As I was futzing around with Susan's weird site/link last night, I realized that it is only by pure miracle that at the age of 81, I have never gotten my tongue frozen to a lamppost.
What was really weird was that the link I posted was not the culprit. A blog I was reading about different ways to make half square triangles just grafted itself complete onto my "copy" feature. I don't know how it did that because I wasn't copying anything from them.
I remember one of my college Chemistry teachers--Glen W. Watson--who told of growing up in upstate New York, and of the risk associated with trying to warm a frozen bit before putting it into the horse's mouth by blowing on it. To far away and it wouldn't warm; too close and you would be confronted with a problem: be in agony for an extended period of time while it thawed enough to come off easily, or pull it off together with some skin from one's lips. I also remember his example of sublimation: washing freezing solid on the clothesline later becoming dry and soft as the ice sublimed, without ever becoming wet.
The Evangelical Church Is Breaking Apart [Click] “Christians must reclaim Jesus from his church.” I am certainly no expert on the theological aspects of such things, but it raises thoughts of the Antichrist, who as I recall is supposed to attract many Christian believers. I can certainly empathize with the pastors who are described and quoted in the articles. One of the classical attributes of a church leader is the ability to avoid offending any members of the congregation; after many years of learning how to do that, it must be overwhelmingly stressful to find oneself in a situation where it is frankly impossible.
My son took his family to the movie Friday night and loved it. Now both of his kids are reading the book. He did say that people not familiar with the book won't get a lot of the movie, but he was very hyped about it.
We saw an interview about the show, then watched it again with Root*Center*Son. I have never read the book nor seen the earlier version of the movie. Wil has. Son is interested. And moi? After seeing the interview the second time, I had a bad dream about large creatures. Definitely not my cup of tea!
I found the Darkover series largely enjoyable, although Marion Zimmer Bradley's obvious decline toward the end, coupled with her scandals, was too bad. The degree of complexity, with a number of novelettes and short stories set in the same world and extending over a very long time, was not difficult. The inconsistencies and irregularities were not a big deal IMO.
Long Arm of Russian Law Reaches Obscure Siberian Church [Click] A long-standing facet of Russian culture. I remember not long ago a woman came out of the Siberian woods, where her parents had fled in Stalin’s time. And starting back in Tsarist times, the Old Believers.
“A new annual tax on billionaires’ unrealized capital gains is likely to be included to help pay for the vast social policy and climate package lawmakers hope to finalize this week,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The tax is expected to affect people with $1 billion in assets or $100 million in income for three consecutive years.” ------------------------------- No complaints here.
“Afghanistan will shortly collapse into chaos unless the international community acts rapidly, Swedish and Pakistani ministers warned on Saturday,” CNN reports.
I read a lot about that big storm that is supposed to be coming (9PM now), and maybe or maybe not give us a half inch of rain this evening and maybe or maybe not give us a half inch in the morning, and maybe give us a half inch or maybe an inch all told. They're talking it up as if it were a huge storm everywhere, but actually it might not amount to much here. Maybe people are overexcited because it has been so long since we had much rain. The ponding basins don't have much water in them (some are completely empty), and at least some of the canals are dry. Might be a little flooding where street drains are blocked, I think.
P.S.: The main north-south freeway through town is designed to provide a number of emergency flood control basins, but no word in the newspaper of preparations being made to use them. Most of the canals going through Fresno are irrigation canals, which can provide some temporary relief, but unlike drainage canals they get smaller the farther they go.
The City with 16,000 Electric Buses & 22,000 Electric Taxis | 100% Independent, 100% Electric [Click]
ReplyDeleteAs I was futzing around with Susan's weird site/link last night, I realized that it is only by pure miracle that at the age of 81, I have never gotten my tongue frozen to a lamppost.
ReplyDeleteWhat was really weird was that the link I posted was not the culprit. A blog I was reading about different ways to make half square triangles just grafted itself complete onto my "copy" feature. I don't know how it did that because I wasn't copying anything from them.
DeleteHaven't frozen your tongue to a lamp post? More proof of global warming?
DeleteIt's so great to see you back here posting, puddle!!!
Delete"Haven't frozen your tongue to a lamp post? More proof of global warming?"
🤣 Good one, Alan!!
I remember one of my college Chemistry teachers--Glen W. Watson--who told of growing up in upstate New York, and of the risk associated with trying to warm a frozen bit before putting it into the horse's mouth by blowing on it. To far away and it wouldn't warm; too close and you would be confronted with a problem: be in agony for an extended period of time while it thawed enough to come off easily, or pull it off together with some skin from one's lips. I also remember his example of sublimation: washing freezing solid on the clothesline later becoming dry and soft as the ice sublimed, without ever becoming wet.
