The Blog
16 Oct 2018 Paul Ehrlich - The Population Bomb
By a spooky coincidence, Paul Ehrlich published The Population Bomb in 1968 in the same year that population growth rate peaked at 2.09%/yr. The global population that year was 3.55b. If that growth rate had been maintained ever since then we would have passed through 10b this year. So we're really lucky that 1968 was also pretty much when we transitioned from exponential growth to linear growth and hitting 10b is still 38 years away. It's easy to see now in retrospect that the demographic transition happened and come up with all kinds of reasons why it happened. It's harder to come up with reasons as to why Ehrlich should have seen it then. He was writing in a time when we'd had a 100 years or so of exponential growth over 1.5%/yr and in the previous 20 years it had been accelerating. So I think he deserves a break for being overly pessimistic back then. 10b, right now, and having got there so fast, would not be pretty. I don't think its going to be pretty in 2056 either, but we have a little more time to adjust. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Population_Bomb http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/#growthrate [from: Google+ Posts] [ 16-Oct-18 4:45pm ] 15 Oct 2018 Google is proving itself to be an unreliable and untrustworthy partner. We're being chucked off G+ as it closes down. So which other Google properties should we leave now and stop investing time and effort into? Because we don't know when Google will decide to just close them down. Here's a short list of Google Products that feel to me like they might be at risk.
- Music - Photos - Drive - Blogger - Calendar - News - GoogleGroups - Hangouts - Chromecast Audio - Wear OS - Android Auto - Google Pay https://www.google.co.uk/intl/en/about/products/ And that's just the consumer stuff. Want to invest time in Google APIs to build into products? Don't. Originally posted at https://plus.google.com/+JulianBond23/posts/3wo7UBq8Si6 Apologies to +John Lewis   Our Products | Google »Browse a comprehensive list of Google products designed to help you work and play, stay organised, get answers, keep in touch, grow your business and more. [from: Google+ Posts] [ 15-Oct-18 6:45pm ] 14 Oct 2018 br />
UK's Conservative party can't find enough willing applicants to be candidates for parliamentary seats: https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2018/10/a-candidate-shortage-strikes-conservative-selections-in-target-seats.html Not enough qualified members. No enthusiasm. Prospect of a long campaign. Pessimism about the next election Has Theresa May finally run out of Brexit road? https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/13/has-theresa-may-run-out-brexit-options-eu-leaders Backing herself into a corner of the corn field where there simply aren't any options left that are both acceptable to the EU and could be voted through parliament. David Davis calls on ministers to rebel against Brexit deal. Ex-minister says PM’s plan is ‘unacceptable’ as she tries to appease DUP and Tory Brexiters https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/14/david-davis-calls-on-ministers-to-rebel-against-brexit-deal If it's not the DUP, it's the hard-Brexiters. With this:- Tories take four-point lead over Labour despite Brexit troubles. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/13/tories-take-four-point-lead-over-labour-despite-brexit-troubles The Conservatives are the more trusted party to lead the Brexit negotiations according to the poll, with 29% of respondents saying they trusted the Tories more compared to 18% for Labour. As far as I can tell, the whole country is now living in some fantasy Never Never Land that's completely divorced from reality. We seem to be able to cling on to our tribal loyalties and ignore a ruling party that is imploding as it tries to drive us off the Brexit cliff. I think we're going to need a bigger magic wand. Clap louder, children to save poor tinker-bell. London Anti-Brexit March next Sat (20-Oct). Be There.  [from: Google+ Posts] 13 Oct 2018 It's not just about a demand for a vote for us. It's also a demand for the politicians to come to their senses, act in the national interest and to vote to stay in the EU. Just Say No To UK-Exit. https://www.peoples-vote.uk/march  [from: Google+ Posts] [ 13-Oct-18 6:56am ] 07 Oct 2018 Less than 2 week's time till the big Anti-Brexit march. Be there. Usual story, Park Lane 12pm, Start
Less than 2 week's time till the big Anti-Brexit march. Be there. Usual story, Park Lane 12pm, Start March 1pm, To Parliament Sq. 20-Oct-18
It's not just about a demand for a vote. It's a demand for an end to UK-Exit and to stay in the EU. https://www.peoples-vote.uk/march [from: Google+ Posts] [ 07-Oct-18 2:22pm ] 03 Oct 2018 obscure as well as the obscurely gratuitous.
http://thequietus.com/articles/25381-top-100-albums-of-the-quietus-existence-2008-2018-decade   The Quietus | Features | Quietus Charts | The Top 100 Albums Of The Quietus' Existence, As Picked By tQ's Writers »As part of our ongoing celebrations of a decade of The Quietus, we asked our dozens upon dozens of fantastic contributors to pick their favourite albums of the site's existence. Below is their top 100, with an introduction by tQ staff writer Patrick Clarke [from: Google+ Posts] [ 03-Oct-18 5:13pm ] 26 Sep 2018 Pike near Chorley in Lancashire. I knew I still had it but it had gone missing and I'd been searching for it for 15 years at least. Yesterday it fell out of a bunch of old papers and yellowed copies of International Times.
