Insightus Immersus

Poli Sci Phi

2009-03-17T22:44:00.003-04:00

I've been spending a lot of time at a new blog - Politics, Science & Philosophy - named after my three favorite topics to discuss.

Billy Crudup on The Daily Show

2009-03-08T11:46:00.002-04:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Billy Crudup

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

David Byrne on The Colbert Report

2009-03-03T21:43:00.004-05:00

I was surprised to see David on The Colbert Report, he hadn't mentioned it on his blog - though he did mention a Radio City show and tour stop in New York City. Regardless, I saw him in Miami and was impressed that he still had it (exactly what "it" is - I'm not sure, but I like "it"). He never seems to disappoint, from the Talking Heads to his solo career and, more recently, a warehouse-turned giant instrument, he re-invents himself yet remains analytical, political, and reflective - perhaps that's "it". Anyway, this is another album with Brian Eno and it's great. Much more here.

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Political Humor

Rap Battle
Joke of the Day

When Hubble Observed Dark Matter

2009-03-02T10:49:00.005-05:00

15-May-2007: An international team of astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a ghostly ring of dark matter that was formed long ago during a titanic collision between two massive galaxy clusters. It is the first time that a dark matter distribution has been found that differs substantially from the distribution of ordinary matter.

Astronomers have long suspected the existence of the invisible substance of dark matter as the source of additional gravity that holds together galaxy clusters. Otherwise, astronomers say, the clusters would fly apart if they relied only on the gravity from their visible stars. Although astronomers don't know what dark matter is made of, they hypothesize that it is a type of elementary particle that pervades the Universe...

The ring, which measures 2.6 million light-years across, was found in the cluster ZwCl0024+1652, located 5 billion light-years away from Earth. The team found the ring unexpectedly while they were mapping the distribution of dark matter within the cluster. Although astronomers cannot see dark matter, they can infer its existence in galaxy clusters by observing how its gravity bends the light of more distant background galaxies...

Dark matter makes up most of the Universe's material. Ordinary matter, which makes up stars and planets, comprises only a few percent of the Universe's matter...

Tracing dark matter is not an easy task, because it does not shine or reflect light. Astronomers can only detect its influence by how its gravity affects light. To find it, astronomers study how faint light from more distant galaxies is distorted and smeared into arcs and streaks by the gravity of the dark matter in the foreground galaxy cluster, a powerful trick called gravitational lensing. By mapping the distorted light, astronomers can deduce the cluster's mass and trace how dark matter is distributed in the cluster...

Previous observations of another cluster, the Bullet Cluster, with Hubble and the Chandra X-ray Observatory presented a sideways view of a similar encounter between two galaxy clusters. In that collision, the dark matter was pulled apart from the hot cluster gas, but the dark matter still followed the distribution of cluster galaxies. ZwCl0024+1652 is the first cluster to show a dark matter distribution that differs significantly from the distribution of both the galaxies and the hot gas.

There is much more at the channel where I found this. There are a few dozen Hubblecasts. Hubble has photographed "the most important image ever taken."

Some Science of Watchmen

2009-02-27T07:38:00.001-05:00

Who Will Watch the 'Watchmen'?

2009-02-20T20:51:00.019-05:00

Gearing up to be the most anticipated adapted graphic novel adaptaion, it has a story line with many philosophical undertones and overt criticisms of human nature, society, and international politics, with, what looks like, special effects second to none - I'm going to see it at IMAX!

Wired has more behind the scenes and "making-of" footage. More on the film and the official site. In theaters 03.06.09.

Some Tim Minchin

2009-02-04T22:14:00.004-05:00

A poem called Storm by Tim Minchin about pseudo-science and its logical shortcomings. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I do with much of his sarcastic and comedic wit. Here's a bit more:

Here's a song called Not Perfect

Hallelujah, with Geradline Quinn:

There's more on the youtubes.

