Tag: Open Thread

Weekend News Digest

Weekend News Digest is an Open Thread

From Yahoo News Top Stories

1 Russia’s Medvedev on course for presidency

By Christian Lowe, Reuters

8 minutes ago

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Dmitry Medvedev was elected by a big margin to succeed Vladimir Putin as Russian president, exit polls and early results showed on Sunday, after a vote that will preserve his mentor’s power but which opponents said was unfair.

Medvedev, a 42-year-old who has worked at Putin’s side since the 1990s, will take over the trappings of the presidency from his patron but it was still unclear which of the two men would really be in charge.

Half an hour after polling stations closed, state television broadcast a pop concert in Red Square. It began with a song whose chorus was “Forward, Russia” — Medvedev’s unofficial campaign slogan.

Weekend News Digest

Weekend News Digest is an Open Thread

From Yahoo News Top Stories

1 Japan looks to a robot future

By HIROKO TABUCHI, Associated Press Writer

18 minutes ago

TOKYO – At a university lab in a Tokyo suburb, engineering students are wiring a rubbery robot face to simulate six basic expressions: anger, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise and disgust.

Hooked up to a database of words clustered by association, the robot – dubbed Kansei, or “sensibility” – responds to the word “war” by quivering in what looks like disgust and fear. It hears “love,” and its pink lips smile.

“To live among people, robots need to handle complex social tasks,” said project leader Junichi Takeno of Meiji University. “Robots will need to work with emotions, to understand and eventually feel them.

The Stars Hollow Gazette

So tomorrow we celebrate Frederic’s 38th birthday.  He has long since passed his pirate apprenticeship (1940) and must surely by now be actively contributing to the reduction of global warming.

By the time I was a senior in High School pretty much the only reason I was there was to pick up my gym credit and stay out of trouble.

Stay out of trouble, heh.

Since I had by that time made it clear I was going to be entirely obnoxious during morning exercises I was no longer welcome in homeroom and mostly marked absent the entire year.  If that dodge failed I also had my magical permanent pass as an editor of the alternative school newspaper that made attendence after second period pretty much optional anyway.  Still there were those more Cameron-like that my editor buddies and I tried to help out.  Life moves pretty fast.  If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

One of our more successful projects was a production of H.M.S. Pinafore that was ostensibly a History project, but it had a cast of thousands and rehersals lasted for months.

I was Ralph Rackstraw, Able Seaman and I can still hit all the notes in the National Anthem depending on the key.  It was not my first choice, because I had none of the really funny songs; but I did get a duet with Josephine- the girl I thought was the hottest one in school (alas, my love to scorn, she didn’t feel the same way about me).

Sometimes success is it’s own punishment.  Four matinees (one for the History class and then once for each class), two gala nights for the ‘rents, and then a road show for the rest of the system.  Oh, and we all got As.

Hey, Cameron. You realize if we played by the rules right now we’d be in gym?

Pony Party….patience

I love spring. It is an exercise in patience rewarded spectacularly.

I been standin’ on the rock, waitin’ for the wind to blow

I been standin’ on the rock, waitin’ for the wind to blow

I been standin’ on the rock, waitin’ for my seeds to grow

I been walkin’ on the ground, waitin’ for the guns to quit

I been walkin’ on the ground, waitin’ for the guns to quit

I been walkin’ on the ground, waitin’ for the pieces to fit

better get back to the country, look around and find you a home

better get back to the country, look around and find you a home

better get back to the country, that’s where we all come from

I been standin’ on the rock, waitin’ for the wind to blow

I been standin’ on the rock, waitin’ for the wind to blow

I been standin’ on the rock, waitin’ for my seeds to grow(whew!)

I been standin’ on the rock, waitin’ for my seeds to grow

I been standin’ on the rock, waitin’ for my seeds to grow


Thanks for stopping in, so glad You’re here …. (yes, YOU!)

this is an open thread… relax.. Hang out and chit chat awhile…

and when you’re done  check out some of the excellent offerings on our recent and rec’d list.

