Researchers have taken another step toward matching the Klingons.
"Cloaking technology could be used to make obstacles that impede communications signals 'disappear,'" said David Smith of Duke University in North Carolina, who worked on the study published in the journal Science.
It is made from a so-called metamaterial -- an engineered, exotic substance with properties not seen in nature. Metamaterials can be used to form a variety of "cloaking" structures that can bend electromagnetic waves such as light around an object, making it appear invisible.
The first applications are likely to be more mundane.
Smith said the goal was not to make something visible disappear. Cloaking, he said, can occur anywhere on the electromagnetic spectrum......"You might have two or more antennas trying to 'see' or receive signals, one being blocked by the other," he said. "You could imagine adding cloaks that would make one antenna invisible to the next, so that they no longer interfered."
But down the road.....
Smith said the notion of a device that makes objects invisible to people is still a distant concept, but not impossible. "This latest structure does show clearly there is a potential for cloaking -- in the science fiction sense -- to become science fact at some point," he said.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Just Don't Vomit On Anyone
Is a taste for spirituous beverages interfering with your ability to keep a job? Move to Peru.
The Constitutional Tribunal ordered that Pablo Cayo be given his job back as a janitor for the municipality of Chorrillos, which fired him for being intoxicated at work.
The firing was excessive because even though Cayo was drunk, he did not offend or hurt anybody, Fernando Calle, one of the justices, said on Wednesday.
Perhaps the justices should have been tested for intoxication.
The Constitutional Tribunal ordered that Pablo Cayo be given his job back as a janitor for the municipality of Chorrillos, which fired him for being intoxicated at work.
The firing was excessive because even though Cayo was drunk, he did not offend or hurt anybody, Fernando Calle, one of the justices, said on Wednesday.
Perhaps the justices should have been tested for intoxication.
Cult of Personality
News of Steve Job's health problems may cause legal problems for Apple.
Although securities lawsuits usually arise from companies' false statements about material aspects of their businesses, Apple could run into trouble by falsely allaying investors concerns about whether Jobs would remain at its helm.
It would be a tough sell, though.
Plaintiffs and defense attorneys said this type of fraud allegation would be hard to prove and a first of its kind.
"It is extremely difficult because it is the most private part of his life," Steve Williams, a plaintiffs attorney for Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy, said. "At the same time, Apple is Steve Jobs."
Former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissioner Joseph Grundfest said Apple crossed no line if it failed to provide thorough disclosures about Jobs' health unless company insiders traded on the knowledge before it was disclosed publicly.
No securities rules and no legal precedents directly address CEO health but Grundfest acknowledged that investors could argue that Jobs' status as CEO was critical to their decision to invest in Apple.
I italicized Mr. Williams' quote because that is the heart of the matter. I'm trying to think of another example of a company as heavily defined by the boss as Apple. One that remotely fits was Lee Iacocca at Chrysler in the 1980's, and for similar reasons; both men pulled their companies from the brink with innovative products. But Iacocca never dominated the operational culture of his company or attained cult figure status like Jobs.
Like Chrysler, Apple has always had to be nimble and inventive to stay afloat, and Jobs is seen as the driving force. Apple is in a far better position that Chrysler, which may be done. But Apple would do well to remember what has kept them going; innovative products.
Although securities lawsuits usually arise from companies' false statements about material aspects of their businesses, Apple could run into trouble by falsely allaying investors concerns about whether Jobs would remain at its helm.
It would be a tough sell, though.
Plaintiffs and defense attorneys said this type of fraud allegation would be hard to prove and a first of its kind.
"It is extremely difficult because it is the most private part of his life," Steve Williams, a plaintiffs attorney for Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy, said. "At the same time, Apple is Steve Jobs."
Former U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissioner Joseph Grundfest said Apple crossed no line if it failed to provide thorough disclosures about Jobs' health unless company insiders traded on the knowledge before it was disclosed publicly.
No securities rules and no legal precedents directly address CEO health but Grundfest acknowledged that investors could argue that Jobs' status as CEO was critical to their decision to invest in Apple.
I italicized Mr. Williams' quote because that is the heart of the matter. I'm trying to think of another example of a company as heavily defined by the boss as Apple. One that remotely fits was Lee Iacocca at Chrysler in the 1980's, and for similar reasons; both men pulled their companies from the brink with innovative products. But Iacocca never dominated the operational culture of his company or attained cult figure status like Jobs.
Like Chrysler, Apple has always had to be nimble and inventive to stay afloat, and Jobs is seen as the driving force. Apple is in a far better position that Chrysler, which may be done. But Apple would do well to remember what has kept them going; innovative products.
Not Even Trying
It's looking like the Madoff investment fund may have been not just fraudulently hyped, but complete fiction.
An industry-run regulator for brokerage firms said on Thursday there was no record of Madoff's investment fund placing trades through his brokerage operation.That means Madoff either placed trades through other brokerage firms, a move industry officials consider unlikely, or he was not executing trades at all.
