Friday, March 30, 2007

BBC NEWS | Americas | Astronaut set for space marathon

BBC NEWS Americas Astronaut set for space marathon: "In the past three years marathon organisers have worked to accommodate qualifiers who cannot take to the streets of Boston.
They have sent trophies, water bottles and finishing line tape to Iraq for troops stationed there and plan a similar shipment to Kosovo this year.
Ms Williams, though, is the first Boston marathon runner to attempt the course while orbiting 210 miles (338km) above the surface of the Earth.
'The Boston Marathon is the pinnacle of achievement for most runners,' said BAA spokesman Jack Fleming, who said she would pioneer 'a new frontier' with her run.
'For Suni to choose to run the 26.2 miles (42.2km) in space on Patriots Day is really a tribute to the thousands of marathoners who are running here on Earth.' "

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Thursday, March 29, 2007

Blogging and Life

A friend of mine who went to High School with me in Kuwait found my entry on Facebook and dropped me a line. We hadn't been in touch since we graduated in '94 so this was reason to celebrate. She's originally from Texas but could pass as Irish with red hair and very pale white skin. I mention her features because for the last 3 years she's been in China with her Spanish husband who's a flight instructor and she's been teaching English to flight students. Prior to that she was just next door to me in Toronoto and she's spent time in Austria, Spain, and elsewhere. I spent a lot time yesterday going over her blog in which she spells out a lot of cultural differences shes comes across. She's part of a community of American "nomads" for lack of a better term, that live overseas. Her perspective interests me because although I'm in Erie, PA now, in a way that very much like her being in Linyi, a small city on the East coast of China. The differences are obvious in that I was much more attuned to the US culture when I came here than she every was to the Chinese culture. The incidences of culture shock that I have are in much smaller doses than hers. She comments several times on the differences between life overseas and life and the US and I echo all her points in terms of the ease of communication, the ability to handle simple beauracratic matters with relative ease, the freedom and choice available here, the lack of diversity and depth of food and culture, etc. I read her blog and I wonder how different my life could have been with the choices that I might have made. I don't regret any of them but its an interesting contrast.

Jen Stark




Tuesday, March 27, 2007

BBC NEWS | Health | Scientists make 'healthy' pizzas

BBC NEWS Health Scientists make 'healthy' pizzas: "Antioxidant levels increased by up to 60% during longer baking times and by as much as 82% during higher baking temperatures, depending on the type of wheat flour and the antioxidant test used, the researcher says.
Letting the pizza dough ferment for longer, up to 48 hours, also appeared to increase antioxidants significantly, the researchers found.
It is thought chemical reactions induced by yeasts might explain the increased levels.
The researchers suggest longer baking time, higher temperature and longer fermentation will also boost antioxidant levels in refined pizza dough, though to a lesser degree. "

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BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Dog-sized toad found in Australia

BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific Dog-sized toad found in Australia: "A giant cane toad the size of a small dog and nicknamed Toadzilla has been captured in northern Australia.
Toadzilla is the biggest cane toad ever found in Australia's Northern Territory and weighs just under two pounds, according to an environmental group.
...
"He is huge. I would hate to meet his big sister," said FrogWatch co-ordinator Graeme Sawyer.
Cane toads were first released in Queensland and have since marched in their millions across the country.
...
They have poisoned countless native animals, including crocodiles which have died after eating them.
...
A Northern Territory MP once said the toads were such a menace that people should attack them with golf clubs to keep them at bay. "

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BBC NEWS | Health | Semi-identical twins discovered

BBC NEWS Health Semi-identical twins discovered: "These twins, who were conceived normally, only came to the attention of scientists because one was born with sexually ambiguous genitalia.
The child was discovered to be a hermaphrodite, and has both ovarian and testicular tissue, while the other child is anatomically male.
But genetic tests show both are 'chimeras', and have some male cells - which have an X and Y chromosome, and female cells - which have two X chromosomes.
The most likely explanation for how they were formed is that two sperm cells - one with an X chromosome and one with a Y chromosome - fused with a single egg.
The twins are now toddlers, and doctors say they are progressing well. "

