Days in the life
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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "yuripup" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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07:29 pm
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Read in 09
I liked the idea. Continuing it this year.
56) SM Stirling's The Sword of the Lady Stirling writing just connects with me on an emotional level--having some of the most memorable scenes I have read. While I don't think that this book has any peak moments that are equal to Meeting At Corvalis, the level is generally very high. I really like the Change series and can't recommend it enough.
55) Flint and Weber's Torch Of Freedom The latest in the Honorverse books, again focusing on the genetic slave issue and the machinations of Mesa. I think that the book has a few too many POV characters and some of the more notable characters are slipping into caricature from character. A fun read, though it has it little detractions.
54) Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point" A light, if interesting read into the ideas of epidemics and geometric progression. Light may be a bit of an unfair word, as the ideas have big, policy, marketing and social implications, but it comes off as easy and accessible--but I had few, if any, "huh" or "oh really!" moments. I think his other book was a bit more vigorous.
( More books )
Read in 2008
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08:58 am
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Last King: Turin's Journal: The Siege of the Hamlet
( There are times... )
Tags: last king
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11:47 am
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Blizzard: Subverting Your Feel Good Feelings
Blizzard has just gone down as evil on my book. They are subverting the emotional payoff of making a altruistic contribution and making an immense profit on it.
The new pandarin monk pet (and only the monk, mini-KT is pure profit) costs $10. $5 of which goes to the Make-A-Wish foundation. The pet itself can't have an incremental cost of more than $0.10 (and I wouldn't be surprised if its 1/100 of that). So each "charitable" contribution the Blizzard player base makes nets them $4.90 in pure profit--a profit margin of 5,000% if not 500,000%.
Selling the pets for $10--while insanely expensive--is fine by me. What is really duplicitous is to have us kick in $5.00 and for Blizzard itself not to have any skin in the game for the contribution. Its simply a marketing sop to keep people from screaming about paying $10 for a pet.
You want to make it a real contribution, Blizzard, forward the whole amount to Make a Wish--or even better, throw some of your own cash on the pile and match.
To clear close to $5 profit on a "$10" charitable contribution is morally reprehensible.
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01:02 pm
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Emotions
Are rather amazing things and can whipsaw around like mad.
Current Location: Work
Current Mood: Chaotic
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01:55 pm
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Tech Question for ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) sixteenbynine
I am planning--once I get over sticker shock--to upgrade to Win7.
I would like a few more details about the "upgrade" version. If I want to do a fresh install with the upgrade am I just hosed?
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12:55 pm
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Capitol One...Not My Friend
I have never had good experiences with Capitol One.
Now I won't have any at all.
I think I entered their system as one of their "risky" customers and felt they took gross profitous advantage of me--and I learned to be very strict with them vis a vie payments.
Besides having the highest credit limit (recently doubled no less) of any of my cards, I noticed, at the same time, they increased my rates to 29.40%--or $2.50 monthly per $100 of debt I had with them.
I called them today to demand a lowering of the rate. They refused. I paid off. By this time tomorrow the account will be closed.
I wonder if they will call me and try again.
The Indian man on the phone was very pleasant...and powerless it seems.
Mind you at the same time I have a line of credit from Best Buy that is effectively 0% for all purchase, provided I pay off the balance in time--and that time usually being quite generous.
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10:12 am
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Visiting Home
I have been up at my parents since Sunday afternoon (had to finish my Sunday morning WoW raid, don't you know). Been fun. Since last time my parents have completely redone "my" bedroom, which now has a pale green wall that gives interesting tinting to the other white walls, a nice green bed set (with a new mattress, which is wonderful) and managed to time my visit so that all the trees in the back yard went from green to yellow.
And I will manage to leave just before the leaves start to fall in real numbers.
We've played 3 games of Scrabble, which I have had a complete change of heart about, deciding I now like the game--though we'd have a problem playing at the house--no dictionary.
And I managed to stretch my Ukrainian by telling Mom all about mcd000's Last King game--in Ukrainian.
This has been a good visit, though I am looking forward to coming home. And I am looking covetously at my parent's lawn mower.
Hey Bill, you up for a really quick visit to my parents at some point? Maybe a quick back and forth to grab the mower?
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11:12 am
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Follow Up
Keith Olbermann mentioned the National Association of Free Clinics on his Wednesday 1 hour special comment, saying that we should have clinics in the 5 states of the Blue Dog Senate holdouts who are potentially voting against what the majorities in their states want.
To further that cause, on Thursday Keith donated $50,000 to NAFC.
I like his follow up.
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01:12 pm
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Impeachment: No Crime Required
On what crime you might ask?
Thought Crime, of course, Friend Citizen.
What thought, you might ask?
"Uultimately, it comes down to ... the fact that he seems to have, it seems to me, some malevolence toward this country, which is unabated."
