BD's in the delightful midwestern hamlet of Ohio this weekend, so I'll be doing today's morning links. He didn't tell me where he was going, but I'm guessing it's that big Two-Seed-In-The-Spirit Predestinarian Baptist revival they're having when they ordain the new ministers. Given all the pomp and circumstance, I think you'll admit, a two-day visit would be hard to turn down.
Interesting News
In the old days, an article on how to avoid an IRS audit would be titled, "How To Avoid An IRS Audit".
But in light of recent events, we have...
How to Tell If the IRS Is Eyeing You
Ah, but I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "But where can I get $14 million dollars, Doc?"
No problem! Simply follow these five easy steps and you'll be rolling in clover before the day is done!
How I 'Stole' $14 Million from a Bank: A Security Tester's Tale
If you haven't paid any attention to Google Glass yet, you might want to check out this article and video:
Google Glass: Limited and Clunky, but the Future
Much like drone technology and printed guns, Glass will be used in both directions, good and bad. A number of casinos and bars have already banned them — and they're not even on the market yet. At some point, sure enough some Congressman is going to have his career ruined because someone innocently wearing Glass accidentally caught him using a hideous, derogatory word like macaca. It was on YouTube a minute later and that was that.
On the other hand, picture a fireman fighting inside a massive blaze and having his Glass direct him to the room the children are cowering in. So it'll be interesting to see what springs forth.
I mentioned in my little diatribe on marijuana that, while D.C. Congress has been dragging its feet, individual states have been taking the initiative.
Individual states like the one D.C. Congress is actually in:
Marijuana Movement Plants Flag on Capitol Hill
The movement to legalize marijuana has arrived at Congress' back door.
Later this month the first medical cannabis dispensaries are expected to open in the nation's capital, including one just eight blocks from the Capitol dome.
Which isn't to say that D.C. is the only one joining in the fun:
‘High’ Tolerance: NYC on the Road to Decriminalizing Pot
And back to those numerous health benefits (lumbago, gout, heart disease, athlete's foot, cancer) we keep hearing about...
Smoking Marijuana Linked to Lower Diabetes Risk in Study
And then there's one of everyone's favorite oxymorons, scientific liberal.
'Scientific' Liberals Should Accept Results of Science
For two decades, progressives have castigated those questioning global warming as "deniers."
But the Economist, once firmly in the alarmist camp, recently acknowledged that global temperatures have remained stagnant for 15 years even as greenhouse-gas emissions have soared.
This may be because existing models have overestimated the planet's sensitivity. Or because the heat generated is sinking to the ocean bottom. Or because of something else completely.
How should a scientifically inclined liberal react to this trend? By inhaling deeply and backing off on economy-busting mitigation measures till science offers clearer answers.
And how have liberals reacted? By sticking their fingers in their ears and chanting la-la-la.
Uh-yup. We've shown this over and over again on this site. Even when these same great scientific minds claim that global colding is the real menace here, they turn a blind eye and continue their hearty endeavors.
Cicadas Swarming U.S. East Coast Are Climate Change Veterans (1 week ago)
On the Brink: Climate Change Endangers Common Species (4 days ago)
How Climate Change Could Affect Seasonal Allergies (yesterday)
Under the heading of "Damn!", I was hoping the new Star Trek 'prequel' would be as good as the first. But it ain't worth dogshit according to this reviewer:
Movie Review: ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’
On the other end of the spectrum, I thought 'Django Unchained' was the best movie I'd seen in a year. I'll do a review on it sometime. There's an interesting connection to make between it and 'Blazing Saddles'. Any guesses?
On the 'NCIS' front, I watched the last five episodes of the season the other day. I sat there petrified the entire time, worrying that they'd dig up (not literally this time) good ol' Pedro Hernandez — Gibbs' nemesis from his NIS past. They did, but thankfully moved on, and I was left just as bewildered at the end as anyone.
'NCIS' Season Finale Post-Mortem: Gary Glasberg Answers Burning Questions!
One thing I didn't think through were the other three team members. I would have half-figured they'd picked their badges back up when Gibbs went rogue (?), but the article indicates that they held true and resigned en masse, so we should get some interesting background stories about their 4-month escapades this fall. There's a recent interview with Mark Harmon here.
I have a number of articles about this great show here.
Political News
Politically, I thought the most touchingly poignant moment of the week was when renown historian James Douglas Muir Leno recalled the Obama early years and our fondness for Joe Biden at the time, and how sad it is how V.P. Biden's glory has faded over the years.
Take it away, James Douglas Muir Leno!
Tracked: May 19, 09:08