Too much focus

I was so busy signing the birthday cards that I didn't stop to consider that I might not be signing the right ones.

Intel Ruins Things

I have a little subroutine in Igor that I use to calculate gas solubilities. I'm using it to make some nice plots for a presentation I'm giving in a few weeks. A function that calls it kept throwing an error when it reached Xenon. Every other gas was fine. I could change the order and number of gases, but Xenon refused to calculate. The debugger claimed that the output wave didn't exist.

I sipped my coffee and squinted.

 What was wrong with this stupid code?

Before:

        Helium=HL(x,0)
Neon=HL(x,1)
Argon=HL(x,2)
Krypton=HL(x,3)
Xeon=HL(x,4)
Radon=HL(x,5)
Nitrogen=HL(x,6)


After:



        Helium=HL(x,0)
Neon=HL(x,1)
Argon=HL(x,2)
Krypton=HL(x,3)
Xenon=HL(x,4)
Radon=HL(x,5)
Nitrogen=HL(x,6)

Wrong Metaphor

The argument against the individual insurance mandate is that it forces people into an act of commerce, and that is unconstitutional.

Everyone's favorite veggie, broccoli, somehow makes it into a metaphor for this: If the government can force us to buy insurance, can it also force us to buy broccoli?

The problem is that they are asking the wrong question and using the wrong metaphor. We are forcing people to buy insurance so that tax payers don't have to pay for uninsured people's health care. The metaphor is: should the government force you to buy your broccoli, or should the government force you to buy your broccoli and some for your lazy neighbors too, as is the case now.

Sadly, I think the current situation is constitutional, while the ideal situation is not.

I suppose an equally acceptable though highly repugnant solution that would retain constitutionality would make hospitals only treat people who show they can afford care. Everyone else can die in the street.

I'm sure that's what Jesus would do.

Portrait Model

He's not as noble as you think he might be.

A Tree in the Forest

§

†

*

*

§ 35mm f/1.8
† 70mm f/2.8
* 200mm f/2.8

We were having this nice walk in the woods, a prelude to dinner and a nice evening in front of the fire. We were discussing the challenges facing an artist who walks in the woods. Case in point, a tree with pleurotus along it's length. One option I proposed was large aperture and long focal length, thereby allowing the photographer to focus the tree and blur the background. This method works well in the scenario where one wishes to photograph large portions of the tree.

 I also noted the movement of the clouds, and it's dramatic effect on the impression the scene gives. The feeling went from flat to warm in a matter of moments.

The Internet: Totally Ruining My Ability to Integrate Into Society

Case in point: Etsy and Regretsy.

One day, not long ago, we got a screaming deal on our wedding rings on etsy. We really like them. They were made by someone. Not a factory. For us. Rock on & over.

Then, at some point, I found Regretsy, and am now totally ruined in terms of being able to interact with people at craft shows. Instead of just vacantly smiling when presented with table fulls of objects that have questionable aesthetic or utilitarian value, I eagerly quip. "You must have an etsy store." This urge is especially enhanced when there are photos around of nubile and/or emo looking young women, wearing fingerless gloves and sleeveless dresses, hugging ornamental stars.

Who hangs around hugging architectural ornamentation? What does that have to do with what they're selling?

What are they selling again?

I am all to eager to accuse people of having an Etsy store. It's not really a compliment, in the same vein as "Nice haircut, did you do it yourself?".

I am permanently inclined toward the ridiculous plane.

The Algorithm

We did not invent the algorithm. The algorithm consistently finds Jesus. The algorithm killed Jeeves. The algorithm is banned in China. The algorithm is from Jersey. The algorithm constantly finds Jesus. This is not the algorithm. This is close.

All hail the algorithm.