This. 100% this.

This. 100% this.

via Keith Wilson​

Originally shared by Shane Stacks

Renewable energy makes so much more sense than this insanity.

Renewable energy makes so much more sense than this insanity.

An engineering marvel, certainly, but think of how much solar and wind energy could be produced at the same cost without disrupting the ocean and without further damaging the atmosphere.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/24/the-worlds-largest-ever-vessel-is-set-to-go-in-2018.html

Power storage will be essential as we shift to sustainable power generation.

Power storage will be essential as we shift to sustainable power generation.
https://electrek.co/2017/12/19/tesla-battery-save-australia-grid-from-coal-plant-crash/

Title

You'd think people who work at a newspaper would know what basic words mean.

You'd think people who work at a newspaper would know what basic words mean.

Separate is inherently unequal.

Separate is inherently unequal.
https://apnews.com/e9c25534dfd44851a5e56bd57454b4f5

In an overtaxed educational system, the lowest-effort way to deal with the burden is simply to pass the kids and...

In an overtaxed educational system, the lowest-effort way to deal with the burden is simply to pass the kids and wish them good luck. Is it really a surprise when we hear stories that it happens just that way?

We rely on teachers' personal and professional ethics to remain committed to education even in the face of overwhelming workloads. Some give up due to being stretched too thin and/or paid too little.

And we're relying on administrators to actually care about educational achievement and personal growth more than financial solvency and the appearance of a well-functioning school. Some, who think more like accountants or wardens, do not.

Our kids deserve better than the educational system we've created for them.
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/11/28/564054556/what-really-happened-at-the-school-where-every-senior-got-into-college

Mr. Horiuchi takes the same approach I do: Use the tools you have rather than be forced to buy and learn new ones.

Mr. Horiuchi takes the same approach I do: Use the tools you have rather than be forced to buy and learn new ones.

Of course, my Microsoft Office-based art -- www.DrawnInPowerpoint.com -- pales in comparison to his, at least on aesthetics.
https://sploid.gizmodo.com/this-japanese-artist-paints-with-microsoft-excel-instea-1820926639

I watched Logan two weeks ago and I'm still depressed.

I watched Logan two weeks ago and I'm still depressed.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3315342/

can't stop laughing at this

can't stop laughing at this

h/t Jennifer Freeman

Originally shared by Joyce Donahue

More like 133 pics. And yes, you will laugh.
https://www.demilked.com/funny-cat-snapchats/

The face you make when you realize you just accidentally responded to the company mailing list.

The face you make when you realize you just accidentally responded to the company mailing list.

I hate Mondays.

This makes me unreasonably happy.

This makes me unreasonably happy.
https://thetakeout.com/original-prongles-chips-an-elaborate-cards-against-huma-1820767785

Newhart's style of comedy is a true joy for me.

Newhart's style of comedy is a true joy for me.

American football is an inherently unsafe sport.

American football is an inherently unsafe sport. Given the evidence, any parent letting their child play it is making a mistake, IMO.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/aaron-hernandez-suffered-from-most-severe-cte-ever-found-in-a-person-his-age/2017/11/09/fa7cd204-c57b-11e7-afe9-4f60b5a6c4a0_story.html?tid=hybrid_collaborative_3_na-amp&utm_term=.9d2b74f10e2a

Adrian Parr is a friend and colleague of mine at UC and an absolutely tireless activist for, and thoughtful advocate...

Adrian Parr is a friend and colleague of mine at UC and an absolutely tireless activist for, and thoughtful advocate of, better environmental policies and practices. I haven't yet read this book, but if it reflects her thinking on the subject, I'm sure it's well-researched, heart-felt, and novel.
http://magazine.uc.edu/editors_picks/recent_features/imagine.html

Title

Originally shared by INTJ

First, the GOP wanted to eliminate the student loan interest deduction, and now they're proposing ending tuition...

First, the GOP wanted to eliminate the student loan interest deduction, and now they're proposing ending tuition waiver tax credits. Combined, these could easily end PhD programs at a lot of public research universities. And that will mean higher tuitions for undergrads, or fewer courses being taught...or both. The GOP's war on education continues apace.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/7/16612288/gop-tax-bill-graduate-students

If you're either too old or too young to know about Ren & Stimpy, it's definitely both an artistic benchmark and an...

If you're either too old or too young to know about Ren & Stimpy, it's definitely both an artistic benchmark and an acquired taste (that some never acquire).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmJrvzyEwWc&feature=share

You know you're a homeowner when it's 12:30am and, instead of sleeping to the sound of the rainstorm outside, you're...

You know you're a homeowner when it's 12:30am and, instead of sleeping to the sound of the rainstorm outside, you're listening intently for any sign of water not going where it's supposed to go.

One of the largest, most comprehensive reports on climate change is due out soon.

One of the largest, most comprehensive reports on climate change is due out soon. The group responsible for it has released a teaser report, and virtually everything in it is absolutely terrifying. At least it is if you're in touch with objective reality; if you're a political conservative primarily interested in maintaining the status quo, nothing in it will change your mind that everything's fine.
https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/blockbuster-assessment-humans-likely-responsible-virtually-all-global-warming-1950s

Now I want an actual city car with these kinds of wheels.

Now I want an actual city car with these kinds of wheels.

Parallel parking? Pfft...easy as pie.

h/t John Bump
https://hackaday.com/2017/11/04/freakishly-agile-crawler-rocks-all-lego-mechanum-wheels/

Today's Google Doodle is a sweet little Halloween-themed animated short about a lonely ghost. Give it a watch.

Today's Google Doodle is a sweet little Halloween-themed animated short about a lonely ghost. Give it a watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PBkkHi_yeQ&feature=share

Anyone here skilled in game theory?

Anyone here skilled in game theory? Or know someone who is? I have a question that isn't being answered by searching, likely due to the generic nature of the terms I'm using.