Health Care is an Ethical Issue

2009-01-25T13:40:00.006-05:00

Art Caplan, the Emanuel and Robert Hart Professor of Bioethics, Chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and the Director of the Center for Bioethics at the UPenn, spent some time with Terry Gross on Fresh Air and had a bit to say about the health care in America, thoughts on Tom Daschle and the main reasons for rising health care costs, specifically, drug prices and the lack of a "right to health care" for everyone.

They discuss medical information technology, patients' rights, Veterans Affairs, embryonic stem cell research, the moral obligations of a highly developed nation, and other recent significant medical news - such as the Cleveland Clinic's recent face transplant.

Caplan says that Daschle is a fan of "moving slowly" on health care - I'm for moving cautiously but steadily and swiftly - Caplan is in favor of setting up a national medical board, "because it's long over-due" - also a Daschle idea - Where informed officials to negotiate prices and establish standards of medical care. Don't we have an FDA for some of this? I think we need better communication and evaluation for the services provided as well.

"Public health deals with prevention, politicians deal with crisis."

Caplan recently wrote an op-ed at msnbc about health care today and it's accompanied by a slide show presentation.

It's About Time

2009-01-18T23:32:00.004-05:00

The Shape of Time

Time Travel

Happy Thinking!

Here is the entire documentary from which the second video is from, I haven't watched it, but I plan on it. Much more on Time to come. So in the meantime, check out Radio Lab's post on the subject.

Walk On

2009-01-18T11:46:00.006-05:00

Or In water. Walking fish, also called ambulatory fish. We've seen the walking catfish and mudskippers, but some look much more amphibious (although I'm no marine biologist). I'm not sure what to make of the one below, however, it is fairly easy to see that fish like this could've "crawled onto land."

A closer look:

Some day, those fish are gonna walk all over you...

And now, Neil Young with Walk On:

Coincidence Versus Supernatural

2009-01-12T23:50:00.001-05:00

An brief explanation of probability.

Perhaps that could "just be coincidence."

A History of Declining Violence

2009-01-12T22:51:00.004-05:00

Linguist Steven Pinker questions the very nature of our thoughts -- the way we use words, how we learn, and how we relate to others. In his best-selling books, he has brought sophisticated language analysis to bear on topics of wide general interest.

Below, "Steven Pinker charts the decline of violence from Biblical times to the present, and argues that, though it may seem illogical and even obscene, given Iraq and Darfur, we are living in the most peaceful time in our species' existence."

The Plant Eye-View

2009-01-11T19:56:00.006-05:00

Michael Pollan analyzes the plant perspective of evolution and then some advice for new-age Agriculture.

"Looking at the world through other species points of view is a cure for the disease of human self-importance."

"Who's telling you that consciousness is so important? Consciousness."

"We are all being manipulated by corn."

He was recently on Fresh Air in a segment called "Food As A National Security Issue" over an open letter to the next president (now Obama) in the The New York Times.

The Bike-Tree

2009-01-11T18:05:00.001-05:00

Next generation of bike rack?

The Deadliest Weapon

2009-01-11T17:47:00.004-05:00

Blackwater on the Discovery Channel.

Damn you Discovery Channel!

What Can Fossils Teach Us?

2009-01-10T11:39:00.001-05:00

A little bit about Dinosaur Evolution. Why didn't they go the way of some mammals - back to the water? How to find fossils and go to extreme, and arguably crazy, measures to interpret them.

Paleontologist Paul Sereno talks about some of his experiences while digging for fossils and also about the non-profit organization Project Exploration as a way to try and get young people involved in science.

On Sync

2008-12-30T23:30:00.004-05:00

From birds to fish, how Nature tends to synchronize. Applied mathematics professor Steven Strogatz, author of Sync, explains his observations.

High Def Asteroid Impact

2008-12-29T23:35:00.004-05:00

Set to Pink Floyd's The Great Gig in the Sky.

Innovation for the Twenty-First Century

2008-12-20T20:49:00.005-05:00

Obama on Science:

He had me at "especially when it's inconvenient." Some info on his team:
John Holden, Harold Varmus, Eric Lander, and Jane Lubchenco.

Finally, science and evidence as a basis for prosperity in the coming years so to replace the ideology that would instead hold us back.

