Anna Nicole Smith
The FBI Vault
firehose
Shared posts
18 Aug 00:09
petermorwood: burntcopper: *adds a bottle of chili and some...
firehose and -1 others like this
18 Aug 00:02
New York bans powdered alcohol
by Colin Lecher
New York today passed a law that bans the sale of powdered alcohol.
"This dangerous product is a public health disaster waiting to happen," Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a statement after signing the bill into law. "I am proud to sign this legislation that will keep powdered alcohol off the shelves and out of the wrong hands."
A brand of powdered alcohol called "Palcohol" made headlines last year when it was approved for sale in the United States, only to later have that approval called a mistake and revoked, before later being actually approved. The idea, however, has proved more than a little controversial: 21 states have now banned the product, although losing New York may be one of the biggest hits against the company yet.
firehose likes this
17 Aug 23:05
Some C++ in Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Some C++ in Neon Genesis Evangelion.
firehose and -1 others like this
17 Aug 16:58
Nintendo Fires Employee For Speaking On Podcast
Last week, Nintendo localization editor Chris Pranger made an appearance on a small podcast called Part-Time Gamers. This week, Nintendo fired him.
“Hello friends and family,” Pranger wrote in a heartbreaking public Facebook message this morning. “As many of you have probably seen, I am no longer at Nintendo. I was terminated this week due to a podcast appearance I made last Monday. It was a stupid judgment call on my part and ultimately it cost me far more than I could have imagined.”
On August 3, the Part-Time Gamers podcast posted their interview with Pranger, who spoke candidly about his work in Nintendo’s secretive Treehouse, where the company translates and localizes software from Japanese to English and other languages. In the following days, a number of Nintendo fan-sites and other message boards picked up on the interview, posting a whole lot of excerpts they found interesting. GoNintendo, for example, reported on Pranger defending the Wii U’s name and talking about how passionate Smash Bros. designer Masahiro Sakurai can be.
Although the podcast didn’t draw a ton of mainstream attention, fans found it fascinating because it has become so rare to hear Nintendo employees speak about the company without specific PR approval. Nintendo, like most Japanese video game companies, tends to prohibit its staff from speaking to the public about its inner workings unless they are given explicit approval from their communications teams both in the U.S. and Japan.
(Permalink)
“Hello friends and family,” Pranger wrote in a heartbreaking public Facebook message this morning. “As many of you have probably seen, I am no longer at Nintendo. I was terminated this week due to a podcast appearance I made last Monday. It was a stupid judgment call on my part and ultimately it cost me far more than I could have imagined.”
On August 3, the Part-Time Gamers podcast posted their interview with Pranger, who spoke candidly about his work in Nintendo’s secretive Treehouse, where the company translates and localizes software from Japanese to English and other languages. In the following days, a number of Nintendo fan-sites and other message boards picked up on the interview, posting a whole lot of excerpts they found interesting. GoNintendo, for example, reported on Pranger defending the Wii U’s name and talking about how passionate Smash Bros. designer Masahiro Sakurai can be.
Although the podcast didn’t draw a ton of mainstream attention, fans found it fascinating because it has become so rare to hear Nintendo employees speak about the company without specific PR approval. Nintendo, like most Japanese video game companies, tends to prohibit its staff from speaking to the public about its inner workings unless they are given explicit approval from their communications teams both in the U.S. and Japan.
(Permalink)
17 Aug 16:58
Ann Coulter Is a Human Being | Broadly
Over margaritas, Coulter and her friends joke about how immigrants "stole" lesbians' jobs and debate whether Mitt Romney could stage a comeback. Everything is going well--until I call Coulter a fag hag.
"I'm not a fag hag!" she screams. "I'm very picky about my fags!"
(Permalink)
"I'm not a fag hag!" she screams. "I'm very picky about my fags!"
(Permalink)
17 Aug 16:58
huffingtonpost: John Leguizamo Says High School History Makes...
John Leguizamo Says High School History Makes Latino Students Feel ‘Invisible’
Latino contributions to U.S. history remain largely absent from high school history books, and John Leguizamo is doing something about it.
Watch the full interview with John Leguizamo here.
Tertiarymatt, baron and one other like this
17 Aug 16:58
70 years ago, Japan surrendered with mixed emotions | Columbia Daily Herald
CLAREMONT, Calif. — Seventy years ago today, millions in Japan — factory and office workers in big cities, farmers in isolated rural communities — huddled around radios for what was to be a major announcement.
It was the first time most had ever heard Emperor Hirohito speak.
There was intense static in the broadcast for many, and the emperor spoke in an archaic version of the Japanese language, using verb tenses unrecognizable to the average citizen, said Samuel H. Yamashita, a professor of history at Pomona College.
But the message for 100 million Japanese citizens was nevertheless clear to all — Japan had surrendered.
Reactions varied widely across the nation among civilians and military personnel, said Yamashita, who has spent the last decade translating and studying published diaries of ordinary Japanese citizens from World War II and the years leading up to it.
His book, “Daily Life in Wartime Japan, 1940-1945,” is expected to be published in November by the University of Kansas Press.