What I'm interested in is whether there's been work, either theoretic (math) or behavioral (experiments), where there are two parties making independent decisions, but there are effects on three entities -- the two decision-makers as well as "the community" (which includes the three entities, but in an indistinct manner). Anyone know of anybody doing work on this issue?

JK back at it with another amazing kinetic sculpture.

JK back at it with another amazing kinetic sculpture.
https://sploid.gizmodo.com/watching-this-lego-figure-perpetually-mow-its-lawn-is-t-1819435643

I hope my son's first car love isn't one that runs on gas.

I hope my son's first car love isn't one that runs on gas.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/12/tesla-ceo-elon-musk-reveals-he-owns-two-gasoline-cars.html

Almost 20 years ago, when I first learned to snowboard, one of the rental places we got our gear from one trip...

Almost 20 years ago, when I first learned to snowboard, one of the rental places we got our gear from one trip offered a clip-in snowboard binding. As an ex-skiier, I absolutely loved the step-in/step-out convenience that was really the only thing I missed from skiing. That particular binding was discontinued soon thereafter amid complaints about it coming undone and being generally unreliable (I didn't have any problems, but then I wasn't doing anything resembling big tricks). I've mourned its death ever since, hating the dreaded routine of sitting down and strapping in every time I start to ride. This new Burton Step On gear looks right up my alley and, if the reviews are good, might just get me off the sidelines and into a store to purchase a new setup for my very own.
http://www.snowboarder.com/news/revolutionary-burton-step-system-now-available-pre-order/

Title

FTA: “Federal tax subsidies to the oil and gas industry alone cost US taxpayers at least US$2 billion each year,”...

FTA: “Federal tax subsidies to the oil and gas industry alone cost US taxpayers at least US$2 billion each year,” write researchers from the Stockholm Environment Institute and Earth Track in a recent Nature Energy article. That $2 billion in uncollected taxes is helping some oil fields go from "unprofitable" to "profitable," increasing the amount of oil that's available for consumption. (The researchers broadly used the term "subsidies" to indicate different types of tax-based support that "confer a financial benefit from government to oil producer.")
https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/10/at-50-a-barrel-billions-in-tax-breaks-keep-many-oil-projects-profitable/

persistence

persistence

Update: I have now tried the 50/50 mix of Chai and Original and, IMO, it tastes better than either the Chai or the...

Update: I have now tried the 50/50 mix of Chai and Original and, IMO, it tastes better than either the Chai or the Original straight out of the bottle. It adds some flavor to the otherwise painfully bland Original while diluting the painfully aromatic Chai. It's a really decent compromise. I still don't love the chai flavor, but a hint of it isn't a bad thing. The prospect of drinking a whole case of Chai is no longer filling me with mild dread. That said, going forward, I will only be buying the Cacao flavor...I sincerely enjoy that stuff. Or maybe Soylent will continue to come out with other flavors. Could I suggest Oatmeal & Cinnamon Apple, guys?

I like this diagram. It seems relevant.

I like this diagram. It seems relevant.
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-concept-of-ikigai-could-be-the-secret-to-a-long-meaningful-life-2017-9

I bought a case of Cafe Chai 2.0 to add some variety to my work stash.

I bought a case of Cafe Chai 2.0 to add some variety to my work stash. It's OK. I've not ever drunk chai before, but this is QUITE flavorful, with the tastes of spices (e.g., cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, etc.) just bursting into your mouth. If you like a lot of flavor and you like this chai's combination, you're in for a treat. Otherwise, I think I'll keep these just to break up the monotony of Cacao, but I'll try a 50/50 mix of Chai and Original. That could be interesting.

One side benefit of the Cafe series: caffeine. Since I don't drink coffee or tea and I swore off soda pop nearly a decade ago, the only caffeine I get is the trace amounts in chocolate. So this was a nice pick-me-up today.

Sometimes The Onion hits me in just the right part of mah funnybone.

Sometimes The Onion hits me in just the right part of mah funnybone.

Originally shared by The Onion

"The marked discrepancy in the number of meows emitted by the two species raises the rather profound question of whether a meow is actually more of a human sound than a cat sound in the first place."
http://trib.al/fROtSAR

Imagine if Saturday Night Live and The Onion invented their own state. That's Florida.

Imagine if Saturday Night Live and The Onion invented their own state. That's Florida.
http://thegrio.com/2017/09/17/deaf-community-outraged-after-interpreter-signs-gibberish-during-irma-press-conference/

Can't find this on mah keyboard...

Can't find this on mah keyboard...

via Michael J. Coffey and Jennifer Freeman

Originally shared by Brian Haslip (blackroseMD1)

On Tuesday, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that utility-grade solar panels have hit cost targets set for...

On Tuesday, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that utility-grade solar panels have hit cost targets set for 2020, three years ahead of schedule.

Solar isn't just competitive with other sources of electricity, it's actually cheaper (even without any subsidies) than most. And the cheapest (gas turbine) is getting more expensive while solar is getting cheaper. Tipping point, here we come!
https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/09/solar-now-costs-6-per-kilowatt-hour-beating-government-goal-by-3-years/

Never has "sunk costs" been a more appropriate term.

Never has "sunk costs" been a more appropriate term.
https://hbr.org/2017/09/coastal-cities-are-increasingly-vulnerable-and-so-is-the-economy-that-relies-on-them

Teh Pokemens is trynta kill me!

Teh Pokemens is trynta kill me!

Spending on higher education makes students — and everyone else — richer: Don Pittis

Originally shared by Adrian Parsons
https://www.google.ca/amp/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4268921

FTA: "...greater total sedentary time

FTA: "...greater total sedentary time ... and longer sedentary bout duration ... were both associated with a higher risk for all-cause mortality."

TL;DR: Sitting slowly kills you, and sitting longer kills you faster.

