July 29, 2010 11:35AM
The Well, Duh of the Week (so far)
Details of 100 million Facebook users published online
When I spotted this top-of-center-column-highlighted-in-red headline at Drudge my immediate reaction was, "Well, isn't that the freaking point of Facebook?"
Basically, some guy ran a script to gather publicly posted info on Facebook, collated it into a single searchable file, and made it available for download. Whoopty-do. If you don't want your personal life posted on the Internet, don't post it. If you do, don't be surprised when someone... like a potential employer maybe... reads it.
July 29, 2010 10:55AM
Who's Twisted Now?
“Let’s cut to twenty-five years later, I’m still married – none of my kids have been busted for drug possession. Can Al and Tipper Gore say the same thing? I don’t think so – oh, snap!” — Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider
July 27, 2010 9:35PM
James P. Hogan
James P. Hogan was laid to rest on Tuesday, July 20, 2010. He was buried in Dromahaire, County Leitrim, Ireland. Jim was known and loved by many, and the services were well attended. Many of the townspeople gathered to pay their respects to him. After the services and burial, Jim's family and friends met at the Club House Pub in Dromahaire for a meal and a final toast to Jim.
We wish to thank the wonderful people of the town of Dromahaire, as well as all of Jim's friends and fans for the love and support shown to us throughout this ordeal.
Sheryl Guffrey-Hogan
Tina Hogan Grant
Debbie Hogan Klien
Jane Hogan Henry
Alex Hogan
Joe Hogan
Michael Hogan
A little late, but I raise my own toast to Jim Hogan.
Those who didn't know Mr. Hogan, or read SF, might wonder why I keep posting about his loss.
That would be your loss. Read his books and you'll have a clue as to what we've lost. But only a clue; because Jim Hogan was more than just his novels.
July 26, 2010 6:00PM
Pro-Gun Dems May Get a Boost
University of New Hampshire Professor of Politics, Andrew Smith, says Democrats started moving away from a strong anti-gun stance in the 90's when many in the party blamed the issue on massive political losses in Congress.
That Dems moved away from a "strong anti-gun stance" may come as a surprise to many New Hampshire voters. At the state level alone in recent years we've seen legislation that would allow police chiefs to deny carry licenses by declaring law-abiding people "terrorists" without evidence or judicial review. Just last year, several Dems tried to ban almost all open carry in public. They also pushed a bill to ban any carry in the State House Complex. When the bill failed, the Dem-controlled facilities committee banned it anyway by fiat.
But to understand Prof Andrews' claim you need to know that the University of New Hampshire is a progressive-liberal controlled indoctrination center that should be named the University of North Massachusetts. He, and the University, don't exist in a little place we like to think of as the Live Free or Die state
If Andrews' claim had any validity, you might expect Dems to be lining up to declare their support for the US Second Amendment, state Article 2-a, and RKBA in general. As it happens, I'm offering a free platform where any pol can do just that, by answering the Gun Rights Questionnaire. But of the 10 Dems running for state and national offices in my districts, exactly.... zero (-0-, zip, nada, none, nobody) Dems answered the questions. One specifically replied to refuse to answer them. [sarc]Yep, the Dems are definitely pro-gun[/sarc].
One "Dem" did answer the questions, though. He's running for an office outside of my district, so I never formally surveyed him; he happened to discover the Questionnaire and volunteered answers. Wait for it...
Yes, he's running on the Dem ticket. But he happens to be a member of the NH Libertarian Party doing so for politically strategic reasons.
The GRQ deadline is end of day 7/31. Then I start grading the candidates. Failure to answer the questions is an automatic "F".
July 25, 2010 12:45PM
PG13: Parental Guidance Suggested
Amazon Filler Item Finder
Last night, I posted a note that The Anarchists is available in paperback to a mail list I run. An old friend replied, "Just $6.05 short of qualifying for Super Saver Shipping -- and I've been stuck for hours now trying to fill that gap."
