This and That

Some interesting things I found, with no particular theme:

String Theory Illustrated
[found at Not Even Wrong]


Andrew Gelman comments on Climate change as a religion, and the more general use of "religion" as a term of insult.

Can US Skiing be saved?  As an avid skier, even tough transplanted to the lowlands, it would be fair to say I don't give a damn if the ice caps melt and cities are inundated, just so long as global warming DOESN'T MESS WITH MY SKIING!! [Climate Progress]

A really creepy commenter over at Evolutionblog.

Pallative Care Grand Rounds, with links to the interesting and wonderful, ...

... including PostSecret. Very cool.

Destination Ordination, via the Sensuous Curmudgeon.

Good News for bone marrow transplant patients. [ScienceNow]

Seven Old Ladies

Believe it or not, I've been looking for this song for years:
I must have first heard it at a Boy Scout jamboree (circa 1976), and it has been rattling around my head (with incomplete lyrics) ever since. It's possible that I actually heard Oscar Brand perform it too, but at the time I didn't pay much attention.

I found this, of all places, at Improbable Research. Maybe Marc A. sings this song when he thinks no one can hear him too. ;-)

Make Beliefs Comix

Dread Tomato Addiction by Tomato Addict

A few notes. If you want to use this, try a dry run first where you just test out the tools. I had problems with the delete tool, because I forgot I had it selected and deleted some work accidentally. Also don't click the "back" button to get back to editing after you try to send it, or you will lose the whole thing (my own fault for not reading!). The email-comic feature didn't work either (or maybe it is just slow), so I had to use a screen capture. Still fun to use though.

No More Number Six

Patrick McGoohan has passed away. More at IO9.

The Prisoner is one of my all-time favorite TV shows, and there has never been anything else like it. If McGoohan were a football player (either kind) his jersey would almost certainly be retired in honor, never to be used again. Therefore, I humbly suggest the number 6 be retired from all future use. Really. Once we get over not having 6-packs (oops) 5+1-packs it will hardly be any bother at all.


Ack! Richardo Montalban too! So much for that Star Trek 19 script I was working on.

Don't Worry - Accept Uncertainty

I found an interesting blog post ...

How to Stop Worrying and Why

... and I have to say I am all for their #1 piece of advice:

1. Learn to accept uncertainty

People who worry a lot don’t like uncertainty in their lives and because they cannot control the dangers in life for themselves and their loved ones they worry even more. You have to accept uncertainty in your life. Accept the fact that you love someone enough, including yourself, to worry about them, but you cannot control what may or may not happen.

That right. Uncertainty. It's about the only thing in life you can count on so we may as well get used to it. (For that matter, you could be like me and make a career of it.)

Future Famous Quotations

Just a few sayings that I want to be remembered long after I am gone.

If the answer is not apparent,
then you may not be considering the right question.

If another person disagrees with your answer,
then they might not be considering the same question.

Argument over whether the answer is "true" or "false" is irrelevant if the correct answer is "blue".

When asking a group of people if they think the answer is "true" or "false", someone will almost certainly answer "blue".

If you never fail at what you do, then you never know if you might have done it better.

What words do you want to be remembered for?

Richard Simmons and the PE Crusade

In an effort to scare off both my readers support a really good cause, I'd like to draw your attention to the PE Crusade. All the colorful one asks is a moment of your time to send the following message to your congressman:

On behalf of Richard Simmons and the nation's children, I respectfully ask that Physical Education be included in the reauthorization of the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT as an optional multiple measure, or implemented through the passage of the FIT KIDS ACT. Healthy minds and healthy bodies are key to our childrens' and our nation's future. The longer this takes, the unhealthier our kids become.

Here's that link again.

Can Opener Massacre

I'm not sure what is more disturbing, that this graphic dismemberment of aluminum cans is actually a bit scary, or that this short film is far better at what it does than any slasher flick - not that I've seen any in 20 years (well maybe Evil Dead?).

Guys take on make-up

This is simply too good to pass up. Essential information for XX's in a relationship with an XY, and a good lifeline for those XY's that fail to notice these things.

A Guy’s Take on Makeup: Does It Really Make You Beautiful?

[from Back in Skinny Jeans]

Tomato Cassarole

A collection of leftover stuff I need to get rid of before it goes stale:

Pharyngula -
Get your kids addicted to cephalopods!
Is nothing safe? It appears that calamari may have addictive properties similar to tomatoes!

