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Tuesday Share: June 2, 2009, Edition

Weekly round-up of interesting stories I found on-line

A quick post as I haven’t had much time this week (due to Legislative deadlines) to enjoy news and/or learning about new things, so for what it’s worth here’s this week’s Tuesday Share items:

The big news in California last week (if you’re not talking about the budget) was of course the Supreme Court’s ruling on proposition 8.  If you haven’t read the ruling you should, it is always fascinating to see how case law, precedent, and statutes work, and come, together in deciding these cases.  If you’re too busy to read the ruling (you should make the time) here is a small analysis of it (from a biased source, but who isn’t on this issue?  Thankfully it’s mostly quotes).  This issue isn’t over by far and the discussion Californians will be having with each other should be interesting – Prop. 8 Decision:  What Did they Decide Exactly?

The Internet often explodes over unusual things, and often without any reflection or thoughtful analysis of what is being said.  In an increasingly complex world, it is important to understand where our information comes from and how it is compiled.  Dr. Myers calls bullshit on an article that is heavy on opinion and light on fact – O Brave New World! That has Such Baloney In’t

The CDC is now creating informational videos explaining why vaccinations are good for your children and the country.  These videos deal with the misinformation being peddled by anti-vaxers – Addressing Concerned Parents About Vaccines

Here’s a list of free alternative to the 25 top selling pieces of software on Amazon.com, If you had to pay money for all of these you’d be out 1,000s of dollars.  Opensource for the Win! @ The Simple Dollar

I know I’m becoming an adult because I find myself thinking of how I’ll fund my retirement, investment strategies, and such.  Problem is I don’t want to be bothered by all the data, I don’t want to be a day trader or active investor.  This is fine as there are index funds.  The link explores numerous lazy ways to invest wisely  – The Lazy Way to Investment Success

Play the violent video games of your childhood in your browser!  I don’t know if the in-browser experience also recreates the horrors of setting up LAN games – Doom, Heretic, and Hexen @ Newgrounds

The Art of Manliness is a web community for Men who feel like they’ve had the short end of the stick in our culture for too long, but want Men to be more than the caricature we find of him on television.  Think Teddy Roosevelt with respect for equal rights and a lack of jingoism.  They’re current project is 30 Days to a Better Man Project a plan to help Men implement they’re own self-improvement agenda – LINK,  check out their backlog great articles on dress, manners, sports, camping, etc., a great resource.

Another sign I’m maturing, I’m looking into spending discretionary money on buying land, gold, or other things that increase in value the longer you have them @ The Simple Dollar

Well, that was longer than I thought…

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Tuesday Share

I’ve done this once or twice but I want to institutionalize it, every Tuesday I’m going to share a list of links to the stories I’ve read over the last week that I found interesting, thoughtful, provoking, etc… Whatever I feel is worth sharing, and what thoughts, if any, I had while reading them.

I’ve done this once or twice but I want to institutionalize it, every Tuesday I’m going to share a list of links to the stories I’ve read over the last week that I found interesting, thoughtful, provoking, etc…  Whatever I feel is worth sharing, and what thoughts, if any, I had while reading them.

So for the first Tuesday Share:

1.  After fighting to get it for years the source code of a breathalyzerwere revealed by court order, and it turns out they were junk.  This is a basic right that I thought we were all afforded, the right to face our accuser, but this has hit a snag when talking about software and proprietary systems.  As we depend on computers and technology more and more for everything in life, including our judicial process it is of the highest importance that we understand how they work and if they’re actually doing the job their creators say they’re.

2.  This is one amazing picture of the sun, and the blotches on the picture are more amazing!  My hat is off to the photographer for capturing this moment.

3.  In the same vein of having open access to how the technology we use works, how about having open access to how our legislator’s act and vote on the floor, where they’re suppose to be representing their constituency?  It shouldn’t be a difficult task to look up your, or any, Senator’s voting record.

4.  I found this essay on how Jesus of Nazareth fits into an historical context and how that is shown in the gospels a fascinating read.  What he is getting at is that Jesus and his apostles make mistakes that were (and are) common for regular people, especially lay-people, but are inconsistent with the belief that Jesus was a perfect being.  For those of you who believe that Jesus was the Son of God and  Humanity’s savior prepare to be offended by the historical bent of the essay.  For believers looking for real challenges to their faith and the underpinnings of it I suggest his other essays as well.

