Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Randomness
Just a few quick notes. I haven’t posted in a while (not that the one viewer per week has noticed), but a few things have been on my mind over the last few days:
Item: Go to New Orleans. I was there a week ago and the place is empty and people are leaving. It’s too much a part of this country’s history and heritage to allow it to die.
Item: Martin Luther King, Jr. deserves a memorial, but I think the $100 million that will be spent on the one in DC would be better spent on predominantly (and in many cases exclusively) black schools in the inner cities and rural South, or as seed money for a foundation to continue the work that he was doing when he died. His family sure isn’t doing much of anything except trying to make a buck off of his name and good deeds.
Item: Governor Mark Sanford (Libertarian-SC) latches onto every possible handhold that comes up (the latest is an audit of the state’s DOT saying they waste money—welcome to government) to argue for his pet project, reorganizing state government to make constitutional, elected positions part of a cabinet. I think instead the governor should be calling for a constitutional convention to get rid of the racist legacy of the sorry “Pitchfork” Ben Tillman, whose 1895 constitution was drawn up to disfranchise black voters as much as for anything else.
Item: James Carville needs some strange, because fucking Mary Matalin has addled his brain. Either that, or he should just sit back and raise the kids while the Mrs. runs the Republican party. If I were a Democratic leader, I wouldn’t tell him a damn thing about strategy or tactics, because Mary’ll just go down on him and he’ll ejaculate everything, literally and figuratively, right there on the living room carpet.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Visualizing Meaning � About the project
Faculty at Cornell were asked: "Of the many charts (graph, map, diagram, table and ‘other’) you have seen in your life, which has been the most important, remarkable, meaningful or valuable?" This site answers that question. Very cool.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
UP - United Professionals - Professionals deserve to earn a good living.
UP - United Professionals - Professionals deserve to earn a good living.
This new group founded by Barbara Ehrenriech looks to improve the lives of white-collar workers through attention to health care, debt, and displacement issues.
This new group founded by Barbara Ehrenriech looks to improve the lives of white-collar workers through attention to health care, debt, and displacement issues.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Last Outpost - TV Squad
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
The Blog | Jane Smiley: CEO President | The Huffington Post
The Blog | Jane Smiley: CEO President | The Huffington Post
Haven't posted in a while and will explain later, but this essay is astoundingly good.
Haven't posted in a while and will explain later, but this essay is astoundingly good.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
del.icio.us
I've been using my del.icio.us site to organize my bookmarks online so I'll always (at least as long as del.icio.us operates) have access to them if I don't have my computer or my thumb drive. Now that you can upload and import your bookmarks file into del.icio.us, it's really easy. The other advantage is that I can share them with other folks with the same interests. I didn't share them all at first, so I'm going to have to go through them and decide which ones to share (probably the vast majority). If any del.icio.us users happen upon this entry, check my site out, and be patient. If you don't use del.icio.us, check out my site anyway: you might decide to become a user.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Thursday, July 20, 2006
James Wolcott: Hellmouth Sets out the Welcome Mat
James Wolcott has some excerpts from various sources that put the Lebanon issue in deeper context.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Monday, July 10, 2006
Daily Kos: SC-Gov: The national implications
A good take on South Carolina's gubernatorial politics from a correspondent on the DailyKos site.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
information
This is the coolest site I've seen in a while. You can get further into the pictures forever. It's an infinite mosaic.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Monday, May 01, 2006
Colbert Lampoons Bush at White House Correspondents Dinner-- President Not Amused?
Colbert Lampoons Bush at White House Correspondents Dinner-- President Not Amused?: "Turning to the war, he declared, 'I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq.'"
Friday, April 28, 2006
Elvis, the world's smartest cow. By Jon Katz
Elvis, the world's smartest cow. By Jon Katz
I used to love the cows that inhabited the pasture behind my grandparents' house and trailer. I would stare at them, and they at me, for long minutes at a time. I've always wanted a cow of my own (and enough room and money to keep it), and Elvis seems like the kind of cow anyone would love to have around.
I used to love the cows that inhabited the pasture behind my grandparents' house and trailer. I would stare at them, and they at me, for long minutes at a time. I've always wanted a cow of my own (and enough room and money to keep it), and Elvis seems like the kind of cow anyone would love to have around.