Naturally, I responded with a link to the Amazon Filler Item Finder. Then, wondering if I might notice some specific item that could conceivably be related to my books worth recommending, I ran a search. I think I wish I hadn't. Filler Item presented me with a lengthy list, and noted that popular items were listed in bold-face, one of which jumped out at me (NOTE: I'm not actually suggesting you buy this one):
Doc Johnson Anal Plug, Black, Medium
(Reviewer Note: "Even Though It's Called "Medium," This Is A Serious Plug", Comment on Reviewer Note: "wow")
Apparently this is also available in Hot Pink, Red, and White. If there is significance to the colors, please don't tell me.
Talk about filling gaps. I suppose that one goes with another "popular" item found lower in the list:
WD-40 Lubricant, Aerosol Can, 16 Fluid Ounces
...except that one might expect 16 ounces to go with the large size rather than medium.
Possibly equally disturbing was my friend's suggestion: "You should market an anarchist
action figure for $6.05 to help people overcome this problem".
My mind boggles. Suggestions?
And potentially far more disturbing, my publisher is contacting a local bookstore about having me in to do a book signing. New Hampshire readers be warned. I'll let you know if the bookstore falls for it.
July 24, 2010 7:40PM
More good news: The Anarchists, my short story collection, is now available at Amazon.com in paperback... Right HERE.
Please order many, many copies, so I can pay my bills.
The Amazon page says that all these stories in The Anarchists previously appeared in Doing Freedom! magazine. But unless something happened to content since last I spoke to the publisher, there are stories you've never seen before.
July 18, 2010 7:15AM
It's Not a Tax Until We Say It's a Tax
In a brief defending the law, the Justice Department says the requirement for people to carry insurance or pay the penalty is “a valid exercise” of Congress’s power to impose taxes.
Congress can use its taxing power “even for purposes that would exceed its powers under other provisions” of the Constitution, the department said. For more than a century, it added, the Supreme Court has held that Congress can tax activities that it could not reach by using its power to regulate commerce.
While Congress was working on the health care legislation, Mr. Obama refused to accept the argument that a mandate to buy insurance, enforced by financial penalties, was equivalent to a tax.
Naturally the Feds are ignoring (as always, regardless of which branch of the unitary party is in power) the inconvenient fact that the Constitution only authorizes certain activities, and that taxation is (supposedly)only in support of the authorized activities.
July 16, 2010 9:25AM
It's a not-so-wonderful day in the neighborhood
Temper
A few years ago, SF writer L. Neil Smith wrote The American Zone, which is notable here because he modeled one of his villains on... Mr. Rogers. Oddly enough, it worked. And the bad guy was rather creepy.
I got a brief mention in that book, too. See if you can find it. Hint: I'm usually associated with... larger calibers.
July 15, 2010 11:45AM
Funeral Arrangements for Jim Hogan
We have been advised by Jim's family that funeral services will be
held on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 (NOT the 21st as earlier reported).
The service will be held at:
Fowley Funeral Directors
Main Street
Dromahair, Co. Leitrim.
Telephone: 071 916-4093
(From the US: 011-353-71-916-4093)
If you're in Europe, or wish to send flowers.
July 14, 2010 11:30AM
My Shory Story Collection Is Out On Kindle
I knew this was coming, but it still caught me a little by surprise:
New!
Short Story Collection
And unless I'm mistaken, the paperback edition should release late this month or early August.
July 13, 2010 5:00PM
James P. Hogan Has Died
SPECIAL EDITION
JAMES P. HOGAN DIES AT AGE 69
======================
We are saddened to report the passing of James P. Hogan at the age of 69.
Jim was alone at his home in Ireland when he died suddenly yesterday, July 12, 2010.
The precise cause of Jim's death has not yet been determined, nor is the exact time known.
We are in touch with the family and will release further information as it becomes available.
Tim Gleason
Sysadm, JamesPHogan.com
This just showed up in my mailbox, and it is also on Mr. Hogan's website; so I guess this terrible news is true.
I have been a fan of Jim Hogan since my high school days with the publication of Inherit the Stars, the first book of The Giants Trilogy. I have enjoyed everything he wrote, and he made me think hard on a regular basis.
