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Will we breed our way to higher average IQ?
My wife and I have talked a lot about this topic. Most of these conversations revolve around the genetic selection of sexes or physical traits, but I think many of the topics are just as applicable to genetic modification of embryos to enhance cognitive capabilities. In almost every conversation we have on this topic the movie Gattaca is brought up because it creates a great starting point by walking viewers through one possible future if a society is allowed to control the genetics of their offspring.
So let's say that the researchers conducting the study to understand the genetics of high IQ find a set of genes that increases an individual's natural abilities. The next step would be to offer this knowledge to the market place. That is where I start to get real curious, how would such genetic developments be commercialized? Would fertilized eggs be scanned for preferred gene sequences and then implanted. Would impregnated eggs be tested in situ and aborted if a preferred sequence were not found. Or would genetic therapies be introduced to alter the individuals DNA?
That last option is probably the only one that could be done on a large scale. Your DNA would be scanned, modified and a prescription drug that is dialed into your current DNA would be sent to you. This therapy could be consumed or injected to bring about the desired changes. This type of therapy is already available for several diseases and genetic disabilities and uses viruses to infect you with a new string of DNA.
Back to the topic of this post. Let's say they identify the what and the how….next we have to think about nature vs nurture. Great we have made someone more likely to be smarter but if they are not given the opportunities to excel or learn has the therapy impacted them or society in any positive way?…..Hmmmmm scratching my head on that one. To make that question even murkier your IQ can change over time depending on how much you use your noggin. So at what average age does an individual and or the society benefit the most from having a higher IQ?….My gut tells me society would see an impact in academic performance, work performance and GDP increases. But this is if we genetically modify a significant portion of a single countries populous is while not modifying the rest of the globes population. If we go other routes we could see increases in average IQ among the affluent or among everyone so no discernible gain is ever recognized. Gattaca speaks to the affluent getting the option over the majority and creates a class warfare that I believe and as the movie shows pulls the human race down. Whereas the latter option would never be tolerated by the market forces and could only come about if the governments of the world stepped in and mandated equal access.
Back to the question. Will we breed our way to higher average IQ? The answer is yes. But for who and how fast are more issues about the market and society than about the technology.
Autonomous cars are Green and could be much much More
I have been reading about the progress of several manufacturers working on autonomous cars. BMW, Audi, General Motors, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, Ford, Toyota and Google are just a few of the companies looking to change the way we drive…..er move. The claims for autonomous vehicles are simple; people behind vehicles acting in reaction to other people in vehicles can only achieve a certain amount of safety and efficiency. Whereas vehicles acting together can increase both safety and efficiency while decreasing travel times.
Many companies already have test vehicles roaming our streets laying the ground work for these vehicles to enter the market place in the coming decades. Although some authors and companies believe the first automated cars will be on the streets before 2020.. We shall see, in the mean time consumers are benefiting from all kinds of new automated safety and convenience features being added to vehicles every year; Anti-lock brakes, self parking cars, collision avoidance systems and smart cruise are just a few of the features that are paving the way for increased automation.
Besides maturing the technology there are two big hurdles that hands free driving needs to overcome, first, the liability. In the aviation industry, airplane manufacturers design to a government set of minimum standards in just about every regard. The aircraft is then tested to show that what was designed and produced meets those minimums. The aircraft then enters service and only FAA certified professional can operate and service the aircraft. Along the aircrafts life cycle inspections are performed to all features of the aircraft per a set of government and manufacturer guidelines. If at any point an issue is identified the all of the aircraft can be grounded till a suitable understanding of the issue can be acquired and an approved solution found. During the investigation of any issue liability for the repair can in most cases be easily directed back to the operator, the maintainer, the manufacturer or some combination of those parties. The recent 787 battery issue is a great example of how this system of checks and balances keeps aviation safe. In addition in the case of an issue investigators from the NTSB are able to go through maintenance log books, operator log books, aircraft black boxes and manufacturer records to identify the potential problems. They can also reconstruct an incident to determine if the source of the crash was a mechanical failure. Lastly the NTSB tracks all reported incidents with a specific model of aircraft to identify trends.
Getting back to the driverless car we have some issues with the liability model that cars currently operate under today. In most cases today it is the drivers fault. The manufacturer and the mechanic are rarely targeted for issues unless clear evidence is obtainable. But when we take the driver out of the equation whose fault does it become, the owner, the mechanic, the manufacturer? None of these parties were at the accident so how will police assign blame, how will insurance companies assign liability? There are no log books, there are no maintenance records, there are no certified professionals servicing your car and there is no accident investigation team out on the high way during rush hour recreating the accident. So how do we assign fault? Without all of these checks in the system it will be hard to say whose fault it is that the car killed my family. That first question will take a lot of thought and cherry pick the parts of aviation liability lifecycle that make sense for this more prevalent form of travel.
