Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.
-Aldous Huxley
—
Stolen shamelessly from Trending Towards FutreShock, but the link to the individual post seems to be broken…
Technorati Tags: quotes
When I run across articles, posts, and other writings worth a longer read, I send an email to myself with the link. Unfortunately, life intervenes and by the time I make it back to my house, I have neither the time nor the energy to devote to a full discussion of the links and the concepts they convey.
So, in lieu of that discussion, I will instead merely list the links and ask that you form your own conclusions from them, which is indeed the main thrust of my posts here at Random Fate, a repetitive request that you form your own opinions rather than mindless mouthing of partisan talking points, a theme that should be obvious at least to those who are paying attention.
The National Catholic Reporter on a survey about the use of torture
IBM devises carbon nanotube chip
IBM touts milestone with single nanotube-based IC
Bush’s Credibility Gap: Historical And Current Roots
A NEW TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION
The Prohibition EraRoberts Dissent Reveals Strain Beneath Court’s Placid Surface
Do your own math to find any pattern therein that might exist.
UPDATE: The text to the link to The National Catholic Reporter article changed at the request of a reader to avoid confusion. The headline to the article, which was the original text, “Americans, especially Catholics, approve of torture” is misleading both for the thrust of the article and the supporting polling data.
Technorati Tags: patterns in the white noise
Initial reports had Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia presenting “the finger” to the press in response to some inquiries from the press after the Associate Justice attended church this weekend. Those initial reports were wrong:
Scalia’s Italian gesture confused with obscenity
Reports led some to conclude justice gave reporter a middle-finger saluteAssociated Press
Updated: 8:17 p.m. ET March 27, 2006WASHINGTON - Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia used an Italian hand gesture when questioned by a reporter after attending church this past weekend.
The Boston Herald reported Monday that the justice made “an obscene gesture under his chin� - which prompted some online reports that Scalia had used his middle finger.
Untrue.
“It was a hand off the chin gesture that was meant to be dismissive,� Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.
Scalia, 70, is Italian and known for wisecracks in and out of court.
The sign he used in Boston is frequently used by Italians to express displeasure with someone - from mild to deep irritation. It is done by cupping the hand under the chin and flicking the fingers like a backward wave.
Scalia was leaving Mass on Sunday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross when the reporter asked the justice if he had to deal with much flak related to his conservative Roman Catholic beliefs, according to the newspaper.
“You know what I say to those people?� Scalia said before making the gesture, according to the paper’s account. “That’s Sicilian.�
The paper said that Scalia also said: “This is my spiritual life. I shall lead it the way I like.�
Beware the overly-rapid reaction.
Something that should apply to more folks than just bloggers, perhaps?
From the BBC:
Officers find small pony in Mini
Police patrol officers who stopped a Mini Metro believed to have been involved in a road accident found a Shetland pony on the back seat.
Officers found the miniature pony after stopping the vehicle in the county during a routine patrol.
The incident was among details of traffic offences listed by Norfolk Police as part of a new road campaign.
The campaign aims to help educate drivers in an effort to reduce the number of accidents in the county.
These cars are NOT that big, why the heck would someone try to transport a Shetland pony in one?
Technorati Tags: random thoughts, odd news, weird news
Given that the author actually used my image from the “link to Random Fate” section of my sidebar, how could I not note that Trending Towards Future Shock has been added to both my RSS reader and my blogroll. Yet, the interesting viewpoint presented on the weblog should not be neglected, so I am including it in my “Recommended Reading” category, because even if you don’t agree with what you read, at least it will prompt you to think, and that is indeed far more than most bloggers who aspire to comment on current issues can accomplish.
Technorati Tags: recommended reading, weblogs
I just had another patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
How do I know?
Was I alerted by the USPTO?
Did I receive a message from my company which has the rights to the patent?
Neither, I received a solicitation in the mail to order a plaque with the text of the first lines of the abstract and the first drawing for Patent 7,015,517 issued on 21 March 2006 for the invention of a “Semiconductor Device Incorporating a Defect Controlled Strained Channel Structure and Method of Making the Same”.
I’m sure I shouldn’t complain, but somehow finding out through a company trying to make money from me by selling me a plaque kind of takes away from the whole thing…
Almost two decades ago in a test on electrodynamics, I was asked to re-derive the fundamental equations of electromagnetism (the Maxwell Equations) with the assumption that magnetic monopoles existed.
What the heck am I talking about here? Well, most people are familiar with the two types of charge that exist in the universe, positive and negative charge, and that there are fundamental units of this charge, protons for positive charge and electrons for negative charge (and yes, I am skipping those interesting but baffling to the majority quarks because they do not pertain to this discussion, if you want to discuss them, email me or go to the Physics department at your local university). Similar fundamental units of magnetisms do not exist; there are no “north monopoles” or “south monopoles” to complement the protons and electrons.
