February, 2016 archive
Facebook Frolics 1
Facebook has “community standards.” Who knew?
Aside:
Like Republicans, Facebook seems preoccupied with sex, while giving a pass to general all-around garden variety nastiness.
Government Is Not a Business 2
Conservatives want to “run the government like a business.”
Their business model of choice invariably seems to be Enron.
Let Wenonah Hauter explain:
Follow the link for the rest.
Yanking Back the Welcome Mat (Updated) 0
More stuff you couldn’t make up: Germany denies asylum to twenty-month-old girl, while allowing the rest of family to stay.
Addendum, Later That Same Day:
Germany now states that and the letter was sent “in error” (as my old boss was fond of saying when the company made a mistake). Follow the link for the updated-news report.
In any event, it’s still too stupid for words.
No There, There, Geek Dept. 0
Nury Vitachi is skeptical that “virtual reality” gadgets can have any durable appeal.
I hesitate to hold myself up as typical, but I’ve not found any appeal in the prospect of putting on some kind of headset or helmet to fool myself into thinking I’m somewhere other. I’ve found this where quite enough, thank you.
Nevertheless, it is true that every virtual reality device so far (as opposed to simulators, such as flight and driving simulators, which are quite a different thing and have practical application) have flopped after the initial gee-whiz wore off.
Methinks Mr. Vitachi has a point. “Virtual Reality” may be another area where “because you can” is insufficient reason for “you did.”
Here’s one of his arguments (emphasis in the original):
5) We fail to realize that the wow doesn’t last.
Yes, there’s a big wow factor in trying out VR headsets, or reading reviews by people who have done so. But they have done so in trial situations, where people are demonstrating the equipment.
This doesn’t mean that the average person wants that experience several hours of VR a day every day of the week. We need to find a way to go beyond the wow.
Follow the link for the rest.
The Racing Form 0
Above the Law’s Joe Patrick touts the odds on potential nominees to the Supreme Court.
In related news, Yastreblyansky catches a Republican in yet another lie, this one more blatant than most.
Aside:
Have I mentioned in these electrons the utter loathing I have for the disprespectful cutesy-poo pseudo-insider-esque expressions “SCOTUS” and “POTUS,” those vile affectations of lazy minds?
Beyonce the Fringe 0
Protests against Beyonce are planned at NFL HQ. Apparently, alluding even tangentially to the realities of being black in America is somehow “hate speech.”
A snippet; much more at the link.
That last group will be meeting outside the NFL’s New York headquarters Tuesday to protest.
“Join us as we demonstrate on the block of the NFL Headquarters building,” the unnamed organizer wrote on Eventbrite. “Are you offended as an American that Beyoncé pulled her race-baiting stunt at the Superbowl? Do you agree that it was a slap in the face to law enforcement? Do you agree that the Black Panthers was/is a hate group which should not be glorified? Come and let’s stand together. Let’s tell the NFL we don’t want hate speech & racism at the Superbowl ever again!”
If the first rule of Fight Club is not to talk about Fight club, it’s safe to say that the first rule of White Club is not to talk about White Club, at least insofar as the Genteel Chapter* thereof is concerned. Heaven forbid that the reality of their white privilege be recognized in word; recognizing it in deed suffices adequately, thank you. Words would only spoil the fun.
Oh Lord, givest thou me a break.
___________________
*One qualifier for membership in White Club, the Genteel Chapter, appears to be willful cluelessness.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Show politeness to your friends.
(snip)
Mays told officers that he was at the Hartman address when a friend of his showed up with a gun. He said he was handling the weapon and it discharged.
And, in more news of the polite . . . .
