Sunday, January 30, 2005
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Nobody's Business: Pretty Words vs Reality
A detailed comparison of G.W.Bush's second inaugaral address with some of the realities of our government's activities in torture, rape and murder of "detainees".
A detailed comparison of G.W.Bush's second inaugaral address with some of the realities of our government's activities in torture, rape and murder of "detainees".
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
The Simon Laven Page is a fairly comprehensive source for information about chatterbots. Having written an Eliza clone lo nigh unto 30 years ago, I'm still interested in the field. A lot of amazing progress has been made, and there are a lot of tools to help you build your own.
Friday, January 07, 2005
Kumeu River Wines Online
About screwcaps for premium wines. My favorite winery, David Coffaro is bottling a large fraction of wine with screwcaps, after many years of using synthetic cork in an effort to eliminate the frequency of tainted bottles.
The Kiwis are at the forefront of the revolution; see the
New Zealand Screwcap Wine Seal Initiative
About screwcaps for premium wines. My favorite winery, David Coffaro is bottling a large fraction of wine with screwcaps, after many years of using synthetic cork in an effort to eliminate the frequency of tainted bottles.
The Kiwis are at the forefront of the revolution; see the
New Zealand Screwcap Wine Seal Initiative
Monday, January 03, 2005
Monday, December 20, 2004
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
The Consortium
Getting tired of wingers claiming that Bush won Florida on the field, and not just in the not-so-instant-replay failure to make the correct call by the Supremes.
Getting tired of wingers claiming that Bush won Florida on the field, and not just in the not-so-instant-replay failure to make the correct call by the Supremes.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Skyscan Atomic Clocks: Documentation
Handy, since I can never remember how to work the damn thing.
The user interface design is a failure - completely non-intuitive.
Handy, since I can never remember how to work the damn thing.
The user interface design is a failure - completely non-intuitive.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Mike Lawrence has a bridge clues website, free, with a couple of bridge puzzles new every day. If you need a break and want to sharpen up your game, this is a good place to go.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Take Our Word For It, the weekly word-origin webzine
English is a wacky language, isn't it? But it is pretty frisky about
swiping words from many sources. Researching etymology is
somehow fascinating. Here's a good place to poke around...
English is a wacky language, isn't it? But it is pretty frisky about
swiping words from many sources. Researching etymology is
somehow fascinating. Here's a good place to poke around...
Friday, November 05, 2004
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
MyRadioStore All Things XM Satellite Radio - XM Radio Receivers - XMPCR Toslink Digital Output Board
If you do have an XM PCR and would like to modify it to generate
digital output. The PCR *receives* the satellite signal digitally, it just sends it on as analog. On my PC, it comes into the speakers via digital signal and sounds great, but if I save tracks, they have lost a lot of quality by the D to A to D conversion.
If you do have an XM PCR and would like to modify it to generate
digital output. The PCR *receives* the satellite signal digitally, it just sends it on as analog. On my PC, it comes into the speakers via digital signal and sounds great, but if I save tracks, they have lost a lot of quality by the D to A to D conversion.
Thursday, October 28, 2004
Blogger Knowledge: Blogging Your Novel (Part Two)
For those of us who want to write a novel in a month.
Note, to "win", you have to generate 50,000 words. It doesn't actually have to be any good... the general philosophy is that to be a writer, all you have to do is write...
For those of us who want to write a novel in a month.
Note, to "win", you have to generate 50,000 words. It doesn't actually have to be any good... the general philosophy is that to be a writer, all you have to do is write...
(LILEKS) James : Music Good stuff! I think I have to buy a Mac and Garageband... many projects spring to mind:
James Bond
Arnold's movies
A melange of NYC sitcoms
McGuyvering
...
James Bond
Arnold's movies
A melange of NYC sitcoms
McGuyvering
...
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Redefining Rights in America The report of the bi-partisan US Commission on Civil Rights. Report being suppressed until post-election, reportedly by Republican members of Congress. Wonder why? Probably because of content...