Ordinary Japanese voices
“I had been teaching (Japanese history) full time for 15 years, when in the mid-1990s I realized there was nothing available in English of the views of ordinary people,” Yamashita said.
At the time, he began searching for diaries, eventually collecting more than 150.
His two-decade project to bring the journals of ordinary Japanese during the war years into the English-speaking world “is a great idea,” said Hakihiro Sano, administrative secretary for the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California. “It brings insight into the thinking and emotions of Japanese people during World War II… . It promotes understanding.”
Stories from a few of Yamashita’s dairies were the subject of an earlier book, “Leaves from an Autumn of Emergencies,” published in 2005.
“The Jeweled Sound,” the last chapter of his new book, examines the wide range of emotions expressed in response to Hirohito’s surrender announcement. The title is a reference to the emperor’s voice.
One of the more detailed diaries obtained by Yamashita was written by Tsuchida Shoji, a Japanese Army pilot.
As the war neared its end, Shoji had been waiting two weeks for his “special attack” orders, wartime Japanese-speak for a kamikaze suicide mission, Yamashita said.
“For a whole day I had no hope,” Shoji wrote in his journal, agonizing over “the pain of simply passing time idly. When I think about it, ours was a strange fate: a state that was an imperial country for 3,000 years is not a state today.”
Yamashita said that despite censorship, writings in dairies began to show some doubt, starting in 1943, that Japanese — especially women — realized their country might not win the war.
That became clear to more Japanese in October 1944 when the strategy of kamikaze attacks was known and a month later when bombings of the homeland began.
Initially these bombing runs focused on Japan’s industrial might but in March 1945, low-altitude bombing runs with incendiary devices took aim at the residential sections of large cities.
At the time, Japanese citizens lived in homes made of wood.
“Those were truly hellish times for people living in the big cities,” Yamashita said.
Children expressed the most hostility at the war’s conclusion, he said.
For example, Nakane Mihoko, 9, wrote in her diary: “Watch out, you terrible Americans and British! I will be sure to seek revenge.”
Terada Miyoko, a female college student who had been mobilized to work in a factory and then transferred to the Imperial Headquarters because she spoke English, wrote in her dairy:
“At long last, the great announcement that the war had ended was issued… . On Aug. 6 the enemy dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. I understood that the magnitude of the damage pained His Majesty.
“The military war has ended, but the next war has begun. This time, we (students) will become the warriors and will have to fight,” she wrote.
(Permalink)
It was the first time most had ever heard Emperor Hirohito speak.
There was intense static in the broadcast for many, and the emperor spoke in an archaic version of the Japanese language, using verb tenses unrecognizable to the average citizen, said Samuel H. Yamashita, a professor of history at Pomona College.
But the message for 100 million Japanese citizens was nevertheless clear to all — Japan had surrendered.
Reactions varied widely across the nation among civilians and military personnel, said Yamashita, who has spent the last decade translating and studying published diaries of ordinary Japanese citizens from World War II and the years leading up to it.
His book, “Daily Life in Wartime Japan, 1940-1945,” is expected to be published in November by the University of Kansas Press.
Ordinary Japanese voices
“I had been teaching (Japanese history) full time for 15 years, when in the mid-1990s I realized there was nothing available in English of the views of ordinary people,” Yamashita said.
At the time, he began searching for diaries, eventually collecting more than 150.
His two-decade project to bring the journals of ordinary Japanese during the war years into the English-speaking world “is a great idea,” said Hakihiro Sano, administrative secretary for the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California. “It brings insight into the thinking and emotions of Japanese people during World War II… . It promotes understanding.”
Stories from a few of Yamashita’s dairies were the subject of an earlier book, “Leaves from an Autumn of Emergencies,” published in 2005.
“The Jeweled Sound,” the last chapter of his new book, examines the wide range of emotions expressed in response to Hirohito’s surrender announcement. The title is a reference to the emperor’s voice.
One of the more detailed diaries obtained by Yamashita was written by Tsuchida Shoji, a Japanese Army pilot.
As the war neared its end, Shoji had been waiting two weeks for his “special attack” orders, wartime Japanese-speak for a kamikaze suicide mission, Yamashita said.
“For a whole day I had no hope,” Shoji wrote in his journal, agonizing over “the pain of simply passing time idly. When I think about it, ours was a strange fate: a state that was an imperial country for 3,000 years is not a state today.”
Yamashita said that despite censorship, writings in dairies began to show some doubt, starting in 1943, that Japanese — especially women — realized their country might not win the war.
That became clear to more Japanese in October 1944 when the strategy of kamikaze attacks was known and a month later when bombings of the homeland began.
Initially these bombing runs focused on Japan’s industrial might but in March 1945, low-altitude bombing runs with incendiary devices took aim at the residential sections of large cities.
At the time, Japanese citizens lived in homes made of wood.
“Those were truly hellish times for people living in the big cities,” Yamashita said.
Children expressed the most hostility at the war’s conclusion, he said.
For example, Nakane Mihoko, 9, wrote in her diary: “Watch out, you terrible Americans and British! I will be sure to seek revenge.”