BTW, AIM is a top-drawer journal. This is not some half-assed study...it's about as rigorous as you'll find. Get moving, folks!
http://annals.org/aim/article/2653704/patterns-sedentary-behavior-mortality-u-s-middle-aged-older-adults

FTA: “Do I think [this new course] is better than 30 students and the Socratic method, Dead Poets Society-style?

FTA: “Do I think [this new course] is better than 30 students and the Socratic method, Dead Poets Society-style? Probably not,” Meer admits.

Exactly. At least he's honest. No, it's not better than a proper in-classroom experience. What it is better than is the horrible, awful, 250-student, auditorium-style, impersonal mass lecture. But that, IMO, is a woefully low bar and one that shouldn't ever have been invented in the first place. But, you know, when scalability is desired and useful technology simply doesn't exist, just making the room bigger is an awfully appealing "fix."

Me? I'll continue teaching small classes the right way as long as I'm able. And I'll put my methods up against the best pure-online instructors in terms of learning outcomes. Will the educate more students? Yes. Will they educate them better? I doubt it.
https://qz.com/1050869/the-college-lecture-is-dying-and-good-riddance/

No matter what you create, some will pan it.

No matter what you create, some will pan it. Create anyway! If it brings even a mote of joy to a few, it is worthwhile.
http://lithub.com/the-original-1851-reviews-of-moby-dick/

I sincerely do not understand the attraction of this sport.

I sincerely do not understand the attraction of this sport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhF1i23vwps&feature=share

Scott Pruitt is literally the worst.

Scott Pruitt is literally the worst.
http://gizmodo.com/epa-head-scott-pruitt-discussing-climate-change-right-1802734714

Renewable energy stories are in this collection about climate change because climate change is the main reason we...

Renewable energy stories are in this collection about climate change because climate change is the main reason we care about renewable energy. But it's not the only reason.
https://flipboard.com/@flipboard/-wind-and-solar-power-are-saving-america/f-7b5fed60ae%2Fvox.com

Worth reading if you design anything (products, services, processes, environments, software, websites, experiences.

Worth reading if you design anything (products, services, processes, environments, software, websites, experiences...anything).
https://medium.com/@cwodtke/how-i-stopped-worrying-and-learned-to-love-design-thinking-f1142bab60e8

Title

What should my Halloween costume be?

This might seem to be just about parenting, but it's also about how we approach any kind of negative outcome for...

This might seem to be just about parenting, but it's also about how we approach any kind of negative outcome for people we are educating, mentoring, advising, or even managing.
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/30/lawnmower-parents-raising-generation-entitled-kids-handle-adversity

Ah, yes, Cincinnati's most reliably pleasant month of the year: September.

Ah, yes, Cincinnati's most reliably pleasant month of the year: September.

This makes me happy.

This makes me happy.

https://twitter.com/i/moments/903568110065782784
https://twitter.com/i/moments/903568110065782784

Did you ever think to yourself, "I have $800 to spend, but need whatever I buy to be completely...

Did you ever think to yourself, "I have $800 to spend, but need whatever I buy to be completely discretionary...maybe a toy!" If so, LEGO has you covered. Behold!

FTA: "Another significant feature of board games is that they require several people to sit down in the same room...

FTA: "Another significant feature of board games is that they require several people to sit down in the same room together and concentrate on a shared experience in real time. That is becoming increasingly rare in a world in which we often see our friends and loved ones more on social media than in real life."
https://qz.com/1063566/playing-board-games-like-magic-the-gathering-can-make-you-a-nicer-person-with-better-relationships/

We are coming down to the wire, so if you are interested at all in the game, or even just willing to help a brother...

We are coming down to the wire, so if you are interested at all in the game, or even just willing to help a brother out and share this notice with your peeps, there hasn't been a better time than now to do it. :-) Thanks!

Originally shared by Happy Harpy Games

We're counting down to the end of the ROBOT RISE! Kickstarter campaign. Please check it out, pledge & share today. http://kck.st/2vw40xv

Two stretch goals down, but more yet to unlock. :-D

Two stretch goals down, but more yet to unlock. :-D

Please help us make ROBOT RISE! the best game it can be by backing or sharing. http://kck.st/2vw40xv

Canadian Road Rage

Originally shared by Gorgor Gor

Canadian Road Rage

Our project could use your support AND you get a great new game. :-)

Our project could use your support AND you get a great new game. :-)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist/dashboard?ref=creator_nav

Just posted the ROBOT RISE! Card Guide ... check it out :-)

Just posted the ROBOT RISE! Card Guide ... check it out :-)

http://www.happyharpygames.com/p/robot-rise-card-guide.html

I had no idea that Milo Yiannopoulos is a health care group called Carafem that provides abortions and PETA.

I had no idea that Milo Yiannopoulos is a health care group called Carafem that provides abortions and PETA.

Or maybe NPR just needs to start using the Oxford comma.

#grammar

This is my favorite book of all.

This is my favorite book of all. I don't know if I want to see the movie since it will destroy all the visual imagery I've already constructed in my head.

Originally shared by Keith Wilson
https://www.google.com/amp/www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/heat-vision/deadpool-director-tim-miller-adapt-neuromancer-fox-1028185

So I wrote up a piece on how my academic research on the design of consumer service experiences informed some of the...

So I wrote up a piece on how my academic research on the design of consumer service experiences informed some of the choices we made when developing our most recent board game. You might find it interesting.
https://medium.com/@CRA1G/how-research-on-service-experiences-helped-our-game-design-e15dfb400dfa

Both companies' stocks fell after the announcement.

Both companies' stocks fell after the announcement. Investors know this is a net loser for everyone. Disney's just being greedy, and Netflix (and consumers) suffer for it. And, apparently, shareholders.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/08/media/disney-netflix/index.html

Precisely.

Precisely.

via Samuel Smith

Originally shared by Rhys Taylor

Yes, that's definitely the answer.
http://existentialcomics.com/comic/197

I'm not famous.