The problem with the United 93 films. By Ron Rosenbaum
The problem with the United 93 films. By Ron Rosenbaum
Depressing, but thoughtful and intelligent, unlike most of the 9/11 "analysis" to which we're subjected constantly. Even Brian Williams of NBC "News" used the new flight 93 movie to "remind us that we're at war." What arrogance!
Depressing, but thoughtful and intelligent, unlike most of the 9/11 "analysis" to which we're subjected constantly. Even Brian Williams of NBC "News" used the new flight 93 movie to "remind us that we're at war." What arrogance!
Monday, April 24, 2006
Pharyngula: Look, Ma, I'm a "secular whackjob"!
Pharyngula: Look, Ma, I'm a "secular whackjob"!: "the absence of faith is not faith, any more than the absence of a sandwich is also a kind of tasty snack between two slices of bread."
Response to the article by Melinda Barton on Raw Story, which I posted in my previous entry. Myers took the time to analyze the Barton piece. I probably wouldn't have come up with quite as scathing a response, as it's not in my nature (or nurture: take your pick), but I think his decimation of Barton's article is right on.
But that brings up a different sort of problem. How do you deal with the political ramifications of "secularism"? There are a lot of people out there who perceive the Democratic Party as the party of godless license, and who vote otherwise or not at all because of this perception. These are people who vote against their own economic and political interests because they fear the outcome if some godless liberal managed to take office. How can Progressives build and maintain a "big tent" if we keep having these arguments over the nature and existence of god? Republicans seem somehow to have managed to bring together the Social (read, conservative Christian) Right and the Economic Right, despite their divergent interests, yet Democrats have difficulty appealing to groups with convergent interests because of divergent social views.
Response to the article by Melinda Barton on Raw Story, which I posted in my previous entry. Myers took the time to analyze the Barton piece. I probably wouldn't have come up with quite as scathing a response, as it's not in my nature (or nurture: take your pick), but I think his decimation of Barton's article is right on.
But that brings up a different sort of problem. How do you deal with the political ramifications of "secularism"? There are a lot of people out there who perceive the Democratic Party as the party of godless license, and who vote otherwise or not at all because of this perception. These are people who vote against their own economic and political interests because they fear the outcome if some godless liberal managed to take office. How can Progressives build and maintain a "big tent" if we keep having these arguments over the nature and existence of god? Republicans seem somehow to have managed to bring together the Social (read, conservative Christian) Right and the Economic Right, despite their divergent interests, yet Democrats have difficulty appealing to groups with convergent interests because of divergent social views.
Pharyngula: Look, Ma, I'm a "secular whackjob"!
Pharyngula: Look, Ma, I'm a "secular whackjob"!: "the absence of faith is not faith, any more than the absence of a sandwich is also a kind of tasty snack between two slices of bread."
Response to the article by Melinda Barton on Raw Story, which I posted in my previous entry. Myers took the time to analyze the Barton piece. I probably wouldn't have come up with quite as scathing a response, as it's not in my nature (or nurture: take your pick), but I think his decimation of Barton's article is right on.
But that brings up a different sort of problem. How do you deal with the political ramifications of "secularism"? There are a lot of people out there who perceive the Democratic Party as the party of godless license, and who vote otherwise or not at all because of this perception. These are people who vote against their own economic and political interests because they fear the outcome if some godless liberal managed to take office. How can Progressives build and maintain a "big tent" if we keep having these arguments over the nature and existence of god? Republicans seem somehow to have managed to bring together the Social (read, conservative Christian) Right and the Economic Right, despite their divergent interests, yet Democrats have difficulty appealing to groups with convergent interests because of divergent social views.
Response to the article by Melinda Barton on Raw Story, which I posted in my previous entry. Myers took the time to analyze the Barton piece. I probably wouldn't have come up with quite as scathing a response, as it's not in my nature (or nurture: take your pick), but I think his decimation of Barton's article is right on.