Each month, Madoff sent out elaborate statements of trades conducted by his broker-dealer. Last November, for example, he issued a statement to one investor showing he bought shares of Merck & Co Inc, Microsoft Corp, Exxon Mobil Corp and Amgen Inc among others. It also showed transactions in Fidelity Investments' Spartan Fund. But Fidelity, the world's biggest mutual fund company, has no record of Madoff or his company making any investments in it's funds.
There also appear to be discrepancies between monthly statements sent to investors and the actual prices at which the stocks traded on Wall Street. For example, his November statement showed he bought software maker Apple Inc's securities at $100.78 each on November 12, about a month before his arrest. But Apple's stock on that day never traded above $93.24. The statement also showed he bought chip maker Intel Corp at $14.51 on November 12, but Intel's highest price on that day was $13.97.
An industry-run regulator for brokerage firms said on Thursday there was no record of Madoff's investment fund placing trades through his brokerage operation.That means Madoff either placed trades through other brokerage firms, a move industry officials consider unlikely, or he was not executing trades at all.
Each month, Madoff sent out elaborate statements of trades conducted by his broker-dealer. Last November, for example, he issued a statement to one investor showing he bought shares of Merck & Co Inc, Microsoft Corp, Exxon Mobil Corp and Amgen Inc among others. It also showed transactions in Fidelity Investments' Spartan Fund. But Fidelity, the world's biggest mutual fund company, has no record of Madoff or his company making any investments in it's funds.
There also appear to be discrepancies between monthly statements sent to investors and the actual prices at which the stocks traded on Wall Street. For example, his November statement showed he bought software maker Apple Inc's securities at $100.78 each on November 12, about a month before his arrest. But Apple's stock on that day never traded above $93.24. The statement also showed he bought chip maker Intel Corp at $14.51 on November 12, but Intel's highest price on that day was $13.97.
Life Under Fire
A Gaza reporter's family shrinks, then grows.
Twelve days after my father was killed by an Israeli airstrike, our first baby has been born, healthy at 3.8 kilos, with dark hair, just exactly as her mother wanted.
While waiting for the birth, he went to the front door of the hospital.
From a civil defence fire engine, I saw eight wounded people taken out, all were civil defence staff still in their fluorescent jackets. A house near their base had been hit by a missile.
All day yesterday, the Israelis intensified strikes on Gaza City and, at the emergency wing of the Shifa hospital, away from the calm of the maternity ward, the ambulances never stopped arriving. For 20 minutes, I watched the injured and dying coming in non-stop convoys of ambulances, ordinary vehicles, civilian cars, pickup trucks, anything that could be used to transport the casualties......Most of the victims seemed to be women, girls, and children including a very small baby, wrapped in white blankets.
My mother joined us in the hospital. She managed to hold back the tears but I knew she was sad, thinking of my dad who would have been so happy to see his new granddaughter.And yet, I know that as one family member leaves us, another is born. It reminds you that life is a circle, a continuous thing.
Twelve days after my father was killed by an Israeli airstrike, our first baby has been born, healthy at 3.8 kilos, with dark hair, just exactly as her mother wanted.
While waiting for the birth, he went to the front door of the hospital.
From a civil defence fire engine, I saw eight wounded people taken out, all were civil defence staff still in their fluorescent jackets. A house near their base had been hit by a missile.
All day yesterday, the Israelis intensified strikes on Gaza City and, at the emergency wing of the Shifa hospital, away from the calm of the maternity ward, the ambulances never stopped arriving. For 20 minutes, I watched the injured and dying coming in non-stop convoys of ambulances, ordinary vehicles, civilian cars, pickup trucks, anything that could be used to transport the casualties......Most of the victims seemed to be women, girls, and children including a very small baby, wrapped in white blankets.
My mother joined us in the hospital. She managed to hold back the tears but I knew she was sad, thinking of my dad who would have been so happy to see his new granddaughter.And yet, I know that as one family member leaves us, another is born. It reminds you that life is a circle, a continuous thing.
Put It In a Dora the Explorer Cup
This item at buzz.mn caught my eye.
"Failed compliance checks. Jerry's Foods, 5125 Vernon Av. S., and Chuck E. Cheese, 7505 France Av. S., failed alcohol compliance checks by selling liquor to a minor.
I have never been to a Chuck E. Cheese, so it surprised me to learn that they sell alcohol. A quick google shows it's common; as of March 2007 Seventy percent of Chuck E. Cheese across America sell alcohol.
"Failed compliance checks. Jerry's Foods, 5125 Vernon Av. S., and Chuck E. Cheese, 7505 France Av. S., failed alcohol compliance checks by selling liquor to a minor.
