Blogger since 2002, political activist since 2003, geek since birth. Opinions informed by mixed-race, multi-ethnic, cis-female condition, further shaped by kind friends of all persuasions. Sci-tech frenemy, wannabe artist, decent cook, determined author, successful troublemaker. Mother of invention and two excessively smart-assed young adult kids. Attended School of Hard Knocks; Rather Unfortunate Smallish Private Business School in Midwest; Affordable Mid-State Community College w/evening classes. Self-employed at Tiny Consulting Business; previously at Large-ish Chemical Company with HQ in Midwest in multiple marginalizing corporate drone roles, and at Rather Big IT Service Provider as a project manager, preceded by a motley assortment of gigs before the gig economy was a thing. Blogging experience includes a personal blog at the original blogs.salon.com, managing editor for a state-based news site, and a stint at Firedoglake before landing here at emptywheel as technology’s less-virginal-but-still-accursed Cassandra.
A little Prince to make the painful repetition a little easier to take. By repetition I mean what’s happening in Puerto Rico compared to what has already happened in Michigan. Some of Michigan’s most financially distressed cities were forced to accept emergency managers, supplanting the cities’ democratically elected officials. Under state law, EMs were the sole […]
All that is gold does not glitter; not all those who wander are lost. — excerpt, The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien It’s a lovely summer day here, cool and dry. Perfect to go walkabout, which I will do straight away after this post. Hackety-hack-hack, Jack Spearphishing method used on HRC […]
Hunger and fear are the only realities in dog life: an empty stomach makes a fierce dog. — excerpt, personal journal of Capt. Robert Falcon Scott This short film by Aaron Dunleavy was inspired by his childhood in Blackburn, Lancashire UK. The script was improvised and cast using locals. All districts in Lancashire voted Leave […]
After the shock, denial, horror, anger, and grief of death, there’s always the second line. Seems fitting today in the wake of Brexit to observe the passing of an ideal — a United Kingdom, in harmony with its European neighbors and allies — that we have a second line. You’re probably familiar with the imagery […]
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. — excerpt, The Second Coming by William Butler Yeats, c. 1919 This lovely bit of atmospheric electronica by åpne sinn from the […]
Summer bug laid me up. I’m indulging in the audio equivalent of tea with honey, lemon, and a shot of something to scare away the bug. A little cello playing by Yo-Yo Ma never fails to make me feel better. This sweet video is enlightening, didn’t realize Ma had an older sister who was an […]
After my Go-Team-Yay-Space post yesterday, it’s time for a Monday morning reality check. Going to Mars will not be a panacea to our ills, as this darkly humorous animated short, Fired on Mars by Nick and Nate, shows. On the other hand, SpaceX’s Elon Musk offers an upside while acknowledging the inherent risk of space […]
Hurry, we’re less than three minutes from launch, all systems go. I’ll add more remarks in a moment. 11:20 a.m. EDT — Wow. What a picture-perfect launch and landing. This is the most excitement out of West Texas since some lousy bird hunter shot his friend in the face a few years back. Today’s mission […]
I was half way through a post yesterday when a friend in the UK told me a member of Parliament had been killed by a fascist. An assassination, I thought at that moment, unable to write another word for my post. How many times has an assassination kicked off a horrible chain of events? I […]