"Murphy was an optimist!"
Want to try some breast milk? July 12, 2006 2:52 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Of Interest, Touchy SubjectsI have a couple of references to breastfeeding in my posts. I am an advocate of breastfeeding and think that there should be more advocacy and encouragement of breastfeeding particularly in public. That does not mean women running around flaunting their bosoms but that women should feel comfortable tending to the needs of their children in public without being told to go to the bathroom or scolded.
If you are in Ontario tomorrow, Jess Dobkin (that link should be work safe but I’ll tag it work questionable) will be doing a performance art piece called "The Lactation Station Breast Milk Bar" at The Ontario College of Art & Design Professional Gallery from 5pm to 8pm with an artist discussion at 8pm. This could be construed into breastfeeding awareness but to me the artist appears to like trying to shock the public. None the less, if you have ever wanted to try breast milk, Ontario is where you need to be tomorrow night.
…the pasteurized and culture tested by-product of six women would be available for tasting at the OCAD Professional Gallery on July 13 [Source (work questionable photo)]
Jess Dobkin received a $9000 grant to produce this piece! She will be tending the bar.
See also (no photos – work safe).
2commentsLost Solved! July 11, 2006 11:51 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Lost, Of Interest, TV / MoviesThe island was acquired in 1956 by a consortium of American business men and subsequently used as a base for research into eugenics and life extension.
The ultimate aim of this endeavour was to develop technology which could potentially bring about world peace.
The plane crash never really occured and the survivors’ memories are false. The survivors of flight 815, along with the other inhabitants of the island, are the only surviving members of the human race and the so-called ‘monster’ is really a drug-induced hallucination.
The Others are a group of brainwashed cult members.
The ‘incident’ mentioned in the orientation film refers to the accidental release of the genetically modified virus which has caused the mysterious sickness and pressing the hatch button every 108 minutes prevents the outbreak of ‘the sickness’ on the island.
Claire’s father is on the island, working for the Hanso Foundation.
The numbers represent a physical constant which is central to the physics of time travel.
Link courtesy of Ray Camdem.
add a commentToday’s unusual website July 10, 2006 12:19 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Cool Sites, Of InterestSome developers have too much time on their hands. Despite initial appearances, this is work safe.
add a commentBuilding collapses in NY July 10, 2006 9:36 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, News, Of InterestSwap blog reports "A three story building just blew up in New York." Any confirmation on this?
Update: MSNBC reports "A three-story building collapsed Monday in midtown Manhattan after an explosion and fire at the site, fire officials said. Smoke rose high above the building, located on 62nd Street between Park and Madison avenues. "
Other information I’m hearing
- is that it was a doctor’s office.
- Possible gas leak
- NOT terrorism
- Power surge
- building 70 feet wide
- witnesses say didn’t sound like an explosion but like something fell
- 4 injuries, no deaths yet
So, what’s going on in Congress that needed a swing vote based on public sentiment?
Update: One person trapped alive in the rubble.
Not to make light of a horrible situation but does anyone get the feeling this will end with a fat man with bad flatuance ala Confederacy of Dunces?
UPDATE: I was just told that in an interview on MSNBC that the NYC fire chief confirmed the building collapse as a gas leak. CNN has the scoop and of course it is credible because, well, they quote Larry King who was in a hotel somewhere in the city when it happened.
Update: Word on the street is that suicide is being investigated as the leading cause of the building collapse…I guess even buildings gets depressed.
4commentsAmanda Hits CNN July 7, 2006 10:22 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : News, Of Interest, VideoAndy Warhol eat your heart out!
add a commentStudy shows higher speeds make safer highways July 7, 2006 10:12 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Environment, Local Politics, Of Interest, Politics, Touchy SubjectsThe reason Knoxville wants to (or has..I don’t know) lower speed limits along I-40 is not for safety but in an attempt to reduce emssions so they can acquire federal funding for that stupid Orange Route. The air is too polluted to qualify for federal funding to destroy Harden Valley..I mean, build the useless road.