I'm not famous. If you're like me in that way, we're like most people in being not famous. We don't have millions of followers on social media. We don't have our own TV shows, movie franchises, cookbooks, or fashion lines. We're regular, everyday people.

Where am I going with this? Well, I've noticed that a lot of successful Kickstarter campaigns by first-time creators rely heavily on the creator's fame. Take, for example, the ultra-successful game "Exploding Kittens." One of the two creators was Matthew Inman, a.k.a. The Oatmeal. He did all the work and made sure that his zillions of webcomic fans knew about the project. And it was a smash hit.

But here's a secret: It's not a great game. We own it. We've played it several times. It's essentially a card version of Russian Roulette with humorous comics on the cards. But it was hugely successful. Why? Well, mostly, I suspect, because The Oatmeal commands a huge army of fans across various social platforms, and they are both a built-in market and an effective word-of-mouth machine. That's a huge advantage that someone like me, or you, just doesn't have.

So when we (my family) launched our Kickstarter campaign for ROBOT RISE!, I expected it was going to be tough to gain the eyeballs needed to get it funded. And it has been. Sure, we're just over 50% funded 6 days into the campaign, which is a solid start (and we're incredibly grateful), but that's with just 127 backers. If we had even double that, it would be funded and these pains of anxiety in my chest might just subside.

So, if you're a fan of the idea that success isn't just, or even mostly, about who you know (or who knows you), but that it also matters how hard you work and how good the game actually is, maybe you could check out the campaign page, watch the intro video (or, even better, the bloopers one at the end), and consider backing it.

And, if you get the game and you regret it, just return it to us (in a condition we can donate it to a local charity or hospital) and we'll refund your pledge. Thanks.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist

Our campaign to fund the production of ROBOT RISE! passed the 50% mark.

Our campaign to fund the production of ROBOT RISE! passed the 50% mark.

So, to celebrate, we announced our stretch goals...ways we'll be able to make the game even better with funding a bit past our funding threshold.

Please check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist

5 minutes til I start broadcasting on Kickstarter LIVE...come stop by and say hello. :-)

5 minutes til I start broadcasting on Kickstarter LIVE...come stop by and say hello. :-)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist/

So I'll be hanging out on Kickstarter Live, a videochat thingamajig, for a few hours today -- 12:30-3:30pm EDT --...

So I'll be hanging out on Kickstarter Live, a videochat thingamajig, for a few hours today -- 12:30-3:30pm EDT -- and it'd be awesome if you stopped by and said "hey." :-)

Here's the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist/

Is it OK if I only show my kids the first Matrix film and deny the sequels' very existence?

What's keeping you from backing ROBOT RISE! on Kickstarter?

What's keeping you from backing ROBOT RISE! on Kickstarter?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist

So I'm going to be hanging out on Kickstarter Live, a videochat thingie, between 12:30p and 3:30p EDT this Friday...

So I'm going to be hanging out on Kickstarter Live, a videochat thingie, between 12:30p and 3:30p EDT this Friday (8/4). If you want to swing by (virtually) and say hey, talk about our game, ROBOT RISE!, games in general, or just whatever, hit this link during that time slot:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist

I hope you can stop by!

In case you missed it, my family started a board game design and publishing company.

In case you missed it, my family started a board game design and publishing company. Our newest game, ROBOT RISE!, is currently up on Kickstarter and could use your support. So please, go check it out, and consider making a pledge. You won't be disappointed. Thanks!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/happyharpygames/robot-rise-embrace-your-inner-mad-scientist

"profsplaining"

"profsplaining"

[headdesk]

Explaining things you don't fully understand to you is literally that person's job.

POP QUIZ:

POP QUIZ:
Which of these countries has the largest population (as of 2016 estimates)?

No Googling until AFTER you vote...and don't spoil it in the comments.

How I Say Good-Bye to My Kids – Craig Froehle – Medium

https://medium.com/@CRA1G/how-i-say-good-bye-to-my-kids-1573367a0974

Got this selection of M&Ms out of the candy dispenser at work the other day and spent the next 20 minutes trying to...

Got this selection of M&Ms out of the candy dispenser at work the other day and spent the next 20 minutes trying to work out the probability of receiving this exact distribution. Still not entirely sure. #nerdlife

This article reminded me of something I've been meaning to post about, which is benchmarking others to guide your...

This article reminded me of something I've been meaning to post about, which is benchmarking others to guide your own success. There are some clear do's and some clear don'ts.

When thinking about your future, be it a personal goal, a lifestyle, or a career path...

DO: Find those who have become successful in a way that you value and try to determine what they did and what resources they had access to. The more people you can study, the more you can identify those elements that are essential (or even just really helpful) to success in that path. They can also sometimes act as mentors or help introduce you to the inner workings of that environment. That said...

DO NOT: Try to replicate exactly, or even closely, the success paths of others. Other people are systematically different from you. In terms of their strengths, their assets, their situations, and their personal objectives, they are not you. Replicating the decisions they made, from career choices to tattoos, is unlikely to create the same kind of success for you that they enjoy. And...

DO NOT: Only pick the most famous or those paragons of success we usually hear about. Emulating Steve Jobs or Elon Musk isn't likely to get you even close to the same level of success they had. Find other people, closer and more accessible to you, that you can study.

DO: Keep track of your own strengths and assets and constantly evaluate where you need help or further development. Then seek out that personal growth to keep you progressing down your intended path. Sometimes, others help us identify things we not only don't know, but didn't even know we needed to.

DO NOT: Think that you're done. We all have the responsibility to keep improving, growing, and learning as individuals. What was important to your success five years ago may be somewhat, if not entirely, irrelevant next year. Society changes, industry changes, and we as individuals change. As you regularly update your personal objectives, you should regularly re-evaluate how able you are to achieve them. This is not a one-and-done process...it's a regular exercise that should be on your yearly to-do list. Finally...

