I love maps! When I was in 4th grade I got sent home with a note which read,
"Buy Mark a globe so we can have the class' back". I was spending hours with it, looking at foriegn contries, learning cities and countries, etc. It was completely compelling.
Even today I have MS MapPoint on all my computers and have been know to spend an hour or two going over the geography of a country I haven't been to before (or in many cases some I have). I just love them.
Here's a great site mapping demographic data on religion across the country. I was a little surprised that a) the country isn't as religious as I thought and b) Massachusetts is still very religious.
Enjoy
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Book Review: Accelerando
Title: Accelerando
Author: Charles Stross
Grade: F-
Summary: Unreadable
I'm no real fan of the Singularity, but Charles Stross has written a number of pretty good stories around it, so I was looking forward to a good book. Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise are both excellent, so I figured this would be pretty good.
I could not get past page 40 in this. My current operating theories for this disconnect is that a) he's had a massive stroke, b) he lost the draft in a hard drive crash and had to rewrite the entire thing from scratch in an entire night, c) he won the Lotto and just doesn’t care any more or d) aliens ate his brain.
Its flaw was simple, it was logically inconsistent. Too many technological rabbits out of the same, tired hat, weird views of intellectual property, unrealistic views of human motivation and, what made it unreadable to me, too many A implies B errors. If technology B exists and logically depends on A, the effects of A must be seen in other places. In Stross' novel sentient AIs are common as pennies, depressingly so, yet none of them reach the critical point. Nope didn't buy it.
Doubtless many pro-singularity friends could read this and enjoy it and will probably take issue with my review. I'm not down on Stross who I still think is a good author, just this novel which I didn't like.like.
Author: Charles Stross
Grade: F-
Summary: Unreadable
I'm no real fan of the Singularity, but Charles Stross has written a number of pretty good stories around it, so I was looking forward to a good book. Singularity Sky and Iron Sunrise are both excellent, so I figured this would be pretty good.
I could not get past page 40 in this. My current operating theories for this disconnect is that a) he's had a massive stroke, b) he lost the draft in a hard drive crash and had to rewrite the entire thing from scratch in an entire night, c) he won the Lotto and just doesn’t care any more or d) aliens ate his brain.
Its flaw was simple, it was logically inconsistent. Too many technological rabbits out of the same, tired hat, weird views of intellectual property, unrealistic views of human motivation and, what made it unreadable to me, too many A implies B errors. If technology B exists and logically depends on A, the effects of A must be seen in other places. In Stross' novel sentient AIs are common as pennies, depressingly so, yet none of them reach the critical point. Nope didn't buy it.
Doubtless many pro-singularity friends could read this and enjoy it and will probably take issue with my review. I'm not down on Stross who I still think is a good author, just this novel which I didn't like.like.
Friday, April 07, 2006
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Gonorrhea Lectim
From field corespondant Tara:
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning about a
new virulent strain of a sexually transmitted disease. The disease is
contracted through dangerous and high risk behavior.
The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim and pronounced "gonna re-elect him."
Many victims contracted it in 2004, after having been screwed for the past
four years.
Cognitive characteristics of individuals infected include: anti-social
personality disorders; delusions of grandeur with messianic overtones;
extreme cognitive dissonance; inability to incorporate new information;
pronounced xenophobia and paranoia; inability to accept responsibility for
own actions; cowardice masked by misplaced bravado; uncontrolled facial
smirking; ignorance of geography and history; tendencies towards evangelical
theocracy; categorical all-or-nothing behavior;
Naturalists and epidemiologists are amazed at how this destructive Disease
originated only a few years ago from a bush found in Texas.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning about a
new virulent strain of a sexually transmitted disease. The disease is
contracted through dangerous and high risk behavior.
The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim and pronounced "gonna re-elect him."
Many victims contracted it in 2004, after having been screwed for the past
four years.
