Tag: defensible times
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’51 memes
Some jokes from a 1951 magazine, probably distributed nationally as Features, the earlier version of today’s Memes. We don’t see Memes in mainstream publications now. “Journalism” has rigorously insulated itself from ALL feedback and connection to popular wisdom. The postwar inflation and shortage was still around in 1951, just starting to fade out. Our postwar…
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Mini-notary
I’m studying more of the weird and wonderful punch card systems that flourished in specialized businesses, along the same lines as the McBee and Stanomatic. Some of the books delve into library equipment, which included a few clever gadgets along with a lot of familiar stuff. Adjustable shelves and bookends haven’t changed since 1890, but…
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Uniquely appropriate
Saagar reviews the parallel between 1968 and now in politics. He doesn’t hit the points as solidly as Greenwald, who got EVERYTHING right. Saagar shows a printout of the campaign debut speech by Bobby Senior. He chose K-State for the announcement, and the printout starts by greeting Gov Docking and Sen Pearson (misspelled as Pierson…
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Random memory
Nice warm Sunday evening. A random picture reminded me of something… When I lived in KC and taught at DeVry, I was renting a basement apt in suburban Overland Park. The apt was large, fairly modern, and stayed cool in summer without air conditioning. The apt above me was occupied by an older couple from…
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Y no piano girl?
Saw a random picture of an old piano, captioned ‘Jazz piano in Lewisham Station’. I wonder why pianos weren’t more common in public places? Restaurants always had jukeboxes or radios. Nightclubs had pianos only for professional performers who were part of the scheduled entertainment. In that era MANY people could play the piano competently, and…
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One huge point
The latest article by Charles Hugh Smith makes one HUGE point that I haven’t heard before. It resonates deeply. The one huge point: AI is winning because the people in charge of making decisions NO LONGER HAVE A QUALITY HUMAN PRODUCT TO COMPARE WITH. The deciders don’t know how shitty the new offshored or AI’d…
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Another niche switch
Since I’m in adding another example mode this week… The latest issue of Collectible Auto has an article on Kissel, an example of the smart niche switch. I’d heard of Kissel Kars but wasn’t aware of their niche switch and second life. Kissel was founded in 1909 in Hartford, Wisconsin. Hartford is a smallish city…
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US equivalent of Holy Wells
Kingsnorth’s latest magical Holy Well reminded me instantly of a holy place I knew when I was young. = = = = = START 2016 REPRINT: Spokane’s idiot misgovernment has succumbed to blackmail by the EPA Terrorist Army, and is building a number of Miasmal Swamps. Three of them appeared last month in my neighborhood.…
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Converse
I’ve made the same observation about long-distance communication and languages, but for some reason didn’t fully assemble the two observations. Time to assemble. = = = = = Long-distance communication systems are always built by conquering armies and stock swindlers. The Chappe system was the archetype. It was built by the globalist “science”-godded tyrants of…
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Yes it is a conspiracy.
This CompactMag article by an architect discusses the shittiness of modern buildings. = = = = = START QUOTE: Life in a recently built apartment is like a simulation that’s constantly glitching. Your towel bar looks like a towel bar, but it can’t hold the weight of a wet towel without falling out of the…
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Astrolabes in the news!
Astrolabes don’t hit the headlines often, to put it mildly. Here’s a news item about a newly discovered connection of an old astrolabe. = = = = = START QUOTE: As Gigante began to study the astrolabe – a scientific tool which dates from 11th century Spain and is used to chart stars and other…
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Back to Maragha again 1/2
I’m trying to reconnect with inspiration after a long dull winter. I’m mostly old and weary after four years of world holocaust, and partly distracted by “hurry up and wait” dealings with my courseware publisher. The project is all done now, so I no longer have to keep my mental desk clear for sudden final…
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Back to Maragha again 2/2
Continued from part 1. Christoph Scheiner’s magnum opus is Rosa Ursina, published in 1620. The title, roughly the Bear’s Rose, is an extremely poetic and sycophantic dedication to his patron, Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano. The bear, of course, is the patron’s name, and Scheiner waxes lyrical about the vast mind and infinite morality and…
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CathGPT
I’m working up a tech history piece on the 1611 telescopes of Christoph Scheiner, who bridged the gap between alidades and lenses. I felt the need to reconnect with the beacons of the universe lately, and Maragha is where the beacons are found. Ran across this piece in a 1902 history of astronomy by Agnes…
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Normalcy is a dirty word
Every job worth doing leads to completion. This is how we judge real talents and interests. If you enjoy DOING a task, it’s not necessarily your best talent. If you enjoy COMPLETING a task, you should pursue this path. As I listen to these 1950s industrial films, I’m constantly reminded of the intended COMPLETION of…
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