DO: Focus on things that are important, make a positive difference, and make you happy. As you get older, you'll likely understand both what makes you happy and what society needs better than you did when you were younger. That's an opportunity for re-evaluating your goals and the paths you've been following to achieve them.
https://medium.com/the-mission/7-reasons-why-smart-hardworking-people-dont-become-successful-fbb2f27eed44

Whoa, that's pretty deep, Inspirobot!

Whoa, that's pretty deep, Inspirobot!

http://generated.inspirobot.me/053/aXm7439xjU.jpg

So...is this award-winning teacher onto something?

So...is this award-winning teacher onto something?
https://www.moultrienews.com/opinion/teacher-to-parent---positive-reinforcement-doesn-t-work/article_cf5c0206-2522-11e7-98ed-b3a9b0e7d4f6.html?utm_medium=social

Just spent 5 minutes explaining this to an elderly relative.

Just spent 5 minutes explaining this to an elderly relative.

Originally shared by Cindy Brown

Oh that's clever. Take your time...


(from the New Yorker)

Codenames: Game of Thrones just isn't as much fun. ;-)

Originally shared by Happy Harpy Games

Codenames: Game of Thrones just isn't as much fun. ;-)

Something seems a bit...off.

Something seems a bit...off.

OK, even I'm concerned now that Google+ may actually be dying.

OK, even I'm concerned now that Google+ may actually be dying.
Look at this plot. It's my follower count. I usually don't care how many followers I have -- after all, it's not like I make any money off my social media posts -- but I do pay attention to it as a performance metric (for G+) of sorts. And what I see in this graph concerns me greatly.

Look at the period between the left edge of the chart and July 2016. You'll notice that it's ever-so-slightly bending upward. That shape is what mathematicians call "convex" and it means that my follower count is accelerating.

Accelerating numbers is what you expect to see in healthy social networks. The reason is because as the size of the network grows, it can attract even more people, thereby adding new users even faster than it used to. That should happen until (as Facebook has recently experienced) you start to run out of new users to add. It's safe to say that Google+ is in no danger of market saturation.

Now, compare that left half of the graph with the right half, between July 2016 and now. Over the past year, instead of curving up (convex), it's curving down...a "concave" shape. Concave is bad for social networks because it means that the rate of new users coming on-board is slowing down. That suggests that G+ users aren't attracting their friends as quickly as they used to. And THAT means users aren't committed to the platform, suggesting it's only a matter of time before the network ceases to grow entirely. And that would surely mean the end of G+ as we know it.

But then, maybe G+ as we knew it already ended a while ago. The shift from connecting people to other people (what social networks typically do) to connecting people to content (what Google wants G+ to do) happened in May, 2015, and we saw convex growth after that. But, the shift from a browser-centric G+ to an app-centric G+ peaked in mid-2016 (https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/everything-in-its-right-place.html), right around when the growth shifted from convex to concave. Is that the cause? I don't know. What I do know is that the dramatic life of G+ hasn't been one of unqualified support from Google leadership.

So what is Google going to do to recover its growth and attract new users? Or, perhaps more importantly, what is Google going to do to get old G+ users to come back? Maybe it's the same answer to both questions...maybe not. All I can say for sure is that G+ doesn't have much longer if these growth trends don't turn around pretty soon.

And yes, I realize I'm generalizing from just one person's profile. While my data could be dramatically different from G+ as a whole, I don't think it is. Sure, the scale is radically different, but the trend feels pretty much in-line with what I (and others) have been experiencing for a while. And I'm concerned. Are you?

This is ridiculous and amazing. But mostly ridiculous.

This is ridiculous and amazing. But mostly ridiculous.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/07/honey-hunters-bees-climbing-nepal/

Go vote...and comment.

Go vote...and comment.

#boardgames

Originally shared by Happy Harpy Games

Which of these themes for a new game would be most likely to attract your attention?

wha?

I can laugh endlessly at these.

Oh, shit...Inspirobot's onto us!!

The reason a manufacturing plant exists is to produce product.

The reason a manufacturing plant exists is to produce product. Everything that directly produces product creates external value and should be considered primary. Everything in the plant that does not produce product is there to support those people and systems that do. That is how they create internal value and should be considered secondary. The needs, desires, or preferences, no matter how legitimate, of secondary entities should never outweigh the legitimate needs, desires, and preferences of primary entities unless there is a compelling, customer-value-based reason for doing so.

This is true for manufacturing plants. It is also true for fast food restaurants. And hotels. And landscapers. And, yes, universities.

The reason a college exists is twofold: to produce research and to teach students. In other words, its raison d'être is to generate and disseminate knowledge. Faculty are the primary agents involved in research and teaching. As a result, faculty are primary resources.

In contrast, administrators and staff are secondary resources and are ultimately there either to help the faculty do their jobs or to help students with their needs. Even someone as obscurely related as, say, fundraising is connected in this way. Fundraising staff support the Dean or President, who is supposed to generate and resources that enable research and teaching.

If there is a productivity loop within the organization that doesn't ultimately end in research and teaching, one has to question why it exists. Many colleges and universities have forgotten this basic, common-sense concept.

Also, colleges are increasingly shifting administrative burdens away from staff to faculty (e.g., requiring faculty to process their own travel reimbursement paperwork). This makes zero sense. Why would you ask an employee who can produce primary value (in this case, do research and teach) to do the job of someone who cannot, especially when they're paid more? It would be like having the surgeon clean up the OR after a procedure instead of simply walking across the hallway to another patient who's ready to go.

Ultimately, every organization has a core mission. If someone or something's contribution to the mission isn't clear, it should be scrutinized for possible removal.

Gorgeous! London Bus set 10258 - 1686 pieces

Gorgeous! London Bus set 10258 - 1686 pieces

New favorite of the moment...

