The Virtues of Reality - The New York Times
Interesting idea put forward here by Ross Douthat - that some of the "old" problems associated with youth (rate of violence, unwanted pregnancies, etc) are getting better because they're happy to live in an internet/cyberworld of games and porn.
And he deals with the theory in a non-panicky way.
Monday, August 22, 2016
She can't handle the truth
Oh look, there goes Judith Sloan having an attack of the vapours because an Australian journalist correctly pointed out that about the only agitation about repeal of s18C Racial Discrimination Act comes from white privileged (usually male) people aligned with the IPA.
Once again, I wonder why she doesn't realise that her continual hyperbole (often in the bitchiest tone possible, especially when it comes to other economists) about, well, everything (she's also upset that swimmers were still in Rio after their competition had finished - yes really) means everyone outside of her tiny circle of fans from Catallaxy and the Australian (and that may be exactly the same, tiny group) ignore her?
Update: by the way, I don't doubt that the QUT s.18C case is pretty ridiculous, but seems to me there is every chance that the judgement might confirm that. I wouldn't get into any frenzy about it until the outcome is known.
Once again, I wonder why she doesn't realise that her continual hyperbole (often in the bitchiest tone possible, especially when it comes to other economists) about, well, everything (she's also upset that swimmers were still in Rio after their competition had finished - yes really) means everyone outside of her tiny circle of fans from Catallaxy and the Australian (and that may be exactly the same, tiny group) ignore her?
Update: by the way, I don't doubt that the QUT s.18C case is pretty ridiculous, but seems to me there is every chance that the judgement might confirm that. I wouldn't get into any frenzy about it until the outcome is known.
Kubo (further in the long series - movies reviews no one is waiting for)
Yes, I did get to see Kubo and the Two Strings yesterday.
Some quick comments:
* While I knew that there would be a heavy emphasis on magic, I didn't realise it would be quite as mythological as it is.
* I wasn't sure while watching the movie, but on checking afterwards, the matter of how it presents the Japanese tradition of welcoming the spirits of dead ancestors (and releasing them again) is entirely accurate - see these entries on the Bon Festival and Toro Nagashi at Wikipedia. (I should explain - while I knew that there were countries that did the river lantern bit, I wasn't sure that it was done in Japan, and in this specific context.)
* I get the feeling that the theme of loss of memory might come from some particular story in Japanese folklore too, but I haven't found it yet. And I could be wrong. As for another explanation, as someone at a Reddit thread said, it seems quite possible that one of the writers may have personal experience with a parent with Alzheimer's.
* There are some story gaps which I would have liked to see filled. For example, the underwater experience - it seems there should be more revealed about Kubo by the experience, but it doesn't happen.
* But overall: yes, the movie looks and sounds great, and is often touching. But I really want to see it again in better viewing conditions (there were a bunch of 12 year old boys completely uninterested in what was going on in the movie some distance in front of us, and they were distracting.) I hate to say it, but I doubt it will be a break through financial success for Laika - the themes are too melancholic for children below about mid-Primary school level, I think; some teenagers (who really should see it) will think they are too cool to do so; and while Laika has lots of adult fans, I'm not sure there are enough to help it make a lot more than $100 million per movie.
* So - even if you think there is a chance you might like it - do so at a cinema now. I'd like to see this art form by a studio with real beauty, heart and soul survive.
Message to Tim: you would like it, I am pretty sure.
Update: here's the top guy at Laika, saying that their next movies will be quite different. He suggests that Kubo is like the end of a cycle. I would say that I could see his point if it weren't for Box Trolls, as Coraline, Paranorman and Kubo all do show a great interest in supernatural, after-life issues.
Some quick comments:
* While I knew that there would be a heavy emphasis on magic, I didn't realise it would be quite as mythological as it is.
* I wasn't sure while watching the movie, but on checking afterwards, the matter of how it presents the Japanese tradition of welcoming the spirits of dead ancestors (and releasing them again) is entirely accurate - see these entries on the Bon Festival and Toro Nagashi at Wikipedia. (I should explain - while I knew that there were countries that did the river lantern bit, I wasn't sure that it was done in Japan, and in this specific context.)
* I get the feeling that the theme of loss of memory might come from some particular story in Japanese folklore too, but I haven't found it yet. And I could be wrong. As for another explanation, as someone at a Reddit thread said, it seems quite possible that one of the writers may have personal experience with a parent with Alzheimer's.
