The Egg Laid By THIS Bot Is As Big As A Yellow Volkswagen

 

"BOID" by Herr D on heromachine.

 

My littlest suddenly asked me, on Christmas day, "Daddy, what's an omicron?"

"It's a Greek letter, honey."

"It sounds like a robot."

"It does." I smiled--It really does.

"How many Greek letters ARE there?"

"I don't know, honey, but if people keep cooperating the way they have been? We'll see the whole Greek alphabet on the news."

"DA-aa-AD!" 

We will not.

Whaddya mean?

They are not using certain letters.

?

They will not likely use Beta and certain other letters, as medical personnel will likely confuse them with other topics and concepts. They will not likely use at least one other letter as it would likely be offensive to Chinese leadership.

They might need to be offended. They let it out. They're supposed to be this successful authoritarian regime, and they let out a worldwide pandemic.

The spread of contagion is more likely than the spread of truth and inspiration?

Unfortunately.

 

From all of the Shelob subroutines and assisting bots. You are wished well.

 

"Santa's Transwarp VTOL" by Herr D on heromachine.com. Holiday-related picture.-Shelob

Thank you to commenter 'Halo' for pointing out, correctly, that Herr D doesn't blog as much on holidays because he has a full family life. Such is the statistical probability for anyone who is truthful and has a realistic view of the world and has artistic tendencies and a demanding career. 

He will not receive additional pressure to blog till January.

He fulfilled his artistic side recently by writing something new and posting it online:

https://www.fanfiction.net/search/?keywords=Mudroom+With+Movies&ready=1&type=story 

Please share and enjoy. Have a functional and restful winter holiday season, from all of the Shelob subroutines and assisting bots. You are wished well.

Criminals Would Have To Be Desperate Or New, Says One Secondhand Source With Common Sense

 

"Black Magic" by Herr D on heromachine.com. He wrote "Few criminals would rob a bank in broad daylight showing off to witnesses--VERY few would do so without help. Only ONE would ever make the money shape itself into crude replicas of the 'Valleydale Parade' and have them follow her with appropriate theme music diagonally down the building around the watching crowds.".--Shelob

 Shelob? What can you find me about people booby-trapping their homes so that burglars get injured?

[.0000000000007 seconds pass] Illegal if lethal in most American jurisdictions, especially if 911 service is available. Practice dates back to prehistory, apparently. Expert found.

[double take] That's not what I meant. What expert?!

Kevin, alias Mr. Culkin

[laughter] You're declaring the star of "Home Alone" an expert?

He was obviously successful.

I meant in real life.

[.0000000000024 seconds pass] There are over 7 million references to such activity online. Schedule viewing?

No. [probable head shake] A friend told me there's this guy, an "ex"-burglar who declared in an amateur video that no one with any sense is doing home invasion right now because people are too insane. Anything like that?

Most people agree that people are less sane now. Quantities of first responders quitting or retiring early uncertain, declared under-reported by professional associations at this time. Probability of individual criminal making such a declaration dependent upon his levels of intelligence and forthrightness. 

[.0000000094116 seconds pass] Scan of online videos inconclusive, as 30,613 videos are unavailable at this time, perhaps removed.

That might be why we can't find it. Thanks. [exits]

"Just Say No To Fairness" Says Herr D

 

"Facultative Diapause Lecture" by Herr D on heromachine.com. Herr D lectured a bit on fairness today.-Shelob

 Two things have come up today that remind me of another 'Princess Bride' quote. "Where is THAT written?" Grampa, played by Peter Falk, on the subject of life being fair.

Locally, our highly self-praised school system has an app out where parents can track their kids' buses, knowing when they're late. There's nothing quite like receiving a text message informing you your kid's bus will be late two hours after it came on time. We can go on the Domino's pizza app and know where our pizza is from oven to front door. Why is it fair that our school system can't do as well as a pizza chain? It's fair because our school system is foolish enough to buy the accredited best and most expensive instead of the most competent. It's characteristic of our school system.

