I'm at SETIcon 2 this weekend. It's a mix of science, sci-fi, religion and general speculation.
What really strikes me is that a couple of years ago at the first conference a handful of exoplanets had been found but the Kepler scientists were grinning away, not allowed to say much.
This time round it's hard to find a star without a planetary system. The (silly) Drake equation is falling term by term.
Next SETIcon it has to be some evidence of life...
(Published to the Fediverse as: SETIcon 2 #etc #seti Overly optimistic notes from the SETI conference in San Francisco, California. )
"In the 30 years since Gallup started asking people whether they believe humans evolved, evolved under the guidance of God, or were created fully formed by God, the percentage of people adhering to the creationist view has actually gone up slightly over time, and now stands at 46 percent of the population."
I recently got back from a trip back to the UK. Every time I go back these days something about the country has fundamentally changed. This time it's that every petrol station and motorway services has a Marks & Spencer or Waitrose supermarket embedded in it. On the motorway there are generally several large branches, and then a smaller branch in the toilet hand-washing area, and finally a tiny shop selling sandwiches and a small selection of ready-made curries in each cubicle.
At first pass this seems very convenient, but you can't fill up the tank in the smallest BP (paying at the pump being virtually unheard of in the UK) without getting stuck behind someone doing their weekly shop.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Petrol & Marks & Spencer #etc #uk #motorwayservices #petrol #waitrose #marks&spencer On this insane number of ever smaller Marks & Spencer outlets that are now everywhere in the UK. )
In this intriguing photograph titled "Playmobil," the perspective draws the viewer into a tunnel-like vision, set within what appears to be a towering structure made from toy building blocks. The walls of this construct are adorned with an industrial grey, their orderly, grid-like pattern leading the eye towards a vibrant red endpoint at the center. This bright focal point breaks the monochrome monotony, adding a dramatic splash of color that captures attention. Interspersed along the edges, hints of green further contrast the uniformity, introducing an element of playfulness to the otherwise rigid scene. The image, possibly captured from the inside of a Playmobil tower, reveals an intricate assembly, evoking a sense of childhood nostalgia and the imaginative narratives often built around such toys.
The composition of the photograph employs a central perspective that effectively guides the viewer’s gaze directly through the tunnel-like formation, utilizing the principles of leading lines and symmetry. The lines created by the toy blocks converge towards the center, making the vibrant red endpoint the dominant subject of the piece. This approach highlights the depth and scale of the miniature construction. Technically, the photograph captures clear details of the textured surface, though the lighting could be more even to enhance visibility and reduce the overexposure on the lighter sections. While the intense use of color adds vibrancy, it might benefit from a greater balance to unify the various elements. Overall, this unique perspective on a simple toy structure demonstrates a creative lens, embodying a playful spirit yet leaving room for enhanced lighting control.
No book reviews this month.
#boarding SFO http://t.co/YLDFpmwF
Penn Jillette's rant against Obama's drug policy http://t.co/Ri5HAqxH
Congratulations @SpaceX -- Dragon arrives at space station in historic 1st http://t.co/91suk4ZV via @sfgate
Why your camera's GPS won't work in China (maybe) http://t.co/FQIFN8wI
Sigh, obvious, invalid, bullshit -- BBC News - Microsoft wins patent fight with Google's Motorola unit http://t.co/0PENWTCV
BBC News the secret links between Star Wars and Wales http://t.co/T8yEulCu (is there any tenuous link with Wales you won't publish?)
:) Hot weather to continue next week http://t.co/izAc2yA1
Not Skip's Tavern any more... http://t.co/dPx1NIj8
Reality rocks in San Francisco earthquake exhibit http://t.co/yo82B38b (Looking forward to this!)