I had the privilege of corresponding with Jim Hogan on a few occasions. He was invariably friendly, helpful, generous, and informative. Pretty amazing, considering that I was just a stranger out of the blue, asking a favor.
The world, and especially the SF community, are dimmer places with this loss.
Hogan recently had yet another novel published, Migration. I've been planning to buy it as soon as I had the money. And, somehow, I was already looking forward to his next book, too. Damn.
July 9, 2010 12:20PM
"[T]he conduct of the officers involved did not rise to the level of criminal activity."
Internal investigation clears city officers of criminal wrongdoing in Strange Brew incident
The beating allegedly followed off-duty officers assisting a bouncer in removing Christopher Micklovich, 32, from the tavern at 88 Market St. Micklovich suffered fractured eye sockets and a broken nose.
[...]
Micklovich claims he was held down while being kicked in the face and head.
Lessee... Four off-duty cops. A bouncer. Versus one guy, who somehow ends up with serious head injuries. Even the police chief, noted for covering for hyperviolent cops, had to suspend three of them while the fourth "retired".
But there was no criminal activity.
Of course, that's the same decision as the time the Manchester cops climbed onto a private balcony and beat up a guy laughing at their ineptitude.
Strange Brew... Strange Brew...?
Oh yeah. That's where another Manchester cop severely beat yet another civilian last year.
July 8, 2010 2:50PM
Second Amendment Lie?
I've been going through my current email client database prepatory to migrating to a new client (a tedious process, which is why I tend to keep using prehistoric paleosoftware), and I came upon an email from about two and a half years ago:
From: JNagarya
Subject: NRA's Second Amendment Lie --
And honest person doesn't lie against the Constitution. The Second Amendment has nothing whatever to do with "individual" anything -- PEOPLE is PLURAL.
Sure, the framers of that which became the Second debated an "indivudal right" clause. It was the right of a PERSON -- INDIVIDUAL -- "religiously scrupulous" of bearing arms to not be COMPELLED to bear arms. I.e., under some circumstances, membership in the militia is not voluntary; and it has never been unusual for gov't to enact a draft to ensure sufficient members.
Yes: that "individual right" -- conscientious objection -- was voted down. Ergo, the Second has nothing whatever to do with "individual" anything. And the honest person does lie against those facts, and the Constitution he is falsely claiming to protect.
This one brought back sad memories: It was one so wrong, in so many ways, that I couldn't bring myself to get involved in educating this clown. First, he seemed to think I have something to do with the NRA. His grammar suggests he's a government school-indoctrination victim, possibly even a Liberal Arts major (apologies to any rational LA majors out there, but this is based on my experience with such). He apparently never noticed that the Bill of Rights consistently used "people" and "person" to refer to individuals (singularly or in multiples), and "states" when refering to "collective" rights. He clearly had little exposure to much of the political writings of the day (from the look of things, he was trying to quote a single, out-of-context passage). He didn't even notice the inconsistency between his own first and second paragraphs.
But why bring it up now? It's just that I wonder if his head imploded when the Supreme Court ruled twice in a row – Heller and McDonald – that the Second Amendment does protect an individual right.
JNagarya, you should be wondering what else you were lied to about.
July 8, 2010 11:55AM
Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer's edge over Republican challenger Carly Fiorina has dwindled to 3 points as she seeks re-election in November
I'll admit to being a little conflicted here. On the one hand, getting Boxer out of the Senate would be very good for America. At least one acquaintance goes so far as to suggest getting rid of Boxer is worth it, even if her replacement is worse (on theory that the newby's potential for damage would be limited by lack of seniority).
OTOH, I was a contractor at an HP facility when Fiorina was ruinning running (while proofreading I caught that oh-so-telling freudian typo) that show. I remember mass, no-notice, holiday layoffs when scores of of abruptly-ex-employees were run out of the building by security without even a chance to go back for coats or car keys (in a New England winter, mind you; prompting a change in procedure). I remember multiple cases of software engineers being laid off because "their projects were completed", only to be brought back as contractors at several times their previous salaries because the projects weren't over, and no one else could be found with the needed skillsets. I remember HP stocks losing around 70% of their value during Fiorina's term at the corporate helm.
