the theatre tech was jaw-dropping. The show closes in a few days but if you can get tickets, you won't be disappointed.


http://americanrepertorytheater.org/events/show/fingersmith

So you can set up this specialized bird feeder that takes pictures of the birds feeding there.

So you can set up this specialized bird feeder that takes pictures of the birds feeding there. This one woman got some spectacular shots from her backyard.


http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/12/close-up-portraits-of-birds/

Just a reminder that there will be a total eclipse of the sun on August 21st this year and my hometown of Ravenna,...

Just a reminder that there will be a total eclipse of the sun on August 21st this year and my hometown of Ravenna, Nebraska will be right under the line of totality (i.e. the eclipse will be fully visible, the moon eats the sun, yadda-yadda). If you'd like to see it, my folks are offering crash space for anyone who'd like to join me. I've got a couple of people who've confirmed they'd like to go, but there's still some room. If you're interested in actually going, let me know. In February, I'll organize a planning meeting for people who want to go. If you just want to be in and out to see the eclipse, that's great, if you'd like to plan out a vacation that includes the eclipse viewing, I can help you find an itinerary that will suit your needs.

Ad Hoc Book Club is Go!

Ad Hoc Book Club is Go!

Technically it started yesterday but I was busy. It's time once again for an Ad Hoc Book Club reading. This time around, we're going to be reading +The Underground Railroad_ by Colson Whitehead. I'm already starting in on it and it's an interesting read, I think people will really enjoy it.

As always, it's a casual book club so you can read at your own pace. On Jan. 31st, we can start talking about it.


https://www.amazon.com/Underground-Railroad-National-Winner-Oprahs-ebook/dp/B01A4ATV0A/