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The moral hand is a metaphor of five basic ethical principles, one for each finger, summarizing coherent ethic. It is the result of a ten year study of ethics and it captures my complete ethical system. Each principle generates a principle of equality. To start a discussion on e.g. animal rights and veganism, I will apply the five principles to our consumption of animal products.
-The thumb: the principle of universalism. You must (may) do what everyone who is capable must (may) do in all morally similar situations towards all morally equal individuals. Prejudicial discrimination is immoral. We should give the good example, even if others don't. Just like we have to place the thumb against the other fingers in order to grasp an object, we have to apply the principle of universalism to the other four basic principles.
-The forefinger: justice and the value of lifetime well-being. Increase the well-being (over a complete life) of all sentient beings alive in the present and the future, whereby improvements of the worst-off positions (the worst sufferers, the beings who have the worst lives) have a strong priority. Lifetime well-being is the value you would ascribe when you would live the complete life of a sentient being, and is a function of all positive (and negative) feelings that are the result of (dis)satisfaction of preferences: of of everything (not) wanted by the being.
-The middle finger: the mere means principle and the basic right to bodily autonomy. Never use the body of a sentient being as merely a means to someone else's ends, because that violates the right to bodily autonomy. The two words "mere means" refer to two conditions, respectively: 1) if in order to reach and end (e.g. saving someone) you push a sentient being to do or undergo something that the being does not want, and 2) if the body of that sentient being is necessary as a means for that end, then you are not allowed to treat that being in that way. A sentient being is a being who has developed the capacity to want something by having positive and negative feelings, and who has not yet permanently lost this capacity. The middle finger is a bit longer than the forefinger, and so the basic right is a bit stronger than the lifetime well-being (e.g. the right to live). The basic right can only be violated when the forefinger principle of well-being is seriously threatened.
-The ring finger: naturalness and the value of biodiversity. If a behavior violates the forefinger or middle finger principles, the behavior is still allowed (but not obligatory) only if that behavior is both natural (a direct consequence of spontaneous evolution), normal (frequent) and necessary (important for the survival of sentient beings). As a consequence predators are allowed to hunt. Just as lifetime well-being is the value of a sentient being, biodiversity is the value of an ecosystem and is a function of the variation of life forms and processes that are a direct consequence of natural evolution. The valuable biodiversity would drastically decrease if a behavior that is natural, normal and necessary would be universally prohibited (universally, because you have to put the thumb against the ring finger).
-The little finger: tolerated partiality and the value of personal relationships. Just as the little finger can deviate a little bit from the other fingers, a small level of partiality is allowed. When helping others, you are allowed to be a bit partial in favor of your loved ones, as long as you are prepared to tolerate similar levels of partiality of everyone else (everyone, because you have to put the thumb against the little finger).
-The palm: universal love and solidarity. Do not hate or despise anyone. Love all living beings with respect and compassion. The palm holds the moral fingers together.
The forefinger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger correspond with resp. a welfare ethic, a rights ethic, an environmental ethic and an ethic of care.
These five fingers produce five principles of equality.
-The thumb: the formal principle of impartiality and antidiscrimination. We should treat all equals equally in all equal situations. We should not look at arbitrary characteristics linked to individuals. This is a formal principle, because it does not say how we should treat someone. The other four principles are material principles of equality. They have specific content and are generated when the thumb is applied to the four fingers.
-The forefinger: the principle of priority for the worst-off. As a result of this priority, we have an egalitarian principle of well-being: if total lifetime well-being is constant between different situations, then the situation which has the most equal distribution of well-being is the best.
-The middle finger: basic right equality. All sentient beings with equal levels of morally relevant mental capacities get an equal claim to the basic right not to be used as merely a means to someone else's ends.
-The ring finger: behavioral fairness. All natural beings have an equal right to a behavior that is both natural, normal and necessary (i.e. a behavior that contributes to biodiversity). E.g. if a prey is allowed to eat in order to survive, a predator is allowed to do so as well (even if it means eating the prey).
-The little finger: tolerated choice equality. Everyone is allowed to be partial to an equal degree that we can tolerate. If you choose to help individual X instead of individual Y, and if you tolerate that someone else would choose to help Y instead of X, then X and Y have a tolerated choice equality (even if X is emotionally more important for you than Y).
The five moral fingers can be applied to the production and consumption of animal products (meat, fish, eggs, dairy, leather, fur,…):
-The forefinger: compared to humans, livestock animals are in the worst-off position due to suffering and early death. The loss of lifetime well-being of the livestock animals is worse than the loss of well-being that humans would experience when they are no longer allowed to consume animal products. Livestock and fisheries violate the forefinger principle of well-being.
-The middle finger: the consumption of animal products almost always involves the use of animals as merely means, hence violating the mere means principle of the middle finger.
-The ring finger: animal products are not necessary for humans, because a well-planned vegan diet is not unhealthy (according to the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics). Biodiversity will not decrease when we would stop consuming animal products (on the contrary, according to UN FAO the livestock sector is likely the most important cause of biodiversity loss). Hence, the value of biodiversity cannot be invoked to justify the consumption of animal products.
-The little finger: we would never tolerate the degree of partiality that is required to justify livestock farming and fishing. Hence, tolerated partiality cannot be invoked to justify the consumption of animal products.
It follows that veganism is ethically consistent, and the production and consumption of animal products are ethically inconsistent.
-The thumb: give the good example, even when other people continue consuming animal products. From this principle, it follows that veganism is a moral duty.
Views: 1411
Foot was my first thought when I read the OP this morning, but one foot has no opposable toe. Also, I can't maneuver my feet to the same places as my hand(s), but ymmv?
Oh, now you need ten principles, my friend ;-) The ten commmm...
