The first Monday of February
Today is the 2nd day of the 6th week, the 5th day of the 2nd month, the 36th day of 2024 [with 323 shopping days until Christmas], and:
- Adlai Stevenson Day
- California Western Monarch Day - given they are being drenched by an atmospheric river dumping on them right now, I don't think they will see any butterflies today
- Disaster Day
- Move Hollywood and Broadway to Lebanon, Pennsylvania Day
- National Chocolate Fondue Day - fondues were very much the thing back in the late '70's and early '80's
- National Fart Day - and yes, Alexa will fart if you ask her too
- National Shower with a Friend Day - I will say this is a lot easier to do when you have a roomy walkin shower like my friend in Las Cruces has!
- National Weatherperson's Day
- World Animal Reiki Day
- World Nutella Day
- and Voyager 1 is 22h 34m 37s of light travel time from Earth
Today, instead of posting on social media, I will give a snapshot here of what I found interesting during the day. One thing that I always find out when I do this is that I post A LOT and maybe shouldn't be quite so prolific? Anyway....
Google will no longer back up the Internet: Cached webpages are dead. Google Search will no longer make site backups while crawling the web.
I wasn't actually aware that Google was doing that, but as this article from Ars Technica points out, it was a handy tool to have if things were offline or the website had been suddenly changed dramatically. I imagine the folks at Wikipedia used it quite a lot to make corrections to their information.
I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for those who can truly think in another language and have envied them, never having been able to learn one myself. I could read French for a time after taking it in high school, but I couldn't speak it and that was after taking it for five years! As an active role player, I'm not sure I agree with the premise that the inability to learn a different language is a measure of your ability to change yourself tho,
I read Heather Cox Richardson's blog every day for her insights on how today's politics reflect those of the past. I don't always share them, although I always consider doing so. Today she points out that on this day in 1870, the Chicago Tribune announced the great war was finally over with the passage of the final amendment designed to define the federal government's role [the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth] over the states.
These emerging benefits could be game-changes in the battle for talent
The Business Journal ran the story, which is behind a paywall apparently The gist of the article is that child care is rapidly assuming the proportions of a crisis as many facilities closed during COVID and haven't reopened, leaving parents faced with return to the office mandates in a quandary. While it is a relatively rare benefit, the number of employers offering on-site child care has grown by 47% over the past four years. And companies offering this benefit have seen an increase in retention and a decrease in absences.
Publix versus the public
Judd Legum's blog is another one I read every day. In this article, he shows clearly how a pharmacy chain has skirted accountability by donating to the Florida politicians. Before the SCOTUS ruling [Citizens United 2012], this kind of out and out bribery wouldn't have been possible.
Senators release a border and Ukraine deal that the House speaker declares ‘dead on arrival’
They are coming up with a slew of rhetoric trying to obscure the fact that they are deliberately leaving an ally in distress and refusing to address a situation they have labeled as a "crisis" because DJT wants to run against Biden on immigration. Either it isn't a crisis or they are playing politics - pretty obvious, isn't it?
And then you have Texas playing games with razor wire
NASA Earth science mission once slated for cancellation ready for launch
The PACE [Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem] spacecraft will study the 68% of the planet's surface that is covered by our oceans, giving us insights on how they move, and more data to measure changes in the climate. It is going to be launched by SpaceX tomorrow morning.
The fallout never ended
This special report by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists lays out the stark reality of the aftermath of the US nuclear testing program
Florida to "destroy" dangerous dogs; force owners to register their canines and pay more for insurance under new bill
CBSNews in Miami posted this story explaining the consequences of owning a breed of dog known to have issues. Texas is also considering similar regulations. In short, owners would have to register the dog and pay for extra liability insurance. Funny, isn't that exactly what they are absolutely refusing to consider in either state when it comes to guns? I would venture to say one's chances of being shot is far greater than being mauled by a pet...
COVID Map Shows 4 States With Highest Hospital Cases
Having just caught COVID for the first time, I will admit I am rather gloomy about the spread of the disease again - this new variant hits without warning altho it does seem less virulent than its predecessors. Gratefully, Maryland is not one of the four, but the DC area is starting to experience a surge. Time to get those masks back out!
Rings of Power Season 2 Scoop: How a "Wizard' Might Help the Stranger Fight Sauron
The rumors are flying about season 2, and one of the most hotly discussed characters is the Stranger and who he really might be. The first season was criticized by many, but altho I disliked some of their choices [seriously, they shouldn't have messed with Galadriel like that and Gil-galad was not that much of a pompous idiot] I rather liked the series overall and it got better as it progressed.
As groundbreaking nears, massive Ellicott City tunnel plan could 'fix' flooding on Main Street
Ellicott City is an historic location, an old mill town that was established 251 years ago, long before folks worried about things like flood plains, in a deep valley at the intersection of the Patapsco and Tiber Rivers. As developments spring up around the area, flash floods have become quite a problem. When I worked at Commercial & Farmers Bank, we had a branch on Main Street that was the original location for the bank, and we always had the people working there watching the river [which ran right outside the back of the building] in wet weather.
America is doing PTO wrong - and its burned-out workforce is less productive than the 11 nations that know how to take a break
The US has this thing with "presentism" You can see it in the RTO [return to the office] initiatives and the way that time off is treated. There is a feeling that a person who takes too much time, even if they are entitled to do so, is somehow "not committed" to the company whereas the person sitting at the desk is demonstrating commitment. Old fashioned bosses who can't actually see their workers suspect somehow they aren't "getting their money's worth" out of them. And yes, they look down their noses at the European model, even when the productivity figures prove them wrong.
I'm sorry, there isn't a position in the entire world worth that kind of money. And this one was particularly egregious, prompting the most business-friendly court systems in the country [just take a gander of how many companies have chosen Delaware to incorporate in no matter where they are actually located] to turn it down.
Meet General Sherman - the Largest Tree in the World [by Volume]
"This Giant Sequoia contains California history, Civil War history, and a whole lot of wonder, all within its ultra-thick bark." The pictures are pretty awe-inspiring. I would like to see this in person some day!
Why now is the time to address humanity's impact on the moon
Before we trash it like we have the space around our planet, or for that matter, our planet itself. A lunar Anthropocene: NASA already says there are 117,000 kilos [or 500,449.335 lbs] of human garbage left on the moon, which is pretty appalling.
Did you know that you can arrange to do an individual online tour of the Auschwitz Memorial? Just go here and choose "online individual visit" and set up your date and time.
Tesla Driver 'Arrested' for Driving With Apple Vision Pro Says It Was Just a 'Skit". Apple warns users that the should "never" use the Vision Pro while operating a moving vehicle
Of course later he denied he had been caught doing it, basically admitting it was nothing but a stunt designed to gather clicks and likes on social media.
Yes, It's True, Taylor Swift is a CIA Psyop
Another favorite blogger is spilling the beans.
In different online communities I used to run a thread entitled "Babbling" in which I posted all of these things on one place. Made it easy for folks since if it annoyed them, they could just ignore the entire thread. Some others liked the eclectic nature of the postings and sometimes joined in. That was fun
Triscuit decided that since I didn't have enough sense to stay in bed this Monday morning, she would take over. And yes, I have my bedroom decorated in classic Disney ....
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