This image is uploaded to blogger versus the previous test which just linked to an image hosted elsewhere.
Sep 20, 2008
Image uploading test
This image is uploaded to blogger versus the previous test which just linked to an image hosted elsewhere.
Sep 14, 2008
Other Side of the Coin
From Reuters.com --
Fashion Yachts, maker of luxury vessels... is seeing no let up in demand... [says] Fabrizio Politi, the founder and chief executive...
..."in the luxury sector, there's very strong growth in the high end,"
..."the most luxurious, the most costly product in the world ... are going pretty strongly."
...distinguished from their other sleek competitors by the use of unusual materials inside, such as gold leaf and crocodile skin...
Fashion Yachts, maker of luxury vessels... is seeing no let up in demand... [says] Fabrizio Politi, the founder and chief executive...
..."in the luxury sector, there's very strong growth in the high end,"
..."the most luxurious, the most costly product in the world ... are going pretty strongly."
...distinguished from their other sleek competitors by the use of unusual materials inside, such as gold leaf and crocodile skin...
Aug 6, 2008
Chase SUCKS!
I just received another of the many Privacy Policy statements I get regularly. This one from Chase (JP Morgan Chase, previously Bank One). The cover letter includes these choice lines:
I decided to thoroughly read the enclosed privacy policy. Here are some highlights.
Information they collect includes:
What they do with this information:
What are my options regarding this sharing:
Again, from the cover letter they claim that this communication is to tell me:
At no point do they mention ANY INFORMATION they they will NOT give out to ANY ORGANIZATION willing to pay them for it.
- We want you to know what we're doing to protect your privacy.
- Your privacy is important to us and,
- protecting your personal information is one of our top priorities.
I decided to thoroughly read the enclosed privacy policy. Here are some highlights.
Information they collect includes:
- All details we enter on any form for them,
- Account transactions and balances,
- for good measure, they get additional information from credit bureaus.
What they do with this information:
- They share it within their "family of companies"
- They share it with their "service providers"
- They share it with companies which have "joint marketing agreements"
- They share it with "non-financial companies" including auto dealers, auto makers, direct marketers, membership clubs and publishers.
What are my options regarding this sharing:
- Nothing. Actually, they state that I can fill out some forms but that they might still share my information "as permitted by law" anyway!
Again, from the cover letter they claim that this communication is to tell me:
- We want you to know what we're doing to protect your privacy.
- Your privacy is important to us and,
- protecting your personal information is one of our top priorities
At no point do they mention ANY INFORMATION they they will NOT give out to ANY ORGANIZATION willing to pay them for it.
An Observation
Living here in Chicago my whole life I would say that I have noticed media people, by chance, within a few feet of me at least 15 times. Mostly these are people in the news media and in one case a rather famous talk show host (her name starts with O).
Anyway, in nearly every single case where I noticed one of these people they were already looking directly at me when I first noticed them. For a weird split second I'm starring eye to eye with someone I'm used to seeing on television -- and nobody else is noticing. I tend to think that most other people wouldn't notice me even if I were wearing an ostrich plume hat.
I think this must be a characteristic of journalists (and I'm including one sportscaster). They have their eyes open and are looking at what's going on around them. They are looking at everyone, and my "encounters" occur only when I happen to notice them.
Anyway, in nearly every single case where I noticed one of these people they were already looking directly at me when I first noticed them. For a weird split second I'm starring eye to eye with someone I'm used to seeing on television -- and nobody else is noticing. I tend to think that most other people wouldn't notice me even if I were wearing an ostrich plume hat.
I think this must be a characteristic of journalists (and I'm including one sportscaster). They have their eyes open and are looking at what's going on around them. They are looking at everyone, and my "encounters" occur only when I happen to notice them.
Jul 5, 2008
"Final Solution" for wax figure
Today was opening day of the new branch of Madame Tussauds* wax museum, in Berlin . Leading up to this day there had been a growing controversy over the fact that the museum was to contain a wax figure of Hitler.
It looks like one of the first people through the door already had a solution to the problem in mind. A final solution you might say.
When the museum opened this person went directly to the Hitler statue, pushed the guard out of the way... then ripped the figure's head off it's body.