* There are some story gaps which I would have liked to see filled. For example, the underwater experience - it seems there should be more revealed about Kubo by the experience, but it doesn't happen.
* But overall: yes, the movie looks and sounds great, and is often touching. But I really want to see it again in better viewing conditions (there were a bunch of 12 year old boys completely uninterested in what was going on in the movie some distance in front of us, and they were distracting.) I hate to say it, but I doubt it will be a break through financial success for Laika - the themes are too melancholic for children below about mid-Primary school level, I think; some teenagers (who really should see it) will think they are too cool to do so; and while Laika has lots of adult fans, I'm not sure there are enough to help it make a lot more than $100 million per movie.
* So - even if you think there is a chance you might like it - do so at a cinema now. I'd like to see this art form by a studio with real beauty, heart and soul survive.
Message to Tim: you would like it, I am pretty sure.
Update: here's the top guy at Laika, saying that their next movies will be quite different. He suggests that Kubo is like the end of a cycle. I would say that I could see his point if it weren't for Box Trolls, as Coraline, Paranorman and Kubo all do show a great interest in supernatural, after-life issues.
Sunday, August 21, 2016
An app for the day
I have a bad habit of forgetting to turn my android phone ringer back on after turning it off for things like the cinema, or a concert. A day later, I might look at the phone and realise that I have missed a call or two for that reason.
Yesterday, it occurred to me that it would be handy if you could set the ringer off for a certain period, to have it turn itself back on later without my further involvement.
And, indeed, there are many phone ring schedulers out there, which you can use for turning it off for evenings, or overnight, etc.
But the simplest one for the specific purpose I wanted seems to be Shush! Ringer Restorer. Works very simply (just turn your ringer volume to zero and it pops up automatically, letting you assign the restoration in 1/4 hour increments.)
What a neat app (assuming it works, haven't fully tried it yet) for my problem.
Yesterday, it occurred to me that it would be handy if you could set the ringer off for a certain period, to have it turn itself back on later without my further involvement.
And, indeed, there are many phone ring schedulers out there, which you can use for turning it off for evenings, or overnight, etc.
But the simplest one for the specific purpose I wanted seems to be Shush! Ringer Restorer. Works very simply (just turn your ringer volume to zero and it pops up automatically, letting you assign the restoration in 1/4 hour increments.)
What a neat app (assuming it works, haven't fully tried it yet) for my problem.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Trump and racial sensitivity
Charles Blow at the NYT writes with some amusing clarity on the matter of Why Blacks Loathe Trump. An extract:
He erupted like a rash onto the public consciousness on the front page of The New York Times in 1973 because he and his father were being sued for anti-black bias at their rental property.
This is the same man who took out full-page ads blaring the headline “BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY. BRING BACK OUR POLICE!” in New York City newspapers calling for the execution of the Central Park Five, a group of teenagers made up of four African-American boys and one Hispanic boy, who were accused and convicted of raping a white female jogger in the park. A judge later overturned the convictions in the flimsy cases and in 2014 the Five settled a wrongful conviction suit with the city for $41 million.
This is the same man who is quoted in the 1991 book “Trumped!: The Inside Story of the Real Donald Trump — His Cunning Rise and Spectacular Fall,” as saying:
“I’ve got black accountants at Trump Castle and at Trump Plaza. Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want counting my money are short guys that wear yarmulkes every day.”
Coalition: "Yes, we were a terrible, inhumane Opposition. So sorry"
Gee, this outburst of blame shifting and quasi-apologies from Liberals for how they acted whilst in Opposition under the then soon-to-be most inept PM in Australian history are coming thick and fast.
First, it was Tony himself musing that perhaps he should have let Labor try deflecting wannabe refugees to Malaysia instead of driving them to desperation in the dead end societies of Nauru and Manus Island. Half- baked, not-really-an-apology-but-thanks-for-the-thought, no doubt not accepted by the people living in tents in the tropics for the last few years, Tony.
Yesterday, Morrison was happy to point out that he was only following orders from Abbott in that matter. Strange how he nonetheless tied his rising star to a level of secrecy and dubious tactics including high seas bribery against refugees that were every bit as questionable as Abbott's self serving painting of Malaysia as the hell hole of Asia.
And today, Christopher Pyne says "well it wasn't me being the unreasonable one":
First, it was Tony himself musing that perhaps he should have let Labor try deflecting wannabe refugees to Malaysia instead of driving them to desperation in the dead end societies of Nauru and Manus Island. Half- baked, not-really-an-apology-but-thanks-for-the-thought, no doubt not accepted by the people living in tents in the tropics for the last few years, Tony.
