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My new blog location is here.
Yes! A link! You have to follow it! And maybe bookmark it!
Who knows? You might want to read more!

Spoilsport: Watching the Olympics undermines society

I can think of no international organisation that can challenge the International Olympic Committee's achievements in the field of unethical behavior. They make FIFA look positively saintly in comparison.
I would like to watch the Olympics but I won't because I firmly believe anyone involved with the IOC should be bankrupted by any and all means. And for those who wonder what will happen to the athletes, remember, the Olympics need the athletes' participation. The athletes can refuse to compete in their events and start their own events. Unless they are actually in it for the money. But that's not the case, is it? Or is it?

TOOTE: Rigging elections is the voters' fault

There is an article on FiveThirtyEight entitled The Political Process Isn't Rigged - It Has Much Bigger Problems. It denies that there was any "rigging" of the Democratic primaries. This in the face of the DNC emails that show a pattern of working against one candidate (Sanders) and for another. As if the person who ran the DNC in such a shamefully biased manner being rewarded with the position of chair of the Clinton campaign's 50-state program is not a clear enough signal of corruption.
The fact that any public party can so easily tell such a Big Lie, in the face of evidence even the guilty parties do not deny, unchallenged by those who are supposed to safeguard the public from such malfeasance is stunning to the point of undermining their part of the social contract.
No wonder so many people refuse to believe anything in the press.

Restaurant Review: Stan's Donuts

Stan's Donuts
Mariposa Gardens Shopping Center, 2628 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara, CA 95051
408 296-5982

Since 1959! Stan's Donuts are the best donuts in Santa Clara California. It still looks pretty much like it did in 1959, including a counter to sit at and eat your fresh warm donuts. Cake or glazed, waht more could you want?

Clues for the Clueless: Comportment at public events

At a public speech should I:

• fall asleep near the podium and snore loudly? No
• feast on duryan and limberger cheese? No
• carve a dolphin out of a log with a chainsaw? No
• bring a case of bottles to smash with a hammer? No
• drive onto the stage in a car with the alarm wailing? No
• show up with a baby that might cry? No

But then you already knew that, didn't you?

(Those of you who answered "No" to that last question please stay at home.)

Games: Scythe

Scythe is a eurogame that looks like a wargame, which means it is a boardgame. The different player sides are asymmetrical, that is to say they do not start out with the same pieces, configuration or options. Chess would be an example of a symmetrical game.
I find this game a lot of fun and not just because I won handily in a 5 player game last night, it being only my second time played.
It is set in a ficitonal Eastern Europe of the 1920s where mythical leaders and battle mechs take territory and guard workers which provide resources and build monuments towards your victory. Combat is at a premium in this game, which means it is rare but does occur. The goal is to accomplish 6 goals and timing their accomplishment to coincide with your achieving the best mix of military power, popularity with the people, riches in the forms of resources and currency, and of course domination of territory. Neglect any one to your detriment but realise you cannot be preeminent at all of them.
The collectors' edition is going for something crazy like $300 on eBay right now, but you can buy the ordinary retail version when it is released for about $60 (unless they change their minds).

Clues for the Clueless - Is TTP/TTIP/TSA good for America?

IT IS GOOD FOR AMERICA IF:

... you support the current establishment and their achievements such as never-ending war as permanent policy, subverting the law to enrich a few, and the use of the public treasury for propping up the personal fortunes of their members after they repeatedly prove incompetent at their professions.

IT IS BAD FOR AMERICA IF:

... you can recall the ongoing impact of previously enacted treaties written by the same parties and you are not one of the privileged few.

New (to me) movie: Sideways

Sideways - 2004
Rating: 7.7

First, the ending. Paul Giamatti's characters knocks on the glass in the door frame. ON THE GLASS. Not the door frame. The sound person put in a knock on wood. Knocking on glass doesn't sound like that. Thanks for ruining an otherwise lovely ending, lazy sound guy!

This is a good movie about two men who are friends. I have had that friend, and I have been that friend, each of them, so I very much enjoyed it. The true-to-life California scenery was a nice bonus. Worth watching.

Oh, and I like Merlot.

New (to me) movie: Chappie

Chappie - 2015
Rating: 4.2

An action movie take on what a first artificial intelligence might be like, corporate policing, and office politics. There's an intriguing early 21st century guerilla film making feel to this that I liked, but the totality was unsatisfying for some reason. Still worth a look for science fiction fans.

New (to me) movie: House Bunny

House Bunny - 2008
Rating: 3

I want to say good on ya to the cast in this negligible movie. They all try gamely to invest some life into their parts and they make an otherwise formulaic comedy watchable. Not a bad way to waste a Saturday afternoon recovering so you can go out and party again.