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The Heat Is On
Author: BobR    Date: 06/13/2013 18:34:12

Considering the non-stop coverage of the Snowden / NSA "affair", I'd like to change gears a little. I used to do my "Environmental" posts on Friday, but since we changed the schedule, I am going to do one today.

It's been a hard-fought battle, but Republicans (in general) have been dragged kicking and screaming to the point of recognizing that yes - global warming is a real phenomenon. There are still those clinging desperately to their fossil fuel investments, claiming that it's not man-made, but at least we've gotten most of them to admit that it it is happening, and that it is affecting the climate and - thus - the weather.

What's a little scary and urgent and needs more attention is that the planet is warming faster than previously thought:
Scientists have said that the rise in global average temperature needs to be limited to less than 2 degrees Celsius this century to prevent climate effects such as crop failure and melting glaciers, but that would require emissions to be kept to about 44 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2020.

The IEA said that the world is on a path to an average temperature rise of between 3.6 and 5.3 degrees Celsius.

That increase is mainly because of increased emissions from China (the U.S has actually reduced emissions by converting power plants to run on natural gas, which creates another environmental nightmare, but that's another blog entirely). There are probably multiple reasons for China's increased emissions, but one can guess that our increased reliance on cheap consumer products made there (to sustain our increasingly unsustainable lifestyles) isn't helping.

This increase in greenhouse gasses does have a very real effect on people beyond more severe weather. As expected, low-lying islands in the Pacific are getting smaller as sea levels rise:
The ocean laps against a protective seawall outside the maternity ward at Kiribati's Nawerewere Hospital, marshalling itself for another assault with the next king tide.
[..]
Low-lying South Pacific island nations such as Kiribati (pronounced Kee-ree-bahs) and Tuvalu, about halfway between northeast Australia and Hawaii, have long been the cause célèbre for climate change and rising sea levels.

Straddling the equator and spread over 3.5 million sq km (2 million sq miles) of otherwise empty ocean, Kiribati's 32 atolls and one raised coral island have an average height above sea level of just two meters (6-1/2 feet).

Studies show surrounding sea levels rising at about 2.9 mm a year, well above the global average of 1 - 2 mm a year.

Kiribati President Anote Tong has grimly predicted his country will likely become uninhabitable in 30-60 years because of inundation and contamination of its fresh water supplies.

Beyond consumption of fossil fuels and increase CO2 production, there are other gasses that cause warming as well. When it was discovered that CFC propellants were destroying the protective ozone layer, they were replace with more "environmentally-friendly" HFCs. The problem with HFCs is that once released into the atmosphere, they act like CO2 to trap heat:
Phasing out “super greenhouse gases,” which mass emitters China and the United States have agreed to restrict, could curb global warming by as much as half a degree Celsius by 2050, a report said Wednesday.

Issued on the sidelines of beleaguered UN climate talks in Bonn, the report said a new Sino-US deal to scale back hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) “can make a difference”.
[...]
HFCs are used in refrigerators, air conditioners and industrial solvents as an alternative to ozone-eating chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).

Driven especially by production in developing countries, HFC emissions have been projected to grow from today’s one gigatonne (Gt — a billion tonnes) of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per year, to between four and nine GtCO2e a year by 2050.

The United States and China are the world’s top two emitters of greenhouse gases — together accounting for more than 40 percent.

The report also warned that global warming appeared likely to exceed, perhaps even double, the 2 C (3.6 F) ceiling set for manageable climate change.

As it stands now, mankind is like a cancer on the body of Mother Nature. Unfortunately for us, her antibodies - in the form of making the planet increasingly uninhabitable for us in our current lifestyle - may well be our undoing.
 

80 comments (Latest Comment: 06/13/2013 21:56:18 by Raine)
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Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 13:25:14
morning

Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 13:41:39
you know I don't know that Snowden is a criminal - I do however think he's a coward.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 13:52:14
Peter King, you are not helping. But then you never do you terrorist lover.

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 14:10:59
Good morning!

Interesting article: Feds were looking for Snowden before he went public. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/12/us-usa-security-snowden-hunt-idUSBRE95B1A220130612

Bloggie is acting very strange for me today.

