dharmic leftovers

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:41:11 GMT

I am returning to blogging, but not here. Come visit my new blog at www.DharmicLeftovers.com!

this is

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:10:57 GMT

This is what we're up against:
Palin Supporters

More science!

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:17:41 GMT

Well, social science, which is sort of science:

gays + kids = OK

unintended consequences

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:34:30 GMT

"Indeed, courts — citing the Equal Access Act, which requires public schools to provide equal access to extracurricular clubs — have consistently ruled against schools that try to block [Gay-Straight Alliances] from starting. (The 1984 law was the brainchild of Christian groups fighting to allow students to form religious clubs in schools.)"

- from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/magazine/27out-t.html

Science!

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:24:17 GMT

Science!

Why am I on the mailing list for the International Journal of Food Engineering?

Move your feet on your favorite songs

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:16:14 GMT

From the Dell Online Store (http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Cables/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A1518505#Overview), some great copy for speaker wire:

"Connect extra speakers to your system and get the feel of discotheque or pub with the 16 AWG Speaker Wire from Belkin... With this extended speakers you can move your feet on your favorite songs."

No double revocations

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:28:12 GMT

From IRS Form 4562 Instructions (2008):

"Once made, the revocation is irrevocable."

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:29:51 GMT

Passing on a worthwhile message from my friend Andy:

----
You'll recall that earlier this month I told you about a site called ideablob, where I had posted my idea for green microfinance and was in the running for $10,000.

Well, thanks to your votes, I am now one of 8 finalists (out of hundreds of entries) and I just need you to vote one more time to assure I win! (even if you voted the first time, you have to vote again because the finals start from 0).

To vote for me, just go back to www.ideablob.com and you'll see my project listed on the main page (it's called Green Microfinance For People and the Planet).

Thank you very much. This money would go directly into a loan pool and would then be lent out to the low-income entrepreneurs in the Providence community.

Political Label Test

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:55:28 GMT

This is the first draft. Please give me feedback.

----

Determine your political label with this hypothetical situation.

Due to the poor economy, a man is laid off from his job, losing his health insurance. He then learns that he has cancer. Also, he is gay and wants to marry his partner. Should the government ensure he receives health care? Should it allow him to marry?

- No health care; no marriage. You are CONSERVATIVE.

- No health care; no marriage. Send him to prison if you catch him in the act of sodomy. You are REALLY CONSERVATIVE.

- No health care; no marriage. God gave him cancer for being gay. You are RELIGIOUS RIGHT.

- No health care; the government is not involved in marriage. You are LIBERTARIAN.

- Mediocre health care; no marriage. You are CENTRIST-REPUBLICAN.

- Mediocre health care; no marriage, but he can have a civil union. You are CENTRIST-DEMOCRAT.

- Good health care... but he's in prison just for being gay. You are CUBAN COMMUNIST.

- Good health care; civil union. You are DEMOCRATIC PARTY or WESTERN EUROPE.

- Good health care; civil union. Also, he wouldn't have been fired in the first place. You are FRENCH SOCIALIST.

- Good health care; marriage. You are PROGRESSIVE or CANADIAN.

- Good health care; the government is not involved in marriage. You are PROGRESSIVE INTELLECTUAL.

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:29:04 GMT

Putting my mobile phone in the toaster oven may have worked, but putting my iPod in the freezer did not.

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:56:40 GMT

Just came across this meme on musechick2007, which I really like. I don't usually do memes, but what the heck, let's give it a try.

---
The first 3 people to respond to this post will get something made by me.

It will be about or tailored to those 3 lucky individuals.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make! I however, will like it or it won't be sent out in the first place!
- what I create will be just for you.
- it'll be done this year. sometime.
- you have no clue what it's going to be. because i have no clue what it's going to be.
- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch is that you have to put this in your journal as well, if you expect me to do something for you!

Progress!

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:29:33 GMT

"An ABC poll in July [2008] found that three-quarters of Americans supported allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military compared to 44 percent of Americans who expressed the same support in 1993..."

-- San Francisco Chronicle, Obama will end 'don't ask' policy, aide says

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:51:46 GMT

My facebook account has been compromised, so if you get a message from me saying I'm in London and need a thousand dollars, or some other such nonsense, just ignore it. Remember, don't trust anything you read on the internets. (Including this?)

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:09:15 GMT

Sarah Palin just winked at the debate audience!

debate

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:41:32 GMT

best quote from debate: "orgy of spending"

fixed

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:59:01 GMT

I just fixed my cell phone, which had stopped working soon after I used it in the shower.

Step 1: Dissassemble

Step 2: Toaster Oven (3 minutes at somewhere between 100 and 150)

Step 3: Reassemble

Result: A hot, but working, pink RAZR. You could even say it was a "hot pink" phone.

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:52:40 GMT

I seem to have completed the education game.

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:18:22 GMT

"Oscar the Grouch entered the annals of Supreme Court jurisprudence"

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:47:08 GMT

Headline on a law blog that I read: "Ninth Circuit decides United States v. Approximately 64,695 Pounds of Shark Fins"

That's the actual title of the case.

Dumbest Op-Ed Ever

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:52:31 GMT

Op-Ed in the New York Times, "The Myth of the Victimless Crime".

The authors make some legitimate-sounding claims: "...most women in prostitution, including those working for escort services, have been sexually abused as children... Other forces that channel women into escort prostitution are economic hardship and racism."

Conclusions: no prostitute does the work by choice, and "the experience of being prostituted causes her immense psychological and physical harm."

How do the authors get from their initial claims to their conclusions? By simply stating them. There is not even an approximation of an argument anywhere in the piece. It's as if the authors thought that by putting their conclusions in the physical vicinity of facts, they would have a document that at least some people would find persuasive.

And they were probably right.

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:30:00 GMT

From a Chicago Tribune article (here):

"A slew of respected national organizations have argued for years that those under 21 are not mature enough to make responsible decisions when under the influence of alcohol."

Are we to infer that 21-year-olds do make responsible decisions when drunk?

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:48:16 GMT

I am now an amateur pundit:

(1) The Democrats can't afford to have the primary continue much longer, and they know it. After the results from the March 4 primaries come in, there will be enormous pressure on the super-delegates to settle the contest. There will also be substantial pressure to settle it in favor of whomever is ahead in non-super-delegates at that point, which will likely be Obama.

(2) If Obama wins, the best choice for VP is Richardson. Against McCain, Obama will be dangerously weak in two areas: Hispanics, and foreign policy cred. Richardson would be the perfect antidote.

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:57:34 GMT

from a decision of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals:

"...the difference between a 100+ mile-per-hour car chase and a little finger grabbing seems obvious enough."

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:07:21 GMT

Meanwhile, conservative commentator Ann Coulter last week said she would support Democratic contender Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York over McCain.

"If he's our candidate, then Hillary is going to be our girl, because she's more conservative than he is," Coulter said on Fox's "Hannity and Colmes."

-- "McCain tangles with conservatives," CNN

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 04:01:35 GMT

One of the most common criticisms of Obama is that he is all inspirational speeches and no substance. Let's not forget that he was President of Harvard Law Review (a top 3 law school) and a law professor at University of Chicago (a top 5 law school). I'm guessing it takes a lot of competence to achieve those positions.

I'm nervous about tomorrow.