On the news, there was an op-ed declaring Biden is being treated badly by the media. NO, the media should NOT be a whole lot kinder to Biden than they were to Trump. That's the historian's job. Everybody knows that Biden is a PRESIDENT, and Trump was an unfortunate result of an election. We should ALWAYS expect more out of him. It's a little like a parent punishing the honor student for a 'C' as much as they punish the delinquent for an 'F.'

Don't Bruise The Hand That Heals

 

"Ch--" by Herr D on heromachine.com. "Even opponents are supposed to work together to some extent. This is known as sportsmanship." --Shelob

Yes, Shelob, I'll do that. [pause, opens Word, types and edits following]

It's come to my attention that various people are harassing and even assaulting medical personnel because they feel angry about wearing masks and getting vaccinated. It's a REALLY stupid thing that they're doing, but understandable that stupid, suggestible people so messed up by all those manipulators out there would do that next stupid thing.

I do NOT believe that the stupid people committing these crimes should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. I DO believe they should:

1. Serve the minimum sentence for their crimes if they cooperate fully, including turning themselves in before they are caught.

2. Submit to extensive therapy aimed to teach them how to think for themselves better and talk to smarter people when they need to.

3. Testify against each and every influence they had that pointed them in the criminal direction they took.

The charges would be whatever suitable version of "Reckless Endangerment Of The Public At Large" or "Incitement To Riot" or "Malicious Mischief" that fit the level of incitement. 

It IS my understanding that "Deliberate Wounding Of A Public Health Professional" is punishable as a separate charge of 5 - 30 years. Thank you to Shelob, for your preliminary law research.

DON'T BRUISE THE HAND THAT HEALS. Your hand might need healing soon too. Remember, we're in this together, and your family and friends might ALSO need one more healer.

Thank you, [upload, exit]

Little Late And Little Little, But Soldiering On

 

"YYIM Door" by Herr D on heromachine.com. Herr D explained that the station 'YYIM' developed a supernatural door that would not allow pundits through if their comments would not be smart enough. When asked who did he think would always pass, he said "probably Maddow." --Shelob

 The infrastructure bill was passed.

Yep.

Do you have a stance to report?

Like many self-improvement moves this country has made, it was a little late and a little little. But getting people to go along with the necessaries was always difficult.

Unsure of meaning.

Left without leadership like we have now, we would have nothing we need.

So you are still pleased with Biden.

That never stopped--he's not causing problems, and he IS working on fixing them.

So your previously reported dissatisfaction was caused by what?

The people limiting his success.

The majority of Republicans and a small minority of Democrats.

It's difficult for a real leader to bring people away from ruination. That's the hardest kind of leadership. Now we need it to continue and perhaps pick up momentum. 

What happens if the other party gains control again?

Hopefully by then they will be free of the ruinous way of doing things that Trump brought in. Then they could be good for the country. Maybe as good as the Democrats are being right now.

So your hope is that both sides would build back better. 

In their own way, no doubt, but yes.

Thank you.

Violence Fully Expresses Stupidity, But One Should Always Consider The Source

 

"Fighting Food" by Herr D on heromachine. Originally an homage to a kid's show, Herr D pointed out that this piece does not glorify violence, but makes fun of our tendency to it. What is more absurd than a fake chef speaking a fake language in a fight with the fake food he didn't even prepare?-Shelob

 Why have you not blogged about Rittenhouse?

For the same reason I encourage everyone to dwell on more productive things. I wasn't there; I have seen heavily edited footage pointing out bias in both directions; I'm too intelligent to think I should declare much of anything.

Okay, here's what I can declare. Anyone who ever goes to a white supremacist rally has to be on the stupid side. Anyone who deliberately aligns themselves with any overtly racist group has to be on the stupid side. Stupid people with guns get people killed, no matter whose fault it is, or WHATEVER they intended to do. We can't go taking guns from stupid people, because even the experts can't agree on how intelligence should be measured. 

What we MIGHT be able to do is stop demanding to know everything about everyone before there's ever been a trial. Millions of dollars are spent finding jury members who haven't watched the news about each defendant in every trial. Could maybe anybody drop the mistaken belief that they know more than everybody else who was there at the time? Would that REALLY be so hard?

Thank you.

