tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2710022019404268562024-03-08T03:53:09.761-08:00thinktankThis is an idea blog. The intention was to kick-start discussions about ideas, but it has turned into my catch-all blog. I cannot take responsibility for any posts or comments other than my own, nor for where the links take you. If you are offended by what I say, you can let me know. Otherwise you are on your own. Not intended for children or the thin-skinned. Tell it like it is...Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-28954768100849865482019-10-27T19:11:00.000-07:002019-10-27T19:11:39.530-07:00Help NOT WantedIf you don't know me, I am a semi-retired college professor and digital graphics professional who was disabled by a stroke in my 40's, despite good health and no history. but this story is not really about me; it is universal.<br />
<br />
I was motivated to finish this, although working on it for a while, by a twitter comment I saw a few days ago: "No filter, say what you feel". It made sense in context.<br />
<br />
<br />
I've always tried to "say what I mean and mean what I say". No white lies or backing away from the truth..."What a tangled web we weave etc. etc. My ingrained sense of humor often warps this in ways other people may find offensive at times. But I say it with a smile, and if it sounds offensive to them, they should call me out on it, which they often do. If not it remains their problem, not mine. I have often called people out on things I find offensive, and if a joke, point out that it is not funny.<br />
<br />
One consequence of stroke is the effect on executive function, meaning
decision-making, working memory, difficulty with transitioning between
tasks, organization, control of impulses and emotional responses. There
are more. See below. As my filter is now damaged, my innate "damn-the-torpedos" nature takes over.<br />
<br />
Okay, let me get to the point here... <br />
<br />
I have some trouble walking because of the stroke. Living where I do, I am extra careful when weather creates obstacles. However I consider it good for me, holistically, to get out of my climate-controlled building every day. Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-896980813727410202019-02-04T10:44:00.001-08:002019-02-04T10:44:08.763-08:00Gov. Nothram steps in shoe polish<br />
I graduated college in 1979, and even by then it was clear that wearing blackface or Klan garb was NOT funny, but offensive, and not just in the north. Although many have raised the point, with which I generally agree, that one should not be held to the standards of today for past bad behavior. If so, no one would run for office -- we all have skeletons. And it is politics, where mud-slinging is an honored tradition.<br />
<br />
But this is a rare case, in which the actions of a young man should make us wary of his judgement later in life. There seems to be no doubt as to him doing this. And no one called him out on it because, oh, we were all drunk, young, and clueless.<br />
<br />
But by then, there was enough obvious controversy that it's hard to believe a smart med school student would be unaware enough to do it twice.<br />
<br />
The sixties and seventies turned everything upside down. Despite that, there were many cases of poor judgement on the issue of race:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-37781800" target="_blank">Joni Mitchell, of all people, went to a party in blackface in 1974</a>. And she was not widely criticized, despite that her next album cover featured a photo of her in this same costume.<br />
<br />
But there were many who realized the insult of blackface, including this 1977 decision by U.S. Postal Service, surprising to us New Yorkers as the complaints were in "several southeastern states":<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2KcSHtYu3h4/XFiDNt_h5JI/AAAAAAAAAO4/jnA9PZRym_Yumq-Yjab3uFMMtszEVVa_gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-02-04%2Bat%2B1.19.00%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2KcSHtYu3h4/XFiDNt_h5JI/AAAAAAAAAO4/jnA9PZRym_Yumq-Yjab3uFMMtszEVVa_gCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-02-04%2Bat%2B1.19.00%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/10/22/75113017.html?pageNumber=38" target="_blank">"Controversial Poster removed by Postal Service"</a><br />
<br />
If you need a subscription to read this article, here's the guts of it:<br />
<br />
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="188" data-total-count="188">
The
poster, a generous 30 by 40 inches, depicted Al Jolson with arms
outstretched, made up in blackface. His darkened face was upturned to
the samera. “You ain't heard nothin’ yet.”</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="357" data-total-count="545">
Designed
to promote a new United States Postal Service stamp commemorating the
50th anniversary of the popularization of talking pictures, it was sent
to 5,000 major post offices (eight in New York City), most of which hung
it for about a week until complaints from the public and postal workers
persuaded postal officials in Washington to order it removed.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="399" data-total-count="944">
The
idea, according to a chagrined postal service official, had been to use
scenes from “The Jazz Singer,” the celebrated Jolson film, to promote a
commemorative issue honoring the 50th anniversary of talking pictures.
