blivet 2.0

More Things in the Past

Hal — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:16:36 +0000

Vincent Van Gogh committed suicide on this day in 1890.

It Happened Today, 153 Years Ago

Hal — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:28:07 +0000

The first oil well was drilled on this day, in 1857. Now, we’re hooked like cheap junkies.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-25

Hal — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:00:00 +0000

On the road at 10 am. Follow me to Icthyosaurs! #
RT @dresdencodak: Remember when 80s/90s DOS games had a "boss key" that would throw up a fake prompt for when your boss walked by? /heh #
RT @BoraZ: Early Origin for Human-Like Precision Grasping: A Comparative Study of Distal Phalanges in Fossil Hominins http://bit.ly/90OnBU #
RT @americablog: Dan Choi found out today that he has been discharged under DADT http://bit.ly/d9nTuQ /sad, really sad #
RT @csmonitoronline: Harry Reid: Senate will abandon cap-and-trade energy reform http://su.pr/4CR5J8 /?!?!? #
RT @ebertchicago: Glenn Beck reminds me of crazy guy who lived out of his van, preaching that Stephen King killed John Lennon. Just richer. #
RT @ebertchicago: Most expert piece I've ever read on 3D, by cinematographer John Bailey. Fair and balanced. http://j.mp/cz5uza #
RT @HarryReid: Protections for Nevada homeowners, end to big bailouts now law http://bit.ly/dlG4MF #
RT @DesertBeacon: How Americans describe their political philosophies (Pew Research) http://bit.ly/ch4i4P #
RT @BoraZ: The olm: the blind cave salamander that lives to 100 http://bit.ly/arcndt #
New Solar Panel Facility Will Create 278 Jobs in Las Vegas! http://www.HarryReid.com/ #
RT @BoraZ: Why Scientists Should Read Science Fiction http://bit.ly/cHJV1h /darnright #
RT @CraigyFerg: There is somebody on myspace pretending to be me. How sad. Its bad enough being the real thing. #
Are You Listening Or Just Waiting To Speak? http://huff.to/9Jk2hv #
RT @ClarkCountyNev Cooling stations open today to help homeless get out of the heat http://tinyurl.com/26wzzpt #
RT @csmonitoronline: How the Tour de France's yellow jersey came to be yellow http://su.pr/2Qr4oj /cuz you wondered… #
RT @Laelaps: New post – Prehistoric "bear-dog" was built like a "bear-lion" http://tinyurl.com/2bkb895 #paleo #
RT @digby56: The President throws down on unemployment insurance. Finally. http://bit.ly/cE50e7 /About time. #
RT @MotherJones: How to hop a freight train and not get caught: http://mojo.ly/9AkfvJ /Just in case. #
RT @PBSNeedToKnow: Robert Gibbs says BP's ruptured oil well is leaking at top, w/seepage ~2 miles away. WATCH: http://to.pbs.org/cKFqI5 #
RT @canislatrans: Fantastic news: Ivanpah Airport project suspended http://bit.ly/btiPa4 Archae work already done. Does recessn help envmnt? #
RT @owillis: conservative catholic league just sent a very angry press release because jay leno joked about perv priests. someone wants attn #
RT @canislatrans: A new update to the sbDiaspora feed and OPML, which now includes @boraz http://coyot.es/x0Q #sbFAIL #
RT @JC_Christian: "Fiorina spokeswoman Julie Soderlund said it makes sense for the Fiorinas to be a two-yacht family." http://bit.ly/b0dkMG #
RT @AMERICAblog: Right-wing w-nut, angry at liberals in Washington, opens fire on cops in CA. What news did he watch? http://bit.ly/c9is4J #
RT @kcm74: More machine now than man, twisted and evil. RT @Slate Cheney's new heart device leaves him w/o a pulse http://slate.me/chKjCt #
RT @csmonitoronline: Yogi Berra resting at home after fall http://su.pr/2eXpCE /We send you our best, Yogi #
RT @RisingHegemon: Shall I compare thee to Summer's Eve? #shakespalin #
RT @NYTimeskrugman: The Bush Deficit Bamboozle http://nyti.ms/9r6dUY #
RT @digby56: The Constitutional Heretics Challenge The Teabag Priesthood http://bit.ly/cKyGqD #
RT @FrankConniff: I won't refudiate Sarah Palin's right to invent words. I'll just point out that she's a stupidiot. #
RT @JC_Christian: .@rsmccain, I don't take gospel lessons from guy who celebrates a culture that found a Biblical justification for slavery #
RT @JC_Christian: .@rsmccain remember when Jesus immolated the Samaritan immigrants by shooting lasers from his eyes? #immigration #
RT @janehamsher: Dem Leader: Oops, Private Health Insurance Is Not as Good as Medicare http://fdl.me/9UI9G5 #hcr #
RT @BoraZ: A Farewell to Scienceblogs: the Changing Science Blogging Ecosystem http://bit.ly/aMJPMA #
RT @MaddowBlog: "Republicans now blaming Democrats for Bush tax cuts" http://bit.ly/9PWicD (@ezraklein) #batsh tcrazy #
Top secret world government created since 9/11 http://bit.ly/bci63J Interesting in a discomfiting way #Washingtonpost #topsecretamerica #
Cap Trade is dead http://bit.ly/cGwTk4 1 of my rules in politics is that whichever side is resorting 2 framing devices is losing. @rc3dotorg #
RT @owillis: JOIN ME, AMERICA! #PalinPrayerTeam Sarah Palin for GOP 2012 nominee, it is God's will. #
RT @ezraklein: "We few, we happy few, we band of Mama Grizzlies." #ShakesPalin #
RT @chrislhayes: Via @digby56 this article is a punch in the gut. I try 2 avoid "declinism," but, whoa: http://bit.ly/cd3sZI #slide2darkages #
RT @KeithOlbermann: MT @SarahPalinUSA "Shakespeare liked to coin new words too" /Ma'am, I've read Shakespeare. Ma'am, you're no Shakespeare #
RT @DesertBeacon: RT @EileenLeft: Why Conservative Lies Spread and What Progressives Can Do 2 Fight Them http://bit.ly/9JiRhs |Lakoff Advice #
RT @buzzflash: If Democrats Repeal Bush Tax Cuts for the Wealthy, We Could Bring Back the Economy http://bt.io/FeV9 repeal #Reagan cuts! #
RT @ebertchicago: Hunter S. Thompson's birthday. "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." http://j.mp/aP8QBp #
RT @AlterNet: As Nelson Mandela Turns 92, Let's Thank Him for His Gift of Hope: http://is.gd/dx2kh #
RT @NathanFillion DRATW from Las Vegas, Nevada #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-18

