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THAT'S part and parcel to forums and why they matter and what is missing from Google+.
I do not think Google+ is 'useless' but looking back or attempting to follow 'discussion' (such as they are) on G+ is an exercise in both futility and a venture into too-far and disappointingly shallow depths. Here I (we) am/are. Ahab in his quest over a handful of nearby summer rain ponds.
One can joyfully look over my own history at Dragonsfoot and see the multitude of incredibly stupid/ignorant things I said (especially when I first joined) and was yet semi-obsessed over D&D 'needing' both some kind of skill system and acknowledgement of just how (really and truthfully) dangerous rapiers actually really are/were, etc. Booorrriing. (Yet I even then wanted a fantasy version of such...still...yyaawwnn...who CARES?!?)
My own embarrassment, and more importantly, my learning, and how I learned by way of others' knowledge and opinions and insights and such...that's important. It's important no longer to me today, but it IS still important. It is still there for anyone since or now or tomorrow or ten years from now who may learn from what I said/asked and others responded. Google+ does not, will not and can not offer that. Forums did, do and will.
Others' ignorance and others' realization of foolishness will keep those that come after from wasting their time, effort, etc. and allow them to focus on things that help them to move forward and have fun. Things that matter more. Imagination. Fun. Whatever that fun may be and whatever language that fun might speak...
Forums keep us honest. Humble as we should be.
We cannot say: I am.
We that are, and were can just and only say: Here was I. Here I am. This is. I was once. (Perhaps) I ever was. (were we not, we will not, as we must say: I was, as you plainly see. Now, I admit my wrongs or ignorance or the change. I must explain it. I welcome it because it's there in front of you and I must, as I'm here it may be often neccessary that I will and I will as it is necessary or I again become dishonest. We must.
If we do not, there is no reason for us to be....here.
Google+, like Facebook allows us to verbally fart. That can and often is the end of it.
Forums can and do challenge us.
They don't let us get away with claiming we are awesome super know-stuff dude.
I guess that's "hard". Many are scared of that. I suppose they run to Facebook groups and away from where their old words still burn and they dare not mature to take ownership of, not just the easy part of where they are or where they may have been recently, but wherein they resided intellectually a few months or years ago.
Too scared of themselves.
A pity.
Why not learn. Why not acknowledge your own faults and say: "I was there. I, now, am not."
How hard is that? Is it really that scary?
It appears so.
Allow others to see how you've become.
It's worth it to you and they.


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Washington (CNN) – Sen. Rand Paul said Wednesday he's not ready to vote on the immigration reform package as it now stands in the Senate, adding the measure needs tougher provisions on border security in order to have a chance in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.
On a personal note, the senator also said he's come to realize there's an important distinction between the terms "illegal" and "undocumented" when referring to immigrants.
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The Republican senator from Kentucky, who's considering a potential 2016 presidential bid, argued the House and Senate are "still pretty far apart" on the issue but that he could help bring the two chambers together. He plans to offer amendments that will make the package more appealing to those on the other side of Capitol Hill.
"If you want this to happen, you've got to bridge the Senate and the House," he said Wednesday at a Washington forum organized by Hispanic Christian leaders. "I'm sort of in between where the Senate and House is, but not yet ready to vote for the Senate bill unless they're willing to listen to people who say let's make the border secure."
The Senate bill, crafted by a bipartisan group of eight senators, creates a 13-year path to citizenship for most of America's 11 million undocumented immigrants. While it includes language for tighter border security, some conservatives say enforcement must be a prerequisite before any of the other bill's provisions can set in. Other House Republicans take issue with the bill's pathway to citizenship.
Read more: 5 things to know about immigration reform
On Tuesday the Senate voted to begin debate on the bill. While Paul voted to move forward with the process, 15 Republicans wanted to stall the measure.
Paul's set of amendments, which he wants to file next week, would grant work visas for undocumented immigrants already in the country. A bipartisan group would determine how many visas are issued.
His legislation would also build 100 miles of fence every year until Congress decides the border is secure.
Read more: Split House GOP threatens immigration reform, Boehner's future
Sen. Marco Rubio, one of the Republican members on the "Gang of Eight," agrees that the bill needs tougher measures for border security and has threatened to remove support from his own bill if the Senate doesn't approve those changes.