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 14:16:08
Glenn beck has a miraculous recovery from his vocal cord paralyzation... reveals he has a whistleblower too and will take down the entire political power structure:

http://freakoutnation.com/2013/06/12/glenn-beck-to-break-news-in-24-hours-that-will-rock-the-nation-take-down-the-entire-power-structure/

My link button isnt working today.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 14:36:24
Beck is such a Drama Queen

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 14:43:19
Quote by Raine:
Glenn beck has a miraculous recovery from his vocal cord paralyzation... reveals he has a whistleblower too and will take down the entire political power structure:

http://freakoutnation.com/2013/06/12/glenn-beck-to-break-news-in-24-hours-that-will-rock-the-nation-take-down-the-entire-power-structure/

My link button isnt working today.



I can't wait to see the big blockbuster announcement from him. Isn't something bout jumbo shrimp, how odd is that pairing? Or why do we park in a driveway and drive on a parkway.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 14:44:20
Oh dear duplicate posts! How embarrassing!

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 14:46:47
Quote by Mondobubba:
Oh dear duplicate posts! How embarrassing!
fixity!


Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 14:56:57
Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 14:58:22
Okay, go to Davidsimon.com and read his posts from 6/7 forward. Well thought out stuff.

Comment by TriSec on 06/13/2013 15:05:24
< peers into blog >

Oh good, you are here. I've had some connectivity issues this am.



Comment by Scoopster on 06/13/2013 15:09:16
Yay I'm in at last!
And now I think I'll pass out. *collapses on fainting couch*

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 15:10:53
Quote by TriSec:
< peers into blog >

Oh good, you are here. I've had some connectivity issues this am.




It wasn't just you, Sparky.

Comment by BobR on 06/13/2013 15:10:54
Yeah - the blog ISP had some problems this morning.

Here's something both cute and creepy

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 15:12:30
Q. That is not analogous to the Verizon court order. The government now seems to be seeking the phone data of damn near every American.

A. It is analogous in the way that matters, which is the legal definition of what constitutes a violation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment. And in the Baltimore case, and in many other cases before and after it, the working logic was that the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that there is no expectation of privacy for phone caller data — what numbers you called, when you called them, from where, and for what duration. Because contractually, you as the phone user share this data with your phone carrier — a third party — the expectation of privacy has long been held to be minimal.


David Simon, you are a god! Counter Arguements Gathered and Answered

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 15:23:02
Quote by BobR:
Yeah - the blog ISP had some problems this morning.

Here's something both cute and creepy



That is the stuff of nightmares, cute cuddly two headed kitten nightmares. Squee!

Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 15:29:42
cheez - the SMFP has become the JJ spam page

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 15:31:29
Quote by Mondobubba:
Q. That is not analogous to the Verizon court order. The government now seems to be seeking the phone data of damn near every American.

A. It is analogous in the way that matters, which is the legal definition of what constitutes a violation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment. And in the Baltimore case, and in many other cases before and after it, the working logic was that the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that there is no expectation of privacy for phone caller data — what numbers you called, when you called them, from where, and for what duration. Because contractually, you as the phone user share this data with your phone carrier — a third party — the expectation of privacy has long been held to be minimal.


David Simon, you are a god! Counter Arguements Gathered and Answered

This is a lot of what I have been trying to get at the past week or so. I;m not a writer, tho.

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 15:33:48
Quote by wickedpam:
cheez - the SMFP has become the JJ spam page
That dude needs to be blocked by whoever admins the page.


Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 15:34:54
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
cheez - the SMFP has become the JJ spam page
That dude needs to be blocked by whoever admins the page.



that's what I was thinking

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 15:48:12
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Q. That is not analogous to the Verizon court order. The government now seems to be seeking the phone data of damn near every American.

A. It is analogous in the way that matters, which is the legal definition of what constitutes a violation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment. And in the Baltimore case, and in many other cases before and after it, the working logic was that the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that there is no expectation of privacy for phone caller data — what numbers you called, when you called them, from where, and for what duration. Because contractually, you as the phone user share this data with your phone carrier — a third party — the expectation of privacy has long been held to be minimal.


David Simon, you are a god! Counter Arguements Gathered and Answered

This is a lot of what I have been trying to get at the past week or so. I;m not a writer, tho.



Yep. It is amazing how much I learned about title III wiretaps, pen registers and the legal standards for both by watching a police procedural drama on premium cable.