I have never been to a Chuck E. Cheese, so it surprised me to learn that they sell alcohol. A quick google shows it's common; as of March 2007 Seventy percent of Chuck E. Cheese across America sell alcohol.
Stupidity Invites Scrutiny
Remember the three-year-old boy who had trouble getting a personalized birthday cake because his idiotic parents named him Adolf Hitler? Apparently something is amiss in the household.
Adolf Hitler Campbell and his sisters, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, were taken from their Holland Township, N.J., home on Friday by the state's Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), Sgt. John Harris of the Holland Township Police Department told FOXNews.com.
The people who know why can't say.
Kate Bernyk, a spokeswoman for the DYFS, said confidentiality laws barred her from commenting on the case or even confirming that the Campbell children were involved.
"DYFS has their reasons and they normally don’t release any information, so we kind of have to go on faith with them," Harris said. Police were not told what the agency was investigating.
"I’ve dealt with the family for years and as far as the children are concerned, I have never had any reports of any abuse with the children," Harris said. "As far as I know, he’s always been very good with the children."
Speaking generally, Bernyk said the state's "decision to remove a child is based on the safety and well being of the child and the risk to that child, and that decision is made in conjunction with the courts and the county family court judge......"DYFS would never remove a child simply based on that child's name," Bernyk said.
Hmmm...dealt with the family for years? Of course, I imagine they got noticed when they turned in that first birth certificate. Nothing screams "potential problem" like naming your kid after one of history's great evildoers.
hat tip to Marginal Revolution and The Volokh Conspiracy
Adolf Hitler Campbell and his sisters, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, were taken from their Holland Township, N.J., home on Friday by the state's Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), Sgt. John Harris of the Holland Township Police Department told FOXNews.com.
The people who know why can't say.
Kate Bernyk, a spokeswoman for the DYFS, said confidentiality laws barred her from commenting on the case or even confirming that the Campbell children were involved.
"DYFS has their reasons and they normally don’t release any information, so we kind of have to go on faith with them," Harris said. Police were not told what the agency was investigating.
"I’ve dealt with the family for years and as far as the children are concerned, I have never had any reports of any abuse with the children," Harris said. "As far as I know, he’s always been very good with the children."
Speaking generally, Bernyk said the state's "decision to remove a child is based on the safety and well being of the child and the risk to that child, and that decision is made in conjunction with the courts and the county family court judge......"DYFS would never remove a child simply based on that child's name," Bernyk said.
Hmmm...dealt with the family for years? Of course, I imagine they got noticed when they turned in that first birth certificate. Nothing screams "potential problem" like naming your kid after one of history's great evildoers.
hat tip to Marginal Revolution and The Volokh Conspiracy
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
More Movie Recycling
I obviously need to expand my website reading repertoire, because I don't recall seeing anything about demand for this.
Jackie Chan is in negotiations to star in the remake of 1984 hit movie The Karate Kid......The martial arts star would take on the role of mentor Mr Miyagi......Jaden Smith, the son of Hollywood actor Will Smith, has already been cast as the boy to be mentored by the martial arts expert.
Who thought this should be done? It's not like the original has faded into obscurity, or needs updating. The article notes that it will be filmed in China, which may provide a clue; Chan is a massive star there and could do whatever he wants. It's hard to picture him in Pat Morita's role; he has always come off as too goofy.
A really bad idea just came to mind; the two previous Karate Kids, Ralph Macchio and Hilary Swank, in a romantic adventure-comedy with a martial arts flavor.
Jackie Chan is in negotiations to star in the remake of 1984 hit movie The Karate Kid......The martial arts star would take on the role of mentor Mr Miyagi......Jaden Smith, the son of Hollywood actor Will Smith, has already been cast as the boy to be mentored by the martial arts expert.
Who thought this should be done? It's not like the original has faded into obscurity, or needs updating. The article notes that it will be filmed in China, which may provide a clue; Chan is a massive star there and could do whatever he wants. It's hard to picture him in Pat Morita's role; he has always come off as too goofy.
A really bad idea just came to mind; the two previous Karate Kids, Ralph Macchio and Hilary Swank, in a romantic adventure-comedy with a martial arts flavor.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Ocean Seeding
I hadn't previously encountered this idea.
Within weeks, the ship's crew hope to dump 20 tonnes of ferrous sulphate into the Southern Ocean. Plankton need iron to grow, and the aim of the expedition is to trigger a plankton bloom and boost the amount of carbon that is sucked out of the air and locked up at the bottom of the ocean.
The team, led by Victor Smetacek of the Alfred Wegner Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany, will also monitor the population of krill to see if their populations also increase. These small crustaceans feed on plankton and are an important food source for many marine species. So, if the population grows, this could give fisheries a boost.
It's not unopposed.
If this iron dump goes ahead it will be in clear defiance of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity," warns Jim Thomas of ETC Group. The CBD resolution makes an exception only for small coastal experiments, but Smetacek says his expedition has been approved by the German environment ministry.