Executive Summary
Civil rights problems remain entrenched in American society, the stubborn result of unequal treatment over time. Discrimination in housing, employment, and the voting booth, unequal educational opportunity, and other problems still stand between some Americans and true equality. Presidential leadership is necessary to break down obstacles and realize the promise of civil rights.
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) examined the George W. Bush administration’s commitment to that end. What follows are the results of the Commission’s examination, expressed in terms of:
(1) whether civil rights enforcement is a presidential priority;
(2) federal efforts to eradicate entrenched discrimination;
(3) expanding and protecting rights for disadvantaged groups; and
(4) promoting access to federal programs and services for traditionally underserved populations.
This report finds that President Bush has neither exhibited leadership on pressing civil rights issues, nor taken actions that matched his words. The report reaches this conclusion after analyzing and summarizing numerous documents, including historical literature, reports, scholarly articles, presidential and administration statements, executive orders, policy briefs, documents of Cabinet-level agencies, federal budgets and other data.
Priority of Civil Rights
Through public statements and actions, by establishing a diverse executive branch that affirms civil rights, and by funding enforcement, an administration can express its commitment to equal opportunity. This report finds that President Bush has not defined a clear agenda nor made civil rights a priority.
Statements and Action: Public statements are a means by which Presidents draw the country’s attention to important matters. However, President Bush seldom speaks about civil rights, and when he does, it is to carry out official duties, not to promote initiatives or plans for improving opportunity. Even when he publicly discusses existing barriers to equality and efforts to overcome them, the administration’s words and deeds often conflict.
Federal Diversity and Support for Civil Rights: Although not to the extent of the previous administration, President Bush has assembled a commendably diverse Cabinet and moderately diverse judiciary. However, many of his nominees and appointees do not support civil rights protections. The effect may be eventual weakening of civil rights laws.
Civil Rights Funding: Requests for funding is one means by which Presidents make their priorities known. In his first three years in office, the net increase in President Bush’s requests for civil rights enforcement agencies was less than those of the previous two administrations. After accounting for inflation, the President’s requests for the six major civil rights programs (Departments of Education, Labor, Justice, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) amount to a loss of spending power for 2004 and 2005.
...
Continuing, we find:
President Bush has implemented policies that have retreated from long-established civil rights promises in each of these areas.
...
Voting Rights: Despite promising to unite the nation and improve its election system, the President failed to act swiftly toward election reform.
...
Affirmative Action: ... President Bush has tried to please both supporters and opponents, a tactic that has resulted in a misleading and vague position. He has not exhibited strong leadership on this issue where leadership is vital.
Executive Summary
Civil rights problems remain entrenched in American society, the stubborn result of unequal treatment over time. Discrimination in housing, employment, and the voting booth, unequal educational opportunity, and other problems still stand between some Americans and true equality. Presidential leadership is necessary to break down obstacles and realize the promise of civil rights.
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) examined the George W. Bush administration’s commitment to that end. What follows are the results of the Commission’s examination, expressed in terms of:
(1) whether civil rights enforcement is a presidential priority;
(2) federal efforts to eradicate entrenched discrimination;
(3) expanding and protecting rights for disadvantaged groups; and
(4) promoting access to federal programs and services for traditionally underserved populations.
This report finds that President Bush has neither exhibited leadership on pressing civil rights issues, nor taken actions that matched his words. The report reaches this conclusion after analyzing and summarizing numerous documents, including historical literature, reports, scholarly articles, presidential and administration statements, executive orders, policy briefs, documents of Cabinet-level agencies, federal budgets and other data.
Priority of Civil Rights
Through public statements and actions, by establishing a diverse executive branch that affirms civil rights, and by funding enforcement, an administration can express its commitment to equal opportunity. This report finds that President Bush has not defined a clear agenda nor made civil rights a priority.
Statements and Action: Public statements are a means by which Presidents draw the country’s attention to important matters. However, President Bush seldom speaks about civil rights, and when he does, it is to carry out official duties, not to promote initiatives or plans for improving opportunity. Even when he publicly discusses existing barriers to equality and efforts to overcome them, the administration’s words and deeds often conflict.
