Tuesday, May 31, 2016

National Fire Arms Act - 80+ years young


Every time yours truly thinks about Wayne LaPierre, the "tough" guy NRA head who never served in the military but talks a tough chicken hawk game, your truly's head does a Linda Blair given just how craven this guy truly is. Well, it seems there is a 1934 gun control law that works, something that should be applied to civilians who want guns of every type but have to submit to the regulatory protocol as articulated by the National Fire Arms Act, courtesy the ATF. 



Isn't time for the NRA to return to it roots when it apolitically supported gun control and taught countless Americans the proper use of firearms as the Civil War Vets intended when they created this once great organization back 1871.


Don't do this @ home. :)

Monday, May 30, 2016

Memorial Day


Memorial Day, in one instance, is yours truly's favorite holiday as it marks the beginning of summer, the favorite season of this old rube. In the other instance, Memorial Day is a paean to the dead who gave their lives, in many instances, for unworthy causes promoted by our so-called leaders of this once great nation. To this end, an extraordinary Guardian article commemorating this day is a must read to learn why no-cost war is but a dream foisted upon us by those who will never fight in one.

Jack Satan’s the greatest of gods
And Hell is the best of abodes.
’Tis reached through the Valley of Clods
By seventy beautiful roads.

Ambrose Bierce, from A Sole Survivor


I won't talk about the 2016 bloviators running for president who fantasize about this no cost option as none of these clowns has ever faced someone wanting to kill them, especially ones who rightfully consider us to be invaders and destroyers of the first kind, (Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria) who state,  in self righteous manner, that, "we are exceptional and we're here to help you whether you like it or not." while spending 4 trillion dollars that garnered us nothing but lost and shattered lives of our young, the displacement of millions, the creation of ISIS and an immigration nightmare of historic proportions aimed at the heart of Europe. On top of this is the very real possibility of needless war with Russia, thanks to neocon ideology in concert with their intimate connection to the ever growing Military/Industrial/Congressional Complex system that Ike warned us about way back when. In conclusion, maybe these fools (Hillary and The Donald) might heed the wise advice of Ben Fountain before starting another adventure doomed to failure as the ones listed here.




Mesmorising


Saturday, May 28, 2016

Just North America


Biodiversity, essential for life on on earth, is under existential threat due to climate change, environmental degradation/habitat loss and extensive use of herbicides and pesticides. 

This report is based on the first-ever conservation vulnerability assessment for all 1,154 native bird species that occur in Canada, the continental United States, and Mexico. 

In Crisis: Oceans and Tropical Forests

More than half of species from oceans and tropical forests are on the Watch List because of small and declining populations, small ranges, and severe threats to their habitats.

Note: This is just for North America and limited to birds but ... since birds occupy the same environment as other lifeforms like insects, mammals, reptiles, etc., etc.,  and the three variables stated in the document still apply to said environment, it stands to reason roughly the same breakdown of biodiversity vis a via other lifeforms would apply, don't you think? Don't you also think we're headed for a crisis as a species? Sounds reasonable to me without issue.


Click here to download the report.

Panspermia


Panspermia, the notion that life came from outside earth, just got major league reinforcement from Rosetta, the European spacecraft orbiting Comet 67P/Churyumov-Geranismenko.

Ingredients regarded as crucial for the origin of life on Earth have been discovered at the comet that ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft has been probing for almost two years.

They include the amino acid glycine, which is commonly found in proteins, and phosphorus, a key component of DNA and cell membranes.

Scientists have long debated the important possibility that water and organic molecules were brought by asteroids and comets to the young Earth after it cooled following its formation, providing some of the key building blocks for the emergence of life.

While some comets and asteroids are already known to have water with a composition like that of Earth’s oceans, Rosetta found a significant difference at its comet – fuelling the debate on their role in the origin of Earth’s water.

But new results reveal that comets nevertheless had the potential to deliver ingredients critical to establish life as we know it.

Interesting to say the least. :)

Friday, May 27, 2016

I dunno about this.


Sensory overload to the max. Augmented reality anyone? I dunno about this. Later


Idiocracy - circa 2016


Yours truly has watched this flick a few times, marveling at how crass and stupid the human race can be. Said film takes place in 2505 but, thanks to the advance of tech and the demise of intelligent thought today, Idiocracy reigns supreme in 2016, thanks, in part, to the amazing presidential campaign from hell. :)





Any questions?