The stamp itself, 160 million of which were printed, shows a drawing of a
1927‐vintage motion‐picture projector and not the Jolson image,
officials were quick to point out.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="234" data-total-count="1178">
But
because of complaints to postmasters from citizens and postal workers
“in several southeastern cities” that the poster was insulting to black
people—the service declined to say how many complaints—the poster was
withdrawn.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="234" data-total-count="1178">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="207" data-total-count="1385">
“It
wasn't the kind of thing you try to defend or argue with,” said the
official, Ronald McDowell, manager of stamp development. “We found that
we had offended people and we responded just that way.”</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="207" data-total-count="1385">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="207" data-total-count="1385">
Now this was probably not on the radar of a college junior, but we did have a showing of "Reefer Madness" in my dorm, in which marijuana was shown as the fuel for black musicians playing honkytonk piano. I knew this was racist, but not an unusual depiction at that time, about which I was uncomfortable (as a weed-smoker probably). I knew few black people then, although the ones I did were fairly accomplished. But I knew even as a child that there was something bad about the depiction of Spanky in "Our Gang", on the rare occasions when I watched it. Being raised as a JFK Catholic may have had something to do with my discomfort.</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="207" data-total-count="1385">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="207" data-total-count="1385">
My point is that the skill of Judgement is learned, not given, and if you don't learn it by Med School, you are unlikely to improve. As with Sexual Harassment, that argument of "but that was years ago" just does not wash anymore. That goes for Republicans AND Democrats. How much has #45's judgement changed since his pussy-grabbing days?</div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="207" data-total-count="1385">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="207" data-total-count="1385">
Gov. Nothram should resign honorably, be thanked for his service, and study black history.</div>
<br />
He can start <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/history-of-blackface-unmasking-the-racism-reignited-by-megyn-kelly-controversy/" target="_blank">here</a>:<br />
A very good report on the history of blackface (make sure you watch the video)<br />
<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/history-of-blackface-unmasking-the-racism-reignited-by-megyn-kelly-controversy/" target="_blank">https://www.cbsnews.com/news/history-of-blackface-unmasking-the-racism-reignited-by-megyn-kelly-controversy/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://hyperallergic.com/476097/prada-accused-of-blackface-pulls-controversial-animal-charms-from-retailers/" target="_blank">and then to bring him up to date:</a><br />
https://hyperallergic.com/476097/prada-accused-of-blackface-pulls-controversial-animal-charms-from-retailers/ <br />
<br />
Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-23638790313718870922018-11-11T22:20:00.000-08:002018-11-11T22:20:57.092-08:00wtf i'm slow. I forget the granular nature of this environment like someBruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-11144916158704882992018-11-11T22:11:00.002-08:002018-11-11T22:11:52.349-08:00kids we were, Wish I could weave stories ;ike <a href="https://www.blogger.com/rollins%20%20https://www.blogger.com/blog-this.g?n=Henry+Rollins:+Keep+Talking,+Pal+%7C+Teaser+%7C+SHOWTIME+Comedy&source=youtube&b=%3Ciframe+width=%22480%22+height=%22270%22+src=%22https://www.youtube.com/embed/lzSY6aHd4XU%22+frameborder=%220%22+allow=%22accelerometer;+autoplay;+encrypted-media;+gyroscope;+picture-in-picture%22+allowfullscreen%3E%3C/iframe%3E&eurl=https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lzSY6aHd4XU/maxresdefault.jpg" target="_blank">Henry Rollins</a>Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-59068707479698469142018-11-11T22:01:00.001-08:002018-11-11T22:01:38.519-08:00I did not know bloggr was an actual thing. I thought it was just a meme, I guess,Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-91828534295912625852018-06-07T16:57:00.001-07:002018-06-07T16:57:59.400-07:00Travesty of TreasureToday's topic is one more step in the seemingly relentless erosion of the rights of the public as a group, not just individually.<br />
<br />
The artworks in the Art Museum of my youth are being auctioned to provide dollars for a proposed expansion, as well as to cover a supposed operating expenses shortfall, neither of which were the intentions of e donors. <a href="https://artberkshires.org/" target="_blank">This move has been opposed strongly by members of the community and of the art world. </a> <br />
<br />
below is my letter to the local newspaper, the Berkshire Eagle:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">To the Editor of the
Berkshire Eagle:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I was saddened and then
appalled when I first heard about the sale of the 40 works of art from the
Berkshire Museum.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">I was raised in Pittsfield,
and still think of Museums as places of worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One important gift upon moving to New York
City in my twenties (to pursue a career in art and design) was the number and
variety of museums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have visited many
if not most of the art museums, which the time spent at my hometown museum
taught me to value.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">But no matter the type of
museum, the elimination of assets without the participation of museum members
and ignoring the interests of the community is a travesty and shows disdain for
the idea of the public trust, a concept being chipped away at an increasing
rate recently. Many of these artworks were gifted with the expectation, for some
contractual, that they would be viewable by the County community.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The so-called "compromise"
by the Attorney General of sending some works for display in a city 300 miles
away and to which Berkshire County residents are offered free admission is no
compromise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Living less than a mile from
Sotheby's, I will stand proudly in front at the next sale, as a Berkshire County
native, protesting the insult and sellout of the community by the Museum board.