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 15:49:28
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
cheez - the SMFP has become the JJ spam page
That dude needs to be blocked by whoever admins the page.



that's what I was thinking
I sent pm's to the two admins o the page. he's just nasty as F8ck.


Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 15:50:06
Comment by Scoopster on 06/13/2013 15:55:07
Quote by Raine:
SCOTUS NEWS: human genes cannot be patented

I was reading & discussing this decision with a friend of mine, and it's EXTREMELY narrow and sticks very closely to the text of the Patent Act. They ruled that natural human DNA can't be patented, but segments of synthesized "complementary" DNA (which are created using a method similar to how retroviruses function) can be because they're not 'naturally occurring in human DNA'.

Which is ridiculous IMO. NO DNA, human or not, should be eligible for a patent. The methods for synthesizing segments of DNA, sure that's fine. But NOT actual genetic coding.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 15:55:45
Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 15:56:37
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
cheez - the SMFP has become the JJ spam page
That dude needs to be blocked by whoever admins the page.



that's what I was thinking
I sent pm's to the two admins o the page. he's just nasty as F8ck.



I was a bit more passive aggressive with my request - simply asked if they have a behavior policy for posting

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 15:56:50
I just love this blog. Mondo and Mala Have you ever perused it?

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 15:58:14
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
SCOTUS NEWS: human genes cannot be patented

I was reading & discussing this decision with a friend of mine, and it's EXTREMELY narrow and sticks very closely to the text of the Patent Act. They ruled that natural human DNA can't be patented, but segments of synthesized "complementary" DNA (which are created using a method similar to how retroviruses function) can be because they're not 'naturally occurring in human DNA'.

Which is ridiculous IMO. NO DNA, human or not, should be eligible for a patent. The methods for synthesizing segments of DNA, sure that's fine. But NOT actual genetic coding.
To that I agree, but was that what was being argued?




Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 15:59:20
Quote by Raine:
I just love this blog. Mondo and Mala Have you ever perused it?



I had not seen it

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 16:03:59
Comment by livingonli on 06/13/2013 16:39:15
I got in but I will be busy today since it's payday and I have to make out some money orders so I can pay a few bills and my lawyer.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 16:39:27
Quote by Raine:
I just love this blog. Mondo and Mala Have you ever perused it?



Ohh no, thankee for the linkee.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 16:41:34
Scoop, did you prevail and crush all opponents last weekend at the nerdfest?

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 16:53:02
Have I mentioned that I must carry an epi pen with me? My allergy to stupid is so strong I might go into anaphalatic shock when exposed to it.

Comment by Scoopster on 06/13/2013 16:55:22
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, did you prevail and crush all opponents last weekend at the nerdfest?

Nay.. we started off well, winning the first two matches. Then we ran into a wall of players with ridiculous decks. I personally stunk it up hard - I didn't win any of my matches, and only 2 of 14 games.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 16:58:36
Quote by Mondobubba:
Have I mentioned that I must carry an epi pen with me? My allergy to stupid is so strong I might go into anaphalatic shock when exposed to it.


oh dear


Comment by clintster on 06/13/2013 16:59:53
Gmmmnnn, grrrrrr Bkhhhhhkkks. Nnnnndd cffffffeee.



Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 17:08:21
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, did you prevail and crush all opponents last weekend at the nerdfest?

Nay.. we started off well, winning the first two matches. Then we ran into a wall of players with ridiculous decks. I personally stunk it up hard - I didn't win any of my matches, and only 2 of 14 games.



Bummer. One of my issues with card games like Magic is there are the people who build these decks that can't be beaten. What is the fun or skill in that for you, killer deck owner??

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 17:10:08
Scoop, what the hell is up with Microsoft, X-Box and used games? Are they being dicks?

Comment by TriSec on 06/13/2013 17:17:23
Say, Mid-Atlanteans....any of you under threat from that "derecho" thingy?

We've just got heavy rain up this way, nothing as organized as that. I did check the radar, there's a couple of red-looking arcs headed in that general direction.



Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/13/2013 17:19:06
Hi, bloggers!!

I hope that everyone is well. I was up late watching the triple overtime hockey game. Today, I am doing housework and job hunting before I watch a friend's kids. (He works late.)