5.  It wasn’t that long ago that popular culture here in the United States tended to extol the excesses of Americans, from the lower class all the way up to celebrities and the very wealthy.  Our culture seemed to revel in just how much money we could spend.  Television shows like cribs, lifestyle of the rich and famous, and reality shows based around the lives of the wealthy, all showed just what money could buy.  That trend has ended with the recession, and many of those who’s lives were built on easy credit are now facing a difficult adjustment.  This public message with Seth Green about financial responsibility is both educational, humorous, and biting.

6. California’s been in the news recently… For our state’s fine ability to balance its budget…  Here are some assorted stories on that.  I don’t think anyone is looking forward to solving the mess…  Sadly, much of the problem is institutional and requires more reform than I thinktil political leaders, or voters have the stomach for.  Speaking of California, more wasteful spending by the State as it tries to take a anti-videogame bill to the Supreme Court, where it’s sure to lose and force the State to pay out legal fees, etc… for creating an law that goes against the 1st Amendment.

7. Finally a nice video that explains the cap & trade proposal regarding carbon outputs.

Necron Fleet – Painting and Fleet Creation

I’m pretty sure my Necron fleet is way too large… I’m pushing 2500 points. If I understood how fleets are made in the game I might be better able to determine just how and what to include in a fleet, besides throwing a little of everything in there like I have.

Find the first post in this series here.

Partially painted Shroud Light Cruiser
Partially painted Shroud Light Cruiser

I’m pretty sure my Necron fleet is way too large…  I’m pushing 2500 points.  If I understood how fleets are made in the game I might be better able to determine just how and what to include in a fleet, besides throwing a little of everything in there like I have.  There aren’t that many, I can only think of one, other players of the game here to bounce ideas off of or ask questions about the game system.  If I just knew what is considered standard fleet size, I’d be okay.  While I don’t know what size fleet I’ll end up laying, luckily for me the Necron fleet doesn’t allow for much personal expression, so I don’t have to worry about weapons loadouts on my cruisers and destroyers.

I’ve been painting steadily, but once move up to the cruisers the detail bumps up significantly and thus progress has slowed.  I spent a good chunk of my free time last Saturday just base, first and second coating my three shroud class light cruisers.  I started putting in the detail work on one of them.  The goal this week is to complete the shrouds and move on to my two  Scythe class harvest ship.  I don’t expect to finish them this weekend, but I might, as they don’t seem to have much to them.  Next weekend will be reserved for my Tombship, clean-up, and then sealing of the entire fleet.

Now I just have to find some fellow players!

If you’re interested my fleet right now consists of :

1 Tombship

2 Scythe Harvesters

3 Shroud Light Cruisers

6 Jackal Raiders

8 Dirge Raiders

For more details and free resource on Battle Fleet Gothic click here.

The Capitol Celebrates Harvey Milk’s Birthday

I really don’t know much about Mr. Milk. All I know is that he was killed while still in his prime. But, I admire the man for his bravery and acknowledge the place he holds for those in the LGBT rights movement.

A picture of a picture of Harvey Milk
A picture of a picture of Harvey Milk

Today would have been Harvey Milk’s, the first openly gay man elected to office, 79th birthday.  On the North Lawn of the Capitol Senators Mark Leno and Christine Kehoe, and Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano and John Perez celebrated the day with birthday cake and milk.

I’m sure words were said and for some there, memories recalled of Mr. Milk, who he was, how he was, and what he meant to so many people’s lives.  I would have liked to have been there for that but sadly I was stuck behind a desk working on bill analyzes.  The event started at 11:30am, I didn’t make it until after 12:30pm, missing all of the speeches, but coming upon a small crowd of 25-40 people sharing their thoughts on the man, and a two reporters covering the event.  I had a slice of cake and drank down a school cafeteria sized carton of milk and listened to people reminisce

I really don’t know much about Mr. Milk.  All I know is that he was killed while still in his prime. But, I admire the man for his bravery and acknowledge the place he holds for those in the LGBT rights movement.  Mr. Milk took big steps towards ending the stigma, prejudice, and that LGBTs have faced for years.  If you want to learn more about Harvey Milk a good place would be the Wikipedia page on him, here or you could rent the just released movie about him, literary types can check out his biography.

For more images from the event you can click here.

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