Hal — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:00:00 +0000

RT @DesertBeacon: Flashback: Consumer Reports was listed as a "subversive publication" by HUAC from 1939 until 1954 http://bit.ly/ay5Txc #
RT @dogyears: Arizona High Schools To Now Teach Spanish Entirely In English http://snipurl.com/zj1nm #
RT @meyerweb: While the child's attention was elsewhere, I swiped a corn chip from her plate and ate it. It was crunchy. I REGRET NOTHING. #
Yep RT @pvponline: I still miss David Tennant but I've grown to love Matt Smith as Doctor Who. #bowtiesarecool #
RT @ebertchicago: Isn't it increasingly clear that BP knows something it doesn't want us to find out? http://j.mp/akdSUI #bp yep #
RT @owillis: heh, gop attacking @maddow today. means she's getting to them. maddow ftw. #
RT @KatrinaNation: Given #Ratzinger #039;s role in pedophile priest atrocities, the mysogyny shown on issue of women priests does not surprise. #
RT @ebertchicago: Radical signs at Democrat rallies are Tea Party plants. #
RT @novenator: RT @OakFoSho: How #Reagan Created The Homeless http://bit.ly/bNXN1D #p2 #p21 #
RT @DesertBeacon: Sen. John Ensign voted against Wall St Reform bill http://bit.ly/9PFE6t #Nevada #
RT @hayduke: Tom Tancredo scolding Scott McInnis about integrity. Pot. Kettle. Black. The Colorado GOP is rife w/ crazies. #
RT @ebertchicago: How 2 induce lucid dreams: The WILD technique. Not recommended 4 Glenn Beck; lucidity would be 2 scary http://j.mp/bpwN3U #
RT @susankitchens: Wow. Since 1976, 58% of real income growth went to top 1%. Staggering. http://bit.ly/asAhV9 #
RT @HuffingtonPost: SHOCKING police brutality incident in Texas caught on tape http://huff.to/aHdTRK #
RT @FrankConniff: BP announces oil no longer spilling into Gulf of Mexico because, thanks to BP, there no longer is a Gulf of Mexico. #
RT @AlterNet: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Is Bigger Than the Continental US: Here's What We Can Do About It: http://is.gd/dtvN3 #
Confirmation bias in science: how to avoid it – http://arst.ch/lm3 via @arstechnica via @rc3dotorg #
RT @novapbs: Match 14 dogs 2 environment they were bred 4, from the rugged mountains of Argentina 2 Australian outback. http://dld.bz/mrja #
RT @Laelaps: Lumping dinosaurs – as it turns out, Torosaurus is a growth stage of Triceratops. Paper here: http://tinyurl.com/25575gq #
RT @FrankConniff: Teabaggers so upset that NAACP called them racists, they sobbed while reciting pledge of allegiance to confederate flag. #
RT @wilw: This is the best way I can think of to honor Sir Patrick Stewart, as we celebrate his birthday today: http://bit.ly/ciksHe #
RT @KeithOlbermann: #TWORST madness grows daily. Jimmy Buffett is Hugo Chavez, sez Fox, after he places blame for BP http://tiny.cc/0htp4 #
RT @jdickerson: Daughter: "Will you forget me in a week?
Me: No
Her: Knock knock
Me: Who's there?
Her: You've forgotten me already!
Sigh #
RT @Laelaps: New post – Setting up blogging camp at http://brianswitek.com/ Regular science stories to resume there tomorrow. #yea #
RT @kevleitch: Now is your chance to tell the US Government what autism research should focus upon: I got this reminder http://bit.ly/cj6QDX #
RT @MicCheckRadio: Right Wing Wackiness: Vitter (R-LA) supports suits to force Obama 2 produce birth certificate: http://bit.ly/bFCGIF #fail #
RT @OpenCongress: Senate Dems will have their 60th vote for passing the unemployment extension bill next week: http://bit.ly/8YFePH #hopeso #
RT @KatrinaNation: Chris matthews-'what % of gop would u put in nut bag?' #
RT @ebertchicago: He did the math 4 10 dimensions, & can explain so I can fool myself into thinking I almost understand. http://j.mp/axPFV6 #
Abandon all hope if you are a blueberry muffin within reach of my son this morning. #
RT @ebertchicago: Corps fear citizen particip, support TParty, Fox & the politics of fear 2 make politics seem ugly & angry if you disagree #
RT @NYTimeskrugman The Keynesians were right + Obama didn't go far enough with the Stimulus. http://nyti.ms/dqcWYk #p2 #tcot #
RT @genehack: why do they call OCD a disorder when everything is so orderly? #