No word on any interviews, but I am optimistic.

Comment by Scoopster on 06/13/2013 17:34:54
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, did you prevail and crush all opponents last weekend at the nerdfest?

Nay.. we started off well, winning the first two matches. Then we ran into a wall of players with ridiculous decks. I personally stunk it up hard - I didn't win any of my matches, and only 2 of 14 games.

Bummer. One of my issues with card games like Magic is there are the people who build these decks that can't be beaten. What is the fun or skill in that for you, killer deck owner??

Well actually this was a "sealed deck" tournament. You get a random pool of cards when you sit down and have to mash together a competitive deck (or in this case three decks). There's a lot more randomness to it (your neighbor's card pool could be INSANELY better or worse than yours). I actually prefer this kind of format (and another limited format called draft where everyone opens packs, picks one card & passes the rest to a neighbor, then repeat until all the cards are gone) because it's like a puzzle choosing which cards work best & building your deck. Unlike a constructed format where you just jump on a website, grab the decks that did well, and put them together.

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 17:35:25
Quote by TriSec:
Say, Mid-Atlanteans....any of you under threat from that "derecho" thingy?

We've just got heavy rain up this way, nothing as organized as that. I did check the radar, there's a couple of red-looking arcs headed in that general direction.

Yes we are. and I hope it doesn't pan out. They are a lot like tornadoes.


Comment by clintster on 06/13/2013 17:35:26
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, what the hell is up with Microsoft, X-Box and used games? Are they being dicks?


Great big blue-veined ones. To wit:
You have to connect your Xbone to the Internet once a day or risk bricking it
You can't play XB 360 games on the Xbone
It starts at $500 (before buying games, an extra controller, Xbox Live, etc.)
The camera connector on the Kinect can't be turned off, even when the console if "off"

AND you can't buy used games once they're out. You can loan out a game to a friend or family member, but they have to pay for the privilege, and can only borrow the title once.

In addition, Microsoft has been rather arrogant about the Xbone, essentially telling potential buyers that if they don't like it, they can suck it.

And then there's this charming little moment from the E3 expo earlier this week. While playing a game with a female gamer, a game producer taunted her losing ways by telling her to "Just let it happen. It'll be over soon."

I'm not in the market for a next-gen console any time soon, but when/if I do, it most likely won't be an Xbone.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 17:35:31
Quote by TriSec:
Say, Mid-Atlanteans....any of you under threat from that "derecho" thingy?

We've just got heavy rain up this way, nothing as organized as that. I did check the radar, there's a couple of red-looking arcs headed in that general direction.




local Ch9 is starting to back off on the threat as now being "slight" and the worst to hit the Raleigh area - so its hard to say. Don't think it got at hot as they were thinking it would to fuel this thing


Comment by Scoopster on 06/13/2013 17:45:55
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, what the hell is up with Microsoft, X-Box and used games? Are they being dicks?


Great big blue-veined ones. To wit:
You have to connect your Xbone to the Internet once a day or risk bricking it
You can't play XB 360 games on the Xbone
It starts at $500 (before buying games, an extra controller, Xbox Live, etc.)
The camera connector on the Kinect can't be turned off, even when the console if "off"

In addition, Microsoft has been rather arrogant about the Xbone, essentially telling potential buyers that if they don't like it, they can suck it.

And then there's this charming little moment from the E3 expo earlier this week. While playing a game with a female gamer, a game producer taunted her losing ways by telling her to "Just let it happen. It'll be over soon."

I'm not in the market for a next-gen console any time soon, but when/if I do, it most likely won't be an Xbone.

There was also an interview with the head of MS' Xbox division where he basically said people who don't want the new system should get the old one. Now I saw this, and having watched about 5 seasons of Mad Men in the past two weeks I thought "that was the DUMBEST POSSIBLE THING he could have said!"

And to make it worse, Sony is right on top of every single marketing fuck-up that MS has made. Their system is more powerful, less expensive, takes up less space, is backwards compatible (to an extent), doesn't "snoop" and doesn't prevent people from buying or using pre-owned content. And some of the exclusive game titles look really good.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 17:49:04
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, what the hell is up with Microsoft, X-Box and used games? Are they being dicks?