But that brings up a different sort of problem. How do you deal with the political ramifications of "secularism"? There are a lot of people out there who perceive the Democratic Party as the party of godless license, and who vote otherwise or not at all because of this perception. These are people who vote against their own economic and political interests because they fear the outcome if some godless liberal managed to take office. How can Progressives build and maintain a "big tent" if we keep having these arguments over the nature and existence of god? Republicans seem somehow to have managed to bring together the Social (read, conservative Christian) Right and the Economic Right, despite their divergent interests, yet Democrats have difficulty appealing to groups with convergent interests because of divergent social views.
Pharyngula: Look, Ma, I'm a "secular whackjob"!
Pharyngula: Look, Ma, I'm a "secular whackjob"!: "the absence of faith is not faith, any more than the absence of a sandwich is also a kind of tasty snack between two slices of bread."
Response to the article by Melinda Barton on Raw Story, which I posted in my previous entry. Myers took the time to analyze the Barton piece. I probably wouldn't have come up with quite as scathing a response, as it's not in my nature (or nurture: take your pick), but I think his decimation of Barton's article is right on.
But that brings up a different sort of problem. How do you deal with the political ramifications of "secularism"? There are a lot of people out there who perceive the Democratic Party as the party of godless license, and who vote otherwise or not at all because of this perception. These are people who vote against their own economic and political interests because they fear the outcome if some godless liberal managed to take office. How can Progressives build and maintain a "big tent" if we keep having these arguments over the nature and existence of god? Republicans seem somehow to have managed to bring together the Social (read, conservative Christian) Right and the Economic Right, despite their divergent interests, yet Democrats have difficulty appealing to groups with convergent interests because of divergent social views.
Response to the article by Melinda Barton on Raw Story, which I posted in my previous entry. Myers took the time to analyze the Barton piece. I probably wouldn't have come up with quite as scathing a response, as it's not in my nature (or nurture: take your pick), but I think his decimation of Barton's article is right on.
But that brings up a different sort of problem. How do you deal with the political ramifications of "secularism"? There are a lot of people out there who perceive the Democratic Party as the party of godless license, and who vote otherwise or not at all because of this perception. These are people who vote against their own economic and political interests because they fear the outcome if some godless liberal managed to take office. How can Progressives build and maintain a "big tent" if we keep having these arguments over the nature and existence of god? Republicans seem somehow to have managed to bring together the Social (read, conservative Christian) Right and the Economic Right, despite their divergent interests, yet Democrats have difficulty appealing to groups with convergent interests because of divergent social views.
Pharyngula: Look, Ma, I'm a "secular whackjob"!
Pharyngula: Look, Ma, I'm a "secular whackjob"!: "the absence of faith is not faith, any more than the absence of a sandwich is also a kind of tasty snack between two slices of bread."
Response to the article by Melinda Barton on Raw Story, which I posted in my previous entry. Myers took the time to analyze the Barton piece. I probably wouldn't have come up with quite as scathing a response, as it's not in my nature (or nurture: take your pick), but I think his decimation of Barton's article is right on.
But that brings up a different sort of problem. How do you deal with the political ramifications of "secularism"? There are a lot of people out there who perceive the Democratic Party as the party of godless license, and who vote otherwise or not at all because of this perception. These are people who vote against their own economic and political interests because they fear the outcome if some godless liberal managed to take office. How can Progressives build and maintain a "big tent" if we keep having these arguments over the nature and existence of god? Republicans seem somehow to have managed to bring together the Social (read, conservative Christian) Right and the Economic Right, despite their divergent interests, yet Democrats have difficulty appealing to groups with convergent interests because of divergent social views.
Response to the article by Melinda Barton on Raw Story, which I posted in my previous entry. Myers took the time to analyze the Barton piece. I probably wouldn't have come up with quite as scathing a response, as it's not in my nature (or nurture: take your pick), but I think his decimation of Barton's article is right on.
But that brings up a different sort of problem. How do you deal with the political ramifications of "secularism"? There are a lot of people out there who perceive the Democratic Party as the party of godless license, and who vote otherwise or not at all because of this perception. These are people who vote against their own economic and political interests because they fear the outcome if some godless liberal managed to take office. How can Progressives build and maintain a "big tent" if we keep having these arguments over the nature and existence of god? Republicans seem somehow to have managed to bring together the Social (read, conservative Christian) Right and the Economic Right, despite their divergent interests, yet Democrats have difficulty appealing to groups with convergent interests because of divergent social views.
