John Masters, Author at Deep Something

Storing Languages Forever

August 25, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 445 Views 0 Comments Comet 67P, European Space Agency, Language, Long Now Foundation, LOCKS, Rosetta Stone, digital storage, Preservation, paper, Microfilm, Rosetta Disk, Microfiche, Data, Archive, Archiving

As a records manager by trade (and having worked in the government sector for a bit), I have had to learn a thing or two about preservation. An article concerning the use some special eye readable technologies to store thousands of pages in a durable media to last thousands caught my eye, and I found it to be fascinating project. The Long Now Foundation has undertaken a project to try to preserve language for 1,000- 10,000 years, and has come up with a cool way to do that. It’s called a Rosetta Disk.

Culture Society General

Ashes Piling Up at Funeral Homes

August 22, 2008 B. John 411 Views 0 Comments Cremation, funerals, Funeral Homes, Ashes

I’ve occasionally talked about my previous career working in the funeral service. Given that, any article about funeral homes tends to catch my eye, as did this AP report about unclaimed cremation ashes at funeral homes.

Featured Politics Election Presidency Religion Science Right Wingnuts

The Price Paid for Power

August 21, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 590 Views 0 Comments george bush, torture, Dick Cheney, Mother Teresa, War crimes, Enhanced Interrogation, John McCain, Cindy McCain

John McCain’s military service deserves the thanks and respect of the American people, especially given his time spent as a POW in Vietnam. However, the over-use of this status for political gain becomes laughable after a while. It seems to be used to explain everything. Problem is, according to George Bush and the Military Commisions Act voted for by McCain, the techniques used on McCain while a POW are merely, “enhanced interrogation techniques.” Who wouldda thunk it?

Science Right Wingnuts Politics Election Presidency Religion

Now How Does Dobson Handle This One

August 21, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 511 Views 1 Comment focus on the family, james dobson, John McCain

It’s all that uncommon for me to, as my grandfather might say, let my mouth overload my ass. By that he meant saying things I’d regret later on. While I seem to have a knack for it, James Dobson seems to have perfected the art. To wit, his comments about John McCain from 2000.

Politics Congress Constitution Presidency Featured

Justice Department Continues the Assault on Justice

August 20, 2008 B. John 526 Views 0 Comments Attorney General, FBI, senate, Michael Mukasey, Attorney General Guidelines, Senators

Most likely it will come as no surprise that the Bush Administration’s Justice Department continues it’s assault on freedom and the Constitution. According to a report in the Washington Post, the Justice Department is about to issue guidelines for starting FBI investigations that a number of U.S. Senators believe could lead to innocent Americans being spied upon by government agents or informants, “all without any basis for suspicion.”

Weather Places Tampa Science General Environment Featured

Was Fay a Fizzle?

August 20, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 570 Views 0 Comments hurricane, NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Fay

Tropical Storm Fay never quite made it to hurricane strength, but she has definitely dumped a lot of water on some parts of the state, and has caused some power outages and some severe flooding. She certainly gave forecasters a fit.

Places Tampa Science General Environment Weather

Fay On The Way – 1

August 18, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 501 Views 0 Comments Tropical Storm, hurricanes, Fay, Ft. Meyers

Tropical Storm Fay has crossed over Cuba, and is making the turn more toward the north, and heading toward Florida (most likely). I thought I’d give you an update on the storm and my preparations so far.

Featured Politics Election

Trading Places-The Karl Rove Wager

August 15, 2008 B. John 516 Views 0 Comments Eddie Murphy, george bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Dan Akroyd, Trading Places

Back in the early ’80s, a movie was released staring Dan Akroyd and Richard Prior called Trading Places. Two characters in the movie, Mortimer and Randolph Duke (played by Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche) are wealthy commodity brokers who argue constantly over social issues, and enjoy a small wager from time to time. The $5 wager between the Mortimer brothers is that if they put the Pryor character into the right situation, he’ll rise to his new circumstances, and behave like a well-bread, educated wealthy person. On the flip side, if Winthrope has all the trappings of wealth and influence removed from him, he’ll quickly resort to a life of crime and scamming. In the end, the joke was on the Duke brothers, as Winthrope and Valentine came together to not only financial destroy the Dukes, but become rich themselves. I think Karl Rove made a similar bet some years back.

Culture Featured Religion

The Will of God?

August 13, 2008 B. John 639 Views 0 Comments London, Harold Kushner, PFOX, God, methodist, WWII, Leslie Weathehead, Will of God, City Temple

Recently, my Sunday School class has been involved in a study of the “The Will of God.” We’re using a book by Leslie Weatherhead. I don’t find I’m in complete agreement with his definitions, but he does offer a comprehensive interpretation of The Will of God. It has led me to do some deeper thinking about words I’ve heard often. The concept has mostly dumfounded theologians, and I believe is primarily a construct of people looking for some kind of logic in illogical situations.

Politics Election

John Edwards Blows It

August 10, 2008 B. John 530 Views 1 Comment John McCain, Rielle Hunter, John Edwards, Extramarital Affair

It seems that the tabloid National Enquirer has a knack for catching wandering politicians, and they’ve nabbed another now…my favorite recent presidential candidate, John Edwards. It appears that back in 2006 Edwards had an affair with Rielle Hunter, a lady hired to produce campaign films for the Edwards campaign.

Business Economy Technology Software

Upgrading to Office 2007?

August 7, 2008September 29, 2018 B. John 600 Views 1 Comment Upgrades, Microsoft, 2007, Microsoft Office

I seem to be doing lots of upgrading lately. I’ve been having an issue for some time now with my Outlook crashing several times each day, and often taking multiple attempts to restart it. In some cases, it will even break the connection to the pst file, and I’ll have to restart the computer. I’ve tried everything without success, so I’m now considering an upgrade to Office 2007.