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Monday, March 26, 2007

Random quotes

"As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand. - Josh Billings (1818-1885)

I hear and forget. I see and remember. I do and understand. - Confucious (551 BC - 479 BC)

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. - Marcel Proust (1871 - 1922)

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BBC NEWS | UK | Show whips off the camouflage net

BBC NEWS UK Show whips off the camouflage net

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"Wrong Way" Light Comes Into View -- Cho 2007 (323): 2 -- ScienceNOW

"Wrong Way" Light Comes Into View -- Cho 2007 (323): 2 -- ScienceNOW: "The plastic lenses of your glasses bend light to focus it, but a new high material bends visible light in the 'wrong' direction. The advance may open the way for a number of new optical applications, including a revolutionary type of lens that could resolve finer details than now possible."

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Thursday, March 22, 2007

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Microwave plan for colossal squid

BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific Microwave plan for colossal squid: "An industrial-scale microwave oven may have to be used to defrost a colossal squid caught in the Antarctic last month, scientists say.
They are pondering how to thaw out the half-tonne squid in a way that makes sure none of it rots before other parts have defrosted. ...
Mr O'Shea said it would take days for the colossal squid to defrost at room temperature - meaning its outer flesh could have rotted by the time the centre thawed. "

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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | 'Crater' spied under California

BBC NEWS Science/Nature 'Crater' spied under California: "Oil exploration work in California's Central Valley region has uncovered a possible space impact crater.
The 5.5km-wide bowl is buried under shale sediments west of Stockton, in San Joaquin County, and is thought to be between 37 and 49 million years old. "

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BBC NEWS | Europe | Swiss dig world's longest tunnel

BBC NEWS Europe Swiss dig world's longest tunnel"Deep beneath the Alps, the Swiss are building a high-speed rail link between Zurich and Milan. It will include, at 57 kilometres (35 miles), the world's longest tunnel. "

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The Dilbert Blog: Today I Will Improve Your Sex Life

The Dilbert Blog: Today I Will Improve Your Sex Life: "I’m reading a great book called “Influence: Science and Practice” by Robert B. Cialdini. It’s full of research and anecdotes about how to influence people. It’s a real eye-opener.
One of the most potent forms of persuasion has to do with people’s innate need to be consistent. Studies show that people will ignore logic and information to be consistent. (In other words, we are moist robots.) According to the research, humans are hardwired for consistency over reason. You already knew that: People don’t switch political parties or religions easily. What you didn’t know is how quickly and easily a manipulator can lock someone into a position.
For example, researchers asked people to write essays in support of a random point of view they did not hold. Months later, when surveyed, the majority held the opinion they wrote about, regardless of the topic. Once a person commits an opinion to writing – even an opinion he does not hold – it soon becomes his actual opinion. Not every time, but MOST of the time. The people in these experiments weren’t exposed to new information before writing their contrived opinions. All they did was sit down and write an opinion they didn’t actually have, and months later it became their actual opinion. The experiment worked whether the volunteers were writing the pro or the con position on the random topic....
This research provides a surefire method for readers of the Dilbert Blog to improve their sex lives. Go down to the local mall with a clipboard and pretend to be doing a research experiment. Offer $1 to attractive people who will write a paragraph describing how incredibly sexy you are. (Based on the research, you should offer a low dollar amount so people don’t think they did it entirely for the money.) Tell participants that the research has to do with handwriting analysis of people who are writing opinions they do not believe. Stop after you get 100 people to do it. That’s less than the cost of one meal at an upscale restaurant.
Give the participants your e-mail address and tell them they can get the results of the research study in a month if they contact you. According to the science, about two-thirds of the people who wrote a paragraph on your sex appeal will strongly believe it a month later, no matter how hideous you are. And a few of those people will remember to e-mail you for the results. You’ll still have to close the deal, but I think we can agree that I just did the hard work for you.
You’re welcome."

