After a thorough comparison of features and other attributes, I am throwing in the blogger towel, and moving to Wordpress. You can find my new blog here. I figure that if I like the way my blog looks and feels, I will be more likely to post.
Take a minute to update your RSS feed or whatever you use.
See you over there.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
GoodReads Demographics
If this doesn't tell you much about the dominating demographic on Goodreads, then President Monson is jumping for joy.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sitch in Iran
Let's not get too carried away with this whole "revolution" in Iran.
It is easy to misunderstand the situation, what with all the heroic
defense of democracy going on.
It is easy to misunderstand the situation, what with all the heroic
defense of democracy going on.
Do people really believe that Mir-Hossein Mousavi is a revolutionist?
Do we expect him to reform Iranian government? Hardly. The man was one
of the main propellants that established the current state of affairs.
He was the prime minister who presided over execution of the
opposition. The man is a killer.
So, it is all well and good to defend the democratic right to vote,
and I believe that all people should have the chance to express their
opinions in the appropriate political forums, but let's not fool
ourselves into thinking that this candidate is going to bring about
real change in Iran.
Nuclear Power, Waste, and Storage - Energy Solutions
There is an ongoing battle in Utah. It goes like this:
EnergySolutions (ES): Hello Utah, we are new in town, and we were
thinking that none of you would mind if we dumped our low-level
nuclear waste out in your barren stretch of desert. What do you think?
Utah: Um, not in a million years.
ES: But look, we are a hip and cool company, we even bought the Delta
Center and renamed it (awkwardly), EnergySolutions Arena? See? We are
an integral part of Utah's social heritage!
Utah: You seem shifty and full of lies. No way are we letting you dump
anything in our desert.
ES: OK then, we are going to offer you a lot of money to let us do so.
MONEY. You can buy anything in this world with money. You can fill the
hole in your state budget.
Utah: No no no!
ES: C'mon! We are already dumping the stuff in Tooele! Just let us do
it in the desert too!
I am being a little facetious on the side of the Utahans, but that
basically is how the fight has gone. ES has been a little shifty and
coercive, and Utah has not liked it one bit.
The truth is, though, most people misunderstand what low-level nuclear
waste is. For some reason, the term "nuclear waste" conjures up images
of steaming hot ultraviolet liquid encased in leaky metal barrels
being dumped by the truckfull into the nearest lake, where it promptly
kills all the animals, fish, and precious microbes, resulting in the
death of all life as we know it on the planet.
The truth is, low-level nuclear waste can mean radiation suits,
clothing, handkerchiefs, or even a spare nickel that has had the
possibility of coming in contact with radiation while at a nuclear
facility. The stuff poses minimal damage to the surroundings, let a
lone to cities of people hundreds of miles away.
Yet, once the door is open for a nuclear waste facility, Utahans fear
that ES will kick open the door for storage of higher-level waste,
such as depleted uranium. That claim seems to be founded, as it seems
that ES has already laid a few solid blows on that entrance.
I am a big fan of nuclear power. I agree with senator Bennett, that
the nation needs 100 more nuclear power plants. I think we should
build as many as we need to power the country. It is true, the waste
processing is a problem, but there are several options I am aware of.
If anyone else knows anything about this, feel free to chime in.
I read an interesting proposition last week about the use of high
level nuclear waste to generate electricity. It stated that, since
most high level n-waste is extremely hot (sometimes several thousand
degrees), why not use that heat to drive some kind of mechanism, such
as a stirling engine (which runs on heat alone) to generate power?
A personal question: why not dump the stuff in the middle of the
Sahara, where nobody lives?
Opinions?
EnergySolutions (ES): Hello Utah, we are new in town, and we were
thinking that none of you would mind if we dumped our low-level
nuclear waste out in your barren stretch of desert. What do you think?
Utah: Um, not in a million years.
ES: But look, we are a hip and cool company, we even bought the Delta
Center and renamed it (awkwardly), EnergySolutions Arena? See? We are
an integral part of Utah's social heritage!
Utah: You seem shifty and full of lies. No way are we letting you dump
anything in our desert.
ES: OK then, we are going to offer you a lot of money to let us do so.
MONEY. You can buy anything in this world with money. You can fill the
hole in your state budget.
Utah: No no no!
ES: C'mon! We are already dumping the stuff in Tooele! Just let us do
it in the desert too!