Pharyngula: Look, Ma, I'm a "secular whackjob"!
Pharyngula: Look, Ma, I'm a "secular whackjob"!: "the absence of faith is not faith, any more than the absence of a sandwich is also a kind of tasty snack between two slices of bread."
Response to the article by Melinda Barton on Raw Story, which I posted in my previous entry. Myers took the time to analyze the Barton piece. I probably wouldn't have come up with quite as scathing a response, as it's not in my nature (or nurture: take your pick), but I think his decimation of Barton's article is right on.
But that brings up a different sort of problem. How do you deal with the political ramifications of "secularism"? There are a lot of people out there who perceive the Democratic Party as the party of godless license, and who vote otherwise or not at all because of this perception. These are people who vote against their own economic and political interests because they fear the outcome if some godless liberal managed to take office. How can Progressives build and maintain a "big tent" if we keep having these arguments over the nature and existence of god? Republicans seem somehow to have managed to bring together the Social (read, conservative Christian) Right and the Economic Right, despite their divergent interests, yet Democrats have difficulty appealing to groups with convergent interests because of divergent social views.
Response to the article by Melinda Barton on Raw Story, which I posted in my previous entry. Myers took the time to analyze the Barton piece. I probably wouldn't have come up with quite as scathing a response, as it's not in my nature (or nurture: take your pick), but I think his decimation of Barton's article is right on.
But that brings up a different sort of problem. How do you deal with the political ramifications of "secularism"? There are a lot of people out there who perceive the Democratic Party as the party of godless license, and who vote otherwise or not at all because of this perception. These are people who vote against their own economic and political interests because they fear the outcome if some godless liberal managed to take office. How can Progressives build and maintain a "big tent" if we keep having these arguments over the nature and existence of god? Republicans seem somehow to have managed to bring together the Social (read, conservative Christian) Right and the Economic Right, despite their divergent interests, yet Democrats have difficulty appealing to groups with convergent interests because of divergent social views.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
The Raw Story | The left's own religious whackjobs
The Raw Story | The left's own religious whackjobs
I don't know if I support all the contentions in this article, but I wanted to go ahead and blog it. I'll edit this post later, maybe, after I ruminate on the main points some more.
I don't know if I support all the contentions in this article, but I wanted to go ahead and blog it. I'll edit this post later, maybe, after I ruminate on the main points some more.
Friday, April 21, 2006
John Dean on Bush's personality
FindLaw's Writ - Dean: Predicting Presidential Performance
Dean wrote this piece nearly two years ago, in May 2004. Amazing prescience.
Dean wrote this piece nearly two years ago, in May 2004. Amazing prescience.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Disturbing thought exercise from Billmon
Whiskey Bar: Mutually Assured Dementia
tackles possible outcomes if the U.S. attacked Iran with nuclear weapons.
tackles possible outcomes if the U.S. attacked Iran with nuclear weapons.
Friday, April 07, 2006
I never knew this
Alan Smithee - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
one of the most prolific motion picture directors of our time.
one of the most prolific motion picture directors of our time.
Monday, March 27, 2006
The Movie Timeline
"The Movie Timeline is the history of everything, taken from one simple premise - that everything you see in the movies is true..."
Intellectual Property Run Amok
One of my pet peeves is the misuse of intellectual property rules, and the creation of such rules solely to add to the bottom lines of the current owners of the "rights" rather than to encourage the creation of new works. This article in Mother Jones outlines some of the stupidity involved in overprotecting, i.e. preventing access to, so-called "intellectual property."
Car Guy Stuff
I should have known about this site before, but I didn't. Now if you didn't, you do. If you're lucky enough to click on my site, that is.
Leftlane News - Car News For Enthusiasts
Leftlane News - Car News For Enthusiasts
Friday, March 24, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Friday, March 17, 2006
Cheerleading: a sport in crisis
An interesting take on the quintessentially American "sport."
