Reports From My Nanocosm

Google to Remove Boast About Index Size – Yahoo! News

I guess this means they’ve accepted defeat.

This is how a recent email started:

I had a good laugh before I got past ‘f/u’ which I think is an unfortunate choice of shorthand. Obviously, within context it means ‘follow-up’, but I’m not used to seeing that shorthand. Just thought I’d share.

Power-dressing Aussie leaves trail of destruction – Yahoo! News

“SYDNEY (Reuters) – An Australian man built up a 40,000-volt charge of static electricity in his clothes as he walked, leaving a trail of scorched carpet and molten plastic and forcing firefighters to evacuate a building.
…”

Good thing nobody decided to shake his hand.

This is cool; I want one too.

tongodeon: The “Work Blind” Curtain

California Earthquake Could Be the Next Katrina – Yahoo! News

Emergency preparedness, topic du jour. I happened to also spot a similar headline on the Merc this afternoon for a story about the Sacramento River Delta levees being vulnerable – very serious indeed.

I actually think California is more prepared than any part of the U.S. for our local, worst-case-scenario natural disaster. I don’t think the denial about our vulnerability to earthquakes in California comes close to the pre-Katrina denial about NOLA’s vulnerability to hurricanes. But hey, even then we can better prepare ourselves because the likelihood of a large earthquake grows every day. 

Truthfully speaking, California has a big bulls eye painted on it but earthquakes can strike anywhere.  I think even the Heartland and New York City should be preparing for a decent size temblor wreaking havoc. After all, New York has experienced earthquakes before and some of the biggest earthquakes in our nation’s history happened in New Madrid, MO, far from California.

Morale of the story: Stock up, pay up (for more safe structures), and don’t expect help from FEMA.

Calif. Governor Warns of Tax Increase – Yahoo! News
Arnie is saying that we’ll face increased taxes if we don’t pass his ballot propostions during the special election he called. Polls say that less than 30% of Californians support his prop.

I don’t think extortion is not a good way to change people’s minds.

I don’t support Arnie’s plan or his ballot proposals. I don’t think our situation is so dire that a special election is needed. We could have waited a year for the gubernatorial elections. For that reason, as a protest, I’ve considered voting NO on all ballot propositions. I’m probably not alone. The few others I’ve talked to about the special election are planning just that. They feel we’re we’re being ripped off with this election and it is being shoved down our throats.

That said, I’ve chosen to vote for one of Arnie’s props.  I’m only voting for the Congressional redistricting plan. He’s right, that part of the mess we’re in have to do with jerrymandering of both major parties to create “safe” districts for the extremists in both parties. I decided to vote against the rest after wasting time listening to his stump speech.

I’ll review each of the non-Arnie propositions and vote with my conscience. I haven’t read them yet.