2016 archive
LanternAsia, Part One 2
The LanternAsia exhibit is currently at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. The exhibit consists of images from Chinese culture and mythology constructed of painted silk stretched over wire and metal frames. At night, the images are alight from bulbs placed inside them (we are waiting for warmer weather before seeing them at night).
This is the first of what will likely be three posts of pictures from our stroll through the gardens.
The Walking Braindead 0
Meet the “smombies”:
Stockholm had by far the worst smartphone abusers with 23.6 percent, or nearly a quarter of people on foot distracted by their phones while crossing through traffic.
Amsterdam on the other hand had the lowest number of “smombies” (smartphone zombies) at 8.3 percent of pedestrians, while Berlin fell somewhere in the middle at 14.9 percent.
When I ride my bicycle around my neighborhood, I fear the smombies much more than the car drivers, and I fear a car driving smombie most of all.
Panama Rats, the Moral 1
Daniel Ruth read the Panama Papers and finds a moral:
Yes, countries do saber-rattle. They bluster and fulminate. And occasionally somebody invades somebody else for old times’ sake. But what the Panama Papers prove is the universal glue that holds the world together is greed.
Meanwhile, Above the Law offers this handy graph to help you understand what’s going on here:
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Play politely.
Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney told WWLP-TV that the teen and a 17-year-old boy were “playing around” with a gun when the firearm went off and hit the girl.
Another day of NRA roulette.
How Stuff Works, Panama Rats Dept. 0
Thom talks with Dr. Richard Wolff about what the “Panama Papers” say about the antics of the plutocracy.
It’s the Algorithm, Stupid 0
I think the notion of an overt Google-Clinton conspiracy theory is a bit over the top, but it is true that search engines filter the results of your searches according to their conclusions about what you would like based on your search history. Accordingly, I think this is worth a listen for the larger message.
Afterthought:
I have noticed that, as the Democratic Convention gets closer and Sanders is not gaining (despite the results of this week’s primaries–look at the numbers), some Sanders fans are joining the hysterical party. I say this as someone who would quite happily support Sanders, were he to be the nominee.
Tax Havens 0
BadTux has a theory as to why so few Americans were named in the Panama Papers.
Here’s the gist; follow the link for the full discussion:
Image via Job’s Anger.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Demonstrate courtesy on the public thoroughfares.
She honked at the car, which then slowed down next to her driver side, and a passenger shot at her multiple times with a black handgun, Elder said.
Just another day in NRA paradise.
And, in more news of the polite, just how stupid do you have to be not to ensure that your gun is unloaded before you fondle it lustfully clean it? Inquiring minds want to know.
QOTD 0
Shawnee Smith as Linda in Becker:
The great thing about intelligent people is they’re not that bright.
The Voter Fraud Fraud (Updated) 0
TPM reports that a disillusioned ex-GOP staffer has confirmed that voter ID is a con and a fraud. An excerpt (emphasis added):
“He was immediately shot down by another senator who said, ‘What I am interested in is getting results here and using the power while we have it, because if the Democrats were in control they would do they same thing to us, so I want to use it while we have it,’” Allbaugh said.
Allbaugh said Schultz left the meeting in frustration after that, while he stayed behind to continue taking notes.
“It left a pit in my stomach to think that a party that I had worked for for years and years and years was literally talking and plotting to deny someone, a fellow citizen, their constitutional right,” Allbaugh said.
That, of course, surprises no one who has been paying attention. What is notable is that Republicans are starting to admit it, some inadvertently and some, as in this case, shamefacedly.
Addendum, the Next Morning:
Speaking of voter fraudsters . . . .