The second largest hurdle is transition. If all cars are driven by people then the system operates at this level of efficiency. If all cars are driven by machines then the system operates at an increased level of efficiency. But what is a percentage of cars are operated by people and a percentage are operated by machines? This is the second largest question and is what is driving a lot of my imagination. A system made up entirely of driverless vehicles is much easier to set up and prove that it is an improvement to the current 100% people driven system. The system that is a mix of the two takes a lot longer to set up, requires more regulation and may not have any significant impact on the efficiency of the system till a tipping point is reached. Two states have started to look at how they would regulate such a system in hopes of luring companies and jobs to their state as this trend towards automation continues. Nevada was the first state followed by California to get driverless car laws on the books. Nevada, one could argue was at the heart of the driverless car revolution since it hosted the DARPA grand challenge that showed that autonomous cars could be built using today's technology. However both states are leaping ahead in this research as automotive companies continue to set up shop in these two tech savvy states.
The laws that they have put on the books can be found here.
So now the big question…. Which east coast state will be the first to put it's toe into the driverless car revolution?
Quantum robotics sound so cool, but there not.
I read an article last week on quantum robots. The article was a bit confusing. So here is my own research on the topic. Hope it helps you understand how he gets to his conclusion that quantum robots are faster, more accurate, and are able to multitask better than the standard robot.
Definition of a robot:
- A machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically.
- (esp. in science fiction) A machine resembling a human being and able to replicate certain human movements and functions.
- Images of robots
All robots use computers to consume information about their environment and act upon those inputs according to the code they are loaded with.
Definition of a computer:
- An electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program.
- A person who makes calculations, esp. with a calculating machine
Definition of computer code:
- the symbolic arrangement of data or instructions in a computer program or the set of such instructions.
The robot's code is usually written for the capabilities of the CPU (central processing unit), meaning that the code only asks the hardware for answers so many times per second. The hardware speed plus the complexity of the math problems in the code determines the reaction speed of the robot and the number of things it can do at any one time. That last sentence is a bit misleading it assumes that power is not a limitation, meaning that the robot has more than enough electricity to allow the CPU, the robot's sensors and the robot's mechanisms to operate simultaneously at max speed.
As robots are created to do more things at a single time that are increasing in complexity the computer controlling the robot starts to become the limiting component. So in response robticists are adding more computing capability to their robots. That increasing capability requires more computer volume/weight, more structure to hold the computer and more power to maintain maximum computing capability.
With that understanding you can now ask the question; if robots could increase their computational capability without additional weight or power demands than could robots become more capable in the future? The answer is yes and that is where quantum computing comes in.
Definition of quantum computer:
- A computer that makes use of the quantum states of subatomic particles to store information.
Quantum computers are pretty cool. And Lockheed martin just announced that they have the first quantum computer ready for testing. If they get this computer working they will change the world. Quantum computing has the potential to render all of the world's current cyber security useless. This article does a great job of describing the movie Sneakers…..I mean the future if quantum computing is real.
To go into what a quantum computer actually is just a waste of time when it comes to understanding what a quantum robot is in my opinion. The end result is that quantum computers are just computers that can handle significantly more calculation for the same weight and power consumption as a comparably sized computer. Meaning my robot can get a significant computer and code upgrade without any impact to the system or structures of the robot. Not as cool as what I thought quantum robot were before I started reading the article but, still exciting none the less. Let's get the quantum computer working first and then worry about the quantum robotics later.
DNA data storage: 100 million hours of HD video in every cup
I first read about using DNA as a storage device a few months back, DNA data storage: 100 million hours of HD video in every cup. This article amazed that the technology was already available to do this. A few months later I was reading about the Monsanto case in front of supreme court. These two things were swimming around in my head when the new policy concerning 6 strikes for downloading copyright protected content started to makes waves in the news.
I started wondering about a few of the legal ramifications of putting data on DNA. According to the most recent Monsanto cases companies can patent DNA. They have defended this protection vigorously at the expense of many farmers' livelihoods so as to dissuade other farmers from using their genetically modified seeds. Monsanto's tactics have also turned farmer against farmer as Monsanto uses its customers to spy on neighboring farmers in their pursuit of intellectual property protections.
Big Media has taken a similar tact in their pursuit of individuals who they feel have violated their copy rights. In many instances they have taken regular people to court for exorbitant amounts of money. Recently via there 6 strike agreements with broad band providers they have enlisted other companies to be their spies in the war against piracy.
Those two things led me to do some thought experiments on how legal protections for DNA storage could play out. Firstly if you take Monsanto as the example modified DNA is covered under patent protection. Secondly if that data happens to be music or a movie it is also covered under copyright protection. Could the combination of these two forms of protection give individuals more than enough legal support to cancel each other out? ie. What if mega uploads was using DNA based servers. If they stored a movie on their DNA a media company could claim copyright infringement. But megauploads could also claim patent protection for the DNA it created….
I am sure there are some legal beagles out there who could add some support to such an argument. But it will be interesting to see how big business reacts. I think DNA patent protection may have just met the straw that breaks the camel's back.