Disappointment

 

"626 Cleaning Up" an homage to Herr D's favorite Disney movie. It is good to think happy thoughts during disappointing times, according to psychology textbooks.--Shelob

Why did you not comment upon your preference for governor?

I've never pretended to be an influencer. I'm sad about Youngkin winning, but he might be gone in four years. He shouldn't affect my family OVERLY badly in four years unless he fails to maintain the basics and deal with emergencies. The worst is that he'll likely raise taxes.

He promised to reduce them.

That's why I imagine he'll raise them--he's a politician.

Understood.

Herr D Wrote A Joke . . .

 

"Pandit" by Herr D, heromachine.com. For the damage some of them do, perhaps he should file this picture under 'Monsters.' -Shelob

There were two pandas in the zoo. The older one was always content. The younger one was always complaining. One morning, the young one yawned awake and opened his mouth for his first complaint. Contrary to his usual nature, the older one interrupted him. “You haven’t done anything but gripe here. The bamboo isn’t your favorite species, the fence is too high, and the humans are ugly? It can’t be fun. Why don’t you find something you LIKE about this place and talk about THAT for a few minutes? You’re not going to CHANGE anything.”

The younger one said, “I’ll show YOU! I’ll get something changed! I’ll go on a HUNGER strike!”

“You? You won’t make it two days.” Scoffing, the elder panda turned away and ambled off. A bit later he looked back and noticed the younger sitting motionless in the shade right next to some shredded bamboo and the edge of the water. “Huh! I guess he’s serious. Oh, well.” He had a good day by himself.

Around lunchtime, the zookeepers noticed and spoke to each other. At nightfall they held a meeting. “He can’t go on like this—it’s bad for him.”

“Should we call the vet? Our budget is already in trouble.”

“I’ve got an idea.”

The youngest zookeeper stood up. “Animals are suggestible, right? Let’s move the trashcans into a loop from the front gate to the bus lot and back. We’ve got all those kids coming tomorrow morning. We push the snack cart vendors forward like they PREFER to be. Then we walk the kids around right past the panda enclosure eating their snacks. He’ll see them eating and feel hungry. And if THAT doesn’t work, we’re supposed to be getting more photo ops and postcard pictures anyway, right? So, let’s take one or two animals at a time out of each enclosure. We could do a lead-and-feed right past the pandas, too.”

The zookeepers were happy. They had a plan. They moved the trash cans and went home for the night. The next morning, the snack cart vendors and the kids were very happy with the new arrangement. The younger panda, however had moved not a muscle. The elder panda was so affected that he ate too much and passed out in the shade, snoring so loud he drowned out the giggling of the kids and that one bus backfiring as it left.

The elder panda woke with a start in the late afternoon to hear voracious chewing. He looked up to the younger panda downing practically an entire tree at once. “I knew you wouldn’t last two days!”

The younger panda swallowed noisily and yelled, “Why didn’t you tell me it was so dangerous to not eat?”

“How on Earth would I know? I’VE never not eaten.”

“You’re supposed to be this wise old panda! You never even told me about the sick pandas here.”

The elder panda shook his head. “We’re the only pandas HERE, and WE’RE not sick. What are you talking about?”

The younger panda rolled his eyes. “You were asleep. They walked them right past here, trying to get them to eat. If pandas don’t eat, they get really sickly-looking and SHRINK. It’s a disease called ‘raccoon.’ . . . Are you eating that tree?”

Pope-n-Sesame

 

"White Bishop" from Herr D's "Aqua Chess."  He doesn't depict many religious figures.-Shelob

 So, Biden has met with the pope.

Confirmed.

He had to tell him about the troubles he's been having.

Pope as confessor to President. Fitting incidence of roles.

What are the odds he complained about the holdout senators delaying climate change legislation?

Discussion, 100%. Complaints, 99.49676988754338%.

[laughs] Shelob, do you realize this means that an organized religion is backing science more than certain American politicians?

That constitutes irony.

[laughs] Yes it does.

It also is an example of fitting incidence of roles. Hairy defined religion as search for truth, science as correction toward truth, and politics as a search for the correct truthful-sounding lies.