Science and Math Defeated -
Probability (part one) "Probability is false"
Darn that NotedScholar! He's going to put me put of a job at this rate.

From TED -
Malcolm Gladwell: What we can learn from spaghetti sauce
It's got tomatoes in it, so it must be dangerous too!

Blog Thoughts

I've been considering some changes to my blogs for some time, and it's time to write them down. This is going to be stream-of-consciousness stuff mostly, so if you are going to muck about in this with me you might want to take off your shoes and roll up your pants (otherwise you are going to get my messy thoughts all over your clothes).

I had a great time during the election when a good topics were low-hanging fruit, but this also distracted me from my purpose (such as it is) of humorous commentary on science and statistics. This was not intended to be a political blog, but I have come to the realization that some of my topic are politics (ID, among others) so I should admit that politics/opinion will have a large part to play here. ID itself is a topic I'd like to leave behind - except that I'm not quite done with it yet (I have a take on Irreducible Inanity Complexity Inanity, and a Bozo Behe book to bomb) so there will be a few more posts like this. Of course, I'll always be happy to link to others efforts along these lines.

New Topic: I will be starting a series on posts on aging issues. This has become an important personal issue for me over the past few year, and I think I can contribute useful opinion on a personal and professional basis. Expect a few outright rants on this topic too.

I'm considering some chances to the general appearance of the blog; some color adjustments and perhaps a new banner. I have a secret dream of commissioning Phil Foglio to create a banner and associated icons/images for me. That would be WAY cool.

I have created a new email address for the purpose of blog related management and communications; TomatoAddict42 (presumably Tomato Addicts 1 through 41 have already succumbed to the ill effects). I will monitor this new email from my regular Gmail, so this should be a transparent change.
I may start also posting on others blogs as "Tomato Addict". It's not like I really need another online handle, or that I want to conceal my identity, but in order to establish myself as a blogger I think it helps to have a unique identifier (and "Dan" is far from unique).

I'm also hearing really good things about Wordpress, but having just got settled in on Blogger I'm not ready to pick up and move.

There is one final small addition; I've added my Favicon to my post template so it can appear at the end of every post, as I've always intended.

A poorly considered URL

Oh the many joys of word-play:

http://www.ExpertsExchange.com/
http://www.ExpertSexChange.com/

I am told their new URL has a hyphen in it. [Thanks Scott!]

The Internet Anagram Server

For anyone who likes having fun with words, Wordsmith.Org offers this, the original Internet Anagram Server. Enter any short text you like, and the Anagram Server will twist it around and spit out a list of anagram for you to peruse. Some of these can be quite entertaining. Here are a few from their Hall of Fame:

Dormitory = Dirty Room
Dictionary = Indicatory
Elvis = Lives
Listen = Silent
Clint Eastwood = Old West Action
Western Union = No Wire Unsent
Evangelist = Evil's Agent
Postmaster = Stamp Store
The cockroach = Cook, catch her
Desperation = A Rope Ends It
The Morse Code = Here Come Dots
The Great New York Rapid Transit Tunnel = Giant Work in Street, Partly Underneath
Tom Cruise = So I'm Cuter
Mother-in-law = Woman Hitler
A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss = Stroller on Go, Amasses Nothing
The Check is in the Mail = Claim "Heck, I sent it (heh)"
Software = Swear Oft
Christmas tree = Search, Set, Trim
The Earthquakes = That Queer Shake
Barbie doll = I'll bare bod / Babe I'd roll / Liberal bod
Statue of Liberty = Built to Stay Free

Much more, and you can always make your own. Go see!

More Goodreads SPAM

I had previously given a mini-rant about Goodreads and their inexcusable SPAMming practices. Today I received the monthly newsletter from them, which I certainly do not recall agreeing to, much less requesting (by habit I never accept these). My curiosity stirred up, I did some minimal research:

From the Goodreads Privacy Policy:

Do you send unsolicited emails or direct mail?

Goodreads absolutely, positively does not use the emails it collects as a source for unsolicited emails.

"Liars" just doesn't seem to cover it. "Liar liar pants ablaze with thermonuclear fire"`is a little closer to the mark. Consider: Does the screen capture below look like an invitation to SPAM everyone in your address book?

[Image from Microformats Wiki, which has a related discussion.]

Can you read the small text at the bottom that reads:

*This feature is entirely optional and is only used to allow you to access your address book. You can select which friends to invite on the next page. We do not store your password.