O &… Please don’t rec the pony party, another will trot up in a few hours.

(^.^)

The Morning News

The Morning News is an Open Thread

From Yahoo News Top Stories

1 Expert details White House e-mail risks

By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer

8 minutes ago

WASHINGTON – A computer expert who worked at the White House provided the first inside look at its e-mail system Tuesday, calling it a “primitive” setup that created a high risk that data would be lost.

Steven McDevitt’s written statements, placed on the public record at a congressional hearing, asserted that a study by White House technical staff in October 2005 turned up an estimated 1,000 days on which e-mail was missing.

Two federal laws require electronic messages to be preserved.

The Stars Hollow Gazette

Obama shows that dismissing slimy right-wing attacks is not difficult

Glenn Geenwald, Salon.com

Monday February 25, 2008 10:08 EST

“A party that presided over a war in which our troops did not get the body armor they needed, or were sending troops over who were untrained because of poor planning, or are not fulfilling the veterans’ benefits that these troops need when they come home, or are undermining our Constitution with warrantless wiretaps that are unnecessary?

“That is a debate I am very happy to have. We’ll see what the American people think is the true definition of patriotism.”  (Barack Obama, emphasis Greenwald’s -ek)

Most Democrats have yet to learn that lesson. Obama’s response here strongly suggests that he has. Although there is still a significant chance that Democrats will ultimately give the President most if not all of what he wants on the FISA bill, perhaps their ongoing refusal to capitulate quickly even in the face of all-out GOP fear-mongering — along with Obama’s refusal to do the same with regard to these patriotism attacks — will demonstrate that (regardless of their “real beliefs” on war and surveillance) such capitulation is not only unnecessary but completely contrary to their own political interests.

Remember that this particular controversy has happened once already- zenbowl was doing Breaking! at dK on 10/4/07.

Maybe I was the only one who noticed.

This round of events was touched off by Nedra Pickler’s horrible piece of trash on the Associated Press wire, Obama may face grilling on patriotism, which I drew to your attention to Saturday in Weekend News Digest (story #8) when it was 4 hours old.  See how plugged in you are?

Weekend News Digest

Weekend News Digest is an Open Thread

From Yahoo News Top Stories

1 Iraq bomber targeting Shiites kills 40

By SINAN SALAHEDDIN, Associated Press Writer

37 minutes ago

BAGHDAD – A suicide bomber struck Shiite pilgrims as they were resting Sunday during a days-long walk to a Shiite shrine, killing at least 40 people and wounding 60.

The attack in Iskandariyah, south of Baghdad, was the second of the day against pilgrims traveling to the holy city of Karbala. The pilgrimage marks Arbaeen, the 40th day following the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, one of two revered Shiite figures buried there.

The suicide bomber detonated at a tent where pilgrims stop to eat and drink, police said.

Weekend News Digest- Updated

Weekend News Digest is an Open Thread

1 Turkey bombs Kurdish rebels in Iraq

By SELCAN HACAOGLU, Associated Press Writer

27 minutes ago

CUKURCA, Turkey – Turkish warplanes, helicopters and artillery bombed suspected hideouts of Kurdish rebels in remote, mountainous terrain of northern Iraq Saturday.

The Turkish military said at least 35 Kurdish rebels and two Turkish soldiers died in fighting Saturday. A total of seven soldiers and at least 79 rebels have been killed in Iraq since Turkey launched a ground incursion late Thursday, according to the military. The rebel Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, claimed it had killed 15 Turkish troops.

The incursion is the first confirmed Turkish military ground operation in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Iraq’s government criticized the offensive on Saturday, saying military force will not solve the Kurdish problem.

The Stars Hollow Gazette

So it’s going to be an ugly day here in Stars Hollow tomorrow.  Snow, snow, snow, and then some more snow for good measure.

Good thing too, because it will cover up the mud.

Today is kind of a Dave & Craig retro day for me where I get to contemplate the wreck my life has become since the holidays and how really hopelessly behind on all my important projects I am.