Massachusetts should take the word "common" out of Commonwealth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">More letters:</span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/letter-museums-open-letterraises-more-questions,541409" target="_blank">June 5, 2018</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/shuffletons-barbershop-to-be-sold-to-us-museum-will-be-shown-at-rockwell-museum,531708" target="_blank">Feb. 9, 2018:</a><i> Museum Board "transparency", in opinion of a museum and arts professional:</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/berkshire-museum-case-now-profoundly-accessible-yikes-martin-gammon/" target="_blank">June 1, 2018: unanswered questions</a> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://berkshiremuseum.org/newvision/the-road-ahead/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i>June , 2018: from Board of Museum</i></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Berkshire Eagle stories:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</style>Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-61057654868370484192018-05-09T22:54:00.000-07:002018-05-09T22:54:18.641-07:00crotch phone casesBruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-25138567234063688312018-05-09T22:39:00.002-07:002018-05-09T22:39:22.860-07:00outdoor podSo I like the feeling of indoors/outdoors in a space. Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-8736606101861529972018-05-09T22:35:00.003-07:002018-05-09T22:37:53.990-07:00list I meanSo what's with this?<br />
list of hoom? why?<br />
<br />
Such easy questions <br />
<a href="https://artberkshires.org/list/">https://artberkshires.org/list/</a>Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-29699999786752449362018-05-02T07:19:00.000-07:002018-05-06T21:38:06.431-07:00#FASCISMSIGNS<b>A running list of events notable as small steps toward fascism (UPDATED DAILYISH)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>5/2/18</b><br />
<br />
<b>1. White House Dr. Freak admits #45 wrote his own health review and his office raided for records (HIPA protected if he had ever signed form)</b><br />
<br />
<b>2. Mueller makes it clear he would subpoena #45, and <a href="https://twitter.com/krassenstein/status/991675173526032392" target="_blank">reaction no surprise</a></b><br />
<br />
<b> 3. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2018/05/02/scott-pruitt-epa-chief-morocco-trip-100000-lobbyist-marsh-nr.cnn" target="_blank">Pruitt trip to Morocco paid for by lobbyist involved in biz deal</a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>4. <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/991448021169852417" target="_blank">Pence honors Former Sheriff Apaio</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>5. <a href="https://twitter.com/MelMcIntire/status/991293831801950208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vox.com%2Fpolicy-and-politics%2F2018%2F5%2F1%2F17306624%2Fobamacare-individual-mandate-penalty-tom-price-premiums&tfw_site=voxdotcom" target="_blank">Former HHS admits that Obamacare repeal will raise healthcare prices</a> </b>Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-13545250512416731342018-04-04T13:02:00.000-07:002018-04-04T13:02:44.611-07:00time capsule<span style="font-size: large;">The Atlantic magazine posed this question in their March 1 edition:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What object would you put in a time capsule for the next century to represent our current moment?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="ApplePlainTextBody" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">An iPhone is the easy answer.<br />My variation, though, would have these additions, which I hope would not disqualify it:</span></div>
<div class="ApplePlainTextBody" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ApplePlainTextBody" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It would be an iPhone with a screen protector on which is printed a choice @theRealDonaldTrump tweet.</span></div>
<div class="ApplePlainTextBody" style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="ApplePlainTextBody" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The iPhone would be glued to the center of an LP — I think <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Grateful-Explicit-DJ-Khaled/dp/B072M8H8B1/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522871030&sr=8-1&keywords=Grateful+(DJ+Khaled+album)">Dj Khaled’s “Grateful” from 2017</a> would be good. The whole would ideally be packaged in an recent edition of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">Washington Post. </span></i></div>
<br />
<h1 class="firstHeading" id="firstHeading" lang="en">
<br /></h1>
Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-24243095392198535182018-02-10T23:34:00.002-08:002018-02-16T21:25:29.486-08:00figure skater guy at olympics korea no skates? wtf?<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Mount olympus today</b></span><br />
<br />
So you stand up, the two of you, drunk or tipsy, and he looks down.<br />
actally he would look down only a couple times, not him. lookig out, like watching the hawks. <br />
<br />
It's the palisades, you are at the edge of a cliff. literally. the husband facing outward, wife in. life insurace scam, etc.?<br />
<br />
just like camera roped to rock, actress not. Like pic in lobby. 3D reconstruction of scene.<br />
<br />
same
crime could now be re-examined in detail as its 1984. cameras
everyewhere, watching every move. there is no privacy. ready player
one?<br />
<br />
were almost there. but it's more like the truman show. timeline used as a verb...they timelined it carefully:<br />
granularity of time on stun. they timed the intervals between camera scans, could erase themselves from all.<br />
think of the usefullness of that. what if she were the codewriter who could do this?<br />
<br />
So I know Korea can be cold, right, and it snows?<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span><br />
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<br /><br />
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<br />Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-77318542563289139242017-08-12T21:10:00.001-07:002017-08-12T21:10:18.464-07:00It all starts next door (or accross the street).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Like many of my generation, I grew up in a fading industrial city in the Northeastern U.S. This one's saving graces were being surrounded by the natural beauty of New England hills, and its proximity to New York City, making the area a prime spot for the country houses of the Robber Barons.<br />
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Jarvis Rockwell Exhibit<br />
http://www.nrm.org/2009/11/jarvis-rockwell-maya-illusion-and-us/<br />
random: <br />
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<a href="https://www.eff.org/" target="_blank">ELECTRONIC FREEDOM FOUNDATION</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.eff.org/" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.eff.org/" target="_blank">JOHN PERRY LYRICS GRATEFUL DEAD</a><br />
<a href="http://www.dead.net/features/days-between/losing-jerry" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.dead.net/features/days-between/losing-jerry" target="_blank">HA</a>Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-22142827204135685442017-03-05T09:01:00.001-08:002017-03-07T09:26:55.112-08:00Trumpians beware<b>Trumpians beware</b><br />
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Feds bust Long Island man who told ISIS he would 'die for Allah' days after he got caught turnstile jumping.<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/long-island-man-accused-join-isis-syria-article-1.2988684" target="_blank">http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/long-island-man-accused-join-isis-syria-article-1.2988684</a></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"> This is not disturbing, it is pathetic. "turnstyle jumping", <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/long-island-man-accused-join-isis-syria-article-1.2988684" target="_blank">whaaat?</a></span></span></h1>