» Optimus Maximus - Here’s what a $1,490 keyboard looks like | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com

» Optimus Maximus - Here’s what a $1,490 keyboard looks like Hardware 2.0 ZDNet.com

Geek Trivia: The map in the moon

Geek Trivia: The map in the moon: "Leonardo da Vinci... postulated that the sunlight reflected by the Earth's oceans and clouds in turn shone on the moon and reflected back—giving the dark portions of a less-than-full moon distinctive features, particularly when the moon was near the horizon. Today, we call this phenomenon Earthshine or—perhaps more appropriately—the Da Vinci Glow."

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

The Dilbert Blog: The Joy of Righteous Indignation

The Dilbert Blog: The Joy of Righteous Indignation "Experts say that the most loyal customers are not the ones who had a flawless experience, but the ones who had a problem that was resolved."

Warhammer update

Me: I spent quite a bit of time this past saturday relaxing and putting Warhammer models together
I actually didn't sign on to WoW once and I spent a lot of time with the kids
C: how were the models? fun?
Me: yeah surprisingly relaxing
I'm looking forward to painting them
I don't expect to be any good at it
well at least not right away
C: I don't know anything about minis, but despite that, what do you have?
Me: I have an Empire Army - all humans
so right now I have 20 units of swordsmen including a standard bearer, a musician, and a champoion
10 units of mounted Pistoliers (fast cav with pistols)
5 units of mounted Outriders (fast cave with repeater pistols
and I'm putting together 20 units of handgunners
I also have 12 units of mouted knights, a general and an associated standard bearer
C: a musician?? I didn't know warhammer included those
what does he do?
Me: I don't know
I havent gotten that far in the rule book yet
but I think units that have musicans in them get some bonus related to their ability to stand and fight or something
but in any case the models are very detailed and customizable
although I'm not customizing too much 'cause I don't have the skill to do it really well
and even if I did, I'm not sure if I have the skill to paint them well
plus they look well enough with the switching around I did make use of
C: I didn't realize they are customizable
does that involve glue?
I recall friends changing bits around by breaking them off and gluing them elsewhere
Me: well you can switch around torsos and heads, use different poses, accessorize with equipment packs and weapons
you can create your own designs using "green stuff"
so long as you don't deviate significanty from what the unit is supposed to "do" and the unit is generally still identifiable, then you can change it
plus there is a lot of leeway with the painting and such
C: that does sound fun.
I'm glad you're enjoying it :)
Me: me too!
C: Are you going to take pictures of them and post them?
Me: I might
I was thinking about that
I have yet to actually play a game of course
I have to put an army together first

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Now Reading


1776 was a great read! I highly recommend it. I found this book, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini on the shelf of a co-worker. He got it and had it there for several months and when I asked him about it, he said I could read it and give him a review. I took him up on it. I've heard from M that it's a great read so I'm looking forward to it.

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BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Lunar dust 'may harm astronauts'

BBC NEWS Science/Nature Lunar dust 'may harm astronauts'

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BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Rivers run towards 'crisis point'

BBC NEWS Science/Nature Rivers run towards 'crisis point': "ome of the world's major rivers are reaching crisis point because of dams, shipping, pollution and climate change, according to the environment group WWF. "

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BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | GM mosquito 'could fight malaria'

BBC NEWS Science/Nature GM mosquito 'could fight malaria'"A genetically modified (GM) strain of malaria-resistant mosquito has been created that is better able to survive than disease-carrying insects. ...
The approach exploits the fact that the health of infected mosquitoes is itself compromised by the parasite they spread. Insects that cannot be invaded by the parasite are therefore likely to be fitter and out-compete their disease-carrying counterparts. "

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BBC NEWS | Business | P&G wins US case on Satanic slurs