In my exam, based upon a few fundamental assumptions, that monopoles of both varieties existed and that there was a continuity of magnetic charge just as exists for electric charge, I was to derive the form the Maxwell Equations would take and explain the physical consequences of the new equations. At the time, I speculated that if there were such a thing as negative mass, something similar to the Maxwell Equations could be derived for gravity, and that there should therefore exist an equivalent of “gravomagnetics” with similar behaviors due to moving mass as there are because of the magnetic fields generated from moving charges. Needless tosay, I did not include these idle thoughts in my answer to the question, and admittedly it was not the best use of my effort during the exam, but the question was actually pretty straightforward so I did have the spare time.
While a “negative mass” has not been discovered, a recent measurement seems to point towards a possible derivation of a quantum theory of gravity, which has eluded Physicists for decades:
Scientists funded by the European Space Agency have measured the gravitational equivalent of a magnetic field for the first time in a laboratory. Under certain special conditions the effect is much larger than expected from general relativity and could help physicists to make a significant step towards the long-sought-after quantum theory of gravity.
Just as a moving electrical charge creates a magnetic field, so a moving mass generates a gravitomagnetic field. According to Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, the effect is virtually negligible. However, Martin Tajmar, ARC Seibersdorf Research GmbH, Austria; Clovis de Matos, ESA-HQ, Paris; and colleagues have measured the effect in a laboratory.
I need to read the original paper, but based upon what is written in the article linked, this is pretty damn exciting to a real Physics geek like me. Although this result is not exactly what my speculations led to, it is gratifying to know that back when I was in graduate school even my idle speculations while working out an exam problem had merit and were not completely off base.
The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
-Sophocles (496-406 BC)
Technorati Tags: quotes
I’m breaking up a huge post into several shorter segments (for the information of regular readers here, yes, this is the beginning of the “monster post” I wrote about earlier) because I know the ADD culture we have which is only exacerbated by the nature of weblogs does not lend itself to a long, coherent argument that may not be book length but is more than enough for one of the pamphlets that were published in the months leading up to the American Revolution. The titles will likely be provocative, as I hope the text will be, provocative in the way of provoking thought, not promoting yet more mindless name-calling which is apparently the objective of far too many posts I have seen recently from more than one blogger, those whom I otherwise respect.
Speaking of provocative post titles, the one above refers to the legend of the signature of John Hancock, who supposedly signed the Declaration of Independence in the center large and clear so that King George III could read it without his spectacles, in prominent defiance of the actions of the British government in the months and years leading up to the American Revolution. It is unclear if this legend has any basis in reality, given that there is evidence that Hancock always signed his name in such an extravagant way, but the very fact that the legend still persists after more than two and a third centuries reveals much of what we like to think of ourselves and our history of rebellion against what we perceived at the time as tyranny, what we are still taught as a justified rebellion in our history lessons to elementary school students.
To put it in plain language, we like to think of ourselves as loudly and even obnoxiously defiant in the face of overwhelming power, which is what Britain had in the mid to late 18th century, with the courage to sign our names in a large, unmistakable fashion on a document that declares the crimes of that overwhelming power, despite the fact that the power was indeed the legitimate government of the colonies that would soon be in rebellion.
We like to think of ourselves as the heirs of John Hancock, standing up in defiance to the face of tyranny in the name of principle.
Yet the acquiescence of the American public to the erosion of those very principles of freedom from government control and surveillance of personal lives in the years since September 11, 2001 taken in the name of “homeland security” shows the self-deception inherent in our belief that we live up to the legacy of the legend of the large signature written as a defiant stand taken in the name of the principle of freedom and fundamental human rights that were termed “inalienable” in the Declaration of Independence.
Rights that are now termed as “insignificant” and “optional” when there are apparent threats to the “homeland” from groups whose goal is solely to create terror are involved.
As I have written before, we were in far more peril of cessation of our very existence when we had the threat of nuclear annihilation from the USSR hanging over our heads like the sword of Damocles, but somehow, the threat of a terrorist attack that would kill far, far fewer than an attack from our former nemesis has prompted a fearful reaction that apparently goes beyond even that generated by the demagogue McCarthy during the darkest days of the Cold War, when guilt by mere accusation was sufficient to ruin lives.
Whatever happened to the heirs of John Hancock, those boldly defiant in the face of overwhelming power, when confronted by those whose only power is that we give them through submitting to the terror they wish to strike in our hearts?
What have we become as a nation, as a culture?
What do we stand for, and what are we willing to die for?
Once I believed the answers to these questions were so obvious that they did not need to even be asked, but now it has been proven otherwise. Consider the use of the phrase “homeland security” which is more appropriate to the European concept of land being more important than principles rather than our truly American heritage of principles being primary.
