G+ Migration Blog

'Cuz the middle east wasn't unstable enough. Then again, when was the last time it was stable? http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/30/world/meast/israel-missing-teenagers/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/30/world/meast/israel-missing-teenagers/index.html

A respected colleague of long experience posted a link to this article in Forbes about the FB brou-ha-ha. I think it's one of the better thought ones I've seen, thus far, and makes points well and clearly*. The only significant quibble I have is that the author suggests the checkbox she clicked telling 23andMe they could use her genetic info for research is an answer. That betrays even her lack of understanding of informed consent. http://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2014/06/29/facebook-doesnt-understand-the-fuss-about-its-emotion-manipulation-study/ The short version is that a checkbox leaves open questions of coercion, vulnerable populations, comprehension, and judgment, to pick a few. These all have non-colloquial, technical definitions in the context of consent, and that's what I'm referencing.   The longer version is that I looked up 23andMe. IF you read all the info on all the pages, even without signing up, they are trying to encourage you to participate in r...

Happy birthday Drew Gillmore!

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of the deaths of 19 Hotshots in an Arizona wildfire. Some people are heroic just doing their jobs.  http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/2014/06/28/yarnell-fire-prescott-pain-lingers/11661827/

Now that I've gotten that off my chest ... Something nice did happen today. The boring preamble is that I went with my parents to a very nice brunch, and then to a high level (verifiably artisanal!) art show this morning. It almost went horribly, horribly wrong, but it turned out mediocre*. Which, under the circumstances, is GREAT! On to the nice! One of the exhibitors at the art show was a calligrapher, one of whose primary media is illuminated manuscripts. For whatever reason, I started chatting with her, and said, "My first piano teacher, when I was 3 years old, was a nun at Villa Maria ..." Which she immediately interrupted with, "I know who you're talking about. It's Sister Martinell. She taught me calligraphy."  I used to watch Sister Martinell do illumination, sometimes, which is how I got fascinated with it. It turns out, she taught illumination and calligraphy, and this woman was one of her students. What was very cool to me was that she said s...

tl;dr warning: I am a wee (free men) bit peeved at the Facebook Department of Psychology Department thing. I kind of lost it when I read the article kindly linked to in The Atlantic, where the acknowledged editor of the article was interviewed. I am probably conflating reviewer and editor at this point, but whatever. Points stand. Quote 1: "I think their beef is with Facebook, really, not the research." No. The "beef" is with someone messing with your head a la Gaslight . Which IS the research. Which IS unethical. [Hi, would you like to sign up for some research that may have significant psychological and emotional consequences? For free? Without your knowledge? Even if you are not an adult?] Quote 2: "There is no unnecessary collection of people’s data in connection with these research initiatives and all data is stored securely." Nice way to not answer the question, Facebook. Quotes 3a & b: "Facebook, as a private company, doesn't have to ag...

Please let today not be a bad day.

Got some beet greens and mustard greens at the farmers market today. Sauteed them in olive oil and garlic tonight. The beet greens taste pretty much the same as chard, to me. And I have teeny, tiny baby beets that I plan to clean and roast later. The more interesting experiment turned out to be the mustard greens. I nibbled on them before cooking and they were sweet and peppery. After cooking, however, they had become bitter. Growing up, one thing I had learned was that if you pick greens (along with many other things) after they had gotten too large, they would be tougher and more bitter, which has generally been my experience. These were not large, late greens. Besides, as I said, I tasted them and they were not bitter at all before they were cooked.  After thinking about it a little bit, my suspicion is that the greens reacted with the aluminum pan. They shouldn't, it's a fancy anodized one. A theory I will test with either a cast iron, ceramic, or enamel pan another time. H...

I must read the work of the person who wrote this. From 2014 Hugo Nominee “The Water That Falls on You From Nowhere” by John Chu "The water that falls on you from nowhere when you lie is perfectly ordinary, but perfectly pure. True fact. I tested it myself when the water started falling a few weeks ago. Everyone on Earth did. Everyone with any sense of lab safety anyway. Never assume any liquid is just water. When you say “I always document my experiments as I go along,” enough water falls to test, but not so much that you have to mop up the lab. Which lie doesn’t matter. The liquid tests as distilled water every time." I am dying of laughter over here.