<span data-offset-key="bi0rt-0-0"><span data-text="true">Does 45 know that 1/15th of 1% (300) of the immigrants to the U.S. from the dreaded 7 countries have gone on to commit crimes here?</span></span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="7i8fj-0-0"><span data-text="true">Yes, sick -- not physically, I'm in top shape for an old crippled guy :-)</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2c7q3-0-0"><span data-text="true">But sick of the narrative of 45 (what Lawrence Fushburne calls him because he won't say his name, so I've adopted it as a sign of outrage). Sick of the garbage in / garbage out rhetoric: Briefs by Fox News, then confusing statements using Twitter. Travel Ban, Republicare, supply-side economics, the list goes on... but starts and ends with cluelessness. All of us, and I mean worldwide, are left confused and worried.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="e25t1-0-0"><span data-text="true">Start with something he claims to know something about...money.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="boahl-0-0"><span data-text="true">Is he unaware that the value of U.S. currency is tied to trade?</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="boahl-0-0"><span data-text="true">He can start by reading <a href="https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-the-gold-standard-3306137" target="_blank">this</a>. It's at about the level of the Intro Macro-economics class I took as a freshman in college. He claims to have gone to college, or maybe that is an "alternate fact". He should be really, really careful about changing trade policies. The chair of the Federal Reserve could explain it to him, but she's not pussy-grabbing material :-(</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8q1s7-0-0"><span data-text="true">I am reminded, in a very scary way, of 9/11, in that no matter how horrifying and tragic, I just can't stop watching. I'm not good with marching, but I am good at standing, sitting, teaching, and short filmmaking. Currently I am teaching an ESL class so that immigrants can support themselves by taking all those high-paying American jobs like cleaning my building and caring for our children and dying elderly people. I am ashamed of our government, and of the people -- racist, zenophobic (look it up, unschooled people who don't know the word), vindictive, ignorant, and pessimistic supporters. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/isis-killed-rate-sustain-general-article-1.2985093" target="_blank">ISIS LOSING "WAR"?</a><br />
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Jones said the number of foreign fighters traveling to join IS had
dropped by between 75 and 90 percent, both due to it being harder to get
in and out of Iraq and Syria and because the reality of doing so had
been exposed as unappealing. What did they expect, Disneyworld? Nothing like youthful excitement followed by a distaste for actual work and disappointment in a cause.<br />
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Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-91016720722761009792016-05-30T22:24:00.000-07:002016-05-30T22:26:05.015-07:00A lasting effect of war<div data-contents="true">
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<span data-offset-key="fk6cs-0-0"><span data-text="true">I am of course past the deadline for Memorial Day Memorials, but this is honestly the first time I ever considered the meaning beyond BBQs and beer -- and maybe traffic. And being a peacenik hippie may have been a part of it as well, of course.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="co76u-0-0"><span data-text="true">No one in my immediate family or among our friends was killed in any war or conflict, or whatever we are calling them now.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2m8en-0-0"><span data-text="true">I live across the street from a wonderful place called "Constitution Park". I have shared many photos of it in the past, mostly because it was once the home of multiple movie studios in the silent film era. It also has multiple memorials to those who had served to protect our citizens, including firemen and policemen as well as the military. It has a prominent sculpture made from a large steel beam of the World Trade Center. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2m8en-0-0"><span data-text="true">But this year before the BBQ and beer, I made sure to walk across the street and visit the monument to those who lost their lives in World War II, and place a single flower on it. My wife later said it is supposed to be a poppy, but all I had was a tulip. Here's why:</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2m8en-0-0"><span data-text="true">In March my father Ralph Gionet died at 89 after living a full and happy life. He was young when the U.S. joined the war, but knew he was needed and expected to serve. As it turned out he had a minor medical condition that prevented him from being recruited. So instead, he went to work as a welder in several shipyards in the Boston area throughout the war. Cannot have a Navy without ships, right?</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2m8en-0-0"><span data-text="true">Last year he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is caused only be regular, ongoing, daily exposure to asbestos.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2m8en-0-0"><span data-text="true">This would likely make him one of the oldest American men to die from an injury sustained during </span></span><span data-offset-key="2m8en-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="2m8en-0-0"><span data-text="true">WWII</span></span>.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2m8en-0-0"><span data-text="true">I placed this flower and took this picture to honor him and all of those other people who have given their lives, not in the trenches, but in the factories, kitchens, hospitals, communications centers, and every other place providing support for the people at the front. There are maybe way more than we could even know, given the chaos of war and passing of time. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2m8en-0-0"><span data-text="true">Please remember their sacrifices as you go back to your regular busy lives.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="2m8en-0-0"><span data-text="true">Bruce</span></span></div>
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Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-85227335284593811712015-12-18T22:25:00.001-08:002015-12-18T22:25:14.519-08:00$4 billion for a war with no enemy?Mandy Potankin is on Colbert tonight, oppressed. He says we need "a new paradigm".<br />
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That sum could go a very long way towards educating the world's disadvantaged, marginalized, and opressed.<br />
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Lack of, or poor, education is clearly the biggest problem the world's population faces. Ignorance encourages hatred and fear, which then incite violence. I have been saying since the 80's that the real chant of young people in disadvantaged and war-torn countries is, "We want our MTV". Sadly this desire for wordly goods and associated global perspective is denied those who could actually use it to advance their own messages of peace and commonality.<br />
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Sadly, in many parts of the world, particularly those with restrictive religious tenets, the concept of education is itself under fire, literally, especcially for girls.<br />
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My <a href="https://vimeo.com/home/myvideos/page:1/sort:date/format:video" target="_blank">One-minute movie about the Boko Haram in Nigeria</a> is only one extreme example. In our own country, we fan fear with the increase of mass shootings and the associated proliferation of guns. The fear of people "not like us" causes events like targeting Sihks and other Asians who at first glance may look like Muslims because of their garb.<br />
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Where does it stop? In the 60's and 70's we feared nuclear annihilation, but those potentially responsible were easily identifiable and located, and their motives clear.<br />
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Now it is far more like Orwell's 1984, including "doublespeak", supporting the sociological perspective known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conflict_theories" title="Conflict theories">conflict theories</a>.
