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Bod Brain Blog: November 2007
I just wrapped up an excellent New Yorker article about the environmental vigilante organization Sea Shepard and its leader Paul Watson. Watson is a charismatic and volatile character, with a rabid and, in some cases, famous group of followers. His methods are extremely questionable and it is difficult to tell whether or not his results are productive or counter-productive. However, his cause, it seems to me, is unquestioned. The plight of sea creatures due to over-fishing is very distressing and its hard to fathom just how much damage has been done.
Still, the lack of an international will which Watson rails against poses a difficult problem. What do you do when there is a tragedy occurring and no one is doing anything to stop it? As Watson states, its the "curse of the commons." Where there is no rule of law, no ownership, it's a free for all. It also highlights the utter inability of internationalism to address difficult problems and to stop those willing to defy international sentiment or treaties (as in Darfur).
Is vigilantism the right response? Is Watson justified in ramming whaling ships because no one else is willing to stop them?
There is a love affair with these types, a romanticism about guys like Watson (which is aided by the fact that he sounds like he walked right out of a Melville novel). However, as fascinating as the guy is, as true as his cause is, the wrong guy is leading the charge.
International management of the seas has failed miserably. It does not mean it is time for vigilantes. It means it is time for a new way. What is that way? Private ownership of the seas? The extension of national waters? I'm not sure. The lesson of Paul Watson is not that vigilantism is justified when the rule of law fails, it is that the current rule of law has failed and new rules need to be established.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/26/2007 11:23:00 PM No comments: Links
Labels: Environmentalism, New Yorker, Ocean
I was looking for early reviews of the film adaption of The Golden Compass, but have not found anything yet. Instead, I found this article decrying the film and the "insidious" possibility that the movie might lead children to read Philip Pullman's book, which promotes atheism and is resolutely anti-Christian.
I came upon The Golden Compass based on a recommendation by Christopher Hitchens (he recommends Pullman in this mixed review of Deathly Hallows (a book I enjoyed)). I picked up the book immediately and fell in love with the His Dark Materials series, which mixes fantasy, physics, and religion in a provocative and sprawling manner.
Since I first heard of the film adaption, I have been anticipating a backlash. I don't mind Christians taking issue with Pullman, or warning people that Pullman portrays Christianity as evil. However, I am disturbed by the idea that the film is dangerous because it could lead children to read the books.
One of the primary tenets of the series is an insistence on intellectual freedom and the book attack the Church for limiting that freedom. If you are afraid of people investigating the atheist ideas promoted in book, aren't you playing right into Pullman's criticism?
I guess you could say that Pullman could "tempt" and "mislead" people away from the "Truth" and from holiness and, as a result, warn people off the book. But, it also betrays a fear that ideas underpinning faith in a Christian God are so thin that exposure of these ideas to forceful attack might undermine people's faith. Of course, that is how the Church is portrayed in His Dark Materials, afraid of ideas and of where exposure of these ideas to the world might lead.
I have always believed that if your ideas can't survive thorough criticism and examination, then you may want to consider new ideas. Christians should be encouraging people to read The Golden Compass. If you are strong in your faith, you should easily be able to dismiss Pullman's arguments and provide counter-arguments.
In addition, I have problems with books and movies being attacked for promoting atheism. The Chronicles of Narnia promotes readership of the Bible, watching Schindler's List may promote interest in Judaism, watching Kundun may promote interest in Buddhism, and watching Malcolm X might promote interest in Islam. I never heard attacks on these films for these reasons. Why is atheism so different?
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/26/2007 04:00:00 PM No comments: Links
Labels: Golden Compass, Hitchens, Religion
USA Today focuses on the problem of an aging population in North Dakota, citing immigration as a solution to the lack of workers there. The article also notes the considerable antagonistic sentiment toward immigrants amongst the locals. This sentiment has prevented factories from locating there for fear that they might attract illegals.
In America, immigration has long served as a way of providing an influx of new workers and creativity. There has been a persistent fear of immigrants over-running the culture and a history of waves of anti-immigration blowback. Today is just another example. The key is finding the best solution. Sound enforcement is part of it (eariler post here), but so is improving the legal immigration system.
In this case, North Dakota is a microsm of Philip Longman's depopulation problem. The best solution we have now to this problem is immigration. But why does it have to be a choice between illegal immigrants or a lack of workers? We should be bringing these factories in and filling these jobs, with legal immigrants. We should be making it easier for legal immigrants to get jobs here, bring their families here, and to become citizens here. In some places, our economy may depend on it.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/26/2007 03:25:00 PM No comments: Links
Labels: Depopulation, immigration, Longman
Cosmic Variance links to a slam of a Gregg Easterbrook criticism of the CERN supercollider. The blogger, Chad Orzel, who takes on Easterbrook also mentions that he would prefer to see less funding go into less esoteric physics than deep particle physics. This comment in response to Orzel's post aptly summarizes my feelings about funding big esoteric science projects: they pay off in the long-run. However, the commenter does disparage the concept of a manned mission to Mars. Again, we need to spend money on supercolliders and on missions to Mars (our survival depends on it).
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/26/2007 03:04:00 PM No comments: Links
Labels: Mars, science funding, space colonization
As the College Football season comes to a close, I again find myself extremely frustrated with its method of selecting champions. The BCS is a half-solution, its has ruined the tradition of the bowls without providing the satisfaction of a playoff. It's hard to understand how a playoff system has not been implemented. I would say a majority of fans are for it. It would bring far more cash and attention. Plus, it would be a heck of a lot fun. Until there is movement toward a playoff, I'm not going to watch the bowls. So, I encourage everyone to ban the bowls.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/26/2007 02:44:00 PM No comments: Links
A lake effect snow shower from Friday afternoon. All that snow is already gone.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/25/2007 10:21:00 PM No comments: Links
Back in August, Mickey Kaus proclaimed that he was paranoid because he feared that the Bush Administration would crackdown on illegal immigrants in a manner that would generate animosity toward an enforcement-first policy:
Day In/Day Out wonders too. ... If it's option 2, of course, then Homeland Security might intentionally choose to enforce the law in as clumsy, heartless, and lawsuit-inspiring a fashion as possible, in order to create the maximum number of negative headlines. ... Certainly the case for the paranoid option (2) was enhanced by the LAT 's report on the crackdown, featuring bitter you-asked-for-it-now-you're-going-to-get-it quotes from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff:
Chertoff acknowledged. "There will be some unhappy consequences for the economy out of doing this," he said in an interview with The Times.Chertoff said he had little sympathy for businesses that hire illegal workers, saying they should have seen the crackdown coming after the Senate failed to pass immigration reform. "We have been crystal clear about what the consequences would be," he said. ...[snip]
Chertoff suggested that once the provisions had been in force for a while, Congress would see immigration reform in a different light."Everybody who criticized comprehensive immigration reform for being too complex, maybe now they're going to realize it's complex because there are a lot of interconnected pieces to this and when you try to deal with only one corner of it, you wind up with a huge impact on something else," he said. [E.A.] Link
This All Things Considered report from last night provides evidence that the Bush Administration is conducting itself in just the "clumsy, heartless, and lawsuit-inspiring" manner which had concerned Kaus.
I support the "Enforcement First" policy and would also like to barriers knocked down to legal immigration, but I think the type of enforcement being described by NPR is not what opponents of "comprehensive immigration" had in mind. I think this policy will posion our reputation in Latino countries and further disillusion those who already are unhappy with our government. But, I don't think it will be enough to push support for comprehensive reform over the top. I guess its Mutally Assured Destruction, except that nobody will come to their senses at the last second and take their finger off the button.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/24/2007 06:09:00 PM No comments: Links
I've never been opposed to prayer in school, as long as there is equal time. Well, someone has taken that idea further than I ever thought possible. Here is a link to a new kind of church. More on the church from Wired here and here.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/22/2007 11:46:00 AM No comments: Links
Al-Qaeda Scrambles to Fill Anti-War Propaganda Void Left by Writers Strike
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/21/2007 12:19:00 AM No comments: Links
Labels: Humor, Onion
Morning Edition started a series on the economy this week, highlighting the impact of the slowdown on regular people. Yesterday, the story focused on a developer. This morning, the story focused on a tree grower in California. Sales of fruit trees are slowing, which in the story is attributed to the crackdown on illegal immigration, which is resulting in shortage of workers to harvest the fruit. Apparently, NRP is on-board with the crops-rotting meme Mickey Kaus had predicted would catch on. The meme is referenced in a couple of posts on this link.