Went to interesting diversity festival in an old neighborhood that is somewhat revitalizing, much of it through new groups of immigrants. Historically, much of it was Italian, and I'm guessing at least half of that was southern Italian and/or Sicilian for Reasons (Yes, you've seen too many movies, except the basic facts are true. No, really, they are really true.). Partial listing: Laotian, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Peruvian, Puerto Rican (yes, they're citizens, I know, stahp), Jamaican, Sudanese, Ethiopian (seemingly more than one region or group?). Only went for a couple hours - Too Darn Hot (points for reference, bonus for what the reference references - cheat code: Shakespeare). It was 89 degrees and No Shade. Lots of food choices. Had the best darn fried okra since I was in the South, y'all. Had a Chinese "meat pie", which was a new thing to me (It's not a dumpling!). Loved watching the Lao, not Thai, place make real deal green papaya salad - in a big cl...

Sometimes it's the simple things. In fact, it seems like that might be useful here for a number of applications. Biomedical engineering - where the best stuff frequently comes from, lately. http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/06/27/3970437/dukes-pratt-pouch-recognized-as.html?sp=/99/102/114/ http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/06/27/3970437/dukes-pratt-pouch-recognized-as.html?sp=/99/102/114

I am severely irritable today. I want to punch things.

Went to a different farm - cute animals, fwiw - and their strawberry beds at least have raised beds and are mostly clear between the rows. Still weeds, although not 4 foot high ones. Meanwhile, asked if I could taste before I spent money to pick, and their berries, which looked perfect, tasted as sour as the other place's had. So I asked about it and was told that there hasn't been enough sun. Not really sure about the specifics, exactly, because it's not like it's been raining a la PNW. In fact, it hasn't rained a whole lot, and it hasn't exactly been particularly overcast, either. What has happened is that it was colder, later and the season for strawberries is about 2 weeks late. Regardless, apparently the only berries are the ones that look good, taste horrid, and you might be able to make jam out of them, but otherwise forget it. They don't even taste like strawberries. Feeling generally irritable, still.

Cool. I used to love going to Casa Loma as a kid. Originally shared by Anthony Whittingham "Missing the world record by 20" / World Pride same -sex Mass Wedding draws 110 #LGBT couples to Canada / venue of Casa Loma built 1911 / Toronto ON #worldpride2014

Maybe I think this is reasonably well-written because I agree with the very last bit of this: "Would you want someone outside your pediatrician’s office telling you and your children as you bring them to an immunization appointment that vaccinating them will cause them to contract autism and retardation? Would that person's right to free speech trump your right to access medical care without harassment?" Edit: this article is about the decision removing barrier zones in Massachusetts from around so-called abortion clinics. http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-80646668/ http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-80646668

So I gather this source is a little biased toward the left side of the political spectrum. That aside, what about how the Red Cross spends its money could be that big a secret? I mean, it is pertinent to me as a potential donor whether or not that money goes to a person who's homeless post disaster of the week versus a presumably reasonably well paid law firm. And, for example, if the way the funds get distributed implies a bias favoring certain groups over others, whether intentional or not, this is also relevant. Otoh, if this is a private firm, I believe they are protected by law from being required to hand out certain info.  http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/red-cross-sandy-money-secret http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/red-cross-sandy-money-secret

Of the many Shakespeare festivals to which I have been, the amazing fact that this one is free , and so far as I know always has been, will continue to stand as a chief virtue in its favor. http://shakespeareindelawarepark.org/ http://shakespeareindelawarepark.org

So, I did get sleep last night, but today is not going better than yesterday. Still all psycho emotional roiled up bummed out. Wonder if it is a reaction to the crap from last week with the person who seems to have really left and has not showed up again recently. Doesn't matter, as am feeling all donwanna stay in bed-ish, wallowing in a sea of negative.

If I want steak*, I have to leave the house and go where other people are. I'm not sure I'm that motivated. *It is odd how often I've wanted it, lately.

I choose not to let my mother get to me. And I'm going to keep repeating that until it's almost true.