"Mr. Obama's science team will deal with global warming after the Bush administration opposed mandatory cuts of greenhouse gas pollution."

Certainly differing from the previous eight years:

"Last year, former Surgeon General Richard Carmona testified to Congress that top administration officials often dismissed global warming as a "liberal cause" and tried to play down public health reports because of political considerations.

The Bush administration also tightly restricted government funding for stem-cell research because of concerns about the use of human embryos." [VoA]

And according to Wikipedia:

On July 10, 2007, Carmona, along with former Surgeons General C. Everett Koop and David Satcher, testified before the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about political and ideological interference with the Surgeon General's mission. Carmona accused the Bush Administration of preventing him from speaking out on certain public health issues such as embryonic stem cell research, global climate change, emergency contraception, and abstinence-only education, where the Administration's political stance conflicted with scientific and medical opinion.

Carmona also testified that the Bush Administration had attempted for years to "water down" his report on the dangers of secondhand smoke and pressured him not to testify in the tobacco industry's racketeering trial: "Anything that doesn't fit into the political appointees' ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored, marginalized or simply buried." According to Carmona, he was even ordered not to attend the Special Olympics because the event was sponsored by the Kennedy family, and was told to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches. The Washington Post subsequently identified William R. Steiger as the Bush Administration official who had blocked release of Carmona's report on global health because it conflicted with the Administration's political priorities.

Reuters reported that Carmona's predecessors as Surgeon General had acknowledged the high level of political interference he experienced, saying: "We have never seen it as partisan, as malicious, as vindictive, as mean-spirited as it is today, and you clearly have worse than anyone's had."

Woah. I'll be happy when all that changes.

Dangerous Knowledge

2008-12-20T20:00:00.005-05:00

"David Malone looks at four brilliant mathematicians - Georg Cantor, Ludwig Boltzmann, Kurt Gödel and Alan Turing - whose genius has profoundly affected us, but which tragically drove them insane and eventually led to them all committing suicide."

When the quest for certainty unveils how uncertain the Universe is. "To infinity and beyond" - a one way ticket to insanity. You won't believe how Turing was treated. When at one with yourself, you may be at odds with your society. When you possess "dangerous knowledge," you are a danger to the status quo.
Georg Cantor - Set Theory and Continuum Hypothesis
Ludwig Boltzmann - Kinetic Theory
Kurt Gödel - Incompleteness Theorems
Alan Turing - Turing Test and Artificial Intelligence

Infinity, Entropy and Logic.

"The problem is that today, some knowledge still feels too dangerous... We too feel things we thought were solid being challenged - feel our certainty slipping away. And so as then, we still desperately want to cling to a belief in certainty, it makes us feel safe... Are we grown up enough to live in uncertainties... or pledge blind allegiance to yet another certainty."

Also mentioned: Galileo Galilei, Charles Darwin, Bertrand Russell, Descartes, and Albert Einstein.

Ray McGovern on Gates, Afghanistan and Russia

2008-12-19T19:12:00.002-05:00

"Raymond McGovern is a retired CIA officer. [He] was a federal employee under seven US presidents for over 27 years, presenting the morning intelligence briefings at the White House for many of them. McGovern was born and raised in Bronx, graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University, received an M.A. in Russian Studies from Fordham, a certificate in Theological Studies from Georgetown University, and graduated from Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program."

[TRNN]

Obamanomics and the Bailout

2008-11-30T22:26:00.003-05:00

"That's not change we can believe in." - John McCain.
Don't let McCain be right!

The 8.5 Trillion Dollar Bailout:

It's a Bank-Eat-Bank World, with that surprise tax incentive for bank mergers.

Also, many progressive economists are encouraging deficit spending to stave off Depression 2.0. Novel-Prize recipient Paul Krugman agrees and had some things to say about it recently on Fresh Air. Krugman knows Fed Chairman Bernanke well (both were faculty at Princeton), and had only positive things to say about him. Here's an article in The New Yorker about the Chairman and just about every step of "The Crisis" called The Anatomy of a Meltdown. Bernanke studied the Great Depression in great depth and, according to Krugman, is the best person to handle it. Why doesn't that comfort me? Unemployment has only begun to rise. I still see a massive "main street" bailout on the horizon, including tax cuts and new jobs created to rebuild our infrastructure, grids and public transportation - and possibly even a bank nationalization in the first couple weeks of the Obama Administration. This is going to be entertaining!