Cool Lego Machines
I am always amazed by the creativity of people. Someone was able to make a lego machine that consumes paper, makes a paper airplane and then launches said airplane.
Some of my other favorites are the Lego CNC controlled lathe.
I also love this one that recreates one of the original computers the Antikythera Mechanism.
And of course you can't forget this Lego CNC pancake machine….YUM
What are your favorite lego machines?
Happy PI Day
This in my favorite day of the year. It is almost as good and Natural Log Day.
Also Happy Birthday Einstein!
Crowd Sourced Engineering part 2
I posted about crowd sourced engineering last week and have had another thought on that topic. Last week's post focused on projects where the team was made up of individuals from the crowd. However there is a different kind of crowd sourced engineering model that has been around for a while, the competition, where the crowd is made up of teams.
I think one of my favorite engineering competitions was the Netflix user recommendation system optimization competition. It was supposed to leverage the ideas of thousands of scientists to increase the user experience of its customers. It's my favorite because it made a lot of sense to me at the time and should have been easy to implement. Unfortunately, the Forbes article above talks about how incorrect that perception was in so much as NetFlix never implemented the winning solution. I still have an optimistic expectation that NetFlix still earned enough value from the competition to make the expense of it worth it.
My next favorite competition family are the X prizes; Ansari X Prize, Archon X Prize, Automotive X Prize, Google Lunar X Prize, Tricorder X PRIZE. These prizes have definitely forced people to imagine new things and challenge the limit of current thinking. However, if you look at just the Ansari X Prize you see that the first and last commercial human space flight took place in Sept 2004. Outside of Dennis Tito via the Russians there have been zero commercial space flights in almost a decade. Based on this single experience you can easily argue that competitions can only serve to improve an industry and not one single team. Need to see if future X-Prize competitions bear more fruit.
I have found many other examples of professional and government level competitions that follow the same lifecycle; team competes, team wins, winner tries to commercialize success and ……. crickets while the industry grows.
One bright spot is the spinoff type businesses that leverage some of the advancements developed to achieve the full competitions goal. High school and collegiate level competitions appear to do this quite a bit. One good example is the number of businesses that have been created in and around the student robotics competition known as FIRST. FIRST robotics teams across the country have created over 50 businesses ranging from machine shops to circuit board suppliers to prosthetic limb companies. One such business sprung from team 357 out of Upper Darby Pennsylvania who started fabrication business for specialty robotics parts.
All in all I think this form of crowd sourced engineering will be more productive at both completing the goal and creating business when compared to the ones I discussed last week. I will be watching to see if my predictions are correct.
How long till Black Hole Weapons are real?
When I was reading this article on black hole research being done at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) all I could think of was how long they the weaponize this.
If you think this is a preposterous idea just look at all of the video games and movies that have identified black hole generators as weapons like Quake, Master's of Orion, Mega Man and latest Star Trek Movie just to name a few. We have all seen many examples of where Sci-Fi ideas eventually become reality. So when I started doing a little digging I found that someone is working on creating micro black hole generators.
"Chinese scientists have stunned the world of boffinry by fashioning an artificial "black hole" generator out of copper-coated circuit boards.
Disappointingly this is not a black hole in the normal sense of a universe-wrackingly dense lump of hypercompressed matter, exerting a gravitational pull so fearsome that not even light itself can escape – hence the blackness – of the sort which, some say, might be created by means of certain exotic experiments and then gobble up the entire Earth (and/or Moon and Sun) in a terrifying yet unambiguously newsworthy apocalypse incident."
I also found somebody working on black hole powered propulsion systems.
It is cool to know that black holes can be used for good…But will they be used to kill first?
Also here is a video from the game quake that shows one way a hand held weapon might work. About 18 second in. http://www.twitch.tv/blackhawk88/b/278753713
Could This Robot Save Your Job? Probably Not.
I really like the Roomba. It is the first real robot that started to be accepted as part of daily life. The folks behind the Roomba are trying to make a similar stride forward in the workplace with their next creation, Baxter. Baxter is a semi fixed robot that can be easily compared to legacy production robots with one key difference. In addition to being able to be programmed in a more traditional computer language it can also be programmed by recording actions. This would be most comparable to the two ways you can create a macro in excel; you can write a macro or you can record your button clicks and have excel write the code for you. Baxter autorecorded programming is the feature that they are touting as the game changer.
In some ways I can see how this will make the human to robot interface more open to people who are not coders or roboticists. The price point also makes this type of automation more accessible to a wider array companies. But this is still a fixed robot that will be doing a single task somewhere in a company's value stream. I understand that it can be more easily repurposed than other more traditional assembly robots but, if a company was looking at an employee or a robot I am not sure that Baxter changes the current business case assumptions.
In the end I think this is the next step forward for an industry that by its very nature is shifting jobs away from low skilled to high skilled and along the way reducing the total number of people needed to accomplish any given task.