Think about the events of the last four years, not in terms of partisan politics and party advantage, but in terms of what we were all taught in our elementary schools about the American Revolution and the principles which motivated the rebellion, for that is indeed what it was, a rebellion against a legitimate government.
One man’s freedom-fighter is another man’s terrorist.
Think about the tactics used by the rebels in the American Revolution, those who chose to hide behind trees and snipe at troops rather than line up to be shot at as the honorable tactics of the day dictated.
Think about the tactics being used by the sole superpower in the world today in a fight against groups using terror-generating methods, tactics of torture, extra-legal prisons and “extraordinary renditions” to prisons that were used by our former Cold War enemies.
THINK…
Do not merely jerk your knee. There is far more to the world both today and two centuries ago than the simplistic interpretations imply.
Yes, the United States is engaged in a war, but this war is a war of definition, whereby our acts define what kind of nation we are, what kind of a people we are, and what principles we stand for. This is a war where we define who we are and what we stand for.
Think about our acts to date in this war, and think about how these acts will be judged in the cold, hard light of history, not the ephemeral flash of partisan advantage.
How are we defining ourselves, and can we be proud of our self-definition?
Are we truly the heirs of John Hancock?
Technorati Tags: commentary, conservative politics, left wing politics, left-wing politics, liberal politics, right wing politics, right-wing politics
The two largest publishers of comic books and the owners of such valuable characters such as Batman, Spider-Man, Superman, and Wolverine, have apparently decided to trademark the word “super-hero”. From a recent post at Boing Boing:
Marvel Comics is continuing in its bid to steal the word “super-hero” from the public domain and put it in a lock-box to which it will control the key. Marvel and DC comics jointly filed a trademark on the word “super-hero.” They use this mark to legally harass indie comic companies that make competing comic books.
A trademark’s enforceability hinges on whether the public is likely to associate a word or mark with a given company — in other words, when you hear the word “super-hero,” if you think “Marvel and DC,” then Marvel will be able to go on censoring and eliminating its competition.
One way of accomplishing this dirty bit of mind-control is by adding a â„¢ symbol after the word “Super-Hero.” That TM lets the world know that you claim ownership over the word it accompanies. If you can get other people to do it, too, eventually you may in fact get the world to believe that the word is your property — and then, it becomes your property.
“Super-hero” isn’t Marvel’s property. They didn’t invent the term. They aren’t the only users of the term. It’s a public-domain word that belongs to all of us. Adding a â„¢ to super-hero is a naked bid to steal “super-hero” from us and claim it for their own.
Over the years, I have paid DC far more money than I like to think about at times for various comic book titles. Before I moved to France, I had started to read some Marvel titles as well.
I am fully aware of the need to protect the products of creative work, sometimes referred to as “intellectual property” or IP, especially given that a large part of my job is the generation of IP for my company. However, in this case protection of the phrase/word “super-hero” is a step too far, especially given that the word has been a part of our language for decades, and the use of the trademark to stop others from competing with the two largest companies in an industry that is remarkably lacking in creativity at times despite the fantastic nature of characters and situations of their main publications is troubling and disappointing. I had hoped better from them, yet I should remember they are only about profits, as are all companies.
Technorati Tags: commentary, comic books, trademarks, trademark
Here is an interesting discussion from Encyclopedia Astronautica on the Crew Exploration Vehicle that NASA is planning to use for the stepping stone missions to Mars that were mandated by President George W. Bush. I’m not sure I fully comprehend the reasoning behind Bush’s advocacy of this effort, but I will say that I am a big supporter of manned exploration of space, even if it is not as “economical” as the robotic missions.
We need to have human explorers, we need to have a dream of expansion beyond this planet, otherwise I fear hope will die and we will eventually be reduced to squabbling factions fighting over ever diminishing resources.
Technorati Tags: geek cool, space exploration
Technology developed by NASA is being used to help in crime scene analysis and documentation.
It is almost impossible to imagine all the spin-offs from technology development for space travel and exploration. One could argue the first portable computer was the navigation system used by the Apollo spacecraft to go to the moon.
Sometimes the benefits are difficult to link directly to what we spend, so we need to consider carefully what we cut and what we keep in our national budget.
Technorati Tags: technology, commentary, geek cool, NASA
While on the face of it this article at DesignTechnica titled “Who’s In Control?” appears to be another rant on the idiotic patchwork of laws on protection of intellectual property, there is a pointer to an undercurrent that runs through almost all aspects of our federal government. Read this section and think about it in broader terms than ripping CDs or watching HD-DVDs on older technology televisions:
What worries me is that the rules are literally being rewritten as you read this. Dolly back, as they say in the film industry, and three patterns become clear: What was once legal and “fair use� of existing gear is being redefined, criminalized, and copy-protected out of existence under new laws and regulations. Your existing gear, including your HDTV and your PC, is also being directly sabotaged by software. And gear you buy in the future may not have the functionality you’ve always taken for granted.