Thursday, May 26, 2016

Let them eat cake


Hubris, condescension and self appointed entitlement says it all regarding Clinton's arrogant response to the State Department's self depreciating account of how she blatantly disregarded security protocols when she decided to install an unsecured private email server to handle personal and S.O.S. confidential documents, 22 of which were top secret or above, thus becoming personally responsible for the proper handling of said documents NO intelligent person (or techie) would ever do as stated in BRT



It gets better.




Lastly.








Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Past as Prelude


As my loyal readers know, Network is one of the all time favorites of yours truly, a film worthy, IMHO, of belonging in the same league as Strangelove, Godfather I and Citizen Kane as great cinema forcing one to think differently about reality after seeing the work in question. Well, it seems Chayefsky wanted to have an ending even more prescient then the one in the film as his take on the news was prescient to a fault.



When you think about it, 6 mega corporations run news in this country with the obstensive purpose to sell ads. The best way to do it is be sensationalist, sleazy, patriotic and fear mongering, characteristics The Donald leveraged to the max when beginning his successful run to get the GOP nomination. Also consider the fact the big 6 are connected directly or indirectly with the Military/Industrial/Congressional Complex, the money and power engine that keeps on giving thus helping the big 6 in transforming news into NOOZE, the "reality" show that misinforms 24/7 to keep us rubes quiet and in the dark along the lines of They Live sans the B&W sunglasses.


This infographic created by Jason at Frugal Dad shows that almost all media comes 
from the same six sources.

That's consolidated from 50 companies back in 1983.

NOTE: This infographic is from last year and is missing some key transactions. GE does not own NBC (or Comcast or any media) anymore. So that 6th company is now Comcast. And Time Warner doesn't own AOL, so Huffington Post isn't affiliated with them.

But the fact that a few companies own everything demonstrates "the illusion of choice," Frugal Dad says. While some big sites, like Digg and Reddit aren't owned by any of the corporations, Time Warner owns news sites read by millions of Americans every year.



Up close & personal

Monday, May 23, 2016

Deep Time


A Sense of Scale depicts the smallest to the largest entities in our part of the multiverse. Here, an infographic does the deed regarding deep time and how it applies to earth. :)

Just Words :)


Just did a post in Medium, a pretty interesting publishing site. No graphics, just words. :)

A Sense of Scale


A must see. "Nuff Said. :)


Thursday, May 19, 2016

For the love of B&W


Like radio, B&W will never die. Channeling William Turner


Zen Space


Riders on the Storm

Monday, May 16, 2016

On Reaching 1900


Reaching 1900 blurbs feels pretty significant to yours truly. Waxing poetic about it is not in the cards but waxing poetic about infrastructure or the lack thereof is because the US is falling apart while the Military/Industrial/Congressional Complex continues to run amuck on ill advised military adventures driven by ideology and money and not pragmatic reality, issues BRT has discussed in depth as long as this "wonderful" blog has existed. What's even more amazing is how politicos view this lack of infrastructure funding as a mysterious process even though the raison d'ete is as obvious as the nose on one's face. The pix above is China's rather futuristic version of the subway, something rather unlike the ones seen in this country.

It’s the problem that no one has been able to solve.

For years, there has been widespread agreement in Washington that the nation is facing an infrastructure crisis, with dangerously congested roads and deficient bridges threatening public safety and trade. 

Time and time again, lawmakers in both parties have expressed agreement that something should be done.

Yet congressional attempts to revitalize the country’s transportation infrastructure — which now ranks 11th in the world after slipping from no. 1, according to the World Economic Forum — have gone nowhere. 

Members of Congress, local legislators, former Cabinet members and experts alike say the impasse largely boils down to one thing. 

“It’s politics,” said Rep. Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.), ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Funding shortfalls ahead

By 2025, the country’s total infrastructure investment needs will total $3.3 trillion, but planned investments are only $1.8 trillion, leaving a $1.4 trillion gap. 