The Wii-mote Theremin

2008-11-30T22:09:00.004-05:00

Ken Moore made a Theremin with a Wii Remote. He explains and demonstrates below:

For a demonstration of the Theremin, Pamelia Kurstin plays at TED:

Apparently, there's Moore you can do with the Wii-mote than make a 3D Wii like Johnny Lee (at TED and youtube release).

Synecdoche, New York

2008-11-26T23:05:00.005-05:00

Writer, and now Director, Charlie Kaufman has a new film out. So, if you prefer complex films and post-viewing introspection, I highly recommend Synecdoche, New York. I can definitively say that you will think about it afterward. You may even spring another 10 bucks or so to see it again; pretty sure I will. It's the sort of film you can't possibly grasp in one viewing and every subsequent time more of the intricate details are revealed. I feel as though it helps you to understand a little more about Kaufman himself, as many of his films let you know about what he must have been contemplating while writing. This film delves into dying and leaving a legacy, as well as companionship and vulnerability.

Synecdoche means "simultaneous understanding" and is a figure of speech used when expressing a whole by stating a part. An example is "all hands on deck," where "hands" represents the sailors.

The title is both a play on the name of a New York city - Schenectady (where some of the film takes place) and that the plot involves building a replica of New York City inside a warehouse in Manhattan for which Hoffman's character plans to house a Broadway performance - "a part representing the whole."

The film is dark, obviously, but what could be more entertaining than watching the protagonist - having his mid-life crisis - spiral down into depression while his health deteriorates and his paranoia and imagination heighten? The story is told like no other can do.

"There are millions of people in the world. And none of those people are as an extra, they're all leads in their own stories."

Update: Kaufman was interviewed last month on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Synthetic Biology Debate

2008-11-26T22:15:00.004-05:00

Drew Endy and Jim Thomas take ten minutes each to provide an argument for Synthetic Biology and a warning against. First, Stanford Assistant Professor and Biological Engineer, Drew Endy:

Second, Technology Historian and Writer, Jim Thomas:

Malcom Gladwell on Outliers and Spaghetti Sauce

2008-11-21T17:03:00.012-05:00

Malcom Gladwell, author of Tipping Point and Blink, both of which I've read recently is interviewed below by Stephen Colbert about his new book, Outliers. I'll probably read this one soon. I feel that it will lend credence to an idea not truly appreciated in our culture. The rich get richer and "the American Dream" is more luck with hard work than just hard work. Granted that is way too over simplified, but in a country where most people think they'll "be rich one day" when chances are they won't, a sort of debt-burdened society is created that provides wealth to financial industry execs and enslaves many others with high-interest monthly payments to those same banks. Alas, I digress. There's an excerpt from Outliers here.

Overall, his books read quick and easy with a narrative that entertains and gets you thinking, probably why they become best-sellers. These days, I applaud any medium that engages people to reflect upon themselves and their relationships with "social norms." Tipping Point is about what goes into trend-setting and Blink is about informed instincts (Read it to see what I mean). Gladwell has a blog at his website, which I haven't had the luxury to fully explore. It's followed by a TED talk where his presentation was mostly based on the "Tipping Point" phenomena exemplified by spaghetti sauce. Enjoy.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Malcolm Gladwell

Ron Paul Interview
Bob Barr Interview

Green Screen
Bill O'Reilly Interview

UPDATE 01/11/09: Finished reading Outliers last week, if anyone wants to discuss.

Wilco The Blog Post

2008-11-02T13:20:00.006-05:00

Colbert interviews Wilco's front man Jeff Tweedy. A Rock and Roll Socialist, "spreading the songs around" for free on their website.

"Watch the commercials or you're stealing."
"We're just lousy capitalists."

