Letter Spacing...

I must admit that this is something I've never really thought much about before: the amount of spacing between typeset letters (like the ones you're reading right now).  I have occasionally noticed typeset text that looked “wrong” – and on close inspection, realized that was wrong was the spacing.  But truthfully I've never paid much attention to it.

Reading this fascinating post, I've learned that so far setting “correct” letter spacing remains an art.  By that I mean that type artists set the spacing through some process that they can't set down on paper, and that (so far, at least) nobody knows how to write a computer program to do it automatically.  That I found quite surprising, as it seems like the sort of thing that would be amenable to algorithmic attack.  Apparently not!  Or at least, not yet...

The Retirement Demograpic Problem...

I've been aware for many years that one of the main challenges with “pay as you go” retirement systems (like Social Security) is that there are far fewer working people per retired person today than back in the '30s when the system was established.  That fact dictates that the taxes paid by those working must increase to pay for the retired people.

Without really thinking about it much, I'd always assumed that this change was caused simply by the fact that people today live longer than people used to, and therefore have longer retirements.  This is definitely true, and is a component of the issue - but it turns out that the biggest reason is something else altogether: young people today have fewer babies (great animated graphic at the link) .  That's the single largest reason for this particular demographic change.

Amazing Shadow Dancing...

After-the-Election Thoughts...

By Rachel Lucas.  Go read it - and watch her animated GIFs.

After-the-Election Thoughts...

From Dave Carter, writing at Ricochet.  I find myself largely in agreement with his conclusion (but do go read the whole post):

So what to do? For me, there are two answers, one intimate and the other public. On an intimate level, to people I know personally who supported this man, my message is simple: good luck. In the words, of Samuel Adams, I will not seek, "... your counsel or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." May you enjoy your rendezvous with the government functionary who will weigh your age and health against the expense of whatever medical procedure you will need. You earned it. But my children and grandchildren didn't earn it, yet you've foisted that awful and ghastly fate on them as well. For that, you have my undying contempt.

On a public level, recognizing with shame that it is my generation that has consigned a great country to darkness and servitude, I can only continue the fight. At some point, events will run their course. The currency will be devalued into meaninglessness by repeated mass printings, the debt will be called, the loot which the takers now demand will dry up, and the country will implode. Perhaps out of the ashes, a few voices will be heard reminding all that it didn't have to be like this. It is my hope that Ricochet will be among those voices, and that mine will be among yours.

Though this generation is lost, the fight continues for the next, or the one after that. As long as I have a voice, I will be using it to remind everyone that it didn't have to be this way. Recalling Winston Churchill's remark that, "I like a man who grins when he fights," I look forward to engaging along side the rest of you. And as my friend Alphonse says, "May God bless da hell outta you." 

Fall...

By Marie Granelli.  Just gorgeous!

Debbie's Home...

After a long day at the hospital, a discharge process that felt like it would never end, and an epic low-speed journey from Escondido to Jamul (to avoid bumps that would jostle her very sensitive knee), we finally made it back home late last night.  As I write this, she's sitting up in bed, drinking her morning coffee, and chatting with friends.  For both of us, it's wonderful to have her back here.

We were worried about the dogs' behavior with her last night, so a friend came up and took them home with her, to board for the night.  Probably we'll let them come home today, and there's no doubt their dogly joy will be a sight to behold.  Most especially for Race, the border collie that hit her last Sunday – he's been worrying ever since...