Crowd Sourced Engineering
Over the past 4 or 5 years I have watched the growth of crowd sourced design. I have seen protein folding projects claim success by harnessing the crowd. I have also seen SETI grow their search for life from harnessing thousands of computers to now also harnessing their owners. I have not personally taken part in any projects, so I went looking on the web to see any engineering design projects had used crowd sourcing and how the community perceives their success. I was able to find articles on completed software and bio engineering projects but non on any completed design projects. However I also found a lot of engineering crowd source projects still running; NASA crowd source project, DARPA crowd source project, Open Source Rocket and a few others. All of these projects made me a little excited and a little scared.
As a designer in the aerospace industry I am all too aware of the amount of control, checks and rechecks that go into the design and fabrication of aerospace products. The design of simple angles may be controlled by over 20 spec documents and need to be reviewed by 15 subject matter experts before it can even go out for bid to a supplier. Once the supplier fabricates the part easily over 30 sped documents were referenced and several levels of quality check will have been performed. Lastly, the parts are continually inspected as they are received and added to the assembly or product. And even with all of those reviews 25% of a program's budget usually goes to rework. So this experience begs me to ask a few questions:
- How much accountability can be built into crowd sourced engineering?
- How much efficiency is lost in crowd sourcing your engineering?
- What specs, processes and controls will need to be created to make these projects viable?
- What data formats and change management systems are used to ensure that downstream stake holders of the engineering output can plan their tasks?
- How is functional commonality achieved? ie. how do you know all of the parts are being stress analyzed the same way?
I see some solutions for these questions but it will take a leader and a hierarchy to implement on the project. Is that a viable for crowd sourced projects? Only the future will tell I guess.
I am going to try a few of these and let you know how they turn out.


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After a long, intense night of driving taxi many years ago, I forgot what and where I was, and so there was nothing to hide the enlightenment of that which is one.
In the enlightenment of that which is one there is nothing but bright white light, and everything ´happens´ so fast, that there is no time to think and hold onto concepts of eternity, love, stillness and whatnot.
When I later read The New Testament and Bhagavad Gita, there were passages, that triggered memories of the enlightenment of that which is one. The memories are vague, though because Alexius did not experience it. The enlightenment of that which is one is formless so nothing definable can enter it. Yet there are vague memories of something indefinable, and so Alexius is to be compared to the enlightenment of that which is one.
»I have become the destroyer of worlds«
The enlightenment of that which is one is enlightenment in a very literal sense, like when Jesus said: When your eyes become single your whole body will be full of light – or like St. Paul, when he was blinded by light – or like Arjuna according to Bhagavad Gita said after having been initiated by Krishna: »It is brighter than thousands of suns. I have become the destroyer of worlds …«
A dream can be compared to a simulated world meanwhile layered on top that which is real. As long as you believe the simulated world to be real, it will seem to cover that which is real, as if it does not exist.
I would not put it like that myself, because there is nobody in the enlightenment of that which is one, so there is not a body to be full of light, neither a world to destroy. The world is just not there, and there is no memory of it ever having been there. It is like a dream that is no more when you wake up in the morning.
The translations of both The New Testament and Bhagavad Gita differs from translator to translator, and as the above quotes are from memory, they may not be the exact words in your addition. But it does not really matter, because regardless of how you speak about it, the enlightenment of that which is one cannot be described. In other words, what is said about it in Alexius´ Enlightened Non-Teachings should not be taken as the real thing, but pointers towards it.
Imagine you want to describe an orange to somebody who has never seen or tasted an orange. Maybe you say it has the colour of an orange sunset, is round like a ball and taste as sweetened water. Yet the person, that you have given this description, will never find out what an orange is by drinking sweet water from a rounded cup at sunset.
You have to see and taste it yourself to know what it is – and in terms of the enlightenment of that which is one, you will never know, because a person cannot be enlightened. You as a person is gone in the enlightenment of that which is one. There is nobody there to experience it – that is why it cannot be known.
No god to see in the world and nothing to find
Some think the enlightenment of that which is one is to see god in everyone. This is delusional, there is no god in the world. In the context of god and the world, just think of electricity lightening up a room via a bulb. You see the room due to the power of electricity. Yet you cannot see electricity itself, because it is not in the room illuminated by the bulb. But there is no god either in the enlightenment of that which is one, except if you use the word in its original meaning, namely one perpetual present.
If you return to the world after the enlightenment of that which is one, there is no more need to search for the meaning of life, because you know there is no more than that which is one and so there is no life a world, where it seems to be more than one. Besides to search for something requires more than one, so whatever you think you find is not real.
The freedom to be a person
One who is to be compared to the enlightenment of that which is one has no need to be forgiven or loved, because there is no ´I´ deciding what to do and therefore nobody to forgive or love. But when there is no ´I´ to protect and preserve, there is the freedom to pretend to be anyone, so in the context of a game like Monopoly, you may appear to be a red car one day and a blue one another day.
