WASHINGTON — President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday to an eclectic mix of Americans from the sciences, arts, sports, politics and human
rights, some of them household names and others who he indicated should be.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Alloy news
AM - Scientists say new alloy could revolutionise manufacturing 26/11/2015
Rare that the creation of a new, useful alloy makes the news. Interesting, though.
Rare that the creation of a new, useful alloy makes the news. Interesting, though.
Sounds horrible
I used to make fun of SoulCycle. Now I'm an addict. - Vox
I guess we'll be seeing this in Australia soon enough, if it's not already here.
Speaking of exercise in groups (a concept I've always had trouble with), at the local Council swimming pool last weekend I noticed that the free aqua zumba class is terribly popular, but with about 95% of the participants being distinctly unfit looking middle aged women, 3% younger fitter women, and about 2% men. Although it is only the start of summer, and it may be that they will be all svelte beauties by the end of the season, I think the more likely assumption is that it gives them the sensation of being useful exercise, when it really isn't.
I guess we'll be seeing this in Australia soon enough, if it's not already here.
Speaking of exercise in groups (a concept I've always had trouble with), at the local Council swimming pool last weekend I noticed that the free aqua zumba class is terribly popular, but with about 95% of the participants being distinctly unfit looking middle aged women, 3% younger fitter women, and about 2% men. Although it is only the start of summer, and it may be that they will be all svelte beauties by the end of the season, I think the more likely assumption is that it gives them the sensation of being useful exercise, when it really isn't.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Yet more Spectre talk
A few things I wanted to add:
* one of the "retro" aspects of the film was some very clear product placement, of the kind that I do not recall from the previous Craig outings, but which used to feature prominently in Bond films (particularly in the Roger Moore era, I seem to recall.) The (very unsubtle) Omega watch, for one thing; but I also see (mainly from posters around town, as well a cinema ad before the film) the Sony Experia Z5 smartphone, and a brand of vodka that I can't even recall now.
The Sony and vodka product placement seem particularly pointless to me, given that while the phone might have been on screen several times, I don't think you could ever tell that it was an Experia at all. Let's face it, lots of smart phones look pretty similar, and maybe it is just be my lack of observation skills, but it seems odd that you have to have seen the pre-movie (or TV?) ad to recognise the product on screen.
I think the vodka came out even worse. Or maybe it wasn't even in the movie at all: but the ad before the film indicated it would be. All rather odd.
* I have to admit, the movie did come very close to crossing my "that is such plainly ridiculous science, I cannot forgive it" line that (for example) Goldeneye hurtled over. (I won't repeat the problem in that movie - I mention it about every 12 months here - but it was unforgiveably stupid.) The Spectre issue - Q's laptop which (I think) was meant to incorporate an instantaneous DNA analysing scanner. Now, the movie survives this sequence because it was dealt with so quickly - I'm not 100% sure that this is what it was doing - but even allowing for the impossibility of testing for DNA via some scan, my readers would recall that I posted recently about the incredible unreliability of "touch" DNA analysis, and this was a ring being scanned, about the touchiest thing of all! In other words, even if the laptop could do it, it would be hopelessly unreliable. It is a pity that this survived in the screenplay.
* At a more general level, seriously, why can't studios pay someone sensible (pick me!) to tell them when their plot-crucial sciency-technology bit of ridiculousness is just too ridiculous to stay? You don't need a scientist to do that job: just someone who reads enough science magazines and has a good nose for what is just stupid given current technology, allowing for some extrapolation of what might be possible.
* one of the "retro" aspects of the film was some very clear product placement, of the kind that I do not recall from the previous Craig outings, but which used to feature prominently in Bond films (particularly in the Roger Moore era, I seem to recall.) The (very unsubtle) Omega watch, for one thing; but I also see (mainly from posters around town, as well a cinema ad before the film) the Sony Experia Z5 smartphone, and a brand of vodka that I can't even recall now.
The Sony and vodka product placement seem particularly pointless to me, given that while the phone might have been on screen several times, I don't think you could ever tell that it was an Experia at all. Let's face it, lots of smart phones look pretty similar, and maybe it is just be my lack of observation skills, but it seems odd that you have to have seen the pre-movie (or TV?) ad to recognise the product on screen.
