Spy vs. Spy

Okay, you've got to admit this is pretty interesting.

 

Facts: On July 24, between the islands of Oland and Gotland, the vessel was attacked by a group of 10 to 12 people in black masks. They beat and bound the crew while searching for something on the vessel. According to some sources, the hijackers spent nearly 12 hours on the Arctic Sea before leaving empty-handed... It was allegedly hijacked again on August 3, at which point the hijackers demanded a $1.5 million ransom for the vessel's safe release. The Russian navy embarked on its first major operation since the end of the Cold War, rushing three battleships and one frigate to find the Arctic Sea.

 

Speculation: Given the scale of the potential international brouhaha, a country with a distinct interest in preventing this shipment chose to interdict it in an unofficial manner.

 

-Max

 

--

Rock Is Dead. Long Live Scissors!

 

"The presentation or 'gift' of the Holy Ghost simply confers upon a man the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it and desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment." --Joseph F. Smith (manual, p. 69)

 

 

Message in a Bottle

Dear K.,
 
How are you? I mean that sincerely. The fact that my mind is blank ought perhaps to clue me in to the possibility that I ought to write later when I do have something to say, but I can't help wanting to interact with you in some way anyway. For so long you've been my best friend--who knows how long? maybe years, maybe centuries--but there's still so much about you that I only guess at, but wish to know. So, dear friend, how are you?
 
I love the climate and terrain here in Washington. One thing about desk jobs though--it's important for me to interact with the actual physical universe because of all the time I spend living in my head, and it takes a fairly deliberate effort to do so. Pain is a funny thing. Though it isn't pleasant in and of itself, there's something deeply satisfying about having worked hard enough to have sore muscles all over your body.
 
I really like my new apartment, by the way. It's my first time without roommates, and to my surprise I find that rather than being lonely I enjoy controlling the whole space, deciding how most efficiently to use each room, internalizing the details of what I own and precisely where it is, and what is okay to throw away or not buy in the first place. And when I clean something it stays clean--it's very motivating. I think so far at least I have fewer urges to go out and spend money--perhaps that was a coping mechanism for getting away from people (and clutter).
 
I also bought an iPod Nano. It's amazingly small and light. Music makes me happy. I continue to read (both sci-fi/fantasy and nonfiction, variously scientific, psychological, political, or business-oriented). How are your hobbies?
 
It's nice to talk with you. Be well, dear friend.
 
Love,
Maximilian
 
P.S. I now have a multicolored propeller beanie. Watching the red propeller spin in the wind makes me happy.
 
(Hmmm. "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Propeller Beanie." Because seriously, what is more amazing and enviable, a coat or a hat? What do you think?)
 
--
Rock Is Dead. Long Live Scissors!
 
"The presentation or 'gift' of the Holy Ghost simply confers upon a man the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it and desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment." --Joseph F. Smith (manual, p. 69)

Medical malpractice

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/036480.html

In 2003, $11 billion for medical malpractice premiums, out of $215 billion for all liability insurance, or out of $1.5 trillion on health care costs.

-Max

--
Rock Is Dead. Long Live Scissors!

"The presentation or 'gift' of the Holy Ghost simply confers upon a man the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it and desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment." --Joseph F. Smith (manual, p. 69)

Miscalculations and Interpersonal Relationships

You know, M., if I had known then what I do now, there are several things I probably wouldn't have done. One is this: there were occasions when I knowingly did things that would hurt my relationship with K., because I thought the benefit to her would be greater than the cost. For instance, still forwarding her interesting articles while we weren't on good terms. I thought she would value the information despite the source (incorrect assumption), and that our relationship wasn't important to her so any damage to it would also not be important (also incorrect). Things would have turned out better if I had assumed that we were both important to each other.

That would also have changed the way I addressed problems in our relationship. For instance, when she felt inundated with Max-ness (you know I can be pretty overbearing), she tended to react by being purposefully rude so that I'd back off. Eventually I would notice and stop talking to her, and I'd count that as further evidence that she didn't really care about our relationship. At which point she would now feel comfortable talking to me again, so we'd drift back into being friends. It was a vicious, perplexing cycle. If I had known we cared about each other I would have used my normal tactic of asking, "Hey, what's up with the way you're treating me lately?" and she probably would have told me that I needed to back off. Since I figured I already knew, though, I didn't ask, I just kept assuming that she occasionally found me useful but didn't like me very much as a human being, and that she was sometimes annoyingly rude--and the cycle never got fixed.

There are things I would do differently if I had the chance to do them over again, now that I know more.

-Max

--
Rock Is Dead. Long Live Scissors!

"The presentation or 'gift' of the Holy Ghost simply confers upon a man the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it and desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment." --Joseph F. Smith (manual, p. 69)

Gulf War I (Recommended)

A summary of the first Gulf War. Very readable, pretty short.
Discusses motivations and larger context.

http://www.jerrypournelle.com/mail/2009/Q3/mail583.html#Trainor

-Max

--
Rock Is Dead. Long Live Scissors!

"The presentation or 'gift' of the Holy Ghost simply confers upon a
man the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it and
desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although
he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment." --Joseph F.
Smith (manual, p. 69)

Tax revenues

[From http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/slideshow/ALeqM5ibGXhJv-N7Qg6nh-nQpPOgJRTgugD99ROBK80?index=0]



I wonder what caused the big spike in corporate tax revenue during the Bush years.

-Max

--
Rock Is Dead. Long Live Scissors!

"The presentation or 'gift' of the Holy Ghost simply confers upon a man the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it and desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment." --Joseph F. Smith (manual, p. 69)

I love Gmail!

http://blogoscoped.com/archive/2007-11-20-n35.html

--
Rock Is Dead. Long Live Scissors!

"The presentation or 'gift' of the Holy Ghost simply confers upon a
man the right to receive at any time, when he is worthy of it and
desires it, the power and light of truth of the Holy Ghost, although
he may often be left to his own spirit and judgment." --Joseph F.
Smith (manual, p. 69)