Ugh

There is just so much of this, and what's sad, is that the things that are so obviously wasteful are really just the beginning.

Coolness of our Age

There are just some super cool things coming, and this is one of my favorites.  I've been reading about 3D printing for a while, but this article is the most fleshed out I've seen, and the first one I've seen talk about using this technology in the medical field.  How amazing!

Light Posting

Links will probably be light for the next couple of weeks, so here are two from Cracked.

#1 on this list is one I had never heard about and is pretty amazing.
These are just fun.

Schools

Amid the controversy over the recommended denial of renewed charter for the most successful school in Georgia (the only Georgia school to EVER get the National Blue Ribbon award), I present Finland's unorthodox school system (via www.ifeminists.com). I know that the US is not Finland, and I don't think that all of these things necessarily cause the success, but why does it have to be so difficult to try new things here?

Left Out

I wish we could have seen Gary Johnson in the debates.

What a great story to start the day

This one is just lovely.

Scary scary scary

Congress will decide whether the Bill of Rights matters anymore ... in secret.

Admittedly, it's been in its way out since practically the beginning but they just don't work seem to care to even hide it anymore.

The Rules

A book that I bought for Dave once we had J was, Rules for My Unborn Son.  There is a companion website, which is terribly addictive, and I particularly like one from earlier this week.

Eat like a local, tip like an American.

Drug War and Surprising Perspective

Well, this perspective isn't surprising to me, since I completely agree with it, however, the columnist from which it comes is quite surprising.

as usual, found via the agitator.

Two for One

To make up for the limited posting lately, I've got two here.

First of all, this poll regarding the Republican candidates is kind of encouraging (polls are generally crap, so take it however you'd like).

• encouraging: Ron Paul is tied with Obama in head-to-head race. All others trail Obama. And Paul hammers Obama, surprisingly, among voters under 45 years old.
• depressing: that the result above is listed after the results about which candidate has more football fans as supporters.  

Secondly, if you need a password vault program, so far I highly recommend S10.  I found it on CNET; it's free, and has been really easy to set up.  Just got it today, though, so it's an early, qualified recommendation.

This could be good

This is a step in the right direction for Fulton County Schools.  I hope it works.

Good on 'Em

Good for the cops and movers in this story - refusing to help evict a 103 year-old woman. The house would have stayed empty for who knows how long anyway. And it turns out the bank has decided not to evict her (I'm sure the bad PR had nothing to do with that decision).

Sing It, Kermit!

I try not to cross-post between Facebook and here, but well ....

Totally Unrelated

Here are two completely unrelated links of the day (to make up for missing yesterday, I guess).

The link to this incredible burn-healing device ("skin gun") was sent to me by my step-dad. It is seriously, like almost unbelievable, incredible.

Having worked in the HR/hiring world for nearly 11 years, I find this step in the hiring process at Zappos fascinating.

Depressing Post of the Day

If this had been J, a lawyer would have been the first person I called after I went to the school and beat the ever-loving-**** out of this teacher.

Then I would have called a different lawyer to sue the teacher, the aide, the school and the district.  And, generally, I'm not a lawsuit person, but this is just unconscionable.  Good for the family for winning the lawsuit and even better for going public.

Lazy Link

Because I've been busy reading things written on paper today (gasp!), I'm posting a link to one of the few things I've read online.  This is of a different sort than usual, in that my reaction was negative, rather than "ooh, that's interesting."

At first, I did think it was interesting - a new high school in the area has been officially named.  I don't know why I find that interesting, but I do.  But then that quickly turned to "does everything have to have some deeper meaning?"  I mean, good grief people; it's a school name.

Link + a Bonus

First, the downer via iFeminists.  Victimless crimes account for a shockingly high percentage of the prison population.

Second, some optimism.

New Toy

So, I got one of these last week, and I love it, but man is a new smartphone a pain to get all set up and organized, especially if you're changing operating systems.

Also, if you're in the market for a new phone, I recommend Amazon's new wireless store.  If you look closely at the CNET review, you can probably figure out why.  Yes, I got this phone for $.01 (and a new two year contract).

Haha

An great cracked countdown - 24 Things Other Countries Suspect About America.

A Different Take on the Occupiers

From my favorite writer on Cracked.com, comes a bit of a different perspective.