On the other hand not every good idea went undone so there are accomplishments to point to too.  I’m going to decide to be grateful for the break- a snow day if you will.  I shall sleep late and play and get wet and chilled and then dry off and drink hot beverages and play bored games with my friends and family.

If I get ambitious I might try to clean up some of the clutter, but that seems a foolish goal.

Pony Party….Light


In The Light ~ Led Zeppelin

And if you feel that you can’t go on. And your will’s sinkin’ low

Just believe and you can’t go wrong.

In the light you will find the road. You will find the road

Oh, did you ever believe that I could leave you, standing out in the cold

I know how it feels ’cause I have slipped through to the very depths of my soul.

I just wanna show what I’d give you it is from every bend in the road

Now listen to me

Oh, whoa-whoa, as I was and really would be for you, too, honey

As you would for me, oh, I would share your load.

Let me share your load. Ooh, let me share, share your load

And if you feel that you can’t go on

In the light you will find the road

Though the winds of change may blow around you, but that will always be so

When love is pain it can devour you, if you are never alone

I would share your load. I would share your load

Baby, let me, oh, let me

In the light

Everybody needs the light.


In the light, in the light, in the light

Light, light, light, in the light

Thanks for stopping in, so glad you’re here …. (yes, YOU!)

Feel free to chatter below…

or stroll over to the Recent or Rec’d list…

there are many fine offerings today

O &… Please don’t rec the pony party, another will trot up in a few hours.

(^.^)  

Pony Party…. Rain


This is the springtime of my loving – the second season I am to know

You are the sunlight in my growing – so little warmth I’ve felt before.

It isn’t hard to feel me glowing – I watched the fire that grew so low.

It is the summer of my smiles – flee from me Keepers of the Gloom.

Speak to me only with your eyes. It is to you I give this tune.

Ain’t so hard to recognize – These things are clear to all from

time to time.

Talk Talk – I’ve felt the coldness of my winter

I never thought it would ever go. I cursed the gloom that set upon us…

But I know that I love you so

These are the seasons of emotion and like the winds they rise and fall

This is the wonder of devotion – I see the torch we all must hold.

This is the mystery of the quotient – Upon us all a little rain must fall.


Thanks for stopping in, so glad you’re here …. (yes, YOU!)

Feel free to chatter below…

or stroll over to the Recent or Rec’d list…

there are many fine offerings today

O &… Please don’t rec the pony party, another will trot up in a few hours.

(^.^)

The Stars Hollow Gazette

Well, just a personal reminiscence from a couple of hours ago.

I do try to pay attention to ‘once in a lifetime’ or maybe every few year events.  I’m a big fan of the America’s Cup for instance and never fail to watch the coverage.  I am also a big sucker for astronomy and as a matter of fact my homebrewing friend has keys to an observatory with a real live jive telescope.

They even have a dome.

Of course you can’t heat an observatory (warps the optics, creates heat waves out the observation slit, and who wants to pay the bill even if you were willing to be that environmentally incorrect?) and it’s inconvenient to hook up sometimes, so most of my observations are by eye.

If you know where to look there’s a lot to see.

It’s hard to miss something obvious like a lunar eclipse unless you’re busy blogging.  Even the pollution from the driveway lights can’t hide it.  Planets like Saturn and bright stars like Regulus are pretty visible too if you know where they are (planets are noticeably non-blinking and look… rounder than stars).

Meteors are a little tougher to convince yourself you’re seeing.  They’re mostly not streaky at all.  Instead they look like stars, maybe just a little redder.  What you notice is that they seem to wander, and at first you’re saying- nah, just my eyes.  You need to frame them against a fixed object (like the side of a house or a tree branch, although real stars will do) and then you find that they really dart around quite a bit.

The tell tale is that they’ll get fuzzy every once in a while, like really fizzling bad fireworks.

Not much else to see, so once you have it’s always the same.  That can be a disappointment like so much astronomy, NASA pictures really are much better than real life in part because they capture hours worth of photons and your eyes are instantaneous.

Still, saw me a shot down spy satellite tonight.  No telling when that will happen again.

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