Veganism bears a lot of resemblance to a religion, especially the moral high horse bit.
And the naivete of it as well. These people who want to eliminate all suffering and death are struggling against reality itself. If by some miraculous magic we actually managed to eliminate suffering, these people would just go on to declare war on death itself. It's infantile to rile up against something that is inherent in nature. We kill, and get killed. We die, and make die. Such is the cycle of life and death. People need to get over it and have a burger already.
I don't know what you try to say. Even if we could eliminate suffering without causing more harm (defined in terms of the five ethical principles), we should not do it? If we could extend life without causing harm, and if we do not do that, that means we do not do something that people might prefer (living longer) and that is harmless. That means you do not take the needs of those people seriously. You could as well stop all medicin, by claiming that dying of a disease is part of the cycle of life and death. Should we respect this cycle more than respect well-being, bodily autonomy and biodiversity? That is not my intuition.
People need to get over it and have a burger already.
I think I saw a burger scene like that in Natural Born Killers.
I wonder how high this statement was :-)
Korsan beat me to it. I was going to say pretty much the same thing.
Why is more biodiversity better rather than just not as much as yesterday or more than 100 million years ago?
Why should I be concerned with increasing the well-being of all sentient creatures in the present and future? Why should we first help the worst off?
Why shouldn't we use other people as a means to an end? What's the basis for that reasoning?
You know what isn't necessary for the survival of a sentient being? Sex. It might be natural and normal, but I'm perfectly capable of doing without. Does that mean that we shouldn't have sex? Considering that humans are the largest cause of the loss of biodiversity, if we all just stopped procreating biodiversity would increase. We'd all be a lot happier because we'd have much more free time to spend on our enjoyment. There are some interesting studies done with cognitive dissonance and the "joys" of parenthood. People still claim that their lives are better for having kids even though they rank their day to day lives as being worse than those who don't have children. Plus, I don't know about you, but after having sex for a long time, eventually I end up screwing just to get off. It's using some one as a means to an end, which is a clear violation.
There are quite a few reasons to not engage in sex just from the application of your rules. I think you have a problem.
To continue: Why is favoring those you care for better than treating everyone equally? Is the answer "because we are inclined to" good enough?
And I definitely disagree with your "palm" principle. I will certainly hate and despise those who have proven themselves worthy of my scorn. I will treat beings with respect up to the point where they have shown that they don't deserve it. I will treat those with compassion who are willing to treat we the same. To do otherwise sets me up to be taken advantage of time and time again. So give me a reason. Why should I love, respect, and show compassion for all those who are willing to kill me, or rape me, or treat me like human cattle possibly for no reason at all?
I understand that you may not have included reasons for the sake of brevity, but without those reasons this simply comes of as the equivalent of religious dogma. It reads like you are saying "do this because it's good" and there is no reason why it is good.
giving moral value to biodiversity is coherent with moral intuitions (in at least three situations: predation, procreation and motion). And it is al least not far fetched to give a value to something that has a tendency to increase. Like well-being.
If you are concerned about impartiality, you can do the thought experiment of the veil of ignorance, resulting in the importance of well-being of everyone who has (and will have) a well-being. Most people are risk and uncertainty averse, and that results in a priority for the worst off. Perhaps you are also risk averse? Second, if you are concerned about the virtue compassion, you can use compassion (develop this virtue, by extending it in a meaningful way towards all and only all sentient beings). Compassion is the strongets towards the worst off. So we have two reasons (impartiality with a high but not maximum risk aversion, compassion with a low but not minimal need for efficiency to increase overall well-being), making it rather coherent.
We sould not use someone as merely means, because that fits with intuitions about slavery, rape, terror bombing, throwing people in front of trolleys (cfr trolley dilemma), sacrificing people (against their will) for organ transplantation or medical experimentation (even if it saves much more lives), and many other moral dilemmas. It can also be shown to correspond with intuitions about doing versus allowing, asymmetry of procreational duties, imperfect duties,...That is remarkably coherent. Read my book if you want to learn morehttp://stijnbruers.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/the-ethical-consistency-of-animal-equality2.pdf
No, it doesn't mean we shouldn't have sex. Why should it? Good sex even does not violate well-being and rights. The rule does not say that something that violates the three N criteria (naturalness,...) is impermissible. It only becomes impermissible if it violates another principle (eg well-being). And sex, by the way, is necessary for populations: without it, biodiversity will get lost. If we stopped procreating, biodiversity will decrease, because a species (ours) goes extinct. We should only lower human procreation to a sustainable level, not stop it.
About the joy of parenthood, you refer to the Kahneman? There is no real cognitive dissonance, there are two selves, an experiencing and remembering self.
About favoring those I care: I try to meet universally shared moral intuitions. One of them is that some kinds partiality is still allowed. Trick is to state which ones, that is what I did. The mere means principle in fact generate a kind of duty to tolerate some kinds of partiality.
I can't give you ar reason for universal love. But it does not result in being taken advantage of. You can even kill someone with love. There is a (tragic) story about a son doing most terrible things. Mother kills him (there was no other way to stop him), even when she still loves him very much.
-The ring finger: behavioral fairness. All natural beings have an equal right to a behavior that is both natural, normal and necessary (i.e. a behavior that contributes to biodiversity). E.g. if a prey is allowed to eat in order to survive, a predator is allowed to do so as well (even if it means eating the prey).
Please edit the first sentence to get rid of "both" when you have a list of three things.
Should we prevent other omnivorous animals from eating other animals? I mean, if it is deemed unnecessary for humans to eat meat since we can survive if we supplement a vegan diet with artificial nutrients, what should we do if we could help other animals make the same transition?
