I’m off to DC for a couple days. I do plan to come up with some thoughts on the (sort of) new administration space policy, though, here or elsewhere.
So Much For Sports “Experts”
I’m back in Florida from Kona, and beat, after several airplane flights, some in miserable seating, since we went standby to get earlier flights. More tomorrow.
Meanwhile, marvel at the precognition of the ESPN prognosticators last week, all of whom picked New York over Detroit. Many of them did predict that New York wouldn’t make it to the Series, but none of them imagined that it would be the Tigers who would knock them out.
[Update a few minutes later]
I should add that there was something poignant and weird about standing in a Honolulu airport last night watching (but not able to listen to) CNN announcing a possible nuclear weapon test by North Korea. Almost a Pearl Harborish feeling to it. Brought on partly by the fact that I’d visited the Arizona Memorial last week while talking to government folks there.
So Much For Sports “Experts”
I’m back in Florida from Kona, and beat, after several airplane flights, some in miserable seating, since we went standby to get earlier flights. More tomorrow.
Meanwhile, marvel at the precognition of the ESPN prognosticators last week, all of whom picked New York over Detroit. Many of them did predict that New York wouldn’t make it to the Series, but none of them imagined that it would be the Tigers who would knock them out.
[Update a few minutes later]
I should add that there was something poignant and weird about standing in a Honolulu airport last night watching (but not able to listen to) CNN announcing a possible nuclear weapon test by North Korea. Almost a Pearl Harborish feeling to it. Brought on partly by the fact that I’d visited the Arizona Memorial last week while talking to government folks there.
So Much For Sports “Experts”
I’m back in Florida from Kona, and beat, after several airplane flights, some in miserable seating, since we went standby to get earlier flights. More tomorrow.
Meanwhile, marvel at the precognition of the ESPN prognosticators last week, all of whom picked New York over Detroit. Many of them did predict that New York wouldn’t make it to the Series, but none of them imagined that it would be the Tigers who would knock them out.
[Update a few minutes later]
I should add that there was something poignant and weird about standing in a Honolulu airport last night watching (but not able to listen to) CNN announcing a possible nuclear weapon test by North Korea. Almost a Pearl Harborish feeling to it. Brought on partly by the fact that I’d visited the Arizona Memorial last week while talking to government folks there.
Badly Broken
“Grim” has some thoughts on the dismal state of the federal government. I agree with most of them, including repealing the Seventeenth Amendment, except for this suggestion:
I suggest the elimination of Congressional districts, so that all representatives are elected in a single statewide election. If a state were to have ten representatives, then, a hundred people could run — the top ten vote-getters would take office. That would restore the force of electoral pressure to the House, where it is designed to be. It would increase turnover of Representatives, and cut down on the corruption in the government.
It would do those things, and those are good things, but it would have undesirable consequences as well. Like eliminating the electoral college, it would effectively disenfranchise rural voters, leaving them at the untender mercy of the voters in the big cities who would elect all representatives, and not just their own.
The Best Team Money Can Buy
And they get blown off in three straight in the playoffs by a team that lost 119 games three years ago. The Bronx Bombers got bombed.
So much for Jane Bernstein’s subway series prediction.
And I suspect that, given the rampant Yankee hatred in most places outside Gotham, there was great rejoicing throughout the land last night.
[Update about 9 AM Hawaii time]
I’ll be pulling for the Cards now, in addition to the Tigers. I think that it would be really cool if we could have a repeat of the 1968 series.
Beware Vacation Rentals
…and hotels for that matter, that advertise free high-speed wireless Internet access. You often get what you pay for, which is not in fact actual high-speed Internet access, but rather, simply a connection that might pass a packet or two, one way or another, when it can be bothered to get around to it.
We’re on the fourth floor of a condo that has a wireless router in the lobby. In the afternoon, when everyone is out on the beach, it works fine. In the evening, when they’re all home, checking email, browsing for dive sites, browsing for the latest news on the playoffs, browsing for pr0n, etc., it’s…not. I can make no connection, and the wireless widget tells me that I have a low signal.
Now I’m not an expert on the 802 protocol, but I’m guessing that this is what’s happening.
The signal strength is a minor factor. When it tells me it’s getting a weak signal, what’s really happening is that it’s having trouble getting packets through, and interpreting that as a weak signal. When everyone is on line at once, those with the actual strongest signal (i.e., those nearest the lobby, which doesn’t include those on the fourth fargin’ floor) are grabbing all the opportunities to send/receive packets before my (relatively) weak signal can even get its boots on. The place needs more bandwidth, but doesn’t realize it, or doesn’t care. When there’s plenty of available bandwidth, my “signal strength” is fine, because there’s no competition.
For those who are wireless gurus, is that the deal?
Thoughts On The Future Of Space Travel
From Burt Rutan. I haven’t had time to read the whole thing, yet (I’m still on vacation, and relaxing from a couple dives this morning), but when I do I may have some additional thoughts.
A Sensible Solution
…to the school shooting problem. I predict it won’t be adopted, though.
Don’t Know Much About Physics
Or economics. Clark Lindsey once again takes on John Pike. This wouldn’t be necessary if reporters didn’t continue to go to him for the “other side.”
What’s particularly frustrating is that John never actually addresses the rebuttals to his ignorance. He simply continues to repeat it, to any who will listen, which is far too many, particularly in the media.
[Saturday morning update]
This thread seems to have drifted a ridiculously long way from John Pike’s knowledge of engineering, business, and physics. I’m quite upset about it, actually, because it never had anything to do with either Fox News, or wiretapping Al Qaeda. Some people just insist on bringing their political hobby horses to graffiti any opportunity they have. I’m partially guilty myself for allowing myself to be sucked into it. Forewarned: any more comments on either of these subjects in this post will be deleted with extreme prejudice.