Tuesday May 28, 2013 Mail: Lofgeornost #111 from Fred Lerner.
"What I am proposing is A History of the Future in 100 Objects -- an attempt to identify and describe the hundred most significant imaginary artifacts from the science fiction literature."
***At Muddsuckers Coffee, there was a newborn baby in the employees' area. One of the baristas had been very, very pregnant the last time I'd seen her.
***Met with my ACA sponsor. (ACA: Adult Children of Alcoholic and Otherwise Disfunctional Families Anonymous.)
We met at Sporty's Bar, which claims to be "the original dive bar." This is inaccurate: it's not a place of low resort, but a respectable college bar. And it's several thousand years too young to be the original.
***1993 predictions on the future of news, from a Compuserve forum:
"...One JForum member even offered a detailed description of how the tyranny of news only being delivered once a day would be upended by on-demand updates sent to color laser fax machines, rented from newspapers, along with 'rolls of newsprint (purchased) from the grocery store.'
"But on the whole, the views on news-yet-to-come share a characteristic that afflicts much technological prediction: almost-unavoidable blinders created by what one already knows exists. The prognostications of two decades ago were right as often as they were wrong, but not always in the ways anticipated by these news media pros.
"It’s one thing to extrapolate and posit one revolutionary change, but it’s a lot harder (and a lot more likely to lead to failure) to try and correctly speculate on two or three changes that, interacting, create cross-currents that enable something entirely new. Like, say, WiFi plus smartphones plus Twitter."
Frank Catalano http://www.geekwire.com/2013/digital-future-news-1993/
Alfred Bester's 1952 novel The Demolished Man had newspapers printed out by vending machines, with hourly updates.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Friday May 24, 2013 From politicalwire.com:
"Weiner Website Featured Image of Pittsburgh
"Anthony Weiner (D) changed his newly unveiled New York mayoral campaign website after criticism it displayed the cityscape of Pittsburgh, The Hill reports."
***Someone asked online: "What happened on this date in 1879? And changed the world, well at least for women, as they knew it!"
I answered: "The number of sexes required for reproduction was reduced from eleven to five. (Note: the belief that only two are required is a superstition.)"
[Correct answer: Reese candy company was established.]
On Usenet, someone had explained how FDR engineered the attack on Pearl Harbor. And the CIA had the records that proved this. Another poster pointed out that the CIA hadn't existed at the time.
I explained that the CIA was actually established in 93 billion BC, well before our universe was built.
So much for my worries about a snark deficiency.
"Weiner Website Featured Image of Pittsburgh
"Anthony Weiner (D) changed his newly unveiled New York mayoral campaign website after criticism it displayed the cityscape of Pittsburgh, The Hill reports."
***Someone asked online: "What happened on this date in 1879? And changed the world, well at least for women, as they knew it!"
I answered: "The number of sexes required for reproduction was reduced from eleven to five. (Note: the belief that only two are required is a superstition.)"
[Correct answer: Reese candy company was established.]
On Usenet, someone had explained how FDR engineered the attack on Pearl Harbor. And the CIA had the records that proved this. Another poster pointed out that the CIA hadn't existed at the time.
I explained that the CIA was actually established in 93 billion BC, well before our universe was built.
So much for my worries about a snark deficiency.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Thursday May 23, 2013 Sports Illustrated has a backpage ad for Viagra. Among other warnings: if the desired result lasts for more than four hours, get medical help. I suspect a mere three hours would be excessive for some couples.
Note: In case anyone's wondering, the prescription pills I take come with cautions about use when breastfeeding or pregnant.
***Seen at Dollar Tree: marijuana detection kit. I think those used to cost more than a dollar.
***At Southeast Library, seeing Mother Earth News inspired this idea: Father Sky News, a magazine for people who want to homestead in space.
***Sign glimpsed from bus: "No statutory vape." Context: store selling electronic cigarettes, Uptown Vapor Shoppe. The warning was part of the standard "We don't sell to minors" notice.
