It is my fervent hope that at some point in the future, we will once again live in a society where all discussions of politics are not indescribably depressing.
Really, that pretty much sums up my feelings about everything in the news right now, on-line and off. There are a bunch of things going on that I sorta-kinda feel I maybe ought to write something about, but I think I'd rather slam my fingers in my desk drawer repeatedly than type any of those posts.
People with happy news are encouraged to post it in the comments.
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Another day when I only took a couple of pictures, on the morning dog walk. I noticed that one of the now leafless trees on the route looked interestingly creepy, so I took a couple shots of that.
If you're looking for something to fill your science-related entertainment needs while I'm in Canuckistan pondering the future of society, and thus not blogging much, here are a couple of things you might want to check out on tv (whose producers sent me helpful emails letting me know of their pro
I was out of town last week, and doing talk prep leading up to that, so it's been a little while since my last collection of Forbes links. Here's the latest from over there:
Last night was the third annual faculty-student basketball game, held as a fund-raiser for charity by a local sorority. This year the threw us a team that included five players from the varsity, including the only 2,000-point scorer in school history. Needless to say, we didn't win...
On the small but steady progress front...
Apparently, we now get more energy from renewable sources that nuclear.
I'm not strongly opposed to transitional use of nuclear power, but I suspect that this is also an indication we are getting better at renewables.
Also, 20% of research articles are open access. That might not sound high enough, but I'm pretty sure it's an improvement.
In advance of having good news to post (I'll try later), I'm posting this to my Facebook page (many academics and other interesting people as Friends) in hope of getting good responses here. BTW, add request me if you want - I picked up someone from the comments a few weeks ago.
The EU is planning a large rise in research funding, enabled by large cuts in farming subsidies...
Rupert Murdoch may be finally getting a small percentage of the comeuppance he deserves. As a result of the phone hacking scandal in the UK (if you haven't already heard about this, I don't recommend looking into it on a full stomach), Murdoch has been forced to close the News of the World (yes, the paper mentioned in "Polythene Pam"), and he may yet have to back off on his attempt to take over the UK's leading private broadcaster, BSkyB.
Though unfortunately, while the staff of NotW are getting the ax, the woman who was in charge at the time of the worst incident is keeping her job (she was promoted to a higher management position in Murdoch's UK newspaper company).
The blue glass fountain surrounded by blue hosta blooms look lovely in my garden right now, especially if accompanied by a margarita.
$DAUGHTER has completed the fieldwork for her dissertation and is now in an undisclosed location writing the fool thing.
That, in addition to a honking awesome haboob two nights ago. Awesome.
The EU is ahead of it's target of 20% energy production by renewable resources in 2020. CO2 reduction by 20% will probably achieved. To bad the reduction of energy by 20% is not going to make it but at least there is some good news in this.
Watching our politics now is close to Mad magazines Spy vs Spy.
Or Nut vs Nut
Great opening line - may I quote it in print, with attribution?
A bit of optimism for you:
http://rturpin.wordpress.com/2011/07/07/mexico-on-the-upswing-illegal-i…
Great opening line - may I quote it in print, with attribution?
Sure.
In general, you're welcome to quote anything I write here, provided it is attributed properly.
Sounds like you're longing for the Eisenhower Era, when political parties were about solutions and not ideologies and mass media was not dominated by profit oriented conflict pimps bringing their outrage into your living rooms and your consciousness , and people actually read instead of just scanned their screens for stuff they felt they should agree with in order to be p.c. Now, get off my lawn!