The Morning Edition series quickly took a turn from the subprime mortgage fiasco to story stealthily bashing the immigration crackdown. The subprime problem is trouble for the macro-economy, but is a fall in sales of fruit trees a sign of an impending marco-economic funk? I'm not so sure.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/20/2007 11:53:00 PM No comments: Links
Labels: immigration, Kaus, NPR, subprime
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/20/2007 10:05:00 PM No comments: Links
As a Grand Valley State grad, I am heartened by the rumors that former GVSU coach Brian Kelly may be in consideration for the Michigan job. After MSU passed over Kelly and he went to Cinncinnatti, I didn't think he would be connected to a Big Ten position for awhile. His quick success this year may just put him in the Big House. I'm crossing my fingers.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/20/2007 12:30:00 AM No comments: Links
Newsweek's has a cover story about the new Amazon Kindle. While the article raises the profile of moving to e-books higher than I ever remember seeing before, it doesn't appear to me that the Kindle will be catch on like the iPod and make e-books mainstream (yet). Kevin Kelly confirms my initial impression of the Kindle (from the photos on the Amazon) in this post. He said it lacks the "charisma of a Steve Jobs creation."
As I alluded to in my previous post, I think we're heading for an age of constant learning through technology and e-books will be a key part of it. I used to have nostalgia for my cd collection. Since I have been using my iPod, I've grown frustrated with my library of books. I am ready for the portable "universal" library, but I think I'd rather buy an iPod Touch to use for reading instead of a Kindle.
Of course, I was skeptical of the iPod until I finally bought one.
UPDATE: Slashdot links to a Forbes article discussing the possibility that Amazon may have already been outflanked by the iPhone.
MORE UPDATES: Cory Doctorow covers the regressive side of the Kindle here.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/20/2007 12:01:00 AM No comments: Links
In Charles Stross's Accelerando, the main character Manfred Macx is constantly interfacing with the Internet and consuming a constant stream of information. In fact, this is the crux of the first part of the book, how Macx is both interacting both inside and outside of the Internet simultaneously.
I think we are very close to living in world populated by Macxes. In fact, I am one of them, an information sponge. The thing that has brought me over the edge is my iPod, and the iPod's method of accomplishing this is the podcast. With podcasts, I have been able to take those empty spaces in my day, the non-prodcutive ones, and make them extremely productive. If I'm cleaning the dishes, moving things upstairs, working-out, walking from my car to the grocery store, I try to listen to something, to consume new information.
It has been a revelation. I did not realize just how empty and frustrating those empty spaces were until I started filling them. Now, I want to fill them all, to make them productive, to constantly be learning.
The iPod is powerful not just because it synthesizes so many dissaparte forms of information in one simple technology, but because it is so portable. Once I get out of the car, I have to leave the radio there. But, as long as the iPod is charged, it is available and it can fill those mindless moments when I am by myself.
I can not express how much I value my iPod. It started by freeing my music collection from it static place on the wall and it has evolved into so much more.
The strange thing is that it is just the beginning.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/18/2007 02:01:00 AM No comments: Links
A Modest Proposal: Stimulating Colonization of Space through Tax Shelters
As a liberal, I identify with the instinct of examining humanity's past behavior and fretting over our capacity for brutality. In fact, I once sent a letter to Grand Valley State's newspaper outlining how America was founded in a double original sin, slavery and the systematic killing of Native Americans and destruction of their culture. This letter was sent in response to the persistent writings of another student who decried the moral direction of our culture and longed for a return to America's more gloried past.
But, even for a liberal, there has to be a point where you come in from the cold and choose to recognize that despite these flaws, the mission of America is a liberal one and humanity, at bottom, has qualities worth valuing. Otherwise, there is only nihilism and self-loathing.
Many (in fact, possibly a growing number) seem to value nihilism and self-loathing. Over the past year, I have encountered a strange sentiment, "the world would be better off without us." Until I googled "human extinction," I did not realize there was a movement called "VHEMT" seriously (at least according to their claim) advocating this. There was also Alan Weisman's recent book outlining the aftermath of human extinction.
Unlike the "VHEMT" movement, I am deeply disturbed by this prospect, as is Stephen Hawking. And like Stephen Hawking, I think space colonization is essential for our future survival. The one scenario that disturbs me most is not global warming, or an asteroid, but the concept that as technology has progressed it takes fewer and fewer people to cause massive destruction. Someday, we will reach the point where one person will be able to bring about the end of us all. The only way to avoid this is make sure we are not all here, on one planet vulnerable to the whims of a single idiot. But, we are not moving fast enough to avoid this "single idiot" scenario.
I know that the private space industry is just getting revved up, but I feel like we need further incentive. One thing I think should be considered is the promise of free property on the Moon and Mars and also the guarantee of long-term extra-terrestial tax shelters, possibly on the order of multiple centuries. Due to the risk involved, I believe we must increase the rewards. If you locate your company on the moon, it will not be taxed for 300-years. If you conduct business on the Moon, you will not be taxed. If you own land on the Moon, you will not be taxed.
The promise of property and freedom from taxes, this drove people to America. It has also attracted many with entrepreneurial spirit. Why not carry on the American idea into space? Why not foster that spirit there?
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/18/2007 12:55:00 AM No comments: Links
Labels: space colonization, taxes
Left: Underneath the US 31 Drawbridge in Grand Haven.
The recent imbroglio over the "Turtle Fence" on U.S. 31 here in Muskegon, MI has brought to light an issue I evolved a lot on over the years: infrastructure. Rep. Pete Hoekstra recently railed against the $318,000 Turtle Fence designed to protect turtles which migrate across the highway as it passes through the Muskegon River lowlands. Really, this type of thing does not upset me. In fact, I think it will be a growing trend, and a fence is cheaper than other solutions being proposed to protect wildlife.
Living in Grand Haven, the limits of our current infrastructure are an on-going concern. In Ottawa County, there are only three bridges crossing a major river (The Grand). Grand Haven has one bridge, the US 31 drawbridge, and on some days, it can be a nightmare. There is a proposal to build a bypass, but its has been in the works for nearly two decades. I have been marginally involved in seeing its planning, as a reporter and as an employee of Ottawa County.
Despite those who would rather see the Turtle Fence than the US 31 Bypass (here), I would have liked to have seen a new bridge completed years ago. At some point, the lack of a second bridge could become a major detriment to the local economy here. While the growth has slowed due to the housing crash, things will bounce back. A return to increased growth will bring back the traffic. Someday, the drawbridge will become a severe disincentive to visiting or living in the area.
I doubt the delay in the US 31 bypass is a unique situation. In fact, I think the lack of investment in repairing old infrastructure and creating new infrastructure is endemic. The Mississippi River bridge collapse was a wake-up call. As Nicole Gelinas points out (here), we are wasting our inheritance.
There are many culprits in this lack of attention to our infrastructure, funding is one. The focus on earmarks has led to infrastructure investment, but many of these are poorly-justified pork projects. I've seen the earmark process at work. During the last transportation bill, every house district was promised funding for "high priority projects." Hoekstra was taking applications for these projects from local and county governments. While Hoekstra did secure some funding for the bypass (as an earmark), I find the whole system to be a farce. Why is each congressman deciding which specific projects get funding? This mentality led to the "Porkbuster" revolt. I believe sensible allocation of funding is needed to truly begin addressing infrastructure problems.
Even if the funding issue is solved, more reform is needed before we begin building new roads in a timely fashion. The NEPA/404 law is a major obstacle in the road planning and building process. It has tipped the balance too much toward the environment and does not take economic needs into account enough. It requires too much public input and too much study, drawing out the process and making it more expensive. We do not need to stop building roads, we need better ways of integrating roads with their surroundings (such as turtle fences). But, the NEPA/404 process bogs down everything and limits options for placing road in a locations that make sense. Locally, I know the Village of Spring Lake has called for a bypass and bridge closer to current drawbridge, but MDOT says it is impossible due to the wetlands. If we allocated some money toward investigating better technology for building roads and better ways or mitigating wetland and wildlife impacts, I think we would be much better off than what we have been given by the NEPA/404 law. I've watched it in action, it is a convoluted and frustrating process.
It's a gloomy situation. I've sat through County Road Commission and seen them wring their hands over the many needs they can only marginally adress with strained funding. I've also seen how road investment can improve safety and the look of a whole town (M-45 in Allendale is a wonderful example). But that type of improvement is not frequent enough.