Terada Miyoko, a female college student who had been mobilized to work in a factory and then transferred to the Imperial Headquarters because she spoke English, wrote in her dairy:
“At long last, the great announcement that the war had ended was issued… . On Aug. 6 the enemy dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. I understood that the magnitude of the damage pained His Majesty.
“The military war has ended, but the next war has begun. This time, we (students) will become the warriors and will have to fight,” she wrote.
(Permalink)
17 Aug 16:58
Warren Brown isn't sad he missed out on new Luther: 'I can watch as a fan' - Luther News - TV - Digital Spy
Game of Thrones actress Rose Leslie and Fortitude star Darren Boyd will join Elba for the new series, while Michael Smiley (Benny Silver) and Dermot Crowley (DSU Martin Schenk) will also reprise their old roles.
The BBC is yet to confirm if Ruth Wilson will also be back as Luther's nemesis and love interest Alice Morgan - though surely with Ripley gone, a little Alice isn't too much to ask?
(Permalink)
The BBC is yet to confirm if Ruth Wilson will also be back as Luther's nemesis and love interest Alice Morgan - though surely with Ripley gone, a little Alice isn't too much to ask?
(Permalink)
17 Aug 16:57
Hillary Clinton in Trouble? What's Behind Al Gore, Joe Biden Rumor Mill - NBC News
Sanders, in some ways, is in the same position of Howard Dean in 2004, Mike Huckabee in 2008, Rick Santorum in 2012. Even if you have popular support, it is hard to win the presidential nomination if the party establishment strongly opposes you. And Sanders, like those candidates, has a narrow base of support. White liberals have embraced him, but he remains far behind Clinton among moderate, conservative and non-white Democrats.
Sanders supporters argue Obama was in a similar place in 2008. He was not. Obama had a number of establishment figures in the party behind him in the early stages of the race. And once Obama won in Iowa, he became just as establishment as Clinton: scions of the Democratic Party like Ted Kennedy and Kerry endorsed him.
(Permalink)
Sanders supporters argue Obama was in a similar place in 2008. He was not. Obama had a number of establishment figures in the party behind him in the early stages of the race. And once Obama won in Iowa, he became just as establishment as Clinton: scions of the Democratic Party like Ted Kennedy and Kerry endorsed him.
(Permalink)
17 Aug 16:56
University Of Oregon Rape Accuser's Therapist Claims School Retaliated . News | OPB
A therapist who counseled the University of Oregon student who said she was raped by three UO basketball players has given notice that she and a colleague plan to sue the university.
The notice submitted to the university by their attorney accuses the university of retaliation because they complained about the school’s handling of the student’s therapy records. They say the files at the counseling center were accessed without the student’s knowledge.
University spokesman Tobin Klinger said in a statement that the allegations are baseless.
The student last year alleged she was raped by the players at an off-campus party. The Lane County district attorney didn’t file charges, citing a lack of evidence.
The student sued the university and the sides settled the case earlier this month.
(Permalink)
The notice submitted to the university by their attorney accuses the university of retaliation because they complained about the school’s handling of the student’s therapy records. They say the files at the counseling center were accessed without the student’s knowledge.
University spokesman Tobin Klinger said in a statement that the allegations are baseless.
The student last year alleged she was raped by the players at an off-campus party. The Lane County district attorney didn’t file charges, citing a lack of evidence.
The student sued the university and the sides settled the case earlier this month.
(Permalink)
17 Aug 16:56
6 Opportunities to Increase Diversity in High Tech | Women Code Heroes
Demand for skilled IT workers is growing, yet women’s participation is decreasing. The percentage of women in the U.S. IT workforce has dropped from 37% in 1996 to 25% in 2010. It appears that retention is one of the biggest factors in this decline. More than half of women who enter the IT workforce leave it while holding a midlevel position. Half of these leave the IT workforce altogether and head to other industries.
Most female programmers I know are the only women on their teams. Sometimes they are the only female tech worker in their entire company. Is it any wonder that women in this type of environment are choosing to leave technology careers for something more inclusive?
Our Retention Opportunity
One of the best ways to increase retention is to have more diverse teams in the first place. The Cumulative Gallup Workplace Studies found that companies with more diverse teams have a 22% lower turnover rate. Given the high cost of replacing technical employees and the concrete benefits of having diverse teams, diversity should be a priority for all high tech workplaces.
Companies can do a great deal to be more supportive of a diverse workforce. This includes offering flex time and paid maternity leave, reducing the “brogrammer” culture of beer-pong and all-night deployments, eliminating the pay gap between men and women, and ensuring that women have a strong voice in all levels of the organization.
(Permalink)
Most female programmers I know are the only women on their teams. Sometimes they are the only female tech worker in their entire company. Is it any wonder that women in this type of environment are choosing to leave technology careers for something more inclusive?
Our Retention Opportunity
One of the best ways to increase retention is to have more diverse teams in the first place. The Cumulative Gallup Workplace Studies found that companies with more diverse teams have a 22% lower turnover rate. Given the high cost of replacing technical employees and the concrete benefits of having diverse teams, diversity should be a priority for all high tech workplaces.