Look, you make the assumption that it is not necessary for humans to eat meat. I understand that humans can survive without meat, but can we thrive? Does it help us to be at our healthiest if we don't? The fact that it requires us to supplement the diet with B12 from bacteria is a good indicator that the vegan diet is not natural and would not work if we didn't have the technology. I want to see you show us that eating meat is not necessary for humans.
And if we're talking about eating exclusively vegan products, soy and other field crops being among them, how do you deal with the fact that animals are killed due to the production of these crops? Animals are run over by the machinery used to harvest. Animals are poisoned by the chemicals used to increase the yields. Natural landscapes have been destroyed to create monocultures and have thus reduced biodiversity. How can your hand thingy account for this death and destruction that are results of human consumption of plants? Because if you suggest that there should be a new way to raise crops, you should also consider that there should be a new way to raise cattle and other livestock rather than just condemn meat consumption outright. Neither of these options is guilt free from animal death. One (meat consumption) owns up to it, the other doesn't even think about it.
What about all the cute little field animals that would have to be killed to feed the expanded grain and vegetable farming? What about the reduction of habitat available for our wild friend?
In the end, it's a balloon problem only solved by reducing the population of humans? I suppose that is a more do-able solution than making people dislike meat.
overpopulation is a problem for biodiversity and future well-being, yes. But even with less people, on a per capita basis, crop fields can kill as many mice as with the current population. But vegan agriculture has a less environmental impact; it is the livestock industry that drives grain and soy expansion, using gmo's and pesticides, killing more small animals than vegan agriculture. Even dairy cows consume more grains and soy per liter of milk, then is required for the production of 1 liter soy milk.


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Here come those crusty creepy crustaceans, snipping and snapping with their claws. Scuttling along on the beach, in the rock pools and hiding in the seaweed! This is a short piece, designed as background music for children's programming such as cartoons or educational television. It could be used in other ways I am sure. I have kept it really simple and unobtrusive to make it ideal for voiceover use. Featuring orchestral pizzicato (pizz) instrumentation, this style of music is very useful for a variety of projects including cooking and shopping channel programming.
Files included: Main tune with fade: 1:00 Loop Version: 0:15 (wav)

subset: commoncrawl


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BOSTON (AP) — A former Roman Catholic priest convicted of raping two altar boys in Berkshire County in the 1980s has been denied a new trial by the Massachusetts Appeals Court.
Gary Mercure, former pastor at Our Lady of The Annunciation in Queensbury, N.Y., was convicted in February 2011 of rape of a child by force and indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14. He was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
The abuse took place on camping trips to the Berkshires.
The Berkshire Eagle (http://bit.ly/13Xqw1S ) reports Mercure argued in his appeal that the jury had been prejudiced after being allowed to hear testimony about alleged sex crimes against other former altar boys.
The appeals court ruled that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in allowing the testimony.
Information from: The Berkshire (Mass.) Eagle, http://www.berkshireeagle.com


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Hedge funds and other big investors are reporting their quarterly holdings to the Securities and Exchange Commission, offering a glimpse into what some of the big fish have been buying and selling.
Pershing Square, the activist hedge fund run by Bill Ackman, raised its holdings in Procter & Gamble shares as of September 30, according to its latest quarter 13F filing.
Form 13F is a quarterly report of equity holdings filed by institutional investment funds with at least $100 million in assets.
The fund also took a 21.4 million share stake in Burger King Holdings during the quarter.
(Read More: Buffett's Berkshire Sells Most of J&J and GE Stakes.)
David Einhorn's Greenlight Capital eld a 5.1 million share stake in Yahoo! as of September 30, according to its latest 13F filing.
Greenlight also increased its holdings of General Motors o 21.6 million shares.
The fund pared back its holdings in tech names Apple and Microsoft and telecom Sprint Nextel, while closing out of its positions in Best Buy and Expedia . (Read More: For Hedge Funds, a Half Percent Is the New Move.)
Third Point, the hedge fund founded by Daniel Loeb, shook up its holdings of managed care companies in the third quarter. The fund dissolved its stakes in Humana and Aetna, but increased its positions in UnitedHealth and WellPoint .
Third Point also took a 5 million share stake in Kraft Foods and a 6 million share stake in Symantec as of the end of the third quarter.
According to its quarterly filing, Appaloosa Management, which was founded by David Tepper and Jack Walton, was investing in financials in the third quarter. The fund took stakes in AIG, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley . It also upped its stakes in Citigroup and Hartford Financial but cut its stake in Bank of America .
Soros Fund Management lso disclosed a 15.2 million share stake in AIG as of the end of the third quarter, while Jana Partners took a 1.5 million share stake in the insurer.
As of September 30, Tiger Global Management as increased its stake in Facebook to 11.75 million Class A shares, from 1.95 million, according to its latest 13F filing.The hedge fund, co-managed by Charles Coleman and Feroz Dewan, also disclosed a new 7.2 million share stake in Burger King, a 2.3 million share stake in Moody's and a 1.3 million share stake in Groupon. Tiger also upped its stakes in Amazon.com and Baidu.
According to the filing, Tiger Global sold its entire holdings of Supervalu, Ubiquiti Networks and Homeaway and trimmed its Visa nd Google stakes in the quarter.
Facebook was also a new holding for Viking Global Investors, with the hedge fund taking a stake of 4.15 million shares as of the end of September. The fund also took a stake of 15.4 million shares in Williams Cos., valued at $538 million as of the end of the third quarter. (Read More: Facebook Stock Jumps as Lock-Up Expire.)
Meanwhile, Farallon Capital eported that it has sold its entire 1.69 million share stake in big-box retailer Target. The stake was worth about $98 million.