Wonder if there's an app version. It's kind of neat, esp if you work in graphic better than text terms. Originally shared by Bill Farrow Nice graphical view of timezone differences. http://bit.ly/1nGzwMM

What is with g+? All of a sudden, it is showing me things from days ago, instead of recent postings?

Oh, look, that thunderstorm they've been promising for almost two weeks may be trying to make an appearance.

Today was not a good day. Maybe it started with the not sleeping, but then it seemed like a dozen little things piled up on me. Things that are pointless and silly and shouldn't be worth being bothered by, and there probably weren't a dozen of them. Several, but not that many. Anyway, I'm bummed that today turned out that way, and I hope I will not continue to feel this way, as it is unproductive.

What in the world is the Japan vs Columbia soccer doodle? Electronic eggs?

Great. In spite of everything, I'd been getting some sleep. But not tonight, oh, no. Tonight we had the up every hour or two anxiety panic waking up for no specific reason. Isn't that special.

Wow. I can't believe I had to look this up to get it. It is an excellent pun of the most brilliant kind. http://xkcd.com/1383/ http://xkcd.com/1383

ION, Disney is apparently ruining Into The Woods . Because Disney. http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/06/into-the-woods-song-cuts-sex-song-rapunzel-death http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/06/into-the-woods-song-cuts-sex-song-rapunzel-death

I completely forgot about this book until I saw it on tor.com . I loved this book as a kid! I even copied the illustrations freehand, I liked it so much. http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/06/time-travel-or-possession-by-ghosts-the-court-of-the-stone-children http://www.tor.com/blogs/2014/06/time-travel-or-possession-by-ghosts-the-court-of-the-stone-children

Have I mentioned the piriformis? I can't remember. Anyway, I am eyeing my own personal foam roller, so I can use it anytime. Also, likely to acquire tennis ball for similar purposes.

Something I did yesterday morning. Buffalo, NY has the largest remaining complex of grain elevators in the world. It is also where the modern grain elevator was invented. Parts of it are still working, like the General Mills plant where they make Gold Medal flour and cereals like Cheerios. It's known as "Elevator Alley" or "Silo City". I'm not sure, but I think Silo City specifically refers to a section that a businessman bought in the early 2000s with the original intention of making ethanol from corn, but that didn't work out, so he's worked with lots of groups to find ways to repurpose what isn't being used for grain. They do guided tours (1 1/2-2 hours) of his roughly 6 acre patch and the buildings on it. There was all sorts of fascinating history, like the saloon boss system that dominated the jobs on the waterfront and its connections into the modern era of newspapers and politics; how basically all the grain grown in the upper midwest went...

I like the google doodle today. Why, no, we aren't using our large projection screen to watch soccer. * whistling *

Random summary of recent past: found local organic farm with pick your own strawberries. Have gone to many such places in different parts of two countries over the years, and was multiply, deeply disappointed with this one. First of all, although I'm aware that there is a (new?) thought process that there is a balance between controlling weeds and optimizing growing conditions and the biosphere, I have never seen a supposedly cultivated field that was indistinguishable from a wild, overgrown meadow. We're talking 4 foot high pricker weeds.  But, ok, I came out here, I'm gettin' some strawberries. I always wear long sleeves and long pants and sturdy shoes for this sort of thing, anyhow. And a hat, which has nothing to do with the weeds, except for it getting stuck when you bend over to pick the berries. Secondly, if you're gonna have a cultivated strawberry field, what is with the completely uneven ground hidden beneath a thick, wet layer of straw between the almost ...

It seems there is a shot called a car bomb? Possibly a politically incorrect name, based on the implications of its constituents. Anyway, somebody made an eponymous cupcake. Wow. The silly sprinkles aside, the dark, dark chocolate cake was dense, moist, and unquestionably tasted of stout. The less dark chocolate ganache filling tasted A Lot like whiskey, and the buttercream frosting tasted like Bailey's. I think I will forever think all frosting is too sweet, now, but anyone under 10 would probably want to bathe in it. While I appreciate the occasional dense, moist cake, my preference tends towards the tastes rich but feels light type of thing. Again, anyone under 10 would be all over this, except that under 10s do not usually favor bitter flavor profiles. Otherwise, this was quite the impressive cupcake.  