Companies can do a great deal to be more supportive of a diverse workforce. This includes offering flex time and paid maternity leave, reducing the “brogrammer” culture of beer-pong and all-night deployments, eliminating the pay gap between men and women, and ensuring that women have a strong voice in all levels of the organization.
(Permalink)
17 Aug 16:56
You Don’t Know It, But Women See Gender Bias in Your Job Postings | ERE
Are a few gender-themed words in your job descriptions signaling women, unconsciously, to not apply?
A scientific study of 4,000 job descriptions revealed that a lack of gender-inclusive wording caused significant implications for recruiting professionals tasked to recruit women to hard-to-fill positions underrepresented by women.
This study addressed questions such as: do job descriptions that lack feminine-gender words repel female applicants? Could the lack of gender-inclusive wording in your job description influence women to opt out and not apply? Are there gender bias characteristics in your job advertisements? Could the lack of gender-inclusive words actually be perpetuating gender inequality in your organization?
Let’s turn to a study published in the American Psychological Association by the authors Gaucher, Friesen, & Kay called, “Evidence That Gendered Wording in Job Advertisements Exists and Sustains Gender Inequality.” Researchers studied gender wording in job advertisements and job descriptions and the effect of gender wording on job seekers. The researchers first established that women’s style of communication is more communal, using more emotional and social words than men’s style of speech. Secondly, the researchers tied women’s perceptions of gendered words to previous research on the nature of subtle wording differences in job advertisements.
The researchers linguistically coded job descriptions found in a U.S. Department of Labor database that were predominately populated for masculine-themed words such as active, ambitious, analytical, competitive, dominate, challenging, confident, decisive, determined, independent, leader, objective, etc., as well as feminine-themed words such as committed, connected, cooperative, dependable, interpersonal, loyal, responsible, supportive, trust, etc. The results confirmed that job descriptions for male-dominated jobs contained more masculine-themed words associated with male stereotypes than job descriptions from female-dominated jobs and vice versa.
What impact could this subtle but systematic wording differences within job advertisements have on job seekers’ perceptions and subsequent behaviors?
The authors hypothesize that to women, masculine-themed words alerts them to the possibility that they will not fit or do not belong. To test this hypothesis, the researchers used 96 randomly selected job seekers to read different job descriptions, each constructed with masculine-themed words or feminine-themed words. For example, the masculinity worded advertisement for a registered nurse stated “We are determined to deliver superior medical treatment tailored to each individual patient,” whereas the femininely worded advertisement for the same registered nurse position stated, “We are committed to providing top quality health care that is sympathetic to the needs of our patients.” After reading each job description, the job seekers rated each on job appeal and sense of belongingness.
Example of feminine and masculine-themed words used in a engineering job description:
Engineer Company Description:
Feminine: We are a community of engineers who have effective relationships with many satisfied clients. We are committed to understanding the engineer sector intimately.
Masculine: We are a dominant engineering firm that boasts many leading clients. We are determined to stand apart from the competition.
Engineer Qualifications:
Feminine: Proficient oral and written communications skills. Collaborates well in a team environment. Sensitive to clients’ needs, can develop warm client relationships.
Masculine: Strong communication and influencing skills. Ability to perform individually in a competitive environment. Superior ability to satisfy customers and manage company’s association with them.
Engineer Responsibilities:
Feminine: Provide general support to project team in a manner complimentary to the company. Help clients with construction activities.
Masculine: Direct project groups to manage project progress and ensure accurate task control. Determine compliance with client’s objectives.
Not surprisingly, the results showed that women found that jobs with masculinity worded job descriptions less appealing, compared with the same types of jobs which used feminine wording across all job types — whether they were male or female dominated occupations — even though these gender words composed a small fraction of the total words in the job advertisement.
The research results were obvious: women job seekers were more interested in male-dominated jobs when advertisements were unbiased, making reference to both men and women as candidates. In other words, women and men, for example, may equally like and desire an engineering job, but highly masculine wording used in the job posting reduces women’s appeal of the job because it signals that women do not fit or belong in that job. In this way, qualified male and female applicants are opting out of jobs that they could perform well.
Generally, the findings found that gendered-themed words had the greatest effect on women. Perhaps many job descriptions, with their established gender wording, repels female applicants and maintains traditional gender inequality in male-dominated jobs. The results of this research suggest replacing the masculine-themed words with similar feminine-themed words, which would increase women’s interest in those advertisements.
The nuance of gender-themed words makes it a particularly pernicious and powerful contributor to inequality because it was found, surprisingly, that not one participant realized the presence of the gendered language. Instead of attributing their perceptions to the use of gender language, participants attributed their reasons to personal lack of interest in the job or just general lack of appeal.
The implications to recruiting professionals, and especially those who are expending valuable time and resources on attracting skilled women in hard to fill occupations, are many. Are our traditional job postings repelling the same valuable candidates we are trying so hard to attract and recruit? Are we unintentionally contributing to the same gender inequality we oppose?