Superhuman: the Incredible Savant Brain

Hal — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:36:04 +0000

Via Boing Boing

Infographic by Smarter.org

Ambercat: A superior climate proxy to Amberat?

Hal — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:22:31 +0000

One of the tools to reconstruct climate history in the Great Basin and North America Deserts (Mojave, Sonoran, etc.) are packrat middens. From the Wikipedia article on packrat middens:

Pack rats are known for their characteristic searching of materials to bring back to their nests creating an ever expanding collection known as a “midden” for its messiness. In natural environments, the middens are normally built out of sticks in rock crevices or caves for protection from predators. In the absence of crevices or caves, the middens are often built under trees or bushes. The pack rats will also use plant fragments, animal dung and small rocks in building the nest. The vast majority of the materials will be from a radius of several dozen yards of the nest. The pack rats urinate in the midden; sugar and other substances in the urine crystallizes as it dries out, creating a material known as amberat, cementing the midden together.

There are some amusing (or sickening, depending on how black your humors are) tales of Anglo explorers eating amberat, supposing it was some sort of desert bounty. After a couple of days (really) they quickly they were mistaken. shudder

Previously unexamined, perhaps because century- and millennial- depth deposits are seldom, if ever, allowed to accumulate, are the feline urine cemented deposits of ambercat that occur in cat litter boxes. Judging from the rapidity and volume that can be generated in geologically insignificant timescales (24 – 36 hours with multiple felines contributing to the ‘midden’) these proxies could be valuable for climatic reconstruction if deposits could be identified prior to the radiocarbon ‘recent.’

Absent its scientific value, I would personally be overjoyed to discover that ambercat had some sort of commercial value as our felines are apparently ‘top producers’ of ambercat, indeed in commercially viable quantities. I await your offers. There is a bagged sample at the curb right now.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-11

