ellenspictures

Category: states

  • corporatization – anything is a commodity these days – so much for STEM and the ability to understand without a cost

    corporatization – anything is a commodity these days – so much for STEM and the ability to understand without a cost

    Today, I discovered that one of our old standby weather outlets has discontinued it’s API for hobbyists and kids (which apparently, some companies have been using as their standard weather feed – that was a violation of the terms of use – which many people just click-through anyhow…) – but, actually, most of the folks are weather nuts, like me, and want to use the API to bring in information to look at weather data trends, and such because they just want to do this.

    Some are people who have these weather stations in their backyards that they purchased, to contribute to the “micro forecasting” or just have their own more reliable weather info, collected by them.

    I will mention that during Harvey, these were helpful for our local neighborhood rainfall amounts – and we used them (those that remained “UP” during that event – some didn’t).

    So the Weather Underground (cute name, huh?) is instructed to pull the plug on this API service.  They “can’t cope with the number of calls” – yeah right – it’s more that The Weather Company doesn’t want to – wants to charge money for it – parent company of The Weather Channel, et. al. – commercial circus and dramatic weather reporting as evidenced by the guy acting like the wind was extreme while people were walking normally behind him – caught on video during Florence this year.

    It’s run by IBM.  That’s right — how big can you get?  I don’t think I want to give them my credit card number.  I also don’t want them to be connected with my website because I’m using their API.  It’s the principle of the thing.

    So much for “giving back”  by making data available to people who want to use it to teach their kids how weather data works and understand their world better.

    Yeah.  So much for that.

  • seriously. where did all the ethics go?

    seriously. where did all the ethics go?

    I find it interesting that people actually think that it’s okay to have a reputation like this new Supreme Court Justice (just confirmed) – even a scent of it, really isn’t a good thing for a judge – yet, it was his desires over his country – as he said that this had destroyed his reputation and been detrimental to him, his family, the Supreme Court, and the country – in that word order.

    A man truly caring – who stated so in the reverse of that word order, would have withdrawn his nomination and written a book.

    Now he is at risk of having taken a life appointment and of potential impeachment if lawmakers decide to pursue this at a later date.  A full FBI investigation could be invoked at any time that enough people suspect that it is warranted.

    The suggestion of this behavior really does point out that political gain has penetrated every part of the government.  The corruption has now spread into all parts of the government – and with this judicial confirmation process, it is clear that the best candidate in their view isn’t a qualified candidate with the highest ethics – it’s whoever will do what the political party who wants to win at all costs wants him to do – decide cases based on their beliefs and their platform, regardless of whether it is within line for the whole country – the scales are now tilted until such time as they can be balanced at some point, years into the future.

    More of the same – more of the same to further the dramatic change of this country into what?  Certainly not change for the better.  It is now a crude, unethical, lying, criminal on the bench – who could not even admit to what he did in his youth – he lied, he covered up, and people who should have stopped the process effectively blamed the victim and turned vehemently against her and the rest of the country who finds this utterly shameful.

    Yeah, we’ve all known guys like him.  Those guys that made a living hell for a few girls that they singled out as their “victims” to get their jollies off in some sort of warped way – frat boys who thought that they were better than everyone else (or maybe they are actually scared little boys with some hang-up that drives them to behave this way) – it’s the Lord of the Flies mentality – and it seems that these guys do get away with this – and this proves to them that they are right – different rules for different guys in different schools according to what family you come from, the club you’re in, the color of your skin and how much “wealth” you represent.  The Silver Spoon club – the future “judges” – politicians – world leaders – above it all.

    Sure – it’s fair, right?  We should just look the other way and disbelieve the lady who came forward – all of the ladies that came forward, actually…  Their word is not valuable here.  Because, “he deserves this appointment… he worked hard for it!”

    Some black actor can be sent to prison for this – some others not in “the club” can be forced to resign – some entertainment mogul can be arrested – others totally forced out of the business…

    But after all – how dare we take away what was rightfully his?  He worked hard for many years.  He deserves this.  He thinks last of his country, and first of himself.  There it is in black and white.  Just keep this in mind in the future…

  • compelled to write…

    compelled to write…

    Putting up the holiday decorations…

    Each year, this is frankly my least favorite activity.  But, I am compelled to get this done before my birthday, before I find myself well into January, looking at this chore.  It will make me feel better to get all of this completed!

    A mixmaster of memories – good, bad, traumatic, joyful, sad, happy, bittersweet – each ornament seemingly drives something from my inventory of emotions – something that might be perilous but also might bring lots of thoughts about funny and happy times – by this time, however, it’s decades over decades of these, overlain onto one another –

    Some of these ornaments are very old – depression era – even older than that – and I worry about being the guardian of these – for future generations – does anyone care these days?

    My older relatives, not that there are that many left, have not exactly held that feeling of importance, about keeping the antiquities – they have downsized efficiently over the last few years – thinking that ten years ago, they were just a little older than I am now, and they were downsizing then – and yes, I know it is time to downsize – clean up – pare down – sort, slice, dice, and whatever it takes to keep people from having to do the work that we are doing to “get rid of shit” that we really do not care that much about, or we do, but one or the other of us finds that the accumulation is annoying and it causes issues beyond just having the stuff occupy space.

    In consideration of all that, I likely need to think about this when I am “accumulating” – i.e., stop – and begin the progression of paring down activities – not unlike recycling, it is conscious effort to take up the habit of doing so.

    Here We Are In The Years.  Neil Young said in his song, years ago – “Now that the holidays have come – They can relax and watch the sun – Rise above all of the beautiful things they’ve done… Time itself is bought and sold – The spreading fear of growing old – Contains a thousand foolish games that we play – While people planning trips to stars – Allow another boulevard to claim a quiet country lane – It’s insane”  From October 2, 1968.

    Yes, it is.  Each year, it seems that these words ring true even more than the year before.  Holidays or no, soon I will be marking another trip around the sun, one more time.

    My quest?  Find more joy in the world – how can we do that?  It’s an edgy place.  Thinking of taking down my Facebook account.  Saving all the data.  Starting all over.  It’s an idea.  Not thinking that the experiment has worked out so well…