Whither Base10?

Reports of Base10's demise have been greatly exaggerated. As previously described, Base10 is involved in a project at work that is simply mega time-consuming. Now Base10 can't really complain since it is on the Department's dime and Base10 has been the clear economic recipient. In addition, it is a pretty cool project and may lead to an academic paper (which Base10 will link to once he reveals his secret identity). Unfortunately, Base10 is also on vacation next week and wishes to get this project behind him soon so he can go with a clear conscience.

No vacation plans to speak of except the usual: some reading, some beach and some blogging fun. Here are a few links to keep you busy:

In Tour de France news, the AP is reporting that "Armstrong uncertain what lies ahead as Tour enters first crucial phase." You would think someone would have bought a map over at the US Postal Team. But seriously, today is the first of the mountain stages, although the mountains are not so high. The real mountain stages start on Friday. Standings have remained the same for several stages. Now is the time that you might see some movement of Armstrong and the other contenders.

Base10 watched the MLB All Star Game last night and enjoyed it in spite of the complete dominance of the NL by the AL, clobbering them 9 to 4. Roger Clemens gave up six runs on five hits in the first inning. Ironically he was honored during the seventh inning stretch.

In what must constitute a "News of the Bizarre" item, there are several reports that erstwhile NFL coach Mike Ditka is contemplating a run for the US Senate. Ditka would run on the GOP ticket taking the spot of Jack Ryan. You may recall that Jack Ryan, the former spouse of Star Trek sex symbol Jeri Ryan, was forced to withdraw from the campaign after a series of revelations concerning kinky sex practices used as grounds for their divorce. Base10 only brings this up for gratuitous reasons and an excuse to link to a Jeri Ryan photo. Let's just hope the Republicans get the Chicago Bears Ditka and not the mini-Ditka from New Orleans.

The AP had an infuriating story about a so-called documentarian making a film exposing bias on the Fox News Channel. The reader almost thinks this is a legitimate story until the last paragraph when it is revealed that the film will "initially be distributed through private 'house party' screenings and DVD sales." This basically means this is a student film that no one other than the reporter will see. Base10 then read Orson Scott Card's terrific piece about media bias in the Opinion Journal and realized that the AP story was exactly the kind of biased liberal journalism that Card was describing. The AP piece is an editorial disguised as a news story.

Bloomberg News reports (via Slashdot) that the Mexican Attorney General (along with about 160 other officials) will have a chip implanted in his arm to allow his location to be tracked and presumably allow access to a criminal database. The technology seems cool, but shouldn't the Mexican authorities be putting these chips in the criminal's arms to track them?

And finally in the "hasn't the man suffered enough" department, a British man was jailed for five years for illegal weapons possession. After drinking 15 pints of beer at a local pub, he went home and put a sawed-off shotgun in his pants and accidentally shot off his own testicles.
- posted by Base10 @ 10:20 AM