Rubio and Paul were both part of a group of senators that met with House members last week on Capitol Hill to discuss the issue.
An amendment filed Tuesday night by Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, however, could threaten to sink the bill. His proposal calls for the government to recognize same-sex marriages between a U.S. citizen and an undocumented immigrant. The amendment, if it's brought to the Senate floor, could see big pushback from Republicans.
"I haven't really thought through it," Paul told reporters Wednesday when asked about the amendment. "I think sometimes these cultural issues divide us more than bring us together so I think there's some danger that if we get involved in issues that really divide us, it doesn't help to pass the bill."
Read more: Ayotte backs 'Gang of 8' immigration plan
Talking about his own personal stance on the issue, Paul said he has "come to really feel" that there is a distinction between the terms "undocumented" and "illegal" immigrant, the latter of which has become a somewhat loaded term in the immigration battle.
"Many of them came to work and have regular visas and then wanted a better-paying job. Is that a crime to want a better paying job? So I think the words are important," he said. "A lot of the problem when people became undocumented was from the government, not from the fault of the people."
The conference Wednesday was organized by the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
On the fence? This is the same Sen. Paul who said he would have not supported the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
PAUL: I like the Civil Rights Act in the sense that it ended discrimination in all public domains, and I'm all in favor of that.
INTERVIEWER: But?
PAUL: You had to ask me the "but." I don't like the idea of telling private business owners — I abhor racism. I think it's a bad business decision to exclude anybody from your restaurant — but, at the same time, I do believe in private ownership. But I absolutely think there should be no discrimination in anything that gets any public funding, and that's most of what I think the Civil Rights Act was about in my mind.
INTERVIEWER: But under your philosophy, it would be okay for Dr. King not to be served at the counter at Woolworth's?
PAUL: I would not go to that Woolworths, and I would stand up in my community and say that it is abhorrent, um, but, the hard part — and this is the hard part about believing in freedom — is, if you believe in the First Amendment, for example — you have to, for example, most good defenders of the First Amendment will believe in abhorrent groups standing up and saying awful things and uh, we're here at the bastion of newspaperdom, I'm sure you believe in the First Amendment so you understand that people can say bad things.It's the same way with other behaviors. In a free society, we will tolerate boorish people, who have abhorrent behavior, but if we're civilized people, we publicly criticize that, and don't belong to those groups, or don't associate with those people.
democrats don't want this to pass period. they want to continue to be able to use and abuse hispanics by playing with this as long as possible. proof of that is leahy sitting there with his big poison pill to the bill. if it looks like it will pass, they will tack that on to make sure it fails. then they will blame everybody else, like they always do.
If the House doesn't/act pass a bill after Senate does, it will cost the GOP dearly with Latinos......they will come out in big numbers and Demos will get 75%, up from 71%, enough to guarantee the next election.....
It is not only rant paul on the on the fence with regards to immigration it is the entire Republican party.
I was irritated by his father so often BUT his son is million times worse. Little Rand Paul, you want to run for President. You understand what made Mitt Romney lost the election. You have heard what your Party has to do to include Latinos to their side, and still you are against Immigration Reform? Is there any need of even mentioning 2016? How is your Party or you are going to win without Latinos? I didn't expect you to be as dumb as you show it each day.
Why only 100 miles of fence per year? Are we short of people? Short of fence companies?? Materials??? It can't be money as the Fed is simply printing money to pay for everything, which is why the market is up so much (watch that bubble burst again people). Have them print an extra $10-20 billion or whatever it takes.
This needs to be a national priority. It is already 30 years over due and the cause of our illegal immigrant problem as well as our drug problem, not to mention a major security breach.
Rubio and Paul were both part of a group of senators that met with House members last week on Capitol Hill to discuss the issue.
And now they both are leaders of a group of senators that are opposed to the bill, not without adding some poison pill amendments to the bill. Amendments that could have been, and should have been, added when it was still in committee.
How can you trust Republicans when they so blatantly renege on any agreement? And then blame the other side for the deal falling apart?
100 miles of fence per year? What a lunatic set of priorities. Also, interesting to read that Leahy's provision would kill the bill. I guess gay immigrants on this program are "separate but equal" to other gay Americans. Actually, this is the reason I'm against the bill. Not a big fan of enshrining bigotry into Federal law.
