Lost worlds and ports of call

Month: November 2012 (Page 6 of 8)

Ken MacLeod’s Intrusion

Playing catch-up with Ken MacLeod’s latest novel, Intrusion, which appears only available inside the UK/Canada sphere. Strange that MacLeod, who’s books started off available only in the UK, then gained attention in the US, now again see his books in the US behind UK publication dates. At least Pyr books is bringing out his novels, after Tor dropped the ball a few years ago. But that’s the publishing world, I guess.

Bergen to Voss bike ride

I am considering riding the Bergen-Voss 100 mile (160km) bike ride one year, possibly 2013 or 2014 if I can work out the expense and logistics. I’ve cycled that far once in my life, and though I’m currently in the middle of marathon training for a January endurance event of 39.3 miles in one weekend, I hope to resume bike training thereafter and maybe get on track for a long ride up three mountains in western Norway. My family is originally from the Bergen area, and I’ve lived in Bergen and visited Voss. I’ve driven the route in a car many times, or at least large portions of it, and it’s a daunting route. My brother cycled it this year, so if everything works out I’ll ride it with him one year.

Taxes unify?

Weird that someone can hold the idea that raising taxes unifies people. Still, sadly true, since while cutting spending to balance a budget for a household makes fiscal sense, the idea that a government should do the same causes only strife and division. At some point, there no longer will be any money left to steal, and then what will Jerry Brown do?

Daylight ahead in war on drugs?

Recent ballot initiatives in a couple of states appear to signal an end in sight on the costly war on drugs. More a war on liberty, this four-decade old effort has sent thousands of non-violent individuals to jail, stolen reams of money from citizens, and served as a colossal waste of time and resources. Yet, as realists will argue, entrenched values in the federal community (DEA, Dept of Justice, etc) this war is by no means over.

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