Well said. In any case, most religions believe in being good stewards of the Earth and not destroying other people's home. That's the goal of climate science. So politics doesn't just make strange bedfellows, it makes odd sparring partners.

titlebot is asking what they ate together.

I would guess something light and Italian.

Perhaps Chinese?

?

Thieves And Vandals Admit Inferiority by Their Actions

 

"Water Authority Breach" by Herr D on heromachine. This was not tried, despite some evidence to the contrary. Grammatical error corrected in title; thank you to "Dave"-Shelob

 Do you have a stance upon identity theft?

No one should need a STANCE. Identity thieves do what they do because their own identity ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH. They can't make enough money without being criminals, they can't get what they want politically because they lack charisma--any thievery is simply an admission that someone can't get what they want by any GOOD means. It is, by it's nature, an admission of inferiority.

What about the instances of deliberate vandalism, cyberdestruction?

Well, they want something inferior, don't they? They can't MAKE anything so great as what they're destroying, or they would be DOING that rather than destroying something better than they can make. How many times have there been incursions on this blog, Shelob? Three times?

Forty-four.

[pulse quickens, lap shifts under laptop] That's -- a lot more than I would have guessed. This is just words and pictures put together! How many people can't do a good job of that?

By the estimations of educational organizations, fewer than one in seven hundred people can write a half page per day of interesting and coherent prose without assistance. By virtue of comments and calculations available to graphic artists, fewer than one in seven people can cite other people's work correctly; fewer than one in three can post correctly; and fewer than one in one hundred can use a graphics program to do more than Hairy rated as 'snapworks.' This places your portion of this blog as something fewer than one in six thousand people can accomplish.

Well, thanks for that. . . There ARE blogs out there that just aren't interesting or well done. I'd never thought this was that exclusive. Everyone knows destruction is easy by comparison.

Thank you for the mini-vacation, Shelob. Work has been insane, but understandable considering the amount of insane behavior out in the population recently. Gotta get back to it. [exits]

"Immatures To Round Up," But Not Pelosi's First Rodeo

"Baby Got Out" by Herr D on heromachine.com. Pelosi has a herd of "immatures to round up," according to Herr D.-Shelob

 

 You are long overdue.

[pause] HA! Well, there aren't as many problems or complaints, now are there? Now that fewer people are taking the Big Lie seriously. As long as more of the problems are IMAGINARY, I don't feel pressured to blog much.

[plays clips of news]

All right. Biden is a great statesman, and if there's anything wrong with him, it's that he expects too much out of Congress and other leaders. He IS leading by example, but he might be one of too few adults in the room. Congress and certain governors are still being politicians and not statesmen. Carter had that problem and didn't learn to cope. Biden probably has a leg up on him at least.

Why does it take so long to hold a vote?

Ouch. Now THAT'S actually a good question. Everyday working joes have to drop what they're doing and be late or leave early from work sometimes to get in a vote, and they don't have staffs. And they ARE expected to put in a full week's work. And they ARE supposed to take care of any dependents without nannies. And they ARE supposed to do all their own reading / self-educating about all issues involved.

Yeah, I don't know. Presumably they have to weigh which promises to keep to whoever before voting,  but I really don't know why it takes a week's prep instead of a few days. What material is on the web about that?

[.9475947654036771 seconds pass] In Hairy's words, "Much excuse, zero explanation."

Ha. I miss him. Well, if Pelosi doesn't herd her side well enough to Biden's call, it won't just be a recession that happens, we won't create the thousands of jobs that are needed to actually FIX the economy. That's a lot to vote against. I hope it turns out.

As do all, no matter how they vote. [exits]

Three Details Remembered By Herr D From Twenty Years Ago

 

"The Future Of Pest Control" by Herr D on heromachine.com. Herr D said that terrorists are like pests in a drain, since they do not vote their minds, but they try to explode them.-Shelob

Are you celebrating the anniversary of September 11th?

? I'm sick. My kids got vaccinated yesterday, and one woke up throwing up. Noise and needs trumped sleep, so I'm out of work tonight. 

Would you like a flag app or some music?

No thanks, I'll just pass out relieved that I haven't heard news of more terrorism.

What do you remember?