Sport | Cheerleading: a sport in crisis
Sport | Cheerleading: a sport in crisis
Monday, March 13, 2006
Clooney's a Liberal!
and he takes on Democrats, who so deserve to be knocked upside the head for being wussy, wimp, chickenshit assholes for not standing up for something.
The Blog | George Clooney: I Am a Liberal. There, I Said It! | The Huffington Post
The Blog | George Clooney: I Am a Liberal. There, I Said It! | The Huffington Post
Thursday, March 09, 2006
God angry at Blair
Terry Jones, Python and Medievalist, has a scoop. Sources close to the Almighty report that He's quite pissed at the British PM.
Guardian Unlimited | Guardian daily comment | God: I've lost faith in Blair
Guardian Unlimited | Guardian daily comment | God: I've lost faith in Blair
Monday, March 06, 2006
MAKE: Blog: Street-legal jet powered VW Beetle
I gotta get one of these! My kids already think I drive too fast.
MAKE: Blog: Street-legal jet powered VW Beetle
MAKE: Blog: Street-legal jet powered VW Beetle
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Lost Civil Rights Photos
Negatives found in a box in an equipment closet are lost photos from the Civil Rights Movement.
al.com: Unseen. Unforgotten.
al.com: Unseen. Unforgotten.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Where to Stay in Nairobi
On a lighter note than usual:
Africa, East Africa Safari adventure Accommodation Giraffe Manor, Nairobi
Africa, East Africa Safari adventure Accommodation Giraffe Manor, Nairobi
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
CD ripping isn't fair use
More on the perils of DMCA. Does anyone else see pervasive anti-fair use technology coming soon to a medium near you?
Boing Boing: RIAA: CD ripping isn't fair use
Boing Boing: RIAA: CD ripping isn't fair use
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Doing Business with China
The recent dusting of ire toward China by members of Congress belies an essential reality: China represents exactly what Capitalism needs: huge markets populated by an oppressed people who have cash. China is capitalism without liberty, an ideal system for business: it allows profit while ensuring that there won’t—or can’t—be significant instability. If businesses can be sure of a climate that supports them while at the same time prevents worker unrest, “excessive” democracy (in the form of taxes on businesses, for example), then the environment for doing business is perfect.
Key U.S. technology and internet companies have been complicit in helping China achieve this objective. Limiting access to the ’net through “commercializing” it—ending internet neutrality—is a step on the way to developing means of silencing critics of business and government. Boingboing has been keeping track of a lot of this. For one of the recent entries, see here. For a good rant, see John Batelle here. I’ll be interested in seeing what, if anything, comes out of this hearing.
China’s defense of its position is based on the old playground defense: the West did it first, so it’s okay for us.
This model or theory applies mostly to large corporations, but I’m afraid that the future will bring more restrictions on personal and internet freedom as those corporations exert increasing control over how we live our lives and enjoy the fruits of our labors. DRM is but one example, one that I will leave for another post.
Key U.S. technology and internet companies have been complicit in helping China achieve this objective. Limiting access to the ’net through “commercializing” it—ending internet neutrality—is a step on the way to developing means of silencing critics of business and government. Boingboing has been keeping track of a lot of this. For one of the recent entries, see here. For a good rant, see John Batelle here. I’ll be interested in seeing what, if anything, comes out of this hearing.
China’s defense of its position is based on the old playground defense: the West did it first, so it’s okay for us.
This model or theory applies mostly to large corporations, but I’m afraid that the future will bring more restrictions on personal and internet freedom as those corporations exert increasing control over how we live our lives and enjoy the fruits of our labors. DRM is but one example, one that I will leave for another post.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Monday, February 13, 2006
I don't know if I'm there yet, but this is interesting
BAY AREA / Out of the retail rat race / Consumer group doesn't buy notion that new is better
I know my friend and fellow blogger jec will enjoy this, though.
I know my friend and fellow blogger jec will enjoy this, though.
Unclaimed Territory - by Glenn Greenwald: Do Bush followers have a political ideology?
Unclaimed Territory - by Glenn Greenwald: Do Bush followers have a political ideology?
This is a great post. I haven't posted anything in a while, but this is certainly worthy.
This is a great post. I haven't posted anything in a while, but this is certainly worthy.
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