I think the vodka came out even worse. Or maybe it wasn't even in the movie at all: but the ad before the film indicated it would be. All rather odd.
* I have to admit, the movie did come very close to crossing my "that is such plainly ridiculous science, I cannot forgive it" line that (for example) Goldeneye hurtled over. (I won't repeat the problem in that movie - I mention it about every 12 months here - but it was unforgiveably stupid.) The Spectre issue - Q's laptop which (I think) was meant to incorporate an instantaneous DNA analysing scanner. Now, the movie survives this sequence because it was dealt with so quickly - I'm not 100% sure that this is what it was doing - but even allowing for the impossibility of testing for DNA via some scan, my readers would recall that I posted recently about the incredible unreliability of "touch" DNA analysis, and this was a ring being scanned, about the touchiest thing of all! In other words, even if the laptop could do it, it would be hopelessly unreliable. It is a pity that this survived in the screenplay.
* At a more general level, seriously, why can't studios pay someone sensible (pick me!) to tell them when their plot-crucial sciency-technology bit of ridiculousness is just too ridiculous to stay? You don't need a scientist to do that job: just someone who reads enough science magazines and has a good nose for what is just stupid given current technology, allowing for some extrapolation of what might be possible.
Another Spielberg award
Medal of Freedom Awarded to ‘a Class Act’ Group of 17 - The New York Times
Among those honored were such iconic figures as Willie Mays, Barbra Streisand, Itzhak Perlman, James Taylor, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Stephen Sondheim and Steven Spielberg.
There was also the widow of a general who helped other survivors, and a space scientist who was a pioneer in diversity as well as the cosmos.
When a telephone rang during his description of Mr. Spielberg’s many movies, the president joked: “Somebody is calling to see if they can book him for a deal right now. They want to make a pitch.”
And then he made one of his own: “So there’s this really good-looking president,” he started.
Not much publicity in Australia to this report
The Statesman: 90% disasters are weather-related: UN report
In the past 20 years, 90 percent of major disasters were caused by nearly 6,500 recorded floods, storms, heatwaves, droughts and other weather-related events, UN spokesman hasLibertarian Senator responds: "But what about bicycle helmets, not being able to get a drink after 3 am, and the amount of tax I'm paying?"
said.
A new UN-backed report, entitled The Human Cost of Weather Related Disasters, found that since 1995, over 600,000 people died as a result of weather-related disasters and 4.1 billion people were injured, left homeless or in need of emergency assistance, Xinhua quoted UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric as saying on Monay.
The five countries hit by the highest number of disasters were the US, China, India, Philippines and Indonesia, said Dujarric.
The report issued by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) notes data gaps, saying that only 35 percent of records include information about economic losses.
Message to Senator Leyonhjelm
This "look at me, look at me!" tactic of yours in the Senate is unseemly in a grown man. Also - it doesn't pay off when the response of the great majority of the public is "yeah, look at the *!@%#$*&".
Just about the most improbable climate change connection, ever
What Can Nietzsche Tell Us About the Paris Conference?
I guess it's really just click bait, but still.
I'm pretty sure one of the handiest things Nietzsche could advise regarding the conference is "don't catch an STD while in Paris - use a condom!"
Update: here's a contender for an more dubious, apparently serious, contribution from 2012.
I guess it's really just click bait, but still.
I'm pretty sure one of the handiest things Nietzsche could advise regarding the conference is "don't catch an STD while in Paris - use a condom!"
Update: here's a contender for an more dubious, apparently serious, contribution from 2012.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Unreliable advice from the country
Red-bellied black snake bites Mirani woman, cat comes to the rescue - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
A 66 year old woman in Queensland was bitten on her hand by a venomous snake for the5 4th(!) time, and offers this quaint but dubious advice:
A 66 year old woman in Queensland was bitten on her hand by a venomous snake for the
"I'm a bit of a pro at this snake business," she said.
"My mum always said it'll be a snake that kills me, so yeah, I'm not really planning on one [a fifth experience], but who knows.
"Just be careful, and wear your glasses when you go outside, that helps."
Ms Thynne said her experience had taught her that if you were bitten by a snake you should "definitely not panic".