DeleteCarbon farming making progress [Click]
ReplyDeleteWe got pour first frost last night! It's about a month overdue, and a new record in parts of the state.
ReplyDeleteIt's sure looking like it will rain here, but it isn't predicted to start until after sundown.
DeleteThe Evangelical Church Is Breaking Apart [Click] “Christians must reclaim Jesus from his church.” I am certainly no expert on the theological aspects of such things, but it raises thoughts of the Antichrist, who as I recall is supposed to attract many Christian believers. I can certainly empathize with the pastors who are described and quoted in the articles. One of the classical attributes of a church leader is the ability to avoid offending any members of the congregation; after many years of learning how to do that, it must be overwhelmingly stressful to find oneself in a situation where it is frankly impossible.
ReplyDeleteWhere Did 7 Million Workers Go? [Click] ”The U.S. economy is booming, but there’s a mysterious hole in the labor force.”
ReplyDeleteWell, the underground or unofficial economy had benn growing before the pandemic, but the economists did not want to admit it.
DeleteWhy ‘Dune’ made these 5 key changes from Frank Herbert’s book [Click] Tells enough about the book that I don't think I would care to read it.
ReplyDeleteWhat is there about the review that turned you off the book? I don't see that.
DeleteMy son took his family to the movie Friday night and loved it. Now both of his kids are reading the book. He did say that people not familiar with the book won't get a lot of the movie, but he was very hyped about it.
DeleteBill--I gathered that the book is exceedingly complex.
DeleteWe saw an interview about the show, then watched it again with Root*Center*Son. I have never read the book nor seen the earlier version of the movie. Wil has. Son is interested. And moi? After seeing the interview the second time, I had a bad dream about large creatures. Definitely not my cup of tea!
DeleteI won't necessarily deny the book is complex, but I certainly had no difficulty following it. Complex doesn't mean difficult to read.
DeleteI found the Darkover series largely enjoyable, although Marion Zimmer Bradley's obvious decline toward the end, coupled with her scandals, was too bad. The degree of complexity, with a number of novelettes and short stories set in the same world and extending over a very long time, was not difficult. The inconsistencies and irregularities were not a big deal IMO.
DeleteFrom NYT:
ReplyDeleteThe Rotten Core of the Republican Party [Click] Aversion to paying fair taxes.
Long Arm of Russian Law Reaches Obscure Siberian Church [Click] A long-standing facet of Russian culture. I remember not long ago a woman came out of the Siberian woods, where her parents had fled in Stalin’s time. And starting back in Tsarist times, the Old Believers.
Krugman: Is China in Big Trouble? [Click]
Rioters Participated in ‘Dozens’ of Planning Meetings [Click] With members of Congress and the Administration—— Hoo, Boy.
ReplyDelete“A new annual tax on billionaires’ unrealized capital gains is likely to be included to help pay for the vast social policy and climate package lawmakers hope to finalize this week,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
ReplyDelete“The tax is expected to affect people with $1 billion in assets or $100 million in income for three consecutive years.”
-------------------------------
No complaints here.
Sounds good.
Delete“Afghanistan will shortly collapse into chaos unless the international community acts rapidly, Swedish and Pakistani ministers warned on Saturday,” CNN reports.
ReplyDeleteTrial of Charlottesville 'Unite the Right' rally organizers set to start [Click]
ReplyDeleteI read a lot about that big storm that is supposed to be coming (9PM now), and maybe or maybe not give us a half inch of rain this evening and maybe or maybe not give us a half inch in the morning, and maybe give us a half inch or maybe an inch all told. They're talking it up as if it were a huge storm everywhere, but actually it might not amount to much here. Maybe people are overexcited because it has been so long since we had much rain. The ponding basins don't have much water in them (some are completely empty), and at least some of the canals are dry. Might be a little flooding where street drains are blocked, I think.
ReplyDeleteP.S.: The main north-south freeway through town is designed to provide a number of emergency flood control basins, but no word in the newspaper of preparations being made to use them. Most of the canals going through Fresno are irrigation canals, which can provide some temporary relief, but unlike drainage canals they get smaller the farther they go.
DeleteThe big dam upstream of us has more than 200,000 acre-feet of space to spare.
DeleteAP source: Manchin agreeable to wealth tax for Biden plan [Click]
ReplyDeleteThe saints be praised! No kidding? So, is something real finally going to actually happen?
DeleteCynical fellow that I am, I notice that it clearly wouldn't affect Manchin himself. But it would be a start.
DeleteA $1,775 NYC Doctor’s Visit Cost About $350 in Maryland. Here’s Why. [Click]
ReplyDeleteGreat links, Alan!! Thanks muchly.
ReplyDeleteMust get to sleep as I have two back-to-back 1.5 hour Zoom meetings tomorrow. Couldn't be helped.