* It goes against my grain to write it that way but neither their own website or the Wikipedia article use the possessive apostrophe-s here. There was a person named Tussaud so the apostrophe is called for. I cannot find a reason why but I can find many references to the fact that there is no apostrophe.
It looks like one of the first people through the door already had a solution to the problem in mind. A final solution you might say.
When the museum opened this person went directly to the Hitler statue, pushed the guard out of the way... then ripped the figure's head off it's body.
* It goes against my grain to write it that way but neither their own website or the Wikipedia article use the possessive apostrophe-s here. There was a person named Tussaud so the apostrophe is called for. I cannot find a reason why but I can find many references to the fact that there is no apostrophe.
Jun 20, 2008
Grant Park - It gets better and better
An excellent blog post over here points out the following facts:
Mayor Daley and the City Council recently approved a $277 million increase in property taxes and fees. Meanwhile, taxpayer subsidies for Children’s Museum at Allstate Place include:
It gets MUCH better:
The museum’s agreement with the park district allows them to transfer their 99-year lease to another private corporation without any oversight from the City Council. What does that mean?
“The inclusion of a liquor license in their zoning application means that this could be a 100,000 square foot restaurant and mini-mall just in time for the 2016 Olympics.”
Mayor Daley and the City Council recently approved a $277 million increase in property taxes and fees. Meanwhile, taxpayer subsidies for Children’s Museum at Allstate Place include:
- $51 Million – Value of the 1.75 acres of parkland the museum will control
- $99 Million – Taxpayer subsidies from the Museums in the Park Fund
- $36 Million – Replacement cost of 400 demolished parking garage spaces
- $353 Million – Value of free rent in Grant Park
It gets MUCH better:
The museum’s agreement with the park district allows them to transfer their 99-year lease to another private corporation without any oversight from the City Council. What does that mean?
“The inclusion of a liquor license in their zoning application means that this could be a 100,000 square foot restaurant and mini-mall just in time for the 2016 Olympics.”
Jun 18, 2008
Grant Park
"Power is not sufficient evidence of truth".
--Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
Mr. Johnson knew something about the abuse of power.
If you are interested in this issue you can
Donate, or sign-up for updates.
--Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
Mr. Johnson knew something about the abuse of power.
If you are interested in this issue you can
Donate, or sign-up for updates.
Time, per the Subdudes
I want some fast food,
and eat it slow.
I'm gonna have some high times
and live 'em low.
--The Subdudes, From: All The Time In The World
and eat it slow.
I'm gonna have some high times
and live 'em low.
--The Subdudes, From: All The Time In The World
Jun 17, 2008
Land Grab - Additional Focus
The more I hear about this the more clearly I can see the disgusting ulterior motives that are involved.
This project calls for the REZONING of Grant Park. This rezoning will allow for multiple restaurants and a LIQUOR LICENSE WITHOUT LIMITATION.
Meanwhile, the mayor and alderman are beating their collective chests over how they are doing this for the children. In actuality, they are EXPLOITING children to satisfy their own GREED. For good measure, the mayor is calling opponents racists.
I'm so glad that there is organized resistance to this.
This project calls for the REZONING of Grant Park. This rezoning will allow for multiple restaurants and a LIQUOR LICENSE WITHOUT LIMITATION.
Meanwhile, the mayor and alderman are beating their collective chests over how they are doing this for the children. In actuality, they are EXPLOITING children to satisfy their own GREED. For good measure, the mayor is calling opponents racists.
I'm so glad that there is organized resistance to this.
Jun 16, 2008
Grant Park Land Grab
If the assault on Grant Park concerns you at all, you might want to check out SaveGrantPark.org
The neighborhood site for the area Grant Park is in is NewEastSide.org
Both sites have additional links to more information.
The neighborhood site for the area Grant Park is in is NewEastSide.org
Both sites have additional links to more information.