That shortfall is projected to grow to $5.1 trillion by 2040 if investment rates continue on the current trajectory, according to the latest report from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Homer actually has the answer. :)


For the first time ever, after some 26 years on the air, The Simpsons hit a new milestone for an animated series by going live on Sunday night. For three minutes, Homer Simpson—voiced by Dan Castellaneta—fielded phone calls from fans during both the East and West Coast broadcasts and offered his opinion on the U.S. presidential candidates. Well, kind of.

Ending the episode, titled “Simprovised,” Homer’s live segment on the West Coast feed saw him wade into the political storm surrounding Donald Trump’s presidential run (something, by the way, that was predicted by The Simpsons in 2000). Asked by a caller if he would move from Springfield to Canada if Trump is elected, Homer responded: “Well, there are a lot of people who want me to move out of Springfield already. But I don’t think Canada will welcome me.”

He then added: “But you know what? That’s why I’m for Bernie Sanders. I love his chicken. But out of respect we should refer to him as The Colonel.”

Gotta love it. :)

Addendum: Check out Five Infrastructure Emergencies from  The Hill. The mystery remains intact as to why there's not enough money to fix things but reality, like rust never sleeps in spite of the BS given to us by our so-called leaders.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Raga = Color, Hue, Beauty & Melody



Which is what one hears from the amazing Monterey Pop performance by Ravi Shankar, Alla Rakha  and Kamal Chakravarty at the top of their game almost 50 years ago. Take the time to listen to this masterpiece and be amazed at the modernity of music that started in India over 1100 years go. Astounding says it all.



Wednesday, May 11, 2016

In Transit


No words needed. :)

The Great George C.


People who read BRT know how much I respect and admire George Carlin, who, IMHO, is the greatest comedian this country has ever produced, Richard Prior not withstanding as Carlin was also a philospher king who would make you laugh and cry at the same time when issuing forth his singular take on humanity and the chaos of reality in which we all live. In this vein, his daughter is donating his work to the new National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY in hopes that it will become a premier destination for fans, artists and historians. What's so interesting about the NY Times piece is the measured way Carlin conducted his life, something contrary to the on stage persona of a brilliant but seemingly unhinged personality doing a number on everything from filth to greed and all things residing in-between these two "serious" subjects that were mercilessly parodied to the nth degree.



Check out the pix below to see how G.C. assembled his material as the subject matter written on the tabs revealed just how innately curious this guy truly was. Awesome says it all. :)


Without question, he spoke the truth, something all too rare in this age of bloviation 
and avoidance of personal responsibility.  R.I.P. G. C. 



Tuesday, May 10, 2016

AR, not VR


AR, the notion of CG composited over reality, is the next big thing, something Magic Leap, Google, Microsoft/HoloLens  and Apple, among significant others, are pursuing at light speed as seen by videos like the one seen above. Truly disruptive, this tech will change how us rubes will interact with the real world using non obtrusive devices unlike VRs like the  Oculus Rifts of the world, which are totally immersive, thus limiting one's ability to interact with reality with any degree of success.


This is just the beginning ...

Sunday, May 08, 2016

Out of the mouths of babes ... :)


BRT has often talked about bloviating and pundits, the self appointed "experts" on all things politic, economic and governance, with particular emphasis on their "knowing" how to predict the future with great accuracy even though quantum mechanics and the 2nd law of thermodynamics (entropy), along with Gödel's incompleteness theorem, prove otherwise without question. With this in mind, their take on the unquestioned demise of THE DONALD is quite illuminating and humorous when you see the tally of wrong predictions made by these self appointed geniuses, courtesy The Intercept. :)

TRYING TO PREDICT the future can be fun, which is why — from office sports pools to stock market speculation — many do it. Generally, though, people make such predictions with at least some humility: with the knowledge that they do not actually know what the future holds.