InspiroBot

http://inspirobot.me/share?iuid=053/aXm769xjU.jpg

Sometimes, we need some help with sorting.

Sometimes, we need some help with sorting.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/geek-life/hands-on/how-i-built-an-ai-to-sort-2-tons-of-lego-pieces

UNCHARTED

UNCHARTED
State in a comment what you think is depicted in this unlabeled graph.

No Googling until after you comment.

And no posting placeholder comments that you intend to edit later once you've figured out what it is. ;-)

In the first of what may become a series I'm calling "Uncharted," below is a graph with no label.

In the first of what may become a series I'm calling "Uncharted," below is a graph with no label. Guess what data it represents in a comment. First one to guess correctly wins.

#56 ::tears::

#56 ::tears::
http://www.boredpanda.com/hilarious-cat-snapchats/?page_numb=6

Note that they buried the lede, which is that universities are quietly and systematically replacing tenure-track...

Note that they buried the lede, which is that universities are quietly and systematically replacing tenure-track positions with untenured, part-time contract jobs.
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/06/colleges-offer-retirement-buyouts-to-professors/487400/?utm_source=atlfb

Hey Bruce Shark​, I hope ur buddy heals up n gets back to chomping on real fud soon.

Hey Bruce Shark​, I hope ur buddy heals up n gets back to chomping on real fud soon.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/apos-holy-apos-man-films-022215994.html

Good. Now go make better movies!

Good. Now go make better movies!

How Hollywood Came to Fear and Loathe Rotten Tomatoes
http://flip.it/kI4Nj9

Milk...it does a body good. Unless you're lactose intolerant.

Milk...it does a body good. Unless you're lactose intolerant.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/milk-children-height-1.4149832

Her stance is clear: If you don't like the laws protecting LGBT or disabled kids, get your elected officials to...

Her stance is clear: If you don't like the laws protecting LGBT or disabled kids, get your elected officials to change them, because she (as an appointee) isn't about to go out of her way to place any hardship on religious schools that receive vouchers (your and my tax dollars).
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/06/07/531783226/asked-about-discrimination-betsy-devos-said-this-14-times

From my kid's school newsletter.

From my kid's school newsletter.

If the rules are strictly enforced, there are going to be some very oddly dressed girls there.

#grammarnazi

Trump's presidency is an existential threat to the planet, spending money on all the wrong things and starving the...

Trump's presidency is an existential threat to the planet, spending money on all the wrong things and starving the things humans actually rely on.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/06/as-hurricane-season-begins-noaa-told-to-slow-its-transition-to-better-models/

A small study, to be sure, but encouraging for those who can't get access to hot water (or just don't want to wait...

A small study, to be sure, but encouraging for those who can't get access to hot water (or just don't want to wait for it to heat up).
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-40118539

FTA: "That legal assessment of the defeat device scandal seems to have held up as the researchers analyzed the cars’...

FTA: "That legal assessment of the defeat device scandal seems to have held up as the researchers analyzed the cars’ code. The VWs and Audis in question checked for a number of parameters at startup, and if a lab test was a possibility, the car would start with that assumption, enabling full emissions controls. The code permitted the car “to operate... as if two distinct personalities took turns controlling the vehicle,” the paper’s authors wrote."
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2017/05/volkswagen-bosch-fiat-diesel-emissions-cheats-cracked-open-in-new-research/

I saw Star Wars (I will die calling it that while all the younger nerds run around tut-tutting and calling it "A New...

I saw Star Wars (I will die calling it that while all the younger nerds run around tut-tutting and calling it "A New Hope") in the theater in July, 1977 at the ripe old age of 8. It was a magical moment.

I remember my mind being absolutely blown away at the spectacles and concepts the original film included. Holograms. Laser swords. Credible space ships that were made to kick ass, not just weaponized for self-defense (sorry, Enterprise). Bad guys that I actually feared. Good guys that I really liked. Aliens that weren't clearly people in blue make-up (sorry, Star Trek) and places that felt dirty and dangerous...that felt like they could be real.

In 1977, the state of the art in movie special effects wasn't very compelling at all, so a science-fiction blockbuster that was extraordinary in nearly every way had just that much more impact on young, impressionable minds like mine.

I was instantly obsessed. I conned my grandparents into taking me to see it a second time a few weeks later (seeing a movie twice in the theater was something you really almost never did in those days, at least if you weren't filthy rich). They didn't understand it, so I spent the evening after we went trying to explain it to them. (Aside: They seemed much older to me that day than they ever had before.)

While I'm certainly not the world's biggest uber-fan of Star Wars, I do sincerely look forward to every movie. Sometimes I'm thrilled beyond measure (The Empire Strikes Back) and sometimes I'm disappointed beyond words (The Phantom Menace). I've done my fair share of cursing George Lucas' directing while at the same time marvelling at the man's imagination and his insistence that the films' special effects break paradigms left and right.

I am sincerely glad for the "franchise" that is Star Wars. While I am delighted by one-off films that thrill and inspire and endure, I'm equally delighted by the series that give us both something to cherish and something to look forward to. I hope it continues to delight us for generations to come.

Originally shared by StarTalk

A long time ago… (40 years, to be exact!)
Happy Geek Pride Day!
May the Force be with you. Always.
Image: © 1977 Twentieth Century-Fox

Title

Ohh shots fired

Originally shared by Colin Fish

Ohh shots fired

My older kids watched it a lot, but I don't remember this episode of Barney.

My older kids watched it a lot, but I don't remember this episode of Barney.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ZqYc1CZiw

::crying::

::crying::
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvT_gqs5ETk&feature=share

I love this so much. Go Toby!!

I love this so much. Go Toby!!
https://laughingsquid.com/guinness-world-record-fastest-time-dog-pop-100-balloons/

Now that is quite good.