***ACA meeting. (Adult Children [of alcoholic and otherwise dysfunctional families] Anonymous.)
Topic for the meeting was characteristics of adult children. Including "Adult children guess at what normal is."
For me, there's a problem with this. "Normal" has at least two meanings: average and healthy. These are not the same thing.
Note: In case anyone's wondering, the prescription pills I take come with cautions about use when breastfeeding or pregnant.
***Seen at Dollar Tree: marijuana detection kit. I think those used to cost more than a dollar.
***At Southeast Library, seeing Mother Earth News inspired this idea: Father Sky News, a magazine for people who want to homestead in space.
***Sign glimpsed from bus: "No statutory vape." Context: store selling electronic cigarettes, Uptown Vapor Shoppe. The warning was part of the standard "We don't sell to minors" notice.
***ACA meeting. (Adult Children [of alcoholic and otherwise dysfunctional families] Anonymous.)
Topic for the meeting was characteristics of adult children. Including "Adult children guess at what normal is."
For me, there's a problem with this. "Normal" has at least two meanings: average and healthy. These are not the same thing.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Tuesday May 21, 2013 From Twitter: Peace Corps @PeaceCorps
Proud to announce we'll begin accepting Volunteer apps from same-sex domestic partners who want to serve together http://1.usa.gov/16McG2M
Retweeted by rivenhomewood
***From Twitter: Media Matters @mmfa
NRA lists the 'coolest gun movies': http://bit.ly/10SdID9 Flashback: NRA blames mass shootings on movies http://mm4a.org/UkYROn
Retweeted by Dan Savage
***Shopping: The Wedge Coop. Steeple People Thrift Store, where I found a couple of things I needed.
On to the Dollar Store on Franklin Avenue, and the nearby Aldi grocery.
***"DARE [Dictionary of American Regional English] has received a grant from NEH to do a pilot study in Wisconsin to
test a new Questionnaire and a new methodology for a second round of nationwide fieldwork.
"This time we won't be using Word Wagons--instead, the survey will be conducted online. We are working with the University of Wisconsin Survey Center to develop the method, and we will include a recorded telephone interview to collect phonological data for comparison with the original DARE recordings.
"We plan to omit questions for practices that are now obsolete (farming with oxen, kinds of sleigh, etc) and add questions that reflect changes in our society over the last 50 years."
And what questions will they be asking 50 years from now?
Proud to announce we'll begin accepting Volunteer apps from same-sex domestic partners who want to serve together http://1.usa.gov/16McG2M
Retweeted by rivenhomewood
***From Twitter: Media Matters @mmfa
NRA lists the 'coolest gun movies': http://bit.ly/10SdID9 Flashback: NRA blames mass shootings on movies http://mm4a.org/UkYROn
Retweeted by Dan Savage
***Shopping: The Wedge Coop. Steeple People Thrift Store, where I found a couple of things I needed.
On to the Dollar Store on Franklin Avenue, and the nearby Aldi grocery.
***"DARE [Dictionary of American Regional English] has received a grant from NEH to do a pilot study in Wisconsin to
test a new Questionnaire and a new methodology for a second round of nationwide fieldwork.
"This time we won't be using Word Wagons--instead, the survey will be conducted online. We are working with the University of Wisconsin Survey Center to develop the method, and we will include a recorded telephone interview to collect phonological data for comparison with the original DARE recordings.
"We plan to omit questions for practices that are now obsolete (farming with oxen, kinds of sleigh, etc) and add questions that reflect changes in our society over the last 50 years."
And what questions will they be asking 50 years from now?
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Friday May 17, 2013 Email: GOD HAS CHOOSED YOU TO HANDLE THIS CONFIDENTIAL PROJECT SO PLEASE DO NOT DISAPPOINT
***Saw a vehicle labeled "Air Taxi." It was traveling on the ground when I saw it.
Later, saw a taxi which advertised "Any city Any time." Paris in the 1920's, anyone? Or Hong Kong a century from now?