Yesterday, Morrison was happy to point out that he was only following orders from Abbott in that matter. Strange how he nonetheless tied his rising star to a level of secrecy and dubious tactics including high seas bribery against refugees that were every bit as questionable as Abbott's self serving painting of Malaysia as the hell hole of Asia.
And today, Christopher Pyne says "well it wasn't me being the unreasonable one":
I wonder how the Right wing Murdoch cheer squad for the then Opposition are feeling now that the politicians they supported at the time are now changing their tune.Leader of the House Christopher Pyne has blamed Tony Abbott’s former chief whip, Warren Entsch, for a series of bad calls that resulted in Labor MPs initially being refused leave during Julia Gillard’s hung parliament.Mr Pyne, again touting his credentials as a “fixer”, insisted he overruled Mr Entsch’s hardball tactic of refusing parliamentary pairs for Labor’s Craig Thomson to attend the birth of his child and Michelle Rowland, who wished to care for a sick child.
Still waiting for Kubo
I have the power of overwhelmingly positive reviews (like this one) behind me in convincing the resident teenagers that they will accompany me to see Kubo and the Two Strings on Sunday. (Actually, they've given up putting up resistance.)
Meantime, here's the video clip of the song that plays over the credits at the end (I think I read). I like it (although comments on Youtube indicate Beatles purists may not.)
Meantime, here's the video clip of the song that plays over the credits at the end (I think I read). I like it (although comments on Youtube indicate Beatles purists may not.)
Yay for libertarians (\sarc)
Peter Thiel wants to destroy Gawker. It will be catastrophic if he does.
And I see today that he effectively has.
I become more and more convinced as the years roll on that libertarianism is the most destructive and dangerous political philosophy since the height of Soviet style communism. Even though I didn't read Gawker with any regularity at all, I think Peter Thiel's campaign against it was petty and ridiculous.
But the main objection to it [libertarianism], of course, is the key role cashed up libertarians in the US have had in obstructionism of effective government policy on climate change in that country (and therefore, indirectly, internationally.) Sure, I can't directly blame them for Indian and Chinese obstructionism in past years (well, I don't think I can), but the US has been prevented from unleashing the proper power of capitalism to building clean energy because of libertarian funded objection to proper policy settings.
And, of course, libertarians have been key figures in the climate change policy wars in Australia. I see from recent media that Leyonhjelm tries to avoid sounding as nutty as Roberts on climate by saying his key objection to pricing carbon is that there is no point in doing it until other nations do. Yet this is disingenuous weasel words - his party's platform is clearly that climate change (as a serious issue to be addressed) has not yet been proved to their satisfaction:
And I see today that he effectively has.
I become more and more convinced as the years roll on that libertarianism is the most destructive and dangerous political philosophy since the height of Soviet style communism. Even though I didn't read Gawker with any regularity at all, I think Peter Thiel's campaign against it was petty and ridiculous.
But the main objection to it [libertarianism], of course, is the key role cashed up libertarians in the US have had in obstructionism of effective government policy on climate change in that country (and therefore, indirectly, internationally.) Sure, I can't directly blame them for Indian and Chinese obstructionism in past years (well, I don't think I can), but the US has been prevented from unleashing the proper power of capitalism to building clean energy because of libertarian funded objection to proper policy settings.
And, of course, libertarians have been key figures in the climate change policy wars in Australia. I see from recent media that Leyonhjelm tries to avoid sounding as nutty as Roberts on climate by saying his key objection to pricing carbon is that there is no point in doing it until other nations do. Yet this is disingenuous weasel words - his party's platform is clearly that climate change (as a serious issue to be addressed) has not yet been proved to their satisfaction:
Should the evidence become compelling that global warming is due toSo don't believe Leyonhjelm's attempts to portray himself as just being Mr Pragmatic on this.
human activity, that such global warming is likely to have significantly
negative consequences for human existence, and that changes in human
activity could realistically reverse those consequences, the LDP would
favour market-based options.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Trying hard to maintain his perfect score of "0" (in the category "black Americans who will vote for me")
Donald Trump defends Milwaukee police shooting - BBC News
One would have thought that he might hold back until after video was released to the public; but this is Donald.
One would have thought that he might hold back until after video was released to the public; but this is Donald.