Hal — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 22:00:00 +0000

RT @DiscoverMag: How do researchers know what ancient climate was like? Oysters, ice cores, ridiculously tough pollen. http://bit.ly/9JIqlJ #
RT @ebertchicago: Arlo Guthrie's birthday. "You can get anything you want, at Alice"s restaurant." http://j.mp/bP8Ud6 #
RT @nat_parks_news: ATVs threatening 10 Utah 'treasures' – Salt Lake Tribune http://dlvr.it/2RpkF #
RT @KatrinaNation: Just spent evening with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis & Carl Perkins. Heaven. Love that devil music. #
RT @FrankConniff: The next time life gives me lemons, I'm going to throw them at Sharron Angle – http://tiny.cc/k18tk #
RT @joshtpm: Must Read: Sen. Vitter caught red-handed lying in today's press conf. our reporters dug up docs 2 prove it http://tpm.ly/bRAkmi #
RT @ezraklein: BREAKING: Existence of confirmation bias confirms author's bias! http://bit.ly/a94Gaf #
RT @KatrinaNation: Petraeus argues US's uncritical defense of Israel has incrsingly bcme threat to US interests in Mideast/Is Obama listeng? #
RT @ebertchicago: John McCain: Sarah Palin qualified to be president but Elena Kagan not fit for Supreme Court. #
RT @KatrinaNation: Rove is 1 to watch/ He's really running the RNC & raking in corp $ through his operations. #
RT @owillis No, you’ve got it all wrong. When the Dow goes up, it’s because of Reagan’s 1986 tax reform bill. #
RT @kcm74: RT @jeremyscahill The US should hire that German octopus to find bin Laden. Him and #GaryFaulkner = unstoppable #
RT @AlterNet: Republicans Want as Many Unemployed People as Possible, Because They Think It Will Get Them Elected: http://is.gd/dj9hq #
RT @FrankConniff: Lindsay Lohan regrets the "F**k U" on her nails and vows to never again get a manicure from David Mamet. #
New follower David Curtis @curtis4governor Green Party candidate for Nevada Governor. Welcome! Let's work… #
need so add: Carl Sagan: #demonhauntedworld #
Q for discuss: r we sliding into new 'Dark Age™' since the mid-1980s? Internet tubes (not trucks!) notwithstanding. Vision seems restricted. #
Sweet! discovered fav author @tobiasbuckell on the twitter machine. via another deep friend @demiller #linkage #
I have apparently 'Rate limit exceeded' on #TweetDeck which I can fix by setting an API option that does not exist! #fail #explitivedeleted #
Anyone else having problems with TweetDeck updating? #tweetdeck #
RT @wikileaks Only guy jailed 4 Iran-Contra was guy who stole John Poindexter Street sign. Now copter massacre whistleblower instead of crew #
High temps in Las Vegas, NV; Tucson, and Phoenix, AZ same as in New York, NY. #weirdweather #fortean #
RT @dangerousmeta: RT @vowe: The fundmentl cause of trouble is that in mrdn world, stupid are cocksure while intelligent are full of doubt. #
RT @ebertchicago: Mullets decreed illegal in Iran. At last, something we agree on. #
RT @thinkprogress: Angle Compares Herself To Lincoln, Admits She ‘Softened’ Her Positions After The Primary http://thkpr.gs/9W9Hzb #bscrazy #
RT @NASA: Oil spill near the Mississippi Delta: View from NASA's Terra satellite taken on the 4th of July. http://bit.ly/d3ExFJ #oilspill #
RT @nat_parks_news: Melting ice reveals ancient atlatl dart – Christian Science Monitor http://bit.ly/bZlHvq #archae #
RT @NASA: Explore a futuristic lunar settlement in #NASA #039;s new online video game Moonbase Alpha, available now at http://go.usa.gov/OTB #
RT @davidsirota: That Back to the Future thing from yesterday was a massive hoax http://bit.ly/a3vu6T Damn the Internets!!! #
RT @thinkprogress: AR cop killers were ‘sovereign citizens,’ rt-wing extremists who believe they R exempt from law. http://thkpr.gs/bI8Xz2 #
RT @KatrinaNation: Whn comes 2 ensuring that every American gets fair shake, modern conservatism has contributed essentially nil/A. Bacevich #
RT @ebertchicago: OMG! Doc Brown's DeLorean just materialized under the clock at Marshall Field's! #
RT @neilhimself: @hanshaw: local Boy Scout has started a petition to bring back the merit badge for beekeeping. http://bit.ly/cfYbwz #
RT @davewiner: Dow Repeats Great Depression Pattern: Charts. (Maybe they'll start listening to Krugman soon.) http://r2.ly/4bxk #hopeso #
RT @canislatrans: New: Carly Fiorina is a lying, anti-environmentalist sack of crap http://coyot.es/x2N #
RT @wilw: … in other words, don't be a dick. –On the occasion of his 10,000th post #
Science Daily: North America's first peoples more genetically diverse than thought, MtDNA genome analysis reveals http://j.mp/9GqRHz #

“We Want Our Jobs Back!”

Hal — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:11:13 +0000

More of Keith’s Left-of-center toons can be found here. Seen at BartCop.

Addendum: I have no commercial interest in this. I just like Tucker’s stuff.

Happy Independence Day, 2010

Hal — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 21:03:06 +0000

Happy U.S. Independence Day, everyone!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-06-27

Hal — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:00:00 +0000

RT @buzzflash: We Thought That We Were Electing a Prius, and Got a Tank Instead: The Last Gasps of Empire http://bt.io/FVLS Karlin for BF #
RT @daveweigel: Getting an exceptionally good sense of who my friends are today. #sotrue #
Today, in the past, Custer died for your sins. #greasygrass #littlebighorn #