Today, in brief: - Got some rhubarb. The strawberries are so late this year, that it is a very poor overlap. And expensive! - There was apparently a confrontation last night, precipitated by a particular additional occurrence. People did not sleep in the same room, nor was there converse this am. There was some tentative and tense rapprochement this pm. - It has supposedly left for its own region. We hopes so, precious. - We all went to a wake this afternoon for a really good guy my mom used to work with. A stocky little Irish-American who was all around good people. This was unexpected, and my mom is very sad.  http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/obituaries/william-j-hurley-longtime-city-of-tonawanda-educator-20140620 Argle bargle.

Happy Solstice, folks. True Facts (which I only just had pointed out to me so I must share), Peter Quincy Taggart, the captain in Galaxy Quest , is named for the leader of the troupe of actors in A Midsummer Night's Dream , Peter Quince.

So, the house doesn't smell particularly of urine, anymore.  ... I need an emoji that shows steam coming out of its head, it's so angry. He showed up Monday, right? It was just Monday? I can't even tell, anymore. It's like forever.

The google doodle amuses me (reporter kicked in head by soccer ball). I am in a mean mood.

How to respond to dangerous narcissists - When they say:  "I don't want to be a burden." Appropriate responses:  "Then get out." Inappropriate responses:  Everything else. This post not approved by Emily Post or Amy Vanderbilt.

It would seem my mother told my father he is to treat my uncle like he is a guest in her house. I wanted to say we are, an unwelcome guest. I'm not even gonna touch the my house thing. Also, I am required to speak to him. Hah.

Happy birthday Chris Hammock!

Wonder if this will work. And if we should import it. Originally shared by Wanda Baker Canada's Anti-Spam Law comes into effect July 1st. http://www.marketingprofs.com/chirp/2014/25293/how-canadas-anti-spam-law-affects-email-marketers?adref=nlt060914 http://www.marketingprofs.com/chirp/2014/25293/how-canadas-anti-spam-law-affects-email-marketers?adref=nlt060914

I am going strawberry picking. If I can find any. I will feel better.

The hospital tried to admit him. But he's legally (and only legally) competent. It seems he had another key to his car, took a taxi, came here and took his car at some point, left, and tried to go to my grandparents old house. My mom got a call from the police this morning. She just left. That's what I know. Are we having fun, yet? Have you ever heard the kind of laughter that has an edge to it that makes you concerned about the laughers mental health? You know, not actually hysterical, just an edge.

Oh, lol. It would seem my father informed my sister of the goings on, which prompted her calling me, which prompted me returning her call. 2 hours and 21 minutes later, her commentary would make mine seem temperate and restrained. Delicate and reserved, even. Lol. She is very disappointed!

Ok. Dad is home and uncomfortable, but stable. Mom left that person at the ER when they took him in and came home. She is apparently going to call the ER to find out how he is and see what is going on. In theory, primarily to make sure he doesn't just show up here in the middle of the night.  Meanwhile, she is going to park his car in our driveway - because she is worried about his things being stolen out of it. In fact, she is thinking she should park his car in the garage and leave her car on the street. Right. Do I need to explain what I think is wrong with this? Yes, fine, it would be terrible if his things got stolen by someone opportunistic. How the hell is it her responsibility? Yes, it is everything he owns in this world. I'm sorry. Great, she remembers him before he was an adult. AIR, his father had to bail him out of something when he was a teenager, and that only worked because it was family. She feels bad because his lousy childhood made him a dangerous narcissist? ...

Drove with my dad to his appointment. Mom was still at the house with the social worker and my uncle. Now, my dad is in with the doctor, I called my mom to let her know how things are. And found out she's at the emergency room with my uncle. Something to do with crisis services. I'm not putting into writing what I'm thinking right now. Feel free to extrapolate. I favor expediency.

Happy birthday Chad Orzel!

Dad went to surgeon A this morning. They started and decided can't do simply, requires more complicated, so sending him as emergency add on this afternoon to surgeon B. I will probably be the one going with him, because my mother will probably still be here dealing with the narcissistic SOB. Who showed up this morning, after clearly being told to come at 1:30pm to meet the social worker and not before. Because even demented, his narcissism is working just fine. My father is going to lose it over this. He's already having to take extra blood pressure meds because of it.