I am being a little facetious on the side of the Utahans, but that
basically is how the fight has gone. ES has been a little shifty and
coercive, and Utah has not liked it one bit.
The truth is, though, most people misunderstand what low-level nuclear
waste is. For some reason, the term "nuclear waste" conjures up images
of steaming hot ultraviolet liquid encased in leaky metal barrels
being dumped by the truckfull into the nearest lake, where it promptly
kills all the animals, fish, and precious microbes, resulting in the
death of all life as we know it on the planet.
The truth is, low-level nuclear waste can mean radiation suits,
clothing, handkerchiefs, or even a spare nickel that has had the
possibility of coming in contact with radiation while at a nuclear
facility. The stuff poses minimal damage to the surroundings, let a
lone to cities of people hundreds of miles away.
Yet, once the door is open for a nuclear waste facility, Utahans fear
that ES will kick open the door for storage of higher-level waste,
such as depleted uranium. That claim seems to be founded, as it seems
that ES has already laid a few solid blows on that entrance.
I am a big fan of nuclear power. I agree with senator Bennett, that
the nation needs 100 more nuclear power plants. I think we should
build as many as we need to power the country. It is true, the waste
processing is a problem, but there are several options I am aware of.
If anyone else knows anything about this, feel free to chime in.
I read an interesting proposition last week about the use of high
level nuclear waste to generate electricity. It stated that, since
most high level n-waste is extremely hot (sometimes several thousand
degrees), why not use that heat to drive some kind of mechanism, such
as a stirling engine (which runs on heat alone) to generate power?
A personal question: why not dump the stuff in the middle of the
Sahara, where nobody lives?
Opinions?
Labor Unions?
OK, Let's talk about labor activism.
Anybody heard of the GM bankruptcy?
UAW made a major contribution to the death of General Motors, icon of
American industry, vigor, etc (choke). How? Through long court
battles, UAW forced GM to agree to union member benefits that
seriously crippled the company. We're talking about pensions for life
for retired workers, medical care, etc. "[GM] agreed in 1948 to annual
cost-of-living pay increases and in 1950 to free health-care coverage
for life and generous pensions." (The Economist). It is
estimated that these benefits added as much as $1,400 to the cost of
each car they manufactured.
An illustration: My grandfather worked for GM for 40 years. He died in
1992. To this day, and, as we recently found out, even after GM
emerges from bankruptcy, his VIP discount (obtained through the UAW)
is available to our family (as long as my grandmother lives). The
discount is AMAZING. It trumps employee discounts today.
Good for UAW members, bad for GM, and ultimately, bad for the economy.
Bad for growth, bad for the nation. "You are hurting America," as John
Stewart would say.
Radical redistribution of wealth? Is that what a recession is?
Anybody heard of the GM bankruptcy?
UAW made a major contribution to the death of General Motors, icon of
American industry, vigor, etc (choke). How? Through long court
battles, UAW forced GM to agree to union member benefits that
seriously crippled the company. We're talking about pensions for life
for retired workers, medical care, etc. "[GM] agreed in 1948 to annual
cost-of-living pay increases and in 1950 to free health-care coverage
for life and generous pensions." (The Economist). It is
estimated that these benefits added as much as $1,400 to the cost of
each car they manufactured.
An illustration: My grandfather worked for GM for 40 years. He died in
1992. To this day, and, as we recently found out, even after GM
emerges from bankruptcy, his VIP discount (obtained through the UAW)
is available to our family (as long as my grandmother lives). The
discount is AMAZING. It trumps employee discounts today.
Good for UAW members, bad for GM, and ultimately, bad for the economy.
Bad for growth, bad for the nation. "You are hurting America," as John
Stewart would say.
Radical redistribution of wealth? Is that what a recession is?
Illegal Artifacts Trading - Cultural Heritage or Despicable Atrocity?
This last week was eventful for those in the illegal trade of American
Indian artifacts. Some 20 people were arrested in for selling over
$350,000 worth of artifacts removed from public land. The bad news for
them was that they sold them to undercover federal officers (ouch).
Several days ago, one of those arrested killed himself. Late last
week, a second was found dead in front of an elementary school with a
self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest (of all places, why would
you shoot yourself in the chest?) This has brought to light a whole
different (and distracting) discussion on whether the federal
government is making too big a deal out of this situation. They say
that the objective of the government to "make an example" out of these
folks has driven them to despair and fear, resulting in their suicides
(we will ignore the fact that these same people were calling for the
government to make an example out of Tim DeChristopher.)
