Bulkington

Or, in my case in that school exercise: "I cheated." And so did the other finalist. But he was a known scoundrel, and I was the 'nice kid.' The last coin flip was the only one that was monitored. I won, and it was hailed and a just result. So, it's not all luck.

In the US, these are available from state health departments, although these services tend to be geared to the poor--not that rich babies are biologically different, but the wealthy tend to rely on private resources (because of a predisposition to avoid public health services--and poor people).

http://www.healthyfamiliesnow.net/book-one-pregnancy-through...

As others have said, the struggle is what will be meaningful, long term. But don't feel compelled to get in over your head, just because you want a cooler tall tale when all's said and done. On the other hand--and I only discovered this after that unplanned sojourn in Turkish prison--there are challenges and adventures to be had in Anytown, USA. You just have to know where to look, or learn to see differently.

"First, I'm going to deliver this case to Marcellus, then I'm just going to walk the earth."

https://youtu.be/Yh-QWKGbm2Q

Fuel and drivers are a close 1 & 2 in motor carrier operating costs, with drivers taking the top spot when diesel is cheap.

[1] http://trucker.com/trucker-jobs/equipment-driver-pay-push-op...

Britain had sent 'foreign aid' to India for hundreds of years--but the returns just aren't so great anymore.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial_India

It wasn't long ago that telephone charges provided hotels a significant revenue stream. Good summary here--one which also notes that quality wifi installations are expensive for big hotels, and must be constantly maintained and regularly upgraded.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/2015/02/08/ho...

Or, just visualize your car's speedometer: 100kph=62mph and 100mph=160kph; approximate from there.

http://a57.foxnews.com/global.fncstatic.com/static/managed/i...

Re: diesel pollution/electric semis (tangent)

The Tesla Autopilot crash in Florida has led directly to the Missouri governor's veto of a bill to allow big rig platooning--a semi-autonomous technology that lets trucks travel in close pairs (or more) for aero/fuel efficiency and safety benefits.

The backlash is going to get worse before broad public acceptance gets better. The rest of the US ain't SV.

Veto: http://trucker.com/blog/autonomous-tech-honeymoon-over

Platooning: http://peloton-tech.com

Birth tourism, or the politically freighted 'anchor baby'?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_tourism

I don't see anything in Marlantes's background that qualifies him to make clinical assessments re: sociopaths and depression. I do see a lot that says he's been quite gung ho for some time--not that there's anything wrong with that. See also "fanboy" and "humble brag." But this is a Memorial Day piece, so...

Side note: How are Americans supposed to recognize the sacrifice made by "contract security" personnel, going forward?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marlantes https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gung-ho https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Outing_(Seinfeld)

I think THE point is that everyone harbors strange and misguided misconceptions about life, truth, reality, and culture. But after a certain age, a mature consciousness no longer is so arrogant as to imagine it can tell others why they're misguided. But that's a thread killer--just couldn't resist.

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhicitta [2] http://youtu.be/LGdyVnW86SY

Uh... excuse me, Mr. President? That's not entirely accurate.

[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116629/quotes?item=qt0388832]

At risk of outing myself as an Anglophile--and of then being shunned by true Brits for saying this--but I rate LeCarre with Anthony Burgess, high on my list of favorite authors. Coincidentally, Burgess took a swing at a spy novel (and at LeCarre and Ian Fleming). Worth a read for fans of the genre.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremor_of_Intent:_An_Eschato...

We're overthinking. Think, instead, as a school marm with real chalk and a switch in hand, or even when kids used slate tablets: 10x is easy. 11x is easy up to 10x. 12x requires a little work and pulls all the multiples together, but 13x just screws with everything we've learned so far. So, stop at 12. Or is a calculator in hand the default these days? As one who was proud to finally get to 12 x 12 = 144, I say make 'em suffer.

Allow me to inject a cynical slant to your hopeful suggestion that people 'today more than ever' can chose their peers. People with a certain education supported by an infrastructure (personal and technological) that allows for choice have this flexibility, but those without see only the threat of 'the other,' not an opportunity to rethink fundamental principles. Worse, political leaders continue to exploit ignorance, but with sophisticated mass communication tools and technologies Twain could never have imagined.

Prominent examples:

1. Lower-middle class Southern whites in the U.S. (with whom Twain was intimately familiar) embrace right-wing rhetoric (devout opposition to a godless, liberal govt that rewards a free-loading underclass) while the Republican Party caves to the self-interest of the mega-corp oligarchy. These folks who would benefit from social reforms reject all such liberal notions because, well, they still believe anyone who's not white and Christian is out to take away what little they have. But regressive conservative tax policy is actually doing them harm. (tl;dr: see the success of Fox News, with its overwhelmingly white/old audience. http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2015/04/02/rat...)

