chuck kottke

Random Thought: Is their uniform change significant in terms of reflecting the Beatles?

Thanks also, Jenjie! I'm wondering though, exactly what's burning? Eucalyptus trees? If that's the case, it's hard to control what in nature wants to burn, and with enough people anywhere, there's bound to be arsonists, unfortunately. 1/1000th of 1% is all it takes. So, I'm wondering if more steps could be taken to keep the Eucalyptus short in populated regions, or use periodic control burns? Eucalyptus is the problem in parts of California as well, and while not native there, it is in Austraila (Y/N)? What happen naturally helps keep things in check, so maybe more frequent burns at cooler times would help?

Confusion on that last post.. Anyhow, it's everywhere, and without it, we wouldn't have these nifty computers to play with! (or, they'd be using germanium chips instead..). Silicon - abundant, natural, beautiful, and it makes great paperweights too!:P

Because she's tall and thin? I dunno - you'll have to go ask her yourself!:P

ALOHA !!!:)

RaNdOm FacT: Coldplaying.com is currently wedged between craftwarehouse.com and londonist.com, putting it just a thread below macrame, but a stitch above london!:laugh3: Rising again, hopefully to the holiday level!

Interesting patterns:cool:... I'll be informing the NSA.. oops, they already know!:laugh3: They know everything, but can't sort it for the sheer volume of information, so keep spamming - it keeps clogging their computers!;)

Apples & Oranges. You really can't compare the two, as their artistry is different; even their attire is different! I'm content to enjoy both equally, and simply let them keep making great music.

Welcome aboard! Did you pay the entrance fee??:laugh3: ;)

Who is this Kid Rock character, and what's his problem??

OH, thanks for that bit of information! But firestorms might still happen? It's a phenomenon in intense fires ...Firestorm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's too intense. A good rockin' tune, but I like the up-beat newer stuff. Clocks is better too:P

Sad to hear the news:cry: Having relatives who lived in the Oakland hills of CA once, there's sometimes a lack of forethought about safety and planning to prevent disaster; thinning or thinning burns normally clear out the underbrush, residents are supposed to clear away the flammable brush near homes, and grow ice-plant instead; and replace highly flammable cedar roofing with clay tile. But sadly few did this, and a lot of destruction ensued. But it sounds like a rare firestorm in Australia - combining extreme heat with high wind and the development of a horizontal tornado/cyclone-like vortex of flames, similar to the tragic fire Peshtigo Wisocnsin experienced in 1871 (same time as the great Chicago fire, but with a great loss of life). The conditions sound errily similar - trees exploding from the heat, people being almost 'vaporized' by the fire; many almost suffocating from the rapid loss of breathable air. My heart goes out to anyone suffering from the tragedy.

Was there one?;) Actually, that's the name of the music used in the movie!:stunned: (I think they must have drawn inspiration from the movie or something.. would be fascinated to know.) Use the latest edition - the 9th edition of Newspeak.

:laugh3: (better be careful with that - NSA ..er, Big Brother is listening!) Turnover & revolution? I wonder at what point the level of disgust will get citizens to really demand change.. how bad does it have to get?

do airports still have hare krishnas? :hippy::flutterby:

Honest government is possible, but to keep it is the trick. (as Franklin answered, "A Republic, if you can keep it.") True, if everyone researched the candidates, and supported those who were more suited to represent them, everything would be better. But as the chameleon goes, so goes those who run for office. For real change, change the process that allows vast sums of cash to buy Senators. Get rid of the massive campaign warchests. It's unlikely the public will dig that deep, but they are seeing the need for reform.

I'm thinking how our supposedly Supreme Court has become so political; the conservative justices block the necessary changes to stem the flow of money into political campaigns, and they spend their time debating how money can be used to political speech, yet almost completely ignore the corruption caused by massive campaign cash infusions, with the resulting softening of regulations and safeguards on the markets. Specious arguments and pontifications to cover up their majority rule, all the while the economy tanks from their inaction on the matter. The 5 conservative justices have played politics with the Constitution, and allowed a corrupt system to get worse, to the detriment of the nation. They were the ones who decided the court had the right to override a state's right to choose electors in a Presidential contest (Bush v. Gore), a direct violation of the US Constitution implicitly, and I think some of the justices should be removed for such a clear violation. To isolate the court from the whims of politics is fine if we would actually do that, but that's obviously not the case. While protections from removal are necessary, it seems that some other body should be able to check their decisions as well; Congress seems to be ineffective at doing this.

