28
Feb
Pictures of the Year [via MetaFilter]. I missed that the Post’s Robert Cohen won an Award of Excellence (announced 2/19) for his great series of pictures chronicling the end of the line for old Busch Stadium.
28
Feb
Because when one is choosing a computer peripheral, “doesn’t cause any discomfort” is always a key characteristic.
Jefferson County keeps getting interestinger and interestinger.
Another Jefferson County judge steps down
Judge Wegge, who has served 16 years on the bench, said he and his son had discussed his plans to retire prior to Forrest Wegge’s announcement in October that he planned to run for county prosecutor.“Forrest knew I would be retiring when he announced his candidacy,†Judge Wegge said. “We both believe that the citizens of Jefferson County are best served if the prosecutor and all judges have no conflict of interest.â€
This is of course a slap at Crista Johnson, who is running for a Jefferson County judicial post created by legislation sponsored by her husband, state Rep. Rick Johnson, D-High Ridge (which we wrote about here). Having created a job for Crista, Rick is now running for prosecutor against Forrest Wegge. Too bad the Johnsons don’t have the integrity of the Wegges.
24
Feb
Focus on the Family’s “Love Won Out” conference comes to St. Louis tomorrow, bringing its menagerie of “experts” to proclaim that homosexuality is a choice and that homosexuals can be “cured” through “therapy”. From their website:
At the Love Won Out conference, you’ll hear from nationally known experts who have firsthand experience with the seldom-told side of the homosexual issue. You’ll learn how to minister to a loved one who’s dealing with homosexuality, respond to misinformation in our culture, defend biblical beliefs and prevent your child from embracing this destructive way of life. But mostly, you’ll be reminded of the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the life of a struggling homosexual to find freedom in Jesus Christ. Come and witness the type of love that draws men and women affected by homosexuality into the arms of their Creator.
Of course, it’s seldom-told because it’s utter bunk. Why an organization that claims to protect families would want to force a gay man into a heterosexual relationship (presumably with chidren) that is destined to collapse when he eventually faces the fact that he is not straight, is beyond me.
And those “nationally known experts”? A couple of psychologists and a few M.Divs (including Anne Heche’s mother), but no biologists or geneticists, so basically nobody who can speak with any actual authority on the origin of homosexuality.
The conference is featured on today’s Talk of the Day. Head over there for insightful commentary, like this bit from Dan:
Homosexuality poses absolutely no advantages versus heterosexuality in the evolution of human beings. A homosexual will be overwhelmingly less likely to pass his or her genes to the next generation. In theory, if homosexuality was a genetic trait, each generation of human beings that passes from the earth would see fewer and fewer homosexuals. And after 100,000+ years of homo sapien existence, clearly the homosexual gene would have been “selected†out.
Obviously Dan was absent from biology the day they discussed genetics. At least he’s not a Young Earth Creationist.
Good news for fellow BlackBerry users — still no need to interact personally with actual humans. For now.
During the hearing, lawyers for NTP asked Spencer to issue an updated $126 million judgment as soon as possible against the BlackBerry manufacturer, covering all of the devices NTP says infringed its patents through November of last year. They also called for an injunction to shut down RIM’s U.S. service.
Spencer did not rule from the bench, saying he would take the matter under advisement. He said he expected to release an order related to the damages before releasing one related to the injunction.
He also scolded the companies for not coming to a settlement on their own.
“In plain words, the case should have been settled, but it hasn’t, so I have to deal with that reality,” Spencer said.
The USPTO has now issued final orders rejecting two of the five patents at issue, with final orders rejecting the remaining patents likely to be issued shortly. RIM would still have to pay damages for the period the patents were valid. Still unresolved, of course, is why the PTO issued the patents in the first place and why patent hoarders like NTP, which produces no actual products, should be rewarded at the expense of companies that actually contribute to the economy.
24
Feb
Inspired by a post on Boing Boing about Transport for London censoring an anagram Tube map, I decided to create one for St. Louis. Metrolink’s kind of difficult - there’s no anagrams for “Grand” so I took a few liberties. Click for the full image.
There’s a growing list of remixes at Boing Boing.
On a more serious note, Transport for London was wrong to take down the original. yes, these remixes use intellectual property, but they do no harm to anyone, and the Tube map, at least, grew out of a real devotion to the transit system. Nobody is that devoted to Metrolink, at least not until the Highway 40 construction starts.
