Today we're off to hear Social Band's holiday concert. Two of our friends are in the all-voice group. Mark is in the back row, 4th from left, wearing a bright blue shirt. Robin is in the back row, 5th from right, also in blue. They are near-professional in quality and so creative in their presentation. :-)
Howard is first, and snow and freezing weather isn't, but they beat some other things by a country mile.
"The so-called fiscal cliff is a combination of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1. But the agencies responsible for implementing those changes, including the IRS and the Pentagon, are well aware that congressional and White House negotiators will most likely come to some sort of deal within weeks or months -- and so they are planning to carry on as usual, according to a broad review of private and public government plans. In other words, there will be no cliff. There won't even be a slope. Congress and the president can have their public and private dramas, but the government officials responsible for carrying out their eventual orders have seen this movie before, and they know how it ends."
I have avoided reading about this, but this evening I read mostly about the adults who died. In life the answers are not in the back of the book, and one may have only one chance either to pass or to fail. A number of people here passed, that's for sure. And terrible though it was, it is no more tragic than Iraqi children dying as a result of our "leaders" disabling water treatment plants, not to mention hospitals. [Harsh and very sarcastic comment deleted.]
In case you all haven't seen it, this article on political party registration and gun ownership is more than a little interesting; scroll down to the graph near the end.
Well chosen remarks, all, Alan.Thank-you. I too have needed too a avoid reading about the children, having three young Grands, the eldest a first grader. You are the first person I've encountered who freely admitted as much and I am grateful for your humility.
I experimented with the "keyboard" input on Naomi's iPad and found it rather difficult; it must be more difficult on an iPhone, but there is bound to be some tradeoff for having all that computer power and connectivity in such a small and easily portable package. I saw some speculation on a tech blog somewhere recently that once things calm down, people will start buying laptop and desktop computers again, the situation stabilizing with people having mobile devices for communications and news on the go, plus less- or non-mobile devices for more demanding tasks such as word processing and spreadsheets. That sounds reasonable. I realized that that's where I am with my out-of-date Kindle with its clunky but functional browser, no camera and almost no apps but the virtue of free Internet connectivity. Somewhat different solution than average, but not qualitatively different.
The issue wasn't dexterity. It was more like somebody had dumped water on my keyboard, only that hadn't happened. The edges of the screen were out-of-frame, I got many (but not all) double letters, and the iPhone kept tossing in a period, even when there wasn't one to be seen on the open keyboard display. Solution? Same as ever...reboot.
Alan ~~ I've gone that one better: A desktop computer for real work, a netbook (like an iPad but with attached keyboard) for reading and checking e-mail on the go, and a cell phone for communication.
I stand by my contention that once a social trend is featured in comic strips it is probably something to be reckoned with. Herewith two clickable examples:
Went to a Caltech alumni Christmas party this afternoon. Couldn't believe all the food they brought out. First there were Chinese dumplings. I had two (barbeque pork and some kind of curry), which with desert was a decent lunch. THEN, they brought out the subs and sandwich wraps. And THEN came the pizza.
And after lunch there was a movie about the Caltech basketball team, its history, and its players. Including the fact that as the movie was being made (2006, I believe) it hadn't won a game in 21 years. But at the end of the movie, they were winning. And despite injuries and penalties, forced an overtime. And --- Well, watch the movie.
At the end, the movie mentioned where the team's five seniors were now. I was amazed that four of the five were working in the financial industry. And so were several of the people I talked to at the party. Not where I would have predicted Techers would end up.
Really cold (if blue and sunny here). We're promised ice pellets for Christmas! Fun, eh? Glad I'm going nowheres. All snugsies in my little house in the woods.
I'm kinda liking this new age. Seems a bit quieter than the old one. Hope it holds.
We had rain yesterday, all day today (it let up enough for us to visit and exchange presents with some nearby friends without needing umbrellas), and rain is predicted for every day the next week at least. Good--people were worried about a dry winter. But it certainly has an adverse impact on yard work!
Howard is first, and snow and freezing weather isn't, but they beat some other things by a country mile.
ReplyDelete"The so-called fiscal cliff is a combination of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1. But the agencies responsible for implementing those changes, including the IRS and the Pentagon, are well aware that congressional and White House negotiators will most likely come to some sort of deal within weeks or months -- and so they are planning to carry on as usual, according to a broad review of private and public government plans.
In other words, there will be no cliff. There won't even be a slope. Congress and the president can have their public and private dramas, but the government officials responsible for carrying out their eventual orders have seen this movie before, and they know how it ends."