They argue that this practice of literally looting the burial sites of
American Indians is a long-standing cultural practice, and that the
government is throwing a monkey-wrench in the lives of everyone by
cracking down on this trade.
What they conveniently ignore, besides respecting the dead and the age
of the artifacts (they frequently shatter pots and other less valuable
items while searching for valuables), is that the artifacts are
recovered from PUBLIC LAND. This would be the equivalent of me
installing a water treatment facility on top of Old Faithful to sell
it's expulsions as bottled spring water. Can't do. It's publicly owned
land.
Radio West aired an interesting interview on the topic, during which
the author interviewee described how these collectors view the thefts.
Every artifact on a shelf represents a hole somewhere, and likely a
desecrated grave or home. They ignore the hole that they made, the
damage that was done, and focus only on the feeling of having that
item on their shelf.
In my opinion, no one can blame the federal agents for the suicides of
these people. They knew what they were doing was illegal, and now that
they have been caught, they are seeking to avoid the consequences of
their actions, namely, prison time. They chose to die, just as they
chose to steal, and the government should show no lenience because of
a couple of suicides.
Indian artifacts. Some 20 people were arrested in for selling over
$350,000 worth of artifacts removed from public land. The bad news for
them was that they sold them to undercover federal officers (ouch).
Several days ago, one of those arrested killed himself. Late last
week, a second was found dead in front of an elementary school with a
self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest (of all places, why would
you shoot yourself in the chest?) This has brought to light a whole
different (and distracting) discussion on whether the federal
government is making too big a deal out of this situation. They say
that the objective of the government to "make an example" out of these
folks has driven them to despair and fear, resulting in their suicides
(we will ignore the fact that these same people were calling for the
government to make an example out of Tim DeChristopher.)
They argue that this practice of literally looting the burial sites of
American Indians is a long-standing cultural practice, and that the
government is throwing a monkey-wrench in the lives of everyone by
cracking down on this trade.
What they conveniently ignore, besides respecting the dead and the age
of the artifacts (they frequently shatter pots and other less valuable
items while searching for valuables), is that the artifacts are
recovered from PUBLIC LAND. This would be the equivalent of me
installing a water treatment facility on top of Old Faithful to sell
it's expulsions as bottled spring water. Can't do. It's publicly owned
land.
Radio West aired an interesting interview on the topic, during which
the author interviewee described how these collectors view the thefts.
Every artifact on a shelf represents a hole somewhere, and likely a
desecrated grave or home. They ignore the hole that they made, the
damage that was done, and focus only on the feeling of having that
item on their shelf.
In my opinion, no one can blame the federal agents for the suicides of
these people. They knew what they were doing was illegal, and now that
they have been caught, they are seeking to avoid the consequences of
their actions, namely, prison time. They chose to die, just as they
chose to steal, and the government should show no lenience because of
a couple of suicides.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Running
I have a growing interest in running. I used to hate it with a deep and ugly disdain, ever since eighth grade when I first heard coach Hansen bellow: "Fun run today gentlemen! Line it up on the blacktop!"
The so called "fun" run, consisted of a two and a half mile run around the school. It was timed, it hurt, and we all wished that coach Hansen would die.
I have recently come to greater appreciation of running--I ran a half marathon last year and loved it--and look forward to improving.
I was listening to RadioWest the other week, and there was a fascinating interview with a man who had rediscovered a certain trip renowned for their long-distance running ability. They run hundreds of miles--in sandals. I learned a few new things about how to run, and even was referred to a these babies, which I will confess, I want.
Any comments on running, hating running, marathons, weird shoes, running techniques, etc?
The so called "fun" run, consisted of a two and a half mile run around the school. It was timed, it hurt, and we all wished that coach Hansen would die.
I have recently come to greater appreciation of running--I ran a half marathon last year and loved it--and look forward to improving.
I was listening to RadioWest the other week, and there was a fascinating interview with a man who had rediscovered a certain trip renowned for their long-distance running ability. They run hundreds of miles--in sandals. I learned a few new things about how to run, and even was referred to a these babies, which I will confess, I want.
Any comments on running, hating running, marathons, weird shoes, running techniques, etc?
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