BBC NEWS Business P&G wins US case on Satanic slurs: "The Devil is not in league with global consumer brand Procter & Gamble, a US court has ruled. "

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BBC NEWS | Americas | Grand Canyon glass bridge to open

BBC NEWS Americas Grand Canyon glass bridge to open

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Monday, March 19, 2007

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Colossal squid's headache for science

BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific Colossal squid's headache for science: "Marshall thinks that given its size - an estimated 10m (33ft) in length - it is likely to be a female, as female squid are often larger than males.
'It's extremely unlikely to be a male,' says Marshall. 'If it is a male, the mind boggles at how big the female would be.' "

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BBC NEWS | Health | Sleep disorder creates 'Mr Hyde'

BBC NEWS Health Sleep disorder creates 'Mr Hyde'

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BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | 248-dimension maths puzzle solved

BBC NEWS Science/Nature 248-dimension maths puzzle solved"Professor Vogan is presenting the results at MIT in a lecture entitled The Character Table for E8, or How We Wrote Down a 453,060 x 453,060 Matrix and Found Happiness. "

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Thursday, March 15, 2007

Manifesto of the Unitarian Jihad

JON CARROLL: "We are Unitarian Jihad, and our motto is: 'Sincerity is not enough.' We have heard from enough sincere people to last a lifetime already. Just because you believe it's true doesn't make it true. Just because your motives are pure doesn't mean you are not doing harm. Get a dog, or comfort someone in a nursing home, or just feed the birds in the park. Play basketball. Lighten up. The world is not out to get you, except in the sense that the world is out to get everyone.
...
People of the United States! We are Unitarian Jihad! We can strike without warning. Pockets of reasonableness and harmony will appear as if from nowhere! Nice people will run the government again! There will be coffee and cookies in the Gandhi Room after the revolution."

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

BBC NEWS | Health | Attraction 'determined by walk'

BBC NEWS Health Attraction 'determined by walk'"It would be interesting to see what the ideal combination of measurements and wiggle is."

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Monday, March 12, 2007

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | China's pollution cuts local rain

BBC NEWS Science/Nature China's pollution cuts local rain

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BBC NEWS | Americas | Peru's alarming water truth

BBC NEWS Americas Peru's alarming water truth

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BBC NEWS | Americas | Vanishing bees threaten US crops

BBC NEWS Americas Vanishing bees threaten US crops

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BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Malaysian monks face ant dilemma

BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific Malaysian monks face ant dilemma: "Buddhism forbids devotees from harming any living creature... They cannot encourage anyone to harm the ants, but the chief monk says that if someone turns up unbidden and deals with them without the monks' involvement then that is the will of the universe. "

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BBC NEWS | Americas | US couples seek separate bedrooms

BBC NEWS Americas US couples seek separate bedrooms

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New Glass Bends Rule, but Doesn't Break It -- Service 2007 (309): 1 -- ScienceNOW

New Glass Bends Rule, but Doesn't Break It -- Service 2007 (309): 1 -- ScienceNOW

Friday, March 09, 2007

How to pick up and date women, WOW-style

How to pick up women, WOW-style
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=80452348&sid=1

How to Date women, WOW-style
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=82039680&sid=1

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BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Official escapes rat poison label

BBC NEWS Asia-Pacific Official escapes rat poison label

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Thursday, March 08, 2007

The Rodent Who Knew Too Much -- Telis 2007 (308): 1 -- ScienceNOW

The Rodent Who Knew Too Much -- Telis 2007 (308): 1 -- ScienceNOW: "Already famous for swimming through sewers and surviving under subway rails, rats can now claim a more sophisticated talent: thinking about thinking. It's not epistemology, but a study published today in Current Biology reports the first evidence that rats know the limits of their own knowledge--a capacity long thought to belong only to the animal kingdom's top brains"

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Comic hero Captain America dies