Fix the roads. Build new roads. As Glenn Reynolds would say, faster please.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/16/2007 10:15:00 PM No comments: Links
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/16/2007 10:14:00 PM No comments: Links
Failing the Turing Test (Nov. 16th, 2007): Democratic Congress
Harry Reid and the Democratic Congress fail the Turing Test this week by maintaining their robotic effort to place a withdrawl timetable in the latest war spending bill, just as the tide really seems to be turning.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/15/2007 12:22:00 AM No comments: Links
The conventional wisdom for a long time has been that population is going to explode and we are going to drown in people. However, for awhile now, there has been increasing belief that population will reach a peak at around 9 billion and then start to decline, (this chart shows and projects the slow down in growth). Despite these trends and projections, I still hear many people talking about overpopulation, or about population control or reduction.
However, while many people are still concerned about overpopulation, they are experts warning of the disaster that could result from depopulation. Philip Longman is a prominent example. He has spoken at Seminars About Long-Term Thinking (SALT)(sponsored by The Long Now) and has been discussed over at The Weekly Standard (which covered the topic again recently here). In his SALT talk, Longman paints a distressing picture of the consequences of falling birth rates, bulging aged populations, overspent governments, economies strained to the breaking points, and the rise of anti-secular groups which promote fertility.
The statistics hold up in my mind. A low fertility is the hallmark of industrialized nations and its a statistic I've touted in arguments for free trade. Low fertility is also a hallmark of increased freedom for women.
But, could these rights be our doom?
At a gut level, I can't buy-in. The long-term benefits of having one-half of the population now fully participating in society in the economy, I think, are essential. If we restrict ourselves to half our potential creative output, I think we lose in the long-run. But, besides a gut-feeling, what is the counter-trend to overwhelming pull of demographic deflation?
I recently listened to a Singularity Summit Podcast of Ray Kurzweil discussing seeing Al Gore's global warming charts and being frustrated that Gore had not factored in technological advances. I think Longman is missing out on the same principle. Some researcher have shown that job loss is due more to productivity than to outsourcing. Technological advances are slashing the workforce needed to carry the economy. This trend will continue and may accelerate.
In addition, as Rodney Brooks stated at The Singularity Summit 2007 (another podcast), market pressures will fuel innovative (and automated) solutions to growing problem of caring for an aging population. In addition, with advances in health care may extend life and make people a viable part of the workforce for a longer period.
So, if all goes well, at 55 I will be worrying about the next twenty years of my working life rather than retirement (and I will barely remember depopulation concerns).
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/14/2007 10:50:00 PM 1 comment: Links
Labels: Aging, Depopulation, Long Now, Longman, Productivity
Why are Americans Unhappy with Doctors and Pharmaceutical Companies?
Dissatisfaction with health care seems to be taken as a given these days, with Sicko (which I have not seen yet) as a seminal example. Glenn Reynolds has presented strong arguments in favor of not taking how good we actually have it for granted, both from personal experience and as a commentator. In addition, he has done good work presenting views opposing nationalized health care and pointing out the hypocrisy of those who support it.
I am now deeply concerned about the potential for nationalized health care. In my family, we have lived with conditions that are persistent, but are not easy to treat or diagnose. As a result, we have been through a lot of expensive tests, nights at the hospital, and a lot of prescriptions. Through all this, we have had little trouble with our insurance. In fact, I'm sure we've exceeded our paycheck co-pay almost every year. Under a nationalized health system, I'm not sure things would have a gone as a smoothly (at least as far as getting timely access to tests and getting covered by insurance for these tests).
But, I think this experience has also highlighted some of the troubles with the health care system. We have had some great, caring doctors, but we have also had some arrogant, demeaning doctors. In fact, one doctor refused to recognize symptoms we had brought to him regarding one of our conditions. In the end, we later discovered that there was significant literature out there on these symptoms. The doctor either was unaware of this literature or refused to inform us that it was out there. Either way, I am still deeply frustrated about that situation.
As far as pharmaceuticals, I think doctors share some of the blame for the discontent with "Big Pharma." Just as anti-biotics may have been over-prescribed, I think drugs are sometimes prescribed or continue to be prescribed when they are obviously not effective. In our case, we have moved from one drug to another and been told that it is unlikely statistically that any will work, yet the doctors insist that that they still be part of the treatment. I wonder sometimes if doctors are protecting themselves (from potential future litigation) or are afraid to abandon the consensus treatment. I imagine that our case is not unique. While drug companies are not to blame for this situation, its hard to not be skeptical the next time you receive a prescription.
One helpful equalizer in all this, I think, is the Internet. In some cases, when we have received sketchy information from our doctors, the Web has made up for the holes. It is not easy to find good information, but it's getting easier. Podcasting has been extremely helpful. If you can select good institutions to get information from and make sure you're reading peer reviewed science-based health information. In the future, with health care demand increasing, its unlikely that doctors will have more time to spend with patients. I think that this will require patients to be partners in their care and it is their responsibility to learn what they can about their health.
Another point: Where doctors often run into trouble is treating the conditions they do not have a strong understanding of. The drugs and the treatments are a shot in the dark. I think as time goes on, they will be less and less that is unknown and that the drugs will be more effective and more targeted. So, time may take care of some of the dissatisfaction with health care.
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/12/2007 08:09:00 PM No comments: Links
One of My Favorite Films: The one that everybody apparently hates
Well, here I go into the undiscovered country, with my first post.
They are a few things that I fell in love with instantly when I first encountered them. My wife, my children. Infinite Jest, Twin Peaks, The Diamond Age, Steve Reich's music. One of those things was definitely Rushmore. I connected with Wes Anderson's sensibility instantly. The most enjoyable art for me, without fail, conjures a world that I would love to live in.
As much as I loved Rushmore, I loved The Life Aquatic even more so. The David Bowie music in Porteguese, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, the boat, and the sea creatures. It is the perfect movie, sublime. Apparently, I was one of the few who thought this.
Suddenly, it seems as if Wes Anderson's career started to parallel the life of his character's: the talented savant who has run out of gas. At least according to MSM articles I encountered. Slate.com has numerous examples, from David Edelstein's mixed review to the Jonah Weiner's takedown of the Anderson oeuvre (BTW, I think there is space to connect the sensibility of Wes Anderson to the sensibility of indie rockers. In that fashion, the Jonah Weiner piece is reminiscent of Sasha Frere-Jones's piece in the New Yorker slagging the Arcade Fire for being too white. I don't agree for one, Haiti comes to mind as one counter-example. I don't care whether or not you like the Arcade Fire or indie rock, but is it really necessary to dream up a race-based meta-narrative that indie rock bugs you because it doesn't lift rifts from Muddy Waters? I can envision the day where Neighborhood or Intervention is sampled for a rap song. Then maybe indie rock will be released, I guess. Hey, Gary Numan and Kraftwerk are about as "white" as you can get, but they were beloved by the Hip-Hop community. The common thread with these critiques is that I am left wondering what the artists should do instead. Yes, I do agree that one could read a classic kind of racist undertone to Darjeeling Limited, but I'm not sure how the Wes Anderson movie is written that does not include upper-class white people with everyone else as a back-drop. I'm not sure what the Wes Anderson's Crash would look-like (I do know how Arcade Fire's Crash would sound, its called Rattle and Hum(in fact, U2 first three albums sound whiter than anything by Arcade Fire. U2 tried so earnestly to incorporate that American roots sound that it nearly destroyed and they become viewed as ultra-pompous. Ironically, they were revived by rediscovering themselves in Germany and the Middle East)).
Wes Anderson is too cute, too white, too self-conscious, or too un-self conscious. The consensus has been forming for awhile. It kind of hard to see someone who has such a distinct, forceful, and inventive take such a beating. Especially when I share that view and that sense of humor. But, I am cheered by some searching I did this evening, there is an idiosyncratic Life Aquatic fan-site and a great Wes Anderson fan-site with spectacular Halloween costumes. Despite the hating, I have a feeling that Wes Anderson's movies will emerge in twenty years as seminal films.
P.S. This article on Slate puzzles over Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson doing a mock Charlie Rose interview. It fails to mention that the same type of parody occurs on the Royal Tenenbaums DVD. Did Charlie Rose rub Wes Anderson the wrong way or something?