It sounds like a big operation, but expectations should be kept low.....
"Twenty tonnes of iron particles in the vast ocean is very much drop in the bucket and is unlikely to have a lasting effect," says Ken Caldeira of Stanford University. "The rational concern is that experiments will lead down some slippery slope - that small experiments could be scaled up without any regulation."
Ocean fertilisation and other geoengineering schemes, says Caldeira, should be seen as potential short-term solutions that could cool temperatures while humans switch to non-fossil sources of energy.
Within weeks, the ship's crew hope to dump 20 tonnes of ferrous sulphate into the Southern Ocean. Plankton need iron to grow, and the aim of the expedition is to trigger a plankton bloom and boost the amount of carbon that is sucked out of the air and locked up at the bottom of the ocean.
The team, led by Victor Smetacek of the Alfred Wegner Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany, will also monitor the population of krill to see if their populations also increase. These small crustaceans feed on plankton and are an important food source for many marine species. So, if the population grows, this could give fisheries a boost.
It's not unopposed.
If this iron dump goes ahead it will be in clear defiance of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity," warns Jim Thomas of ETC Group. The CBD resolution makes an exception only for small coastal experiments, but Smetacek says his expedition has been approved by the German environment ministry.
It sounds like a big operation, but expectations should be kept low.....
"Twenty tonnes of iron particles in the vast ocean is very much drop in the bucket and is unlikely to have a lasting effect," says Ken Caldeira of Stanford University. "The rational concern is that experiments will lead down some slippery slope - that small experiments could be scaled up without any regulation."
Ocean fertilisation and other geoengineering schemes, says Caldeira, should be seen as potential short-term solutions that could cool temperatures while humans switch to non-fossil sources of energy.
About Like Ordering a Pizza
Interested in applying for some of that federal bailout money? Mother Jones looked into it.
It turns out that the application for TARP funds is surprisingly simple. Interested parties can find the complete guidelines for the TARP Capital Purchase Program here. The application is just two pages long. As a test, we decided to fill it out. Including the time it took us to explain this project to our chief financial officer, the TARP application took a mere 27 minutes to complete.
Of course only certain organizations are actually eligible.
The CPP is available to bank holding companies, financial holding companies, insured
depository institutions and savings and loan holding companies that engage solely or
predominately in activities that are permissible for financial holding companies under relevant
law.
In other words, given the current state of the mentioned law, just about any sort of moneychanging alchemist with a pulse and a smoldering pile of a balance sheet, as long as the proper schmoozing with the right people at the Treasury Department is done. It was this casual attitude toward finance that contributed to the current mess.
It turns out that the application for TARP funds is surprisingly simple. Interested parties can find the complete guidelines for the TARP Capital Purchase Program here. The application is just two pages long. As a test, we decided to fill it out. Including the time it took us to explain this project to our chief financial officer, the TARP application took a mere 27 minutes to complete.
Of course only certain organizations are actually eligible.
The CPP is available to bank holding companies, financial holding companies, insured
depository institutions and savings and loan holding companies that engage solely or
predominately in activities that are permissible for financial holding companies under relevant
law.
In other words, given the current state of the mentioned law, just about any sort of moneychanging alchemist with a pulse and a smoldering pile of a balance sheet, as long as the proper schmoozing with the right people at the Treasury Department is done. It was this casual attitude toward finance that contributed to the current mess.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Back in the High Life?
Tyler Wilson ponders an American staple.
Miller High Life has been brewed for over 100 years, and is often considered the forerunner to the modern American lager.
I often get too caught up in trying all the expensive imports and microbrews. In this economy, I’d thought I’d revisit an American classic instead of another $8 six-pack of Fancy Pants Silly Name Ale.
It was a big-time player.
At its peak in 1979, High Life was the number-two beer in the nation behind Budweiser.
I recall it being the beer to drink in my hometown bar in the 1970s, although I was a Schmidt drinker,the Big-Mouth glass bottles in particular. But nothing lasts forever.
Since the early 1990s, there’s of course been a backlash against your father’s beer. Imports and microbrews have ruled.
He's optimistic about the future,though.
It may not be too cool to drink your father’s beer, but it’s OK to drink your grandfather’s beer. So I look forward to finding and rediscovering these classics, starting with the High Life.
What does he think?
Miller has a clean taste that’s nice enough — my initial thoughts were that it had a kind of wang to it, but after a few drinks I was happy enough with the taste. Not hoppy or anything, but a little sweet.
I also tried the High Life Light.......The Light tasted pretty similar to the regular High Life.......High Life Light is a nice enough beer to drink while playing backyard bocce once the weather warms up. Refreshing and light.
Miller High Life has been brewed for over 100 years, and is often considered the forerunner to the modern American lager.
I often get too caught up in trying all the expensive imports and microbrews. In this economy, I’d thought I’d revisit an American classic instead of another $8 six-pack of Fancy Pants Silly Name Ale.