Wow ! "I've come to realize..." I thought he was infallible.
Without securing the border first this bill isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
A 2000 mile long fence would cost anywhere between $500 billion and $5 trillion dollars. It's more than a chain link fence with a few wireless cameras from Home Depot, you know. How much per mile would it cost? Logistics, that which conservatives always seem to ignore.
You would need: guard stations; new roads; complete utilities such as water, sewer, and power; living quarters to house and feed guards, etc. Then there's the question of staffing: how many guards per turret, how many should be stationed at a single guard base that covers how many towers; support staff to run the new bases.
What about information technology infrastructure? All of the cameras would need to connect to something for monitoring, recording, and playback. What about audio? What good would the cameras be without audio? I could go on and on, but due to space limitations, I'll break it off here.
"While it includes language for tighter border security, some conservatives say enforcement must be a prerequisite before any of the other bill's provisions can set in."
Let's parse that, shall we?
First part: CNN doesn't want to tell you what's actually already in the bill regarding border security, because you might just take it upon yourself to believe that its extensive provisions are sufficient. If you did that, then there wouldn't be a "controversy"....rather, you might just decide that the GOP/Teatrolls who claim that the bill does nothing to secure the border are just spewing hot air in order to delay and obstruct the bill.
Second part: GOPers/Teatrolls want "border security" to be a "prerequisite" because then they can set up unattainable standards for defining "border security" that will assure the "prerequisite" is never met....especially if they place as much enforcement and reporting authority and discretion in the hands of southern states, which can then deliberately make sure that the "prerequisites" are never met, or at least never be reported as met, so that a pathway to citizenship is never triggered.
Please proceed, GOPers/Teatrolls. Demographic Armageddon is going to be quite the party for you.
Democrats can't be trusted with enforcing any immigration laws, current or future. Why is the Republican Party negotiating with known criminals and violators of their oath of office? Obama needs to immediately cancel his Executive Order that bars ICE from enforcing our current immigration laws. And why has that been challenged in court anyways? Totallyy illegal and a violation of our Constitution and Obama's Oath of Office.
Rand Paul needs rehab !
The Freshman senator has done Nothing but posture himself .
Palin with out a skirt !
Wake up people. 2014 is getting closer and now the GOP is singing a different tune to get your votes. Don't buy into it. A Leopard does not change it's spots. Thsi is only to get votes. Now all of a sudden this moron realizes there is a difference. Give me a break. Just another Palin in a mans' body with blond curly locks.
"Anytime a party and its vile supporters promote nothing but, hate, lies, racism, division to win favor with the electorate, you can best believe they've got nothing else.."
Perfect description of the democratic party. Somebody must have opened a dictionary.
Rudy NYC - A 2000 mile long fence would cost anywhere between $500 billion and $5 trillion dollars
pssst.... there is already stuff there so you don't need 2000 miles of it built. the holes need to be plugged. and seriously??? $5 trillion dollars??? are you crazy? they will not be putting up a super highway along the border with a 14k solid gold fence.
gotta love how the leftists always want to throw out some nutty cost for things they don't want, but always low ball the costs of their social welfare programs.
Democrats can't be trusted with enforcing any immigration laws, current or future. Why is the Republican Party negotiating with known criminals and violators of their oath of office?
Good question. Maybe House Republicans can tell us when they meet with former SC Gov. Sanford. or Senate Republicans can when they meet with cover-up specialist Tom Coburn.

subset: commoncrawl


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That was really bad Todd.
That was really bad Todd.
Frazier is what he is. Just a pure guess hitter and often guesses wrong. At least we ran up the pitch count.
Marty: "That old refrain, here we go again."
Should turn this off now and go do something prodcutive for next three hours.
Rounding third and heading for home...
Norm Chortleton (09-05-2013),TheBigLebowski (09-05-2013)
let another Cardinal pitcher off the hook...
3 consecutive walks wasn't enough. We needed 4 to score a run.
Reds & Nats, 2013 LCS. Take2 (9/13) Reds but no Nats
Were going to get the pitching. -Bob Castellini
You got the pitching, now what? - Reds fans
It would be hard to find an atbat as bad as the one Frazier just had. After three straight walks, he chased a pitch in the dirt and then struck out on a fastball eye level.