Now that is quite good. Yummy, actually, and I'm not being the slightest bit sarcastic (I know!). The regular Soylent 2.0 makes an acceptable, adequate lunch. It's not something I look forward to, but not something I dread, either. But this Cacao flavor...well...it tastes like thick chocolate milk made with semi-sweet cocoa. I may have to only bring in one bottle at a time to work because I might just drink it because it's enjoyable.

A $900 million investment in sustainability is impressive no matter how you slice it.

A $900 million investment in sustainability is impressive no matter how you slice it.

Originally shared by Kam-Yung Soh

Nice milestone by LEGO. "After four years and a DKK 6 billion investment in two offshore wind farms, the LEGO Group has achieved its ambition to balance 100% of its energy use with energy from renewable sources. To celebrate, the LEGO Group has built the largest ever LEGO® brick wind turbine, a Guinness World Records™ title, and challenged children around the world to create their own renewable energy solutions.

Since 2012, the LEGO Group has supported the development of more than 160 megawatts of renewable energy. The latest investment is a 25% stake in the Burbo Bank Extension wind farm off the coast of Liverpool, UK. The wind farm, which was officially opened today, will generate clean power for more than 230,000 British households.
[...]
The total ouput from the investments by the LEGO Group in renewables now exceeds the energy consumed at all LEGO factories, stores and offices globally. In 2016, more than 360 gigawatt hours of energy were used by the LEGO Group to produce the more than 75 billion LEGO bricks sold around the world during the year.

Reaching the 100% renewable milestone was a target inspired by the LEGO Group’s partnership with the WWF Climate Savers programme. The LEGO Group works with other partners to advocate for investment in renewable energy and has joined the RE100, a global initiative of companies committed to using 100% renewable energy."
https://www.lego.com/en-gb/aboutus/news-room/2017/may/100-percent-renewable-milestone/

One of Cincinnati's most talented bands, still going strong after 30+ years.

One of Cincinnati's most talented bands, still going strong after 30+ years. If you were listening to alternative rock radio back in the early 80s, you might've heard this song (The Raisins' original 1983 version is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsFTi1DuZ8U )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFT3ZIoxI_A&feature=share

Watch this short video...you'll enjoy it and learn something.

Watch this short video...you'll enjoy it and learn something.
https://laughingsquid.com/dissecting-louis-c-k-joke/

#adorable

#adorable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKMBgsPkWcM&feature=share

"Kids who attend public preschool programs are better prepared for kindergarten than kids who don't."

"Kids who attend public preschool programs are better prepared for kindergarten than kids who don't."

"That while all kids benefit from preschool, poor and disadvantaged kids often make the most gains."
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/05/03/524907739/pre-k-decades-worth-of-studies-one-strong-message?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=plus.google.com&utm_medium=social

OK, I'll admit it...I want McDonald's to succeed.

OK, I'll admit it...I want McDonald's to succeed. I want McDonald's to not suck, to offer good service, to make yummy, good-quality food, and to be a great company. If this totally off-the-wall ad campaign is a sign of things to come, I'm heartened, because it's McDonald's not taking itself so seriously that it can't poke a little fun at itself. And if fast food needs to be anything (besides compliant with health regulations, that is), it's fun. Otherwise, it really doesn't offer anything other than speed, and fast casual has covered that base pretty squarely now. Go, McD's...go for the slightly absurd...it can only help.
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/01/mcdonalds-invents-the-frork-to-pitch-its-new-burgers.html

Oh mah lawd! Yes, please!

Oh mah lawd! Yes, please!
https://ideas.lego.com/blogs/1-blog/post/137

Good luck!

Good luck!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/04/27/laying-a-road-map-for-states-liberal-senators-introduce-bill-to-end-u-s-fossil-fuel-use-by-2050/?utm_term=.6fb2fb72fc82&wpisrc=nl_green&wpmm=1

QUIZ: What is the head of government (a.k.a. prime minister) of Ireland officially called?

QUIZ: What is the head of government (a.k.a. prime minister) of Ireland officially called?
(No Googling until AFTER you've cast a vote).

This project perfectly blends art, architecture, and engineering. Fabulous.

This project perfectly blends art, architecture, and engineering. Fabulous.
http://www.archdaily.com/799954/see-the-engineering-behind-this-floating-award-winning-stone-helical-stair

Think about how the crab's story might sound to its comrades below the waves, and then realize how similar it is to...

Think about how the crab's story might sound to its comrades below the waves, and then realize how similar it is to the stories humans tell about being abducted onto spaceships, had weird medical procedures done, and then returned back to Earth.

Also, that image is rather unsettling. Industrial bleeding has to give many people the willies.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a26038/the-blood-of-the-crab/

Some things here are a little surprising, but most seem like common sense.

Some things here are a little surprising, but most seem like common sense. Make a fast decision NOW and decide to read this article. ;-)
http://wapo.st/2onqSKm?tid=ss_gp

Eat all the rain!

Eat all the rain!
https://twitter.com/PuppuccinoHQ/status/856325320441561088

Back in late 2012, I posted a similar graph with my first 6 cars and said I should use this to justify a 400 HP car.

Back in late 2012, I posted a similar graph with my first 6 cars and said I should use this to justify a 400 HP car.

Prophecy or just luck?

And with a trend line of ~12 more HP per year, if I keep my current car for 8 years, its replacement will have just over 500 HP. [grin]

Now accepting entries for a modern day version of Ambrose Bierce's classic The Devil's Dictionary.

Now accepting entries for a modern day version of Ambrose Bierce's classic The Devil's Dictionary.

I'll start:

ADVERB -- a verb that's trying to sell you something

So Billo is gone from Fox News

So Billo is gone from Fox News
That really must give him the blues
The women abuser
Is now the big loser
But I suspect he'll fail to do any introspection whatsoever and just blame his ouster on liberals, minorities, and Jews
https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/business/media/bill-oreilly-fox-news-allegations.html

Title

If Trump really wanted more good-paying jobs for Americans, he'd invest in renewable energy.

