Bulkington

This deals mainly with commercial vehicle electrification, but the broader discussion is on topic: Grid not ready, not close. https://www.fleetowner.com/emissions-efficiency/video/550204...

Money chart (2022) is here: https://www.fleetowner.com/perspectives/running-lights/blog/...

How about your supply chain choices? Do you shop Amazon or ship/receive via FedEx?

https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/21/amazon-air-expands-with-10...

If no, then I applaud your sacrifice; preach it, brother. Spreading awareness and sensitiivty is critical.

If yes, then we get into the nasty business of setting goals and priorities. Or, rather, the nasty business of having our priorities set for us. Or can you see an achievable path that doesn't lead to a green coat of paint on the status quo?

I can say this: As much as I believe anything, I believe I was born to write a widely acclaimed novel. But I'm also a rational person who recognizes this is ridiculous. Even a person seriously dedicated to writing a novel faces a long shot. I'm not a serious person, even though I've made a decent living as a journalist/propagandist. Now I'm of an age that my failure bothers me. But I just don't have the time--or, more accurately, I don't have the wil--to forego pleasant distractions. Priorities. Make a call.

More practically, maybe a counterpoint, maybe not: My wife's constant scrolling of her social media feed drives me crazy. What a waste of a time, I insist. Yet moments ago she shows me the below. Does it qualify as learning something new, a diversion worthwhile? It's a lifesaving technique I didn't know; arguably an investment of a few minutes that's more valuable to me than the weeks/months/years I might spend to craft a piece of fiction that likely would be unread.

tl;dr: utility has limits in making life choices.

https://youtu.be/VUsnmGXJ70E

This is very much a state-by-state issue. Of note, however, because Texas is so large and orders so many textbooks, and because publishers don't want to customize their titles for all 50 states, the Texas version winds up elsewhere. And in Texas, successful candidates for the state Board of Education are often right-wing ideologues.

"How Texas Inflicts Bad Textbooks on Us" https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2012/06/21/how-texas-inflic...

Okay, I'll bite. I was at a urinal today that had a mesh screen of a style I'd never noticed, and I thought: Some guy with a degree in engineering/fluid dynamics has this on his resume.

But when you consider there are what, 3.5 billion or so males on the planet, the benefits of urinal hygiene add up pretty quickly.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/08/urinal-splashback-...

Plus ça change, the better it has been said before:

In philosophy, anamnesis is a concept in Plato's epistemological and psychological theory that humans possess innate knowledge (perhaps acquired before birth) and that learning consists of rediscovering that knowledge within us.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anamnesis_(philosophy)

“The Double Helix”

Rich on so many levels—must read for anyone considering grad school with a real, research component. Also a good, broad look at team/organizational dynamics—and, surprise: the best self-promoter wins.

Would women's significantly superior graduation rates to men's in NCAA basketball qualify as 'toxic masculinity'? Or benign disinterest? Not that disinterest can't be toxic...

http://nebula.wsimg.com/63037e2d226dc6cdac787a498f2ddaf6?Acc...

Many, many communities still rely, at least in part, on volunteer firefighters. I know a number of former military guys that love it--provides that the risk/rush and camaraderie you're looking for. And it ain't a cakewalk.

https://www.volunteerfd.org/become-a-volunteer-firefighter/

I became a recent fan after catching a feature film [0] and a documentary [1] about the band. Worth a look and listen.

[0] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421082/ [1] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1097239/

The real testament to Waffle House is the way more than a few hipsters of my acquaintance started going for a serving of post-party irony--then found out they really love hash browns in some variation of Scattered, Smothered, Covered, Chunked & Topped. Even more especially, it's the the vibe: Waffle House is one place pretense won't get you anywhere, so just chill with your crew and confess your sins as the sun comes up.

So our metro library system (well respected) is promoting an eclipse education event, with free viewing glasses. Should the sourcing be suspect? (95% viewing area)

Side note, forgotten (by me): Post-Dunkirk, Britain and France--represented by Churchill and DeGaulle--planned to unite. From The Atlantic story:

"Although that battle story is fairly well known, the accompanying political drama that almost saw Britain and France merge is now largely forgotten. But the drama of that near-fusion can help explain the origins of European integration—and the reasons why Britain ultimately pulled away from the European Union in the decision we know as Brexit."

Common knowledge in GB/France? How's the Brexit analysis?

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/08/du...

Not trying to to be flip, but with age and experience much will be revealed. Until then, the author is boxing himself in by coming up with his tidy categories. Some people are naturally glib and conversational, some people can bench press 300 pounds, some people pick up geometry proofs right off the bat; most people can get better--even very good--at any of these things.

For somebody who seems to run into the same issues in all aspects of his life, I can only recommend the Costanza method. [0] I did however begin to wonder if the author was pulling my leg when he complained of partners wanting to talk during sex--because, based on the rest of the post, how is this guy getting laid? FWIW, when in doubt, whisper in French. [1]

[0] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0697744/?ref_=ttep_ep10 [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27esprit_de_l%27escalier

I am truly bewildered. Was in Madras a couple of months ago, and all the talk of eclipse was, I thought then, preposterous. Now Portland businesses are making contingency plans for employees. Have friends in Charleston, SC, with 1.5 minutes of full coverage, and it's just an excuse to drink a little more, a little earlier.