***A prescription had been written for the brand name, rather than the generic. Since the brand name would cost me over twenty times as much as the generic, I had called the clinic. Was reassured that it would be filled with the generic; but I could call HealthPartners pharmacy central phone number to make sure. Was again reassured.
At HealthPartners Riverside pharmacy, the medication was waiting: the brand name version.
It got straightened out.
***Saw a vehicle labeled "Air Taxi." It was traveling on the ground when I saw it.
Later, saw a taxi which advertised "Any city Any time." Paris in the 1920's, anyone? Or Hong Kong a century from now?
***A prescription had been written for the brand name, rather than the generic. Since the brand name would cost me over twenty times as much as the generic, I had called the clinic. Was reassured that it would be filled with the generic; but I could call HealthPartners pharmacy central phone number to make sure. Was again reassured.
At HealthPartners Riverside pharmacy, the medication was waiting: the brand name version.
It got straightened out.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Thursday May 16, 2013. One effect of Minnesota legalizing same-sex marriages:
Email from Steeple People Thrift Store: "Congratulations to all newly engaged couples! Our special window features wedding dresses and gear for everyone."
***Submitted "All You've Ever Dreamed Of" to another market.
***From Twitter:
US Reality Check @USRealityCheck
Report: World's Lone Non-Telepathic Individual Still Completely Unaware: NEW YORK—According to a report... http://bit.ly/10Tavb8 to #US
(The URL links to an Onion article. Satire; in reality, there are at least nineteen non-telepaths.)
***ACA (Adult Children [of alcoholic and otherwise dysfunctional families] Anonymous) meeting.
The section of the church we generally use was filled with stuff for Saturday's rummage sale (part of the Linden Hills neighborhood sale.) I saw something I wanted which had a price on it. Fifty cents; I had a roll of pennies with me...I took the thing, replaced it with the roll of pennies and a note of explanation.
Somewhat later, a couple of church members brought supplies for Saturday morning's pancake breakfast into the kitchen. I picked up the money and note, gave them to the church people with an explanation.
And suggested that next year, they give attendees of groups which meet in the church an opportunity to buy early.
***On my way home, changing buses in Downtown, I saw pedicabs.
Email from Steeple People Thrift Store: "Congratulations to all newly engaged couples! Our special window features wedding dresses and gear for everyone."
***Submitted "All You've Ever Dreamed Of" to another market.
***From Twitter:
US Reality Check @USRealityCheck
Report: World's Lone Non-Telepathic Individual Still Completely Unaware: NEW YORK—According to a report... http://bit.ly/10Tavb8 to #US
(The URL links to an Onion article. Satire; in reality, there are at least nineteen non-telepaths.)
***ACA (Adult Children [of alcoholic and otherwise dysfunctional families] Anonymous) meeting.
The section of the church we generally use was filled with stuff for Saturday's rummage sale (part of the Linden Hills neighborhood sale.) I saw something I wanted which had a price on it. Fifty cents; I had a roll of pennies with me...I took the thing, replaced it with the roll of pennies and a note of explanation.
Somewhat later, a couple of church members brought supplies for Saturday morning's pancake breakfast into the kitchen. I picked up the money and note, gave them to the church people with an explanation.
And suggested that next year, they give attendees of groups which meet in the church an opportunity to buy early.
***On my way home, changing buses in Downtown, I saw pedicabs.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Tuesday May 14, 2013. Four days ago: sleet in the morning. Today: Over 90 degrees F.
***Read: Ken MacLeod, The Human Front. Alternate history, beginning in 1963 with the news of Stalin's death.
Very good use of the author's childhood memories (adapted for the story, of course.)
In my opinion, the protagonist's political beliefs are junk magic. But they're close to MacLeod's own views, which can be a great advantage in writing a character.
Note: The point of divergence is something which never actually happened, happening differently than the conspiracy theories say it did. This might offend purists.
Skimmed: Victoria Blake (ed.), Cyberpunk: stories of hardware, software, wetware, revolution and evolution. I was struck by how old-fashioned these stories seemed, including the recent ones.
