10 Thoughts for July 11, 2014

1. Hurry up: Kickstarter project PocketScan is about to close.  It's the first Kickstarter project that I've signed up for.  I can see this working perfectly into many design workflows, but especially for capturing in-field sketches and usable construction drawing scans.  Sadly, without a last-minute rush, it looks like the stretch goal of text-to-voice won't be included.  
2. If you're thinking about buying a refurbished 2012 Nexus 7, I suggest spending a little extra and getting a refurbished 2013 Nexus 7 (FHD) instead.  Even as my 2012 Nexus 7 has gotten the latest Kit Kat updates -- now at 4.4.4 -- certain specific functions are missing.  Removed was the ability to force ART over Dalvik and the latest feature announcement -- casting screens to Chromecast-enabled TVs -- is currently disabled.  Mind you that ART will eventually replace Dalvik in L, and casting screens will eventually make its way to the N7 2012, but when you buy into the Nexus line, you're looking for front-row updates, so to keep you from being disappointed, I'm merely pointing out that if you spend a little more cash, a refurb'd 2013 N7 is better.  Oh, and the 2013 model also sports a rear camera which the 2012 model doesn't have.
3. Of course, if you aren't squeamish about DIY, you can always use the older Nexus 7 to load up CyanogenMod.
4. Oil prices are a reflection of human nature, it seems.  Under the guise of conflict in the Middle East -- Syria and Iraq -- oil prices, and therefore gas prices, rose rapidly this year.  Without respite in the conflict and amid continued threats, prices are now shooting down.  In other words, oil markets have calmed down and accepted the threat as non-existential and mostly a bump in the road.
5. In Greenwald's book, he mentions Ron Wyden's efforts to get James Clapper to tell the truth before a senate hearing, and how Clapper outright lied when he said that they didn't keep track of the numbers of Americans surveilled.
6. Sticking to spying: I'm not some idealist who believes that zero spying is the answer.  I however believe that Due Process and Privacy matters a great deal and they should never be laid to the wayside.  If you can't qualify a search under the low hurdle of the FISA Court, you probably don't have anything worth pursuing.
7. In the war between nature vs nurture, this study quantifies the influence of genetics and environment towards intelligence and finds that genes contribute more towards intelligence (in monkeys) than environment.  Mind you, it does not mean that if you have lousy genes, therefore you cannot grow up to have high intelligence; rather, it is easier to express high intelligence if the genes are in your favor.  If you drink and smoke weed when you're young, however, you pretty much throw any advantage away.
8. John Boehner seeks to gain authorization from Congress to sue the President.  This is interesting you see, because the Constitution clearly wrote the articles of impeachment and power of the purse as Congress' means to balance the Executive branch.  Which is to say that, were Congress to grant Boehner the right to sue, I predict that it could only end in a 9-0 slap in Boehner's face, by SCOTUS denying Congress standing to sue.  Vox has a great write up of the issues, including the mockery from conservatives who see this as nothing but political Kabuki.
9. On that intention to sue the President: Boehner wants to challenge the President's delay of certain provisions of the ACA, specifically the employer mandate.  This has many people scratching their head because, were Boehner successful, he would presumably be enjoining the President to plow forward with the very parts of the ACA that Republicans hate.
10. I accidentally ordered an adjustable neutral density filter from Hong Kong, when buying through Amazon.  I didn't mean to buy from overseas, as they usually take an extra long time, but I somehow missed the fine print.  When the order was fulfilled, it was then that I realized that it came from overseas when the estimated delivery was slightly longer than a month.  Fortunately, it arrived in just under two weeks.