I am not even sure how would hold political discourse with someone having that idea.
The other thought? Oh please! Oh please! Oh please! Go ahead and draw up those articles and bring them before the House. Maybe main stream Republicans will start to shut their wingnuts up.
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01:41 pm
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You Think He'll Make It 4 Years?
Newsmax, one of the flakier right wing news sites, ran this column fantasizing about a bloodless military coup of President Obama. Oddly, they pulled it, after you know, posting it and having the editors ok it.
The coming Revolution/2nd American Civil War is a real popular topic among conservatives who sound a lot like physically abusive partners--the left can avoid the violence if only we didn't force the right to hit us.
The right won't use the threat of violence, and over throw the government, if only we didn't force them to commit violence.
If only we would give up our political views, they wouldn't be forced to shoot us. If only we would give up power, they won't be forced into open revolt.
The choice of being violent always, always, always rests in the hands of those choosing to be violent.
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08:24 am
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This is Not
Government of the people, for the people, by the people.
Government of the rich, for the rich, by the rich I might buy.
A majority of republicans surveyed support the public option.
Something like 2/3s the people support the public option.
Instead, health care reform is fast becoming health insurance company welfare.
Mandate and support with public dollars millions of new policies to be profited on by the insurance companies.
Kill it before it gets to the kids.
I am fast becoming very soured on Obama. Means well, talks well, but can't lead the party for shit.
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04:07 pm
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I Need To Find Smarter Conservatives
The Sarah Palin The Progressives Did Not Want Us To See
Palin in Hong Kong:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/09/23/excerpts-of-sarah-palins-speech-to-investors-in-hong-kong/
Nails the housing crisis. Gets cap and tax. Pragmatic and realistic. Has a handle on facts. Shows leadership. Everything the One is not. Makes me want to throw up. What have we done to the children and grandchildren not yet born. We chose the Golden Road To Hell for some pretty language of a charismatic pied piper that managed to keep his true intentions hidden from everyone who just paid attention to the complicit media in what is one of the most despicable and largest conspiracies of all time. God help us all.
And hanging out where this was posted (its the first post in a thread) has me convinced the cognitive dissonance that seemed to be really high around '04 and seemed to retreat as the wheels came off in the second term, is back with a vengeance. Water boarding isn't torture. Torture is acceptable because it works. Quitters suck so Palin only retreated, she didn't quit. That the warrantless wiretapping program has been tested in court and found legal. That the US Government deserves a presumption of innocence before trial.
And those are just some of this week's issues.
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02:16 pm
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Days Off
Just a note for myself to know what days I have off in the next 3 months:
Oct: 6, 12, 19-20, 26.
Nov: 2-3, 16-17, 23, 30-
Dec: 1, 6, 14, 21
Jan: 4
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07:07 pm
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Last King: Predestination
Its not something I think about in the real world. Until we get the unified theory of quantum gravity, I am quite happy to believe the universe is essentially random and I have a goodly amount of free will. What predestination we have is how nurture (and environment) play off nature (that is genetics).
But...in Lord of the Rings: The Last King that mcd000 is running there are at least 3 possible levels of predestination. There are the character levels--one is the prophecy that is the center piece of the game and are the character doomed to follow it through the tragic conclusion that it followed in the cannon universe? Can we change the world enough so that the prophecy ends up on the road not taken? Can we so change the world (without doing stupid, griefer shit like assassinating Arvedui) that it becomes invalid?
Then there is the meta level--I know the broad outlines of where the cannon universe's time line--but can we make the world jump the tracks other than at the pivotal moment of prophecy? Now, all of this I could probably resolve by asking mcd000 but I have purposely not asked him. I am enjoying the intellectual play that the situation entails.
The new thought that occurred to me today, was that what if there are more pivotal moments in the game? In the cannon time line Arvedui dies about 1974 TA after a massive blow strikes Arnor--but what if we PCs, on our active mission to Agmar see something that puts Arnor on guard, or better yet, willing to accept the loose of spoiling strikes? I know, at the moment, those possibilities are remote--the massive strike is a good 34 years in the future but could the change in Arnor's posture change that?
Again, its not a request for the answer, I'll quiz MCD000 once the campaign ends, but just some fun thoughts and ponderings.
Tags: last king
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02:59 pm
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Last King: Turin 7
From Turin's Diary
Things have moved quickly. And while I am--or was--just a soldier in the Prince's company--I feel that my words are having a real effect on the way things are proceeding for Arnor. Or maybe my advice came only after the decisions were made. In either case I am happy to Arnor taking much more active stances in the North and Tharbad.
Atanalcar was hung--King Araphant was quite pointed in saying he was happy that we did not have to do it ourselves, as he wanted to see him hung like a common criminal.
