Latest Blog Posts
Friendliest Bus Riders?
Have any of you who ride Star Tran—all 25 of you—ever noticed how friendly the riders are to the bus drivers? I’m not talking about “the regulars” who know the drivers and go to their kids’ birthday parties. I mean the occasional riders, or the ones who ride frequently but who don’t ever interact with the drivers. I’ll bet a good 75% of the riders say either “Thanks” or “Have a good day” when exiting the bus, even when leaving via the back door. And they even say those things to the crappy and/or surly drivers.
I first thought about this after talking with a friend who currently lives in New Jersey. She was very surprised by how different the people are, and she noted that she earns curious stares when she says things like “Thank you” to folks like store clerks. If nothing else, the fact that Lincolnites say “Thanks” to their bus drivers is yet another small reason that I enjoy living in Lincoln.
Frisk Granny While Ignoring the Big Stuff
CNN’s recent story on cargo security at U.S. airports highlights the ridiculousness of harassing the crap out of passengers—the most common offense of whom is carrying a pocket knife or nail file—while ignoring the larger danger of unscreened cargo. Why do we so assault grandma’s dignity in search of razor blades when the real danger lies elsewhere? Two reasons. First, the TSA’s actions within airport terminals are visible. Thus, they can claim “See, we’re doing something about the terrorist threat!” Even though in reality the TSA’s largest success is as a massive jobs program. Second, there are no good or cheap ways to screen all the cargo that makes its way onto America’s airliners. Any attempted solutions using today’s infrastructure would hardly make a difference.
The United States loves to overreact to yesterday’s terrorist tactics. That’s why today you can’t take a pocket knife onto a flight or carry an unsearched bag onto a subway car. Personally, I would rather defend against today’s or tomorrow’s terrorist tactics. We can’t say we don’t know what those tactics will be. Stumped? Ask Hollywood. Or ask anybody. Terrorists aren’t likely to use any tactics that haven’t already been thought of—and warned about—by dozens of people.
Gas Prices Go Up. And Up.
Oil prices passed $65 per barrel yesterday, and although gas prices keep climbing, Americans keep driving. Prices in Lincoln yesterday were in the $2.50 range.
I’ve said it before, but this is the first time I’ve said it in print: $3.50 per gallon is the breaking point in the U.S.A. That’s the point at which Americans “officially” decide to make real, substantive changes in their attitudes and behaviors related to energy consumption.
You heard it here first.
Big News From The Wilsons
The Missus and I have big news to share with you today.
Roma Victor Redux
Man, I am really getting excited about Roma Victor. I’ve been reading over the community forum and it appears to me that the fans awaiting the game are not only a mature lot, but also have some significant knowledge about ancient history and the Roman world. This excites me because I’m sick to death of MMORPGs where the majority of players are 14 yr old “l33t dUDEz” with handles like “Goku Ironfist” or “Marco Deathman” (i.e. World of Warcraft, Guild Wars).
Is it Just Me, Or is it Warm in Here?
Women having hot flashes should not be allowed to bother maintenance personnel with constant whining about “how hot it is in here.” Especially when said maintenance personnel long ago determined there not to be a problem and since that time have very obviously just been humoring the women by pretending to attempt to find a “solution” to the non-problem. Nor should they be allowed to constantly whine to me. I overheat much quicker than the average person, and in my opinion the temperature in here is just fine. Now leave me alone, please, or at least change the subject.
I’m not referring to any individuals or situations in particular, of course. I’m just saying.
No Moss
I noticed there was an above the fold cover link on the USA Today about the Minnesota Vikings. I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear that the Vikes traded Randy Moss to the Raiders earlier. My logic was – “The Vikes have a great QB at the top of his game in Daunte Culpepper…without Moss, they are basically minimizing Daunte’s potential.”
Well we’ll have to see how well the Vikes do this year.
By the way, don’t ask me about the cornhuskers. I have absolutely no interest in the cornhuskers at all (or college football in general). For me, whenever I hear Nebraskans talk about the cornhuskers, its just background noise.