To make long short: There is no need to keep together an appearance of someone with coherent opinions and behaviour. You are free to use the ´I´ as the personality, you fancy. It is merely a tool you use like your leg, hand eyes, and so on.
Some personalities I have pretended to be for a while: Child, Teenager, Taxi driver, Monk, Husband, Daddy, Adult, Business Man, Millionaire, DJ, Designer, Teacher, Photographer and recently: Non-teacher.
Enlightenment is not of a world where there seems to be more than one
Regarding the enlightenment of that which is one, it is best to forget everything you have ever heard or read about it – including what is said in Alexius´ Enlightened Non-Teachings. Any idea of any form that you might think it has is wrong. It has no shape, it is formless. Yet, if you look for something formless, you still look for something. But if you do not believe to be someone definitive – or do not care about it – there is not something definable to hide it.
Please note that I am in no way postulating the above statements are the perfect way to put it – there is no such thing as perfection in a world where there seems to be more than one – so if you look for inconsistencies, misspelling or whatever, you may find it, but if you look for pointers to the enlightenment of that which is one, you may also find that.
Kind regards
NOTE: Alexius´ Enlightened Non-Teachings talks about two kinds of enlightenment, namely the enlightenment of that which is one, which cannot be experienced, as that requires more than one, and glimpses of it, which is experienced through the inner senses when the outer ones are partly closed.
How come I write Alexius´ Enlightened Non-Teachings? Dunno. Maybe it is like nature, that keeps on spreading its seeds, whether they sprout or not, because the purpose is to freely give away everything received, as in doing so everything is received. What more can I ask!
This article is part of hack #6-7.1 From the inner senses through a black hole into that which is one.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festival 2016
Event Information
When: Saturday March 26, 2016
Where: Qualcomm Stadium @ Chargers Practice Field
About Event
Going on its 6th year, the Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festival was an all-inclusive celebration of local craft beer, delicious food, and artisanal spirits. The event was organized by PushPins Media, with proceeds going to benefit It's All About the Kids Foundation:
It's All About the Kids Foundation is a non-profit organization that creates new and innovative programs to benefit children's charities and enhance the lives of less fortunate children and their families. Partying for a Purpose produces special events and fundraisers for the It's All About the Kids Foundation. It's All About the Kids Foundation and Partying for a Purpose are committed to the advancement of children through the joining of music, the arts and the generosity of corporations and individuals.
You can learn more about MVCBF at the official event website: http://www.mvcbf.com
More Pictures from MVCBF
Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festival Recap
San Diego Beertalk Radio has mentioned the Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festival several times on their show. As they have touched upon, and what we agree with 100% after attending, was that MVCBF offered clear-cut advantages not found at any other craft beer event. How many other festivals offer free all you can eat food inside, along with the ability to taste artisanal spirits? That's right, the answer is none.
We have had no complaints from food trucks at beer festivals in the past, but choices can be limiting with mile long lines. We quickly found ourselves treating the food service at this event just like the craft breweries, in the sense there were flavorful bites to sample every 2-3 tents as well.
Unfortunately we missed out on a few food items, and wished we had jumped on tasty offerings like Slater's 50/50, DoggosGus, and Korean tacos from Tempo Urban Kitchen right at the beginning of the day. Our loss for not grabbing them sooner, but Waypoint Public's IPA Cheddar brats, Crazee Burger, and Cork and Craft's PB & J Pork Belly easily fixed that mistake.
Liberty Call must distill some fantastic whiskey, because they were out of bottles before we could even complete one lap. Mike was looking forward to trying it, but Kill Devil and Henebery Rye were both solid in its absence. In the handcrafted spirits department, our best discovery of the day was Malahat Spirits Co. Their Ginger Rum quickly became Sara's new favorite hard liquor in one taster.
With the inclusion of food, obviously the ticket comes with a great value. But what else made this event such a success was not being oversold. There was plenty of room, and if the multitude of picnic tables provided were all taken up, you could easily sit on the grass. Other convenient features were free parking, along with a complimentary water station, and plenty of bathrooms.
Having finally experienced the Mission Valley Craft Beer & Food Festival, it will be a no-brainer to add to our craft beer event calendar going forward.
Our Favorite Beers of MVCBF
Our goal for the day was simple. We were looking to sample as many new craft beers from smaller-scale or "young" local San Diego breweries as possible. These were our favorite beers at the event:
- Mo Dorado: 4/5
A West Coast Style IPA from Abnormal Beer Co that was so good it demanded several refills over the course of the day. Nice and dry, with a quick hit of malt sweetness, and of course plenty of citrus, melon, and tropical fruits to go around. Six hops were used to brew this beer (see gallery for list).
- Golden Child: 4/5
Bitter Brothers Brewing Co opened in January to rave reviews, and after trying this beer, we can easily see why. Golden Child was probably the best Hefeweizen either of us have ever drank. Not overly wheaty, and it tasted like a perfectly ripe banana seasoned with freshly ground cloves.