(Permalink)
A scientific study of 4,000 job descriptions revealed that a lack of gender-inclusive wording caused significant implications for recruiting professionals tasked to recruit women to hard-to-fill positions underrepresented by women.
This study addressed questions such as: do job descriptions that lack feminine-gender words repel female applicants? Could the lack of gender-inclusive wording in your job description influence women to opt out and not apply? Are there gender bias characteristics in your job advertisements? Could the lack of gender-inclusive words actually be perpetuating gender inequality in your organization?
Let’s turn to a study published in the American Psychological Association by the authors Gaucher, Friesen, & Kay called, “Evidence That Gendered Wording in Job Advertisements Exists and Sustains Gender Inequality.” Researchers studied gender wording in job advertisements and job descriptions and the effect of gender wording on job seekers. The researchers first established that women’s style of communication is more communal, using more emotional and social words than men’s style of speech. Secondly, the researchers tied women’s perceptions of gendered words to previous research on the nature of subtle wording differences in job advertisements.
The researchers linguistically coded job descriptions found in a U.S. Department of Labor database that were predominately populated for masculine-themed words such as active, ambitious, analytical, competitive, dominate, challenging, confident, decisive, determined, independent, leader, objective, etc., as well as feminine-themed words such as committed, connected, cooperative, dependable, interpersonal, loyal, responsible, supportive, trust, etc. The results confirmed that job descriptions for male-dominated jobs contained more masculine-themed words associated with male stereotypes than job descriptions from female-dominated jobs and vice versa.
What impact could this subtle but systematic wording differences within job advertisements have on job seekers’ perceptions and subsequent behaviors?
The authors hypothesize that to women, masculine-themed words alerts them to the possibility that they will not fit or do not belong. To test this hypothesis, the researchers used 96 randomly selected job seekers to read different job descriptions, each constructed with masculine-themed words or feminine-themed words. For example, the masculinity worded advertisement for a registered nurse stated “We are determined to deliver superior medical treatment tailored to each individual patient,” whereas the femininely worded advertisement for the same registered nurse position stated, “We are committed to providing top quality health care that is sympathetic to the needs of our patients.” After reading each job description, the job seekers rated each on job appeal and sense of belongingness.
Example of feminine and masculine-themed words used in a engineering job description:
Engineer Company Description:
Feminine: We are a community of engineers who have effective relationships with many satisfied clients. We are committed to understanding the engineer sector intimately.
Masculine: We are a dominant engineering firm that boasts many leading clients. We are determined to stand apart from the competition.
Engineer Qualifications:
Feminine: Proficient oral and written communications skills. Collaborates well in a team environment. Sensitive to clients’ needs, can develop warm client relationships.
Masculine: Strong communication and influencing skills. Ability to perform individually in a competitive environment. Superior ability to satisfy customers and manage company’s association with them.
Engineer Responsibilities:
Feminine: Provide general support to project team in a manner complimentary to the company. Help clients with construction activities.
Masculine: Direct project groups to manage project progress and ensure accurate task control. Determine compliance with client’s objectives.
Not surprisingly, the results showed that women found that jobs with masculinity worded job descriptions less appealing, compared with the same types of jobs which used feminine wording across all job types — whether they were male or female dominated occupations — even though these gender words composed a small fraction of the total words in the job advertisement.
The research results were obvious: women job seekers were more interested in male-dominated jobs when advertisements were unbiased, making reference to both men and women as candidates. In other words, women and men, for example, may equally like and desire an engineering job, but highly masculine wording used in the job posting reduces women’s appeal of the job because it signals that women do not fit or belong in that job. In this way, qualified male and female applicants are opting out of jobs that they could perform well.
Generally, the findings found that gendered-themed words had the greatest effect on women. Perhaps many job descriptions, with their established gender wording, repels female applicants and maintains traditional gender inequality in male-dominated jobs. The results of this research suggest replacing the masculine-themed words with similar feminine-themed words, which would increase women’s interest in those advertisements.
The nuance of gender-themed words makes it a particularly pernicious and powerful contributor to inequality because it was found, surprisingly, that not one participant realized the presence of the gendered language. Instead of attributing their perceptions to the use of gender language, participants attributed their reasons to personal lack of interest in the job or just general lack of appeal.
The implications to recruiting professionals, and especially those who are expending valuable time and resources on attracting skilled women in hard to fill occupations, are many. Are our traditional job postings repelling the same valuable candidates we are trying so hard to attract and recruit? Are we unintentionally contributing to the same gender inequality we oppose?
(Permalink)
17 Aug 16:56
becna: overheal: asylum-art-2: Skeleton Coffee Table by...
Skeleton Coffee Table by Skelemental
This is Full Throttle, a rather unusual skeleton coffee table, and Skelemental’s first piece of furniture. Full size skeleton busts, one being strangled by the other. Bronze skeletons on a brushed steel base. Limited edition of just three sculptures. via:skullappreciationsociety
“dave shut the fuck up just hold it”
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”
firehose and -1 others like this
17 Aug 16:56
Someone: "Tchaikovsky, cannons are not instruments."