— Reuters contributed to this report.


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Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has signed a two-year deal with Australia Twenty20 franchise the Melbourne Stars.
Pietersen has primarily played as a T20 specialist after being sacked by England following the fallout of their Ashes whitewash last winter.
The 34-year-old captained the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League earlier this year, has turned out for Surrey in the NatWest T20 Blast and is set to feature for St Lucia Zouks in the Caribbean Premier League, which has already started.
Signing for the Stars, who reached the semi-finals in the last edition, will see him line up alongside compatriot Luke Wright.
"I'm very excited about joining the Melbourne Stars and look forward to playing with some of Australia's best T20 cricketers," Pietersen said.
"Joining the Melbourne Stars was an easy choice for me when you look at the players we have and the amazing off-field support staff, and don't forget our home ground, the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground)."
The tournament usually gets under way in December with the latest edition finishing in February, and a similar schedule this season would mean Pietersen is in Australia while the current England team play a triangular series Down Under, also featuring India, which runs from the middle to the end of next January.
Stars head coach Greg Shipperd said: "We are delighted to have Kevin as a Melbourne Star. He's a proven competitor and I am confident that he will revel in the fiercely competitive atmosphere of the BBL and will be especially at home at the MCG in front of our loyal Members."
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Favorite Fall Fabrics: Nice, Noisy Corduroy
Last week I bought a pair of corduroys — my first since the lilac pair with rhinestones on the pockets that I had in 3rd grade — and it got me wondering what corduroy had been up to in the intervening years. Floor cushions, tea cozys, and catnip tomatoes, it turns out…
I feel like corduroy has to be used carefully, but perhaps that's just because my parents once owned a rust-colored wide-wale corduroy fold-out couch. It was not worthy of their gorgeous old home, let's just say that. A bit of corduroy goes a long way...
• The Man Repeller's chair has a classic, even formal, shape, but the chartreuse corduroy gives it an edge.
• These corduroy floor pillows from Urban Outfitters are exactly what I need for fire escape lounging and floor picnics.
• Cabin fever on a rainy fall day? Give your kitty Wags & Wiggles' corduroy tomato catnip toy, and look forward to hours of entertainment.
• LeapHouse's Irish linen tea cozy has been sold, but I wanted to point out the effect a tiny piece of corduroy can have. That loop makes it!
• Corduroy goes classy with a couch covered in Ralph Lauren's fabric, featured in House Beautiful.
• Design*Sponge featured the home of Nancy Aebersold and Dana Blumrosen, including Craigslist-find chairs reupholstered in corduroy.
• This wool and corduroy random square quilt is just one of many made by Celebration Quilters, using salvaged fabrics.
• This Gee's Bend quilt was the inspiration for a sweater made by The Purl Bee, and combines two favorite fall fabrics: corduroy and denim!
Images: All image credits as listed above, with #6 photographed by Allen David Noonan and Ron Jones for Design*Sponge


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Further treatment for Vilanova
Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has confirmed he is returning to
New York this week to undergo further cancer treatment.
Vilanova had been scheduled to have the "pioneering treatment"
this summer but it has been brought forward, with Barca having won
the Primera Division title with three games to spare.
The 44-year-old spent two months in New York earlier this year
undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment for cancer,
having twice had surgery on his parotid gland in Spain over the
last 18 months.
He returned to America for follow-up tests a fortnight ago and
for his upcoming trip is set to be away from Barcelona for five
Barcelona said on their website: "Tito Vilanova has confirmed at
a press conference that he will have further treatment for cancer
next week in New York. The pioneering treatment has been developed
at a specialised centre and is proving particularly effective.
"It was originally planned for this summer but as Barca has now
clinched the league title it has been advanced to next week. Tito
Vilanova will be away from Barcelona from Monday to Friday."
Barca, who were crowned Spanish champions for the fourth time in
five years last weekend, play host to Real Valladolid on Sunday
before completing their season against Espanyol and Malaga.


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Friday, February 24, 2012
Six years Backreaction
Over the years, the content of this blog has slightly changed. At present it's mainly a reprocessing of books/papers/articles I read and find interesting enough to discuss, mixed with the occasional family update. I have diverted most of my link dumps to Twitter, Google plus, and Facebook.
Some months ago, I finally updated the template and I've found it's an improvement. Unfortunately, the comment count in the sidebar wasn't possible with the new template. But the archive list is much cleaner now and the labels now work properly.
I was looking at our blog archive the other day, and was wondering if not it would be interesting to recycle some of the older posts (with updates if applicable). I don't want to bore you with repetitions but my guess is that most of our readers have no been around for six years and very few people ever look at the archive. Can you give me some feedback on that? Would you be interested if I'd pick out the occasional post from the archive and brush it up for a new discussion?
16 comments:
- Juan F. said...
You have a really nice blog Sabine. I am pleased to read you and you were one of the motivations to lunch my own blog (now beginning).
Best wishes, and continue your tiny big blog here. It is a nice addition to quantum gravity researchers and physicist's blogs.
- 9:00 AM, February 24, 2012
- Alyssa said...
Congrats on 6 years! I think re-posting some of your older posts would be a great idea!
- 9:06 AM, February 24, 2012
- Bee said...
Here's a comment by Peter Morgan who submits by email, saying he's using Open ID and can't get past the captcha. Anybody has the same problem, please let me know, my email is hossi at nordita dot org.
"Probably interested, probably wouldn't complain or drop the RSS, but it will depend how you do it.
To follow a current train of thought that this post brings to mind, the trouble with Wikipedia is that once someone has said something well enough, no-one bothers to say it again. So it doesn't get said better.