It was a big-time player.
At its peak in 1979, High Life was the number-two beer in the nation behind Budweiser.
I recall it being the beer to drink in my hometown bar in the 1970s, although I was a Schmidt drinker,the Big-Mouth glass bottles in particular. But nothing lasts forever.
Since the early 1990s, there’s of course been a backlash against your father’s beer. Imports and microbrews have ruled.
He's optimistic about the future,though.
It may not be too cool to drink your father’s beer, but it’s OK to drink your grandfather’s beer. So I look forward to finding and rediscovering these classics, starting with the High Life.
What does he think?
Miller has a clean taste that’s nice enough — my initial thoughts were that it had a kind of wang to it, but after a few drinks I was happy enough with the taste. Not hoppy or anything, but a little sweet.
I also tried the High Life Light.......The Light tasted pretty similar to the regular High Life.......High Life Light is a nice enough beer to drink while playing backyard bocce once the weather warms up. Refreshing and light.
Back to the Push-up Bra
Another industry where business is,uh, sagging.
...the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported in 2007 that American consumers spent more than $12 billion on cosmetic surgery. But now the society reports a 62 percent overall decrease in cosmetic surgery from 2007 to 2008.
It had been a good run.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that the number of breast augmentations in the US increased 657 percent from 1992 to 2003.
...the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported in 2007 that American consumers spent more than $12 billion on cosmetic surgery. But now the society reports a 62 percent overall decrease in cosmetic surgery from 2007 to 2008.
It had been a good run.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that the number of breast augmentations in the US increased 657 percent from 1992 to 2003.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Scary Computers
The digital age comes to Nepal, with more than a little trepidation.
Kamal Prasad Sharma, aged 12, a student at Saraswati Secondary School in a small village not far from Kathmandu, was afraid when he saw a computer for the first time.
"I didn't go near it. I was worried it might explode and kill me. It was only when the teacher called me saying it was harmless that I went into the room, but I still hesitated."
Things have changed now, he adds. "I'm feeling much better. The E-library has helped with my studies...... It's not only that - we can also play games and have fun."
The general reaction was similar.
Kamal says his parents were very excited when he told them about the computer and came to watch the very next day.
It was not only Kamal. His computer teacher, Shankar Prajapati, says all the pupils were afraid.
"They all worried they would catch some virus and fall ill or even die. But now they are familiar with computers," he says. "Even we teachers are gaining knowledge from the E-library. It's really helpful for us, too. "
It's part of an ambitious project.
The E-library concept was initiated by Help Nepal Network (HeNN), a non-governmental organisation. Its goals are to provide literacy and awareness about the use of computer and information technology, and to set up one E-library in each of Nepal's 75 districts, which range from the high Himalayas to the hot plains.
.....HeNN is setting up the libraries with the use of what is called the Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP). This is a free and open-source (accessible to everyone) package which connects one powerful central server in the school, using the Linux operating system, to a number of diskless low-end computers. When linked to the server, each computer receives a full Linux desktop.
This reminds me of my first dealings with computers; the mainframe-terminal setup at the School of Mines back in the early 1980s. They seem to be fascinating just about everyone in Nepal.
In front of the little shops on the rough village streets, men gather to play cards and drink tea. But even they have developed a fascination for the computer. So the school has arranged some computer classes for them, too.
It's not easy to set up.....
Villagers and students carried the computers up and down the steep hills and valleys to the Shree Koldung Devi secondary school, nearly two hours' walk from the main road.
....but they think it will be worth it.
Roshendra Dhoj Khadka of Help Nepal Network is very optimistic about the E-library project.
"I believe this information and communication technology project is essential. It may not be a basic requirement, but it's a tool to uplift the health and education sectors."
Kamal Prasad Sharma, aged 12, a student at Saraswati Secondary School in a small village not far from Kathmandu, was afraid when he saw a computer for the first time.
"I didn't go near it. I was worried it might explode and kill me. It was only when the teacher called me saying it was harmless that I went into the room, but I still hesitated."
Things have changed now, he adds. "I'm feeling much better. The E-library has helped with my studies...... It's not only that - we can also play games and have fun."
The general reaction was similar.
Kamal says his parents were very excited when he told them about the computer and came to watch the very next day.
It was not only Kamal. His computer teacher, Shankar Prajapati, says all the pupils were afraid.
"They all worried they would catch some virus and fall ill or even die. But now they are familiar with computers," he says. "Even we teachers are gaining knowledge from the E-library. It's really helpful for us, too. "
It's part of an ambitious project.
The E-library concept was initiated by Help Nepal Network (HeNN), a non-governmental organisation. Its goals are to provide literacy and awareness about the use of computer and information technology, and to set up one E-library in each of Nepal's 75 districts, which range from the high Himalayas to the hot plains.