Is this a social media/regional/generational thing? Do people really think they need to be on the 100% line for some reason? Do people think they won't live to see the next one in 2024?

Yes, it's an unusual event, and creepy if you're a caveman. Otherwise, this strikes me as Chamber of Commerce hype cashing in on Facebook vanity. Seriously, I don't get it.

1: "Then you flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27re_So_Vain

2: Rooftop party: https://youtu.be/kkKJ3NJl8sM

Semi-related, and with all due props to GOT: Check out the first couple of episodes of Michael Wood's The Story of China on PBS. The Westeros plotters were pikers compared to the real history of Chinese dynasties.

http://www.pbs.org/story-china/home/

I also immediately thought of kibbutzim, just as a counterexample for debate. (Full disclosure: ex-volunteer)

From Agriculture To High-Tech: Meet Five Kibbutzim That Became Global Powerhouses http://nocamels.com/2016/03/successful-israeli-kibbutzim-ind...

Well, here's a/the start to "old school":

http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/meno.html

More broadly, systemically, the states still manage highway projects, for instance. The US federal government just funds them--although post-earmark programs (TIGER grants, federal freight projects legislation) have tried to address this. But, yes, there is no long-term plan because the federal funding system isn't set up that way. {Supply chain guy pet peeve; see also 'cooruption' comment below}.

A certain portmanteau describes it perfectly:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=clusterfuck

Ironically, the pinnacle of corruption was the way Congress swapped district-specific funding ("earmarks") in lieu of outright cash/votes swaps on non-transportation legislation. The "bridge to nowhere" system got burned in 2005 and long-term surface transportation funding has been a wreck ever since. Congress hasn't done much worthwhile since, either.

Otherwise, a lot of the "corruption" is just federal contracting hoops and hurdles--again, in place, theoretically, to limit corruption. More irony: Republicans are, essentially, arguing that old-fashioned cronyism is more efficient and cost-effective. Last laugh: It might be.

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

Find annotated text for your early efforts, especially when you tackle the plays. Even for a native English speaker (at least for an American) many of the Elizabethan terms are meaningles--or worse, misunderstood--and a lot of the puns (they are legion) depend on an understanding of the language and culture of England 400-500 years ago.

Tangential, but worth sharing for HN crowd, I think. Psychologist Jung and physicist Pauli worked very closely together to explore the unity of mind and matter. Some of their theories are, frankly, difficult to grasp and so intuitively unfathomable they're easy (for me) to just dismiss. But when you consider that Pauli could conceive the idea of the neutrino, impress Einstein with a critique of general relativity, etc., then maybe he's just onto something. The collection of letters referenced below is really wonderful.

https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/03/09/atom-and-archetype-...

I am a good leader, trained by a father who--I kid you not--had his children up before dawn to listen to the same motivational/management how-to tapes he listened to. Only, perhaps because of this, I have no interest in a management gig, mainly because (money aside) I'd rather be coding/writing/producing, and doing it well, than overseeing the production of others. And I've moved to larger companies as a producer because I also had successful managment experience at smaller orgs. But now I'm topped out--and to not accept the next level is a career DNR. I'm demonstrably good, but am I 3x salary better than a replacement? Good luck making that case. Meet the new boss...

Or a bell curve

Basically, nothing is analogous to what Bukowski describes. This is the basis of his enduring appeal. In terms of art, he was a small-prize lottery winner whom we remember because he kept playing and cashing in small prizes--and screaming he was a born loser. And he was. I'm not sure why he became a hipster icon, but among fellow failing and failed poets/philosophers/novelists, he was our FU unicorn.

As someone who grew up in a home in which no one swore or used profanity, I'd argue that for me to have adopted common vulgarity from the schoolyard would've been 'conformity.' That, and I was fully capable of kicking the ass of any bully who challenged my being too 'timid' to speak inappropriately. Indeed, vulgarity from privileged white young males is a cliche of token rebellion. Or it was a generation ago--kind of like surburban white kids affecting gangsta slang today. You're dismissed.

60 Minutes recently featured the Columbia-based research. Can't testify to the scientific rigor of the report, but it was very interesting to this layman.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-alzheimers-disease-me...

Concur re: Deep Water doc. The competitors all carried small movie cameras and tape recorders, and there's some great / creepy footage and narration, IIRC.

Stream it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EC8IMM

Not a biggie, but thus the "doing it wrong" bit. Sure, everyone can like can what they like, but it's inaccurate to equate discernment with snobbery--except in snobs who, themselves, are doing it wrong. Cheers, as I grab a jug of Paisano to take to the patio while I grill burgers. The 2010 Silver Oak cab continues to collect dust and cat hair on the wine rack. Thus the downside of good wine: afraid to drink it.

Well, except that blending is a big part of what a winemaker does and, basically, it should be left to professionals. All else is monkeys and typewriters. If you can't tell the diff between a Barefoot and a Silver Oak, what do you think home blending is going to accomplish?

Wine snobbery may be bullshit, just like jazz snobbery. But that's not the same as 'appreciation,' which requires some education and experience, maybe even some aptitude.

Or think instead of sex: Wow, that sure was great! Why would I want to try anything different? tl;dr: You don't know what you're missing, or you're doing it wrong--or, more likely, both.

https://winemakermag.com/95-blending-batches-tips-from-the-p...