Octopuses

Waiting for the Pope2

He argues that rich nations should change their goal from one of economic growth to that of "increased happiness in a situation of stable income and declining population". This sentiment is echoed by both Graeme Maxton, leading economist and author of The End of Progress, while Charles Sturt University Professor of Public Ethics Clive Hamilton observes that in our developed economies, "people buy things they don't need, with money they don't have, to impress people they don't like".

http://phys.org/news/2013-12-population-growth-bodes-decline-standards.html

#Democracy

NSA reform falters as House passes gutted USA Freedom Act So-called reform measure still grants NSA broad access to phone metadata.

You cannot have a democracy without a right to privacy, where is the outrage?

Related TED talk: Lawrence Lessig: We the People, and the Republic we must reclaim

It's official, I'm finally a published author!!!

Infographic by XKCD (creative commons license BY-NC)

The Wheel of Time

Just heard about the first batch of casting for the Wheel of Time adaption.  Very exciting news.  The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan is one of my favorite series and one of the reasons why I don’t like to start new series until they are completely done!  

I read the first four books in the early 90′s when I was in high school and was hooked.  I had to wait almost 20 years for the series to be completed.  Agony!  

The 14 books are massive volumes and total just about 12,000 pages.  If you listen to the audio version it will take you 19 days and 5 1/2 hours.

I’m hopeful it will turn out much better than that uber weird 30 minute pilot that aired in the middle of the night! 

Another reason why I like to know an entire series is done before I start?  Well, in addition to having to wait 20 years to finish the series, the author passed away before he finished the last book.  Needless to say, I have not read the GOT series or watched the show and will definitely be waiting until the books are finished!

Brandon Sanderson finishes Robert Jordan's bestselling Wheel of Time Series with A Memory of Light

Check out these links for more info:

Wikipedia GoodReads