BBC News - In pictures: Annular eclipse http://t.co/YA5F6or2 (Check out the Lemurs checking out the eclipse)
ITHCWY: Annular Eclipse at SFO: The only solar observatory outside the international terminal at SFO (some… http://t.co/ZqMXm8Ec
Beer was near, sadly earlier. http://t.co/2BeMAJZj
America's great divergence - American History - http://t.co/zQcVJIcQ http://t.co/fSdtXSvl
"Why won't you answer me?" - Parenting - http://t.co/zQcVJIcQ http://t.co/Ljzg6vpG (I should stop telling Kate about her 'milk head')
1906 earthquake refugee cottage at The Presidio. http://t.co/pof5LotA
+1 Judge suspends US law that provided for indefinite detention without trial - Boing Boing http://t.co/xsBuLyYb via @BoingBoing
Daniel Raven-Ellison, Guerrilla Geographer Information, Facts, News, Photos -- National Geographic http://t.co/DjgJdvMJ via @NatGeo
ITHCWY: Gopher Snake: Bernal Heights Park http://t.co/OoHYDU0y
Turned out nice... http://t.co/G2pHtgbd
RT @CatfoodSoftware: Blog: Catfood Software on Google+ and a Hangout Pledge: Catfood is now on Google+. Once 50… http://t.co/ZC84h8AN
ITHCWY: Open Immigration: I'm increasingly in favor of opening up immigration. Partly it's a general sense that a… http://t.co/cBLQT2rI
ITHCWY: Snake rests on Toad: At the California Academy of Sciences. http://t.co/YTQh682A
New Golden Gate Visitor center - lots of tat, no food :( http://t.co/vXmZn099
Obama sighting on morning dog walk. #fb http://t.co/wZdwN2Mj
President Obama: 'I Think Same-Sex Couples Should Be Able to Get Married'; http://t.co/CtC6k2A8 (shameful that it has taken this long)
Gaia revisited: http://t.co/sHSeFph7 - I'm still in the extreme camp: http://t.co/6dzIjBy7
Post Doyle Drive detour quite pleasant on the way home tonight. http://t.co/fSK8e4v9
THINKWALKS: http://t.co/ToOZo3KQ #todo in San Francisco @myEN
ITHCWY: Bottled Water: A company called Evive launched this week to battle the evil of bottled water with reusable… http://t.co/5X9e3emO
ITHCWY: Pelicans http://t.co/0xoup7z5
It's @KQED pledge yet again. Throw them a bone public radio freeloaders: http://t.co/00UvTamT
Illegal dumping can now be voted to fix at http://t.co/SsliF12n #bernal-heights!
Yet Another Awful Dumping Incident on Bernal Hill http://t.co/35kLDRdn via @bernalwood
+1 AllClear ID Rolls Out First-Ever Social Security Number Blocking Service For Children's IDs http://t.co/wnRILNzQ via @techcrunch
Rejected and controversial New Yorker cover art (the mentos one is very good) http://t.co/afo9AxZd via @BoingBoing #fb
The only solar observatory outside the international terminal at SFO (some binoculars and a complicated harness of cardboard cup wrappers). Gathered quite a crowd!
The photograph captures a mesmerizing interplay of natural light during an annular solar eclipse, projected onto a human hand. The hand, slightly open, is basked in soft shadows and illuminated by two crescent-shaped reflections, vivid and glowing in their fiery white contrast against the skin. The texture of the hand, with its natural lines and creases, is rendered in gentle focus, drawing attention to the interplay between human anatomy and celestial phenomena. Beneath, a simple concrete surface adds a grounding element to the scene, introducing subtle gray tones and a quiet grid-like pattern that hints at a man-made environment.
In terms of composition, this image skillfully employs a minimalist style, using the human hand as both a canvas and focal point. The crescents are positioned off-center, adhering to the rule of thirds, which guides the viewer’s eye naturally across the photograph. The use of natural light is particularly effective; the eclipses are sharp and clear, contrasting beautifully with the soft focus of the hand, creating a balanced dynamic between foreground and background. What stands out is the photograph’s ability to merge human with cosmic in a serene yet surreal manner. However, the overall impact could be enhanced by slightly deeper shadow contrasts to add more depth, while the background, though unobtrusive, could be cropped tighter to focus even further on the magical solar spectacles. Overall, the photograph is a captivating blend of simplicity and wonder, capturing the universal awe of celestial events with quiet elegance.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Annular Eclipse at SFO #photo #eclipse Photo of the 2012 annular (partial) solar eclipse from San Francisco, California (at SFO) )
A Gopher Snake in Bernal Heights Park. They look a little like a rattlesnake but are docile and harmless.
In this captivating photograph titled "Gopher Snake," the viewer's eye is immediately drawn to the earthy hued serpent, its body elegantly coiled and stretched across a bed of dried grass. The snake’s patterned skin, a mosaic of browns and golds, harmonizes beautifully with the sunlit straw beneath it. Surrounding the creature, scattered flecks of delicate purple and white flowers peek through the lush, verdant foliage, adding bursts of color that contrast against the natural camouflage of the snake. The interplay of shadow and light enhances the texture of both the snake’s scales and the dry, curling grass, creating a sense of depth and movement in an otherwise tranquil scene.