http://internationaltimes.it/ There's a detailed write up here of the adventures we and others had. http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/rivington-pike-78.html There's a postscript as well. Here And Now liked my write up so much, they asked me to do the liner notes for one of their Live CDs of their set at the festival. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_%26_Now_(band) [from: Google+ Posts]    28 Aug 2018 What they meant was "No Brexit is better than a Bad Brexit". At least I think that's what they should have said. [from: Google+ Posts] [ 28-Aug-18 6:54am ] 18 Aug 2018 Preamble Whereas prosperity for all, peace, security and the safeguarding of the global environment are achieved by working together in the closest union; Recalling the importance of the indivisible, universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality, solidarity, liberty, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for the inviolable and inalienable rights of the human person; Considering that the principles of equality and non-discrimination guide us, and the values of respect duty and community define us; Considering that trust, justice and liberty govern us, and we are characterised by creativity, inclusivity and a belief in the human spirit; Given that our glorious past helped forge European values and that our present enjoyment of them is largely thanks to the European Union; Being resolved that our future happiness relies on remaining at the heart of the European Union and retaining for ourselves and future generations, the rights of EU Citizenship; Oath We affirm our allegiance to the European Union and promise to abide by and promote the universal values upon which it is based such as compassion, endeavour, ingenuity, altruism, diligence, daring and a peace-loving commitment to the dignity of all sentient beings, and we are pledged to maintain our citizenship of the European Union for us and for the generations that come after us. https://twitter.com/PassportTotnes https://www.facebook.com/citystatetotnes/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/totnes-brexit-independent-city-state-uk-eu-remain-second-referendum-final-say-peoples-vote-a8464151.html  [from: Google+ Posts] [ 18-Aug-18 7:26am ] 23 Jul 2018 [ 23-Jul-18 7:34am ] 16 Jul 2018 - Full Brexit JRM, BJ, DD, ERG. Crash out in the biggest possible way. - Chequers Compromise The impossible middle way. Not acceptable to pretty much everyone. EU, Leavers, Remainers, N Ireland, etc, etc, - Brexit in Name Only Leave EU but not any EU structure. Stay in the Customs Union, Single Market, 4 freedoms, ECJ, Euratom, etc, etc. Sensible, but not actually acceptable to anyone. - Delay Negotiate 2-year stays of execution. Repeat indefinitely. Give up control but don't change anything. Wait until political climate changes. - Cancel Art50 and Remain This is probably possible but nobody really knows the implications. Full Euro and Schengen as a minimum payment for wasting the EU's time? https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/16/back-second-brexit-vote-says-conservative-mp-justine-greening We are so screwed. But we're heading into an end game. And people are beginning to talk about the break up of the UK 2 party system. And some fundamental re-alignments. Which is going to be tricky because the sensible middle ground consists of MPs who have never rebelled and never gone against their party's whip. It's hard to see how they could grow a backbone and do anything. While simultaneously holding their nose and cooperating with the other tribe. More likely is that the extremes of each party break away. Leaving 2 rump parties, neither of which can get a majority.  [from: Google+ Posts] 27 Jun 2018 The thing that ate the constitution[1] seems to be losing its mind[2]. Watch with the sound off and judge for yourself. https://twitter.com/10DowningStreet/status/1009529579940261888 [1] Could be the TSOG: Tsarist Occupation Government. Thank you, R.A.W. [2] No sleep is a most effective torture technique  [from: Google+ Posts] 23 Jun 2018 br />
https://www.stopbrexitmarch.com/ https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/what-is-the-people-s-march-brexit-protest-and-rally-in-london-on-saturday-23-june-2018-1-5573899 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44575929 https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-march-2018-thousands-to-march-on-westminster-to-demand-second-referendum-a3869606.html Just Say No To Brexit  [from: Google+ Posts] [ 23-Jun-18 7:24am ] 09 Jun 2018 br />http://shorttermmemoryloss.com/nor/2014/11/07/all-cameras-are-police-cameras/ This referred to the mission creep of London Congestion Zone cameras where vehicle movements were not passed to Police, passed to Police and deleted after two years, passed to Police and held indefinitely.