Someone: "Tchaikovsky, cannons are not instruments."
Tchaikovsky probably: "Yes they are and I'm going to use 21 of them."
Someone: "Tchaikovsky no."
Tchaikovsky: "Tchaikovsky yes."
Tchaikovsky probably: "Yes they are and I'm going to use 21 of them."
Someone: "Tchaikovsky no."
Tchaikovsky: "Tchaikovsky yes."
firehose and -1 others like this
17 Aug 16:55
Apple adds support for Windows 10 on Apple boot camp 6 | NYC Today
Apple has added Windows 10 support for Apple boot camp 6 for many Apple devices including MacBook, Mac mini, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The latest version of the Apple boot camp software will allow 64-bit Windows 10 for the first time. Boot Camp 6 also offers additional support for Apple hardware for Microsoft Windows 10.
Windows 10 will be running on Apple hardware within a virtual environment. Apple users who have missed using Windows, now have a choice. With Boot Camp 6, users will be able to run Mac OS X and Windows 10 on the same Mac but on two different partitions. The documents between Windows and Mac OS X will be shared on the other system. So, users will have the option to run both operating systems on a single machine.
Boot Camp 6 will be supported on Apple Mac and other devices from year 2012 onwards. Apple has also released a list of all the Mac minis, MacBook Pros and MacBook Air devices supporting Boot Camp 6.
(Permalink)
Windows 10 will be running on Apple hardware within a virtual environment. Apple users who have missed using Windows, now have a choice. With Boot Camp 6, users will be able to run Mac OS X and Windows 10 on the same Mac but on two different partitions. The documents between Windows and Mac OS X will be shared on the other system. So, users will have the option to run both operating systems on a single machine.
Boot Camp 6 will be supported on Apple Mac and other devices from year 2012 onwards. Apple has also released a list of all the Mac minis, MacBook Pros and MacBook Air devices supporting Boot Camp 6.
(Permalink)
17 Aug 16:55
obsessedwithskulls: Beautiful skeleton painting by Kathleen...
firehose and -1 others like this
14 Aug 00:21
adulthoodisokay: This is an actual photo caption in a Guardian...
firehosevia Toaster Strudel
This is an actual photo caption in a Guardian article.
The person who did this is my patronus for today.
Russian Sledges, Lblock and -1 others like this
14 Aug 00:20
Bic Apologizes for Controversial Ad That Sparked Major Backlash
A message encouraging women to “look like a girl” and “think like a man” has been removed from Bic South Africa’s Facebook page after the pen manufacturer posted it in honor of National Women’s Day. On Tuesday, it posted an apology in its place.
South Africa’s Women’s Day is a national holiday celebrated every Aug. 9, paying homage to women’s strength and power, so users were surprised to see an ad from Bic South Africa that told women to think like a man. The message read: “Look like a girl/Act like a lady/Think like a man/Work like a boss.”
(Permalink)
South Africa’s Women’s Day is a national holiday celebrated every Aug. 9, paying homage to women’s strength and power, so users were surprised to see an ad from Bic South Africa that told women to think like a man. The message read: “Look like a girl/Act like a lady/Think like a man/Work like a boss.”
(Permalink)
14 Aug 00:16
femmesorcery: timeywimeyjedi: “Hey, I don’t appreciate your...
firehosevia Toaster Strudel
bye
“Hey, I don’t appreciate your lack of sarcasm.” - Louise Belcher
Dear god
Russian Sledges, ThePrettiestOne and -1 others like this
13 Aug 23:55
abbey-lubber, n.
firehoseyo, is it
OED Word of the Day: abbey-lubber, n. A derogatory term during the English Reformation for: a monk living in idleness and self-indulgence
firehose and -1 others like this
13 Aug 23:54
Flowers Foods, the company buying Dave's Killer Bread, is a massive supporter of the Republican Party.
firehosemwip
13 Aug 23:52
There is an indiegogo campaign underway to build a lifesize Minas Tirith in the South of England.
Cold hard facts about where the giant city will be built, how it will be built and quite what will happen once it has been built are sparse, but the campaign is looking to raise £1.85bn to build a complete, lifesize copy of Tolkien’s famous city from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Jonathan Wilson who set up the crowdfunding page writes “We are an ambitious team of architects and structural engineers who are passionate about creating a beautiful, inspirational and fully-functioning replica of Peter Jackson’s depiction of Minas Tirith, as seen in his Lord of the Rings films.”
The campaign runs for 60 days (48 left at the time of writing) and offers backers the chance to have guided tours around the city, be commemorated in plaques, name streets and even buy property depending on the size of their pledge.
The sceptic in me isn’t sure that they’re going to make the £1.85bn. The child in me wants to own a home in Minas Tirth. If only I had a few thousand pound to spare.