2. Given the above in the U.S., is it any wonder radical Islam succeeds in less affluent, less educated areas of the world--where there's very little exposure to outside ideas. And there's certainly very little opportunity for social/intellectual/economic mobility.

Exactly. Breasts are the original and ultimate click bait for a large segment of human population.

http://www.livescience.com/23500-why-men-love-breasts.html

The distinction between a democracy and republic is worth noting, specifically in Western democracies where elected representatives, not the voting public, make most major decisions. Two issues here: 1. Technology (telecom and social networks) clearly is a threat to dictators when used for challenges to the established order (see various recent populist uprisings) and 2. Yet, despite the theoretical ability of tech to drive mass participation in decision making, where's the push, particularly in Western democracies?

Personally, I'm a firm believer in 'be careful what you ask for,' especially since established regimes (to say nothing of global corporations) have the resources and motivation to manipulate the same technology/social connectivity in their favor. In other words, democracy depends on an informed polis, so the hearts-and-minds campaign continues and is somewhat more directly valuable--but nothing much changes: Best messaging wins.

Anyway, basic if conventional discussion is here: http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/06/03/why-technology-hasnt-del...

You're right. I was trying to moderate my own overreaction. Tl;dr: Stupid greedy bitches! No, you're a stupid bitch, can't wait to see your unemployment app--because arrogant heartless bastards tend to do well, so what happened?

But I didn't want the down votes. So I didn't go there. I need to stay off HN on the weekends.

Luv ya!

Not to nitpick, but fuel is the most expensive part of trucking. [1] And Level 4 automation ain't happening in long-haul trucking (in the U.S.) for a while [2].

1: http://news.trucker.com/trucker-jobs/equipment-driver-pay-pu...

2: http://news.trucker.com/technology/long-road-autonomous-truc...

'Meh' this comment sequence. If I overreact, it's because these were at the top of comment thread when I caught the post, and (at the risk going Reddit on HN) this is pure Reddit ad hominem BS. Self-proclaimed übermenschen defy gravity in their own minds. Great. Have at it.

Edit: Sorry, should have said 'self-imagined' rather than 'self-proclaimed.' Regardless, login in 20 years and let me know how it's worked out.

For an accessible introduction to Benjamin (and to an interesting side of novelist Larry McMurtry of Lonesome Dove fame) check out: http://www.amazon.com/Walter-Benjamin-Dairy-Queen-Reflection...

I realize publicizing winners keeps casinos in business, but how do B. Clinton and B. Obama fit with this, in contrast to the Bushes? They studied hard AND played the social game. But I guess President isn't really an elite job, since they're beholden to the real elites who didn't have to study for inherited power and influence. I'm not trying to make the case the game isn't rigged, only that it can be hacked.

From the article: Forsyth said he saw "no harm" in confirming the truth that "children were dying like flies" in Biafra.

Yes, it's wonderful to be a journalist in a conflict zone where each side assumes you're an agent for whichever Western power is propping up the puppet regime/insurgency. And they have grounds for the suspicion.

Journaist who covered the Freightiner/State of Nevada annuncment last week here. The article's summary of the current state of truck autonomy is quite cogent There's an explainer link below for those looking for more detail, but the point Daimler Trucks execs and engineers emphasized is that they have no plans to pursue Level 4 (no driver needed) autonomy. (Although I don't recall that they were pushed on a timeframe for that commitment.)

So, as is, this is very much a tool to benefit drivers; i.e., cruise control with steering. But the critical point, as the article notes before taking the leap truck drivers are soon to disappear, is that trucking is big business (collectively) and if this technology can be suppoerted by the business case, then it will be adopted as rapidly as pubic policy permits.

However, the author doesn't take into consideration a couple of things:

1: The trucking industry is having a very hard time finding drivers (waaaay tough gig for over-the-road guys). While this may support the notion that trucking companies will rush to adopt autonomus vehicle tech, it takes away some of the punch of his basic income thesis: people don't want to do this job.

Truck drivers come from the same pool as construction laborers and factory workers, and when the economy is good there's a driver shortage because workers prefer jobs that let them go home every night compared to sleeping in a truck for weeks at a time. So in this case, basic income is, at best, a trucking industry subsidy. Otherwise, it's make-work.

2: The trucking industry is very fragmented. We're all familiar with many of the big fleet names we see on trailers every day, and while these mega-carriers haul a large percentage of the freight, they're far outnumbered by the number of companies with five or fewer trucks. And there's a great deal of conflict between the policies sought by well-capitalized larger firms (with money to invest in new tech and often lobby to have it manadated) and the Joe's Trucking Cos who are one breakdown or accident from going out of business. But Joe stays in businees because because he fills a niche the big guys aren't interested in.