Great big blue-veined ones. To wit:
You have to connect your Xbone to the Internet once a day or risk bricking it
You can't play XB 360 games on the Xbone
It starts at $500 (before buying games, an extra controller, Xbox Live, etc.)
The camera connector on the Kinect can't be turned off, even when the console if "off"

AND you can't buy used games once they're out. You can loan out a game to a friend or family member, but they have to pay for the privilege, and can only borrow the title once.

In addition, Microsoft has been rather arrogant about the Xbone, essentially telling potential buyers that if they don't like it, they can suck it.

And then there's this charming little moment from the E3 expo earlier this week. While playing a game with a female gamer, a game producer taunted her losing ways by telling her to "Just let it happen. It'll be over soon."

I'm not in the market for a next-gen console any time soon, but when/if I do, it most likely won't be an Xbone.


it sounds like they missed the mark with this, if I were to get a new system I'd change back the the PS4


Comment by clintster on 06/13/2013 17:50:17
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, what the hell is up with Microsoft, X-Box and used games? Are they being dicks?


Great big blue-veined ones. To wit:
You have to connect your Xbone to the Internet once a day or risk bricking it
You can't play XB 360 games on the Xbone
It starts at $500 (before buying games, an extra controller, Xbox Live, etc.)
The camera connector on the Kinect can't be turned off, even when the console if "off"

In addition, Microsoft has been rather arrogant about the Xbone, essentially telling potential buyers that if they don't like it, they can suck it.

And then there's this charming little moment from the E3 expo earlier this week. While playing a game with a female gamer, a game producer taunted her losing ways by telling her to "Just let it happen. It'll be over soon."

I'm not in the market for a next-gen console any time soon, but when/if I do, it most likely won't be an Xbone.

There was also an interview with the head of MS' Xbox division where he basically said people who don't want the new system should get the old one. Now I saw this, and having watched about 5 seasons of Mad Men in the past two weeks I thought "that was the DUMBEST POSSIBLE THING he could have said!"

And to make it worse, Sony is right on top of every single marketing fuck-up that MS has made. Their system is more powerful, less expensive, takes up less space, is backwards compatible (to an extent), doesn't "snoop" and doesn't prevent people from buying or using pre-owned content. And some of the exclusive game titles look really good.


I think this sums up the whole Sony vs. Microsoft presentation battle at E3 this week:
http://25.media.tumblr.com/67c242459a92648af8db1af68c9e9017/tumblr_mo8jfg05LO1qc9mmdo1_500.png


Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 18:11:06
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, did you prevail and crush all opponents last weekend at the nerdfest?

Nay.. we started off well, winning the first two matches. Then we ran into a wall of players with ridiculous decks. I personally stunk it up hard - I didn't win any of my matches, and only 2 of 14 games.

Bummer. One of my issues with card games like Magic is there are the people who build these decks that can't be beaten. What is the fun or skill in that for you, killer deck owner??

Well actually this was a "sealed deck" tournament. You get a random pool of cards when you sit down and have to mash together a competitive deck (or in this case three decks). There's a lot more randomness to it (your neighbor's card pool could be INSANELY better or worse than yours). I actually prefer this kind of format (and another limited format called draft where everyone opens packs, picks one card & passes the rest to a neighbor, then repeat until all the cards are gone) because it's like a puzzle choosing which cards work best & building your deck. Unlike a constructed format where you just jump on a website, grab the decks that did well, and put them together.



So there are ways to mitigate power decking. Good.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 18:14:57
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, what the hell is up with Microsoft, X-Box and used games? Are they being dicks?


Great big blue-veined ones. To wit:
You have to connect your Xbone to the Internet once a day or risk bricking it
You can't play XB 360 games on the Xbone
It starts at $500 (before buying games, an extra controller, Xbox Live, etc.)
The camera connector on the Kinect can't be turned off, even when the console if "off"

AND you can't buy used games once they're out. You can loan out a game to a friend or family member, but they have to pay for the privilege, and can only borrow the title once.

In addition, Microsoft has been rather arrogant about the Xbone, essentially telling potential buyers that if they don't like it, they can suck it.

And then there's this charming little moment from the E3 expo earlier this week. While playing a game with a female gamer, a game producer taunted her losing ways by telling her to "Just let it happen. It'll be over soon."