Politics - Chicago Style
Grant park is a large bock of undeveloped land in downtown Chicago - situated in a fantastic spot between the hustle and bustle of the city and Chicago's famously beautiful lake front. This is not by accident. In 1839, the plat of the area east of Michigan Avenue south of Randolph was marked "Public Ground—A Common to Remain Forever Open, Clear and Free of any Buildings, or other Obstruction Whatsoever" The temptation to develop the spot began immediately thereafter.
In the 1800s, as various civic buildings were sited there but Chicago businessman Aaron Montgomery Ward ultimately fought four court battles to prevent the development. Grant Park's protections were enshrined by Illinois Supreme Court justices of the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Now, fast forward to the 21st Century where an incredibly brazen and disgusting assault is taking place to reverse this legacy of stewardship. The Chicago Children's Museum is currently located on Chicago's Navy Pier -- less than a mile and half from Grant Park. The museum says it needs more space and that space has been made available to it at the current location. Apparently, that's not good enough. The mayor and the museum feel that the only solution to it's space problem is to build a new museum in Grant Park.
Although the museum claims that it studied other locations it has been unable to produce a list of those other locations. Although the park has been designated a "Public Ground—A Common to Remain Forever Open, Clear and Free of any Buildings, or other Obstruction Whatsoever" the museum's plan for the spot includes construction of (what on one plan shows as) a structure 51 feet above grade. Although the there is overwhelming opposition to the plan by the citizens of Chicago, and although the plan is clearly illegal, and although it is public land and the museum is not a public space (they charge admission), the museum is so sure of their plans they have apparently already sold the naming rights to Allstate -- for $15 million.
Two of Mayor Daley's most interesting statements on all of this:
why he wants the museum in this location and no other location:
what he says of people defending the legacy of Grant Park:
In the 1800s, as various civic buildings were sited there but Chicago businessman Aaron Montgomery Ward ultimately fought four court battles to prevent the development. Grant Park's protections were enshrined by Illinois Supreme Court justices of the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Now, fast forward to the 21st Century where an incredibly brazen and disgusting assault is taking place to reverse this legacy of stewardship. The Chicago Children's Museum is currently located on Chicago's Navy Pier -- less than a mile and half from Grant Park. The museum says it needs more space and that space has been made available to it at the current location. Apparently, that's not good enough. The mayor and the museum feel that the only solution to it's space problem is to build a new museum in Grant Park.
Although the museum claims that it studied other locations it has been unable to produce a list of those other locations. Although the park has been designated a "Public Ground—A Common to Remain Forever Open, Clear and Free of any Buildings, or other Obstruction Whatsoever" the museum's plan for the spot includes construction of (what on one plan shows as) a structure 51 feet above grade. Although the there is overwhelming opposition to the plan by the citizens of Chicago, and although the plan is clearly illegal, and although it is public land and the museum is not a public space (they charge admission), the museum is so sure of their plans they have apparently already sold the naming rights to Allstate -- for $15 million.
Two of Mayor Daley's most interesting statements on all of this:
why he wants the museum in this location and no other location:
- "I have fought for children my entire life, and I will continue to fight for children"
what he says of people defending the legacy of Grant Park:
- "Racists"
Mar 13, 2007
Dream Interpretation
I've heard many theories about "meaning" within dreams. Some will say "water stands for knowledge" and so on. That's somewhat like saying your subconscious mind is a like an author following a formal code to create a private screen-play you view in your mind at night.
Without thinking about it too much, for the longest time I have felt that there is really a more plausible explanation for it all. It's this: your subconscious is just creating imagery that is consistent with the emotions you are already dealing with.
So, say you feel threatened in a work situation -- you may dream of being robbed (both are threatening). A dream involves some physical limitation (running? talking?) -- but lately you've been thinking that some external factor is causing you to miss out on an opportunity (emotionally both are frustrating). Financial worries plus dreams of being chased (too obvious). It works just as well for happy dreams too.
I can't recall a dream in years (mine or one described to me) in which I could not fairly easily match up the action with a prominent day-time emotion.
Without thinking about it too much, for the longest time I have felt that there is really a more plausible explanation for it all. It's this: your subconscious is just creating imagery that is consistent with the emotions you are already dealing with.