Now Sadiq Khan has announced a 2021 ULEZ that covers everything inside the N and S Circular roads. Which will require congestion zone style ANPR technology along the whole edge of this area. Which will inevitably be shared with the Police and held indefinitely. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/08/sadiq-khan-unveils-plans-london-ultra-low-emission-zone-pollution Welcome to the Panopticon. ps. I have friends who have old motorcycles who are very upset about this. They won't be able to ride them inside the N Circular without incurring a charge. I'm conflicted about this. One one side get with the programme. You're on the wrong side of the line. Should you be allowed to ride an LC350 2-stroke in a heavily polluted area? On the other side, M/C are really not the problem in terms of scale so why aren't they just excluded? Note also that the Congestion zone is front number plate facing. The new ULEZ will have to be rear number plate facing to catch M/C.  [from: Google+ Posts] [ 09-Jun-18 8:04am ] 07 Jun 2018 This annoys me. So I formally announced that I would no longer do this and if you didn't like it please block me.
https://medium.com/@treyharris/im-a-troll-and-i-didn-t-even-know-it-or-am-i-being-gaslighted-e4491e68e87b Also, some problems sharing this article on G+. Consider this a test. https://plus.google.com/104092656004159577193/posts/Z58tCX47fRe   I’m a troll, and I didn’t even know it. Or am I being gaslighted? »Bad faith, civility, sea-lioning, and modes of argumentation [from: Google+ Posts] [ 07-Jun-18 8:25am ] 29 May 2018 This story made my day. It's time: Techno Against Racism!
House and techno could be heard from at least 20 speaker-equipped trucks. As 20,000[1] clubbers faced off 5,000 far right AfD to "Bass the AfD away." With a nod to the late 70's "Rock Against Racism", 80's "Skateboarders Against Racism" and 00's English Disco Lovers (EDL) and Bass National Party (BNP). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/27/thousands-from-far-right-and-berlins-techno-scene-face-off-in-rival-rallies https://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=41835 [1]Some reports say 70,000.  [from: Google+ Posts] [ 29-May-18 6:26am ] 24 Apr 2018 IoT is normally thought of as things like internet connected thermostats. but:-
- Mobile phones, tablets, PCs with webcams, anything with a mic that might respond to "Hello Google" - Cable modems and Routers. Especially ones owned by the cable company and locked. - Home NAS. With built in bittorrent clients - Broadband connected Tivo - Smart TVs - TV connected Chromecast, Fire, AppleTV, etc  Edward Morbius originally shared this post: Our smart devices are gathering information about us. ...We are a group of researchers at Princeton University. We analyze different IoT devices in the Smart House and examine security/privacy problems. Help our research! Tell us what IoT devices you currently have and what devices you are interested in buying. We will try to purchase the most popular devices, analyze them, and publish any issues that we find.... Contact & registration at link. https://iot-inspector.princeton.edu  [from: Google+ Posts] [ 24-Apr-18 8:39am ] 14 Apr 2018 That Feeling When: You wake up, check the news and discover we're at war again.
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2018/04/just-whos-pulling-the-strings/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/14/theresa-may-britain-air-strikes-syria-chemical-weapons-raf [from: Google+ Posts] [ 14-Apr-18 8:53am ] 20 Mar 2018 Will Twitter and threadreaderapp.com please just motherfucking die already. I mean seriously, fuck that shit.
How the hell did long form text and discussion come to this? This shaking fist brought to you via, https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/975545004205654016.html A most excellent rant about the need for a CS code of ethics. With teeth. [from: Google+ Posts] [ 20-Mar-18 7:02am ] This needs sharing.
 Alan Cox originally shared this post: One of the curious things about writing stuff is the way it sometimes decides that you aren't entirely in charge. Characters add themselves without invite or what was intended to be one thing turns in other ways. I was trying to write something about the rising disillusionment with the state and the 1%, but the words decided they wanted to be a good deal nastier The sit and do their plotting And they don't give a damn You are part of the problem If you aren't part of the plan They really don't like it If you stick it the man But they've got ways to make You vanish when they can It's a dark country And we're sharpening the blades To test on politicians Billionaires and aides It's a dark country It's a dark country As the rulers climb the mountain They think they're atlas shrugged But money aint invention And they won't do too good When we knock down their empire And take back all we should When we tear up the system Well it's time they understood It's a dark country And revolution stalks Starting with the ballot box And fighting in the courts It's a dark country It's a dark country You can push the people so far You can lie to them like dogs But there comes a day they'll stick a spanner in the cogs When the machine grinds to a halt And the dollars cease to print Remember those you treat like shit Were the ones to load the ink It's a dark country And the knives are coming out If we can't beat you through the system We'll beat you from without It's a dark country It's a dark country So as you take away the healthcare As the schools fall down and bust As you swap wages for zero hours As the libraries fall to dust When the army don't give a damn When the police have had enough Everyone you stamped on is ready To take you down with us It's a dark country Don't think that you can hide One day we're going to get you And you won't enjoy the ride It's a dark country It's a dark country [from: Google+ Posts] [ 20-Mar-18 6:51am ] 
  1 to 20 of 3801 |