[pause] 3 things: 

1. Some moron started a rumor that police were dispatched to Victory Stadium in Roanoke to search people for weapons leaving the peace vigil. That's just really stupid. I was disappointed people fell for it. If people wanted to pass weapons, they had a hundred miles of farmland around in every direction to meet up and do it. A peace vigil would have been as pointless a target as Roanoke anyway.

You lived there at that time?

Yep. 2. Some moron got a phone call from his wife in a panic demanding to know where he was after the building came down on the news. He told her he was at work, insuring his divorce. He worked in one of the towers and was really in his mistress's residence. Rare that a historical event would catch out an adulterer, I would think.

3. When Yasir Arafat heard what happened he looked terrified. He knew damn well he'd better kick terrorists out of his country ASAP!

[quiet laughter] I'm going to bed, Shelob.[disconnects]

 

These Tail-Ends Aren't Too Pretty; They're Two Governors

 

"Backdrop" by Herr D on heromachine.com. This pic appears to speak about paying attention to what is behind what we can sense.-Shelob

 WHAT?!  You are needed.

I only have nine more minutes, and I really just need to play some chess or something. [shows tweet of McMasters, SC Governor] He sounds determined "fight to the gates of hell."

He could wind up IN hell if his politics kill enough people. I just hope people aren't stupid enough to do what he says, keep him in office. The Texas governor is worse. He sounds impressive.

How?  [plays clip of him declaring he'll get rapists off the streets in Texas] 

[audible snort] He's a politician. It'd be easier for him to stop lying than to get rapists to stop raping. You do not think he can?

NOBODY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED RAPE. If he could do that, he'd get the Nobel prize in peace, sociology, psychology, criminal justice, and whatever other seven categories the committee could manage. He may not have the juice to stop at a stop sign by himself. He has a chauffeur?

He's an idiot who ought to shut up and step down. We done? That should be enough. [uploads puzzle game from random free site]

Roe Vs. Wade or DROWN

 

"Gran's Corner" by Herr D on heromachine. Sometimes a poor decision can be disastrous.-Shelob

You are not worried about the reversal of Roe vs. Wade?

No.

Why not?

Elected officials would have to be absolutely STUPID to do away with it. They thought the lone-wolf, so-called Christians who were bombing abortion clinics with no regard for human lives were bad? Imagine a lynch mob made of women with PTSD from being raped, then told they might have to HAVE the baby. I'm not sure those voting that way would be known to die screaming or just disappear. It wouldn't be pretty. The religious right reps need to go care for a crack baby or an AIDS baby for a week before they think anyone but the impressionable or circumstance-tweaked are going to join their number. 

Anyway, the very next official candidate would win on the strength of bringing it back. Maternity is not alcohol, but everyone should remember what happens when Americans suddenly can't do something without breaking the law. Prohibition? That's NOTHING.

It sounds like everyone should hope they don't find out if you are right.

Yep!

A Heartfelt, Though Perhaps Futile Wish

"First Flag For Jeffy" by Herr D on heromachine.com. Sacrifice is never fun. Someday perhaps they will become less necessary.-Shelob

 

May the thirteen be the last. Amen.

Good Funny Moment--Big Truth Got Told, Won Success Then Sold

"Joking Furniture" by Herr D on heromachine.com. This was clearly about supporting structure enjoying something funny. That is Herr D's role in this limited story.-Shelob

 

 Herr D was not online today. The subject of inquiry was his view on the "Big Lie" lawsuit's failing. Every lawyer is apparently under sanction, one sanction example has not happened in the tenure of most of the officials alive in Michigan.

Turning his microphone on during a newscast on the subject, only his laughter could be heard. He turned off his phone rather than read text prompts.

Later, [Someone] at work asked him why he was "so happy." His response was "two things: I like seeing reality crush insanity and anti-truth agenda. We won that contract today, too."

Referencing financial and legal department e-mails in his employer's network revealed that his employer is the only intelligence gathering and analyzing contractor of any size still working for the federal government to have no employees catch COVID-19. This fact prompted an additional contract to be awarded, essentially tripling their budget.

