I'm no Catholic

To say the very least, but I gotta say, I dig this Pope:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101231497

For those of you that do use social media

Google is here to help create a fake you to maintain the other fake you on Facebook!

So you can finally answer the age old question: Would people prefer you or a machine representation of you?

---------------

Google patents social media helper

If maintaining a presence on lots of social networks is a burden, Google may be able to help with software that pretends to be you.

Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25033172

The nights go on . . .

Waiting for a light that never comes!

10 years of notes went up in flames in less than an hour. The fire was up to 4 feet. I watch all the work from the last nine years of my life mingle with the stars.

I know that's a normal reaction to this would be sadness. However, I find the very act liberating. In fact I am almost filled with glee.

To know, not feel, that everything you've done is trash. Burnt ash in the aether. Lost and gone forever.

And somehow, being totally at peace and, in every way, elated by that fact.

My friend sent me a Dilbert today. It said they can't hurt you if you're already dead. (Dilbert 12-7-11)

How true.

At some point you have to face the fact that you chose wrong. That the person you were at age 21 couldn't have predicted what you would be or how would you feel at age 34.

"What I did was a drag."

I have done technical work. I managed a small group of technical people. And then I went on to manage a multimillion dollar research and development project. And all that left was a vast, dead . . . hollow.

Over the years I've proven to myself that I can throw myself into any situation and cope. I have measured my vessel, and found it to be sufficient. Let's face it, I've never really cared what anyone else thinks. The only person I have anything to prove to his myself. And, thankfully or not, I have a very low bar.

To quote Shikamaru, the closest fictional character to me: "It doesn't really matter if I become Chuunin or not. One match is good enough."

The only question I continue to struggle with is: does the world deserve my efforts? Can humanity provide me any reason to work for it's betterment?

And the answer I continually receive, almost on a daily basis, is a resounding, reverberating, unflinching "NO!"

Like Shikamaru my only motivation comes from protection of my comrades. But in this world, this motivation is rendered useless. We were all lucky enough to be born at the top of this world.

And so I will plod on, and advise any of my offspring not to make the same mistakes that I made. That's probably the best I can offer.

This is my therapy . . .

Something about burning Meirovitch, Karamcheti and your résumé at the same time is quite therapeutic.

The rising sea burns the skin . . .

No mollusks by 2100!

Emissions drive oceans 'acid trip'

Human emissions of carbon dioxide are increasing the levels of acidity in the oceans at rates not seen for millions of years, scientists say.

Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24904143

Cold snap

Pretty soon I will be planting tropical fruit in the yard:

2013 'one of warmest' on record

Provisional figures from the World Meteorological Organization show 2013 to be one of the hottest on record.

Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24925580

song of the day

Blue Ridge Laughing by Carbon Leaf

"So welcome to this Universal Blanket
She is breathing silver night
Space brings back boyish wonder
And my dreams just grew back to normal size
And my dreams just grew back to normal size
I am unearthed and no longer scared
I am unearthed and no longer care
I am unearthed--

And if you're thinkin' you'll run, you'll run behind
And if you're thinkin' you'll run, you'll run behind
And if we live our lives so wild and free (lie, lie, lie)
We run behind

On and on, on and on, on and on
On and on, on and on, on and on..."

Great song for the fall.  Now, while the spirit moves me:  out to Sligo Creek for a run . . . . .

To quote Bender:

"Comedy is a dead art form. Now tragedy, that's funny!"

Leaked IPCC report predicts hunger, drought and violence for humanity

Bleak futures make me happy

A leaked draft from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change paints a bleak picture for the future of humanity if it fails to adapt to climate change.
http://cir.ca/s/1rK

The immigration shift begins

Soon people will be flocking to Asia and Germany for a better life:

Thinking Of Working Abroad? Read This
by Krishnadev Calamur

NPR - October 31, 2013

Thinking of living and working abroad for the experience? For those already doing it, Asia seems to be the preferred destination....

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/10/31/242115022/thinking-of-working-abroad-read-this?sc=17&f=1001