Recent Activity

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  100 Billion Dead

  @ 2002 = 106,456,367,669  according to one estimate [a curiously precise number given error bars that would appear to encompass the range of  from a low of 45 billion to high of 125 billion - so the guy that gave it must be an accountant ] If the number is remotely accurate, then about 6% of the people who ever lived are alive as we discuss this.

  The estimates vary greatly and most of the parameters used in the formulas are SWAG but of interest to me particularly is the "fuzziness" of the life-expectancy at birth estimates.... some of these put the average life expectancy at birth for much of human history at 10 years!  This comes from estimates of findings re the  Iron Age At in France - at  this level  a birth rate of about 80 per 1,000 people would be required just for the species to survive. (while today a "high" birth rate would be about 45 to 50 per 1,000 population and this is seen in only a few countries in Africa and Middle Eastern states with young [overall] populations).

  Posted 21 Oct 07

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  Shag Island

  No, quite frankly I didn't.  But the Shag Island in the Magdalen Islands is closer to home for me... and more likely to be frequented by Austin I should think.

  Posted 18 Oct 07

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  Left or Right Brain?

  Thanks Phil, with your hint, I went back and was able to get it to reverse...previous 3 efforts had me permanently locked into clockwise spin

  So I wonder if the one your mind first locks on indicates something about left/right brain dominance {although I don't buy most of the mysticism that has grown up around this distinction, it is very interesting}

  The Middle Tennessee State University learning strategies web site  has a  test "Hemispheric Dominance Test"  that claims to give an indication of "balance of your hemispheres "

  Posted 15 Oct 07

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  Desperation is a Luxury?

  Everyperson in the "middle-class" or "more" is living in better conditions than 99.9% of the people that have ever lived.

  One might come to think that "quite desperation" is a modern phenomenon -- it seems that the more the "masses" have the more quiet desperation or quiet dissatisfaction that flows through society.

  Posted 10 Oct 07

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  Facebook Multi Wall Frustration

  No embedded Tangler on your blog? .... Now I don't know where I should post my comment <does confusion qualify me as being a non-techie>

  Posted 09 Oct 07

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  Teleporting before 2060

  A pint on it Mick!

  Posted 03 Oct 07

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  My New Background

  a bit too specific... breakfast, dinner, brunch, snacks, midnight buffet .... to name just a few... are all feeling slighted....but otherwise great.... I find the topic list easy to read... I presume you changed it somehow since dek's comments?

  Posted 25 Sep 07

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  The Best Superlative Ever

  So Google just can't accept the truth ..... what kind of oracle are they anyways?

  Posted 23 Sep 07

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  Mick's Sunnyvale Diary

  Does this mean no installment of the Sunnyvale Diary today?

  Posted 18 Sep 07

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  Buck Buddy

  While the video made me think about his post in McKenzie Planning about detachable parts:

  "Yours aren't? Come on Richard - get with the times. A permanent set of testes is just so limiting these days. Plus I'm getting married soon, so I have to put them in a pouch and hand them over to the wife."

  Just wondering how much that contributed to his ability to ride the bull?

  Posted 14 Sep 07