And Joe ain't going to buy a robot, not that he'd mind staying in the office while his truck deivers freight without him, but because he can't afford it.

So either the fully driverless truck is going to become so operationally efficient that big trucking companies can move into these niches and fill spot demand, or the technology is going to be so affordabe that the little guy adopts it and then uses his niche expertise to grow is business. Both are wins for the overall economy, with the latter actually staving off a further concentration of capital--which I guess would be a good thing for the basic income crowd. (And as a journlist, I assure you I'm not averse to the concept.)

http://news.trucker.com/technology/freightliner-s-autonomous...

Anyone over 40 who is certain of anything hasn't been paying attention.

In baseball, cheating is a worthwhile art and a science.

http://a.espncdn.com/mlb/columns/neyer_rob/1380568.html

HN

Journalist here, survivor of several 'digital first' revolutions and now, officially, a 'content director' and glad to have a very good job. A couple of things:

1. A really good newsroom is really tight. Very few print-trained journalists are in it for the money, so the cause and comradeship are everything. A quick way to ruin a newsroom is to implement sweeping changes that have nothing to do with good storytelling (and also mean a lot of extra work). I've been through several of these reorganizations. In the worst, management delivers a master plan heavy on digital/social goals but then provides no tools or training. Essentially, somebody went to yet another publishing conference, heard the latest on why everyone's losing money, or what sort of digital results you need to hit the multiples the current VC owners want to flip their share ... Oh hell, this is too frustrating to relive.

Gist: By and large, print journos don't do digital. A good story is a good story, but the tools/skills are essentially different. It's like telling someone skilled with an epee she's going to have start breaking boards. Ordering an accomplished story teller to deliver a list and a quiz each week and promote them heavily across multiple social platforms, for example, is a mistake. You want clickbait, get a pro. You want video, get a pro--not GoPros and iMovie tips for the writers.

2. Of course, owners are absolutely expected to do what they think is best for a property. And outside of TNR alums and friends of recent staff, the reaction of journalists has been largely to shrug: Nothing new here, other than the duly noted wrongheadedness of trying to make TNR something it's never been. (There's also probably some jealously: TNR was a good gig.)

But this is what we all fear: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/12/charles-johns...

And this: http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2014/12/01/if-you-cant-parody...

The Air Force never wanted this plane in the first place. A renegade general who focused on effectivenes instead of glamorous, shiny supersonic planes pushed it through and went to the press to pressure congress to help keep it in service.

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/03/john-boy...

Take heart, and permit my anecdotal counterexample -- with a happy ending.

In the mid-90s, we picked up an used Mac Plus for our 5-year-old. He loved it, had no problem playing the heck out of the games, negotiating menus, etc. (Although I did get irrationally mad when, as he was playing Spit on Saddam -- a local Apple guy had written it, so I'd loaded it for kicks -- he actually spit on the screen.)

So great, maybe I can start working in some HyperCard, give him some control. No interest whatsoever. I even hacked some of his games, to show him the possibilities of coding. He was amused, but still had no interest.

He got older and got the thrill of modem WoW with friends, but he still had no interest coding -- althoug I did catch him learning the warez culture.

About this time, I became addicted to browsing the state surplus equipment lot, and found that they had, literally, a pile of computers they sold at auction for essentially the cost of hauling it all away. In each pile, there were always some Macs. So I got to know the computer scrap guys and would buy discarded Macs for $10 a pallet -- and they thought I was a sucker.

To the point, the kid loved taking computers apart -- especially after discovered a PowerMac uprgrade card in a half laptop that I'd told him to toss. Nothing like an elementary kid earning $200 on eBay to keep him interested. He also helped me refurb/clone a bunch of Macs for his brother's preschool.

Bottom line: He learned how to handle the guts of computers, and to build networks from surplus routers so all his friends could come over for game nights, etc. But he never wrote a line of code through high school, despite my best efforts.

Then he got to college, decided he wanted to do CompSci. He was way behind in coding, but -- since it was a small liberal arts school -- the department was glad to have him and was patient. Plus he had some hands-on hardware skills that few others had (because the family computers were too expensive to tinker with, or no one knew anything about the innards).

He's now a gainfully employed SysAdmin, with a wife and mortgage and personal projects on the side -- and all his old pals still get together for game nights.

Maybe I wasn't a skilled or patient instructor, or maybe kids are just going to be what they are.

RE: Baltimore

Who knew there's a vibrant ubran culture devoted to riding wheelies on motorcycles down major avenues, with crowds gathered on the sidewalk and all waiting for the police chase to begin? I recommend the movie reviewed below. Still not sure what it says about poverty and race in the US.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/26/movies/12-oclock-boys-docu...