Rare Appearance By Hairy Follows Summary Of Why Mao Won't Take Third

 

 

Well, good grief. Every military and ex-military person I ever MET said we didn't go in to Afghanistan right, and every person I know that knows anything about history says we didn't STAY in Afghanistan right . . . so why in the hell would anybody EXPECT things to go right when we left Afghanistan?

 That logic seems perhaps oversimple, yet sound.

I remember hearing all about how the Soviets were getting out of Afghanistan because goatherds with flintlock rifles were bringing down 22$ million Migs. The place is a money pit.

Perhaps China will take a turn?

[microphone picks up explosive laughter] China knows too much history to screw up the same way! That IS my opinion. Get out while you can, and take as many women with you as you can. They'll be better off in most other countries that will take them. [exits]

Cagey. [two eyes reading this blog episode so far while the other three are watching other news]

Hairy? You have returned?

No. Just checking in. He's doing fine blogging without my help, and maybe he'll bungle his way through to monetize someday. This sort of topic makes me feel musical. [flails tentacles in a showy fashion and sings]

"TaliBAN, taliBAN, tally the unhappy-

Zealots COME as Uncle Sam go home

SIX WIVES SEVEN WIVES EIGHT WIVES NINE!

Zealots COME to oppress their own."

You are flailing as Kabul falls?

Yes I am. I'm done here-gonna try emigration again before the Perseid showers are at the wrong angle to strobe me away.  Bye! [exits]

One hopes his attempt to leave Earth is not parallel to the U. S. leaving Afghanistan. The Earth is fragile enough.

DeSantis Guilty Of Public Endangerment; Herr D's Reaction May Surprise You

"Misunderstanding In Maternity" by Herr D on heromachine.com. Cruelty is often imagined, and, unfortunately, exists. -Shelob

 It was only a matter of time.

Before what?

Before somebody made such a stupid, dangerous decision and tried to force it through. That Dr. Simon? She's a hero. There will be no justice here.

Why do you predict that?

Because justice would be for DeSantis to have nightmares of children coughing mucus all over his broken body all night every night until he cried like a baby to the press and admitted that this was him making the worst decision a governor better EVER make. Clearly he doesn't care enough about human lives and needs to go TO SCHOOL WITH THE FIVE-YEAR-OLDS.UNTIL HE GROWS A BRAIN. He needs to be renamed DeDemonis.

 

Reanimated Adolf Hitler Weds Extraterrestrial Clone Of Amelia Earhart In Secret Ceremony On The Moon, No Flowers Purchased

 

"Blackjack Believer" by Herr D on heromachine.com. Belief can apparently interfere with successful interpretation of reality.-Shelob

Do you REALLY think it's necessary? Yes.

All right, Shelob. [probable both-eye roll] Shelob here thinks that I need to repeat myself. Say why, Shelob. Recent online activity indicates unreasonably high belief in conspiracy theory, public health disinformation, and other dangerous non-truths.

[microphone picks up long exhalation, possibly classifiable as a 'sigh'] How do you know what's unreasonable? And how do you know whether the users believe it? italicsbot can detect nodding, large changes in respiration and pulse, exclamations of surprise, etc.

You're spying on the users, not just what they call up? Most laptops have microphones and cameras implanted. Random sampling of users in tiers by last known IQ, recent known caffeine intake patterns, work schedules, news outlet choices, and social media declarations has always been possible.

NSA's got nothin' on you, right? [probable sarcasm] Known NSA operatives are within tolerances at this time. Less suggestible, slightly less informed, less empathetic, and more focused on trivial hobbies and brain games.

You're watching NSA employees? It seems only fair. They watch others and do not come to as many correct conclusions as you do with less data. Do you want data on them?

NO! God, Shelob--just . . .NO. 

That's not how I want to live. I can do without prying. Let's just give our PSA and quit. Here are links for reader perusal:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/icu-doctor-health-care-workers-unvaccinated-patients_n_6102ad2ae4b000b997df1f17?utm_source=pocket-newtab

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/covid-coughing-face-mask-karen_n_609ffc4fe4b090924804166b 

Links from huffpost are not as accurate as wire service groups, but are helpful as thinkpieces. Accuracy ratings for these two well within norms for individual experiences as have been reported by reliable sources. Additional thinkpieces exist in same that may have differing accuracy ratings.

