It’s always nice when a big company is upfront with what they do to small business.

Here’s a weird update on the fence. On Friday I noticed that the grass is dying under it.

Of course this would probably go against my whole animal cruelty thing.

Treehugger has a nice post today that ties together one of my favorite ideas — accounting for intangible behaviors through their measurable aspects. Examples include Google trend analysis, the Wattson energy monitor, and Nike + iPod, which is the peg for Treehugger’s post.

I think there is something in accounting for intangible use or consumption – like exercising or eating less – as a means of reinforcing behaviour change. Or even accounting for tangible consumption. Without these measures it’s very hard to see the value of your efforts and or begin to rationalize the impact of your behaviours.

Here, let me explain it to you.

See that newspaper under his arm? He’s going to the bathroom. His secret hiding place is the bathroom…which isn’t that great of a secret hiding place. Kind of like having a disguise that’s just a pair of glasses.

And I’ve still got some slippers with puffy balls to prove it.

Is it the Washington Times‘ unique (ahem) perspective or is a new Harris poll really saying that 50 percent of Americans now believe Iraq had WMDs when we invaded (up from 36% last year)? Yikes.

>Dear Cronies,


	
>I know I said I would get rid of that dang ol’ estate tax for you, but Congress is giving me all sorts of guff

>about it. But I tell you what, just go ahead and do what you need to do and I’ll take care of it

>over at the IRS. Just have your guy put “Attn: W” on the envelope. Seriously man, it’s cool.

	
>Dub

Is it ever reasonable to compare your opponent to Hitler?

I’m not sure, but I highly recommend this article from Harper’s Magazine, which makes a case for betrayal as the preeminent Conservative/Republican cop-out narrative going back to World War I.

Since the end of World War II it has been the device by which the American right wing has both revitalized itself and repeatedly avoided responsibility for its own worst blunders. Indeed, the right has distilled its tale of betrayal into a formula: Advocate some momentarily popular but reckless policy. Deny culpability when that policy is exposed as disastrous. Blame the disaster on internal enemies who hate America. Repeat, always making sure to increase the number of internal enemies.

The author ties his history notes (Ike blaming FDR for the spread of Communism, Nixon blaming hippies for losing Vietnam, etc.) right into the modern “evil Liberals” histeria.

But I think this will all be particularly informative as we watch the outcome of the war in Iraq and move into the post-Bush era. For the past year at least we’re already seeing the “real” Conservatives distance themselves from that bunch in the White House, and we’ll certainly be seeing more of it as the McCain campaign gets into full swing.

I appreciate that there is such a thing as a reasonable Conservative. But it’s a convenient argument, as I’ve seen phrased elsewhere, that “Conservatism can’t fail, it can only be failed.” How convenient that it seems to be failed because of treachery every damned time. And how many more times does it need to be failed before we can give it up for dead?

And as long as it’s Harper’s day for me, here’s a much shorter article on the administration preventing the CIA from doing an intelligence estimate on Iraq, perhaps for fear that it will conclude it’s a total civil war.

Harper’s posts some choice quotes from the Rapture Ready-End Times Chat forum.

It seems as though all this hullabaloo in the Middle East might really portend the big A, meaning, among other things, that those politicians who’ve been riding on the fundy train these past few years should see about retooling their platforms.

On a lighter note, Gregor is mentioned in this new videoblog from the makers of Ask A Ninja and Crista Flanagan of MadTV.

From Candorville today:

Anyone want to discuss how the President is killing American Democracy? or what about how Israel is invading a soverign nation — starting what will probably be World War III — mimicing the leadership our government provided? There’s nothing like being a World Leader.

C’mon, It’ll be just like the old days — now with more death.

Crossposted from here

So, the box showed up today about 11:30. I got home about 6, did supper, and headed to the track to calibrate the sensor and do my two miles for the day.

Initial feelings about the kit are extremely positive: The sensor is, indeed, tiny, and the whole thing does, indeed, “Just Works It” (TM) as soon as you plug it in. There is empirical data (Courtesy of Kelly) that the simplest solution, velcroing the sensor to another pair of sneaks, works like a champ. I haven’t tried that yet, but figure I will in the near future.

I don’t think it’s going to be difficult at all to mod other shoes, especially for runners who wear orthotics. Just mold the sensor into the orthotics. I’ll buy a pair of Dr. Sholls insoles next month and do the deed with my Asics. The handy foam plug that comes out of the Nikes will make a great template to modify.

While doing some research today on the new neighborhood we’re getting in our neighborhood, I found what appears to be a discussion board for urban planning nerds.

Point being that this thread has some very nice pictures and complimentary discussion of Shreveport, including some comparisons with Austin.

No, it’s not going to consume the world with it’s terrible posting. It’s just a site that watches your XBOX 360 activity through your gamer tag — see mine and KMc’s on the left there — and posts about what you have done. As my page populates over the next few days you’ll see a lot about Lord of the Rings: Battle For Middle Earth II. Check out what an experienced X360 blogs about.