Roma Victor
I just signed up for the Roma Victor open beta – which, according to the website, truly is “open” so I hope to get my pass within a few days. RV is, thank God, NOT a fantasy MMORPG but based on the ancient Roman empire and the devs have apparently tried their best to make it as true as possible to the real world of that day. I am a bit of a history freak and have always been fascinated by ancient history, which made RV attractive to me.
What is also VERY different is exactly how real the game is, at least according to the devs. For instance:
1) Crafting: “flax can be grown, carefully harvested, left in a muddy retting pit to rot, taken out and dried, heckled into tow fibres with a comb, spun into twine at the distaff and then woven into a linen sheet at a loom. Grain can be milled into flour, which can be mixed with saltwater to form a basic dough, which when left out will go sour. Mix the sour dough with some fresh dough and bake it in an oven to make some bread.”
2) Environment: “There’s a realistic day and night cycle that actually tracks the real celestial locations of the sun and moon according to the exact (in-game) time and day, longitude and latitude - of course adjusted back to the second century calendar!”
3) Skills: “as in real life, your skills and personal statistics decay. This means that without practise your character’s ability in a given skill will worsen. If, for example, as a newbie you spent a lot of time developing your archery skills but then moved on to focus on your farming you’d find that your archery decreased over time.”
4) Armor: “Furs, hides, plant-fibre textiles, metals and alloys can all be crafted into wearable items and this natural diversity yields substantial variation in character appearances.”
5) Wounds from ba
ttle: “In combat characters can sustain both wounds and injuries. Wounds decrease your character’s six Attributes (Muscle, Vision, Agility, Dexterity, Intuition and Stamina), which can have a significant effect on the character’s skills and activities. Wounds heal slowly over time although the healing process can be greatly hastened with the right medical treatment.”
6) Music: “A broad range of authentic ancient musical instruments have been painstakingly brought back to life, each with their own unique set of notes. Player musicians can learn songs, play together and entertain the masses in full 3D sound.”
7) Food: “Although nowhere near as dire as such consequences can be in real life, those players interested in maintaining efficient character development will definitely want to keep their characters well fed. Different types of foods can have very subtle effects, but the most noticeable effects will come from alcohol, stale food and poisons.”
You get the idea. I figure that this may become to cumbersome to play because it sounds like it might require very active management (similar to The Sims – which I have never gotten into but am aware of how addictive it can be from friends).
Two other things to note: First, there is no monthly fee to this one, which is nice. Second, you can actually spend real life $ to acquire better items in game. Now this last part is a little dangerous here. I have never ever been the type to go to Ebay to buy items for MMORPG characters. However with this set-up, the temptation may be stronger, and I think a lot of what one ends up doing will depend on the degree to which this aspect of the game evolves.
I am hoping that this deep of an MMORPG will attract mature players, which I like (particularly after slogging away with 15 yr olds in “Guild Wars” and “World of Warcraft” for so many months).
Anyway, the beta is free of course so if I don’t like it, I won’t buy it. D & D is around the corner, which is another one I’m looking forward to.
Back on the Field
I ventured back onto the soccer field this weekend for the first time since May. I reffed three games on both Saturday and Sunday. I am pleased to report that everything went remarkably well. I was dog-tired by the end, and I’m a bit sunburnt. But that’s what you get when your summer exercise includes zero running and you fail to apply sunscreen.
I managed to make it through the weekend having stayed on most players’, coaches’, and spectators’ good sides. With the exception of one girl’s declaration of “You suck,” I heard very little direct dissent. Some of my partners didn’t come through the weekend as unscathed as I did, but I’ll be honest with you: more often than not they deserved the criticism.
There was one scare. Only two minutes into my third game yesterday I heard cries of “Ref! Ref!” I looked behind me to see my AR1 lying motionless on the ground, with a couple people standing over him. He was a big fellow, it was a hot day, he wasn’t moving… You can imagine what went through my head. I immediately stopped play and sprinted over to him. Fortunately he wasn’t dead. He had just stepped into a hole and twisted his ankle. He took a moment to shake off the pain and we resumed play. As a sports official I witness, on average, about one serious injury per year. I’ve seen broken bones, seizures, and head injuries. At the time I thought for certain I was witnessing my first heart attack. That turned out not to be the case. But I know it’s only a matter of time.