Full column:
Government Agencies Plan Few Significant Changes For January, Despite Cliff Hype [click]
Video: Winter Solstice at Stonehenge[click]
Newtown Shooting Victims[click]
I have avoided reading about this, but this evening I read mostly about the adults who died. In life the answers are not in the back of the book, and one may have only one chance either to pass or to fail. A number of people here passed, that's for sure. And terrible though it was, it is no more tragic than Iraqi children dying as a result of our "leaders" disabling water treatment plants, not to mention hospitals. [Harsh and very sarcastic comment deleted.]
In case you all haven't seen it, this article on political party registration and gun ownership is more than a little interesting; scroll down to the graph near the end.
NYT: Party Identity in a Gun Cabinet
[click]
--Alan
Well chosen remarks, all, Alan.Thank-you.
ReplyDeleteI too have needed too a avoid reading about the children, having three young Grands, the eldest a first grader. You are the first person I've encountered who freely admitted as much and I am grateful for your humility.
No humility involved, listener.
Delete--Alan
:-). I nearly said I 'spected you'd say that.
Deletea avoid = avoid
ReplyDeleteHaving difficulty with my iPhone kkeybooaard today!
I experimented with the "keyboard" input on Naomi's iPad and found it rather difficult; it must be more difficult on an iPhone, but there is bound to be some tradeoff for having all that computer power and connectivity in such a small and easily portable package. I saw some speculation on a tech blog somewhere recently that once things calm down, people will start buying laptop and desktop computers again, the situation stabilizing with people having mobile devices for communications and news on the go, plus less- or non-mobile devices for more demanding tasks such as word processing and spreadsheets. That sounds reasonable. I realized that that's where I am with my out-of-date Kindle with its clunky but functional browser, no camera and almost no apps but the virtue of free Internet connectivity. Somewhat different solution than average, but not qualitatively different.
Delete--Alan
The issue wasn't dexterity. It was more like somebody had dumped water on my keyboard, only that hadn't happened. The edges of the screen were out-of-frame, I got many (but not all) double letters, and the iPhone kept tossing in a period, even when there wasn't one to be seen on the open keyboard display. Solution? Same as ever...reboot.
DeleteAlan ~~ I've gone that one better: A desktop computer for real work, a netbook (like an iPad but with attached keyboard) for reading and checking e-mail on the go, and a cell phone for communication.
Deletetoo a avoid = to avoid
ReplyDeleteAlan and listener, I'm right there with you. I can't bear the thought of children being afraid and hurt. Too painful to think about.
ReplyDeleteI stand by my contention that once a social trend is featured in comic strips it is probably something to be reckoned with. Herewith two clickable examples:
ReplyDeleteNon Sequitur The entitlements of the wealthy
Doonesbury The future of the GOP
--Alan
P.S.: I found nothing newly notable among the editorial cartoons today.
Delete--Alan
Hi guys
ReplyDeleteHi, Cat,
DeleteWent to a Caltech alumni Christmas party this afternoon. Couldn't believe all the food they brought out. First there were Chinese dumplings. I had two (barbeque pork and some kind of curry), which with desert was a decent lunch. THEN, they brought out the subs and sandwich wraps. And THEN came the pizza.
And after lunch there was a movie about the Caltech basketball team, its history, and its players. Including the fact that as the movie was being made (2006, I believe) it hadn't won a game in 21 years. But at the end of the movie, they were winning. And despite injuries and penalties, forced an overtime. And --- Well, watch the movie.
At the end, the movie mentioned where the team's five seniors were now. I was amazed that four of the five were working in the financial industry. And so were several of the people I talked to at the party. Not where I would have predicted Techers would end up.
Hi, Cat!
ReplyDeleteReally cold (if blue and sunny here). We're promised ice pellets for Christmas! Fun, eh? Glad I'm going nowheres. All snugsies in my little house in the woods.
I'm kinda liking this new age. Seems a bit quieter than the old one. Hope it holds.
ReplyDeleteWhy Obama isn't caving By: Glenn Thrush
NYT: How Party of Budget Restraint Shifted to ‘No New Taxes,’ Ever
---Alan
We had rain yesterday, all day today (it let up enough for us to visit and exchange presents with some nearby friends without needing umbrellas), and rain is predicted for every day the next week at least. Good--people were worried about a dry winter. But it certainly has an adverse impact on yard work!
ReplyDelete--Alan
Around here people are very happy that yard work isn't needed in winter!
Delete