Top 200 Fantasy Characters
Fascinating poll-based list of top 200 fantasy characters. What I find strange is that two characters from Spinward Fringe are represented, despite it being very much science fiction, not fantasy. I adore that series, but… not fantasy.
A Great Reminder
Innocent until proven guilty, and public opinion is not a legitimate court.
Parking for the Homeless
It’s a very real issue, and not every Walmart allows it anymore, even if one of those is available nearby. Enter a church providing spaces for homeless parking.
Photo and Video History
There exists a photo of someone who crossed the Delaware with Washington, the earliest born person ever photographed. There also exists video of someone born in the 1700s. Amazing! Have a look.
Nice Work
Hillaryclinton.net used to redirect to Carly Fiorina’s page, but it has been cleverly changed.
Garbage Wars
Seattle has gone too far in trying to ensure people recycle properly, and compost their garbage. In my town, over the summer we switched to town-supplied trash and recycle barrels that will work with shiny new hands-off garbage trucks. Reduces labor, except all the workers who no longer man the trucks remain employed by the town. Makes things safer. Especially when the new trucks actually work. My theory on the whole thing was “follow the money.” Who would benefit from the purchase of the new trucks and all those barrels? Who would make money on a dramatic increase in recyclables? And yes, the town was being held over a barrel by the regional trash facility planning to hike its fees, giving them an incentive.
While it has surprised us just how much recycling we generate, and most such stuff does go the right place, we, and other in town, were horrified by the word, before the thing rolled out, that cameras on the ruck would allow them to monitor and penalize you. We started using opaque trash bags, which were better in other ways, in case they did this. On the plus side, while they’d prefer that people compast garbage, it is not required. For many of us, it would not be viable, unless it were a third category of stuff being picked up by the town. Further, that still leaves foods that aren’t compostable, like raw meat trimmings. Or sad incidents like an entire package of spoiled chicken or – gasp! – bacon.
Got Earthquake?
There’s a story, too, but the impressive part here is the map of damaging earthquake risk. Guess we should move to Texas, if we’re concerned but don’t want to be cold.
Basque Riddle
No relation to Tom Riddle, may finally have been solved. I have long been fascinated by the Basque, since I first learned of them in French decades ago. Merely having a language distinct from those of Indo-European origin, in a see of languages that are, is fascinating.