The first pitch was belt high right down the middle. I have no complaints with him swinging there.
Frazier needs to be a bench player next year.
kbrake (09-05-2013)
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tagged Friends
From the Linthicum family to your family…
Happy Thanksgiving and God's blessings to all...
No one communicates from their heart better than Pres. Ronald Reagan. In fact, he says all that I would like to say during this 2016 Thanksgiving. His message was simple – there is nothing more precious than Liberty! Let us never take for granted our hard bought Liberties, but rededicate ourselves to their defense and be ever thankful for the freedom we enjoy.
Read his words:
"Good morning, everyone. You know, the Statue of Liberty and this wonderful holiday called Thanksgiving go together naturally because although as Americans we have many things for which to be thankful, none is more important than our liberty. Liberty: that quality of government, that brightness of mind and spirit for which the Pilgrim Fathers braved the seas and Americans for two centuries have laid down their lives.
-Ronald Reagan
Or, watch it here –> Ronald Reagan - Thanksgiving Day Address from 1985.
From our family to yours, "Happy Thanksgiving!"
-Dennis & Diane
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Sweets and Insects
Last Monday I went to Amsterdam to photograph for my assignments for school. On our way to the zoo I saw this shop with a huge text on the window that said 'Insectbar'. It's a new shop that just opened the day before called Sweets and Insects (click here for the website). I've never tried Insects before but surprisingly enough I wasn't that scared to try it, I didn't even think twice, I just grabbed it and ate it.
I tried the little yellow buffalo worms first and then a little grashopper, I even bought one to take home lol. The texture is actually like chips, it's crunchy and the real flavour comes from the herbs and not really the insect itself. I tried the grasshopper with BBQ and one with garlic.


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More than half of all Android devices don't have security patches and are vulnerable to malware, according to a security company.
The findings are based on data from Duo Security, who not coincidentally also produced the free X-Ray for Android app, according to InformationWeek.
"The stat is based on over 20,000 users who downloaded and ran the X-Ray mobile application on their device, and the current global distribution of Android versions," Jon Oberheide, CTO of Duo Security, told Information Week via email.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Oberheide said he knew the statistic would be hard for Android users to hear, but the lack of security patches is appalling. "Yes, it's a scary number, but it exemplifies how important expedient patching is to mobile security and how poorly the industry--carriers, device manufacturers, etc.--has performed thus far," Oberheide wrote on the Duo Security blog.


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Shaul Hadar is a professional musician, producer, composer, sound technician and a professional concert pianist with over 26 years of experience. Shaul writes music in any type of musical genre, with an affinity to the movies and games business, but also electronical music and instrumental music. Shaul is also a DJ/Producer, under the alias Counter Point, and releases music constantly at top record labels. Shaul also writes music for documentaries, internet sites, radio, television and every media which needs music and sound effects. Shaul also consults other producers on how to get the most of their musical environment. Shaul is a music teacher for piano, jazz, musical theory and computer based music. Shaul is currently working on writing a lot of music for computer and mobile games.
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.
This is a demo from the in-game alpha of "Fortis Rex", featuring my music.


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Jonathan Bachman / Reuters
The Superdome field in partial darkness the NFL Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, Sunday.
While the reasons for the 34-minute power outage during Sunday's Super Bowl remain largely unknown, advocates for a smarter energy grid say it is the latest example of why the nation needs desperately to invest in its electricity infrastructure.
The blackout in New Orleans, coupled with the recent prolonged outages in New York and New Jersey caused by Hurricane Sandy, have put on display for the world how vulnerable America can be to losing its lights. Experts say it is a vulnerability that could have potentially crippling effects.
"The grid has all these parts where accidents can occur, and many accidents have the potential to create widespread problems," said Susan Tierney, co-author of a National Research Council report that details the flaws in how the country gets its power.
She likened it to the nation's interstate system, with main arteries and smaller back roads, so interconnected that a problem is rarely isolated.
The National Research Council report, completed in 2007 but declassified by the Department of Homeland Security last November, warns that a coordinated strike on the electric grid could have devastating effects on the American economy and psyche.