If Trump really wanted more good-paying jobs for Americans, he'd invest in renewable energy.
https://thinkprogress.org/soaring-demand-for-global-solar-53f11bcaa89e

Title

Very sad.

Very sad. :-( Geils wrote unapologetically fun rock songs, consistently put on thoroughly enjoyable shows, and never seemed to take either his craft or the industry more seriously than it deserved.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/guitarist-j-geils-dead-at-71-w476279

PSA: Don't go 5 years without cleaning out your dryer vent pipe, or it'll look like a coronary artery with a bad...

PSA: Don't go 5 years without cleaning out your dryer vent pipe, or it'll look like a coronary artery with a bad case of plaque build-up (and you don't want your house having a heart attack).

Hello

Hello,
I just wanted to let you know that I will not be able to make it to class today due to an interview at 2:00pm. Please let me know if I am missing anything by not attending today's class.
Thanks
#####


#####,
Are you missing anything?

No, of course not…we’re going to sit in silence for an hour and 20 minutes, staring at an empty screen.

Please watch the podcast of the lecture since we’ll be discussing rather important issues.

Good luck on your interview.
- Craig

I hope he sues the ever-loving hell out of United and wins enough to buy his own 737.

I hope he sues the ever-loving hell out of United and wins enough to buy his own 737.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2017/04/10/a-man-wouldnt-leave-an-overbooked-united-flight-so-he-was-dragged-off-battered-and-limp/?utm_term=.16d8af3d3e91

Punctuation and grammar are essential to any properly functioning human society.

Punctuation and grammar are essential to any properly functioning human society.
https://goo.gl/photos/k1GxXf4U1j8sLRQ56

I need to lose weight.

I need to lose weight.

Bwahahaha!

Bwahahaha!

Originally shared by Jill H

My irony meter just overloaded! Bwahaha!
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/06/us/coal-museum-goes-solar-trnd/

via Peter Vogel​

via Peter Vogel​

Originally shared by Joyce Donahue

Hahaha! Really needed this about now.

Title

wowee zowee! Another amazing MOC from Rocco Buttliere

wowee zowee! Another amazing MOC from Rocco Buttliere
http://www.moc-pages.com/moc.php/438203

YUSS!

YUSS!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd4m7bX9NfM&feature=share

I'm rich, muthafuckas!

I'm rich, muthafuckas!

Climate change deniers be like...

Climate change deniers be like...

Many of these are quite amusing.

Many of these are quite amusing.
http://www.boredpanda.com/people-who-dont-give-a-duck/

Q: How did Luke Skywalker cross the moon of Endor?

Q: How did Luke Skywalker cross the moon of Endor?

A: Ewok'ed.

Google's AFD joke is pretty good.

Google's AFD joke is pretty good.

Could've been darker and I would've LOLed harder, but this is decent for general audiences.

4/5 Would watch again.
https://store.google.com/magazine/gnome

Ha!

Ha!

Nice.

Nice.
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-doodle-winner-dreams-of-a-future-with-peace-diversity/

You can spare a couple of hours Tuesday night, right?

You can spare a couple of hours Tuesday night, right?

Originally shared by Lauchlin MacGregor
http://www.unitedstateofcinema.com/

heh heh

heh heh

via Matthew H

Originally shared by null

Worth reading.

Worth reading.

It knows.

Originally shared by Lisa Chabot
https://www.thebeaverton.com/2017/03/disneys-animatronic-trump-tragically-seems-understand/

Taking the 3 Rs -- reduce, reuse, recycle -- to new heights (ahem)...

Taking the 3 Rs -- reduce, reuse, recycle -- to new heights (ahem)...
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/29/521941656/launch-land-launch-spacex-tries-reusing-its-rocket

I lecture for free; they pay me to grade.

I lecture for free; they pay me to grade.

This is pretty much my life, with a few exceptions.

This is pretty much my life, with a few exceptions. All the academic stuff is spot on, especially the multiple coinciding demands on one's attention. I have fewer kid-related concerns than Tania does, but more homestead duties -- Did I remember to call the roofer to fix the gutter? I need to buy a new furnace air filter...maybe just get six. Need to pay the property tax bill tomorrow. The cable box is acting up again...gotta look at that. And so on. -- but it's pretty much all the same confusing, non-stop barrage of responsibilities.

I think what makes an academic career amazing -- professional autonomy -- is also what makes it incredibly frustrating. I get to decide what I want to work on and (largely) who I want to work with, but I also have a tendency to say "yes" to people and opportunities when I really should decline, and that leads to me taking on way too many projects. Discipline...it's something I'm still working on.
http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/03/27/521620741/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-academic-mom?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=plus.google.com&utm_medium=social

If money, time, and space in my home were no longer barriers...

If money, time, and space in my home were no longer barriers...

"The nearby Canadian city of Victoria disposes its untreated wastewater by pumping it directly into the Strait of...

"The nearby Canadian city of Victoria disposes its untreated wastewater by pumping it directly into the Strait of Juan de Fuca."

What the hell?? How can a modern city in a first-world nation do that in 2017?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/03/human-diseases-pacific-orcas-killer-whales-salmonella/

Awww

Awww

Originally shared by Will Keaney

This is entirely too much.
https://twitter.com/bentolmachoff/status/846476110846017536

Fun.

Fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsNeqANI3k&feature=share

Playing Super Mario Run? Friend me: 0354-1969-1259

Playing Super Mario Run? Friend me: 0354-1969-1259

This just floors me every time I see it. These are big chickens, but this one seems like it'd terrorize a city.

This just floors me every time I see it. These are big chickens, but this one seems like it'd terrorize a city.

Originally shared by Alex Balcázar

When your chicken is a direct descendant of a T. Rex.