Piffle. End of week.

Relieved that Louisiana voters turned away from wanna-be governor David Vitter. So tired of preachy, finger-pointing politicians like him who go down in flaming scandals only to come back later claiming that Jesus redeemed their sins and blessed them with forgiveness. Same for that crowd of philandering pastors who litter the landscape. Their declarations of redemption granted confuse me because nothing ever presented to me indicated Jesus was easily fooled, so perhaps the redemption they feel has more to do with their boys-will-be-boys attitudes than anything Jesus saw fit to get involved with. Of course, I can't speak for Jesus either but I am comforted that Vitter is no more. One less slippery spot on the political linoleum.

Rant:

I thought my state's law was that if you ran a car's windshield wiper you had to turn on the headlights. Not so, BUT ...

** State **  law does not link the display of headlights to windshield wiper use. Instead, it requires a motor vehicle to display its headlights and other required lighting devices (1) from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, (2) at any time when, due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, people or vehicles are not clearly discernable at a distance of 500 feet, or (3) during any period of precipitation such as rain, snow, or fog.

Folks, when you ride in a silver car, on silver-slicked wet roads, winding through gray trees, through patches of silvery fog, remember, YOU'RE HARD TO SEE! Your headlights might save your life or that of someone else. Just saying. (And I promise to be sure to put my lights on when it rains. I will really, really try.)

Find of the day on the Net:

"Creatures of the deep (12 photos)

Underwater photographer Alexander Semenovs has snapped some of the most stunning, fragile life forms anywhere on planet Earth. Shot in deep, dark conditions, the images continue to provide an insight into what lies beneath, with glowing creatures appearing a lot like aliens in the pitch-black…

Yahoo News"

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, 
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. 
- Hamlet (1.5.167-8), Hamlet to Horatio

This is one of his pictures. I included the Shakespeare. (Hoping photo inclusion here covered under fair use act.) Looks like a living  spaceship floating in a void to me but it could be anything from a microscopic alien redneck to a silicon sex toy for robotic giants. There's no scale. Flippancy aside, the image is stunning. Mr. Semenovs is apparently extremely talented and works in dimensions few people even know exists. Check out the other photos in his work.

Bam! That did it! Where's that damn soapbox when I need it? Oops. There it is. Right under my feet as always. I must not get off. Do I not? (Data needed.)

If the Emperor of Meland had any influence at all, he would approach the Mr. Semenovs of the world and say: "Look, you have the ability to find the invisible by knowing where and how to look. You are showing the wide range of life we don't even yet know about, and that teaches us more about our supremely complex reality. Mankind needs that ability to think outside the box, to look for things where nobody has looked before, or to look at the same things in different ways. Society will pay you to teach your skill to others. (Actual number to be case specific.) You tell us your needs in an apprentice and we will recruit individuals who meet those needs, starting with people trapped in urban environments. We will pay those individuals to learn from you. Then off you go. Keep us apprised of what you discover.

How is Meland going to pay for all this as a society? Perhaps one less over-inflated celebrity salary? One less outrageously-priced political speech?

How about this: "JPMorgan Chase is keeping the compensation of its chief executive, Jamie Dimon, flat at $20 million, according to a regulatory filing, after he helped steer the bank through a tumultuous year. But Mr. Dimon is receiving $7.4 million of his pay in easier-to-access cash after receiving his entire bonus in restricted stock last year." (To quote DealBook of the New York Times.)

This is making me cry. Poor guy has to put on his big-boy pants because the board is keeping his compensation flat. $7.4 million is easier-to-access cash?????? $20 million in a year total, for a banker, who "helped steer the bank through a tumultuous year," AFTER, I point out, he drove it into that tumultuousness in the first place! 

The Emperor of Meland frowns on those who are rewarded on grand scales despite demonstrable failure.