Conflict theories detract from ideas of society being naturally in
harmony, instead placing emphasis on political and material inequality
as its structural features (which we seem to be suffering from now).<br />
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<br />Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-88645424709432573652015-12-04T23:38:00.003-08:002015-12-18T22:26:32.292-08:00standingMy doc said something a cople weeks, ago, that was so zen-like it was funny. And it was, but in a completely unexpected way. Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-66688428003607873332015-11-22T18:07:00.000-08:002015-11-22T18:07:49.689-08:00circling the globeFacts About the Plastic Bag Pandemic<br /><br />http://www.reuseit.com/facts-and-myths/learn-more-facts-about-the-plastic-bag-pandemic.htm<br /><br />Fast plastic bag facts<br />• Over 1 trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide (Earth Policy Institute). Consider China, a country of 1.3 billion, which consumes 3 billion plastic bags daily, according to China Trade News.<br />• About 2 million plastic bags are used every minute around the world (Earth Policy Institute).<br />• Approximately 32 million tons of plastic waste are generated annually, representing 12.7% of total municipal solid waste (Environmental Protection Agency).<br />• Only 1 in 200 plastic bags in the UK are recycled (BBC).<br />• The average American family takes home 1,500 plastic bags a year (Natural Resources Defense Council).<br />• Americans use and throw away 100 billion plastic bags every year, which requires 12 million barrels of oil per year to manufacture. (The Wall Street Journal).<br /><br />Why are plastic bags bad?<br />• Scientists estimate that every square mile of ocean contains approximately 46,000 pieces of plastic floating in it (United Nations Environment Programme).
• A single plastic bag can take up 500 years or more to degrade (Measuring biodegradability, ScienceLearn.org).
• In good circumstances, high-density polyethylene will take more than 20 years to degrade. In less ideal circumstances (landfills or as general refuse), a bag will take more than 500 years to degrade (ScienceLearn.org).
• An estimated 3,960,000 tons of plastic bags, sack and wraps are produced annually. Of those, 3,570,000 tons (90%) are discarded. This is almost triple the amount discarded the first year plastic bag numbers were tracked (1,230,000 tons in 1980) (Environmental Protection Agency).
• Anywhere from .5% to 3% of all bags winds up recycled (BBC, CNN).
<br />Plastic bags' impact on the environment<br />• The U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually at an estimated cost to retailers of $4 billion (The Wall Street Journal).
• According to data from the Ocean Conservancy's annual International Coastal Cleanups, plastic bags are consistently in the top 10 pieces of trash collected on beaches around the world.
• The extremely slow decomposition rate of plastic bags leaves them to drift on the ocean for untold years. According to the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, these plastic bags cause the death of many marine animals (fish, sea turtles, etc.), every year when animals mistake them for food.
• When plastics break down, they don't biodegrade; they photodegrade. This means the materials break down to smaller fragments which readily soak up toxins. They then contaminate soil, waterways, and animals upon digestion (Earth911).
• 10% of the plastic produced every year worldwide winds up in the ocean. 70% of which finds its way to the ocean floor, where it will likely never degrade (United Nations).
<br />The solution? Reusable shopping bags ><br />• The solution is not a plastic bag ban, which is an emotional response which fails to strike at the heart of the issue; instead of a market-based solution, a ban shifts production to paper bags and compostable bags, both of which have heavy environmental consequences.<br />• The solution is not switching to paper bags or compostable plastic bags. A study on the life cycle of three types of disposable bags (single-use plastic, paper, and compostable plastic) showed that both compostable plastic and paper bags require more material per bag in the manufacturing process. This means "higher consumption of raw materials in the manufacture of the bags...[and] greater energy in bag manufacturing and greater fuel use in the transport of the finished product. ...The added requirements of manufacturing energy and transport for the compostable and paper bag systems far exceed the raw material use in the standard plastic bag system." (from a peer reviewed Boustead Consulting & Associates report)<br />• reuseit.com™ supports a multi-pronged approach that discourages the distribution of plastic bags with a tax and a cultural shift away from use-and-toss plastic bags:<br /> - Plastic Tax: In 2001, Ireland implemented a plastic tax (or PlasTax); the first of its kind, this route acknowledges the fact that people will still occasionally use plastic bags. This market-based solution discourages daily, thoughtless use of plastic bags by charging a nominal fee per bag at checkout. In a study by the Irish Department of the Environment it was found that plastic bag usage had dropped 93.5%. This breaks down to a drop from 328 to 21 bags per person each year.<br /> - A cultural shift away from use-and-toss culture: Each reusable bag can eliminate hundreds (if not thousands) of plastic bags.<br /><br />Okay, that seems clear enough. Now my solution to reducing it is both practical and elegant (in the programmer or mathemation sense).<br />
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The Zipdry (patent pending):<br />
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Turns this:<br />
<br /><br />Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-70764280645426480422015-11-15T11:07:00.002-08:002015-11-15T11:41:09.491-08:00Thoughts from Pavopolis 11/15World War 3 started long before 9/11 or any other specific event. However, now that ISIS is an actual nation with land, there is a sort or relief that we are now fighting an actual geographical enemy.<br />
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As I look over my realm of Pavopolis, including Treemania (where I was duly elected), currently visible to me now through only the heart, not the eyes, I support our inner fight for peace and outer show of strength, not fear.<br />
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peace,<br />
your most solemn and obliged King,<br />
Bruce the Mindful<br />
Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-56146859360902873022015-08-14T21:54:00.001-07:002015-08-14T22:03:07.888-07:00Sex is just not what it used to beJohn Oliver did a great show last week about the many failures involved in teaching sex education in te U.S.<br />
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But for me the highlight of his tirade was this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOwRMxDGmTI">"period piece" with bowling</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-john-oliver-sex-education-20150810-story.html" target="_blank">Here is some accurate reporting from the Los Angeles Times with the amusing cast information.</a> Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-71637786334209085992015-08-14T21:21:00.000-07:002015-08-15T11:52:07.867-07:00Hold THIS (subway story of the day)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Monday, after nearly a week with my family, a long two-train ride back to Grand Central, and a two-train subway trip up to Washington Heights, carrying my small backpack (filled with only my trusty but heavy old Macbook Pro, one t-shirt, shaving kit, kindle, sunglasses, phone charger, and medications), I approached the elevator to the street, which was already packed with one tired-looking woman and her stroller, and a crowd of people who all looked healthy enough to take the stairs. </div>
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I managed to squeeze in, turning around to avoid getting my carry-on caught in the doors, fearing a potential repeat of the incident I reported in my previous "Subway Savior" post.</div>