By Aaron and Amy Bodbyl-Mast at 11/09/2007 10:10:00 PM No comments: Links
In 1999, I finished my first novel, Sparkwood and 21, just after my first son was born. Needless to say, life has intervened and it is too late to return to it. It is completed, though un-edited. Classify it as a work of experimental sci-fi, with a ton of insane character names as well as obvious and obscure pop culture references.
Here is the link. Please enjoy and send it on to many, many friends. Send responses to sparkwood21novel@gmail.com.
Each day that passes adds evidence to one of the inexorable facts of our existence: it is not unique and, if we survive as a species, we will eventually encounter extra-terrestrial life.
One of the key barometers of this is the number of planets that have been discovered outside our solar system. Other key barometers are also listed below.
Today's exoplanet number: 228 (source: exoplanets.org)
Total number of verified planets: 236
Total number of planets currently known to harbor life: 1
Total number of planets currently known to harbor intelligent life: 1
Total number of planets inhabited by humans: 1 (visit The Mars Society for information about changing this number)


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FTB launcher is being released any moment now : feedthebeastjump to contentmy subredditsannouncementsArtAskRedditaskscienceawwblogbookscreepydataisbeautifulDIYDocumentariesEarthPornexplainlikeimfiveFitnessfoodfunnyFuturologygadgetsgamingGetMotivatedgifshistoryIAmAInternetIsBeautifulJokesLifeProTipslistentothismildlyinterestingmoviesMusicnewsnosleepnottheonionOldSchoolCoolpersonalfinancephilosophyphotoshopbattlespicsscienceShowerthoughtsspacesportstelevisiontifutodayilearnedTwoXChromosomesUpliftingNewsvideosworldnewsWritingPromptsedit subscriptionsfront-all-random | tifu-gadgets-books-DIY-movies-LifeProTips-todayilearned-mildlyinteresting-worldnews-InternetIsBeautiful-aww-pics-gifs-Jokes-listentothis-TwoXChromosomes-Documentaries-WritingPrompts-nottheonion-creepy-nosleep-dataisbeautiful-philosophy-photoshopbattles-Music-food-EarthPorn-news-explainlikeimfive-science-askscience-Showerthoughts-history-gaming-space-Futurology-GetMotivated-personalfinance-television-IAmA-Art-UpliftingNews-sports-funny-Fitness-videos-AskReddit-OldSchoolCoolmore » feedthebeastcommentsrelatedwant to join? login or register in seconds|Englishlimit my search to /r/feedthebeastuse the following search parameters to narrow your results:subreddit:subredditfind submissions in "subreddit"author:usernamefind submissions by "username"site:example.comfind submissions from "example.com"url:textsearch for "text" in urlselftext:textsearch for "text" in self post contentsself:yes (or self:no)include (or exclude) self postsnsfw:yes (or nsfw:no)include (or exclude) results marked as NSFWe.g. subreddit:aww site:imgur.com dogsee the search faq for details.advanced search: by author, subreddit...this post was submitted on 29 Oct 201210 points (82% upvoted)shortlink: remember mereset passwordloginSubmit a new linkSubmit a new text postfeedthebeastsubscribeunsubscribe20,430 readers136 users here nowr/FeedTheBeast
created by Awade33<-- Awesomea community for 2 yearsmessage the moderatorsMODERATORSAwade33<-- AwesomeAutoModeratorMod-O-Bot 5000 GammacanilsenModeratorGreypoModeratortterrag1098Moderator/TPPI DevAubronModeratorgreenphlemModerator91011FTB launcher is being released any moment now (self.feedthebeast)submitted 1 year ago by canilsenModeratorsorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onhttp://no.twitch.tv/slowpoke101
Join #FTBlauncher on espernet IRC to get the first release. According to slowpoke's stream it will be out any minute now. Happy testing!
17 commentssharecancelall 17 commentssorted by: randombesttopnewhotcontroversialoldrandom[–]damunzy 1 point2 points3 points 1 year ago (0 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onGreat, and i am in the middle of sandy right now! What a time to live on the Jersey shore!
permalink[–]Agent_Lucien 1 point2 points3 points 1 year ago (1 child)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onIs this legit?
permalink[–]Styx9001 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago (0 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onyes
permalinkparent[–]canilsenModerator[S] 1 point2 points3 points 1 year ago (0 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onThe latest version got Portalgun installed!
permalink[–]rankao 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago (0 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onNot too bad. Is this built with Swing? permalink[–]nallarTickThreading Dev 5 points6 points7 points 1 year ago (2 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onI'd just like to point out that this is NOT the release of FTB! It's just a test of the launcher - already many bugs have been found, and fixes are being worked on.
I know the post doesn't say that it is, but some people have been confused.
permalink[–]JessieLand 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago (1 child)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onAww! I was hoping it was. :( lol Oh well! Back to tekkit, I guess.
permalinkparent[–]Awade33<-- Awesome 1 point2 points3 points 1 year ago (0 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onO.O
permalinkparent[–]canilsenModerator[S] 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago (4 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onNew update just out, beta 1.1. Server software is bundled with the launcher. Current mods included:
Equivalent Exchange 3 alpha
permalink[–]ElitexVenom 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago (3 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onCan you pm or reply the link to this launcher version? Idk where to get it... Pretty please?
permalinkparent[–]aaronstatic 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago (2 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onLatest version can always be found on slowpoke's github FAQ
permalinkparent[–]Anthro99 2 points3 points4 points 1 year ago (1 child)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onLink was shared
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/40374207/Feed_The_Beast_Launcher_Beta_v0.1.jar
May take a while to load, site is lagging.
permalink[–]canilsenModerator[S] 1 point2 points3 points 1 year ago (0 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onYea I keep getting unknown source in the java console. Just have to keep trying until it downloads all the files
permalinkparent[–]Styx9001 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago (3 children)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onI got it all downloaded and everything, any idea how to link up my .minecraft to it so it cooperates with everything?
[–]Styx9001 0 points1 point2 points 1 year ago (1 child)sorry, this has been archived and can no longer be voted onoh ummm okay...i didn't fix it...
username:try anotheravailable!account recovery email: (optional)we only send email at your requestpassword:verify password:remember mecreate accountis it really that easy? only one way to find out...loginalready have an account and just want to login?username:password:remember merecover passwordloginclose this windowinterface languageEnglish [en]العربية [ar]Беларуская мова [be]български език [bg]Bosanski [bs]català [ca]česky [cs]dansk [da]Deutsch [de]Ελληνικά [el]English (Australia) [en-au]English (Canadian) [en-ca]English (Great Britain) [en-gb]English [en-us]Esperanto [eo]español [es]español [es-ar]eesti keel [et]Euskara [eu]فارسی [fa]suomi [fi]français [fr]Gàidhlig [gd]עברית [he]मानक हिन्दी [hi]hrvatski [hr]Magyar [hu]Հայերեն լեզու [hy]Bahasa Indonesia [id]íslenska [is] (*)italiano (Italy) [it]日本語 [ja]ಕನ್ನಡ [kn_IN]한국어 [ko]Latin [la]1337 [leet]LOL [lol]lietuvių kalba [lt]latviešu valoda [lv]Nederlands [nl]Nynorsk [nn]Norsk [no]Arrrrrrrr! [pir]polski [pl]português [pt] (*)português [pt-pt]português brasileiro [pt_BR]română [ro]русский [ru]slovenčina [sk]slovenščina [sl]српски језик [sr]Srpski [sr-la]Svenska [sv]தமிழ் [ta]ภาษาไทย [th]Türkçe [tr]українська мова [uk]Tiếng Việt [vi]中文 [zh] (*) incomplete volunteer to translateπ Rendered by PID 23881 on app-39 at 2014-10-25 11:14:23.996510+00:00 running 97727a2 country code: US.

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WeedyBeanz: More on the New Plot
Here are some more pictures of my new plot - in sunshine this time (still very cold though). I have spent the weekend moving all my useful bits and pieces over there from my old plot, and yesterday bade my final farewells. I met some people who would have been my new neighbours if I'd stayed - they seemed to be making great progress, they have already dug over nearly half the plot.
There was a pile of wood chippings on the new site, which we had been told was for general use, and one of the first things I did when I got up there was fill half my builders bag with them, ready for when I put my raspberries and blackcurrants in, I'm going to use them as a mulch around the fruit.