The non-partisan report said: "If carried out in a carefully planned way, by people who knew what they were doing, such an attack could deny large regions of the country access to bulk system power for weeks or even months. An event of this magnitude and duration could lead to turmoil, widespread public fear, and an image of helplessness that would play directly into the hands of the terrorists."
Along with the physical damage and darkness, an attack on the nation's electrical grid could cause, the biggest impact could be devastating financially, according to Tierney.
"Almost every aspect of our economy is touched by electricity, from banking to hospitals to world markets," she said. "The worst case scenario could be devastating."
Aging infrastructure
Like the roads and bridges that make up America's physical infrastructure, its electrical infrastructure is getting more ancient.
And University of Minnesota Professor Massoud Amin, an expert on the U.S. electrical grid, said our increasingly digital society is only causing more strain.
"You're dealing with an aging infrastructure that is not made for this century's demands," he said.
Amin's research shows America's problems with electricity are getting worse. There were 149 power outages that affected at least 50,000 from 2000-2004, a number that rose to 349 from 2005-2009.
Though questions surround what exactly caused the lights to go out in the Big Easy, Amin said he believes a smarter grid would have prevented the incident.
He advocates for a self-healing infrastructure that can communicate when problems arise, anticipate potential issues and isolate the area where the problem arises.
While energy experts and politicians on both sides of the aisle agree something needs to be done, little has been.
The U.S. is quickly falling behind European countries in terms of its energy reliability, according to John Kelly, executive director of Galvin Power Initiative, which compares the energy reliability of countries around the world. [PDF link]
"We're not improving right now," said Kelly.
The reason, both Amin and Tierney agree, comes down to unwillingness in both the public and private sector to put in the cash.
To create a smarter grid, money must go into things like research and development, security systems and standardizing equipment to allow defective parts to quickly be swapped out.
Cost savings
With an increasing number of weather-related catastrophes that some have attributed to climate change, time is an even more pressing issue. Money is being spent repairing old electrical lines instead of on new technologies.
A national smart grid could cost up between $338 billion to $476 billion over the next 20 years, according to a 2011 study by the Electric Power Research Institute.
"There is a lot of uncertainty, a lot of stake holders and some major concerns about return on investment," said Amin. "Filling potholes and putting money into education is seen as a better investment than electric."
But the director of the University of Minnesota's Technological Leadership Institute added that much of the investment has been stifled because, by-and-large, Americans are happy with their electrical service.
"It's not to say the sky is falling," said Amin. "When these things happen they bother us. The problem we should worry about is when they become more than just a bother."


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Union Pacific Employees Achieve Record 2012 Safety Performance
Omaha, Neb., January 28, 2013
Union Pacific Railroad's 2012 employee safety performance was the best in the company's 150-year history. Employees achieved a 1.01 reportable injury rate, surpassing the previous best of 1.15 established in 2011. From 2002-2012, Union Pacific employees improved their reportable injury rate by 58 percent.
A company's reportable injury rate is the total number of injuries reportable to the Federal Railroad Administration per 200,000 worker hours, which is equivalent to 100 employees working a full year.
"Our injury-rate improvement is evidence of our employees' personal commitment to actively caring for their fellow employees, practicing behaviors such as peer-to-peer observation and feedback," said Bob Grimaila, Union Pacific vice president-Safety, Security and Environment. "Our safety leadership development and continuous process improvement team efforts, including those driving down operational variability to provide a more predictable work environment, also play key roles in safety results."
Union Pacific utilizes innovative technology to improve employee safety, as well. For example, many employees receive comprehensive on-the-job training through computer software that teaches them how to maneuver locomotives in rail yards, operate switches and sort rail cars onto different tracks based on rail car destination. This video simulation technology gives employees an opportunity to practice what they have learned in the classroom before they work outside in the real-world rail yard.
About Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2007-2012, Union Pacific invested $18 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure, including a record $3.7 billion in 2012. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.
Union Pacific media contact: Tom Lange at 402-544-3560 or firstname.lastname@example.com, @tlange23
The statements and information contained in the news releases provided by Union Pacific speak only as of the date issued. Such information by its nature may become outdated, and investors should not assume that the statements and information contained in Union Pacific's news releases remain current after the date issued. Union Pacific makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, to update any of this information.