***"Your Membership Has Been APPROVED
dsgood@iphouse.com
"The nations largest professional women's network has selected you to join their private group.
"Women who join, have secured their financial futures by gaining access to powerful resources & benefits very few American women have."
***Comment I made on Facebook: If we're living in the future, where are the flying cars which were supposed to completely replace groundcars right after WW II? We were supposed to have cities well-established on Mars by 1970! Where are the British and Soviet interstellar empires?
***Read: Ken MacLeod, The Human Front. Alternate history, beginning in 1963 with the news of Stalin's death.
Very good use of the author's childhood memories (adapted for the story, of course.)
In my opinion, the protagonist's political beliefs are junk magic. But they're close to MacLeod's own views, which can be a great advantage in writing a character.
Note: The point of divergence is something which never actually happened, happening differently than the conspiracy theories say it did. This might offend purists.
Skimmed: Victoria Blake (ed.), Cyberpunk: stories of hardware, software, wetware, revolution and evolution. I was struck by how old-fashioned these stories seemed, including the recent ones.
***"Your Membership Has Been APPROVED
dsgood@iphouse.com
"The nations largest professional women's network has selected you to join their private group.
"Women who join, have secured their financial futures by gaining access to powerful resources & benefits very few American women have."
***Comment I made on Facebook: If we're living in the future, where are the flying cars which were supposed to completely replace groundcars right after WW II? We were supposed to have cities well-established on Mars by 1970! Where are the British and Soviet interstellar empires?
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Wednesday May 8, 2013 Form rejection from Daily Science Fiction for "All You've Ever Dreamed Of."
"Daniel,
"Thank you for submitting your story, 'All You've Ever Dreamed OF', to Daily Science Fiction. Unfortunately, we have decided not to publish it. To date, we have reviewed many strong stories that we did not take. Either the fit was wrong or we'd just taken tales with a similar theme or any of a half dozen other reasons.
"Best success selling this story elsewhere.
"- Jonathan & Michele, Daily Science Fiction"
***Corrections to May 7th:
From dreamshark on LiveJournal: "The term 'caucus' is only used at the precinct level. After that, it's conventions all the way up. That has always been the case as far as I'm aware."
City Council endorsement: There was no endorsement. But a resolution was passed saying that, if both the DFL and the Green Party didn't have rules against cross-endorsements, the Ward convention would endorse incumbemt Cam Gordon (Green.) This workaround amuses me.
***Comment for Idea Fairy on LiveJournal: "'Achieving gender balance with one Chair would be an interesting problem.
"But it isn't impossible. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-binary_discrimination"
***Spot what's wrong with this movie ad:
"Friends and family spend more time with technology than with you?
"DISCONNECT
them
"Snap a picture of them caught in the act and share on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram using the hashtag #DISCONNECT"
"Daniel,
"Thank you for submitting your story, 'All You've Ever Dreamed OF', to Daily Science Fiction. Unfortunately, we have decided not to publish it. To date, we have reviewed many strong stories that we did not take. Either the fit was wrong or we'd just taken tales with a similar theme or any of a half dozen other reasons.
"Best success selling this story elsewhere.
"- Jonathan & Michele, Daily Science Fiction"
***Corrections to May 7th:
From dreamshark on LiveJournal: "The term 'caucus' is only used at the precinct level. After that, it's conventions all the way up. That has always been the case as far as I'm aware."
City Council endorsement: There was no endorsement. But a resolution was passed saying that, if both the DFL and the Green Party didn't have rules against cross-endorsements, the Ward convention would endorse incumbemt Cam Gordon (Green.) This workaround amuses me.
***Comment for Idea Fairy on LiveJournal: "'Achieving gender balance with one Chair would be an interesting problem.
"But it isn't impossible. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-binary_discrimination"
***Spot what's wrong with this movie ad:
"Friends and family spend more time with technology than with you?