Cognitive characteristics of individuals infected include: anti-social
personality disorders; delusions of grandeur with messianic overtones;
extreme cognitive dissonance; inability to incorporate new information;
pronounced xenophobia and paranoia; inability to accept responsibility for
own actions; cowardice masked by misplaced bravado; uncontrolled facial
smirking; ignorance of geography and history; tendencies towards evangelical
theocracy; categorical all-or-nothing behavior;
Naturalists and epidemiologists are amazed at how this destructive Disease
originated only a few years ago from a bush found in Texas.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Medical Update
Good News Column:
Genetic Testing: A-ok! Nothing like Huntington's, Cerebreal Ataxia, CAG-repition disorders etc.
Neutral News Column:
The MS doctors seem to think it's a complication of diabetes
The Diabetes doctors think the MS doctors are crazy.
The Chief Neurologist at UW thinks the MS doctors are crazy as well
Bad News column:
My GP found how to get leg reflexes, by involving part of my brain in something else. This is good news becuase it means my peripheral nerves are probably good. This is bad news because, "well, it means the problem's in your brain Mark"
I seem to be now be exhibiting the Babinski Reflex. This is new and also points to brain involvement.
Genetic Testing: A-ok! Nothing like Huntington's, Cerebreal Ataxia, CAG-repition disorders etc.
Neutral News Column:
The MS doctors seem to think it's a complication of diabetes
The Diabetes doctors think the MS doctors are crazy.
The Chief Neurologist at UW thinks the MS doctors are crazy as well
Bad News column:
My GP found how to get leg reflexes, by involving part of my brain in something else. This is good news becuase it means my peripheral nerves are probably good. This is bad news because, "well, it means the problem's in your brain Mark"
I seem to be now be exhibiting the Babinski Reflex. This is new and also points to brain involvement.
Some Kinda Metaphor or Something
I love Bob the Angry Flower. I wonder what the author is trying to say...
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Not Dead! Back from Hiatus
Howdy all,
Thanks for all the notes. No, I am not dead or even especially sick. Just busy with work and a new, completely unproductive hobby.
While all blogs are completely narcissistic enterprises, I decided that mine was getting an increasingly negative, whiney tone to it, i.e. complaints about this and that, rants about news articles, complete and total meaningless trivia etc. Not interesting, not fun and bordering on the anti-social. It's easy to descend into a cozy world of self-reinforcing diatribes and cranky rhetoric when your friends agree with you and, before you know it, you're well down the road to being a crazy shut-in with 5 friends and a lot of cats (or dogs, fish, chinchillas etc.)
So I took a break, got my head out of that, and now am thinking about trying again. This time with the view that things should be lighter and less self-involved.
So, from here forward, look for fewer but hopefully more entertaining posts.
Thanks for all the notes. No, I am not dead or even especially sick. Just busy with work and a new, completely unproductive hobby.
While all blogs are completely narcissistic enterprises, I decided that mine was getting an increasingly negative, whiney tone to it, i.e. complaints about this and that, rants about news articles, complete and total meaningless trivia etc. Not interesting, not fun and bordering on the anti-social. It's easy to descend into a cozy world of self-reinforcing diatribes and cranky rhetoric when your friends agree with you and, before you know it, you're well down the road to being a crazy shut-in with 5 friends and a lot of cats (or dogs, fish, chinchillas etc.)
So I took a break, got my head out of that, and now am thinking about trying again. This time with the view that things should be lighter and less self-involved.
So, from here forward, look for fewer but hopefully more entertaining posts.
A Strongly Worded Denial
Thaurloteion: hi
Toast171: hi
Thaurloteion: how are you/
Toast171: I'm okay. How are you? Getting ready for classes tomorrow?
Thaurloteion: good
Thaurloteion: not really, i'll do that tomorrow when the store is open
Thaurloteion: trying to find out where my classes are
Thaurloteion: but that service is down for maintenance
Toast171: they are at Drexel
Thaurloteion: thank you
Thaurloteion: i didnt realize that
Toast171: anytime son
Thaurloteion: what are you up to today?
Toast171: house hunting
Toast171: I'm gonna bag me a house!