I'm not in the market for a next-gen console any time soon, but when/if I do, it most likely won't be an Xbone.



I saw a small story about the rape joke. Horrible taste, most uncool.

All of this is with the X Box One thing then?


Comment by Scoopster on 06/13/2013 18:19:29
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, did you prevail and crush all opponents last weekend at the nerdfest?

Nay.. we started off well, winning the first two matches. Then we ran into a wall of players with ridiculous decks. I personally stunk it up hard - I didn't win any of my matches, and only 2 of 14 games.

Bummer. One of my issues with card games like Magic is there are the people who build these decks that can't be beaten. What is the fun or skill in that for you, killer deck owner??

Well actually this was a "sealed deck" tournament. You get a random pool of cards when you sit down and have to mash together a competitive deck (or in this case three decks). There's a lot more randomness to it (your neighbor's card pool could be INSANELY better or worse than yours). I actually prefer this kind of format (and another limited format called draft where everyone opens packs, picks one card & passes the rest to a neighbor, then repeat until all the cards are gone) because it's like a puzzle choosing which cards work best & building your deck. Unlike a constructed format where you just jump on a website, grab the decks that did well, and put them together.


So there are ways to mitigate power decking. Good.

Oh yeah always, even when playing with pre-built decks. If you practice with a deck enough & learn how the card combinations work it goes a long way. And then there's just generally knowing when to hold back and when to be aggressive, and keeping track of the variance and mathematics behind the game. And of course, knowing when to bluff. It's really a LOT like poker in that aspect.

Comment by clintster on 06/13/2013 18:20:12
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Scoop, what the hell is up with Microsoft, X-Box and used games? Are they being dicks?


Great big blue-veined ones. To wit:
You have to connect your Xbone to the Internet once a day or risk bricking it
You can't play XB 360 games on the Xbone
It starts at $500 (before buying games, an extra controller, Xbox Live, etc.)
The camera connector on the Kinect can't be turned off, even when the console if "off"

AND you can't buy used games once they're out. You can loan out a game to a friend or family member, but they have to pay for the privilege, and can only borrow the title once.

In addition, Microsoft has been rather arrogant about the Xbone, essentially telling potential buyers that if they don't like it, they can suck it.

And then there's this charming little moment from the E3 expo earlier this week. While playing a game with a female gamer, a game producer taunted her losing ways by telling her to "Just let it happen. It'll be over soon."

I'm not in the market for a next-gen console any time soon, but when/if I do, it most likely won't be an Xbone.



I saw a small story about the rape joke. Horrible taste, most uncool.

All of this is with the X Box One thing then?


Yep. I bought a 360 a few months back to cope with the loneliness of being here in NC, and I like the graphics and the fact that I can remote connect to my PC and stream video files from it. I can also interact with my brother on it. However, I don't see upgrading to Xbone unless they make some deep changes to their system and attitude. Then again, if they do I may have moved on to PS4 or Wii U by then.

Comment by BobR on 06/13/2013 18:35:03
blog is up!

Comment by wickedpam on 06/13/2013 18:43:47
Btw this has passed in Wisconsin and moving to the General Assembly I'd like everyone who vote for this be charged with accessory to rape every time this happens

Comment by Scoopster on 06/13/2013 18:53:59
Comment by TriSec on 06/13/2013 18:56:49
YA know, I"ve sauntered in and out of religion many times over the last two decades of my life. Right now, I'm in an "in" phase, but I guess a near-death experience might just do that. (Hey, cut me a little slack, willya Bob?)

What I don't understand from all my experiences, is what it is that makes the so-called religious among us to instantly believe that their way is the only way. I've been through two of the Abrahamic religions, I have friends that are Bah'ai and Sikh, and yet somehow I have managed not to find the part in any of the religious texts where it says "Thou shalt implement restrictive laws in my name." (BTW, the whole argument against Muslim Sharia law is false - none of that is in the Qu'ran; it's all based on the Hadith, or things that Mohammed (pbuh) said or did. Meaning Sharia Law comes from Man, not Allah, but I digress.)

Even more disturbing to me is the primacy with which the other side infuses these issues. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE UNITED STATES!!! Really? You mean the folks I know that are on food stamps, just had the electricity cut off, and might not make rent this month because they have to get their car fixed are less important that jamming a probe up somebody's place just to satisfy your "moral" agenda?