But not America’s beloved political pundits. When they pronounce what the future has in store for us, it comes in the form of definitive decrees, shaped with the tone of authoritative certainty. With a few exceptions, those who purported to see the future of the 2016 GOP nomination process spent many months categorically assuring everyone that, polls notwithstanding, Donald Trump simply could not, would not, become the GOP nominee; one could spend all day posting humiliating examples, so a representative sampling will have to suffice:


https://theintercept.com/2016/05/04/beyond-schadenfreude-the-spectacular-pundit-failure-on-trump-is-worth-remembering/

Gotta love it. :)



Saturday, May 07, 2016

A Flickering Truth


As we delve into the shattered remains of the archive, Brettkelly builds a ghost-mosaic of Afghan history, from the monarchs who oversaw the gradual liberalisation of the country through most of the 20th century (and introduced cinema), to the successive revolutions and civil wars that left the country in chaos. Film, it becomes clear, has a special role here: as repository of history and culture that the Taliban’s year-zero mentality aimed to abolish. Even as the political situation becomes more volatile in the run-up to elections – prompting Arify to hastily leave the country – the remaining archives head out into outlying provinces to enable screenings of old films for a population that has grown up largely in ignorance of such things. This is moving, powerful stuff.

Under the auspices of the NeoCons, Bush and Obama, the record in Afghanistan, the Graveyard of Empires, has been an unmitigated FUBAR, just as the rest of US foreign policy has been for the entire world, where ideology has triumphed over common sense and reality, with a minimum cost of 4 trillion and rising, the displacement of millions of people including the immigration nightmare of Europe, the death and injury of thousands of US troops and the destruction of 4 countries including Afghanistan (Iraq, Syria, Libya), a topic covered in exquisite detail by Seymour Hersh, one of the very few who can truthfully be called a reporter of the first order.

McChrystal was cashiered in June 2010, after he and his aides were quoted in Rolling Stone making a series of derogatory remarks about the president and others in the White House. According to one of McChrystal’s advisors, he thought an early face-to-face meeting with the president was inconsequential and trivial—little more than a “10-minute photo op.” By then, there was much concern about a major aspect of McChrystal’s approach to the war, which was to find and kill the Taliban. I was visited that June by a senior official of the International Committee of the Red Cross whose humanitarian mission is to monitor, in secret, the conditions of civilians and prisoners of war in an effort to insure compliance with the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The ICRC was even granted limited access to the prison at Guatánamo, among other facilities in the war on terror, with the understanding that its findings were not to be made public. The official who sought me out did not want to discuss the prison system in Afghanistan, about which there have been many public revelations. His issue was the Obama administration’s overall conduct of the war. He had come to Washington in the hope of seeing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other senior State Department officials, but had been shunted aside. His message was blunt: McChrystal’s men were killing the wrong people. “Our inspectors are the only visitors from a secular institution who are tolerated by the Taliban leadership, and you Americans are killing those who support our activity,” he said. “You are killing those Taliban who are not jihadists—who don’t want to die and don’t give a shit about bombing Times Square. They have no grudge against America.” The indiscriminate targeting of all who are Taliban, he said, “is reaching a point of no return, and the more radical and extreme elements are picking up momentum.”

It gets better.


Any questions?

Thursday, May 05, 2016

For the love of money


As someone who knows quite a bit about HC, it's not surprising the for profits are fighting Colorado's bid for Single Payer big time as keeping the system as dysfunctional as it is is good for business because, as the esteemed Gordon Gekko so famiously said, "Greed is good.".





Just another reason why Bernie is the choice for yours truly. :)


When you listen to this, the corruption of WS is clearly revealed for all to see.

The art of Newspeak







The slow-motion start of going cashless has begun in Europe whereby the anonymity of cash will be replaced by the total control of the banks and the loss of said anonymity. The art of Newspeak lives.


Tuesday, May 03, 2016

Interesting Take


Ah, the E-Mail saga of Hillary, the slow-motion scandal that never disappoints has been covered by BRT in a blurb titled, Hoisted on one's petard, has been further addressed by Ray McGovern, an insightful 27 year Senior CIA Operative, who knows the drill down cold when it comes to secret data and how best to handle it. 


This is where it gets interesting.


It gets better.


Read the entire piece, McGovern's take on Benghazi, from the intel perspective, is something yours truly and the Repugs completely missed without question.

A Jellyfish Extraordinaire


This guy looks almost electronic. :)


The Essence of Conscience


The essence of conscience, what is that? How do people react to that phrase, especially as it relates to governance when an individual working within the system realizes that said system is working against the values of the person in that system. This is an existential question eloquently posed by Edwin Snowden in an extraordinary piece regarding the act of whistleblowing and why this is so significant when done for the right reason.



The essence of conscience




Read the piece in it's entirety, it's the right thing to do.