Toast171: first tho, I need to bait the traps
Thaurloteion: bait the traps?
Thaurloteion: those are rats, not houses
Thaurloteion: you cant live in them
Toast171: I can't?
Toast171: Ratman does!
Thaurloteion: are you ratman?
Toast171: And those guys who talk a lot on the streets
Thaurloteion: those are bums
Thaurloteion: they live in boxes
Thaurloteion: or sleeping bags
Toast171: No! I am not Ratman! Who told you that??!! I deny it!
Thaurloteion: no one told me
Toast171: How could they? It isn't true! It isn't! WHo is spreading these lies?
Toast171: The rats will know! Oh yes, you can keep your secrets from humans, sure, but not the rats! The lovely, silky coated, bright eyed rats. They see all. They know!
Toast171: errr....
Thaurloteion: yes.....
Toast171: ... they know... that I am not the Ratman! Thats what they know!
Toast171: ask them!
Thaurloteion: of course...
Toast171: right now!
Toast171: go go go!
Thaurloteion: i'll do it later
Toast171: ok
Toast171: Good
Toast171: But don't ask Willard
Toast171: He's a liar
Toast171: and a rat bastard
Toast171: whatever you do, dont talk to Willard
Toast171: and if you do, don't beleive what he says
Toast171: and I *certainly* don't owe him any money! He cheats at cards...
Toast171: ...
Toast171: ...eerrr..
Toast171: I'm not Ratman
Thaurloteion: no
Thaurloteion: of course you're not
Toast171: whew!
Toast171: (that went smoooothly)
Toast171: hi
Thaurloteion: how are you/
Toast171: I'm okay. How are you? Getting ready for classes tomorrow?
Thaurloteion: good
Thaurloteion: not really, i'll do that tomorrow when the store is open
Thaurloteion: trying to find out where my classes are
Thaurloteion: but that service is down for maintenance
Toast171: they are at Drexel
Thaurloteion: thank you
Thaurloteion: i didnt realize that
Toast171: anytime son
Thaurloteion: what are you up to today?
Toast171: house hunting
Toast171: I'm gonna bag me a house!
Toast171: first tho, I need to bait the traps
Thaurloteion: bait the traps?
Thaurloteion: those are rats, not houses
Thaurloteion: you cant live in them
Toast171: I can't?
Toast171: Ratman does!
Thaurloteion: are you ratman?
Toast171: And those guys who talk a lot on the streets
Thaurloteion: those are bums
Thaurloteion: they live in boxes
Thaurloteion: or sleeping bags
Toast171: No! I am not Ratman! Who told you that??!! I deny it!
Thaurloteion: no one told me
Toast171: How could they? It isn't true! It isn't! WHo is spreading these lies?
Toast171: The rats will know! Oh yes, you can keep your secrets from humans, sure, but not the rats! The lovely, silky coated, bright eyed rats. They see all. They know!
Toast171: errr....
Thaurloteion: yes.....
Toast171: ... they know... that I am not the Ratman! Thats what they know!
Toast171: ask them!
Thaurloteion: of course...
Toast171: right now!
Toast171: go go go!
Thaurloteion: i'll do it later
Toast171: ok
Toast171: Good
Toast171: But don't ask Willard
Toast171: He's a liar
Toast171: and a rat bastard
Toast171: whatever you do, dont talk to Willard
Toast171: and if you do, don't beleive what he says
Toast171: and I *certainly* don't owe him any money! He cheats at cards...
Toast171: ...
Toast171: ...eerrr..
Toast171: I'm not Ratman
Thaurloteion: no
Thaurloteion: of course you're not
Toast171: whew!
Toast171: (that went smoooothly)
Friday, February 10, 2006
On the Plus Side, They Aren't Actually Burning Buildings
... except perhaps a few of "those" churches in the South. On the other hand, they do vote, which is at least as devistating:
From Fundie's Say The Darndest Things
Average rating: 3.62Rated 13 times.