BBC NEWS Entertainment Comic hero Captain America dies

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War and Pieces

M: Anything else going on?
Me: Oh I've been snookered into playing Warhammer
M: Warhammer ... Warhammer ... sounds vaguely familiar
Me: tabletop miniatures
look it up in wikipedia
M: Oh, one of those things where you spend two hours setting up the pieces and another six knocking them down? :)
Me: yeah
'cept they are shorter battles too
I'm looking forward to the model making and painting
so I can spend time doing crafts with the wife and the kids
M: Awww. That's an awfully familial attitude for a Warhammer player to take.
Me: lol
most of the people I'd be playing with are married with kids
M: So you have to paint a whole army before you can play?
Me: no
you just have to have the models built
there are tournametns that require fully painted armies
but most people don't care so long as you have the units put together
I intend to put the models together and then take my time with the painting
M: Doubtless the need to construct an army before engaging in battle is supposed to remind the player of the huge expense and human cost of fomenting war.
Me: like Starcraft
and in Warhammer humans are only 2 of the dozen or so available armies
M: Yes, but Starcraft is very commander-in-chief. You just sit back in a comfy chair, push buttons, and armies are created for you.
Me: oh I see your point
well Warhammer has the hobby aspect of painting and model creation
and many people just get into the game to paint and put models together
M: Oh, it's not a serious point. Just trying to turn a hobby into social commentary. :)
Me: Is it any worse then chess?
its certainly more involved
and expensive
but it develops many more skill sets
M: Oh, chess is the worst. It encourages viewing people as mindless pawns and killing of horses.
Me: lol
M: No wonder the ASPCA holds its annual chessboard bonfires.
Me: well I suppose on that point Warhammer is worse
becuase the models are much more realistic
even if some of them are cartoonish
M: Uh-oh ... I see there's a Warhammer Online, too.
Me: one oneline game at a time is enough

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Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Accomplishments and Honesty

