Preference For Irrationality

When asked if he had any theories about why the error so enchanted people, Cailliau wrote “I don’t even have a hunch about the 404 fascination.  And frankly I don’t give a damn.  The sort of creativity that goes into 404 response pages is fairly useless.  The mythology is probably due to the irrationality, denial of evidence, and preference for the fairy tale over reality that is quite common in the human species …  These human traits were relatively innocent in the past, when individual influence was small and information spread slowly.  Today, and in no small way due to the existence of the net, these traits have gained a power that is dangerous.”  As examples, he cited the election of Donald Trump, the deterioration of the EU, meek political responses to gun violence, and the proliferation of euphemism (“climate change”).  Or the fascination could just be a dash of humanity, an appreciation that the internet is made by humans, and humans — especially on the internet — are often bored.
—  Robert Cailliau
Quoted by:  Anna Wiener
In her article: “Page Not Found: A Brief History Of The 404 ERROR“
Appearing in: Wired Magazine
Dated: December 2017
.
On This Day In:
2017	All At Once
2016	One Of My Vices
2015	The War Lord
2014	Orange October (II) – Giants Win NLDS Game 2 In 18 Innings (2 to 1)!!
	Acknowledging Doubt
2013	Fulfilled Acceptance
2012	Error Is Tolerated Here (So Far)
2011	In Defense Of Pain

Advertisements

Read Full Post »

Hoping For Tapes

I am not particularly concerned about President Trump taping former FBI Director Comey as we have a long history of Trump being a liar and Comey being a public servant with integrity.
What I am “mildly” shocked by is that nobody is saying the obvious: we need the tapes because they will be the “smoking gun” linking Trump to General Flynn and to the Russians.  Then we’ll find out if Priebus, Bannon and Pence knew about it (collusion with the Russians to affect the election) AND anybody else in the Trump family.
And I still want the President to release his tax returns…
.
On This Day In:
2016	On Viewing This Mudball
2015	It Takes A Village
2014	In God’s Eyes
2013	We Root For Ourselves
2012	Like A Shark
2011	Discernible Virtue

Read Full Post »

I Think They Are Starting To…

You can’t con people, at least not for long.  You can create excitement, you can do wonderful promotion and get all kinds of press, and you can throw in a little hyperbole.  But if you don’t deliver the goods, people will eventually catch on …
—  Donald Trump
From his book: “The Art Of The Deal“
.
On This Day In:
2016	Living There
2015	Bookin’ West
	Beyond My Reach
	You Never Call Anymore…
2014	Winning?
2013	Still Inventing
2012	Motivated
2011	Waiting In Line At Starbuck’s

Read Full Post »

He’s Making A List

Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind.
—  Decimus Junius Juvenalis  (in English: Juneval)
When people wrong you, go after those people, because it is a good feeling and because other people will see you doing it.  I always get even.
—  Donald J. Trump
Revenge is sweet and not fattening.
—  Donald J. Trump
.
On This Day In:
2016	Mere Specks
2015	Day To Day Success
2014	We Have Ignition!
2013	The Dreamer
2012	I Err Gladly
2011	Ill Executed
	And You?

Read Full Post »

Not Now, Not Ever

And that marks Democrats’ first job in this new era: We will stand up to bigotry.  There is no compromise here.  In all its forms, we will fight back against attacks on Latinos, African Americans, women, Muslims, immigrants, disabled Americans  —  on anyone.  Whether Donald Trump sits in a glass tower or sits in the White House, we will not give an inch on this, not now, not ever.
— Senator Elizabeth Warren
[Found at one of the blogs I’ve stumbled on:   http://friendnature.wordpress.com/
The original post is at:   http://friendnature.wordpress.com/2016/11/11/join-senator-elizabeth-warren-standing-up-to-bigotry/  —  KMAB]
.
On This Day In:
2016	Why Do You Write/Blog?
2015	Can Your Repeat The Question, Please?
2014	On Faith
2013	My Name Is Charles Stein
2012	Faiths And Sorcery
	Made And Kept Free
2011	Multi-Source Learning

Read Full Post »

Just Asking

Every tyrant who has lived has believed in freedom for himself.
—  Elbert Hubbard
Despite almost 50 years history of Presidential candidates releasing their tax returns, President-elect Trump now says he won’t release his tax returns while he is under audit.   He has never offered proof he is under audit and the IRS is not allowed to discuss / confirm if he is under audit.  They are not allowed to do so for any person without the person’s permission.  Trump could authorize the IRS to confirm the audit and state which years are being audited.  He refuses to even do this.  Why not?  What is he hiding?  I’m not in the press, but I want to know…
Trump said he would completely set aside his business interests because he was (now) more interested in becoming President and helping this country become great again.  At one of the Republican debates, Trump said running his business was “peanuts” compared to the Presidency.  Now, he will not do this (divest his business interests).  His attorney states that no one should expect him to destroy the business he has spent his whole life building just because he is President.  Why is selling off his assets “destroying the business” if they are worth billions which would then be placed in a blind trust?  Since he is such a great negotiator, would he not get a great price for them?  Are they not worth billions?
Trump is “ceding” control of his company to his sons, but he retains the right to fire them if they don’t do a great job.  Of course there are those nasty little things called gift taxes, so he can’t “give” the assets to his kids without the assets being valued and taxed.  And we all know it’s “stupid” to pay taxes.  The key to a blind trust is that you don’t know what’s going on.  How is it “blind” if you must know what they’re doing in order to judge if they are doing a great job?
Trump is refusing to sell off assets which might lead to a conflict of interest.  Instead he proposes to “gift” to the U.S. Treasury any profits received from foreign governments for the use of his assets.  Of course, he hasn’t said how his company intends to determine “profit” or how it will be independently verified.  Since he is a pathological liar, why should we trust him?
President Kennedy got his brother Robert appointed Attorney General of the United States.  Congress subsequently passed a law to prevent future nepotism in high offices.  Trump wants to appoint his son-in-law as a senior counselor to the President.  If you want to talk to a family member and get his advice, why does the U.S. taxpayer have to pay for it?
Questions big and small…  Just asking?
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
―  President Abraham Lincoln
.
On This Day In:
2016	Still A Burden
	15 And Counting
2015	All A Game
2014	Two Thoughts
2013	RIP – Dear Abby
	Half-Life Problems
2012	To The Soul…
2011	Reverted!!

Read Full Post »

Are You Looking Forward To A Trump Presidency?

We learn from experience that men never learn anything from experience.
―  George Bernard Shaw
.
On This Day In:
2016	Three Errors From Eureka
2015	Limiting Choices
2014	Praise The Lord And Pass The Hypocrisy
	That Sound
2013	Still Waiting For Answers
2012	Informal Leadership
2011	A Little More Progress
2010	Bec’s Gone Again…

Read Full Post »