This looks to be an interesting event. I’d like to go, but it may conflict with other things (like the IAC in Jerusalem, if I attend that).
Stephen Spielberg And The Temple Of Obama
A literary gem, from Matt Continetti:
…it’s a trick question: conversations about Obama’s future are really cues to celebrate his past. To cheer his accomplishments, list the ways he has changed this country, explain his historical and geopolitical importance, lament the obstacles he’s encountered from recalcitrant conservatives, obstructionist Republicans, nativist, racist, sexist, backward elements of the population, recount how he overcame them, joke about how he deserves a vacation, mention the best courses he has yet to play, ponder the work of social justice and transformation that must still be done, affirm that history is, indeed, on the side of progress.
And this conversation goes on—on and on and on—with digressions into the latest fads in Silicon Valley and the nuttiest invention Khosla can come up with after two Manhattans, with genuflections at the altar of Elon Musk, explications of the markets from Doerr, Lasry, and Hoffman, mysterious oracular pronouncements from Toni Morrison, bird-like regurgitations of the latest Paul Krugman and Fareed Zakaria columns (how envious Fareed must be that he wasn’t invited!), tedious on-the-one-hand-on-the-other lectures from the president on the lead story in the Times, the most recent editorials in the Washington Post, late night comedy he found unfair, clever “This is Sportscenter” commercials, episodes of Game of Thrones and Homeland, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Michael Jordan’s handicap—and with caustic put-downs from Michele, partisan bromides from Longoria, witticisms spiced with anecdotes from academic studies no one besides Gladwell has read, and bottle after bottle of wine, course after course after course of chewy overcooked hard to swallow smugness.
RTWT.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
A lab accident quadruples battery life.
This reminds me of the discovery of vulcanized rubber.
Big Brother In Redmond
This seems like a good reason not to enable Cortana:
Section 7b – or “Updates to the Services or Software, and Changes to These Terms” – of Microsoft’s Services EULA stipulates that it “may automatically check your version of the software and download software update or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorised hardware peripheral devices.”
And they decide what is and isn’t “authorized.”
Russia Goes Reusable?
I doubt it, but Space Daily is reporting that. It’s a misleading headline and picture, though. They aren’t really resurrecting Buran. Looks like they plan on a fly-back first stage.
Hillary And Her Aides
Yes, absolutely, they should be stripped of their clearances. Anyone else would have been months ago.
The people in denial about the prospects for her candidacy don’t seem to understand that she has rendered herself unqualified for the office with what is (at a minimum) very poor judgment, and utter incompetence in handling national security.
[Update a while later]
Here’s a bit of good news for Hillary; there’s one poll in which she’s rising: “69% want to see a special prosecutor.” Nice to be in the majority for once.
[Update a few minutes later]
Clinton aides’ Blackberries likely destroyed.
I’m sure it was just an unfortunately accident.
Got A Drone?
Here’s now to fly it by the FAA rules.
I’ve been thinking about picking up a cheap quadcopter just to play with, but probably not one big enough to require filing a flight plan.
[Late-morning update]
Man versus drone versus the law:
I personally like some of the quirkier aspects of old English law. I think limiting self-help against drones to thrown T-shirts would make a wonderful common law rule. If you can take it down by throwing a T-shirt at it, then it’s too damn close. If not, then tough luck.
“Excellent. We could call it the rule of ‘quod tangit tunicula.'”
Heh.
Campus Sexual Assault
The policy continues its descent into madness in California:
A student found responsible for campus sexual assault is often branded a rapist in local (and often national) media, his transcript is forever marked and his reputation is forever tarnished. And let’s not forget that a finding of responsibility can be achieved on nothing more than an accusation, with exculpatory evidence and witnesses ignored and a complete lack of due process.
An expulsion with a mark on the transcript could keep him from continuing his education. When accused students have been suspended and allowed to return to campus, outrage has sometimes ensued. Colleges are now being pressured simply to expel. Expelled students — again, expelled based on nothing more than an accusation — find it nearly impossible to transfer to another school. Their education is halted, and if they can’t afford an attorney to sue the university for wrongful expulsion, their lives are put on hold.
As one male student told Buzzfeed: “At first I thought they didn’t want me to participate in campus activities. Then I thought they didn’t want me to graduate. Now they don’t want me to have a job or be part of society. Do they want me to commit suicide? Is that what they want me to do? What is the endgame?”
We need some lawsuits over this. If I had a son, I wouldn’t let him attend school in the state.
The Dems Start To Face Reality
They’re figuring out something that’s been obvious to most of the rest of us for years; she’s a terrible candidate. And that’s even without all the lying, corruption and felonies.
Income Inequality
Want to increase it? Raise the minimum wage.
There is no greater income inequality than some versus none.