Me: What's your view of view of tooting one's own horn
N: What's my view of tooting my own horn? or of someone tooting their own horn?
Me: in general
N: I believe one should toot one's own horn.
*grin* and I think you believe it too.
Me: well i believe in being honest
N: yes
there's no need to be disingenuous.
if you have a skill, be forthright about it.
Me: and there's a difference between self aggrandizing and explaining a resume
N: if you are proud of something, I think it's good to be able to share it.
Me: sure
N: And one should definitely be certain one receives credit for the work one does and the result one achieves.
Me: also true
N: if I think my boss hasn't noticed the work I've done on a project, I need to tell her.
Me: right
N: Although she generally is well aware :-)
Me: that's good :-)
N: You shared with me your excitement today about the two compliments you got. This made me happy :-)
Me: that's true I did
N: But it also is the sort of thing that comes under "tooting one's own horn".
Me: I guess...
but by the same token I also don't say that because I've had these accomplishments and that you are any less of a person
N: *grin* I get sass from people sometimes because I say that I consider myself intelligent and attractive.
Me: lol but that's the truth
N: But dammit, I am intelligent and attractive!
Why should I pretend I'm not?
Me: I agree
N: Or pretend I don't like things about myself that I would like in someone else?
I like myself when I stand up for something I believe in, or when I solve a difficult problem, or when I am considerate of other people.
And I should recognize those accomplishments for myself the same as I would for my friends and family, if they did the same thing.
I feel like to do otherwise is profoundly damaging to one's psyche.
I don't think there's virtue in driving down one's self-esteem by failing to take pride in oneself and one's accomplishments.
Me: ok this is all healthy and good and I agree with you but it seems that there are many people who go beyond that
Like for the two brief examples in my last post
N: Well, you asked me for my perspective :-)
For the college president example...
Me: "I get that" and naming a building after yourself
N: It's the job of the college president to make sure the accomplishments of the university are recognized by alumni and other potential donors.
One facet of his job, anyway.
Me: sure
N: I wasn't there, so I don't know exactly what was said.
Me: sure
N: But it could be that he just isn't very adept at communicating that in a non-off putting way.
Me: that may just be it
N: Which is something that could be an issue for his job performance.
Me: I mean he was very successful
over $15 mil raised when the original target was $10mil
N: But talking about new buildings, improvements at the college, etc. are part of his job.
Yes.
Me: so it comes down to communication then
you may have a lot of accomplishments but if you toot them in the wrong fashion you could end up sounding like a jerk
N: I found this phrase from your earlier conversation interesting:
"self serving always seems disingenuous to me no matter how much like to hear it, praise slightly embarrasses me and when others toot their own horn I wonder if they truly deserve it because I wonder if I do"
I find false modesty disingenuous. :-)
Me: LOL
no I'm serious
N: I know you are.
I'm just pointing out that between the two of us, someone will have no way to win :-)
Me: to win?
N: If they aren't upfront about their accomplishments, I'll think they are being disingenuous. If they do "toot their own horn", you will.
Me: oh well that's why I'm asking you
I want to solidify my opinion and figure out what it *should* be
this is a conversation of self-discovery
N: I toot my friends' horns.
You do it too.
For me, I try to treat myself as I would any of my friends.
If I admire something you've done, I tell others about it (see yesterday's lunch convo re your blog)
If I've done something I'm proud of, I share that as well.
Me: that makes sense
N: I told people that J got into graduate school.
Me: that's something to be proud of
N: Exactly :-)
And I told you when I got my first semester grades back.
There's no reason to pretend you aren't proud of the things you accomplish.
Me: but you also say it without putting people down
N: Well, it's got nothing to do with putting people down.
That's not tooting your own horn.
Me: sometimes I get the feeling that people toot their own horns to specifically say "I'm better than you because you haven't done this"
N: That's slashing somebody else's tires.
Me: yeah and I hate that
N: Stick to your own damn car!
Me: lol I like that
another example, my secretary has told me in the past that I get this patent law stuff because I'm smart and that she couldn't possible do the same and I was dumbstruck
N: See, she's putting herself down there. *growl*
Me: I mean just because I did something does not mean that she couldn't
N: To me, that's as bad as trying to puff yourself up by putting someone else down.
There's enough merit to go around. Your accomplishments do not detract from mine, nor do mine from yours!
Good LORD, people.
If your son learns to read, that doesn't mean your daughter can't.
There's plenty of achievement to go around.
Me: well there is a line crosses in speaking your accomplishments and I guess it comes down to being aware of that line
and I've been self conscious about it for that reason that I don't want to cross that line and don't know where it is
or at least I hope not to cross it
N: It's slightly different for everyone.
You need to have some social awareness.
Me: I suppose - and that's the difficulty
the line is in different places for everyone
I suppose you can't please everyone
just live for yourself
N: *grin* You know in yourself what your motivation is.
But I do believe you should be aware.
However, I don't think that you are responsible for everyone else's feelings.
Me: sure
N: For example, you shouldn't be bad at patent law in order to make your secretary feel better.
Me: lol
that's true
I'll do that on my own terms
N: *grin*
Me: *ponder* *ponder*
hmmm
N: This is for me, a matter of honesty.
Don't pretend to be bad at something to make people around you feel better about themselves.
Me: oh yeah
N: But I'll admit, I do sometimes censor myself.
Me: on what occasions?
N: I won't talk about my GPA around people who have been having trouble in the courses I take.
Me: hah sure but that's just tactful
N: Exactly.
But you better believe I put it on my resume!
Me: true
I guess it depends on the context and the intent
and how people interpret that is out of your control
N: It's not inherently bad to do.
Me: what is in your control is how you deliver your message
and when
and to whom
and why
N: If you put your GPA on your resume and the HR person reads it and feels bad in comparison, that's not your fault.
Me: well yeah
N: On the other hand, if your friend is struggling in Physics, you don't say "Well, I got an A+ in it. It wasn't hard at all!"
Me: but that's different from standing up in front of several hundered people and saying I understand why this person got this award for pottery and you can't
N: But you don't always know what will and won't upset people. You'll sometimes step on toes.
Me: that's true
N: Did she say "and you can't"?
Or did you add that in?
*grin*
Me: you know I don't remember now
*sigh*
N: one of the first things that Stone said was quite emphatically "I Get this""This is important"the implication being this is more important that YOU know
In your earlier conversation, you said "implied"
Me: well to her credit it was not a prepared speech
so maybe it didn't come across as she intended
and I did say I liked what she had to say
didn't I?
N: you did :-)
And maybe it was in response to a specific criticism she had heard of the recipient of the reward... there are any number of possibilities.
Me: well thank you N
I think you've made me focus on this aspect a bit more
I'm a good person and, dammit, people like me!
N: And you like yourself
liking yourself is actually a good thing.
Me: I think I do
I can see where I can improve
N: People admire those who try to be better people, right?
Me: I don't know
I never asked
N: fair enough
Jonathan: you only ever read about people who made themselves better not about those who are in the process
and if you've already made yourself there isn't much more to go
lol
N: there's always more :-)
you're not done 'til you're dead!
Me: that depends on what you're aiming for :-)
but I'm with you on this point
that said the only introspection that I am aware of are my own
which is to be expected
that's why they call it "introspection"
N: *nod*

