commonplacebook.com – Page 484 – The online journal, notebook and playground of HFM

Census Data used screen flights

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 20, 2004
Post category:Politics

Turns out that the government is using all kinds of data to build their new CAPPS II passenger screening program, including Census data; a major no-no and violation of privacy issues.
One of my favorite parts of this discussion on the issue is a comment from a commentor further down the page: “If you’re looking for a needle in a haystack, don’t bring in more hay.” He makes the point that the failure of 9/11 was not that we didn’t have enough data, but that we didn’t have enough people to process the data we had. But they’ve increased the amount of data they collect, without increasing the people to analyze it, and the result is that people are using broad generalizations to track terrorists and gathering up mostly innocent folks in the net as a result.

The Old Curiosity Shop

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 20, 2004
Post category:Journal

There were suits of mail, standing like ghosts in armour here and there; fantastic carvings brought from monkish cloisters; rusty weapons of various kinds; distorted figures in china, and wood, and iron, and ivory; tapestry and strange furniture that might have been designed in dreams.

New Photo of Emily Dickinson

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 20, 2004
Post category:Art

Interesting; a guy who found, via eBay, what appears to be a new photo of Emily Dickinson, of which only one photo is known to exist. And the website the article is posted on is “Common-Place.org.”

State of the Union Drinking Game

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 20, 2004
Post category:Politics

If you have to watch our Bonehead-in-Chief deliver the State of the Union this evening, (I don’t; I have stuff recorded on DVR) you may as well do it drunk. I’d highly recommend it.

I hate liers cheaters and theifs..

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 20, 2004
Post category:Journal

I saw the above headline on a personal ad on one of the dating sites I go to. It cracked me the hell up. Of course, if I put “I hate it when people don’t learn how to spell” on my personal ad, someone would send me hate mail. But honestly… I think I’d rather date liars and thieves than women who can’t spell. And no, I’m not a world-class speller myself. But hey, I’m not that bad.

Weekend Update 2004-01-20

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 20, 2004
Post category:House and Home

Dan and Kathy helped me sand the hardwood floor in my living room. I still have to sand the edges of the floor, then stain and polyurethane it, then cut and place the base boards, and stain and polyurethane those. Then the living room will be done, and I’ll be able to move my furniture in. Then there will be a giant party, which will feature loud music and dancing.

Howard Dean

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 20, 2004
Post category:Politics

I’m disappointed that Howard Dean didn’t do better in the Iowa Caucuses… he came in third. I suspect that had something to do with the “volvo-driving” ad, though. But that ad won’t do much in New Hampshire. 🙂
I’m hoping he does well there.

need… more… science…

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 16, 2004
Post category:Art

Adding “leap seconds” to the atomic clock to correct the time could have far reaching implications for GPS navigation, including air traffic control, which can endanger planes. This is one of those articles I had to read a couple of times before I got it. In my defense, I have not yet had any caffeine this morning.

Chinese women want to give birth in year of monkey

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 15, 2004
Post category:Monkeys

Many expectant Chinese women are trying to delay the birth of their children until the Year of the Monkey begins next week because they think it will bring them luck, state media said.”

Because being born in the Year of the Monkey ROCKS. And being born in the Year of the Goat SUCKS!
In other monkey news, Monkeys invade Indian Embassy in Nepal. Bonus points because the article also contains the word “Katmandu.”

I love a good monkey invasion.

2022-03-13 Update:
I really had an obsessions with monkeys at one point. Not sure why. I was so enthusiastic, too. Also, Monkey invasions are bad. They often happen because humans encroach on animal’s territories. Now I’m an old grump.

What You Can’t Say

Post author:HFM
Post published:January 15, 2004
Post category:Journal

Very interesting essay by Paul Graham about forbidden thoughts and how to express them, or why we don’t.
One interesting question he asks; “Do you have any opinions that you would be reluctant to express in front of a group of your peers?”
Actually not really… and not for the reasons he says. He thinks that if you don’t have opinions you are afraid to express, then you’re a conformist who goes along with others. But that’s not necessarily true.
It’s possible that you just aren’t afraid to express any opinion, no matter how controversial, because you simply don’t care what others think.
I know I say things that make people angry. From strangers, I tend to hear about it. Friends tend to not say anything, or to say something quietly to me. Honestly, I think it’s important to say them. Or I wouldn’t.
But he makes a very good point at the end of the article… “The most important thing is to be able to think what you want, not to say what you want. And if you feel you have to say everything you think, it may inhibit you from thinking improper thoughts. think it’s better to follow the opposite policy. Draw a sharp line between your thoughts and your speech. Inside your head, anything is allowed. Within my head I make a point of encouraging the most outrageous thoughts I can imagine. But, as in a secret society, nothing that happens within the building should be told to outsiders. The first rule of Fight Club is, you do not talk about Fight Club.”