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with people?

(BTW, I saw elsewhere on the internets that maybe it's time to legislate an invasive anal exam for any male that wants penis pills, but I digress.)



Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 19:32:05
Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 19:37:55
Both admins of the SMFC FB page have gotten back to me.

looks like JJ is going byby.

One more time: DO NOT LET HIM INTO OUR FB group.

(BTW, great blog BobR -- worth the wait!)

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 19:39:58
Quote by wickedpam:
Btw this has passed in Wisconsin and moving to the General Assembly I'd like everyone who vote for this be charged with accessory to rape every time this happens

Agreed!

This shit pisses me off maybe more than anything else.

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 19:42:16
Let me put it this way:

Right now there is a hemmorage of anger about the NSA and *OOH THEY ARE VIOLATING THE 4TH*


Where is the outrage here? This -- THIS is what pisses me off.

Meta Data is a fucking hell lot less invasive than a trans-vaginal ultra-sound/

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 19:45:37
Quote by TriSec:
YA know, I"ve sauntered in and out of religion many times over the last two decades of my life. Right now, I'm in an "in" phase, but I guess a near-death experience might just do that. (Hey, cut me a little slack, willya Bob?)

What I don't understand from all my experiences, is what it is that makes the so-called religious among us to instantly believe that their way is the only way. I've been through two of the Abrahamic religions, I have friends that are Bah'ai and Sikh, and yet somehow I have managed not to find the part in any of the religious texts where it says "Thou shalt implement restrictive laws in my name." (BTW, the whole argument against Muslim Sharia law is false - none of that is in the Qu'ran; it's all based on the Hadith, or things that Mohammed (pbuh) said or did. Meaning Sharia Law comes from Man, not Allah, but I digress.)

Even more disturbing to me is the primacy with which the other side infuses these issues. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE UNITED STATES!!! Really? You mean the folks I know that are on food stamps, just had the electricity cut off, and might not make rent this month because they have to get their car fixed are less important that jamming a probe up somebody's place just to satisfy your "moral" agenda?

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with people?

(BTW, I saw elsewhere on the internets that maybe it's time to legislate an invasive anal exam for any male that wants penis pills, but I digress.)

So, you see that political bastardization of religion as well?



Comment by Scoopster on 06/13/2013 19:47:08
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
SCOTUS NEWS: human genes cannot be patented

I was reading & discussing this decision with a friend of mine, and it's EXTREMELY narrow and sticks very closely to the text of the Patent Act. They ruled that natural human DNA can't be patented, but segments of synthesized "complementary" DNA (which are created using a method similar to how retroviruses function) can be because they're not 'naturally occurring in human DNA'.

Which is ridiculous IMO. NO DNA, human or not, should be eligible for a patent. The methods for synthesizing segments of DNA, sure that's fine. But NOT actual genetic coding.
To that I agree, but was that what was being argued?

Here's a good layman's analysis of the case & arguments.

Comment by clintster on 06/13/2013 20:01:00
Apparently Glenn Beck has a new book out. A sequel to his fiction "thriller" from a couple of years ago. I just looked at its Amazon review page, and I found the greatest unintentional review title there:

5.0 out of 5 stars Did Beck write this yesterday? June 12, 2013
By R. Hantson
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's as if Glenn sat down, wrote this book over the weekend and rushed it to press...


The author of the review means it as praise as you read it, but I had to stifle a laugh when I read the title and first sentence.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 20:03:03
Quote by Raine:
Let me put it this way:

Right now there is a hemmorage of anger about the NSA and *OOH THEY ARE VIOLATING THE 4TH*


Where is the outrage here? This -- THIS is what pisses me off.

Meta Data is a fucking hell lot less invasive than a trans-vaginal ultra-sound/




BTW Bobber, can we get the Lana "Yuup!" & "Nooope!" added as audiocons? They are all over the internets.

Comment by clintster on 06/13/2013 20:07:03
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Let me put it this way:

Right now there is a hemmorage of anger about the NSA and *OOH THEY ARE VIOLATING THE 4TH*


Where is the outrage here? This -- THIS is what pisses me off.

Meta Data is a fucking hell lot less invasive than a trans-vaginal ultra-sound/




BTW Bobber, can we get the Lana "Yuup!" & "Nooope!" added as audiocons? They are all over the internets.