"If it's a real deadly looking one, sit under a tree with a cigarette, with a cup of tea and pray, but yeah wrap it up and hope."
Crazy times
I find it actually quite disturbing, what is going on in the US at the moment regarding truth and politics.
As the US media notes, both Trump and Carson can fantasise about Muslims celebrating terrorism in New Jersey, and there is no doubt tens of thousands of their followers will believe it happened.
A Republican Congressman can allege, with no evidence at all beyond what goes on at climate change denying blogs by foolish armchair commentators, that there is a grand conspiracy in NOAA to fraudulently change temperature records. And we know scores of Republican voters will believe it.
Has regard for truth and good will in politics in the US ever been at a lower ebb?
As the US media notes, both Trump and Carson can fantasise about Muslims celebrating terrorism in New Jersey, and there is no doubt tens of thousands of their followers will believe it happened.
A Republican Congressman can allege, with no evidence at all beyond what goes on at climate change denying blogs by foolish armchair commentators, that there is a grand conspiracy in NOAA to fraudulently change temperature records. And we know scores of Republican voters will believe it.
Has regard for truth and good will in politics in the US ever been at a lower ebb?
Monday, November 23, 2015
Every explanation except "self indulgent decadence is not good"
I note from The Guardian that there has been some controversy in England around something they call over there a "chemsex" subculture amongst gay men. This article talks about a documentary on the topic, but the NHS has complained that it is a public health issue given the amount of HIV and other problems it is causing.
Reading the comments that follow the article, there is some well deserved skepticism expressed of the view that gay men get into this because when they were younger and not "out", they didn't really learn about intimacy in the way most people do. But I have yet to see a comment that uses the word "decadence" in the way someone would have if discussing this years ago.
Whatever happened to politicians and doctors making the rather obvious argument that, if you need or desire a chemical enhancement to make sex more enjoyable than it routinely is while sober and in full control of your facilities, you're putting self indulgent pursuit of physical pleasure on a corrupting and harmful pedestal. It's a wonder that this has to be said at all, but obviously it does.
Maybe time to bring back teaching Aristotle to the schools?
Reading the comments that follow the article, there is some well deserved skepticism expressed of the view that gay men get into this because when they were younger and not "out", they didn't really learn about intimacy in the way most people do. But I have yet to see a comment that uses the word "decadence" in the way someone would have if discussing this years ago.
Whatever happened to politicians and doctors making the rather obvious argument that, if you need or desire a chemical enhancement to make sex more enjoyable than it routinely is while sober and in full control of your facilities, you're putting self indulgent pursuit of physical pleasure on a corrupting and harmful pedestal. It's a wonder that this has to be said at all, but obviously it does.
Maybe time to bring back teaching Aristotle to the schools?
Not entirely useful
I'm not sure what makes Henry Ergas write columns on Islamic integration in Europe and Australia. He does put up some interesting figures in today's attempt, but is it really a useful thing to address the matter of immigrants feeling they're discriminated against by telling them in a national paper that they're a bunch of whiners who don't know how good they have it?
Even less useful is the fact that Ergas apparently has no regrets about posting at Catallaxy, a blog which has become a "free speech" attractant to extreme anti-Muslim sentiment that even Sinclair Davidson has taken to calling "ugly"*. Perhaps Ergas should read the comments threads, where something like this appeared on the weekend:
and then think about the role his mates might just have in encouraging Muslim belief in discrimination.
* He won't delete the comments, though. Or tell his mate Steve Kates that he's a hysterical ratbag when he starts posting about how we are in World War 3 already. He seems to think it best for festering dung in his own back yard to be left on the ground attracting more flies, rather than disposing of it wisely.
Even less useful is the fact that Ergas apparently has no regrets about posting at Catallaxy, a blog which has become a "free speech" attractant to extreme anti-Muslim sentiment that even Sinclair Davidson has taken to calling "ugly"*. Perhaps Ergas should read the comments threads, where something like this appeared on the weekend:
and then think about the role his mates might just have in encouraging Muslim belief in discrimination.
* He won't delete the comments, though. Or tell his mate Steve Kates that he's a hysterical ratbag when he starts posting about how we are in World War 3 already. He seems to think it best for festering dung in his own back yard to be left on the ground attracting more flies, rather than disposing of it wisely.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)