Here’s another threesome for you: The forces responsible for this tectonic shift in consumer electronics are partly private, partly public, and partly a combination of the two. That combination is a particularly deadly one. When government colludes with business, to whom can you turn?
I am not anti-business, but the business of America is NOT business, it is protecting the freedoms of our citizens and making possible the pursuit of happiness and prosperity. Pro-business policies should not be oriented towards the success of particular companies. Unfortunately the golden rule overwhelms all. Those who have the gold make the rules.
Technorati Tags: commentary
I’m back in Memphis to finish up some affairs related to my late father’s estate and to finish setting up stuff for my Mom. Posting may be irregular or completely out of control; unfortunately my Mom decided to turn off her cable modem two days before I got here, and unfortunately I need the Internet access. I need to find a Starbucks near here.
Sigh…
I’ve been struggling for some time now trying to put into words what I have observed and the conclusions I have drawn, but it has been very difficult.
Many on the right-wing are now expressing dissatisfaction with the actions of President George W. Bush. What is unusual in my estimation is that the behavior and policies of President Bush have changed far less in the past five years than the behavior and policies of previous Presidents and their administrations in a far shorter period. To put it simply, the loud support has mutated into discontent during a time when nothing in the actions of the President has changed.
The extreme reaction from the right-wing to the nomination of Harriet Miers to the position of Associate Justice on the US Supreme Court seems to be the first obvious sign of unhappiness, despite the fact that this nomination was perfectly consistent with previous nominations by President Bush to important positions, where personal loyalty to Bush outweighed all other considerations, including those of competence and experience, regardless of how critical those two criteria would be regarded by anyone who did not value personal loyalty so highly.
The stubborn, “my way or the highway” reaction of President Bush in threatening to veto any legislation that did not conform to the approval by his administration of the purchase by a Dubai-based and owned company of the rights to control several seaports in the US was also very consistent with the entire history of this Presidency, but since this stubborn, no compromise attitude was directed towards something that played against the fear-factor that this administration has used so well to distract people from the mistakes and expansion of Presidential powers of the past four years, suddenly, many on the right-wing who had participated in the fear-fanning then became afraid themselves and were shocked when the President didn’t agree with them, and even worse, refused to even discuss the matter.
The actions and policies of the administration have not changed, the only thing that has changed is the perception of those actions and policies by some on the right-wing. Apparently being on the receiving end of a no-compromise “leadership” style is not as much fun to them as feeling that they are on the giving end.
Researchers are examining the potential of using bacteria to generate power for miniature robots and other small-scale applications.
An interesting example of non-conventional thinking.
…run in circles, scream and shout.
When you lack the intellectual firepower to defend your policies, positions, and beliefs on their own merits, then construct a straw-man even more simple-minded that you can knock down with little effort.
Wow, a strategy right up there with crying “terrorist” or starting an offensive every time the poll numbers go down or yet another scandal of incompetence or arrogant over-reaching and overriding of Constitutional limits on Presidential power arises.
A strategy right up there with labeling warrantless wiretapping on American citizens as “listening in on terrorists” when sufficient evidence that those being spied upon are indeed related to terrorism cannot be mustered even for the secret FISA court that has a >99% approval rate, with dark hints that there are other, possibly more egregious non-Constitutional programs of surveillance underway as well.
A strategy right up there with being briefed in no uncertain terms the slow motion horror of Katrina approaching New Orleans, asking no questions, not cutting short yet another vacation, and then leaving to go to a fund-raiser where the President plays guitar while New Orleans floods.
Please excuse me if I “strongly disagree” with this tactic used by “some people.”
The use of this straw-man argument has been the foundation of the rhetoric of the Bush administration since day one.
Remember the tale of the three little pigs, and what happened to the house of straw. Is this the foundation we want for our national policy, especially in what is repeatedly called a “time of war” when it comes to justifying circumvention or outright ignoring of limitations on Presidential power in the Constitution?
Do the Democrats and those on the left-wing use straw-man arguments? You bet your boots they do, and I refuse to defend their use of it because I find it just as despicable.
Throw all the bums out.
Technorati Tags: commentary
Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under.
-H. L. Mencken
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Brothers and sisters, soon the truth will be revealed!
The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
All proceeds go to buying the holy pirate ship!
Technorati Tags: commentary, geek humor, humor
…how about a list of green heroes and villains?
Green Arrow is my second favorite super hero, right after Batman. Hmmm… neither of those “superheros” have super powers. Well, they both have very high cool factors!
The first time I was a drill instructor I was too inexperienced for the job - the things I taught those lads must have got some of them killed. War is too serious a matter to be taught by the inexperienced.
—Lazarus Long