Twenty Fourty Six
Very positive review today in the NY Times of 2046 - the new Wong Kar Wai film - (you need a login to view the review btw). I am a big Wong-Kar Wai fan ever since seeing ”Chungking Express” - which is a contemporary masterpiece (although the US release was tainted by a goofy intro from Quentin “Rip off Hong Kong films” Tarantino). If you have not seen “Chungking Express”, RUN do not walk to your nearest blockbuster. Other good WKW flicks are “Fallen Angels” and “In The Mood for Love” - which I’m proud to own as an excellent Criterion Collection DVD. If its a Criterion, you know its good.
Anyway, I’m looking forward to 2046 when it comes out on DVD (unfortunately I doubt it will make it to Lincoln theaters).
Yay Me!
Finally got 100 off-prints today of an earlier article I wrote last summer and fall, an analysis of extraterritorial application of regional human rights treaties. I wrote this sucker with consultation from a dutch attorney who argued the Bankovic case (NATO vs. Yugoslavian nationals) in Strasbourg (albeit on the losing side - Yugoslavia). The article is an analysis of the ECHR’s divergent case law in the application of Europe’s human rights treaty to alleged violations by European nations abroad, whether in Europe or in non-European nations. The crux of my analysis focused on a prediction regarding the UK’s responsibility for the torture and murder of an Iraqi national in Basra, a case which ultimately went to the High Court of England and Wales in which the UK was found to be liable for the murder, which I correctly predicted. Yay me! (OK I’m done patting myself on my shoulder).
Czech Out My Weekend Plans
The Missus and I are going to head south to Wilber tonight to attend the annual Czech Festival. Neither of us has ever been to the festival, but we hear that it’s a fun time and that the food is excellent. Kolaces are the star of the show, but I’m looking forward to the various brats and sausages. I’m also hopeful that I’ll see some of the folks affected by last year’s tornado, whom I worked with at my previous job.
On both Saturday and Sunday morning I’ll get up early to go referee soccer games at a tournament in Omaha. I haven’t refereed since May, so I hope I remember what I’m supposed to do out there.
On Saturday afternoon a friend from high school is getting married. Congratulations, KLS!
And finally on Sunday evening the family is going to go out to eat for The Missus’s birthday (which is actually on Monday). I believe she chose Fireworks for her birthday meal.
That’s my plan. What are you all up to?
The Old Gray Lady Sticks Up for Wal-Mart
I never would have expected it, but the New York Times published an op-ed yesterday defending Wal-Mart. Their conclusion?
First, Wal-Mart hasn’t just sliced up the economic pie in a way that favors one group over another. Rather, it has made the total pie bigger. …
Second, most of the value created by the company is actually pocketed by its customers in the form of lower prices.…
Without the much-maligned Wal-Mart, the rural poor, in particular, would pay several percentage points more for the food and other merchandise that after housing is their largest household expense.
Important points to consider the next time the periodic “keep out Wal-Mart!” drives fire up.
Bank Security
I just witnessed an unbelievable scene.
A co-worker called up her bank. She said that she wanted to transfer money from savings to checking. She gave her account number, her name, and the amount she wanted to transfer. Then she said “Thank you” and hung up.
What the...?! I would never use a bank that doesn’t require any sort of security clearance whatsoever to mess with funds. All the information she gave is easily accessible. Her name, account number, and bank’s telephone number are all printed on her checks. Had I recorded her account number, or if I got it off one of her checks, I could call up the bank right now and access her account balances, transfer funds, and do who knows what else. At the very least I could be annoying—say, by transferring all her checking account funds into her savings account, likely causing a few bounced checks. In theory I could be pretty malicious.
My bank doesn’t have the most stringent procedures in place for telephone transactions, but they are a heckuva lot more secure than what I just witnessed. Do other banks use the same procedures? Is fraud really that easy?
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