What's been done thus far to clean up campaign financing is only dancing around the problem. Here's a sample of the US Supreme Courts' rulings, as the conservative justices continue to obstruct real reform: Balkinization Buckley v. Valeo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Why is this so critical an issue? Because by allowing huge sums of cash from sources with narrow political agendas, we've in essence allowed those groups with desires to feed their pet interests from the government trough to go without real restraint, and with devastating consequences. He we are, plummeting employment figures, and this is the result of campaign cash flowing from Wall Street firms and the like into congress's campaign coffers and the executive branch, to push legislation aimed at allowing the very practices that led to the collapse. That, and more. It has allowed the expansion of bureaucracies which spy on ordinary citizens throughout the globe with or without warrant, and promoted a military-industrial complex which then often gets used by those in power, as opposed to first trying all diplomatic measures to solve global issues. It blocks environmental protections if this suits those with the biggest bucks to stuff pockets with, and has delayed scientific progress. If we are to honestly address any issues of our time, we must get rid of this corrupting process of buying elections and candidates here in the U.S. - Perhaps a Constitutional Amendment is necessary, and if things get any worse, we very well may see a new one! At any rate, get informed, get involved if you can, and make a difference.

Pyramids, hmm.. speaking of geometric forms, I began a search for that all-essential industrial element, Fluorine. Fluorine can be hard to find on earth, usually being mined from regions of unique geology, where rare fluorospar crystals are available in mineable quantities. The rarity of the resource and sometimes risky mining and refining, put me on a search for a better source of Fluorine. And here's where Silica minerals comes in! It turns out that Biotite mica (the black flecks in granite) offer an excellent source of Fluorine! Biotite Mineral Data While not extremely concentrated (at a little over 1 % Fluorine), the availability of biotite is inehaustible, and the byproducts of mining common granite pegmatites can be silicon dioxide, useful for producing pure silicon. Flourine is essential in various processes. In the chemical Hydrofluric Acid, it can be used to clean surfaces, and to etch glass. As a salt (sodium fluoride) is has uses for the electrolysis of molten salt baths to produce aluminum metal and other metals. While risks are very significant, it has yet to find replacement materials or methods in many applications associated with solar cell manufacturing and silicon processing, as well as many other industrial applications. So while reducing it's necessity & recycling are wise goals, it may never be possible to entirely phase out our modern need for Fluorine, and reducing one area of concern (its source) helps ensure a bright future.

Hmm.. maybe they really did need some new inspiration after all?? But what musically could I have offered them? Anyhow, there's always more new music to add in time.. What sort of sound was everyone expecting from U2?

Bryce, are you sure that's not smoke coming from an active volcano??:laugh3: Hot and fog are two incompatible species generally speaking.. Meteorology can be interesting. I've always been amazed at how clear and intensely blue the sky is after a big snowstorm; usually colder afterward, so it must be the high pressure dry air - but so incredibly blue; less scattering of light it would seem by water droplets, or is it because the bubble of high pressure air is thicker, therefore more scattering of light outside the blue part of the spectrum, so we see a more intense blue? Just curious!

If things get worse, then the pressure is put to bear on really getting to the bottom of the mess and fixing it right. Then better times are ahead.

:laugh3:America is a... well two continents connected by a little thread of land? Are we even on the same tectonic plate?? (consults atlas..). Oh well, anything to please Lore!;) Maybe if you sing to them Lore, then they'll sing to you??:P

@ Rick8 - salad supreme!! Sounds fantastic; lately I've had only frozen vegetables, and some good crisp lettuce would be a refreshing change. @ Coldplay fan from NZ - those chocolates do sound mouth-watering good! We need to get more companies on board for the Fair-Trade business, especially ones that make the finest chocolates..