Fame and Sharon Stone

C: How was Sharon Stone?
Me: umm not entirely sure
I mean she seemed earnest and nice
but she's an actress
C: you really met with her in person? is she a client?
Me: no no she spoke at a luncheon
she's from a small town south of here
went to Edinboro University who this was a fundraiser/award ceremony for
C: ok. Did you have a good time?
Me: the speeches were surprisingly interesting if a bit self-serving
the lunch was cold but the dessert was great
a good way to kill 3 hours of your day :-)
C: what was for dessert?
Me: there was a choice of lemon meringue pie, cherry pie, triple chocolate cake, and apple strudel
I had the strudel
C: and what were the interesting parts of the speeches?
Me:well she said some interesting things about decency
Me: about trying to live your life as a decent person
C: that's decent of her
Me: she had a great thought at the end of the session that I thought I would remember but slips me at the moment
but it had something to do about decency
they gave her an honorary doctorate
I was pondering about fame
when she came in everyone was craning their necks to try to get a glimpse of her
I wonder what that does to a person
knowing that you are being watched
she was very attractive but not glamorous
she could have been anyone on the street
admittedly a beautiful anyone
but she didn't stand out.
The president of Edinboro has a building named after him and a scholarship as well
and both while he's still in office.
His speech was a lot about hey I did this and I'm doing that, blah blah blah
He's an African American and I'm sure he deserves everything that he said about himself and what was said about him
C: yeah, I imagine fame must be hard
Me: but self serving always seems disingenuous to me
no matter how much like to hear it, praise slightly embarrasses me
and when others toot their own horn I wonder if they truly deserve it
'cause I wonder if I do
well for example there was an award given to this art professor who makes pottery and has been gong around the world teaching people how to make pottery which can be used to filter water
very useful in areas that have no access to potable water
one of the first things that Stone said was quite emphatically "I Get this"
"This is important"
the implication being this is more important that YOU know
YOU can't get this
I understand more about the world that YOU do
and I'm sure she does
she's been around the world and seen more of the world than most people in that audience
with some possible exceptions
C: hmm
Me: but man, I was a bit put off
C: you really thing she was trying to imply the audience was less than her?
Me: that said I was on her side
well I'm not sure if she was *trying* to do that
but that's what I heard in it
I think she was trying to get the idea across that its those kinds of things that are really important
that a simple piece of pottery can make the entire bit of difference in life over death
and she was right
maybe she just didn't say it well
she spoke with no notes so she may have been making it up as she went along
C: well, she's an actress, not a public speaker
well, maybe she is a public speaker
but anyway
:)
Me: lol
well it was interesting