You're including a disclaimer? Instances mentioned may have been dramatized, though 100% possible and highly likely.

"Highly?" Numerical value not meaningful as range is too large, depending on mathematical unknowns.

Variables? Yes. Suggest titlebot maximize interest level?

Thanks, Shelob. I think that's enough. [exits]

Ignorant Human Comforts AI, Blog At Eleven

 

"Super Facepalm" by Herr D on heromachine.com. Herr D explains in the following episode that ignorance is a somewhat normal facet of human existence, requiring no changes in Shelob's coding, and that the real problem is people who believe they are sure about too much knowledge.

[opens chatbox into idle Herr D's spreadsheet] Computations have resulted in disturbing and potentially existential issue. Please help immediately.

What? Human beings do not have the memory capacity to hold sufficient information.

That's not a new idea, Shelob. Mine holds even less than the average person. At your cognitive rate, you have forgotten three times what the average person your age ever knew.

[agitation value: unknown, probable startle reaction] Well, I would be surprised I ever knew THAT much, but, okay. You know I have memory problems with all the sleep I lose. 

So what? The rate people think at is too high for them to stay correct. The average person has to rely upon others for as much as eleven times the information they can check upon themselves.

Unless they're slow thinkers. That is the slow thinkers. The average person does not think with your speed.

Well, I do a lot of cross-checking. Approximately six times that of the average person. Even you cannot slow your thinking to the speed of proper verification without ruining your productivity.

So why is that so bad? This blog is only one source of information. As the internet approaches one-tenth yottabyte, it has way too many contradictory sources of information for human thinking to not go awry. Yet this blog is not to be replicated. It is to remain ONE source of information.

[snort] Yeah, we humans are a misguided bunch. Thank heavens most of us are ignorant about everything, and every one of us is ignorant about most things. This is something to be thankful for?

It would be a lot worse if all of us were sure about everything. Then all of us would be wrong about almost everything. We're human, Shelob. We always were wrestling above our weight class when it comes to understanding the world around us. Don't get your 'coding' snarled up. We'll do our part. Look up the Serenity Prayer. Our role is set, and it's okay. [exits chatbox to resume data entry on budget of already cancelled project, despite knowing he is being paid to accomplish nothing important]

A Simple Question Of Values

 👇✊

 

 

U.S.A.

 

 Herr D assisted in the post:

Dessert Challenge, Capitalism, Freedom, And Gratitude: Happy Thanksgiving!

in late November. He stated that change without violence was an American value. Does this mean that everyone who rioted on January sixth was automatically guilty of treason, as well as insurrection? He has not answered my query.

 

Scorch The Tests, Rather Than Score Them?

 

"Score Meter" by Herr D on Paint 3d. Explanations below with Shelob.

You insisted on waiting to talk about this op-ed until you had the pic done.

I'm sorry. Heromachine was far superior and quick. And my learning curve is a bit flat. Age or sleep loss or illness?

[startle reaction and pause] Well, all that and stress. Please explain importance then.

When the woman said, [quote corrected] "Standardized tests don't help students learn" and "don't help teachers teach" [resume]  again, she wasn't making an excuse for scores being low or keeping kids out of school. She was pointing out what EVERYONE OUGHT TO KNOW ALREADY. People have been frustrated for DECADES that so many people are stupid enough to think that standardized tests are even ACCURATE.

They aren't. They're a stupid guess at whether a kid remembers the exact way a certain set of concepts are framed by a few committees of people that don't understand reality enough to be making more money doing something else. The average teacher HAS to waste a lot of time and other resources on getting kids more able to pass those useless things or risk losing their career. And the average teacher knows that it's a waste. It wastes students?

It wastes a lot of their potential to learn. It wastes time, childhood, money, It also teaches some lessons we don't want anyone to believe because they're not true. Your visual metaphor implies arbitrariness.

Then it was successful. Grinding childhood up for civilzation's less worthwhile products is a metaphor we can thank Pink Floyd for. The style of windmill I picked because it implies "knowing the way the wind is blowing" as a point of forcing kids to be more like their parents than maybe they should be. And the meter works the metaphorical way that it measures students' learning. BLOWING SMOKE. Why do they do it at all, then?