I remember HP's board finally deciding that it was worth paying the incompetent CEO $42 million just to be rid of her.
Given the seniority issue, maybe it's worth it to be rid of Boxer. But if they go that route, California voters should start making plans now to replace Fiorina with someone at least harmlessly incompetent.
July 6, 2010 3:35PM
Transportation Prevention Clowns to Block "Controversial Opinion" on the Web
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is blocking certain websites from the federal agency's computers, including halting access by staffers to any Internet pages that contain a "controversial opinion," according to an internal email obtained by CBS News.
Oh! Somebody please tell me I made the censorial unapproved list.
Yes, stick your fingers in your ears and chant loudly, "Blah! Blah! Blah! I can't hear you!" And if you close your eyes, we won't even be able to see your screw ups, as any guilty toddler or puppy could tell you.[/sarcasm]
You clowns don't have to visit my site to know what a low opinion I have of you. If I see you in public, in uniform, I'll be happy to tell you in person.
July 6, 2010 9:00AM
Privacy Statement: We will never sell your email address
Except... well... uhm... Unless they do:
We have today, and will in the future have, arrangements with third party service providers, such as credit card processors, shipping companies and fulfillment services. When you sign up for a service we offer on the site, we may be required to share personal information with that service provider in order to provide the service.
If you choose to use these optional services or opportunities, we may provide some of your personal information to these parties. We will not do so without telling you in advance, and you can avoid having us make such disclosures by choosing not to use these services or features of the site.
We may provide personal information to our affiliated companies in order to improve our marketing and advertising efforts and your experience with our site.
We reserve the right to disclose personal information when needed to comply with the law or a legal process, cooperate with investigations of purported unlawful activities, to identify persons violating the law, or in connection with the sale of part or all of The Telegraph Online or its affiliate's stock or assets.
One might get the impression they aren't familiar with the definition of privacy.
I gave up on the Nashua Telegraph a long time ago. I used to be a print subscriber. But their inability to get facts right caused me to cancel. I did read the online version for a while, mostly for amusement (see the fact-challenged bit above). But the lousy editing, proofreading (lack thereof, actually), etc., etc., etc. finally drove me away. (Sure; I make typos. But this is a personal hobby site, not a supposedly professional paid service. Pay me, and I'll proof and edit more.) But this morning I happened to see a link on another site that led to the Telegraph, and I figured what the heck. Clicked and discovered you now have to register to be ill-informed by the Telegraph. Decided to check the privacy policy.
Never again.
July 5, 2010 11:00AM
Power tends to corrupt.
People are generally familiar with Lord Acton's observation of the tendencies of power, although many seem to think the quote is, "Power corrupts." But others are familiar with the correct, longer version, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." But I'd like to thank Mike Vanderboegh for reminding me of the full version:
I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption, it is the other way, against the holders of power, increasing as the power increases. Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or certainty of corruption by full authority. There is no worse heresy than the fact that the office sanctifies the holder of it."
To put this in context, Acton was objecting to the (then) new-fangled self-assertion of the Roman Catholic Pope of "papal infallibility". That entire quote is important, but I want you to take special note of that last sentence, and to remember it every time some abuse-of power-apologist tells you that you must respect the office, at least, if not the officeholder. It applies whether you speak of a president, congresscreep, alderman, selectman, or police officer. Or anyone else claiming authority over you.
And along those lines, here's another Acton quote:
"The responsibility exists whether the thing permitted be good or bad. If the thing be criminal then the authority permitting it bears the ..."
July 3, 2010 12:30PM
<= Look!
After a few delays, Net Assets is finally available from Amazon in paperback. Get your copy now. Please.
July 1, 2010 12:55PM
Something to Hide?
From the LRT-Discuss mailing list:
"Brief discussion with a lady who insisted that "if we're not doing
anything wrong, we have nothing to hide." I asked her if her butt was
doing anything wrong. She looked shocked and said, "of course not!" I
then asked her, "in that case, why do you have it covered?
"We have not spoken since for some weird reason..."
- Susan, Lady Knight
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