This area at the very end is the most overgrown part, with nettles, brambles and couch grass in abundance, so this is where I have started to clear first, partly so that I could get my compost bins set up, and also because this is where the fruit bushes will go. It's pretty tough going so far, but I think it will probably get easier as I move further up. I have also sent off for an azada, or Chillington type digging hoe as they're sometimes called. Apparently these are the answer to your prayers. One reviewer claimed that he was able to clear one square metre per minute. Well, I'll believe it when I see it, but I have heard such good things about them that I decided it was worth spending around £10 to find out for myself. The action is very different to how you would use a spade, thus preventing the sore back you would normally expect when digging. You can read about it here.
So this is what I managed to get done today, or most of it anyway, I started on it last week, but today I cleared the area where the compost bins are, and filled them both up, one with almost-done compost, the other with compost-in-progress. All of which I brought with me in numerous bags from the old plot! Well I don't know how much had been added by the previous occupants, and you can never have too much compost can you?
Then I cleared the bit to the right of the bins, where you might be able to see a few sticks poking up - this is where I have planted the comfrey I brought with me. I hope it will be alright - when I tipped the plants out of their pots the soil they were in was frozen solid. I managed to break them into separate pieces and just stuck them in and will just have to hope for the best. They're pretty tough.
And that's about it so far....
I also made 10 jars of marmalade today.
You've got a lot of work ahead, good luck with it all!

value: Blogger is an American online content management system (CMS) which enables multi-user blogs with time-stamped entries. Pyra Labs developed it before being acquired by Google in 2003.


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Mark Thompson: A week in the Lib Dem blogosphere: 4th - 10th July 2009
A week in the Lib Dem blogosphere: 4th - 10th July 2009
I thought I would try a new way of doing link round-ups so I have been keeping track of what I think are some of the best blog posts from the Lib Dem blogosphere this week and every Saturday I am going to post links to them with a brief description of what I liked about them. There's no science or numbers behind this, it's just what I reckon. I will try and do at least one for each day Here goes:
Jennie Rigg had some rather forthright opinions about whether Nick Clegg should have been writing for LabourList. She thinks not. (I won't link to the LL article in case Jennie explodes in Wikio related indignation!)
Costigan had a very well argued piece asking whether the future can truly be free.
Mark Pack shared an excellent piece he originally wrote for a compilation of counter-factuals asking "What if the 1832 Great Reform Act had never happened.
Caron asked how a government department was able to trace Lisa Greenwood's anonymously posted critical comment on "They Work for You" in order to be able to then sack her.
Cicero posted a beautifully written piece about how the small nation of Estonia comes together once every five years to sing in huge numbers.
Charlotte Gore asked "Who'd be an immigrant" given the ridiculous test they make you take. There are lots of comments from people who have taken the test with varying degrees of success. I must admit my responses to her post were rather flippant (one was a quote from Moe Syzlack about "immigants" which shows the level) but that's probably just because I also failed the test. Do I have to leave Blighty right away or can I pack first?
Bridget Fox wondered at the Sky News Panel's priorities for her feedback to them.
James Graham wrote a very well considered post in defence of "parliamentary graffiti" or Early Day Motions as they are more commonly known. I partly used this as inspiration for a guest post I did on the "Scrap Early Day Motions" website also in defence of EDMs.
There was an interesting post by Angela Harbutt on Liberal Vision where she describes how a teacher was sacked for apparent inappropriate behaviour relating to pupils but there is a twist...
Mr Pack was back asking why the blog search facility in Google is hidden away. I had wondered this myself. Perhaps Mark with his friends in high places can find out for us? It would certainly help with blog traffic if it was more prevalent!
Cobden asked why so many Lib Dems have to be such killjoys when it comes to things like enjoying a drink. I haven't met many Lib Dems like this I have to say! He used Sarah Teather's comments on BBC Question Time as his reference point for this.
My statistically learned friend Andy Hinton had a very thought provoking piece about telephone fundraising which he has personal experience of doing himself. He suggested we shouldn't shoot the messenger but that also the organisations wouldn't do it if it wasn't on balance worth it for them.
A bonus section this week for a trilogy of great posts on Lib Dem Voice which combined tell us the 30 things that any aspiring politician should do this summer (part 1, part 2 and part 3). The one about doing without internet access for a week looks the most scary to me....
Posted by Mark Thompson at 17:11
Labels: Blog links, Blogging, Blogosphere, Liberal Democrats
Meant to say earlier: thanks for not making me go FOOM!


text:
Excessive Praise (Ahadith 2328 – 2329) | iLookiListen
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Posted on November 20, 2014, in iLook and tagged back, brother, bukhari, cut, exaggeration, excessive, hadith no 2322, hadith no 2323, hadith no 2324, hadith no 2325, hadith no 2326, hadith no 2327, hadith no 2328, hadith no 2329, neck, praise, ruin, shahaadaat, witness. Bookmark the permalink.	Leave a comment.

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Patent US5894589 - Interactive image display system - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsAn interactive image display system includes a user interface to select a portion of a wide-angle image sequence. An image processor processes the portion of the wide-angle image sequence selected by the user interface to produce a perspective corrected image sequence. A display device displays the perspective...http://www.google.com/patents/US5894589?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5894589 - Interactive image display systemAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5894589 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/741,008Publication dateApr 13, 1999Filing dateOct 31, 1996Priority dateFeb 23, 1995Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS5594935, WO1996036179A1Publication number08741008, 741008, US 5894589 A, US 5894589A, US-A-5894589, US5894589 A, US5894589AInventorsWilliam Louis Reber, Cary Drake PerttunenOriginal AssigneeMotorola, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (23), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (13), Classifications (32), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetInteractive image display systemUS 5894589 AAbstract An interactive image display system includes a user interface to select a portion of a wide-angle image sequence. An image processor processes the portion of the wide-angle image sequence selected by the user interface to produce a perspective corrected image sequence. A display device displays the perspective corrected image sequence produced by the image processor. An accounting system monitors a usage parameter associated with the interactive image display system. A controller selectively inhibits an operative feature provided by at least one of the user interface, the image processor, and the display device based upon the usage parameter.
What is claimed is: 1. An image distribution method comprising the steps of:receiving a payment parameter generated using a card reader at a user location; receiving a user-initiated selection of an image available from an image distribution system; communicating the image from the image distribution system to the user location in dependence upon the payment parameter; and inhibiting communication of a subsequent image to the user location until a subsequent payment parameter is received, the subsequent payment parameter generated using the card reader at the user location. 2. The image distribution method of claim 1 wherein the card reader reads a magnetic strip of a card to generate the payment parameter.
3. The image distribution method of claim 1 wherein the card reader reads a debit card to generate the payment parameter.
4. The image distribution method of claim 1 wherein the card reader reads a credit card to generate the payment parameter, the method further comprising the steps of verifying the credit card, and billing the user for the image.
5. An image distribution method comprising the steps of:receiving a user-initiated selection of an image available from an image distribution system; inhibiting communication of the image to a user location; receiving a payment parameter generated using a card reader at the user location; and communicating the image from the image distribution system to the user location upon receiving the payment parameter. 6. An image distribution method comprising the steps of:receiving a payment parameter generated using a card reader at a user location; communicating at least one image from the image distribution system to the user location upon receiving the payment parameter; monitoring a measure of information communicated from the image distribution system to the user location; and inhibiting subsequent communication from the image distribution system to the user location when the measure of information crosses a threshold dependent upon the payment parameter. 7. The image distribution method of claim 6 wherein the step of inhibiting subsequent communication is performed until a subsequent payment parameter is received from the user location.
8. An image distribution method comprising the steps of:receiving a payment parameter generated using a card reader at a user location; upon receiving the payment parameter, communicating at least one image from the image distribution system to the user location until a measure of information communicated from the image distribution system to the user location crosses a threshold dependent upon the payment parameter. 9. An image distribution method comprising the steps of:communicating a wide-angle image from an image distribution system to a user location; and inhibiting a capability to display a perspective corrected image of a portion of the wide-angle image at the user location when a usage parameter crosses a threshold. 10. The image distribution method of claim 9 wherein the step of inhibiting includes inhibiting a capability to process the portion of the wide-angle image to form the perspective corrected image.
11. The image distribution method of claim 9 further comprising the step of receiving a payment parameter, wherein the threshold is dependent upon the payment parameter.
12. The image distribution method of claim 11 wherein the threshold is based upon a number of sessions which is purchased.