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The well-dressed young man behind me muttered something like, "Can you move away a little?", a useless comment in the elevator, and I was not even sure was directed to me.</div>
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But his next comment was:</div>
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"Why don't you hold the backpack instead of pushing it into me?", while looking down and clearly seeing my one hand in a wrist brace and the other holding a cane. I could not decide whether to respond with "Why don't you hold it for me if it's such a problem?" or "Hold THIS", with the appropriate gesture.</div>
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But being a good citizen, polite, and not wanted to make a scene for the other passengers, I bit my tongue.</div>
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<br /></div>
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In contrast, when I exited the elevator, after the tired mom, Mr. "Master of the Universe" and the rest of the crowd, a Latino gentleman caught me as I lost my balance and almost fell. </div>
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The good, the bad, and the ugly of NYC... at least the guy didn't push me out the doors ;)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Stay chill in the heat of the moment -)</div>
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<img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ChIMnfqdteU/Vc4OpozpngI/AAAAAAAAAJg/heOawrM8ug8/s320/backpackElevator.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div class="byline" style="text-align: left;">
Courtesy SF Gate <a href="http://downgradepc.pc-update.org/?pcl=XalX1AI-Ye10P-7q7cyCcJM5kUv_Para0PGuy1nM0Y0.&cid=1439664623mb26912894475" target="_blank">"Why I hate Elevators" Michael J. Aminoff</a></div>
<h5 class="timestamp" style="text-align: left;" title="2012-07-11T20:05:10Z">
Published 8:05 pm, Wednesday, July 11, 2012
</h5>
Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-41023241997131281162015-07-10T10:26:00.003-07:002015-07-10T10:26:58.286-07:00Flag on the Field<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8feUvkK1p4s/VZ_1Srvf1YI/AAAAAAAAAIw/moHI0aytXeI/s1600/flagSelfDetermination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8feUvkK1p4s/VZ_1Srvf1YI/AAAAAAAAAIw/moHI0aytXeI/s320/flagSelfDetermination.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
Through all of the news, conversations, arguments, and vitriol, there is one thread mostly missing.<br />
<br />
Why would any state display the flag of a treasonous group that became our enemy? Would we display the flag of Great Britain in honor of those brave Englishmen who died here for ther country?<br />
<br />
Are the graves here of these men decorated with the Union Jack?<br />
<br />
Viewed from this perpective, the racist symbolism, albeit disturbing and insulting, is basically only a part of the offense.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5lBBcPRIIk/VZ_3mHhsw6I/AAAAAAAAAJA/wDCeFPKfwaU/s1600/flag_SECEDE-texas.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5lBBcPRIIk/VZ_3mHhsw6I/AAAAAAAAAJA/wDCeFPKfwaU/s320/flag_SECEDE-texas.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Some in Texas have been talking about leaving the United States for years, to which I have always said, "Go right ahead". We won't miss you, except maybe a couple decent football teams. And don't think we'll miss your oil, either. Before it runs out, which it will someday, you will be scrambling to sell it to the new 49-state USA. And forget about your taking advantage of the benefits of being in the US, including military protection, obviously including military installations and jobs. And imagine the difficulties you will have negotiating everything you get from us as a foreign entity, including infrastructure both physical and digital. Have fun with your gun-filled saloons and schools!<br />
<br />
This same argument applies to South Carolina. You will miss the Snowbirds' money at your beaches, but you can flly whatever flag you want and honor whomever you want.<br />
<br />
But to both states, if you want to be part of our United States,you have to play by the rules on which we all agree, including the use of imagery as symbolism, clearly an increasing mode of communication and basis of semiotics (look it up). You will miss us more than we will miss you.<br />
<br />
You are either "on the bus or off the bus".<br />
<br />
This is merely tthe opinion of an egghead New Yorker, but I represent a lot of Americans supporting you financially but definitely not ideologically.<br />
<br />
I hope your residents think long and hard about this.<br />
<br />
Good luck.<br />
<br />
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<br />Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-50619409492649535812015-06-23T21:27:00.000-07:002015-07-16T09:38:35.481-07:00Prison Comedy<span style="font-size: large;">I just watched "<a href="http://www.cc.com/episodes/agfr25/jeff-ross-roasts-criminals--live-at-brazos-county-jail-jeff-ross-roasts-criminals--live-at-brazos-county-jail-season-1-ep-101" target="_blank">Jeff Ross at Brazos County Jail</a>" on Comedy central, and I think all Americans should watch. If these people can laugh at themselves, any of us can. Bill Maher is right, Americans need to get a sense of humor. Jeff is harsh, and pulls no punches, but even the most personal jibes did not rattle them.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In addition, the show is interspersed with little factoids (I did not vet them all but the statistics are widely available). Just a few examples:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 16.000000pt;"></span></span><br />
<div class="layoutArea">
<span style="font-family: 'TimesNewRomanPSMT'; font-size: 16.000000pt;"><b>More Mentally Ill Persons Are in Jails and Prisons
Than Hospitals.<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">[Clearly prisons have become our default Mental Illness treatment centers.]</span></span> </b>
</span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> <b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>2.7 million Americans have a parent in prison.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="_Tgc">According to the <a href="http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=5177" target="_blank">Bureau of Justice Statistics</a>, one in three <b>black men</b> can expect to go to <b>prison</b> in their lifetime.</span></b></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="_Tgc">According to the <a href="http://www.naacp.org/pages/criminal-justice-fact-sheet" target="_blank">NAACP CRIMINAL JUSTICE fact SHEET</a>:</span></b></span></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_Tgc"> </span>5 times as many Whites
are using drugs as African Americans, yet African Americans are sent to
prison for drug offenses at 10 times the rate of Whites.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-size: large;">African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of whites. </span></b></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="_Tgc"> </span></b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br />
<ul>
<li><br /></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;"> Today's subway story:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Saw cops bringing out a young white man in handcuffs. He looked a little like Harry Potter. I don't know what his offense was, but my guess is that he will never see the inside of a cell.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8vHaWCUVAME/VYovhYvpxAI/AAAAAAAAAIc/XgiumqbSzwM/s1600/Harry_James_Potter34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8vHaWCUVAME/VYovhYvpxAI/AAAAAAAAAIc/XgiumqbSzwM/s320/Harry_James_Potter34.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="_Tgc"> </span><span class="_D8e"></span> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b> </span><br />