So, say you feel threatened in a work situation -- you may dream of being robbed (both are threatening). A dream involves some physical limitation (running? talking?) -- but lately you've been thinking that some external factor is causing you to miss out on an opportunity (emotionally both are frustrating). Financial worries plus dreams of being chased (too obvious). It works just as well for happy dreams too.
I can't recall a dream in years (mine or one described to me) in which I could not fairly easily match up the action with a prominent day-time emotion.
Jan 18, 2007
Sony -- never again
Hmmm.... a blog is good as any place to relate ones experiences with consumer products. Especially complaints that might provide useful insight for others out there. So, here it goes.
Sony does not stand behind their products and they do it in a way that shows contempt for their customers when it comes to parts/repair service. Two cases in point:
1) Years ago I decided to take an extended road trip through out the West and South West of the USA, so I had a Sony 10 disc CD changer installed in my car and off I went. The unit worked well enough although it didn't do a great job in terms of fidelity. But the point is that a few years later it malfunctioned. Sony has a service drop-off point in my area and for each product category they have a fixed price for repair. In the case of CD players like mine the fixed price was $125 -- which I thought was high but the unit cost me $400 and they were selling their current line of similar products for about $250 so it seemed like a worthwhile repair considering that the mounting in the trunk and the wiring from the trunk to the car stereo wouldn't have to change.
Well, Sony decided that my unit was "too old" for the (promised) fixed price repair to be honored. They offered instead to repair it for $300! Remember that the new and improved units were now selling for $250? You have to wonder why a company would even make an offer like this? And who would ever accept an offer like that?
2) Again a CD player, but this time a super duper portable with radio and other nice features. Not something anyone would buy today (this was the pre-iPod era) but it was their top of the line model back then and was $125. The thing was meant for active use (shock and skip protection) but one short drop to the ground and it was toast. From my previous experience I knew that this unit's cost was right at the fixed price repair cost. They had cheapened their newer units so the current top-of-the-line unit was more like $89 and it looked cheap and lacked features I wanted, so that wasn't an option. I figured that I'm pretty handy and that if it was a mechanical problem I could get a replacement part. I opened it up and sure enough the broken piece was obvious. It was a sled that carried the optical unit of the device. The sled had a tab on each side that kept it firmly in a track as a lead-screw device moved it back and forth. One of the tabs was broken but it was too small to provide a good bearing surface for being glued back in place. No problem - what could a new sled cost from their parts department? Go ahead and guess. Now double it and double it again and again. They wanted $65 for this piece of plastic! Most of their CD Walkman models cost less than that. You have to wonder why they do things like that.
So Sony, if there are car or home stereos in my future, camcorders or laptops, flat panel TVs or DVD players I can assure you they won't be Sony's.
Sony does not stand behind their products and they do it in a way that shows contempt for their customers when it comes to parts/repair service. Two cases in point:
1) Years ago I decided to take an extended road trip through out the West and South West of the USA, so I had a Sony 10 disc CD changer installed in my car and off I went. The unit worked well enough although it didn't do a great job in terms of fidelity. But the point is that a few years later it malfunctioned. Sony has a service drop-off point in my area and for each product category they have a fixed price for repair. In the case of CD players like mine the fixed price was $125 -- which I thought was high but the unit cost me $400 and they were selling their current line of similar products for about $250 so it seemed like a worthwhile repair considering that the mounting in the trunk and the wiring from the trunk to the car stereo wouldn't have to change.
Well, Sony decided that my unit was "too old" for the (promised) fixed price repair to be honored. They offered instead to repair it for $300! Remember that the new and improved units were now selling for $250? You have to wonder why a company would even make an offer like this? And who would ever accept an offer like that?
2) Again a CD player, but this time a super duper portable with radio and other nice features. Not something anyone would buy today (this was the pre-iPod era) but it was their top of the line model back then and was $125. The thing was meant for active use (shock and skip protection) but one short drop to the ground and it was toast. From my previous experience I knew that this unit's cost was right at the fixed price repair cost. They had cheapened their newer units so the current top-of-the-line unit was more like $89 and it looked cheap and lacked features I wanted, so that wasn't an option. I figured that I'm pretty handy and that if it was a mechanical problem I could get a replacement part. I opened it up and sure enough the broken piece was obvious. It was a sled that carried the optical unit of the device. The sled had a tab on each side that kept it firmly in a track as a lead-screw device moved it back and forth. One of the tabs was broken but it was too small to provide a good bearing surface for being glued back in place. No problem - what could a new sled cost from their parts department? Go ahead and guess. Now double it and double it again and again. They wanted $65 for this piece of plastic! Most of their CD Walkman models cost less than that. You have to wonder why they do things like that.