"DISCONNECT
them
"Snap a picture of them caught in the act and share on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram using the hashtag #DISCONNECT"
Friday, May 10, 2013
Tuesday May 7, 2013. DFL 2nd Ward caucus. (They're officially called "conventions" rather than caucuses now. I don't know why.)
Each of the Ward's ten precincts was entitled to send up to 49 delegates (and 49 alternates.) There were 54 delegates total, a bit short of 490.
Some other Wards had crowded precinct caucuses; I think because they had contests for City Council seats. Up to the Ward caucus, there hadn't been any declared candidates. The incumbent is a Green who won his last election unopposed. (In Minneapolis, the Republicans are a minor party.) One candidate for City Council endorsement did turn up.
Mayoral-endorsement candidates and their volunteers were very much present, though that endorsement wouldn't be voted on till the city-wide caucus in mid-June. There were also candidates for the Park Board and the Board of Estimates and Taxation -- which, again, weren't to be voted on till June.
Note: All these offices are nonpartisan.
Among the suggested rules: "One or more Convention Chairs, with gender balance, shall be elected by a plurality vote of the convention." Achieving gender balance with one Chair would be an interesting problem.
Mayoral candidates spoke. Candidates for the Boards spoke. The City Council candidate spoke. There were question periods.
All candidates, and all delegates, were in favor of: job creation; a greener Minneapolis; freedom to marry; fewer guns.
At the end, there was a non-DFL speaker: Cam Gordon, Council incumbent. Among other things, he said it would be a good thing if parties could cross-endorse. Both the DFL and the Greens have specific rules against multi-party endorsements, it seems.
Each of the Ward's ten precincts was entitled to send up to 49 delegates (and 49 alternates.) There were 54 delegates total, a bit short of 490.
Some other Wards had crowded precinct caucuses; I think because they had contests for City Council seats. Up to the Ward caucus, there hadn't been any declared candidates. The incumbent is a Green who won his last election unopposed. (In Minneapolis, the Republicans are a minor party.) One candidate for City Council endorsement did turn up.
Mayoral-endorsement candidates and their volunteers were very much present, though that endorsement wouldn't be voted on till the city-wide caucus in mid-June. There were also candidates for the Park Board and the Board of Estimates and Taxation -- which, again, weren't to be voted on till June.
Note: All these offices are nonpartisan.
Among the suggested rules: "One or more Convention Chairs, with gender balance, shall be elected by a plurality vote of the convention." Achieving gender balance with one Chair would be an interesting problem.
Mayoral candidates spoke. Candidates for the Boards spoke. The City Council candidate spoke. There were question periods.
All candidates, and all delegates, were in favor of: job creation; a greener Minneapolis; freedom to marry; fewer guns.
At the end, there was a non-DFL speaker: Cam Gordon, Council incumbent. Among other things, he said it would be a good thing if parties could cross-endorse. Both the DFL and the Greens have specific rules against multi-party endorsements, it seems.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Saturday May 4, 2013
Ye knowe eek that in forme of speche is chaunge
With-inne a thousand yeer, and wordes tho
That hadden prys, now wonder nyce and straunge
Us thinketh hem, and yet thei spake hem so,
And spedde as wel in love as men now do
(Chaucer, circa 1385)
On the American Dialect Society mailing list, I had asked:
I'm looking for writings on the future of the English language. I own _Predicting New Words_.
Presumably, there's other material more recent than L. Sprague De Camp's 1938 essay "Language for Time Travelers."
And more useful than "The Internet/crystal radio/texting/___ is destroying our language!"
In response, Neal Whitman recommended http://www.xibalba.demon.co.uk/jbr/futurese.html
http://www.xibalba.demon.co.uk/jbr has much more of linguistic and/or science-fictional interest. Recommended for anyone writing sf. (Probably also good for game designers; but I don't know enough about that process to say.)
For the near future, I recommend: Allan Metcalf, _Predicting New Words: the secrets of their success_; Houghton Mifflin, 2002.
***From Twitter:
Ray Radlein @Radlein 3m
RT @davewiner: RT @morningmoneyben: I hate how the media just covers the Derby as a horse race and ignores the substantive issues.