To bring that back to your suggestion, you should say it again from your current perspective, and include a link to what you said a few years ago. Maybe that's too much work. You're good at this (blogging, not easy), but it shouldn't look as if you're making it too easy.
Obviously that's only quick off-the-cuff thoughts. Possibly better not to have commented at all."
- 9:46 AM, February 24, 2012
- Plato said...
Hi Bee,
Peter Morgan is right about the blogging experience and how progressive the work "will and has to appear" as you revisit the issues.
For some people in research they may take the data and start writing the book that has been long overdue....and others, who continue to build up the data for an " explosive synoptic event" that those same writers having reached in their accumulative data acquisition. At some point, you have to let the Dam open?:)
They revisit where they have come too, "up to this point." For me, the issue of what is in the data archive is re-ignited by the moves one makes progressively through the issues of the day, or their interests.
So consider all the info as a web of neurological development?
How better the links and ignition points in the mind if you can draw the data and link to it in a previous blog post on a current issue today?
Sometimes I use your archive myself, looking for other links then the ones you have provided. I might see connections that you might not see. Keywords, used in your search feature. Sometimes looking at this info(keywords used) can help you with new thoughts toward clarification and new posts.
I am glad to have been allowed to participate through the years on yours and Stefan's blog.
All the best in the future.
- 10:56 AM, February 24, 2012
- Mikael said...
Happy Blog Anniversary!
I discovered this blog a couple of months ago. I must say that I loved it. I love the combination of science/physics with a human touch. I really appreciate that kind of things.
Thank you and congratulations!
Now, I'll check your previous posts and make my suggestions :)
- 11:30 AM, February 24, 2012
- JRV said...
I've lost track of when I found your blog, or how I found it, but I'm very pleased that I did find it. It's probably no more than three or less than two years.
I'd be very interested in seeing re-postings, with updates where appropriate.
- 1:59 PM, February 24, 2012
- uair01 said...
Yes I would be interested in a careful selection of ancient posts. You are right to say that most people don't browse the archives. That's my personal experience too.
- 2:37 AM, February 25, 2012
- Giotis said...
Congrats for the blog anniversary...
I think revisiting old posts would have a meaning only if you have changed your mind about something or if new data have appeared.
- 6:35 AM, February 25, 2012
- Steven Colyer said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- 9:32 AM, February 25, 2012
- Steven Colyer said...
Warsteiner's! King of Beers! :-)
BackReAction! King of Physics Weblogs (along with Not Even Wrong), and King of Kings in Quantum Gravity!
Happy Anniversary to you and Stefan, sweet.
- 9:33 AM, February 25, 2012
- Phil Warnell said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- 10:49 AM, February 25, 2012
- Phil Warnell said...
Hi Bee & Stefan,
So sorry to have missed the anniversary announcement, the time of which actually predates the authors' own formalized entanglement. As for the value of reposting I think it to be a good idea, especially if something is offered as to have it extended. I wish I could boast as to having followed your blog since its inception, yet can say after discovering it late in 2007 I have done so regularly, as I find it both enriching and entertaining, just as imagine you intended it for all to be.
Best Wishes and a regretfully a belated Happy Anniversary,
- 10:52 AM, February 25, 2012
- JimV said...
Yes, please.
- 11:31 AM, February 25, 2012
- Bee said...
Hi All,
Thanks for the feedback! I think I'll then try recycling with updates and see how it goes.
I am happy to hear I inspired you to set up a blog on your own!
- 12:31 PM, February 25, 2012
- Anonymous Snowboarder said...
Bee (and Stefan) - congrats on the six years. Ironically, I just made one of my less than frequent posts on my own blog today. It is mostly original content and commentary as relates finance and politics with a smattering of science and book reviews. I started in June 2004 and have 848 posts but the volume the past three years is way down. I just was burnt out on it and while I had ideas of nice posts, it seemed that simply thinking through the idea in my head was enough work that I couldn't be bothered to then put it all to paper! It really is a testament to your dedication to have kept things going for all this time on a regular basis with such a high level of professionalism.
I would like to make a suggestion regarding your old posts revisted idea. I suspect that you could probably rustle up 10 to 12 of them which are worthy of dusting off and taking the time to make "current". If that is the case, I think you should make July or August a 'Best of' month. You'll have plenty of time to put everything together and then can put the blog on auto pilot during your summer vacation!
- 9:47 PM, February 25, 2012
- Bee said...
Hi Snowboarder,
That's a good suggestion! I'll have a look at my this year's schedule and see if there are longer stretches where I'm likely to be short on time. Best,
- 2:54 AM, February 26, 2012


text:
Five people were injured, one seriously, when an 18-wheeler carrying sugar cane crashed Thursday afternoon into several vehicles and an apartment complex on La. 20 in Chackbay.
Five people were injured, one seriously, when an 18-wheeler carrying sugar cane crashed Thursday afternoon into several vehicles and an apartment complex on La. 20 in Chackbay.
A woman was airlifted to University Hospital in New Orleans, State Police said. A good Samaritan who came to help said she was conscious.
State Police said the woman who was airlifted pulled into oncoming traffic at about 4:30 p.m. and was struck by the 18-wheeler, whose driver was also taken to a hospital. The woman's car ended up in a canal.
The 18-wheeler struck a parked pickup truck, and both vehicles crashed into an apartment building where a man inside was injured. Police said he was also taken to a hospital.
The 18-wheeler also struck an SUV parked at the apartment complex, police said.
Two other people were injured, but further details weren't available.
Whole rooms of the apartment building were visible from the outside because of knocked-down walls. The 18-wheeler's load of sugar cane spilled in front of the building.
The crash, south of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Chackbay, closed La. 20 for more than an hour.