Realise Minas Tirith on Indiegogo
(Original RSS Post)
ICE Crowdfunding a lifesize Minas Tirith
by RPGnet News
firehoseok
There is an indiegogo campaign underway to build a lifesize Minas Tirith in the South of England.Cold hard facts about where the giant city will be built, how it will be built and quite what will happen once it has been built are sparse, but the campaign is looking to raise £1.85bn to build a complete, lifesize copy of Tolkien’s famous city from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Jonathan Wilson who set up the crowdfunding page writes “We are an ambitious team of architects and structural engineers who are passionate about creating a beautiful, inspirational and fully-functioning replica of Peter Jackson’s depiction of Minas Tirith, as seen in his Lord of the Rings films.”
The campaign runs for 60 days (48 left at the time of writing) and offers backers the chance to have guided tours around the city, be commemorated in plaques, name streets and even buy property depending on the size of their pledge.
The sceptic in me isn’t sure that they’re going to make the £1.85bn. The child in me wants to own a home in Minas Tirth. If only I had a few thousand pound to spare.
Realise Minas Tirith on Indiegogo
(Original RSS Post)
13 Aug 23:51
Is there interest in an RPG based on Kabbalah?
by Monster Manuel
firehoseKabbalah and GURPS, what could possibly
This isn't a backwards way of promoting my game, as I'm not even sure if my sig has a current link to my site in it. I'm actually having a crisis of well, Faith.
I've spent the last 11 years learning Kabbalah from a mostly agnostic standpoint (with periods of full on mysticism), in order to turn what I learned into a generic RPG like Fate or GURPS. It's a long way to go to make a game, but I'm happy with what I've learned and experienced. As I near the point of a playtest document, though I'm wondering if what I have will be appealing to gamers, rather than Kabbalists.
I chose Kabbalah because it did the job I set out for the game, as a model that attempted to describe reality.
Back when I started, I decided that I wanted my game to be able to handle certain things, such as the concept of worlds within worlds- movies like The Matrix, The 13th Floor, and later, Inception. Wherever the action took place, the rules would be handled the same way, even if they were combined differently to create differing laws of physics in a realm. In other words, damage is damage, and resistance is resistance. This meant that spiritual combat had to use the same basic effects as physical combat, though with different stakes. I also wanted a game where what you were fighting for had a cause and effect relationship with what you could accomplish, and where you could build anything from component parts.
I won't keep pushing what I wanted, as whether I got it remains to be seen, but I found a model that did everything I was asking of this game in Traditional Jewish Kabbalah. It was never a gimmick, if it had been I'd likely have finished the game long ago. Rather, I wanted to find a conceptually solid model to crib from. Kabbalah was it for me.
I decided to model the forces of creation in Kabbalah-- the letters of the Hebrew Alphabet and the sephiroth of the Tree of life-- using what I called "Elements"- words that serve as the components of Effects and structures. They are simultaneously nouns and verbs, so you can use them as either in context. I've talked about the game before, so maybe if you Google me with regards to the project (called "Tribute"), you'll get more data. Long story short, it works a bit like a syntactic magic system with nouns and verbs- or perhaps a simple object-oriented programming language. I't's not a traditional Effects-based game where you can buy powers off the rack, because you can build your most basic effects from components that do things like convey their target in any specified frame of reference, or drain energy of any kind, rather than taking a flight power and tailoring it. There will of course be premade powers for those who want them, but that's not the standard mode that the game intends. What I have works in the tests I've done, but it's a high commitment game- more Pathfinder or GURPS than Fudge.
Here's the crux of my question; do you think that there is a market for a game like this? I'm not asking if you'd play it, per se, but whether you think others might. I'm having trouble getting feedback from people who previously signed up as playtesters, and was beginning to doubt the game's appeal to its intended audience. I fear I've gone off the rails in those playtester's eyes, and lost them.
As for the Kabbalah aspects, so far they look sound. I've been going over my outline documents with a Rabbi who focuses on Kabbalah, and he thinks that what he's seen looks good. When we finish going over my files soon, I'll fix whatever needs work and get started on the playtest document. He's mentioned possibly funding the game, and using it as a teaching tool for students. I'd just like it to go beyond that. I'd like actual roleplayers to play and enjoy it. I'm trying to figure out if that's realistic.
I'd just hate to have spent 11 years developing a "game" that was useful mostly as an academic curiosity. I want to play it!
Thanks.
I've spent the last 11 years learning Kabbalah from a mostly agnostic standpoint (with periods of full on mysticism), in order to turn what I learned into a generic RPG like Fate or GURPS. It's a long way to go to make a game, but I'm happy with what I've learned and experienced. As I near the point of a playtest document, though I'm wondering if what I have will be appealing to gamers, rather than Kabbalists.
I chose Kabbalah because it did the job I set out for the game, as a model that attempted to describe reality.
Back when I started, I decided that I wanted my game to be able to handle certain things, such as the concept of worlds within worlds- movies like The Matrix, The 13th Floor, and later, Inception. Wherever the action took place, the rules would be handled the same way, even if they were combined differently to create differing laws of physics in a realm. In other words, damage is damage, and resistance is resistance. This meant that spiritual combat had to use the same basic effects as physical combat, though with different stakes. I also wanted a game where what you were fighting for had a cause and effect relationship with what you could accomplish, and where you could build anything from component parts.