TIL this: gelato spazzacamino - translation: chimney sweep gelato. It is flavored with Scotch/whiskey and coffee or espresso beans. I would go to Italy just for this. (I have no idea what it has to do with chimney sweeps.)

He is staying at a motel tonight, and a social worker is coming to the house tomorrow afternoon to interview him. My parents both look absolutely haggard. For the record, compassion and hate can, it seems, coexist. At least in me.

So, I took a look at Angry Birds Epic, 'cuz it looked like it might be interesting. Then I saw the reviews and comments and list of in-app purchases, and decided it was the definition of pay-to-play. Thus, not interested.

'Cuz I know you want to know - this county, in this state, is awesome. Somebody decided that tax money would be spent on making social support services available. Genuinely accessible and available. All you have to do to be eligible is sleep in the county for one night. Amazing. I will happily pay my taxes for that, thank you. Unfortunately, you have to show up in person to get registered and access the services. Again, asking so little, but of course this is a problem. How he drove here, I don't know, but he can barely walk, and there are many things he does not want to do. Also supported by taxes - there is a central referral number for all kinds of assistance in this county. A three digit number that has an actual person on the other end who speaks with you. Amazing. Spoke to them, the City Mission, the Department of Social Services, Jewish Family Services, and Catholic Charities (well, left a msg). Boy, is he lucky. This county and state offer an unbelievable amount and ran...

SOAB. My uncle just showed up. The abusive, ill, messed-up human being whom I mentioned once who is my mother's brother. He just showed up. They discharged him from the hospital in California to a rehab facility and he just walked out and drove here and showed up.  I don't even know words for the emotional and mental disaster this is for my mother, my father, myself, and etc. I can tell you that this explains a lot about my mom the last few weeks; she was working with the people in California to get him what could be done through social services there. Nobody knew where he went when he left. Guess what? This is so horrible for my mom, I can't even tell you. And he might have MRSA. Per my mom the CA people said he did, then he didn't, now he has an infection but maybe it isn't MRSA. Fuck this. My father is immune compromised. I am so angry I don't even. And yes, I will pick my dad over my uncle any day. Sorry, I know karma is out there, but my uncle set this up a...

Ok, the Google Doodle is cute. There're 2 little chicks in the USA bird's nest, and 1 in the Ghanian bird's nest. It updated as the game was played. See? I get it. It finally explains some of my doodle confusion lately with some of the doodles.

I swear I posted something about my hip flexors, but g+ swears otherwise. Anyway, I tried the unprecedented rest method, i.e., stop doing stuff every day (it wasn't the same stuff, but it was stuff). It seems to have improved, somewhat. How novel.

Thanks, guys. Now I am going and getting a cheese stick. Because that is the only cheese I have. #tinyviolin

Is there an equivalent in the US? I'm assuming not, and also assuming the laws are different. Originally shared by null We've launched a new tool to help you find out what your telecom provider knows about you, and if they've shared your private information with government. Please SHARE this infographic with your friends, and take a few moments to use our tool at https://OpenMedia.ca/MyInfo

Ate some lunch. Turned on TV. For some reason, Olivier's Henry V was on, so caught the end bit. Which reminded me that Henry must have spoken French (technically probably langue d'oil). So what is up with the scenes with Katherine? Just a technique to inject a little distraction and humor? They're some of the best scenes, but this one point kind of bothers me, especially as it seems traditional to have Katherine and her maid speak with somewhat exaggerated (outrageous!) French accents, while none of the other French characters do so (Burgundy, Charles VI, Dauphin, etc.). I wonder, at least, where that tradition of the accent came from.