A common problem
In Canada's aboriginal suicide crisis, lesson on protective power of culture - CSMonitor.com
I feel I shouldn't say it, but I'm still not sure that every nation's (or perhaps, every region's) aboriginal culture has the sort of depth to it that enable it to serve this useful purpose.
I feel I shouldn't say it, but I'm still not sure that every nation's (or perhaps, every region's) aboriginal culture has the sort of depth to it that enable it to serve this useful purpose.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
A strange French habit
For French Teens, Smoking Still Has More Allure Than Stigma : Parallels : NPR
Wow, I didn't know this:
I wonder if the tobacco lobby there will be flying Sinclair Davidson in to tut tut about plain packaging. But it's too late.
Wow, I didn't know this:
"They know we smoke at parties; they think it's a social thing," saysIn Australia, incidentally, around 5-6% of teenagers smoke. France's rate is about 8 times higher!
Louise Ferlet, age 16. "But if they knew that on our way to school we
light a cigarette, they'd get mad. I mean, my dad caught me smoking in
my room multiple times. He doesn't react because he went through the
same thing and he knows I'm going to quit one day. And I know I'm going
to quit. Just not today," she says with a laugh.
About 40 percent of French 17-year-olds smoke, according to French government
figures. That's one of the highest rates in Europe. Less than 10 percent of American teens smoke, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a bid to reverse the high rate of smoking, particularly among the
young, France has just introduced some of the world's toughest
anti-tobacco measures, including plain cigarette packs and a ban on
menthol cigarettes.
I wonder if the tobacco lobby there will be flying Sinclair Davidson in to tut tut about plain packaging. But it's too late.
Yes, this is all a bit of a worry
Rise of the critical flops: Suicide Squad takes 360m at box office | Film | The Guardian
The article notes several other films that were big financial successes despite poor reviews. But perhaps I save my biggest indignation for films that get both good reviews and good box office when I consider them immoral trash.
The article notes several other films that were big financial successes despite poor reviews. But perhaps I save my biggest indignation for films that get both good reviews and good box office when I consider them immoral trash.
Waiting for Kubo
I had noticed recently an unusual amount of advertising for the soon to be released Laika feature Kubo and the Two Strings. Given that it is a stop motion animation being released outside of school holidays, I thought that this perhaps indicated a high degree of studio confidence in the film, even though I didn't find the trailers all that impressive.
And, yeah, seems my guess was right: early reviews from America are very, very strong, and I am now keen to see it. [Update: the Rottentomato score is even higher, and the one "rotten" review is from someone unknown at the Guardian, and it reads more as clickbait than a serious review.]
Once again, I will be forced to bribe at least my daughter to see it with me. My son is more easily persuaded to try new movies based on my sales pitch.
Anyway, as I love seeing behind the scenes at Laika, here's a short video showing some of the work on this film:
And, yeah, seems my guess was right: early reviews from America are very, very strong, and I am now keen to see it. [Update: the Rottentomato score is even higher, and the one "rotten" review is from someone unknown at the Guardian, and it reads more as clickbait than a serious review.]
Once again, I will be forced to bribe at least my daughter to see it with me. My son is more easily persuaded to try new movies based on my sales pitch.
Anyway, as I love seeing behind the scenes at Laika, here's a short video showing some of the work on this film:
Trump, Roberts, etc
If you ask me, Brian Cox and the rest of the panel was too soft on Malcolm Roberts last night. While his conspiracy thoughts about NASA got an airing, we didn't hear about Agenda 21 and the European banking families. Still, I can't blame Cox, who is a mere visitor to our shores, for not reading up a bit more on nutty Mal. There are better things to do with your time.
As for Trump - the little bit of his speech I have heard about seemed a bit "meh" - and no explanation as to how "extreme vetting" is supposed to stop the internet radicalisation of Muslim kids who were born in the US. Did he suggest working more closely with Putin? I thought that was the general drift.
As for Trump - the little bit of his speech I have heard about seemed a bit "meh" - and no explanation as to how "extreme vetting" is supposed to stop the internet radicalisation of Muslim kids who were born in the US. Did he suggest working more closely with Putin? I thought that was the general drift.
Monday, August 15, 2016
This'll be interesting...
Trump to lay out plan for combating radical Islamic terrorism - CNNPolitics.com
Although, truth be told, the way Trump is complaining about media bias I think the theory that he will soon "fire himself" (while trying to divert the blame to "the system") is looking more credible than ever.
Although, truth be told, the way Trump is complaining about media bias I think the theory that he will soon "fire himself" (while trying to divert the blame to "the system") is looking more credible than ever.