.....HeNN is setting up the libraries with the use of what is called the Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP). This is a free and open-source (accessible to everyone) package which connects one powerful central server in the school, using the Linux operating system, to a number of diskless low-end computers. When linked to the server, each computer receives a full Linux desktop.
This reminds me of my first dealings with computers; the mainframe-terminal setup at the School of Mines back in the early 1980s. They seem to be fascinating just about everyone in Nepal.
In front of the little shops on the rough village streets, men gather to play cards and drink tea. But even they have developed a fascination for the computer. So the school has arranged some computer classes for them, too.
It's not easy to set up.....
Villagers and students carried the computers up and down the steep hills and valleys to the Shree Koldung Devi secondary school, nearly two hours' walk from the main road.
....but they think it will be worth it.
Roshendra Dhoj Khadka of Help Nepal Network is very optimistic about the E-library project.
"I believe this information and communication technology project is essential. It may not be a basic requirement, but it's a tool to uplift the health and education sectors."
Romeo and Juliet Were Late Bloomers
It's an old story; a young couple try to elope. However.....
Two German children - aged five and six - have been stopped by police from eloping to Africa to tie the knot in the sun, reports say.
The budding lovebirds, identified as Mika and Anna-Lena, packed bathing costumes, sunglasses and a lilo and headed for the airport. They even had the presence of mind to invite along an official witness - Anna-Lena's seven-year-old sister.
Why Africa?
The young couple were "very much in love" and had decided to get married in Africa "where it is warm", police spokesman Holger Jureczko told the AFP news agency.
They gave a good effort.
.......as their parents slept, the intrepid trio walked 1km (0.6 miles) to the local tram station at Langenhagen, where they hopped aboard a tram for Hanover central station. But the group aroused the suspicion of a guard as they waited for a train to the airport, and police were called in.
I suppose the lack of passports was a giveaway. It wasn't a total loss for the kids.
Officers persuaded the children they would not get far without tickets and money, but consoled them with a free tour of the police station, where they were shortly picked up by relieved parents.
A dream delayed, but not necessarily denied.
"They can still put their plan into action at a later date," AFP quoted the spokesman as saying.
Two German children - aged five and six - have been stopped by police from eloping to Africa to tie the knot in the sun, reports say.
The budding lovebirds, identified as Mika and Anna-Lena, packed bathing costumes, sunglasses and a lilo and headed for the airport. They even had the presence of mind to invite along an official witness - Anna-Lena's seven-year-old sister.
Why Africa?
The young couple were "very much in love" and had decided to get married in Africa "where it is warm", police spokesman Holger Jureczko told the AFP news agency.
They gave a good effort.
.......as their parents slept, the intrepid trio walked 1km (0.6 miles) to the local tram station at Langenhagen, where they hopped aboard a tram for Hanover central station. But the group aroused the suspicion of a guard as they waited for a train to the airport, and police were called in.
I suppose the lack of passports was a giveaway. It wasn't a total loss for the kids.
Officers persuaded the children they would not get far without tickets and money, but consoled them with a free tour of the police station, where they were shortly picked up by relieved parents.
A dream delayed, but not necessarily denied.
"They can still put their plan into action at a later date," AFP quoted the spokesman as saying.
More Suicidal Shame
This time in Germany.
German billionaire Adolf Merckle has committed suicide after his business empire ran into trouble in the global economic slowdown.
He did lose big money.....
Mr Merckle ran up losses of about 400m euros (£363m;$535m) last year due to wrong-way bets on Volkswagen shares.
But considering......his wealth, estimated by Forbes magazine last year to be $9.2bn....It hardly seems to be sufficent motivation for suicide.
His family, which had reported him missing after he failed to return home, said in a statement: "Adolf Merckle lived and worked for his family and his firms."
Apparently losing money justified abandoning the family. Sad.
German billionaire Adolf Merckle has committed suicide after his business empire ran into trouble in the global economic slowdown.
He did lose big money.....
Mr Merckle ran up losses of about 400m euros (£363m;$535m) last year due to wrong-way bets on Volkswagen shares.
But considering......his wealth, estimated by Forbes magazine last year to be $9.2bn....It hardly seems to be sufficent motivation for suicide.
His family, which had reported him missing after he failed to return home, said in a statement: "Adolf Merckle lived and worked for his family and his firms."
Apparently losing money justified abandoning the family. Sad.
Taz in Trouble
Officials are considering drastic action to save a uniquely famous animal.
Australian scientists say they want to build a fence on Tasmania to prevent the spread of a cancer that threatens the Tasmanian Devil with extinction.
The situation is dire.
The scientists say there is no cure for the contagious disease which has already infected two-thirds of Tasmania's devil population.
They warn that unless action is taken the world's largest marsupial carnivore could be extinct within 20 years.
Australian scientists say they want to build a fence on Tasmania to prevent the spread of a cancer that threatens the Tasmanian Devil with extinction.