June 2005 is the deadline for air quality issues. The Long-Range Plan (LRP) must be met in order to get Federal funding. The LRP is updated every three years. [Source]
Wonder if they made it. Hey! Knoxville was part of the 1914 Dixie Highway. It befuddles me why Knoxville is so shortsighted as to try to steer commerce away from this wonderful downtown everyone wants to create. Not really, I understand that the 5 interchanges planned along I475 will make some political good ol’ boys some big cash while destroying some beautiful scenic countryside and historic caves for a matter of 24 miles of road. Think about the fortune we are spending to reduce travel time by about 15 minutes.
Hmm. Having read over the Knoxville Parkway information I can see why some of the arguments for the Orange Route are compelling. Still, I think it probably will turn out to be one of those things that looks better on paper than in reality. Let’s hope I’m just not turning into a curmudgeon because I think I’m too young for that. Anyhow, back to my point! Higher speeds make safer highways!
In 2005, according to new data from the National Highway Safety Administration, the rate of injuries per mile traveled was lower than at any time since the Interstate Highway System was built 50 years ago. The fatality rate was the second lowest ever, just a tick higher than in 2004.
As a public policy matter, this steady decline is a vindication of the repeal of the 55 miles per hour federal speed limit law in 1995.
…
Of the 31 states that have raised their speed limits to more than 70 mph, 29 saw a decline in the death and injury rate and only two–the Dakotas–have seen fatalities increase.
Source provided by Tom Maszerowski.
Questions and Answers from Knoxville Regional Long Range Transportation Plan Meeting
3commentsDead for 19 months without investigation July 7, 2006 8:22 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Local Politics, Of Interest, Politics, Touchy SubjectsIt appears the TBI is willing to investigate a murder if the district attorney’s office will request the investigation. Attorney General Randy Nichols refuses so a walk has been planned in Knoxville on July 14 to publically ask Nichols to make the call to the TBI. Les Jones has posted the details at No Silence Here.
I have not followed this case and do not understand the politics behind the difficulty; however, if my child had been murdered, I would be ever vigilant in seeing a proper investigation executed. I would want the support of my community in my walk on July 14.
3commentsAmanda Congdon Fired. July 6, 2006 1:15 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, News, Of InterestYesterday I posted that Amanda Congdon has left Rocketboom. Now Bob Stepno has much more detail and Tim also has info (as well as disliking for Andrew Baron). Amanda gives some details at her blog.
Personally, they had a good thing going and it was a mistake on Baron’s part to not find a better way to handle this.
1 comment so farAnother win! July 6, 2006 12:56 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Contest, Daily Life, Of Interest
Woohoo! One of my referrals won a movie ticket on Blingo so I win too! I received the choice of a movie ticket or a $10 iTunes gift certificate. This time I chose the movie ticket. Cathy has won 4 times and I’ve won 3 times. We use the iTunes certificate or movie ticket as a bribe for Sarah.
Today’s Blingo Blog notes that Blingo is becoming PCHBlingo. Yes, you read that correctly. Publisher’s Clearing House (promise to give away $10million while secretly stealing old people’s retirement under the guise of selling magazines) has purchased Blingo!
Over the last two years you’ve come to enjoy great search results and fun prizes at Blingo. We’ve given away over 22,000 gifts since we started, but in an effort to give away more, even bigger prizes, Blingo has partnered with the king of sweepstakes. Yes, you guessed it: Publishers Clearing House, the folks who give away things like $10 million at a time. The new PCHBlingo will be the same great site but with a bit more punch.
Watch the site for new features and exciting prizes, and thanks for searching and winning on Blingo!