What a surprise: the blog for angry white males approves of a mock complaint by an angry white male
See here.
Of course, the correct way of seeing Leyonhjelm's complaint is that it's just another example of a Senator with too much time on his hands, playing games.
What's his "nanny State" and wind power enquiries achieved, by the way?
Of course, the correct way of seeing Leyonhjelm's complaint is that it's just another example of a Senator with too much time on his hands, playing games.
What's his "nanny State" and wind power enquiries achieved, by the way?
Monday stuff
* Well, that's weird. Trumpkin tragic Steve Kates from the clown rodeo at Catallaxy yesterday noted an article about the unclear size of the proton-muon combination, and how important this may turn out to be for physics, just after I had read the same day an updated article on arXiv suggesting that the discrepancy can be explained by extra dimensions, and suggesting further experiments that might help confirm it. I assume that this type of experiment does not require high energy and particle acceleration, so it would be ironic if a "table top" experiment turned out to be key to proving the existence new physics when the LHC has not.
* So Tony Abbott now thinks he probably shouldn't have played games with human lives by allowing the Gillard government to legislate for trying the "Malaysia solution"? This poses a bit of a quandary - should he be at least grudgingly admired for coming around to this view, or should we feel greater vindication about his appalling hypocrisy and willingness to advance his career at any cost? I'm leaning strongly to the latter - Abbott is like a bad advertisement for the type of Catholic who takes full advantage of its "get out of jail free" system - you can sin pretty much as much as you like provided you have enough time on your death bed to regret it and receive absolution. Nope, sorry Tony - it was clearly a mere political game you were playing at the time, and you don't deserve sympathy.
* The Olympics - I have my own guilty confession to make - I'm sort of finding Rio's reputation as the most dangerous and bumbling Olympics ever held to be refreshing. I mean, every Games there is panic about facilities not being ready on time, tickets not being sold, and whether visitors will face dangers from terrorism or whatever. But this time, it's all coming true (well, thankfully, with visitors only being robbed and avoiding bullets, but not being killed - I wouldn't be making this comment if that had happened.) It makes a change from the Games all going smoothly after all. Perhaps it will work as incentive to give the games back to poor old Greece permanently, which would seem to be about the only way that country might make a long term economic recovery.
And I would have thought most Australians would be happy enough with the performance of the swim team - I can't stand commentary about "choking" from armchair critics.
So, yeah, I am sort of perversely enjoying these games - and Rio still looks like a very pretty city.
* So Tony Abbott now thinks he probably shouldn't have played games with human lives by allowing the Gillard government to legislate for trying the "Malaysia solution"? This poses a bit of a quandary - should he be at least grudgingly admired for coming around to this view, or should we feel greater vindication about his appalling hypocrisy and willingness to advance his career at any cost? I'm leaning strongly to the latter - Abbott is like a bad advertisement for the type of Catholic who takes full advantage of its "get out of jail free" system - you can sin pretty much as much as you like provided you have enough time on your death bed to regret it and receive absolution. Nope, sorry Tony - it was clearly a mere political game you were playing at the time, and you don't deserve sympathy.
* The Olympics - I have my own guilty confession to make - I'm sort of finding Rio's reputation as the most dangerous and bumbling Olympics ever held to be refreshing. I mean, every Games there is panic about facilities not being ready on time, tickets not being sold, and whether visitors will face dangers from terrorism or whatever. But this time, it's all coming true (well, thankfully, with visitors only being robbed and avoiding bullets, but not being killed - I wouldn't be making this comment if that had happened.) It makes a change from the Games all going smoothly after all. Perhaps it will work as incentive to give the games back to poor old Greece permanently, which would seem to be about the only way that country might make a long term economic recovery.
And I would have thought most Australians would be happy enough with the performance of the swim team - I can't stand commentary about "choking" from armchair critics.
So, yeah, I am sort of perversely enjoying these games - and Rio still looks like a very pretty city.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Password problems
I am getting overwhelmed with passwords, and in particular, with the interaction between Yahoo, Google and YouTube. I think there's less problem if you're not trying to keep a level of net anonymity, but if you are....
The end of the line for super colliders?
Physicists need to make the case for high-energy experiments : Nature News & Comment
Bee paints a pessimistic picture, too.
And here's an article (a pretty clear one, too, given the topic) about it at The Atlantic.
Bee paints a pessimistic picture, too.
And here's an article (a pretty clear one, too, given the topic) about it at The Atlantic.
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