So Sony, if there are car or home stereos in my future, camcorders or laptops, flat panel TVs or DVD players I can assure you they won't be Sony's.
Dec 22, 2006
Roasting Coffee
I just read an article in Make Magazine (issue #8) on how to make your own coffee roaster. The project involves a small propane tank and an electric screwdriver and some other parts. I read the instructions thoroughly and then went out and got an iRoast Electric Coffee Roaster which is made by a company called Hearthware.
Within 10 minutes of having it home it had been rinsed, towel dried, set-up and loaded with green coffee beans. You then have to press a button to select one of the two preset roasting schedules but you can also make up your own roasting schedule (how many minutes at what temperature, then how many minutes at a different temperature and so on). I select preset #2 for dark roast and away it goes blowing heated air through the bottom center of the glass roasting container.
The heated air blows the beans up and away from the heating element to where they land at the outer edge of the glass container. The next coffee beans in line slide toward the center and over the heating element like so many amusement park goers getting their turn on the roller coaster. As the beans fly around inside the glass container the chaff from the roasting process is captured in a compartment above it. After about 1 minute the green coffee beans take on a tan color and by two minutes they are darker still as you remove the battery from your smoke detector. In five more minutes you'll notice they are quite dark as you open the back door to let some of the smoke out of your kitchen. After about 12 minutes the beans are dark brown just like you normally get them from the store.
The roasting container accommodates up to two scoops of beans using the scooper provided with the unit. This turns out to be 2 full loads for the hopper of my coffee grinder. Anyway, the freshly roasted, and still warm, beans smell great after they've been ground. I'm somewhat surprised that this turns out to be more than a gimmick as I sit here enjoying one of the very few cups of coffee that I've ever enjoyed -- with nothing added.
Within 10 minutes of having it home it had been rinsed, towel dried, set-up and loaded with green coffee beans. You then have to press a button to select one of the two preset roasting schedules but you can also make up your own roasting schedule (how many minutes at what temperature, then how many minutes at a different temperature and so on). I select preset #2 for dark roast and away it goes blowing heated air through the bottom center of the glass roasting container.
The heated air blows the beans up and away from the heating element to where they land at the outer edge of the glass container. The next coffee beans in line slide toward the center and over the heating element like so many amusement park goers getting their turn on the roller coaster. As the beans fly around inside the glass container the chaff from the roasting process is captured in a compartment above it. After about 1 minute the green coffee beans take on a tan color and by two minutes they are darker still as you remove the battery from your smoke detector. In five more minutes you'll notice they are quite dark as you open the back door to let some of the smoke out of your kitchen. After about 12 minutes the beans are dark brown just like you normally get them from the store.
The roasting container accommodates up to two scoops of beans using the scooper provided with the unit. This turns out to be 2 full loads for the hopper of my coffee grinder. Anyway, the freshly roasted, and still warm, beans smell great after they've been ground. I'm somewhat surprised that this turns out to be more than a gimmick as I sit here enjoying one of the very few cups of coffee that I've ever enjoyed -- with nothing added.
Oct 15, 2004
The Importance of Stories
What is it about the human brain and stories? It seems that stories,
and I mean the concept of stories, is deeply interwoven in our
essential being...
The following are at some level, nothing more than stories:
Cave Paintings, Epic Poems, Novels, Plays, Operas, Songs, TV,
Movies and even Legends and Gossip -- all just story telling.
and I mean the concept of stories, is deeply interwoven in our
essential being...
The following are at some level, nothing more than stories:
Cave Paintings, Epic Poems, Novels, Plays, Operas, Songs, TV,
Movies and even Legends and Gossip -- all just story telling.
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