13. The image distribution method of claim 9 wherein the usage parameter includes a measure of time.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/440,015, filed on May 12, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,935 which application is a continuation-in-part of the following applications which are assigned to the same assignee as the present application:
(1) "Method and System for Interactively Viewing a Broadcast Program", having Ser. No. 08/392,593 filed Feb. 23, 1995;
(2) "Method and System for Broadcasting an Interactively Viewable Program", having Ser. No. 08/392,705 filed Feb. 23, 1995; and
(3) "Method and System for Producing an Animated Image Sequence using Wide-Angle Images", having Ser. No. 08/431,185 filed Apr. 28, 1995.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide an interactive image display apparatus having the form of a kiosk which can be utilized at public locations. The interactive image display apparatus allows a user to select a portion of a wide-angle view of live, real-world environment. The portion is transformed in real-time to display a perspective corrected image sequence to provide the user a telepresence within the environment. Further, the user is capable of viewing performance animation using an animated image sequence generator.
In a third embodiment, the payment accepting mechanism 28 includes a card reader which reads a magnetic strip on a credit card or a debit card. The user can swipe his/her credit card, for example, through the card reader to purchase usage of the interactive image display system. The card reader communicates the credit card number to the accounting system 26. The accounting system 26 performs steps of verifying the credit card by communicating with a financial network (not specifically illustrated), and billing the user at the completion of his/her sessions.
These viewpoints can be captured live, such as real-time image sequences 66. Alternatively, these viewpoints could be captured to form a knowledge base 68 which includes a sequence of images stored in an analog format such as on video tape or film, or in a digital format on a mass storage device such as a tape, disk, CD-ROM, or memory.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4173024 *Jan 16, 1978Oct 30, 1979Miller Griffith CAudio-visual reproduction carrelUS4528589 *Feb 1, 1984Jul 9, 1985Telease, Inc.Method and system for subscription television billing and accessUS4667802 *Oct 1, 1984May 26, 1987Verduin Lee CVideo jukeboxUS4751732 *Jun 24, 1985Jun 14, 1988Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaBroadcasting systemUS4802101 *Aug 19, 1986Jan 31, 1989Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Signal processing method for determining base sequence of nucleic acidUS4852570 *Feb 9, 1989Aug 1, 1989Levine Alfred BComparative medical-physical analysisUS4891506 *Feb 10, 1988Jan 2, 1990Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaMulti-use portable electronic deviceUS4916737 *Nov 14, 1988Apr 10, 1990Teleglobe Pay-Tv System, Inc.Secure anti-piracy encoded television system and methodUS4982326 *Oct 4, 1989Jan 1, 1991Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Method for analyzing autoradiograph for determining base sequence of nucleic acidUS5144663 *Nov 13, 1990Sep 1, 1992Kudelski S.A. Fabrique D'engregistreurs NagraMethod of interactive communication between a subscriber and a decoder of a system of pay-television and decoder thereofUS5185667 *May 13, 1991Feb 9, 1993Telerobotics International, Inc.Omniview motionless camera orientation systemUS5196682 *May 31, 1989Mar 23, 1993Wang Laboratories, Inc.Portable data storage deviceUS5280540 *Oct 9, 1991Jan 18, 1994Bell Communications Research, Inc.Video teleconferencing system employing aspect ratio transformationUS5289271 *Sep 9, 1991Feb 22, 1994Watson John CCable television-usage systemUS5291399 *Jul 27, 1990Mar 1, 1994Executone Information Systems, Inc.Method and apparatus for accessing a portable personal database as for a hospital environmentUS5341474 *May 15, 1992Aug 23, 1994Bell Communications Research, Inc.Communications architecture and buffer for distributing information servicesUS5357276 *Dec 1, 1992Oct 18, 1994Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.Method of providing video on demand with VCR like functionsUS5367329 *Oct 23, 1992Nov 22, 1994Fujitsu LimitedAccounting system in network for offering video programsUS5371671 *Aug 24, 1993Dec 6, 1994The Regents Of The University Of CaliforniaDNA sequence autoradiogram digitizer and methodology implemented in the sameUS5384588 *Jan 31, 1994Jan 24, 1995Telerobotics International, Inc.System for omindirectional image viewing at a remote location without the transmission of control signals to select viewing parametersUS5432871 *Aug 4, 1993Jul 11, 1995Universal Systems & Technology, Inc.Systems and methods for interactive image data acquisition and compressionUS5473690 *Jan 16, 1992Dec 5, 1995Gemplus Card InternationalSecured method for loading a plurality of applications into a microprocessor memory cardUS5499048 *Sep 27, 1994Mar 12, 1996Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.Multi-video/audio system and method of controlling the same* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1"Peering Out a `Real Time` Window" by Peter H. Lewis, The New York Times, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 1995.2 *Peering Out a Real Time Window by Peter H. Lewis, The New York Times, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 1995.* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6418473 *May 20, 1999Jul 9, 2002Nortel Networks LimitedMultimedia clent and serverUS6448987 *Apr 3, 1998Sep 10, 2002Intertainer, Inc.Graphic user interface for a digital content delivery system using circular menusUS6778211Apr 10, 2000Aug 17, 2004Ipix Corp.Method and apparatus for providing virtual processing effects for wide-angle video imagesUS7173649 *May 29, 2002Feb 6, 2007Shannon Thomas DVideo airshipUS7286158Dec 22, 1999Oct 23, 2007Axcess International Inc.Method and system for providing integrated remote monitoring servicesUS7312820Jul 26, 2004Dec 25, 2007Ipix CorporationMethod and apparatus for providing virtual processing effects for wide-angle video imagesUS7707600 *Aug 21, 1998Apr 27, 2010Intel CorporationConfirming video transmissionsUS7870592Jul 31, 2001Jan 11, 2011Intertainer, Inc.Method for interactive video content programmingUS8032904 *Mar 11, 2010Oct 4, 2011Intel CorporationConfirming video transmissionsUS8468099Oct 10, 2009Jun 18, 2013Intertainer, Inc.Digital entertainment service platformUS8479246Jun 13, 2012Jul 2, 2013Intertainer, Inc.System and method for interactive video content programmingUS8595762Sep 16, 2011Nov 26, 2013Intel CorporationConfirming video transmissionsWO2000031966A1 *Nov 23, 1999Jun 2, 2000Ni4U CorpSystem and method for taking, selecting and processing electronic pictures* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification725/6, 348/E07.039, 348/E05.096, 348/E07.062, 348/E07.093, 348/E07.091, 348/E07.061, 348/E07.069, 348/E07.054, 725/14International ClassificationH04N7/16, H04N5/44, H04N7/173, H04N7/00, H04N7/08, H04N7/20Cooperative ClassificationH04N5/44, H04N7/163, H04N7/16, H04N7/164, H04N7/002, H04N7/0806, H04N7/173, H04N7/20European ClassificationH04N7/20, H04N7/16E2, H04N7/16, H04N5/44, H04N7/08C, H04N7/173, H04N7/00B, H04N7/16E2BLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionSep 22, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12May 29, 2007ASAssignmentOwner name: MOTOROLA, INC., ILLINOISFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:REBER, WILLIAM LOUIS;PERTTUNEN, CARY DRAKE;REEL/FRAME:019341/0731;SIGNING DATES FROM 19950706 TO 19950712Mar 13, 2007ASAssignmentOwner name: ADVENTURE GALLERY SOFTWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:WILLIAM REBER L.L.C.;REEL/FRAME:019000/0348Effective date: 20061002Sep 15, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Sep 30, 2002ASAssignmentOwner name: WILLIAM REBER, L.L.C., ILLINOISFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MOTOROLA, INC.;REEL/FRAME:013288/0298Effective date: 20020920Owner name: WILLIAM REBER, L.L.C. 2812 DEERFIELD LANEROLLING MFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MOTOROLA, INC. /AR;REEL/FRAME:013288/0298Sep 16, 2002FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google

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text:
The Lucky Lunchbox: Egg Muffins
Here is the recipe for egg muffins. They are very good and are so easy to make. This is my personal recipe, but it can be tweaked a hundred ways to suit any taste, and they will still be delicious. You just can't go wrong with eggs, cheese, and bacon!!
My personal recipe- egg muffins-
2 packages (4 oz). Oscar Mayer
Selects uncured bacon pieces
3 large green onions- chopped finely
1/2 med. red bell pepper- chopped
6 oz. shredded cheese- I used Kraft 3
1/2 cup mushrooms- chopped finely
Dash of hot sauce- sorry, I do not
measure the spices
Spray muffin pan VERY well with cooking spray to keep muffins from sticking. Mix
together the bacon, onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, and cheese. In separate bowl, beat eggs. Stir in
spices, hot sauce, and half & half. Add egg mixture to the bacon and cheese mixture. Stir well. Ladle
into muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake in a preheated 350* F oven 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned on top and firm to the touch. Remove baked muffins from pan immediately to prevent sticking. Eat and enjoy!


