Today's Heroes: Sir Donald Coleman Bailey, OBE

Sir Donald Coleman Bailey, OBE, born 15 September 1901, invented the Bailey bridge, a portable, repairable, prefab bridge, which helped the U.S.A. and the U.K. beat the Axis faster, saving many lives. They are still in use today.  Mr. Bailey invented it by fooling around with bridge models as a hobby. I wish surfing the Internet would save lives.

Today's Heroes: John Stark

Today, August 28, in 1728, John Stark was born.  He was the Hero of Bennington, because he knew the limitations of untrained militia at the crucial Battle of Bennington.  If you have seen a license plate from his home state of New Hampshire you might recognize his saying, "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils."  When a teenager, forced to run the gauntlet by an Indian band, he seized the club of the first Indian and fought so fiercely he was made honorary chief.  Teenagers should Do Hard Things.

Of Interest 2013-08-22 (Do It Yourself)

How to beat a polygraph test.

Of Interest 2013-08-21 (Mendacity for Power XV)

Academe is the Klu Klux Klan when Academe turns people (like George Zimmerman) into racists. People form Klu Klux Klans for power, often mendaciously.  The Academe did this, mendaciously, in some cases, to scam people into granting them moral authority, but mostly I suspect it was mendacity in support of wishful thinking. In this case the wishful thought was, "I am righteous." That is Klan all the way. Academe is often very like the Pharisies and Puritans in a bad way, and seldom like them in a good way.

I have good reasons for my strong dislike of American colleges and universities.

Of Interest 2013-08-20 (Do It Yourself)

Do It Yourself Radio Frequency ID locks are even cooler with an electric strike.

Recommended To Me 2013-08-20

America and Her Critics

Snark: Does Obama's New Puppy...

... also come with a V22 Osprey like the last one?

Thought of the Day: There Are Muslim Heroes And Heroines...

...fighting the Muslim villains.

Of Interest 2013-08-19 (Do It Yourself)

Do It Yourself Radio Frequency ID locks are still cool, but illegally modifying your dorm room?  Not so much.

Of Interest 2013-08-18 (Do It Yourself)

Do It Yourself Radio Frequency ID locks are still cool.

Of Interest 2013-08-17 (Do It Yourself)

Do It Yourself Radio Frequency ID locks are cool.

2013-08-16 (Freedom Vs. Intellectual Property II)

In the first case study in their book Boldrin and Levine point out that Watt's patent on his steam engine prevented innovation until it expired. Boldrin and Levine: Against Intellectual Monopoly.

Today's Heroes: The Christians of Byzantium

Praise God that the Christians defeated the Muslims on 15 August 718 at Byzantium.

Of Interest 2013-08-15 (Biology)

An amoebae that farms!

Thought of the Day: Arabs Hate Jews Every Bit As Much As Nazis Ever Did

Consider their reactions to this movie, and consider how the Nazis worked with Hollywood to censor films.

Of Interest 2013-08-14 (Fusion Power)

Fusion power without radioactivity!

Today's Heroes: Katie Ledecky and Missy (the Missile) Franklin

Katie Ledecky won four golds and set two World Records and Missy (the Missile) Franklin won six golds for the U.S. Women's Swimming team.  Sweet!

Of Interest 2013-08-13 (Smacking Iran)

Why Obama should engage Russia and smack Iran...

Of Interest 2013-08-12 (Mendacity for Power XIV)

People who mendaciously play word games for power end up confused.

Thought of the Day: Money Is A Tool

Without money we'd all be poor. A convenient, storage medium of exchange is the basis of the many wonderful experiences we have that other animals can't. Money is merely technology - a tool. Good tools are what the tool using animal uses to create wealth.