Corey Johnson, 35, said he was driving into Thibodaux when he witnessed the crash. He has some first-aid training from working for BP after the company's 2010 oil spill, so he tended to the woman after her car crashed into the canal. Her leg was broken, and she had a head injury.
"If that guy (driving the 18-wheeler) didn't swerve, she'd be dead right now," Johnson said. The 18-wheeler did not hit her head-on.
Logan Baudoin, 14, said he was inside watching TV when the pickup truck, pushed by the 18-wheeler, crashed through the wall. Baudoin wasn't injured, but the man with him was.
That man, who was on a couch against the impacted wall, has broken legs, Baudoin said.
Baudoin lives in a nearby apartment in the complex. His mother told him to stay with the neighbor while she was at work, he said.
"I told him to go to Mr. Ben's," said his mother, Lacy Baudoin, 36. "What a place for them to be."
The other damaged apartment was occupied by a man and his caretaker when the 18-wheeler hit.
Caretaker Priscilla Perera, 61, said they're lucky to be alive. She and the man would usually be sitting outside at that time of day, right where the truck struck. They were inside because they had just arrived after running errands. Her parked SUV was totaled by the 18-wheeler.
Perera said she brought everyone in the apartment outside because she was concerned about the structure's stability.
"It could've been a hell of a lot worse, but we're not feeling that way right now," Perera said.
Staff Writer Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at 448-7617 or email@example.com.


text:
Used Truck - 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Short Bed 2WD in Norman, Ok
About This 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Short Bed 2WD
Vehicle Location:
Norman, Ok
Sierra 1500
SLE Short Bed 2WD
Exterior Color:
Interior Color:
Stock Number:
Fuel Economy Estimates
City MPG
Highway MPG
Combined MPG: 18
Estimated Monthly Fuel Cost: $123.61*
*Based on $1.78 per gallon and 15k miles per year.
Actual costs may vary.
Actual costs may vary.
Send This Vehicle To Your Smartphone
Seller's Description and Comments:
Located at Wholesale Auto in Norman, Ok. Call Wholesale Auto today at 405-808-0101 for more information about this vehicle.
Vehicle Options:
- Abs Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Am/fm Radio
- Automatic Headlights
- Cargo Area Tiedowns
- Cd Player
- Cruise Control
- Daytime Running Lights
- Deep Tinted Glass
- Driver Airbag
- Electrochromic Interior Rearview Mirror
- Front Air Dam
- Front Split Bench Seat
- Full Size Spare Tire
- Heated Exterior Mirror
- Interval Wipers
- Keyless Entry
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Passenger Airbag
- Pickup Truck Cargo Box Light
- Power Adjustable Exterior Mirror
- Power Door Locks
- Power Windows
- Rear Window Defogger
- Separate Driver/front Passenger Climate Controls
- Steel Wheels
- Tachometer
- Tilt Steering
- Tilt Steering Column
- Vehicle Anti-theft
Carfax Vehicle History Report:
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Major Accidents, Lemon History and Odometer Problems
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2003 GMC Sierra 1500 ReviewThis car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale.
Redesigned inside and out.
GMC Sierra is redesigned for 2003. It comes with a bolder, raked front end. Its interior is new as well, redesigned for improved function and appearance. The brakes have been upgraded, and the engines run cleaner. New options include a Bose sound system. Crew Cabs even offer a rear-seat DVD entertainment center, making for an attractive alternative to an SUV.
Sierra offers some of the best and most advanced engineering among pickup trucks. It does everything pickups have always done, only better, with first-class hauling and towing capabilities. Sierra rides and handles better than any pickup ever did before.
Of course, much of this is equally true of the Chevrolet Silverado, the GMC Sierra's mechanical twin. We think the Sierra looks a bit classier than the Silverado. GMC's styling is more conservative, more mature, with smoother, more sophisticated lines. Sierra also offers the intangible value of GMC's 100-year heritage of building trucks and only trucks.
GMC also offers model and equipment variants that Chevrolet does not, including the high-performance, high-luxury Sierra Denali and a Professional Package designed for, well, professionals.
GMC Sierra comes in two- and four-wheel-drive models, in light-duty (1500) and medium-duty (2500) loading and towing capacities, with short-bed and long-bed bodies, and with fendered or full-width beds. There are standard-length two-door cabs, extended-length cabs with two auxiliary doors in the rear, and a 1500 HD Crew Cab with four full-size doors.
Engine choices include 4.3-liter V6, 4.8-liter V8 (standard with 4WD or an extended cab), and 5.3-liter V8 (standard with an extended cab and a long box). 1500 HD and 2500 models come with a 6.0-liter V8. Five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions are offered.
The basic trim level for 2003 is the W/T work truck, which comes with vinyl seats and air conditioning but not carpeting. The Standard Sierra upgrades to cloth seats and carpeting. SLE adds niceties such as a CD player, cruise control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. SLT trim, available on extended cabs and crew cabs, adds fog lamps, automatic air conditioning, and OnStar telecommunications.
Denali is the flagship, available only as an extended-cab, short-bed 4x4. Denali packs a 325-horsepower version of the 6.0-liter V8, along with automatic transmission and an exclusive, sophisticated full-time all-wheel-drive system. Denali comes with OnStar, tone-on-tone leather, dual-zone automatic climate control, extra sound deadening, a Bose audio system with separate controls for rear-seat passengers, a unique console and other exclusive amenities. Eight buttons on the steering wheel operate OnStar, along with the sound system, trip computer, and other programmable functions. Denali also provides a lockable floor console large enough to hold a picnic lunch for a family of four; it comes with a reversible, removable cup holder tray and a storage nook in front of the lid.