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08 | November | 2009 | OP-dEaD: The Horror Movie Blog
Categories: Restless Spirits . Tags: British, bunker, experiment, German, Halloween, Halloween (holiday), limbo, mercenaries, Nazis, Outpost, Ray Stevenson, soldiers, SS soldiers, traditions . Author: Nutsferatu . Comments: 2 Comments


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Daedalus class | Memory Alpha | FANDOM powered by Wikia
Model of the Daedalus class
Until 2196
The Daedalus-class was an early class of Starfleet vessel that, unlike most Federation starship designs, was designed with a spherical primary hull, outwardly similar to the later Olympic-class. This class, which operated with a crew of approximately 229, was decommissioned by the year 2196. It had a unique subspace distress call among starship classes. (TNG: "Power Play")
Operating out of Starbase 12, the USS Essex, under the command of Captain Bryce Shumar, when it visited the M-class moon of Mab-Bu VI in 2167 where it was lost. (TNG: "Power Play")
A model of the USS Horizon was at one time kept in Deep Space 9's classroom, and later in Benjamin Sisko's ready room. (DS9: "The Nagus", "Progress", etc.)
"The Nagus" (model in DS9's classroom)
"Progress" (model from here on in Sisko's office)
"Inquisition "
Note that ship design and the name "Daedalus" have never been connected in any canon production. TNG: "Power Play" is the only mention of a ship type called "Daedalus-class". The ship model as seen on DS9, and the USS Horizon it represents, was never stated to be a Daedalus-class starship. But since the model was initially built for Star Trek Chronology to depict the Daedalus-class, Memory Alpha assumes it to be the Daedalus-class design.
For further information on the model: see Daedalus-class model
While not mentioned specifically, according to dialogue in "These Are the Voyages...", new warp 7 starships came into service in or sometime soon after 2161. Since the Daedalus-class is known to have been in service since at least the 2160s, this suggests that the class was among the first new warp 7 starships.
In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Millennium novel The War of the Prophets, Jake Sisko recalls seeing the Daedalus-class USS Discovery at the Starfleet Museum.
A Daedalus-class starship named the USS Lovell is prominently featured in the Star Trek: SCE Foundations trilogy. The Daedalus-class starship on the book's cover is the USS Archon. The USS Lovell is also active in the Star Trek: Vanguard novels. The ship – a CGI model constructed by Doug Drexler – is shown outside Starbase 47 (Vanguard) on the cover of the second book of the series Summon the Thunder (though Drexler had assigned the registry number NCC-129 to the USS Daedalus on his CGI model).
In Michael Jan Friedman's novel Starfleet: Year One, competition among the early Starfleet's captains for command of the first Daedalus was one of the main plot threads – though the events of this novel have been ignored by later novels, as it was contradicted by Star Trek: Enterprise.
Star Trek: Legacy was the first Star Trek video game to feature a Daedalus-class starship.
In the Pocket ENT novels The Good That Men Do, Kobayashi Maru, and Beneath the Raptor's Wing, the Daedalus-class is featured heavily as an older ship class refitted with modern technology, and the main replacement of the NX-class fleet. The NX ships were deemed too expensive and taking too long to build, shipyard personnel stated they could churn out three new Daedalus hulls in the same time it would take to build one NX vessel.
According to Issue #100 of the Star Trek: The Official Starships Collection, the Daedalus-class was a type of explorer. This class was approximately 140 meters in length, had a maximum speed of warp factor 7, and was equipped with phaser emitters and photon torpedo launchers. It was stated further that this class of ship superseded the NX-class starships.
Daedalus class at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Daedalus Class Problems at Ex Astris Scientia
Retrieved from "https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Daedalus_class?oldid=2318713"

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text:
Linux RMS-Gateway is a Restricted Group with 963 members.
Re: Pactor setup help
tharenberg
Sorry for the noise, figured that out myself (it s just the socket, so that was easy). As I received the (new style) credentials yesterday only, I fear we re
Message 1 of 15 , May 3, 2013
Sorry for the noise, figured that out myself (it's just the socket, so that was easy).
As I received the (new style) credentials yesterday only, I fear we're stuck at this point until 2.3. Willing to test any beta, as soon as it's available :)
Torsten (PJ2/)DL1THM
> Dear Hans,
> I try to do the same setup as you described here @ PJ2A in Curacao. I'm familiar with tnt (and also Kernel AX.25 although not needed for PACTOR) and I already setup a PACKET gateway.
> --- In LinuxRMS@yahoogroups.com, "Hans" <dl5di@> wrote:
> > You will find my patched version of tnt here:
> > http://download.prgm.org/dl5di-soft/rms-gateway/downloads
> Maybe you could also include your /etc/tnt/tntc-pt.ini into this file? Would help me quite a bit :).
> Torsten DL1THM
Dear all, this goes out to anybody running also a PACTOR setup. I think I finished with the setup and thanks to a pair of old-syle credentials we had, I could
Message 2 of 15 , May 3, 2013
this goes out to anybody running also a PACTOR setup.
I think I finished with the setup and thanks to a pair of old-syle credentials we had, I could more or less finish with it (on a machine running Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 64 bit)
- TNT (patched version from Hans) is up, running and synchronizing with PTC,
- adjusted the tnt start scripts (/bin/startproc etc. is not available under Ubuntu)
- rmsgw is configured and can log into the WL2K system (rmsgw_aci works)
What I'm missing within the config files provided by Hans (thanks for that!!):
where do you tell TNT to spawn the connection over to rmsgw?
In the old mail back from 2011 you mentioned that you run a script before where the user can choose if he wants to be passed through to the EU packet radio network or to WL2K. I wouldn't need that functionality, but rather would want to have all connectioned passed to rmsgw. But I couldn't find where any of this is configured.
Only saw that "remote_user" is set to rmsgw, but it's login shell is by default on /bin/false, so that alone would not help.
Hi Torsten! You are obviously the first and only one within the last 5 years who gives that HF installation a try. ... or the others just gave up without
Message 3 of 15 , May 4, 2013
You are obviously the first and only one within the last 5 years who gives that HF installation a try.
... or the others just gave up without asking.
The setup of "tnt" is very complex and tricky, so I never really forced that during the last years.
Meanwhile it should not be difficult to create a complete preconfigured image for the Raspberry Pi. I have created a lot of packages for D-Star repeater and gateway applications for different ARM platforms and could do that.
> this goes out to anybody running also a PACTOR setup.
> I think I finished with the setup and thanks to a pair of old-syle credentials we had, I could more or less finish with it (on a machine running Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 64 bit)
> - TNT (patched version from Hans) is up, running and synchronizing with PTC,
> What I'm missing within the config files provided by Hans (thanks for that!!):
> where do you tell TNT to spawn the connection over to rmsgw?
> In the old mail back from 2011 you mentioned that you run a script before where the user can choose if he wants to be passed through to the EU packet radio network or to WL2K. I wouldn't need that functionality, but rather would want to have all connectioned passed to rmsgw. But I couldn't find where any of this is configured.
> Only saw that "remote_user" is set to rmsgw, but it's login shell is by default on /bin/false, so that alone would not help.
> Hope someone can help us here.
Hi Hans, thank you so much!!! I like this setup, it s so flexible!! ... I think I have it nearly running. Sent you a private mail (as I wanted to show you some
Message 4 of 15 , May 7, 2013
I think I have it nearly running. Sent you a private mail (as I wanted to show you some screenshots), hope that the e-mail address was correct.
73s from Curaçao and thanks again
Torsten. The system of Hans, including the delay, did and do work so well seen from Norway, that when my club LA3F applied for enabling a Pactor RMS we aimed
Message 5 of 15 , Jun 1, 2013
RMS Trimode by WDT came, after BPQ32 really jumped into the multi system.
WINMOR ONLY Microsoft compatible with the .NET 3.5 issue :-(
LA3F...Finn/LA7UM
> thank you so much!!! I like this setup, it's so flexible!!
> > Please let me know if there are any other open questions.
> I think I have it nearly running. Sent you a private mail (as I wanted to show you some screenshots), hope that the e-mail address was correct.