"DURING THE TIME WHEN ISRAEL - GOD'S CHOOSEN PEOPLE - were backslidden, HE [GOD] raised up Wicked Rullers, TO CHASTEN HIS OWN! SO it is today! God has given us a respite, with BUSH - but remember the Agenda of the ENEMY! HILLARY CLINTON - Hopes to be the Next President of the USA! UNLESS - CHRISTIANS - CRY OUT IN REPENTANCE FOR OUR SINS, AND FAILURE TO OBEY GOD, She will BE IT!"
From Fundie's Say The Darndest Things
Average rating: 3.62Rated 13 times.
"DURING THE TIME WHEN ISRAEL - GOD'S CHOOSEN PEOPLE - were backslidden, HE [GOD] raised up Wicked Rullers, TO CHASTEN HIS OWN! SO it is today! God has given us a respite, with BUSH - but remember the Agenda of the ENEMY! HILLARY CLINTON - Hopes to be the Next President of the USA! UNLESS - CHRISTIANS - CRY OUT IN REPENTANCE FOR OUR SINS, AND FAILURE TO OBEY GOD, She will BE IT!"
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Which Superhero Are You?
Here
I was surprised at the answer I got although I tried to answer honestly. Given the type of hero I play well in City of Heros, I expected to get "The Flash".
Your results:
You are Superman
Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...
I was surprised at the answer I got although I tried to answer honestly. Given the type of hero I play well in City of Heros, I expected to get "The Flash".
Your results:
You are Superman
| You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.  |
Note to Atheists: Morality Comes Only From God, Stop Acting Moral!
A guy who missed the point of atheism:
One of my friends told me the other night that he had stopped to help a stranded motorist.
"Why would you do that?" I asked.
"Because it was the right thing to do. She needed help."
"But," I protested, "that doesn't make any sense. You wasted your time and efforts on a complete stranger, and for what? You got nothing out of it. You should have kept right on driving."
He gave me a puzzled look.
What I meant to say is that God is the basis for good and evil, and once you reject him and his rules, you're left with nothing but self-serving and self-preservation. In short, you're left with being your own god.
No. Atheists merely reject the idea that morality must be imposed by a mythical figure, we do not reject the idea that people must have morality for society to work. In fact, that’s the point. If you're only following a moral code because you're afraid you'll get caught by god (or more terrestrial authorities), while I'm glad your following the rules, don't expect me to respect you. What you're saying is that you are fundamentally untrustworthy without fear of punishment. Further, you probably believe that everyone else is the same way. Hence, god is needed everywhere, to watch all the time, to keep folks on the right path.
I believe people are capable of more, the right and wrong can be taught as core values and that fear of god is superfluous. I try to live up to my highest ideals and while I don't always succeed, I don’t think I fail more than the faithful, and I know that the consequences are mine to bear.
One of my friends told me the other night that he had stopped to help a stranded motorist.
"Why would you do that?" I asked.
"Because it was the right thing to do. She needed help."
"But," I protested, "that doesn't make any sense. You wasted your time and efforts on a complete stranger, and for what? You got nothing out of it. You should have kept right on driving."
He gave me a puzzled look.
What I meant to say is that God is the basis for good and evil, and once you reject him and his rules, you're left with nothing but self-serving and self-preservation. In short, you're left with being your own god.
No. Atheists merely reject the idea that morality must be imposed by a mythical figure, we do not reject the idea that people must have morality for society to work. In fact, that’s the point. If you're only following a moral code because you're afraid you'll get caught by god (or more terrestrial authorities), while I'm glad your following the rules, don't expect me to respect you. What you're saying is that you are fundamentally untrustworthy without fear of punishment. Further, you probably believe that everyone else is the same way. Hence, god is needed everywhere, to watch all the time, to keep folks on the right path.
I believe people are capable of more, the right and wrong can be taught as core values and that fear of god is superfluous. I try to live up to my highest ideals and while I don't always succeed, I don’t think I fail more than the faithful, and I know that the consequences are mine to bear.