Federal Diversity and Support for Civil Rights: Although not to the extent of the previous administration, President Bush has assembled a commendably diverse Cabinet and moderately diverse judiciary. However, many of his nominees and appointees do not support civil rights protections. The effect may be eventual weakening of civil rights laws.
Civil Rights Funding: Requests for funding is one means by which Presidents make their priorities known. In his first three years in office, the net increase in President Bush’s requests for civil rights enforcement agencies was less than those of the previous two administrations. After accounting for inflation, the President’s requests for the six major civil rights programs (Departments of Education, Labor, Justice, Health and Human Services, and Housing and Urban Development, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) amount to a loss of spending power for 2004 and 2005.
...
Continuing, we find:
President Bush has implemented policies that have retreated from long-established civil rights promises in each of these areas.
...
Voting Rights: Despite promising to unite the nation and improve its election system, the President failed to act swiftly toward election reform.
...
Affirmative Action: ... President Bush has tried to please both supporters and opponents, a tactic that has resulted in a misleading and vague position. He has not exhibited strong leadership on this issue where leadership is vital.
Monday, October 25, 2004
2004 Presidential Election Forecast
From Henry Chappell at Univ. of South Carolina. Currently (as of 10/19) predicting Kerry with 282 EVs.
Kerry swing/surprise states: AR, HI, IA, MI, MN, MO, NM, OR, PA, WV, WI.
Bush swing/surprise states: AZ, CO, FL, NH, OH
I built a monte carlo electoral vote simulator using Chappell's state-by-state estimated percentages. The only underlying heroic assumption is that all states are independent (clearly false). Running 5000 simulated votes, Kerry is elected 53.75% of the time, Bush 46.25% (giving to Bush all of the 269-269 ties, which occur 1.1% of the time).
Median result is Kerry 273 EVs. Max landslides are Kerry 396 EVs, Bush 399 EVs.
Adding correlation pushes Kerry's median EVs up [to 282 at 100% correlation], but reduces his win rate [to 52.8% at 100%]. Not surprisingly, the outliers get more extreme.
From Henry Chappell at Univ. of South Carolina. Currently (as of 10/19) predicting Kerry with 282 EVs.
Kerry swing/surprise states: AR, HI, IA, MI, MN, MO, NM, OR, PA, WV, WI.
Bush swing/surprise states: AZ, CO, FL, NH, OH
I built a monte carlo electoral vote simulator using Chappell's state-by-state estimated percentages. The only underlying heroic assumption is that all states are independent (clearly false). Running 5000 simulated votes, Kerry is elected 53.75% of the time, Bush 46.25% (giving to Bush all of the 269-269 ties, which occur 1.1% of the time).
Median result is Kerry 273 EVs. Max landslides are Kerry 396 EVs, Bush 399 EVs.
Adding correlation pushes Kerry's median EVs up [to 282 at 100% correlation], but reduces his win rate [to 52.8% at 100%]. Not surprisingly, the outliers get more extreme.
Republican Switchers A very large number of Republicans, and conservatives, are endorsing Kerry.
Scott McConnell (Ed. of American Conservative): "Bush has come to embody a politics that is antithetical to almost any kind of thoughtful conservatism."
Doug Bandow (Reagan advisor, fellow at Cato): "Bush is a dangerous, profligate, moralizing radical ... his reelection would be catastrophic both for the right and for America."
Scott McConnell (Ed. of American Conservative): "Bush has come to embody a politics that is antithetical to almost any kind of thoughtful conservatism."
Doug Bandow (Reagan advisor, fellow at Cato): "Bush is a dangerous, profligate, moralizing radical ... his reelection would be catastrophic both for the right and for America."
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Friday, October 22, 2004
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Schaffer Library of Drug Policy Amazing collection of research literature on the issue of drugs & policy. Seems like our "war on drugs" is progressing poorly. Not sure what the victory conditions would be... Many of the recommendations (e.g. from Consumer's Union) are very sensible but politically infeasible.
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