> 73s from Curaçao and thanks again
Hi Torsten! Unfortunately it took some time until I could dig into it and I found one reason, why the Pactor terminal program does not start rmsgw in Pactor
Message 6 of 15 , Jun 10, 2013
It would probably be a better way to change "tnt" to use the actual pseudo tty's.
Maybe this information will help you to make some progress.
... [snip] ... Hi Hans, If you are still in Greece, are you near Athens? I ll buy you a cold beer if we meet! 73 de Demetre SV1UY
Message 7 of 15 , Jun 22, 2013
> de Hans DL5DI
Hi Hans, thanks for digging into that. I had some busy weeks without the time to take care about the system. I think I still have another problem with TNT,
Message 8 of 15 , Jun 23, 2013
TNT V1.9.1(BC,Sound) Packet Radio Terminal
LINUX-Version, Created: 2000/06/06
Copyright (C) 1993-99 by Mark Wahl, DL4YBG
Further development by Matthias Hensler, WSPse 1998-2000
Changes from version 1.2 to 1.3 by Johann Hanne, DH3MB
GnuPG/PGP extensions by Walter Koch, DG9EP
Maintainers: Berndt Josef Wulf (VK5ABN), Hans Mayer (OE1SMC), Matthias Hensler
Thanks to many people for testing, suggestions and ideas
Find new versions at http://www.wspse.de
Send bugreports to mailto:tnt-bugs@...-aachen.de
For license details see documentation.
To get help: <ALT> H or <Esc> H
Compiled on Apr 30 2013
runt main
Only while connected
Hi Torsten! Some minor findings that may help to get that old tnt stuff work on actual Linux systems: - change the shell entry in the main script (1st line)
Message 9 of 15 , Jun 27, 2013
I found that the default shell on some distributions is set to /bin/dash by default, which is very limited.
In my case the shell did not support the shell command "read" with timeout option, which may cause the endless loop that you saw.
> thanks for digging into that. I had some busy weeks without the time to take care about the system.
> I think I still have another problem with TNT, this is what happens at the console after starting when trying to run "runt main":
> TNT V1.9.1(BC,Sound) Packet Radio Terminal
> LINUX-Version, Created: 2000/06/06
> Copyright (C) 1993-99 by Mark Wahl, DL4YBG
> Further development by Matthias Hensler, WSPse 1998-2000
> Changes from version 1.2 to 1.3 by Johann Hanne, DH3MB
> GnuPG/PGP extensions by Walter Koch, DG9EP
> Maintainers: Berndt Josef Wulf (VK5ABN), Hans Mayer (OE1SMC), Matthias Hensler
> Thanks to many people for testing, suggestions and ideas
> Find new versions at http://www.wspse.de
> Send bugreports to mailto:tnt-bugs@...
> For license details see documentation.
> To get help: <ALT> H or <Esc> H
> Compiled on Apr 30 2013
> runt main
> Only while connected
> these "Try to connect to interface, Can't connect to program" messages continue appearing about once per minute (also without executing "runt main").
> changed tnt_bin_dir to /usr/lib/tnt, but that didn't help (and you have it left to "bin/", so that shouldn't be the issue). Unfortunately, I haven't found a way to do more logging in TNT to find out what exactly he's looking for.
> Enjoy your holiday time !!!
Hi Hans, thanks again. I really hope we can get it running, the flexibility of the setup is really worth it :). ... Good point - changed that. ... I already
Message 10 of 15 , Jun 29, 2013
> I found that the default shell on some distributions is set to /bin/dash by default, which is very limited.
> In my case the shell did not support the shell command "read" with timeout option, which may cause the endless loop that you saw.
> - there is a call to a script "sfi.pl" in the main script.
Fortunately, Ubuntu Server kernels have
I could get rid of the
There were "ACTBOX" commands for every SSID in the tnt-pt.up file, while cannot succeed as I don't run dpbox.
While that has been solved, "runt main" will still complain "Only while connected" (and if I understand the source code correctly, this is the intended behavior, but maybe you could cross-check on your setup?).
Unfortunately, the ham on PJ2 which gave me remote access to his Pactor (client) station (Airmail 2000) is on vacations now. Will try to reach the station from here but I only have a Windom antenna here so don't know if that will work. Do you know if there is any chance to run the program out of TNT even if the channel is not connected?

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text:
Torahblogga - en judisk blogg om judendomen!: Shabbat sha-Lohan
Hittade just denna artikel på The Daily Beast. Lindsay Lohans lättsamma filmer visar sig ha starka judiska undertoner! Helt underbart roligt:
Lindsay Lohan even tried converting to Judaism to save her relationship with Samantha Ronson. No surprise, says Andy Borowitz: Her movies are filled with subtle but rich Talmudic themes.
Just when we were getting used to the idea that Lindsay Lohan was a lesbian, now comes word that she may become a Jew. According to Page Six (דף שש in Hebrew), Lindsay has considered converting to Judaism to show her commitment to her beloved, DJ Samantha Ronson. If Lindsay had announced her lesbianism without announcing her Judaism, it would have been enough—or as members of Lindsay’s new tribe like to say, “Dayenu.” But with the big Lindsay shocker dropping just before Passover, the youngest child at the Seder table may be tempted to ditch the traditional Haggadah and ask a new version of the Four Questions: 1) Will Lindsay change her name to Lohanstein?; 2) On Passover, does Lindsay smoke a different herb than she usually smokes?;3) Do Lindsay and Sam play “Hide the matzoh”?; and, most crucially, 4) Why is this lesbian different from all other lesbians?
But while the world at large has reacted to Lindsay’s possible conversion with a collective “oy,” the news came as no surprise to Talmudic scholars, who are some of the fiercest adherents of Lohan’s cinematic oeuvre. Little wonder: A quick overview of her films reveals an astonishingly rich vein of Jewish themes.
Even as reports swirl that the two Jewesses' love might head for the exodus, Lindsay's relationship with the Torah is likely to endure. This is the opinion of Talmudic scholars, who are among the staunchest admirers of her cinematic oeuvre.
Interestingly, Lohan’s breakthrough film was titled Freaky Saturday before the teenage actress signed on. After reading the script, however, Lohan insisted on the change, telling one studio executive, “I don’t mean to kvetch, but my character would never be freaky on a Saturday.” One thing she did not ask to be changed was the film’s plotline, which subtly evokes the story of Pesach. In the film, Jamie Lee Curtis switches bodies with Lohan—her firstborn—and thus her daughter is “passed over” by the torments of adolescence. The film garnered raves from such Hebraic movie magazines as Reel Jewish, which gushed, “Freaky Friday makes Yentl look goyische.”
At the time of its release, most critics saw Mean Girls as a lighthearted satire of the world of high-school cliques. Many Jewish scholars, however, maintain that the film is a complex allegory for the Jews’ enslavement under Pharaoh, a theme that was first touched on in Freaky Friday. Upon closer examination, clues to the film’s real meaning abound, such as the cafeteria scene in which Lohan’s tray inexplicably carries a bowl of saltwater and a lamb bone.
Herbie Fully Loaded (2005), Georgia Rule (2007), I Know Who Killed Me (2007), etc.
On first glance, Lohan’s most recent movies do not appear to be as overtly Jewish as her earlier work. But not so, according to Yeshiva University professor Shlomo Sitowitz, a leading Lohan film scholar and the only person known to have seen all of her films, including the little-known Confessions of a Teenage Shmata Queen (2002). Sitowitz’s theory, which has gained traction in Jewish cinema circles of late, is that Lohan’s later films are meant to symbolize the Ten Plagues of Egypt. For example, Georgia Rule, pulled from theaters after one week, represents darkness, while the Volkswagen or “bug” in Herbie Fully Loaded represents either locusts or gnats. Scholars may quibble as to which film corresponds to which plague, especially because any number them seem like incurable boils. But one thing is certain, in the words of Professor Sitowitz: “Taken as a whole, Lindsay Lohan’s body of work cements her status as the greatest Jewish film actress since Madonna.”
Andy Borowitz is a comedian and satirist whose work appears in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and at his Web site www.borowitzreport.com. He is appearing live in New York on April 30; tickets are available here.
Nyckelord Film, Humor, Kändisar, Pesach, Torah lishma (Torah för skojs skull)


text:
What's Cookin'?: Classic Lobster Rolls
Posted by TexasGal at 7:28 AM
Substitute for mayo:
Combine all ingredients. May need to adjust quantity for Lobster Rolls.