Monday, February 06, 2006
An Accidental Nuke
I haven't worked this out, or the possible yeild, but it's at least remotely possible.
Finally!
I finally got an email asking me to transfer millions out of Zimbabwe. Soon all of Africa will by under My control! (note, it came with the following spacing. One big block of text)
Subject:
Assistance From You
Date:
2/4/2006 5:57:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time
From:
kz@netscape.net
Reply To:
karongaz@netscape.net
To:
toast171@aol.com
Dear One, My name is Master Karonga Zungu, the son of Mr.Ellies Karonga of blessed memory from Zimbabwe, During the current crises against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supports of President Robert Mugabe to claim all citizens both black/white farmers farms, who where not his party members and his followers, he ordered all white/black farmers who were not in his party to surrender all their farms to his party members and his followers. My father was one of the most successful multy farmers in our country and because he did not support Mugabe`s ideas, Mugabes supporters invaded his farm and burnt everything in the farm, killing him and made away with a lot of farming items in my fathers farm. Before his death, my father had deposited with banking firm in (Europe) the sum of (USD $12 MILLION) for buying of new farming materials.But I can't transfer it, to where i live becouse I'm an Asylum seeker,and not allowed to operate bank accounts, i want to go into arrangement by which i can live in your country and get my money back for benefitable investments. I have agreed to offer you 10% of the total sum for your assistance as soon as the money gets into your account also 5% has been set aside for all expences onece the money is cleard,any expences incured by you in the act of claiming this funds and making the transfer to your account will be deducted from the 5% before any other step is taken. I want truth and honest to be our watch word in this transaction and please treat this transaction with strictly confidential for the successful out come of it. All I want you to do is to furnish me with your personal full name as in your passport/private phone and fax numbers and also your private e-mail address if any for easy and urgent communication. Note:reply email karongaz@netscape.net Best regards,. Your brother in need. Karonga zungu
Subject:
Assistance From You
Date:
2/4/2006 5:57:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time
From:
kz@netscape.net
Reply To:
karongaz@netscape.net
To:
toast171@aol.com
Dear One, My name is Master Karonga Zungu, the son of Mr.Ellies Karonga of blessed memory from Zimbabwe, During the current crises against the farmers in Zimbabwe from the supports of President Robert Mugabe to claim all citizens both black/white farmers farms, who where not his party members and his followers, he ordered all white/black farmers who were not in his party to surrender all their farms to his party members and his followers. My father was one of the most successful multy farmers in our country and because he did not support Mugabe`s ideas, Mugabes supporters invaded his farm and burnt everything in the farm, killing him and made away with a lot of farming items in my fathers farm. Before his death, my father had deposited with banking firm in (Europe) the sum of (USD $12 MILLION) for buying of new farming materials.But I can't transfer it, to where i live becouse I'm an Asylum seeker,and not allowed to operate bank accounts, i want to go into arrangement by which i can live in your country and get my money back for benefitable investments. I have agreed to offer you 10% of the total sum for your assistance as soon as the money gets into your account also 5% has been set aside for all expences onece the money is cleard,any expences incured by you in the act of claiming this funds and making the transfer to your account will be deducted from the 5% before any other step is taken. I want truth and honest to be our watch word in this transaction and please treat this transaction with strictly confidential for the successful out come of it. All I want you to do is to furnish me with your personal full name as in your passport/private phone and fax numbers and also your private e-mail address if any for easy and urgent communication. Note:reply email karongaz@netscape.net Best regards,. Your brother in need. Karonga zungu
Friday, February 03, 2006
Penultimate comment on the STOU Speech
From Pharyngula,
Did he say anything in that speech that was actually true? I'm beginning to suspect that if he started by saying, "My fellow Americans…," that it might be fruitful to check into the INS records and see if he actually is a citizen.
Snort!
Did he say anything in that speech that was actually true? I'm beginning to suspect that if he started by saying, "My fellow Americans…," that it might be fruitful to check into the INS records and see if he actually is a citizen.
Snort!
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