- Bay Bridge Horchata: 4/5
We are not usually big fans of real life food and/or drinks re-created as beer, but Bay Bridge Brewing nailed this one. Cinnamon on the nose to start, with more spice on the palate, along with the creaminess of horchata. There was just enough wheat in finish to let you know it was still a beer.
- San Diego Pale Ale: 4/5
Nowadays there are classic (mellow) pale ales, and the new school hopped up iterations that might as well be an IPA. Bay City Brewing Co's APA clearly fell into the latter category, with juicy hops delivered through a light body, with a crisp and clean finish.
- Ingsoc Stout: 4/5
Burning Beard Brewing Company is one of the newest breweries on the scene out of El Cajon. Their Hopmata IPA was good, but this imperial stout was something else. It was lighter consistency, but still delivered bold flavors of chocolate and dark roast coffee, with smokey undertones.


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Jeffrey Wright stars on one of TV's biggest shows with Westworld, but he's using that HBO platform to also give a voice to those who need it. In his documentary We Are Not Done yet (which Wright produced alongside David Holbrook), director Sareen Hairabedian chronicles the stories of ten U.S. veterans working to heal from their life-altering and traumatizing military experiences through art, poetry, and performance.
The hope of the film is to bring increased awareness to PTSD. "I don't want people to view me as 'Oh, there's that crazy vet,'" one veteran says in the documentary's new trailer. Wright plays an active role in the documentary's story, as the director of a live stage performance the veterans put on. As part of their recovery, the soldiers work to put into words not only their feelings about who they were on the battlefield, but who they are now that they are home.
The courage and vulnerability these men and women display is certainly inspiring, and We Are Not Done Yet looks to be an important investigation into how veterans must confront their difficult pasts in order to move forward and not be defined by them.
The documentary premieres Thursday, November 8th on HBO; check out the trailer and full synopsis below:
Here's the full official synopsis:
This documentary follows ten U.S. veterans and active-duty service members from varied backgrounds who come together at the USO Warrior and Family Center in Bethesda, Md. for a workshop led by poet Seema Reza and Community Building Art Works. Striving to combat their traumatic military pasts via the written word, they share fears, vulnerabilities and victories, using their writing as a tool for bonding, empowerment and healing, and engaging in a live performance of a collaborative poem at Washington, D.C.'s Lansburgh Theater under the direction of actor Jeffrey Wright. Directed by Sareen Hairabedian.


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I'm not a huge fan of Glenn Beck, but I really appreciated this discussion about the Common Core. The Common Core will dictate what every student in the United States should know at the end of each grade from Kindergarten through 12th grade. In this YouTube segment, it is implied that Bill Gates (Microsoft), Yahoo, and Google are dumping millions of dollars into funding for the Common Core Initiative so that students will be educated in the ways of working for Microsoft, Yahoo, Google and the like.
Students, under the direction of teachers who have been taught everything they need to know to prepare students for work in technology related fields, will be funneled into huge corporations as employees that push power to the higher ranks. This will ensure that competition in the form of new upstarts will cease, and these already powerful corporations will become more powerful, and are guaranteed that power for years to come.
This scares the hell out of me. Topics like this have been written about by authors for centuries, and the books they produce have been labeled as dystopian fiction. This isn't fictional, this is real. Welcome to the United Corporations of America.
Further reading: Common Core Initiative Page, Wikipedia Common Core Page
The following are the nominees for the 2014 Academy Awards (the ones I care about) announced by Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, on Thursday. For some strange reason, she was joined by "Hunger Games" actor Chris Hemsworth. Weird. I wonder who he had to screw to get that spot... Anyway, The Academy Awards will air live on ABC on March 2, starting at 7 p.m. ET. Share your picks in the comments.
CNN Coverage | Official Oscar Site
Mark Twain said it beautifully, "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure. " Oh, so true!
I went to WalMart tonight to pick up some tea and ice cream (wonderful combo, I know), and was astonished at the level of happiness I saw in individuals who are very clearly and hopelessly ignorant. Now, I don't mean rude or stupid, although some of them could be, but I mean that they have no connection to the realities of humanity and the way it works.
They seem to go along, very happily, as large, lazy, junk eaters who only gain amusement out of being confronted by the ways of the world and other people. I marveled at the lack of concern about what others must think of them, and stood in wonderment at the self checkout as a woman devoured a melted carton of Ben and Jerry's ice cream as she paid for her diabetic-coma-waiting-to-happen grocery bill with a food stamp card. She looked stress-free without a care in the world.
Meanwhile, I can't leave the house if I haven't showered and made myself presentable, even if it's just a trip to WalMart. I need to see a therapist twice a week to work on issues that stem as far back as my single digit childhood years. I am always stressed, and even have panic attacks. This leaves me thinking I've been living this life devastatingly wrong, and I am surely missing out on some secret. The secret of not giving a shit. If someone could clue me in to this awesome way of living, please do so in the comments. Thank you in advance!
