Jun 15th, 2011 by bitfiddler
It started with a line from “The Perfect Summer” which chronicles what life was like in England in 1911. The passage told of how women of the upper class; in order to stave off boredom would, (among other things) go on shopping expeditions to the new “Department Store” Sheffield’s and Whiteley’s on Oxford street in London. ‘which boasted a staff of six thousand!
This led me to search the web for more information on the store. I found that it had been established in 1906
It offered amenities such as a post office, a library, rooms dedicated to foreign visitors, and a department dedicated to selling items for clergymen. Shoppers could at last purchase make-up and perfume easily, and the clothes department sold all manners of items – including those that were very hard to find. Women were encouraged to shop there with the slogan “Why Not Spend the Day at Selfridges?” The store quickly became a national institution.
Can you imagine such a store in this day and age?
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Jan 21st, 2011 by bitfiddler
It just makes me smile and sits on top of my mantle to keep me company.
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Jan 21st, 2011 by bitfiddler
The only reason that Spencer wants to get in my lap is to squirrel away the used kleenex that I haven’t thrown out yet.
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Jan 21st, 2011 by bitfiddler
The only reason that Spencer wants to get in my lap is to squirrel away the used kleenex that I haven’t thrown out yet.
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Jun 11th, 2010 by bitfiddler
It occurs to me after watching the unfolding disaster in the Gulf and the inadequacy of response of both Government and Industry response, how ill prepared we as a people are prepared for events of this nature and how collectively we are enamored of our technology and our relationship to it.
why do we trust that we can handle these things? Or worse we Lie about our ability to handle and cope with technology run amok.
do we expect too much from government?
what would be the response if this had been a dirty bomb and there were radioactive clouds rolling across the south, would we be prepared? Would the press be just as whipped as they are today by BP?
where would the outrage lie if a disaster had had been the result of an enemy attack? Where would the politicians fall in that case? Typical finger-pointing, or something else?
Are we prepared for anything but mundane occurrences, unable to even cope with only smallish natural disasters
REcent history does not bode well for how we plan and prepare for events when shit hits the fan.
This would be shorter and make more sense if i could focus better and had more time.
Tags: BP, Disaster
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May 27th, 2010 by bitfiddler
last night’s Rachel Maddow show was a real eye opener in terms of what has and has not been learned in the last 30 years by the oil industry,
The oil companies keep talking about how technologically advanced they are, but what they have gotten technologically advanced at is drilling deeper. They haven’t gotten any more advanced on how to deal with the risks attached to that. They haven’t made any technological advances in the last 30 years when it comes to stopping a leak like this when it happens.
All they’ve gotten better at is making the risks worse, by putting these leaks further out of our reach. Wow, hey, congratulations. Now the thing you can’t stop is a full mile underwater. That and making themselves the most profitable industry the universe has ever seen, and I am not exaggerating.
Tags: Gulf coast, Maddow, oilspill
Posted in Life, Media | 1 Comment »
May 25th, 2010 by bitfiddler
I wonder what would have happened had this “accident” had happened in some out of the way corner of the world and not in front of one of the busiest ports in the northern hemisphere (if not the world) and in one of the more ecologically sensitive areas in this part of the world? Would we know HALF of what we think we do? Would there be as much attention? as many resources available, or would this just be another sad chapter in industries quest for profit at all costs. Will anyone LEARN anything from this?
Gulf Oil Spill
Tags: Gulf coast
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May 24th, 2010 by bitfiddler
I watched the lead stories on ABC & NBC this morning. The lead was The oil spill and catastrophe brewing in the Gulf of Mexico. More than a month and the damage is still continuing. The reporting by Anne Thompson of NBC brought tears to my eyes.
I grew up on the Gulf coast and while I have no desire to return there, the thought of the wildlife (including my favorite the Brown Pelican) and the gulf itself makes me physically ill.
The beaches, the ocean, the birds, the PEOPLE will all be irrevocably affected. It is heartbreaking to contemplate.
Tags: Gulf coast
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May 24th, 2010 by bitfiddler
testing the blogging client for Random Access. I have no idea if this will work or not. … Well, it worked. and now I am adding an image to it.
Tags: test
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