Author: polistra
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Foy and 1906
The Soviet auto podcaster did a noble tribute to the Renault taxis that helped to win a crucial battle in WW1. These Renaults were the standard Paris taxi at that time. From airplane surveillance, army commanders realized they had an opportunity to defeat a Kraut attack on Paris if they could move troops fast enough…
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Halfway Fairness Doctrine kudos
The local newspaper has done a halfway decent job of exposing the crime-loving city’s fraudulent fakery. Unfortunately the headline doesn’t match the article. The headline would lead you to think the city is doing something about the homeless mess: City reports street outreach has closed nearly 100 homeless encampments in 10 days When you read…
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Useful vs useless infrastructure
NewScientist has an unusually well-balanced take on the Altman Bubble. They are more balanced than usual because some of the Bubble Lords have gone over to the Official Dark Side, but nevertheless the article is fair. It points out that most of the data center investment is happening in unregulated “shadow banking” circles, so the…
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Speaking truth to Zappone
Spokane COUNTY has issued an official tonguelashing to the CITY idiots (mayor and council) who insist loudly that they can’t possibly control crime and homelessness because “the jail is full”. Idiot Zappone has been among the loudest supporters of crime. The county’s press release is worth a long quote. = = = = = START…
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Good idea, can’t happen
Compact Mag has a good idea. Because it’s a good idea, it can’t happen. Defense contractors deal only with the government. All of their income and business comes FROM the taxpayers, but their profit goes TO the executives and Larry Fink. This is the worst of both worlds. They take from the taxpayer and give…
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I’m slow.
After 25 years of using AOL mail, I just now realized that it’s possible to BLOCK a repetitive spammer instead of marking it as spam or attempting to unsubscribe.
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Carney is the master.
Carney understands, better than anyone else in the world, how to deal with psychopaths. He’s not alone; even the Canadian journalists at CBC appear to grasp the problem and the solution. Our politicians and journalists continue to score a solid ZERO on this test. They can’t pull their brainless heads out of their own asses,…
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Aphid Day 2025
Aphid Day is Oct 9, 2025. I’ve been seeing a few aphids in previous days. Today they gave a nice clear signal that summer is over, swarming as soon as the sun came over the horizon. I’m especially glad to see them. This summer wasn’t hotter than average but it was harder than average on…
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Getting there 50 years late
Via KHQ: Spokane is FINALLY setting up a vocational high school. Maybe they had one much earlier, but not during the 35 years I’ve lived here. Manhattan, Bowling Green and Enid had vocational high schools in the ’60s. All are much smaller than Spokane, but they recognized the need for REAL education. Until now Spokane…
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It’s not an algorithm.
We constantly bitch about the obnoxious results of algorithms on the web. New thought: The most obnoxious shit happens when there ISN’T an algorithm. An intelligence, whether you call it a brain or an algorithm or a program, does three things: 1. Take input from the world. Different types of intelligence take input in different…
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Why is it a mismatch?
Via Verge: Google’s branch in Japan has a habit of releasing annual silliness, more or less an April Fool gag. The latest is interesting from a tech history viewpoint. It’s a computer keyboard with a set of rotary dials. You have to locate the letter on the circle and pull your finger around to the…
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Less crazy
Another fine deadpan report of drug-induced craziness. = = = = = 600 North Riverpoint Blvd, trench rescue reported for a Halloween display that has collapsed and has people stuck underground. Caller reports he is digging to get to the people Reported to be two people about 4ft underground Reported fire is on scene with…
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Not inadvertently!!!!!!!!
Anti-monopolist Stoller sometimes misses the point, but this time he hits it properly and comprehensively. Except for one important word. He’s discussing the post-1970 destruction of the New Deal by both D and R politicians. In agriculture the worst destruction was by Carter and Clinton. Trump is continuing the process, even more brazenly destroying life…
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Rule works only one way
One of my frequent hammerpoints: Inventions wait for materials and methods. The latest clip from the Soviet auto podcaster illustrates what Edmund Berkeley was describing in 1957. Soviet engineers were properly trained with experience and teamwork, and therefore had passion and creativity. They were given the resources to act on their creativity, and were rewarded…
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Happy 68th, Sputnik!
I’ve saluted Sputnik many times, focusing on a different topic each time. Today is the 68th birthday. I’ll repeat the 2021 version, which seems most appropriate now. = = = = = Browsing through more of the ACM magazine. From Nov 1957, a remarkably sane and objective IMMEDIATE response to Sputnik. Author Edmund Berkeley gets…
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