The situation is dire.
The scientists say there is no cure for the contagious disease which has already infected two-thirds of Tasmania's devil population.
They warn that unless action is taken the world's largest marsupial carnivore could be extinct within 20 years.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Just Hide in the Closet Until It's Safe
From James Lileks at Buzz.mn.......
“Animal complaint. A woman called to report that there was a fox near her mailbox 30 minutes earlier, on the 1600 block of Granada Avenue. The woman said the fox was not aggressive and did not look sick.”
AhhhOOOOHGAH! Now hear this! Now hear this! Nature intrudes on human development! Be on the lookout for actual creature! Fox does not talk, stand on hind legs, or otherwise resemble foxes from movies, repeat, fox does not appear to be voiced by a celebrity.
This reminded me of a call taken by Minnehaha County dispatch and passed to me from a person reporting wild geese in a tree strip in a field in rural Lincoln County. The caller was concerned that they would eventually move onto the road and become a traffic hazard. I decided against alerting Game, Fish and Parks officers.
“Animal complaint. A woman called to report that there was a fox near her mailbox 30 minutes earlier, on the 1600 block of Granada Avenue. The woman said the fox was not aggressive and did not look sick.”
AhhhOOOOHGAH! Now hear this! Now hear this! Nature intrudes on human development! Be on the lookout for actual creature! Fox does not talk, stand on hind legs, or otherwise resemble foxes from movies, repeat, fox does not appear to be voiced by a celebrity.
This reminded me of a call taken by Minnehaha County dispatch and passed to me from a person reporting wild geese in a tree strip in a field in rural Lincoln County. The caller was concerned that they would eventually move onto the road and become a traffic hazard. I decided against alerting Game, Fish and Parks officers.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Weight Loss, Pro and Con
Jon Carroll claims to be on an um.... interesting diet.
Every week, I get a dietetic shampoo administered by a trained shampoo-ologist, which clears the pores and allows the fat to escape through my head. I also eat nothing but grasshoppers and dandelion greens, which so frightens the extra pounds that they make straight for my scalp. Also, there is counseling. There'd better be, right?
He's getting results,and seeing benefits.
.......I have now lost a 5-year-old child. Not a real child, you understand; merely human tissue that could become a 5-year-old child had it not been excreted through my scalp.
All of a sudden, shirts and pants that had pined away for years in drawers unopened since the first Bush administration are brought forward to the light of day and, fashion being what it is, discovered to be perfectly appropriate for a modern gathering. At the same time, one finds good-as-new belts that had long before been discarded as inadequate to the task at hand. It's a whole new wardrobe, free for nothing.
However, a downside emerged at a party.
I am an apple-shaped person, and I was losing my apple, so to speak, and nature did not provide me with any other protuberances upon which a belt could rest. At my ideal weight, I am essentially cylindrical.
As a result.....
I am dancing around the room, laughing with my head thrown back, my hands firmly grasped by others, and my pants are slowly falling down, down past rap-star fashionable, down past misdemeanor-appropriate, down - they had to be stopped. I broke the grip of my jolly neighbors, and, pretending to be both invisible and graceful, I pulled my pants back up.
Every week, I get a dietetic shampoo administered by a trained shampoo-ologist, which clears the pores and allows the fat to escape through my head. I also eat nothing but grasshoppers and dandelion greens, which so frightens the extra pounds that they make straight for my scalp. Also, there is counseling. There'd better be, right?
He's getting results,and seeing benefits.
.......I have now lost a 5-year-old child. Not a real child, you understand; merely human tissue that could become a 5-year-old child had it not been excreted through my scalp.
All of a sudden, shirts and pants that had pined away for years in drawers unopened since the first Bush administration are brought forward to the light of day and, fashion being what it is, discovered to be perfectly appropriate for a modern gathering. At the same time, one finds good-as-new belts that had long before been discarded as inadequate to the task at hand. It's a whole new wardrobe, free for nothing.
However, a downside emerged at a party.
I am an apple-shaped person, and I was losing my apple, so to speak, and nature did not provide me with any other protuberances upon which a belt could rest. At my ideal weight, I am essentially cylindrical.
As a result.....
I am dancing around the room, laughing with my head thrown back, my hands firmly grasped by others, and my pants are slowly falling down, down past rap-star fashionable, down past misdemeanor-appropriate, down - they had to be stopped. I broke the grip of my jolly neighbors, and, pretending to be both invisible and graceful, I pulled my pants back up.
Periodical Aesthetics
I've subscribed to many magazines off-and-on over the years, but only three long-term; Car and Driver and Road and Track since 1979, and The Sporting News since the late 1980s. Recently something has happened with The Sporting News, though; since a recent redesign I can't stand to look at it. I don't mean in a content-related, they-don't-know-what-they're-talking-about-anymore sense; I truly can't bear the look of the magazine.