Last night, I was watching documentaries on Netflix with my boyfriend Corey. One of them was called "Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream," which features clips of Ayn Rand speaking about her vision of Laissez Faire Capitalism. This brought me into research mode, wanting to find out a little more about the Ayn Rand Institute. I have loved Ayn Rand and "Atlas Shrugged" for years, but I never knew that ARI was a political powerhouse. On my quest, I came across an article George Saunders had written for the New Yorker called "I Was Ayn Rand's Lover."
I had known about Ayn Rand's affair with Nathaniel Branden from reading her many biographies, in particular "The Passion of Ayn Rand." It creeped me out quite a bit back then, but now to see that she prowled on more than one innocent young man left me with a sour taste. If you know Ayn Rand and her philosophy of Objectivism, you wouldn't be too surprised that Nathaniel Branden was a target on her radar. To hear Saunders recount his having essentially been "raped" by her was a little off-putting to say the least, but his developing jealousy over Ayn having set her eyes on a young Paul Ryan disturbed me. It wasn't his feelings of jealousy that disturbed me, rather her voracious appetite for bedding young men in late puberty is what was particularly disturbing.
So, we now know of three men in their late teens who were successfully pursued by Ayn Rand. There are probably plenty more, but my interest stops there. Seeing Paul Ryan run wild with Ayn's version of Laissez Faire Capitalism as it pertains to our present day economy was like being punched in the gut by Ayn Rand herself. All of her theories sound good as just that -- a theory, but when put into practice as Paul Ryan has done as a congressman, they are truly frightening. I don't know what plagues me more: the affairs with young boys, or being disillusioned by Paul Ryan's crazy plans for American prosperity.
To understand what I'm talking about, you'll have to do a little research. Most of it can be done by watching the "Park Avenue" documentary, reading "Atlas Shrugged," "The Passion of Ayn Rand" (also a film), and then reading George Saunder's New Yorker piece (which is very well-written, I might add). It amounts to a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, I'll bet, because that's what I'm feeling right now. It can all be summed up in one word: UGH!
Watch the entire "Park Avenue" documentary:
Barbara Branden (Nathaniel Branden's wife) on The Passion of Ayn Rand:
Angelo Merendino Documents His Wife's Fight with Cancer
My Wife's Fight With Breast Cancer
by Angelo Merendino
The first time I saw Jennifer I knew. I knew she was the one. I knew, just like my dad when he sang to his sisters in the winter of 1951 after meeting my mom for the first time, "I found her."
A month later Jen got a job in Manhattan and left Cleveland. I would go to the city – to see my brother, but really wanting to see Jen. At every visit my heart would scream at my brain, "tell her!!" but I couldn't work up the courage to tell Jen that I couldn't live without her. My heart finally prevailed and, like a schoolboy, I told Jen "I have a crush on you." To the relief of my pounding heart, Jen's beautiful eyes lit up and she said "Me too!"
Six months later I packed up my belongings and flew to New York with an engagement ring burning a hole in my pocket. That night, at our favorite Italian restaurant, I got down on my knee and asked Jen to marry me. Less than a year later we were married in Central Park, surrounded by our family and friends. Later that night, we danced our first dance as husband and wife, serenaded by my dad and his accordion – ♫ "I'm in the mood for love…"♫
Five months later Jen was diagnosed with breast cancer. I remember the exact moment…Jen's voice and the numb feeling that enveloped me. That feeling has never left. I'll also never forget how we looked into each other's eyes and held each other's hands. "We are together, we'll be ok."
With each challenge we grew closer. Words became less important. One night Jen had just been admitted to the hospital, her pain was out of control. She grabbed my arm, her eyes watering, "You have to look in my eyes, that's the only way I can handle this pain." We loved each other with every bit of our souls.
Jen taught me to love, to listen, to give and to believe in others and myself. I've never been as happy as I was during this time.
Throughout our battle we were fortunate to have a strong support group but we still struggled to get people to understand our day-to-day life and the difficulties we faced. Jen was in chronic pain from the side effects of nearly 4 years of treatment and medications. At 39 Jen began to use a walker and was exhausted from being constantly aware of every bump and bruise. Hospital stays of 10-plus days were not uncommon. Frequent doctor visits led to battles with insurance companies. Fear, anxiety and worries were constant.
Sadly, most people do not want to hear these realities and at certain points we felt our support fading away. Other cancer survivors share this loss. People assume that treatment makes you better, that things become OK, that life goes back to "normal." However, there is no normal in cancer-land. Cancer survivors have to define a new sense of normal, often daily. And how can others understand what we had to live with everyday?
My photographs show this daily life. They humanize the face of cancer, on the face of my wife. They show the challenge, difficulty, fear, sadness and loneliness that we faced, that Jennifer faced, as she battled this disease. Most important of all, they show our Love. These photographs do not define us, but they are us.
Cancer is in the news daily, and maybe, through these photographs, the next time a cancer patient is asked how he or she is doing, along with listening, the answer will be met with more knowledge, empathy, deeper understanding, sincere caring and heartfelt concern.