Sitting at the high table, while quite the honor, didn't lead to interesting conversations. Certainly I have had more interesting times arguing with Rusc and the rest of the fellows around the camp fire. The next day the King laid a real honor and challenge before us: Liathan was made Captain of a new company (with troops to be begged, borrowed and stolen from my already grumpy grand-uncle, and logistics support from him too!) who's mission at the moment is to go into Angmar and see what plans the Witch-King may have.
Liathan has tapped me for his senior sergeant and likely commander of the assault troops. He, of course, is overall commander and leader of the cavalry. These should be exciting days. We are seeking Arvedui's permission to sally against the Hillmen to blood the troops before we head to Angmar.
end note
Side note: Per Wiki Araval was Araphant's father. And we should be sending Rusc in to find the notes and maps from that campaign. We may even want to follow that trail--its been a while since it was used. Do you have any more details on that campaign?
PS I see how I misread the entry on Angband.
Tags: last king
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08:44 am
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[EVE] Eeep?
It seems I may be the most experienced PVPer in our corp.
And I know I know very little about EVE PVP.
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08:35 am
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As Six is to One So...
Is the the cost of the Defense Department for ten years versus the cost of ten years of civilian health care.
A trillion dollars sounds like a lot of money, until you compare it to Defense. A more realistic 10 year guesstimate for Defense is six or seven trillion. (This year DoD is budgeted at 515 billion (or so) and over 630 billion with on going emergency spending.) That is just taking this year's budget and adding a zero on the end.
So any time you are arguing that we can afford health care, point out the 10 year cost of DoD.
Personally I would say it becomes more of a moral issue that we have our priorities as they are.
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02:24 pm
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Last King: Turin 6 (?)
Some thoughts set to paper:
Tonight, guided by Prince Arvedui, we told the King and his counselors, of our adventures on the road, in and south of Gondor.
The most important items to remember, I think, are that Arnor and Gondor (even more so) need to turn our attention outwards and look toward settling the lands between us, giving the Shadow lots of time to gather, it delivers telling blows.
I have been searching for what I think would be the substance of the Alliance between of Arnor and Gondor. I would say, for now, the substance should be of knowledge--to allow us to regain the lost skills of our ancestors (without focusing on them, and perhaps having the Elves help us) and small scale exchanges of troops serving the normal duties in the other country.
On a large scale, and hoping not to give the Shadow too much time to act, borrowing a Gondorian army (no doubt all over Faramir's objections, and somewhat to my chagrin, as I didn't think of something like this when we were before Onduher) and smashing the Witch-King in Angmar with an army that is many times larger than anything we could have brought ourselves. I wish there were some sort of reciprocal action I could think of that we could provide for Gondor. Sending our army down would not provide nearly the shock, or numerical advantage that having one of Gondor's armies here would. Perhaps some sort of flanking action on the Wainriders?
I also perhaps unfairly, characterized what little I saw of the Gondorian army as defensive in posture and passive in thought--unlike the active patrolling we do in the south. I wonder if that is an unfair characterization considering none of us have served in the northern companies and if their posture, with their backing forts is far more similar to Gondor's. I think all of us would be interested in serving some time in the northern companies too--not that we want to leave the Emin Waerin, but that we should have a better knowledge of what dangers press Arnor.
I should also ask my uncle if we regular march against the threats that push against us, or if the battle of the orc camp is the exception. And I should look into what we can do to either get rid of, or turn the hillmen. If we can secure the south, perhaps we could do something unexpected in the north. Chess is never won without attacking.
Tags: last king
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02:02 pm
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The Test of Our Times
I wanted to do something more than my short little bit about Tom Ridge's The Test of Our Times.
There are two issues that bother me most about the story here--though I am sure if I thought about it more I could find it. The first is that, while there is some modest criticism of the administration, it feels to me that Tom Ridge stops objecting on the grounds of principles at the point at which he would be required to break with the party--that there is a lack of intellectual honesty and fortitude that would cause him to break with his party.
The other is that the book is carefully structured so that he can say he never manipulated the color system for political advantage--and that no one person could--but stops short of saying if the Bush administration, which was really good at carrying out a single message from many sources--could have or did successfully manipulate the system from multiple people with the same effect.
There is no talk about the color code process itself, or, for example, how many times was the security alert level raised against his and DHS's reservations? The book is exceedingly short, 255 pages of history before he gets down to recommendations. The lack of details on important questions is troubling. Its not as bad or clueless seeming as McClelland's "What Happened" but it won't carry much weight with a skeptic's reading and analysis.
Nor does the public repudiation of some of his own writing help preserve its strength--especially with 2 sections about the color codes leave the door quite open on political manipulation.
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04:52 pm
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Silly Sentence
But since I am from Buffalo...
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
Some professor at UB(uffalo) came up with it.
Apparently it works with any number of buffalo you like.
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