The composition of the photograph is a thoughtful study in contrasts and harmony. The photographer has chosen a perspective that allows for a sweeping view of the scene, with the snake forming a central diagonal line across the frame, lending dynamic energy to the image. The use of natural light is expertly managed, highlighting the intricate details of the gopher snake's scales and the surrounding environment. However, the busy background, with its mix of plants and flowers, slightly detracts from the focal point by competing for attention, potentially overwhelming the viewer. Nonetheless, the photograph achieves a commendable balance of color and texture, inviting an immersive experience of the natural world. The earthy tones and vibrant floral accents create an aesthetically pleasing palette that underscores the elegance of the subject in its natural habitat.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Gopher Snake #photo #snake Photo of a Gopher Snake In Bernal Heights Park, San Francisco, California. )
I'm increasingly in favor of opening up immigration. Partly it's a general sense that a person shouldn't be tied to a country by the accident of birth. Being free to migrate seems to me like it should be a basic human right.
Partly it's the economic benefit. I'm in the software/Internet industry and I've been lucky enough to work in Silicon Valley via visa, green card and eventually citizenship. I hope I've also been a net benefit to my adopted home. I've certainly paid plenty of tax and helped to create a fair number of jobs. Vijay Govindarajan writing on the same topic lists a few more[1] illustrious transplants:
"Consider that the co-founder of Google is Sergey Brin, a Russian. The co-founder of Sun Microsystems is Vinod Khosla, an Indian. eBay was founded by Pierre Omidyar, who is French. The co-founder of Juniper Networks is an Indian, Pradeep Sindhu. YouTube was co-founded by Steve Chen, who is Chinese. Yahoo! was co-founded by Jerry Yang, a Chinese immigrant. Andy Grove, a Hungarian, co-founded Intel."
Not that you need to create a billion plus dollar company to have a positive impact.
There are of course economic risks - primarily cheap labor lowering wages (albeit also lowering prices) and freeloaders benefiting from social programs without contributing back.
But cheap labor is getting those jobs anyway. It's a fundamental inequality that companies can shop around internationally for cheap employees but people can't shop around internationally for a job. And the impact of the freeloader problem can be reduced by requiring some length of residency before providing benefits.
Of course some jobs require physical proximity and can't be outsourced and some level of freeloading will always be possible. This brings me to the third reason I support open immigration. It would bring a huge amount of focus to international development. If people are free to live and work where they want then there will be a huge motivation to improve living conditions and economic opportunity around the world. It might be the only way to make real progress in this area.
This policy could be unilateral, or it could be based on reciprocal treaty - the latter probably being more[2] practical, and hopefully fostering immigration in both directions.
[1] More in the sense of greater, not additional.
[2] More in the sense of closer to, I don't think it's actually very likely to happen.
Photo of a snake taking a rest on a toad at the California Academy of Sciences.
The photograph titled "Snake rests on Toad" presents an intriguing and unusual wildlife scene. At the heart of the composition, a toad with textured, earthy skin stares directly into the camera. Its eyes, wide and glossy, give an impression of stoic resignation to its peculiar headgear—a small snake. The snake's vibrant colors contrast starkly with the toad's rugged tones, its smooth scales a striking black and yellow pattern. The background is softly blurred, allowing the viewer’s attention to be drawn inevitably toward the bizarre yet harmonious arrangement between the two creatures.
The composition employs a shallow depth of field, focusing tightly on the toad's expressive face and the snake perched atop, which adds an element of intimacy to the photograph. The use of soft lighting creates a gentle ambiance, casting subtle shadows on the toad's textured skin, enhancing the tactile details vividly. While the humorous juxtaposition of the snake and toad captivates the viewer, the strong focus causes the image to lack a sense of depth. The framing could have been improved to include more of the snake's body, which might have provided additional context and balance to the composition. Nonetheless, the photograph’s charm lies in capturing such a rare moment of calm interaction between unlikely companions.
(Published to the Fediverse as: Snake rests on Toad #photo #snake #toad A snake takes a break by resting on a toad at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California (photo). )
A company called Evive launched this week to battle the evil of bottled water with reusable RFID equipped bottles that need a special filling station that plays advertising to you while you refill. Sort of like a water fountain but worse in every way possible.
Concord Massachusetts just started to ban the sale of bottled water, joining several other towns and cities around the world. They've actually just banned small bottles, you can still buy a large one.
Wouldn't it be better to leave the water on the shelf and ban Coke?
Photo credit: Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden cc
(Published to the Fediverse as: Bottled Water #etc #water #evive #concord If you ban bottled water I'll just buy a coke, which by the way is in a bottle. )
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