I won't keep pushing what I wanted, as whether I got it remains to be seen, but I found a model that did everything I was asking of this game in Traditional Jewish Kabbalah. It was never a gimmick, if it had been I'd likely have finished the game long ago. Rather, I wanted to find a conceptually solid model to crib from. Kabbalah was it for me.
I decided to model the forces of creation in Kabbalah-- the letters of the Hebrew Alphabet and the sephiroth of the Tree of life-- using what I called "Elements"- words that serve as the components of Effects and structures. They are simultaneously nouns and verbs, so you can use them as either in context. I've talked about the game before, so maybe if you Google me with regards to the project (called "Tribute"), you'll get more data. Long story short, it works a bit like a syntactic magic system with nouns and verbs- or perhaps a simple object-oriented programming language. I't's not a traditional Effects-based game where you can buy powers off the rack, because you can build your most basic effects from components that do things like convey their target in any specified frame of reference, or drain energy of any kind, rather than taking a flight power and tailoring it. There will of course be premade powers for those who want them, but that's not the standard mode that the game intends. What I have works in the tests I've done, but it's a high commitment game- more Pathfinder or GURPS than Fudge.
Here's the crux of my question; do you think that there is a market for a game like this? I'm not asking if you'd play it, per se, but whether you think others might. I'm having trouble getting feedback from people who previously signed up as playtesters, and was beginning to doubt the game's appeal to its intended audience. I fear I've gone off the rails in those playtester's eyes, and lost them.
As for the Kabbalah aspects, so far they look sound. I've been going over my outline documents with a Rabbi who focuses on Kabbalah, and he thinks that what he's seen looks good. When we finish going over my files soon, I'll fix whatever needs work and get started on the playtest document. He's mentioned possibly funding the game, and using it as a teaching tool for students. I'd just like it to go beyond that. I'd like actual roleplayers to play and enjoy it. I'm trying to figure out if that's realistic.
I'd just hate to have spent 11 years developing a "game" that was useful mostly as an academic curiosity. I want to play it!
Thanks.
13 Aug 23:50
Indeed folks, Roan Kickstarter begins, with the support of Jeff Combos, Ross Watson, and other known rpg writers as advisors, I Robert Morris am the creator of Roan.
I have had the honor of working with well over 20+ artists as well to provide a full colored and illustrated rpg book!
So far the KS has had a grand start, and continues to trudge forward, like a sherman tank up a steep hill, slowly but surely!
We certainly hope for your support and look forward to providing even more to the world for many of you players and GMs to enjoy!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/349890202/roan
What is Roan?
A pony inspired world set in a 1940s style era. Will you defend your country from the Ratvarian Empire, or race to be the first to rediscover lost cities and ancient secrets!
What can you do?
Venture on as a band of intrepid explorers and soldiers, by hoof, by plane, and by airship to discover lost cities, ward away mysterious creatures, or fend off the Ratvarian Anarchists!
*Kickstarter* Roan an mlp inspired world set in the 40s
by Clear Skies
firehosemeanwhile, in gamer culture
Indeed folks, Roan Kickstarter begins, with the support of Jeff Combos, Ross Watson, and other known rpg writers as advisors, I Robert Morris am the creator of Roan.
I have had the honor of working with well over 20+ artists as well to provide a full colored and illustrated rpg book!
So far the KS has had a grand start, and continues to trudge forward, like a sherman tank up a steep hill, slowly but surely!
We certainly hope for your support and look forward to providing even more to the world for many of you players and GMs to enjoy!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/349890202/roan
What is Roan?
A pony inspired world set in a 1940s style era. Will you defend your country from the Ratvarian Empire, or race to be the first to rediscover lost cities and ancient secrets!
What can you do?
Venture on as a band of intrepid explorers and soldiers, by hoof, by plane, and by airship to discover lost cities, ward away mysterious creatures, or fend off the Ratvarian Anarchists!
13 Aug 23:49
'Sesame Street' Heads To HBO. Is It A Win-Win For Kids? : NPR Ed : NPR
firehose"Sesame Street shows now accessible on Amazon and Netflix will soon go away under this new agreement."
It seems like a smart move for HBO and Sesame Workshop in the digital era, when viewers have all but overthrown the tyranny of network programming clocks. Viewers want to watch when they want on what device they want.
And, with the rise of competition from on-demand and streaming services, including Amazon and Netflix, outside revenue for Sesame Workshop was in the potty. Licensing deals including foreign rights, DVDs and toy sales make up most of the group's revenue, with only about 10 percent coming from PBS.
Income from those sources was hit hard by the rise of new viewing services and options. Sesame Street shows now accessible on Amazon and Netflix will soon go away under this new agreement.
(Permalink)
And, with the rise of competition from on-demand and streaming services, including Amazon and Netflix, outside revenue for Sesame Workshop was in the potty. Licensing deals including foreign rights, DVDs and toy sales make up most of the group's revenue, with only about 10 percent coming from PBS.
Income from those sources was hit hard by the rise of new viewing services and options. Sesame Street shows now accessible on Amazon and Netflix will soon go away under this new agreement.
(Permalink)