I've probably posted about this before, but these kinds of articles make my heart ache and get me so very angry. The author Kristoff writes on his NYtimes blog about the op-ed pieces mentioning sanctions, cracking down on trafficking via the State department, etc. Frankly I think this kind of trafficking is going to be nigh impossible to fully ( Read more... )

Yesterday my genetic inefficiency reared its ugly head again. Allergic reactions can really throw off your whole day. Right now there's a blanket of snow outside, but it's mostly slowed down. I hear it'll be way cold at Times Square. We'll probably be doing something low key, but for all you celebrants out there have a great time! I wish you a ( Read more... )

This is a fascinating article about the widespread and official use of bribes by the German company Siemens AG. Eventually things unraveled, and they are facing 1.6 billion dollars in fines and 1 billion in internal investigations/legal bills. Russia, China, Nigeria, Argentina, Venezula, Israel, Iraq (for the Oil for Food program while Saddam was ( Read more... )

So yes...it is indeed snowing. Guess the right call was made about school not being in session.

In my last post there was some discussion about romantic archetypes and the nature of obsessive sweeping love at first sight being an unrealistic expectation. Kind of related to that is this op-ed piece that looks upon that classic "It's a Wonderful ( Read more... )

That is all

Oh...and school has been preemptively canceled for tomorrow impacting a TON of various holiday activities. Glad I'm not the Winter Concert Musical Director...because that's a recipe for a brain aneurysm.

Be well.

Looks like someone might want a "do-over" for their latest influence action. Innocent until proven guilty and all that, but geesh people...who would be dumb enough to try and profit over that kind of Senate appointment...it's going to be one of the MOST scrutinized ever.

Be well.

No no...China sez you are insane"Robin Munro, the research director of China Labor Bulletin, a rights organization in Hong Kong, said such “an kang” wards - Chinese for peace and health - were a convenient and effective means of dealing with pesky dissidents ( Read more... )

I'm real tired lately as a result of the regular activities of the school plus the double fencing practice. It's always rough this time of year, but it seems exacerbated this time. Probably due to the new curriculum I'm integrating as well. Sad that I won't be able to attend Christmas parties outside of NY, but we will be traveling to Ohio to ( Read more... )

It was great having everyone over for post-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving. Lots of good food (courtesy of bitsyboo's chef fu). Unfortunately it seems that somehow in picking people up from the train station or moving around in the house my cellphone has mysteriously disappeared. Either the battery is dead or the phone is on silent mode because calls to it in ( Read more... )

A very interesting article about making certain war fighting robots follow ethical rules in the future. There were a few parts of the article that stood out to me:

In a report to the Army last year, Dr. Arkin described some of the potential benefits of autonomous fighting robots. For one thing, they can be designed without an instinct for self- ( Read more... )