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Clouds, Made in China -- Parks 2007 (306): 1 -- ScienceNOW

Clouds, Made in China -- Parks 2007 (306): 1 -- ScienceNOW

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BBC NEWS | Technology | The evolution of game controllers

BBC NEWS Technology The evolution of game controllers

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BBC NEWS | Health | Hot baths may cut male fertility

BBC NEWS Health Hot baths may cut male fertility

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BBC NEWS | Health | Coffee 'no boost in the morning'

BBC NEWS Health Coffee 'no boost in the morning'

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BBC NEWS | Africa | Dog's dinners prove popular in Nigeria

BBC NEWS Africa Dog's dinners prove popular in Nigeria

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Dodging a Warming Bullet -- Berardelli 2007 (305): 1 -- ScienceNOW

Dodging a Warming Bullet -- Berardelli 2007 (305): 1 -- ScienceNOW

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Bookgasm


Sinfest: "Bookgasm "

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Fort


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Pork


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Limitations in Statistical Data

N: hey
Me: hey wassup?
N: I've gotta geek at you.
Me: oooh bring it on!
N: I'm reading the US Census report on County Business Patterns.
And I'm perusing the section on reliability of data.
and this line cracks me up:

"However, the data are subjectto nonsampling errors. Nonsampling errors can be attributedto many sources: inability to identify all cases in the universe;"

Me: LOL
N: I know, I know... stupid dork humor *grin*
Me: :-) no, no, that's great!
N: I figured you might like it!
Me: I do :-)
you know how to pick your geeks

Crush


Sinfest: "Crush "

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Reflections


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Sinfest


Sinfest: "Righteous Path "

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Creation


Sinfest: "Creation "

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In Your Heart


Sinfest: "In Your Heart "

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Duel
















Sinfest: "Duel "

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Police State


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Free Speech Zone


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Terror Alert


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War is Peace


Sinfest: "War is Peace "

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Why Is There War?


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Mime


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Apples and Oranges


Sinfest: "Apples and Oranges "

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Monday, March 05, 2007

Understanding Women


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Eternal Questions


Sinfest: "Eternal Questions"

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Free Will


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BBC NEWS | Americas | Island people swallowed by the sea

BBC NEWS Americas Island people swallowed by the sea

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BBC NEWS | Europe | Swiss in Liechtenstein 'invasion'

BBC NEWS Europe Swiss in Liechtenstein 'invasion'

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So true!


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Heh 2


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Heh


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Ain't that the truth?


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It's all so obvious now!


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Friday, March 02, 2007

BBC NEWS | Technology | Wave farms show energy potential

BBC NEWS Technology Wave farms show energy potential

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Crap

I just realized that I've now covered pretty much all the bases of geekdom. I have recently been introduced to Warhammer - one of my co-workers gave me a unit of Empire Pistoliers/Outriders (unpainted and unassembled of course) and then I joined him at an auction of used gaming supplies and got incredible deals on model painitng equipment, dice, and other equipment. I even got onto E-Bay and have bids on parts of armies.

I'm really excited about it and its not necessarily just playing the game but the hobby aspect of putting the models together and painting them. When I was kid we'd get model kits of cars, aircraft, etc, and I had a blast putting those together. We never had to paint them so that will be an aspect I'd like to explore. The big plus with that is I can spend time with my wife crafting together.

A side geekiness is my foray into E-Bay. Man that site is addictive!

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Thursday, March 01, 2007

Global Warming Reduction Guide

http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/factsheets/leg_061218.pdf

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BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Star Trek film gets release date

BBC NEWS Entertainment Star Trek film gets release date

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BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | Scientists probe 'hole in Earth'

BBC NEWS UK Wales Scientists probe 'hole in Earth'

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