When they first made this most recent change I didn't think anything of it. They didn't do anything particularly radical; they've made much bigger changes in the past, notably the switch from a newspaper-like paper to a glossier look. I can't even really describe what they changed. But since then whenever I've sat down to read it I struggle to get through the whole thing. I haven't even opened the last two issues.
I think this may be a last-straw development. The magazine isn't what it used to be, at least for me. They seem to be trying to go in a Sports Illustrated direction, which isn't what I want; I stopped getting that magazine a long time ago. I liked The Sporting News because they were more like a newspaper; less fluff and more news. I suppose like many newspapers they're struggling to survive, and are trying whatever they think will keep them in business. But I'm afraid in the process they've lost me.
When they first made this most recent change I didn't think anything of it. They didn't do anything particularly radical; they've made much bigger changes in the past, notably the switch from a newspaper-like paper to a glossier look. I can't even really describe what they changed. But since then whenever I've sat down to read it I struggle to get through the whole thing. I haven't even opened the last two issues.
I think this may be a last-straw development. The magazine isn't what it used to be, at least for me. They seem to be trying to go in a Sports Illustrated direction, which isn't what I want; I stopped getting that magazine a long time ago. I liked The Sporting News because they were more like a newspaper; less fluff and more news. I suppose like many newspapers they're struggling to survive, and are trying whatever they think will keep them in business. But I'm afraid in the process they've lost me.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Packing Up For the New Year
Finally, the first post of 2009. Once again the Real World has held things up here. We went to Sioux City to pick up my daughter after her week-long stay with her mother. It was a milestone of sorts; the last time we'll be making that trip based on the school calendar. Come graduation on May the whole situation changes, although exactly how has yet to be determined. The daughter has only the vaguest idea what she wants to do; at the moment she and her best friend plan to get an apartment and jobs and take some classes at the "university center" here. We'll see what happens. I just want to get her pointed in a reasonable direction in life, and go from there.
On the way back Saturday we finished up the holidays with a family get-together at my Dad's home in Centerville. It was the usual raucous time with the kids amassing considerable swag. The drive back that evening started OK, then turned nightmarish; northbound on highway 81 visibility deteriorated to the point that my wife watched for the white line on the edge of the road while I worried about the center line. Our speed varied between 10-40 mph for over an hour. I-90 westbound was better but still had enough bursts of zero visibility that we stopped for the night in Mitchell. We had no need to be back that night and I was just tired of it. The drive Sunday was clear and uneventful.
We officially ended the holiday season that afternoon with the dismantling of the tree. James Lileks did the same thing.
We stripped the tree, which is always done with an inverse amount of personal attention as you give to the initial festooning. There aren’t any songs you can play while you strip the tree. There aren’t any traditions. You don’t think of the stories behind each ornament. It all goes in the box and you know it’ll seem like just the other day when you pull them out again. The tree goes out today; I’ll prop it up, trunk in the boulevard glacier, so it can pretend it’s a real tree again for the next four days. It will fall over. I’ll put it back up. “Weekend at Bernie’s” for evergreens.
We have a plastic tree, so it was dismembered, put into a giant container with the decorations and carried out to the shed. I agree with James about the general sentiment; you just try not to break anything, while marvelling at how the various strings of lights and garland were somehow applied in such an intricate weave. It does provide a good stopping point for the season and the year,though. Onward into 2009; next major stop, the daughter's graduation.
On the way back Saturday we finished up the holidays with a family get-together at my Dad's home in Centerville. It was the usual raucous time with the kids amassing considerable swag. The drive back that evening started OK, then turned nightmarish; northbound on highway 81 visibility deteriorated to the point that my wife watched for the white line on the edge of the road while I worried about the center line. Our speed varied between 10-40 mph for over an hour. I-90 westbound was better but still had enough bursts of zero visibility that we stopped for the night in Mitchell. We had no need to be back that night and I was just tired of it. The drive Sunday was clear and uneventful.
We officially ended the holiday season that afternoon with the dismantling of the tree. James Lileks did the same thing.
We stripped the tree, which is always done with an inverse amount of personal attention as you give to the initial festooning. There aren’t any songs you can play while you strip the tree. There aren’t any traditions. You don’t think of the stories behind each ornament. It all goes in the box and you know it’ll seem like just the other day when you pull them out again. The tree goes out today; I’ll prop it up, trunk in the boulevard glacier, so it can pretend it’s a real tree again for the next four days. It will fall over. I’ll put it back up. “Weekend at Bernie’s” for evergreens.
We have a plastic tree, so it was dismembered, put into a giant container with the decorations and carried out to the shed. I agree with James about the general sentiment; you just try not to break anything, while marvelling at how the various strings of lights and garland were somehow applied in such an intricate weave. It does provide a good stopping point for the season and the year,though. Onward into 2009; next major stop, the daughter's graduation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)