"Love every morsel of the people in your life." – Jennifer Merendino
Published on Mar 30, 2013
The thing Jen loved the most about my camera was when I would hold it at arm's length and make a photo of the two of us. This video is a collection of some of these photographs. Since Jen passed passed from breast cancer, in December of 2011, I have looked at these photographs a countless amount of times. I still struggle to believe that Jen is not here with me. A few years ago I was the drummer in a band called Jonka, a group started by husband and wife duo Jon and Annika. Of all the bands I played in this was Jen's favorite, she loved Jon's quirkiness and Annika's beautiful voice. Aside from the catchy 80's pop hooks and dance beats, Jonka's lyrics make me think. The song in this video, Ever After, could easily have been written for Jen and me and it has become my anthem over the last few months.
Bridegroom - The Movie: A Love Story. Unequaled. A Documentary by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
Shane and Tom had a love that I am envious of. Both come from small towns with closed minded townspeople, and both have a similar history of being closeted gay men before coming out and embracing their sexuality. When they found each other, they began a love story that ended in tragedy. Bridegroom - The Movie documents their adventures together, spreading love and a message of hope to all those who felt their sexuality was wrong. What happens in the end is truly unfair, but the way Shane handles the situation is inspiring. Everyone, not just gay people, should watch this movie.
From the Bridegroom movie website:
"BRIDEGROOM is a documentary directed by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason that tells the emotional journey of Shane and Tom, two young men in a loving and committed relationship — a relationship that was cut tragically short by a misstep off the side of a roof. The story of what happened after this accidental death– of how people without the legal protections of marriage can find themselves completely shut out and ostracized– is poignant, enraging and opens a window onto the issue of marriage equality like no speech or lecture ever will.
Alonzo Clemons was born with many gifts, but society only saw his shortcomings. Mr. Clemons was institutionalized and deemed "bad" or "evil" by people who didn't even know him. This video shows a gifted artist who admits he has to work much harder than most to live a simple life.
This video shows us that we must not herd all challenged individuals into an institution, thinking it's what's best for them. Alonzo is proof that anyone can live the American Dream if they are willing to work for it, and not everyone who needs help is "bad," "damaged," or "evil."
> See the artistic talent of Alonzo Clemons on his website. <
Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, "Curer of Gays"
Do you know what N.A.R.T.H. stands for? It stands for National Association for Research and Therapy for Homosexuality, also known as an organization that tries to cure gay people of their gayness.
When will people realize that being gay is something you're born with? The man in the picture, Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, is a medical doctor practicing in therapy for "ex-gay" patients. For the filming of the video to follow, they were unable to contact any of Dr. Nicolosi's patients who had been successfully "cured," but did speak with one man who was gay and proud.
To think the practice of "curing" homosexuality exists is frightening. On the dawn of gay marriage being legalized almost nation-wide, the archaic thinking required of heterosexuals to believe that homosexuality can be treated is congruent to thinking someone can be cured of their heterosexuality. Please take a look at the video below, and spread the word. This type of treatment should be put to a stop. The fact that it hasn't means there's a market for it, which means that there are lost homosexuals out there who have been taught to believe that they are wrong for feeling the way they do. That has got to be a painful existence.
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About Me
My name is Nicholas Emeigh, but everyone calls me Nick, and I prefer it. I'm usually called Nicholas when I'm in trouble. I'm from the Philadelphia area, work in business, and fancy myself as a freelance graphic designer, writer, and artist. I have a passion for art in all its forms including music, but I restrict my singing to the shower and the car for the good of society. If you'd like to know more, just send me an e-mail. I really appreciate you stopping by.
August 2014
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text: While Sony's third home console has seen transparent controllers before, this is the first time that they've also packed a rumble. Announced a day late for Halloween and headed to Japan only for now, the press release suggests that being able to see the inner workings makes it the first 'skeleton style' (translated from the Japanese) controller. The not-even-slighty-spooky DualShock 3 will go on limited sale December 19th priced at 5,500 yen (about $56). It's not cheap, but then limited edition gaming merch never have been.


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Range Marketing, LLC is an internet marketing company based in Buffalo, NY. Primary services include web design and SEO. The company provides all-inclusive internet marketing packages, software, and consulting services.
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The Federal EPA has released a long-awaited draft of its proposed changes to nation's UST regulations. It proposes a number of revisions to the technical requirements stipulated in 40 CFR 280, as well as a number of new regulations and changes to the types of sites that are currently deferred from regulation.
Robert Renkes of PEI provided an excellent summary in yesterday's Tulsa Letter. You can read a copy of that here on the PEI website.
Additionally, a copy of the proposed rule and documents summarizing and comparing the existing to proposed regulations can also be found here on the website of the EPA's Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST).
The EPA expects the proposed revisions to be printed in the Federal Register this week, which will be followed by 90 days for public comment.


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