http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com A reality-based community Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:44:31 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I remain somewhat baffled by the relentless procession of news articles stating the US is in recession, or is at risk of slipping into recession. I remain somewhat baffled because apparently it has escaped most everyone's notice that the US has been in a recession for the last 7 years, ... http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com/?p=79 I don't know what's wrong with you, but I'd like to find out. http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com/?p=78 In a talk I recently watched given at TED by Aubrey de Grey, he pointed out that to drastically extend human lifespan, we don't need to figure out how to live to 1000 right now. All we need to do is figure out how to live 10 additional years, and ... http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com/?p=77 It's been my experience that new years is vastly over-hyped. I'm fairly confident this is directly related to having a countdown to . . . nothing . . . absolutely nothing. Every year one hopes for some great epiphany, some declaration of love, something, anything, of meaning, and every year ... http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com/?p=76 San Francisco has a significant and seemingly intractable homeless problem. Tonight I was thinking, "What could be done with such a group if they could organize?" And then it struck me, Hobo Army! So I typed it into Google, and what do I find.... a freaking Hobo Army. It would rule. ... http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com/?p=75 I have a lot of acquaintances. I have very few friends. This is not a trivial semantic distinction. While the word "friend" has come to mean anyone with whom one associates but does not actively dislike, I cling to the vestiges of language lost and still call such people ... http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com/?p=74 The Guardian (via boingboing) reports that among the many allegations of impropriety and mismanagement (no! shock!) at the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, was an accusation of witchcraft. "Current and former SIGIR employees have told investigators that Bowen's deputy, Ginger Cruz, a self-described wiccan, threatened to put ... http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com/?p=73 Every few months, my level of hate for certain people or groups builds up to higher than average levels. In an effort to expel this dislike back unto the universe, I present to you my list of things that are currently annoying me. People who use the word "apps" as ... http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com/?p=72 Example - One video tapes ones friend being bitten in the crotch by the puppy they were trying to pet. One would then say, "Oh man, that's totally YouTube worthy" and would subsequently post the video to YouTube, for all to enjoy. The phrase is also usable in highly inappropriate ... http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com/?p=71 Justice Gibson delivers the ruling of the court: The county has asserted that Mr. Joel did willingly and knowingly set fire to the property at 112 Old Oak Way, Ridgewood, New Jersey, an incident hereafter referred to as "the fire". The defendent has claimed that he and his compatriots did ... http://www.visitorfromtomorrow.com/?p=70