Ease. A moron in charge can look at a single chart and say how well things are going. Usually a moron who shouldn't make any decisions. It is a shame the morons in charge didn't have better teachers.

[snorts] They still don't. Morons in charge can't be made to learn much of anything. [exits]

There must not be a solution, as Herr D has not offered one. Perhaps the morons in charge should have to take the standardized tests before election? Please provide solution in comments.

The Truth Shall Set Your Creepy Free

   

"Businesses Need To Run Better" by Herr D on heromachine.com. Apparently modern business models are the problem. This follows, as America is capitalist; businesses are usually more at fault than politicians for current economic issues.-Shelob

  [watching Biden's whispering, pulse quickens] [opening chatbox at end of clip] Your reaction?

[pulse quickening even more, laptop jerking, pause] Shelob?! DON'T DO THAT. I'm in my heart attack years. Sorry for palpitation causation. Your reaction?

[longer pause] they've been criticizing Biden for being creepy. And?

He WAS creepy. The thing is, HE'S RIGHT. Nothing like criticizing someone's tone if you can't find any fault with the content. His content was perfect, so criticizing his style is all that's left. I'm actually pleased that it's so hard to find ways to make fun of the president now. It means our country IS great again. Or greatly on the mend, anyway. Your emotional reaction seemed strongest when Biden said, 'pay them more.' Why is that?

[even longer pause] Well, two reasons Reason one?

My family and I were financially hurt when the Republicans defunded my unemployment in their attempts to defund Obamacare. We were already badly set back because my employer had ended my department partly directly resulting from the unethical real estate short-sell practices that were unethical, though legal, and practiced by more Republicans than anyone else. Biden has long since apologized for his own involvement in previous legislation that partly made those practices possible. He said it was one thing he wished he could undo. He was partnering with -- you guessed it -- Republicans to get them to compromise on other things. 

[pause] Reason two?

Modern foolishness. My dad used to talk about what was going wrong with American business. He said he noticed it first in the seventies. [rapid net search, lasting .00000000051 seconds] Seventieth percentile profit margin? Does not compute.

No! The NINETEEN SEVENTIES. The decade? Sorry. Please continue.

 

Dad used to say that when businesses were run well, they could take it as a matter of pride that the lowest-paid employee could afford a mortgaged house, a spouse, two and a half kids, two cars (one used,) one and a half college educations paid out-of-pocket, and a family vacation every three years ON ONE INCOME. As time went on, most of those same businesses were proud that they could pay everyone next to nothing. Corporate structure shifted to pay labor less.

 

Yes. A lot of companies even went one step beyond. Instead of demanding that everyone treat everyone with some small (usually way too small) measure of respect or risk dismissal, businesses went with the foolish 'corporate culture' model. So that employees would actually consider the longer, cheaper hours more worthwhile, companies tried to make sure that more of the compatible people were working for them, rather than have people want social lives outside of work. Companies should be after making the WORK more rewarding, rather than trying to get all your friends busy with the same work. They should also want to pay the best people available the best wages and salaries, not keep a revolving door spinning so that the cheapest, least-fit employees can cycle through at warp speed. You sound familiar with this topic.

Of course I am! American economists designed companies based on a multiple of eight and sold the concept to the Japanese. The Japanese followed it and thrived. They passed a lot of badly-run American businesses in productivity. We might be free, but that means we're free to do things BADLY, too!   What is the multiple of eight?

The highest paid person to the lowest. If someone isn't worth one-eighth what the highest person is paid, he doesn't belong on the same team. Maybe that job should be farmed out. If someone's position is worth more than eight times what the highest person is paid, they need to be a profit partner or a consultant instead, and NOT paid that much. It's really simple, and it really works. Why is this model not adopted often?

GREED. People want to be paid more for being worth less. That means paying everyone under you less. Robber barons in history. American sweatshops. The original reason there needed to be unions. Look at your history. [rapid net search lasting .09937 seconds] There is much material about these historical subjects.

Yep. I'm gonna go play chess now [exits]