Harry Potter in handcuffs...Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-67670593958604146032015-06-20T14:33:00.001-07:002015-08-14T21:05:04.291-07:00Subway Savior<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been riding New York City subways since I came here as a young man in the 1980's, so I have seen some things best forgotten.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But in the past 10 years after becoming disabled by a massive stroke, and having trouble walking, I have seen a lot more memorable events, on nearly every trip.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I ride the A train the most, from Washington Heights to the NYU area often. I have trouble walking and no feeling and little movement on my left side. As sitting to standing is problematic, and slow, I often do not take a seat when offered, especially if only a few stops (except of course in that long stretch from 125th street to Columbus circle). I usually get up and stand by the doors a stop before I have to get off to be sure I can exit easily and avoiding walking on the moving car. I know the trains in Manhattan well enough to generally know on which side the doors will open.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">About two weeks ago, I was riding the C train (I think) and experienced something that all riders rightfully fear.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was standing at the door, holding on to a pole and my cane with my right hand, ready to exit as soon as the doors opened.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When the train stopped I heard and felt the packed crowd close behind me start moving.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=271002201940426856" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the moment the doors opened,</span> a self-important man in a suit pushed his way through, saying nothing but leaving some very angry people in his wake.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He got to the door by pushing people aside, and the next thing I knew he pushed me out the door and I fell down flat onto the platform; when I looked back I saw that my legs were still in the car. As I heard "watch the closing doors", my brain did those quick calculations that it does in sudden danger. Should I try to pull my legs out, and if the doors closed on them, how would I contort myself to avoid the wall at the end of the platform when the train started down the track. Or should I attempt to pull myself back in, risking my torso or head sticking out the doors.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, Mr. They-can't-start-the-meeting-without-me stepped over me and ran off, looking back and yelling testily,"thanks for getting out of the way!". I could see only his Versace-clad legs churning off into the distance. I turned back to look in the car, my experiencing that micro-moment of utter<span style="font-size: large;"> confusion and panic.</span> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5TF1RoOko_s/VYXbuTPf1SI/AAAAAAAAAII/eEfqX-hxTxs/s1600/big%2Bblack%2Bguy%2Bsubway%2Bdoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5TF1RoOko_s/VYXbuTPf1SI/AAAAAAAAAII/eEfqX-hxTxs/s320/big%2Bblack%2Bguy%2Bsubway%2Bdoors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I glanced up and saw a huge, mean-looking young black man, extending his meaty fist to me like a gargantuan god reaching down from the heavens. He graabbed my right arm and yanked me into the car with one huge but smooth motion. A few people around him helped get me to my feet. I felt like hugging him -- but that seemed a little weird, even for the subway.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The doors closed and I got off at the next stop.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Only in New York. </span><br />
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Bruce Gionethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094341704792684236noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-271002201940426856.post-34310955774916887362015-06-13T22:51:00.002-07:002015-06-13T22:51:10.493-07:00<div class="region-inner header-inner">
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<span>Saturday, June 13, 2015</span></h2>
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<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
Leap second FPS
</h3>
<div class="post-header">
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1522245662469160807" itemprop="description articleBody">
Isn't this an important question?<br />
what is the frame rate we use or do we just treat it like any other second? <br />
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 28px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">
<ol style="padding: 0px;">
<li class="mod" data-md="61" style="clear: none; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 12px 16px 0px;"><div class="_oDd" data-hveid="31" style="padding: 8px 0px 10px;">
<span class="_Tgc _x9e" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A <b>leap second</b> is a one-<b>second adjustment</b> that
is occasionally applied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in order to
keep its time of day close to the mean solar time, or UT1. </span></div>
<div class="_oDd" data-hveid="31" style="padding: 8px 0px 10px;">
<span class="_Tgc _x9e" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br />
<h3 class="r" style="display: inline; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span class="_Tgc _x9e" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">
<a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/time/leapseconds.html" style="text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;">Leap Second - What is it? - Time and Date</a></span></h3>
<span class="_Tgc _x9e" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">
<div class="s" style="word-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="f kv _SWb" style="margin: 0px;">
<cite class="_Rm bc" style="font-style: normal; max-width: 95%;">Time and money for. The fact Date › Time Zones</cite></div>
<span class="st" data-hveid="59" style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="f">Mobile-friendly - </span>A <span style="font-weight: bold;">leap second</span> will be added <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0">on June 30, 2015</a> 23:59:60 UTC. A <span style="font-weight: bold;">leap second</span> is a <span style="font-weight: bold;">second</span> which is added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in order to synchronize atomic clocks with astronomical time to within 0.9 <span style="font-weight: bold;">seconds</span>.</span></div>
<div class="s" style="word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="st" data-hveid="59" style="word-wrap: break-word;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="s" style="word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="st" data-hveid="59" style="word-wrap: break-word;"></span><br />
<div class="lead" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 15px;">
<span class="st" data-hveid="59" style="word-wrap: break-word;">A leap second will be added on <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">June 30, 2015</b> 23:59:60 UTC.</span></div>
<span class="st" data-hveid="59" style="word-wrap: break-word;">
<figure class="five columns bloat" id="bloat" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 3px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; cursor: pointer; float: none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 100% !important;" title="Click image to see more detail"><div class="bloat-wrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">
<img alt="Illustration image" class="bloat-img" src="http://c.tadst.com/gfx/750x500/leapseconds.jpg?1" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgb(102, 102, 102) 0px 0px 3px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); box-shadow: rgb(102, 102, 102) 0px 0px 3px; box-sizing: content-box; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 620px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 300px;" /></div>