I vote for "DANGER ZOOOOONE!" myself.

Comment by TriSec on 06/13/2013 20:19:48
Our deceased former governor Paul Cellucci has been called "The last Bipartisan Governor" in recent days.

If his memorial service is any indication...

He was Lieutenant Governor at the time, but he's the last "Pre-Gingrich" Republican to win office in this state (With his Governor, Big Red.) Yes, I actually liked these two. Voter for Weld myself. Twice.



Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 20:40:04
Quote by clintster:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Let me put it this way:

Right now there is a hemmorage of anger about the NSA and *OOH THEY ARE VIOLATING THE 4TH*


Where is the outrage here? This -- THIS is what pisses me off.

Meta Data is a fucking hell lot less invasive than a trans-vaginal ultra-sound/




BTW Bobber, can we get the Lana "Yuup!" & "Nooope!" added as audiocons? They are all over the internets.


I vote for "DANGER ZOOOOONE!" myself.


YES! WE MUST :falsetto: DANGER ZOOOONE!

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 20:43:36
Clint, my niece (well first cousin once removed, but she like 19 so niece seems more appropriate) has recently discovered the joy of Archer. She and a friend are plotting cosplay. No word if it will involve flaming suits.

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 20:47:35
She's proving to be more awesome that I thought!




Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 20:50:38
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Let me put it this way:

Right now there is a hemmorage of anger about the NSA and *OOH THEY ARE VIOLATING THE 4TH*


Where is the outrage here? This -- THIS is what pisses me off.

Meta Data is a fucking hell lot less invasive than a trans-vaginal ultra-sound/




BTW Bobber, can we get the Lana "Yuup!" & "Nooope!" added as audiocons? They are all over the internets.
If Clint can get it down to an MP3 -- we can make it an audicon.


Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 20:52:32
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
SCOTUS NEWS: human genes cannot be patented

I was reading & discussing this decision with a friend of mine, and it's EXTREMELY narrow and sticks very closely to the text of the Patent Act. They ruled that natural human DNA can't be patented, but segments of synthesized "complementary" DNA (which are created using a method similar to how retroviruses function) can be because they're not 'naturally occurring in human DNA'.

Which is ridiculous IMO. NO DNA, human or not, should be eligible for a patent. The methods for synthesizing segments of DNA, sure that's fine. But NOT actual genetic coding.
To that I agree, but was that what was being argued?

Here's a good layman's analysis of the case & arguments.

Thanks Scoop. I;m going to read it now. (been a strange afternoon here)



Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 20:57:47
Quote by Raine:
She's proving to be more awesome that I thought!




Justice Kagan FTW!


Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 21:01:39
Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 21:08:45
Well of COURSE she is.

They all come back eventually -- it's corporate news welfare.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 21:19:05
Comment by Mondobubba on 06/13/2013 21:34:49
Happy 47th birthday, Miranda Rights!

Comment by BobR on 06/13/2013 21:36:30
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Let me put it this way:

Right now there is a hemmorage of anger about the NSA and *OOH THEY ARE VIOLATING THE 4TH*


Where is the outrage here? This -- THIS is what pisses me off.

Meta Data is a fucking hell lot less invasive than a trans-vaginal ultra-sound/




BTW Bobber, can we get the Lana "Yuup!" & "Nooope!" added as audiocons? They are all over the internets.

gimme some links

Comment by clintster on 06/13/2013 21:41:36
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Let me put it this way:

Right now there is a hemmorage of anger about the NSA and *OOH THEY ARE VIOLATING THE 4TH*


Where is the outrage here? This -- THIS is what pisses me off.

Meta Data is a fucking hell lot less invasive than a trans-vaginal ultra-sound/




BTW Bobber, can we get the Lana "Yuup!" & "Nooope!" added as audiocons? They are all over the internets.
If Clint can get it down to an MP3 -- we can make it an audicon.


I'll work on it, and I believe I also need to create a Takei little bit as well.

Comment by Raine on 06/13/2013 21:56:18
We've been following this story since this morning, Bob's sister lives 4 miles from the explosion. Her husband works at the plant next door. he was *sheltered in place* this morning.

Scary shit -- especially when it gets personal.