So, it's interesting to me that there was apparently an interview (which I went and listened to excerpts of) in which Hillary Clinton declined to acquiesce to her interviewer's persistence.  Was she evaluated as a tough interviewee? Nope. She was all kinds of wrong and bad, even though, from what I could see, she basically kept her cool, didn't back down, and stayed focused on her message, rather than the interviewer's. There was nothing "testy" seeming to me about it, just some above average verbal give and take.  None of which is to say every single thing she said was brilliant, well-phrased, or a position or perspective with which everyone would universally agree. Not at all. This interview was on NPR. On whose website there was some post-interview evaluation, including the following: "Some have described as "testy" Clinton's response to Terry on the same-sex marriage question. "Testy" is clearly a negative description, but her ...

Did I say this already? Sad week - Ruby Dee died.

I am never going anywhere with my mother, ever again. Not even in an attempt to do relationship maintenance. Rough facsimile of dialogue: Other person will be here at 5:20. Ok. We have to be ready. You said we were leaving at 5:30. They'll be here at 5:20. So you want us out the door at 5:20, now? No, but it's a heavy traffic time. So when are we leaving? We have to be on the road at 5:30. I interpret that as in the car rolling down the driveway at 5:30. Fine, but we have to leave by at least 5:26 to get coats and be in the car so we are doing that by 5:30. -_- I am not the one, as it turns out, who tends to be late to everything. Even allowing for the fact that we clearly have different communication styles, this is frustrating. -_-

So, hip flexors. Yeah.

So, more exercise-like activities yesterday and today. More pain and soreness. I am thinking some of it may be ITB and possibly psoas, but the bottom line is that, rather than just tired-sore, it is that really unpleasantly painful aching sore. This is not gauged to encourage one's efforts.

I was saddened to hear of two deaths in the public arena recently: Maya Angelou, and Rik Mayall. One's obviously a little more highbrow than the other, but both will be missed.

Took out (of storage box) and cleaned window AC today. Special prize: spider's nest.  Ew. Better than putting it in and then finding out, one supposes. Ew.

Amanda Heyen our suspicions are confirmed. In a dehumidified, air conditioned house, in a non-tropical (albeit not a desert, either) environment, there was some sort of unidentifiable moisture source. Tested by leaving meringue out on plate overnight, which should not have resulted in sticky goo, but guess what.  So annoying. I like crispy meringues.

Suddenly wanted steak for dinner, which is how one finds out the choices are best rated or very expensive. Don't know why that's the dichotomy hereabouts, but there it is. Now I miss Firebirds (chain). I still went and got steak for dinner. This is your fault.

I made meringues today, but used a Martha Stewart recipe online because most of my stuff is in storage, so haven't got the recipe I usually use, which is a basic, old, Williams-Sonoma one or a variation on it. It sort of worked, but the Stewart one made twice as many meringues as it said it would, took forever to dry, and was much too sweet. It was very glossy, though. I can surmise that it maybe didn't expect people to be as effective at whipping volume into the whites, so maybe that accounts for the very different number of meringues. This is overall a much less humid climate than I had been baking in, and it's not a humid day today, this oven has been fine with other things, but I haven't specifically used it at low temp before, so maybe it is not as precise at low temp. Then again, this is a much better quality oven than what I've used before, so it should be better, not worse. I have no idea why it was almost impossible to dry the meringues. Lastly, my only und...

I did something vaguely resembling exercise tonight. Maybe it will re-establish a trend. And maybe I will be very, very sorry upon the morrow. Yay, optimism!

Want! Also, cannot believe it took this long to come up with this. http://mashable.com/2014/06/05/lego-female-scientist-series/ http://mashable.com/2014/06/05/lego-female-scientist-series

Goodnight, moon.

In the categories of 'duh', and 'time for stricter handwashing enforcement'.  As a social commentary aside, if the people in most of these jobs weren't likely to be in jobs they couldn't live on or could barely live on, and weren't going to lose just income, but possibly the job itself for not coming in due to illness, you might be able to eliminate that particular link in the chain, as well. Guess we need an FMLA for illness in food service workers so the rest of us don't get sick. Maybe we could call it the TMLA - typhoid Mary leave act. CDC says infected food workers responsible for most norovirus outbreaks. "A new report from CDC that places the blame on restaurant and food service workers for the majority of norovirus outbreaks received wide media coverage, with most media outlets highlighting that these workers are responsible for 70 percent of the outbreaks and that one in five workers admitted reporting for work despite suffering from severe...