Quadrasteer is available on Sierra 1500 short-bed extended cabs, 1500 HD crew cab, and Denali. An electronically controlled four-wheel-steering system, Quadrasteer reduces Sierra's curb-to-curb turning diameter by 21 percent, to just 37.4 feet, similar to a mid-size car. Quadrasteer also enhances high-speed stability. Quadrasteer comes packaged with a limited-slip differential and a trailer-tow package.
Professional ($2457) is an option package available on all Sierras that includes a special full-length console with concealed storage for a personal digital assistant (PDA), cell phone, and other items; a seven-quart cooler; a cooled or heated cup holder, and a second Big Gulp-sized cup holder. The console can be converted for hanging file folders. The Professional also features additional lockable storage under the rear seat, a bold chrome grille, 16-inch alloy wheels, a bed liner, and the Z85 handling/trailering suspension.
Sierra prices cover a broad range, starting at $19,391 for a 1500 2WD V6 Work Truck, and more than doubling to $44,250 for the luxurious, high-tech Denali. A short-box, 4WD extended-cab SLE would include the 4.8-liter V8 for $29,963; and many popular 2WD models list in the $24,000-$28,000 range.
GMC Sierra sports an all-new front end for 2003 that ties it more closely to the GMC Envoy mid-size SUV. The new grille consists of three black horizontal bars that prominently display a big red GMC emblem. New chromed front bumpers include two airflow cutouts. Up-level models have a body-colored lower fascia; base models, a light charcoal fascia. Premium models offer new 16-inch, six-spoke, bright-machined aluminum wheels, while a new optional grille/brush guard adds front-end protection. New bodyside moldings create a cleaner side appearance. A single OnStar roof antenna, combining the previously separate GPS and cell-phone antennas into one, adds to the cleaner look.
Overall, it's a look that a lot of truck buyers will like: more upscale than the Chevrolet pickup, more conservative than the Dodge or Ford pickups.
The 2003 Denali stays with last year's styling.
All GMC Sierras are built on the stiffest and lightest truck frame General Motors has ever produced. The frame rails are hydroformed, a process that uses high-pressure hydraulics to shape relatively large steel components. Tubular crossmembers and roll-formed mid-rails increase rigidity further. This stiff structure enhances handling and ride quality immensely, while improving crashworthiness.
The interior of the GMC Sierra is extensively redesigned for 2003. Its cab remains the roomiest in the industry, and its door openings are the largest. New dual-stage airbags deploy with less force in less severe collisions. Three-point seat belts are provided in all first and second-row seat positions of 2003 models.
New sound and climate controls for 2003 are more sophisticated, yet easier to operate than last year's. XM Satellite Radio is great for traveling because the stations don't change as you drive across the country, allowing you to keep up on news and weather or listen to your favorite types of music. You still get ads, but XM Satellite seems less commercial than FM. The system comes with AM, FM1, FM2, XM1, and XM2 bands. New audio controls on the steering wheel make it easy to switch among station presets and modes. Set your stations carefully and you can quickly zip to favorite stations scattered among AM, FM, and XM Satellite without taking your hands off the wheel.
Seats have been redesigned for 2003. Standard with the bucket seats is a revised and extended center console that flows into the instrument panel. It includes a storage compartment and a 12-volt power outlet at the rear. (All Sierras come with three 12-volt power outlets at the bottom center of the dash.) Vents and HVAC controls for rear-seat passengers are mounted on the rear of the center console on crew cabs and extended cabs.
The instrument cluster has been revised for better readability. The Denali's gauges feature blue backlighting and white pointers; other models have white backlighting and orange pointers. A new driver information center reports on as many as 27 vehicle functions (nearly twice as many as the previous message center) with an easy-to-read, single-line LCD display. A compass is incorporated into the overhead console, along with three storage areas for sunglasses, garage door opener, and small items.
Extended-cab models offer surprisingly good back-seat accommodations. Climb through the reverse-opening rear door and the rear seat is reasonably comfortable. Rear-seat passengers get their own air-conditioning outlets and a set of drop-down cup holders. When cargo capacity is more important than hauling passengers, the entire rear seat assembly can be loosened from the floor with a wrench and removed through one of the side doors. Not exactly quick release, but a useful feature.
The rear seats in the 1500 HD Crew Cab are as roomy as the second-row of seats in a Suburban. This truck is capable of carrying six passengers and feels roomy with four. Ours came with leather and it felt truly luxurious. Rear seats are split 60/40 and fold down, providing a large protected cargo area inside the cab.
A Panasonic DVD system ($995) is available for the 1500HD Crew Cab, turning it into a real family vehicle. The system comes with a 7-inch flip-down screen, music-CD capability, two sets of wireless headphones with independent volume control, a wireless remote control and three sets of auxiliary video and audio inputs.
Driving Impression
On the road, the GMC Sierra is quiet and well behaved.
The extended cab model's long 143.5-inch wheelbase improves its ride and enhances high-speed stability.
The 1500 HD 4WD Crew Cab does not ride as smoothly as the Chevy Avalanche, but the ride was reasonably good for what is practically a three-quarter-ton truck with no weight in the bed. Adding some weight back there would undoubtedly smooth it out.
Two-wheel-drive 1500s have rack-and-pinion steering, but there is still a fairly wide dead spot in the center when cruising. (GMC says this is intentional, to minimize steering corrections on the highway.) The steering feels a bit light, but the truck tracks beautifully and handles well on pavement, loose dirt, deep dirt and even off-road. Recirculating-ball steering comes on 2500, four-wheel-drive, and Quadrasteer models.