I’ll hold my judgment. Maybe I’ll need to switch to Ask’s Searchchips.com. Ask has produced some better search engine results than Google here lately anyhow.
add a commentJobs turns down money for job July 6, 2006 12:29 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : News, Of InterestI so look forward to the day I can turn down $65,000 per year for sitting on the board of directors of something.
add a commentConvenient Passing July 6, 2006 8:05 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : News, Of Interest, Touchy SubjectsIn case you haven’t yet heard about Ken Lay, see Latte Man for the details and the seed of the coming Oliver Stone movie.
add a commentI rode The Dragon July 6, 2006 7:53 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Environment, Motorcycles, Of Interest, Politics, Regional Politics (SE), Touchy SubjectsJulie posted a reference to The Dragon. Years ago I rode The Dragon on a 1981 Honda CM400C (the C apparently means "custom" and is bored out to have the displacements of a 600…basically means a 600 will take me from the line but at cruisiing speed we pull the same RPMs). Sometimes a comment deserves to be a post so I repost here:
I rode the Dragon once. It tightens your butt cheeks quite well.
Motorcyclists have a rating system called “pucker factor” which is the degree to which your gluteus clings to your seat. The Dragon has a high pucker factor.
Once thing about the Dragon is you come out of it knowing how to take a turn. I was loaded down on an underpowered bike really designed to stay in the city and heading to Atlanta and I recall this one turn that I went into with a lot of lean. It was graffitti defying antics nearly dragging peg (that means the piece of metal your foot rests on drags the ground). That turn kept on going and going and going. It felt like I made a full circle three times! I certainly surpassed my comfort zone on that one but really learned the capabilities of my bike.
I hope to high heaven that I-3 gets shot down and does not destroy the Dragon.
add a commentFree ebook on depression July 3, 2006 1:15 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Cool Sites, Of InterestWow! Ellen, as noted here, is really talented! (and provides some great information on depression)
add a commentElectro-graf from Graffiti Research Lab July 3, 2006 10:53 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Of Interest, Technology, VideoThis video is fascinating on many different levels. I am in wonder at the ingenuity of the circuitry. I’m impressed at the skill of the artist and the time put into his work. The video editing with the side notes and smaller video is well done. I caught myself rewatching parts just to consume all the juicy information such as the links to more information like http://stencilrevolution.com/.
Warning! The audio portion of this video contains adult language used by the US president, GW Bush, and may be offensive to some. The video itself contains nothing inappropriate and can be enjoyed by those with sensitive ears and virgin minds by simply turning down your speakers.
add a commentSiblings are good July 3, 2006 10:17 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Family, Of InterestBusymom links to how siblings shape who we are.
[Our brothers and our sisters] are our scolds, protectors, goads, tormenters, playmates, counselors, sources of envy, objects of pride.
They teach us how to resolve conflicts, and how not to; how to conduct friendships and when to walk away from them. Sisters teach brothers about the mysteries of girls; brothers teach sisters about the puzzle of boys. [Source]
We have told our children many times that nothing is thicker than blood. Cathy and I have pondered if Sarah will run to the remote edges of the world to evade Tommy or if she will be near and check on him when we are gone.
Our spouses arrive comparatively late in our lives; our parents eventually leave us. Our siblings may be the only people we’ll ever know who truly qualify as partners for life. [Source – same as above]
Sibling rivalries can be good. Fighting teaches "how conflicts, once begun, can be settled" With siblings, you negotiate things from day to day. Unlike that best friend through middle school that disappears in high school, your siblings are always there.
Multi-child households can be nothing short of palace courts, with alliances, feuds, grudges and loyalties, all changing day to day. Perhaps the touchiest problem in most such families is favoritism. [Source – same as above]
As role models, siblings fail pretty badly.
On the whole, siblings pass on dangerous habits to one another in a depressingly predictable way.
A girl with an older, pregnant teenage sister is four to six times likelier to become a teen mom herself. [Source – same as above]
We have seen the influence both ways. Noah will take to school Tommy’s behaviors while Tommy will take to high school elementary humor that he missed which Noah is now enjoying. I love seeing my family stand together. There are so many times I observe them from afar and take pleasure is watching their interactions. They are really good to each other and for each other.
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