blivet 2.0

It has been noted in many other places, but I’m not going to let that stop me from noting that today was the last episode of Mister Rogers Neighborhood. Thanks so much Fred, you’re a good, good person.

I am just plain exhausted.

Cool! Today Audrey won tickets from the local NPR station to the Las Vegas showing of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
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Catnip Drives Cats Wild, But Drives Mosquitoes Away. John, that is useful news because DEET makes the upper couple of layers of my epidermis peel off. Avon Skin So Soft˙ has been my main stay for years. Did you have a part in that research? Now I wonder where I can find Catnip Oil? via View from an Iowa Homestead

I need to find a link for a story on the Fresno Dump Superfund National Historic Landmark. We have been talking about it off and on all day. I am of the opinion that is significant because the first sanitary landfill became a toxic leach field. Not for ironic reasons, but because of the ongoing lessons of unintended consequences relating to large projects of many, if not most, kinds. Impact statements are supposed to catch these sorts of issues, but of course they didn’t exist then. This landfill is one of the reasons that we do Environmental assessments. National Registry recognition is not only for beautiful things (though perhaps most of them should be), just as endangered species aren’t all cute and cuddly like white baby harp seals. Some of them are insects and fish an inch and a half long. What the sanitary landfill did was (largely) get rid of disease and rat infested town dumps, a boon to public health. Suburbs (and I won’t argue pro or con for that particular manifestation of Twentieth Century culture) would be impossible without landfills. Later: I should add that it is an example of how we solve problems when we create them too.

Also, bear in mind that National Registry listing does not protect or allocate funds for the sites, landscapes, buildings, whatever, that are "listed".

Dan Bowman provided the link for the story in the Fresno Bee via email and posted it on The Timesink, Thanks Dan!

I think Common Dreams misses the point to do a bit of spurious Bush-bashing in George W: Garbage In, Garbage Out. No, I can’t believe I’m defending W. either, but he had nothing to do with this nomination. Neither did Gail Norton for that matter. That is not how this system works. link via Craig at Booknotes

Its Notorious Past Unearthed, Dump Loses Landmark Status. The New York Times has a better story on this. Still, the ‘notorious past’ of this innovation is a major part of the story. link via garret at dangerousmeta!

OK! Back from work. Audrey is asleep, it just might be her time to crash and burn tonight.

"Let’s blow this Popsicle stand" sounds right Dan. It does remind me of something Eddie Haskell would say on Leave it to Beaver. Google sheds a little light on the phrase, but not much.

It’s nice to get awakened by a gray tabby purr-box cat head-butting your shoulder. Hey! Wake up and pet me! The tranquility diminishes somewhat (at least for this primate’s half of the kitty love-fest) when the same 16 pounds of suddenly sociable cat decides that he needs to sit on my chest (Oof!) to maximize the adoration process. That other hand isn’t doing anything. It could be petting me! Still, it is a pretty good deal…

Whew. Tuesday night just disappeared for me. I came home, sat and stared glassy eyed for perhaps 20 minutes and finally decided I should take a nap. However, the nap stretched from 6:15 P.M. until after midnight. I guess I needed it. I’m sufficiently hydrated and all that, but successive days of 108+°F causes me to curl up under a rock outcrop until I can reemerge into the (relative) cool of the evening. Blink, blink. Yawn.

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I don’t have much to say today…, except, "there is no spoon".

But David Rogers does. Man’s Reach Should Exceed His Grasp, or What’s a Metaphor? Good job Dave.

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Happy birthday to Jeff’s Mom!

And with that, I bid you a pleasant good night.

We are going to do several errands and just be outside. Too much time in front of the computer at work, too much time in front of the computer at home. Have a great day. Baby wants to blow this pop-stand!

What a atrange phrase. I wonder where ‘blow this pop-stand’ came from? It sounds like the 1950s…

Still up for a bit, but on my way to the arms of Morpheus…

I’ve quite deliberately been ignoring news sources for several days, whether from TV, radio, newspaper, or web. I guess I am revisiting a if it is important, someone will let me know space. Personally, I find that the muddy water in the mental bucket settles better without so much outside agitation. Besides, I generate sufficient roiling action on my own, I need no assistance to keep my waters turbid thank you very much. I remain of the opinion that constant aggravation and outrage is but one technique that corporate media employs to keep us engaged with their data stream rather than our own lives so that other corporations can suck the life from the captured souls writhing in the pale phosphor’s glow.

Of course it is not just the corporate media, nonprofits and other nongovermnetal organizations feed our fears and dreams too. Family and friends often invite us to share their personal, occupational, and relationship dramas as well, though seldom for crass commercial purposes. To be engaged because of love is far more productive and nourishing. We all gain then.

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Yea! Andrea is through with exams! She’ll be running, dancing, hopping, laughing, skipping, jumping, and SLEEPING. Congratulations Andrea.

Hey! John at Genehack has a webcam! It is a lucrative revenue stream, John, and my check is in the mail. Keep them britches on.

I can’t seem to find any traction this morning, nothing seems to catch my eye. Likely a reflection of my mental torpor…

BadAstronomy via MetaFilter

Today is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition, as designated by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). August 23 was chosen in commemoration of the Bois-Cayman insurrection which took place on this day in Haiti in 1791. That event is considered by UNESCO as a historic factor in originating the process which led to abolition of slavery.

Lots of stuff to get done at work before everybody shows up. I’ll see you later.

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Was there Life before air conditioning? Apparently not…

I should have noted this before. The prolific (and yes, delightful) writings of Matthew Rossi can now be found at Libris Ex Machina.

Craig has returned from his sojourn to California and Booknotes is back in high gear. nice to have you back, Craig

I realize this will concern few reading this, but Andreas Plesch, Ph.D. has released Geologic Map Patterns for Canvas® and Illustrator® based on the USGS’s proposed symbology standards in Open File Report 99-430. Thanks Dr. Plesch, these are perfect! via the map-mac list

Good morning. I hope you’re more alert than I am. mumble, … mutter

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