Socialist Sushi

Yes, it’s been too long since my last update. Work is busy, and no fun. I’ve had no time for the garden. Amber is enjoying her new job. I’ve been playing with svgalib, which is fun.

That’s about it.

Very interesting comments from Stevie Nicks:

“I think the mystery is gone, and if you have no mystery, then you aren’t even sexy.

“Real sexuality and sensuality is in the music, and all these girls, vis-a-vis, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and on and on, should go back to writing songs and start over because it won’t last and they won’t last.

She also comments that they “should wear more clothes and try writing decent songs.”

I love it… it’s nice to see some people in music who will call the whole episode what it was: a stupid stunt.

So, it’s Fox News’ fault?

USATODAY.com - Amanpour: CNN practiced self-censorship

As criticism of the war and its aftermath intensifies, Amanpour joins a chorus of journalists and pundits who charge that the media largely toed the Bush administrationline in covering the war and, by doing so, failed to aggressively question the motives behind the invasion.

What a crock. CNN went for years with no real competition. Then along comes Fox News, who starts getting more viewers even though they were in fewer markets. In other words, CNN got its butt kicked.

And so they got scared and somebody decided they needed to change how they did things. It was business that affected how they did things. They couldn’t — and probably still can’t — handle the competition.

This is something to keep in mind: The newspapers you read, the news channels you watch, they’re all funded by someone. And those groups dictate what is shown to you. It is very dangerous to think otherwise.

If you’ve ever looked at a bible you’ve probably seen the little bookmark that most have attached. You know, the little piece of ribbon you use to mark passages.

Well, during the evening service last night I opened to the passage I had marked and, when I picked up the bookmark to get it out of my way it came out. A rather substantial piece of the material that covers where the pages are glued together came with it… the other half is hanging on by a thread.

I’ve been preaching out of this particular bible for quite some time, I’m impressed it has survived so well thus far. Time for some super glue surgery.

Yesterday afternoon I built the first frame for one of the four little plots we’re putting in the yard. Since it’s so late in the year I’m only going to attempt planting anything in that one, thought I’ll build the other three.

I discovered that, after all this time, I can still swing a hammer. I can’t always, however, hit the nail. Can’t always hit the chisel, either, as the bruise on my left hand shows. The band-aid on my right index finger attests to the fact I’ve lost the callous from using a hammer.

Oh well, it’s built. The soil is in. Ready to go. I’m glad frost comes so late down here in Georgia 8)

Where will Isabel bit the USA? We have no idea.

Isabel is currently a category 5 hurricane. That means it’s a bit windy…

If you look to the left you’ll see Isabel’s position, as well as her approximate distance from me. It will be updated every hour, assuming my script works properly 8)

Amber and I discussed plans last night. We’ll go ahead and get supplies. Unless it looks like a direct hit on our area we’ll ride it out. We shall see what happens.

Johnny Cash dead at 71

I got to see Johnny Cash at a Billy Graham Crusade in Atlanta several years ago. My mom loves his music. My dad loves his music. Me and a friend drove from Ashville, NC to Richmond Hill, Ga (about 6 hours) listening mostly to his music…

My wife can’t stand his music, but no one’s perfect.

This past Wednesday night someone told me they heard a song for the first time: “About a guy named Sue. Have you ever heard it?” Of course I’ve heard it, I’m not an uncultured heathen. Sheesh.

He will be missed greatly.

Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One’s Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments

People tend to hold overly favorable views of their abilities in many social and intellectual domains. The authors suggest that this overestimation occurs, in part, because people who are unskilled in these domains suffer a dual burden: Not only do these people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to realize it.

Link via #remops. I have no comment.

Tuesday night I took some pictures of the moon. Some came out well, some didn’t. I’ve posted several of them here.

update: Fixed the link. Thanks, Sol