Ye knowe eek that in forme of speche is chaunge
With-inne a thousand yeer, and wordes tho
That hadden prys, now wonder nyce and straunge
Us thinketh hem, and yet thei spake hem so,
And spedde as wel in love as men now do
(Chaucer, circa 1385)
On the American Dialect Society mailing list, I had asked:
I'm looking for writings on the future of the English language. I own _Predicting New Words_.
Presumably, there's other material more recent than L. Sprague De Camp's 1938 essay "Language for Time Travelers."
And more useful than "The Internet/crystal radio/texting/___ is destroying our language!"
In response, Neal Whitman recommended http://www.xibalba.demon.co.uk/jbr/futurese.html
http://www.xibalba.demon.co.uk/jbr has much more of linguistic and/or science-fictional interest. Recommended for anyone writing sf. (Probably also good for game designers; but I don't know enough about that process to say.)
For the near future, I recommend: Allan Metcalf, _Predicting New Words: the secrets of their success_; Houghton Mifflin, 2002.
***From Twitter:
Ray Radlein @Radlein 3m
RT @davewiner: RT @morningmoneyben: I hate how the media just covers the Derby as a horse race and ignores the substantive issues.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Friday May 3, 2013 Last snowy day of spring. At last!
***Waking thought: What would be inaccurate about telepathic entertainment media?
Visual media show action for effect rather than accuracy. Swordfighting is slowed down so viewers can follow it, for example.
***A group of small children being led through the neighborhood, holding on to a plastic line. I couldn't resist commenting that the college students look younger every year.
***Waking thought: What would be inaccurate about telepathic entertainment media?
Visual media show action for effect rather than accuracy. Swordfighting is slowed down so viewers can follow it, for example.
***A group of small children being led through the neighborhood, holding on to a plastic line. I couldn't resist commenting that the college students look younger every year.
Friday, May 3, 2013
Monday April 29, 2013 All the snow in my neighborhood was gone. (A bit more expected later this week.) Bare ground, starting to turn green. Bare legs, not turning green.
***From politicalwire.com:
1) Former Lawmakers Seek Evidence of Space Aliens
Former Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D) told the Detroit News that she's "excited about presiding over a week's worth of testimony about the existence of extraterrestrials."
Kilpatrick "signed up with five other former members of Congress to listen to testimony aimed at proving alien contact with Earth and a government effort to cover it up."
Also on the panel are former Sen. Mike Gravel (D-AK), as well as former Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Darlene Hooley (D-OR), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and Merrill Cook (R-UT).
2) Senator Says Obama is Buying Up Ammunition
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) claims the Obama administration "is buying up exceedingly high levels of ammunition in an attempt to limit the number of bullets the American public have access to on the open marketplace," The Hill reports.
Said Inhofe: "President Obama has been adamant about curbing law-abiding Americans' access and opportunities to exercise their Second Amendment rights.. One way the Obama Administration is able to do this is by limiting what's available in the market with federal agencies purchasing unnecessary stockpiles of ammunition."
***From politicalwire.com:
1) Former Lawmakers Seek Evidence of Space Aliens
Former Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D) told the Detroit News that she's "excited about presiding over a week's worth of testimony about the existence of extraterrestrials."
Kilpatrick "signed up with five other former members of Congress to listen to testimony aimed at proving alien contact with Earth and a government effort to cover it up."
Also on the panel are former Sen. Mike Gravel (D-AK), as well as former Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Darlene Hooley (D-OR), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and Merrill Cook (R-UT).
2) Senator Says Obama is Buying Up Ammunition
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) claims the Obama administration "is buying up exceedingly high levels of ammunition in an attempt to limit the number of bullets the American public have access to on the open marketplace," The Hill reports.
Said Inhofe: "President Obama has been adamant about curbing law-abiding Americans' access and opportunities to exercise their Second Amendment rights.. One way the Obama Administration is able to do this is by limiting what's available in the market with federal agencies purchasing unnecessary stockpiles of ammunition."
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