Quadrasteer works amazingly well. Backing a long trailer into a parking space at a 90 degree angle is much easier with Quadrasteer than without it. The system shortens turning circles with trailers and makes backing up more intuitive. On the road, our Quadrasteer-equipped truck felt more stable, especially on winding roads, where it was easier to drive, and where the trailer tracked better behind it. If you tow frequently, you really owe it to yourself to test out a truck with Quadrasteer. Even without a trailer, Quadrasteer makes it much easier to park in tight spaces, such as underground garages and crowded parking lots. Quadrasteer is built on a heavy-duty rear axle, however, which offers a rougher ride.
Our extended-cab Sierra had the larger 5.3-liter V8, an enjoyable motor around town and on the Interstate. The 5.3-liter (327-cubic-inch) engine is rated 285 horsepower with 325 pounds-feet of torque, plenty for light towing and hauling. The V6 produces 200 horsepower and 260 pounds-feet of torque, but most Sierra buyers opt for a V8 and automatic transmission. The 4.8-liter small-block V8 is the most popular engine for this truck. 2003 V8s come with new electronic throttle control and more efficient oxygen sensors for smoother operation and reduced exhaust emissions. (For 2003, the 5.3-liter offers flexible fuel capability, allowing it to run on a mix of up to 85 percent ethanol.)
A Tow/Haul mode on the four-speed automatics helps the transmission keep its cool when towing. Press the Tow/Haul button on the end of the shifter and the transmission holds gears longer before shifting up or down, reducing the annoying tendency to hunt between third and fourth gears in hilly terrain. Shifts are harder and quicker in Tow mode, reducing heat buildup in the transmission. We find it improves the performance of the truck when pulling a trailer and reduces driver annoyance levels.
The Sierra 1500 HD can tow trailers weighing up to 10,200 pounds, or haul up to 3094 pounds of payload (2783 with 4WD). It comes standard with the Z85 handling/trailering suspension designed to provide a smooth ride. Though its bed is short, this truck is a great choice for people who tow horse trailers, race cars, or campers. The 6.0-liter V8 that comes standard in 1500 HD models is tuned with considerably more torque in the four-wheel-drive versions (488 pounds-feet) than in the two-wheel-drive versions (360 pounds-feet); the 4WD model trades off 76 peak horsepower to the 2WD model to do this.
Brakes are large, heavy-duty discs on all four corners; ABS is standard on all models. The brakes are excellent. For 2003, they offer increased stopping power, improved pedal feel with less pedal effort, and quieter operation.
Dynamic Rear Proportioning improves stability under heavy braking whether the truck is loaded or empty and can reduce stopping distances. Jam on the brakes and most vehicles without ABS will lock up the rear tires because most of the weight is being transferred to the front wheels. With ABS, the rear wheels won't lock up, but you still lose some braking performance as most of the weight is tran.
GMC Sierra delivers lots of power, big payload capacities, and lots of towing capability. It looks classy and distinctive. The extended-cab SLE is among the smoothest, quietest, most civilized, best equipped, and most enjoyable pickup trucks we've ever driven. The GMC Sierra is a must-see if you're buying a new full-size pickup.
Model Lineup
2WD Regular Cab 6.5-ft. box Standard ($18,603), SLE ($24,079); Extended Cab 8-ft. box SLE ($27,986); SLT ($29,586); 1500 HD Crew Cab ($30,220)
4WD Regular Cab 6.5-ft. box Standard ($23,315), SLE $27,171); Extended Cab, 8-ft. box, SLE ($31,063), SLT ($32,663); 1500 HD Crew Cab ($33,620)
Denali Extended Cab, 6.5-foot box ($44,250).
Assembled In
Pontiac, Michigan; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.
Options As Tested
5{ 1600) includes leather seating surfaces and power front driver's seat, fog lights, OnStar; front full-feature reclining bucket seats ($2125) include power lumbar support, heat and memory, 6-way power for passenger seat, rear-seat audio controls; heavy-duty trailering equipment ($215); AM/FM/CD/cassette ($595); polished aluminum wheels ($150); 4.10 rear axle ratio ($50).
Model Tested
1500 HD 4WD Crew Cab ($33,620).
1314 24Th Ave Sw
Norman, Ok. 73072
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text:
The last two days I have spent my time trying two very very good projects located at Little Rock City, Tn. Day one i focused on the slab project that Brion and I have been trying on and off for like 3 years. I was able to complete the problem totally out of the blue for the FA naming it Team 87. For the grade, I am not 100% sure, but since my hardest slab prior to Team 87 was Odyssey V9, I figured V10 sounds appropriate. Later on that day I focused my attention on the looooong standing Barn Door 2000 project. I gave it many close attempts, but in the end I left empty handed. Today though, was different. I went back out there with the single focus of finishing it off, and I did! On my 3rd attempt of the day, with slightly different beta, I stuck the high edge and topped out. Very psyched to have this problem completed!
Here's a clip of the Barn Door 2000 FA
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Barn Door 2000 FA
Posted by Daily doses at 5:26 PM
7 comments:
were is the team 87 slab located?
- October 21, 2011 at 3:59 AM
- Daily doses said...
Just behind the mousetrap crack.
- October 21, 2011 at 7:59 AM
- Jordan White said...
holy shit! that thing finally got sent. great work dude.
- October 21, 2011 at 8:59 AM
- Matt Christie said...
Congrats on the send. Tht's on that's needed to go down for so long! What a beautiful piece of rock!!!
- October 24, 2011 at 7:33 AM
jimmy hit me up ( ethan) tons new stuff atleast 30 new boulders outside ozone
- October 28, 2011 at 12:37 AM
- Daily doses said...
Dood, email me your digits! We'll be down at the Obed sunday.
- October 28, 2011 at 7:42 AM
- Daily doses said...
- October 28, 2011 at 12:15 PM
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