<figcaption class="caption" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic;">Atomic clocks are slightly too accurate. </figcaption><figcaption class="img-credit" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; font-style: italic;">©iStockphoto.com/kvkirillov</figcaption></figure><div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
A leap second is a second which is added to <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/time/aboututc.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) </a>in order to synchronize atomic clocks with astronomical time to within 0.9 seconds. </div>
<h2 id="why" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 15px 0px 5px;">
Why Do We Need Leap Seconds?</h2>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
The reason we have to add a second every now and then, is that Earth's
rotation around its own axis, is gradually slowing down, although very
slowly.</div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
<a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/time/international-atomic-time.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Atomic clocks</a> however,
are programmed to tick away at pretty much the same speed over millions
of years. Compared to the Earth's rotation – which determines the
length of a day – the atomic clocks are simply too accurate.</div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
<a class="read-more" href="http://www.timeanddate.com/time/leap-seconds-background.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Exactly how do Leap seconds work?</a></div>
<h2 id="how" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 15px 0px 5px;">
How Often Are Leap Seconds Added?</h2>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
<b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Did you notice?</b> The last leap second was added at <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/time/leapseconds.html#table" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">23:59:60 UTC on June 30, 2012</a>.</div>
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Since 1972, a total of 25 seconds have been added. This means that the
Earth has slowed down 25 seconds compared to atomic time since then.</div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
This does not mean that days are 25 seconds longer nowadays. Only the
days on which the leap seconds are inserted have 86,401 instead of the
usual 86,400 seconds.</div>
<h2 id="leap" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 15px 0px 5px;">
Leap Second 2015</h2>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
Click on <b style="box-sizing: border-box;">Corresponding times</b> to find out when the leap<br />
second is added to the time at your location.</div>
<table class="zebra tb-wc" id="table" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: white; border-spacing: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3; margin-bottom: 10px;"><thead style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><th style="background-color: #e9eff5; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">UTC Date</th><th class="head" style="background-color: #e9eff5; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">UTC Time</th><th class="head" style="background-color: #e9eff5; border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">Local time world-wide</th></tr>
</thead><tbody style="box-sizing: border-box;">
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">2015-06-30</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">23:59:57</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=2015-06-30T23:59:57" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Corresponding times</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">2015-06-30</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">23:59:58</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=2015-06-30T23:59:58" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Corresponding times</a></td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">2015-06-30</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">23:59:59</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=2015-06-30T23:59:59" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Corresponding times</a></td></tr>
<tr class="hl" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204) !important; background-position: initial initial !important; background-repeat: initial initial !important; box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">2015-06-30</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">23:59:60</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">Leap second added</td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">2015-07-01</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">00:00:00</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=2015-07-01T00:00:00" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Corresponding times</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #f7f7f7; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">2015-07-01</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">00:00:01</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=2015-07-01T00:00:01" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Corresponding times</a></td></tr>
<tr style="box-sizing: border-box;"><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">2015-07-01</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;">00:00:02</td><td style="border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; padding: 5px 9px; vertical-align: top;"><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?iso=2015-07-01T00:00:02" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Corresponding times</a><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
<a class="read-more" href="http://www.timeanddate.com/time/leap-seconds-future.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Can we live without leap seconds?</a></div>
<h2 id="6" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 15px 0px 5px;">
36 Seconds' Difference</h2>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
The difference between UTC and the <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/time/international-atomic-time.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">International Atomic Time</a> (UTC-TAI) after the next leap second has been added on June 30, 2015, will be <b>36 sec.</b><br />
<br />
<b>are they ever going to match up? </b></div>
<h2 data-title="Who decides when?" id="who" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.8px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 15px 0px 5px;">
Who decides when to add leap seconds?</h2>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
The International Earth Rotation and Reference System Service (IERS) in <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/france/paris" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Paris, France</a> observes
the Earth's rotation and compares it to atomic time. When the
difference between the two approaches 0.9 seconds, they order a leap
second to be added worldwide.</div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px;">
Check our <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/news/time/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Time Zone News</a> for updates about leap seconds.</div>
<div class="htags" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-image: url(data:image/png; background-position: 0% 4px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-top: 25px !important; padding-left: 30px;">
Topics: <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/topics/timekeeping" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Timekeeping</a>, <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/topics/clocks" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">Clocks</a>, <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/topics/history" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #176db3; text-decoration: none;">History</a></div>
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