LIARS! No sooner had an acquaintance signed up than her entire address book was SPAMMED. This being a trusted friend I started to sign up to see what was so interesting. I got suspicious when Goodreads asked for my password. A little internet searching quickly revealed numerous complaints about Goodreads and its practice of address book SPAM. While I also find some indications that Goodreads is working to improve their practices, I remain suspicious. Very suspicious.

Good News: OAUTH may be the answer needed to better protect our privacy.

538 Widget

FiveThirtyEight is now offering a widget to display the most current posts - admittedly a bit late in this election season. I have added it here until the elections are done, after which I will probably remove it, or at least push it down the sidebar.

It really was not my intention to put many political topics on this blog, but with the current election fever it's just hard to avoid. 538 does have some really nice statistical model though, perhaps I can dig into those and post about them when the current fuss is all over.

Aggressive Sales Rant

Is it just me or do others find many sales people becoming more aggressive? I prefer to buy something because I need it not because it was forced on me. I like to make my own choices and decisions. Lately, whether I am out shopping or working at home I find myself being annoyed by sales.

The sales pitches start out innocuous enough. This is your local police and you have always been a supporter of ours. Would you donate to our domestic violence fund? Well, that is a cause I support. Sure. I would be glad to make a donation. Can we put you down for $500 then? Wait a minute, I teach college. I don't have that type of money. How about $20? OK, we will send you a $20 bill in the mail but you may not deduct this off you taxes as a donation. Was I just fleeced?

Then came the endless calls with the robovoice, "This is the Replubican National Committee calling to tell you why you should not vote for Barack Obame." Wait a minute, I am on the no call list and this is my private phone number. Why am I getting 5 or 6 of these calls a day. I am trying to work. I am not going to pay extra money on my telephone bill to make sure who is calling me. I have phone calls I need to answer so I am not going to take my phone off the hook. I guess I have been fleeced again.

Then I went to the mall. Something I avoid doing at all costs. But I had an item I wanted. I went straight to the store I like. Enjoyed my shopping there. Then headed to my car. The next thing I know a salesman has grabbed by hand and started buffing my nails. Well, this is certainly a new version of sticking your foot in the door. I was stupid and ended up buying a Seacrest Nail Care Kit. The original price was $59. But when I balked at that, the price dropped to $29 and then when I balked at that it became 2 for $29. I figure this was still overpriced but I would be free. I paid and the next thing I know my hand is grabbed again and I have mud slathered on my arm. I was getting upset now. I said I have a doctor's appointment I have to go. Oh, this will only take a moment. Some 20 minutes later and endles products applied to my arm I was offered 3 small boxes and 1 free gift for only $529. No Way! Well, just for me the price was dropped to $279. No way! Then 4 boxes were piled up and 2 other boxes placed on the side. You can get all this plus 2 free gifts for only $279. This is less than 1 dollar a day for you very important skin care. No way! Well let me show you something. Here, finally he made a mistake. He left my side. I was out of that mall so fast.

And I wondered why I don't like to go to the mall. At least at home I can hang up the phone.

Skin Care: Expensive. Privacy: Priceless.

ProfDebE

My Technorati Debut

My Technorati Rank debuts at 4,978,471. Only 4,978,470 to go!
My other blog starts off with a ranking of 2,620,513, probably because I linked to myself.

Also, DTA now has a co-author. You should be hearing from her soon.

Hubble is Back!

[from Space.com]
Hubble Telescope Photographs a Perfect Cosmic 10

A Fine Whine

Daniel Hamermesh posts on Freakonomics:

Why Is Everyone Whining About Taxes?

Beware of GoodReads

Beware of a site/service calling itself GoodReads (.com). This site advertising itself as an interesting sounds book sharing? (or something) service, but it asks for access to your address book then proceeds to SPAM everyone you every communicate with. In short:

"GoodReads is EVIL SPAM"
"GoodReads.com is EVIL SPAM"
"www.GoodReads is EVIL SPAM"
"GoodReads is EVIL SPAM"
"GoodReads is EVIL SPAM"
"GoodReads is EVIL SPAM"
"GoodReads is EVIL SPAM"
"GoodReads is EVIL SPAM"
"GoodReads is EVIL SPAM"

Take THAT search engines!

Here is someone Jackie Danicki's discussion of it, including a response from "Otis", founder of GoodReads.