Base cycle #1 completed, week one was repeated after a week which missed several days of training due to travel. This week is a recovery week, which is much appreciated as I’m feeling a little “over-trained.”
Hmm. Interesting?- To Be Truly Free June 19, 2013For the few of you who still read what if?, you know that I haven't been posting much lately. A combo of waaay too busy, travel, the 'rents - and not a lot striking me as terrifically important to post. This, however, changed that. The idea that blacks, or anyone for that matter, need the the government to get ahead in life is despicable. And even […]Peg
- Susan Landau on Minimization June 19, 2013The following is a guest post by Susan Landau, author of Surveillance or Security? The Risks Posed by New Wiretapping Technologies. That work is obviously relevant to current events, and to her chosen topic of minimization: Things we should know include: o Does the metadata minimization mean that the target’s metadata can be searched if the target is a memb […]Wells Bennett
- Ammunition Fire Rages at Russian Military Base June 18, 2013Ammunition fire rages at Russian military base, 11 hospitalized, 6,000 evacuated […](author unknown)
- When the Moon Sets, Watch Out June 18, 2013In Afghanistan, when the moon sets, watch out, Michael Yon warns: Last Friday night, the moon phase left Afghanistan in near total darkness. Even with clear skies, the enemy knew that at the brightest moment, the moon would only appear as an irrelevant orange sliver. Such times are called “red illumination,” or “red illum.” Planning calendars in […]Isegoria
- Snap a Length of String With Your Bare Hands June 18, 2013It's always a good idea to keep a good multitool around. If you find yourself without one, though, you can snap even a strong length of string with this trick.Read more... […]Eric Ravenscraft
- President Obama defends NSA program in 'Charlie Rose' interview June 18, 2013With questions about the NSA and FBI's surveillance programs mounting, President Barack Obama took to Charlie Rose last night to try to lay critics' concerns to rest. Between questions on Syria and cybersecurity talks with China, Obama defended the government's oversight of FISA data-gathering. Unfortunately, this didn't provide much in t […]Adi Robertson
- Make this guy head of the Republican Party June 18, 2013I never heard of him before. But I’m impressed with his message and the clarity with which he articulates it: […]neo-neocon
- Memo to the UC brass June 18, 2013I'd like you to loan me $1 million to buy a summer home in Santa Barbara and then forgive it. After all, if NYU can do it, why can't you? Follow one of Fire Island’s quaint footpaths away from the... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] […]Steve Bainbridge
- Rube Goldberg meets the pinball machine! June 18, 2013I've never played with K'nex construction toys - they came on the market long after my youth - but I'm astonished to find this fully operational pinball machine constructed entirely of the little connectors. Apparently it took almost four months to build. Talk about dedication! I think Rube Goldberg would have been proud of the builders. Al […]Peter
- Republican Congressman: Abortion Needed Because Fetuses Masturbate June 18, 2013I REALLY need to cut and paste this sentence. Republican rebranding isn’t working. Here’s the latest over-the-top comment from a GOPer on an issue related to women. And, no, it won’t help Republicans with women voters who for more than a year have read a series of Twilight Zone type comments from far-right Republicans who seriously damage the party’s image. […]JOE GANDELMAN, Editor-In-Chief
- Lynx June 18, 2013Hey, whatever happened to Lynx anyway? You-Go-Girlism Is More Toxic Than Feminism Democratic Legislator Says It’s Not Fair That Hill Staffers Might Have to Buy Insurance Through Obamacare’s Exchanges. Hey, I can’t argue with that. It’s also not fair that other humans might have to do so. Why Did the Government Pay Edward Snowden $122,000? Environmentalists […]The Crimson Reach
- Has Obama Got the Psychology and the Kinetics in Sync in His Syria Strategy? June 18, 2013The psychological impact of a major foreign-policy move is generally felt right away even if the kinetic impact takes much longer. The tyrannical trio of geography, bureaucracy, and logistics means that even the most powerful leader in the world (the U.S. president) must wait -- sometimes many months -- before the actions he has ordered physically take effec […]Peter Feaver
- 47% Believe W.H. Behind IRS Targeting of Conservatives June 18, 2013CNN reports: A growing number of Americans believe that senior White House officials ordered the Internal Revenue Service to target conservative political groups, according to a new national poll. And a CNN/ORC International survey released Tuesday morning also indicates that a majority of the public says the controversy, which involves increased IRS scrutin […]Daniel Halper
- Science: Not Merely Cool June 18, 2013Super-cool: […]Mark Shea
- If you are a fan of Babylon 5… June 18, 2013Jimmy Akin found a very moving video of a little talk by JMS on the courage of Jeff Conaway, Andreas Katsoulas, and, in particular, Michael O’Hare. Eternal rest, grant them (and Richard Biggs), O Lord. I can’t help but like JMS. As Christ-haunted an atheist as I’ve ever seen, and with a deep love for people and the tears of things as good writer should ever […]Mark Shea
- To Be Truly Free June 19, 2013