Judging from the trailer, the new Richard Linklater adaptation of A Scanner Darkly looks fantastic. From the official synopsis:
“A Scanner Darkly” is set in suburban Orange County, California in a future where America has lost the war on drugs. When one reluctant undercover cop (Reeves) is ordered to start spying on his friends, he is launched on a paranoid journey into the absurd, where identities and loyalties are impossible to decode. It is a cautionary tale of drug use based on the novel by Philip K. Dick and his own experiences.
“A Scanner Darkly” stars Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr., Woody Harrelson, Winona Ryder and Rory Cochrane and is written for the screen and directed by Richard Linklater.
Like a graphic novel come to life, “A Scanner Darkly” will use live action photography overlaid with an advanced animation process (interpolated rotoscoping) to create a haunting, highly stylized vision of the future. The technology, first employed in Richard Linklater’s 2001 film “Waking Life,” has evolved to produce even more emotional impact and detail.
The animation technique produces an eerie quasi-verisimilitude:
As noted above, the film is an adaptation of what is often considered to be Philip K. Dick’s best novel, A Scanner Darkly. In a nice homage, Linklater includes in at least one scene dialogue from Blade Runner, probably the best known of the PKD adaptations, in that case based on Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? You can see the dialogue in this screengrab:
Heads up to Missourians who have homeowners insurance from State farm, but not another line of coverage (i.e. auto, health, life, etc.) with the insurer.
According to The Consumerist, State Farm is raising the deductible for “single-line insureds” fairly significantly. In the example given, it is going from $1,000 to 1% of a home’s value. According to Coldwell Banker, the average price for a 2,200-square-foot house with 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, a family room and a two-car garage in St. Louis is $254,000. But correspondent Harry found a loophole - open a $100 savings account.
“I see. So basically, I pay State Farm $100, and they don’t unilaterally increase my deductible by over 150 percent. Fine. Please go ahead and set me up for a savings account, mail me the application, and just let me know where I need to send the extortion money.â€
I want to clarify that I actually appreciate that my agent gave me the heads up on this. It’s State Farm corporate which came up with this great money-saving / money-making idea.
But me, calling it extortion, that’s the Consumerist in me talking.
This house in Kirkwood, MO may have the tackiest decoration in America. Keep in mind that the list price is $525,000. Stay tuned for pictures.
Note the green walls and pink chairs. This is a consistent decorating theme. Green and pink, which just screams “My name is Kelly. Welcome to 1986!” Note also the jarring clash between the green carpet in the next room and the pattern in this one. The table appears to be faux stone rabbits holding a glass top, with grass for added pizzaz!
Another view of the same room. Note here the bizarre window treatments, which turn nice windows into Tack-o-View.
The dining room. Green carpeting with bizarro scalloped trim. Walls in Pepto Pink. Yellow seat cushions. Wallpaper border that, combined with the wallpaper in the entry beyond, makes my eyes hurt.
The family room. Note the green carpet that is different than the other green carpet. The pink satiny wallpaper. The strange birdcage on the wall. The dusty rose ottoman that matches nothing else in the house. Topping it all is what appears to be two small animals (cats? rabbits?) copulating on the side table.
In a normal house, this kitchen would seem worse. here the mismatched window valances and green and white floor seem restrained.
This bathroom makes my brain hurt. At least the tile is restrained.
And the piece de resistance…
AxoSoft is selling its OnTime Bug Tracking Software, Issue/Defect Tracker and Project Management software for $5, a $490 discount. Here’s how to get it:
Follow these steps to purchase OnTime 2006 Small Team Edition, for 5 users for just $5:
1. Go to Axosoft Online Store
2. Add the OnTime 5 STE 5 User version to your cart
3. On the shopping cart page, click the link to enter discount code
4. Enter discount code “STE5U5″
5. A $490 discount will apply to your order
6. Your Grand Total should be $5 (unless you added other items to your cart)
7. Proceed to checkout
AxoSoft says they are using the discount as a way to test “social marketing.” The sale is not linked to from any AxoSoft page, and was announced via emails sent to a number of bloggers, including Robert Scoble. Because their store isn’t set up for $0 transactions, they’re charging a nominal fee, and donating all of the proceeds to the Red Cross. $2650 raised so far. An interesting idea.