I'd hate to be critical of a band I've enjoyed so much for so many years, but this "exclusive song" it highly egotistical - a vibe I've been getting from the band, especially Tweedy, recently. The song is called "Wilco the Song" and it goes like this:

They probably understand their message enough to know what listeners get from it, so I guess humility isn't a virtue they''ll display anymore. Perhaps that's what it is to be a Rock Star. Regardless, they do rock and their albums are always inventive and insightful. A few other songs that were not released on their newest album, Sky Blue Sky, they are: Sunny Feeling, One True Vine, Glad it's Over, and an untitled one.

Buckethead

2008-10-27T22:55:00.008-04:00

I saw Buckethead perform last night and I was quite impressed. How couldn't you be? The man's awesome. Known for playing with Guns 'n Roses, Les Claypool, Iggy Pop and others, he really tears it up. Rated #8 on Guitar World's list of the "Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time," I can see why. Here is a full show:

Standing almost 7 feet-tall, notice his robotic movements, long slender fingers and extremely thin body frame; then tell me he doesn't have Marfan's Syndrome. I would strongly urge him to see a physician (as if he wouldn't know by now). Like all other people with Marfan's, he's at risk for cardiovascular injuries such as arrhythmia's and aortic dissections. This is because Marfan's results from a mutation in the fibrillin-1 gene, a connective tissue protein, and patients are typically tall, very thin, and flexible. Other risks include ectopic eye lenses, hernias, heart valve defects, skeletal defects, and possible lung defects.

Recently, people have been arguing that President Abe Lincoln had Marfan's because of his height and Marfanoid features, mainly his facial features. Perhaps that's why Buckethead wears a mask? I'm not in any way dissing Buckethead, I think he rocks, this was just an observation. Besides, this is not an uncommon speculation, Dr. David Connell believes that Jazz legend Robert Johnson died of an aortic dissection at age 27 because it appears he had Marfan's as well:
Buckethead is working on a new album titled, The Dragons of Eden, after Carl Sagan's book, with many of the tracks named according to the chapters. I can't wait.

Here he plays at Wakarusa with Claypool. And here at Ozzfest 1999 with Primus. Some more of that rock:

Understanding "Truthiness"

2008-10-20T23:06:00.003-04:00

Truthiness: in other words spin, or, the truth is whatever they make it. A 2006 interview with Stephen Colbert. Get to know a pundit.

60 Minutes with Stephen Colbert

Pain on Main Street

2008-10-19T18:13:00.008-04:00

The American News Project has been producing a series on the economic downturn and its reverberations throughout the nation. We've heard a lot about how all this is affecting Wall Street, now here's a few stories about our fellow Americans.

The Rich in Greenwich feel the Pinch.

A Mailman's Insight

Shops Start To Sweat

More on this and some possible solutions to come. One place to start is Single-Payer Health Care (HR 676). Look it up before you dismiss it, Single-payer does NOT equal Socialized Medicine. It's time for a Second New Deal: Health Care for all, high-speed internet for all, public education that works, and Green Industry and Infrastructure Revolutions for the manufacturing sectors. Those ideas are for starters.

Digitally Viewed Embryos

2008-10-09T17:02:00.004-04:00

Behold, the formation of an embryo! From Wired:

[The Digital Scanned Laser Light-Sheet Fluorescence Microscope] uses a sheet of light to scan a living organism from many different dimensions. [S]cientists were able to track the complex cellular organization of a zebrafish embryo as it grows from a single cell to 20,000 cells... The new technique... could be used on other animals such as mice, chicken and frogs, which could help researchers better understand evolution at the cellular scale.

The montage (above) of three-dimensional images taken at 10-minute intervals shows cells dividing and moving around the embryo to form specialized tissues. The new research was published today in Science.

Developmental biology is truly fascinating. Plenty to learn, plenty to explore.

Here's Some "Straight Talk"

2008-10-06T19:25:00.003-04:00

Spend some time listening to Ralph Nader. Even if you have no plans on voting for him, his perspective and insight is education to listeners every time. Nader takes questions and explains his position to the San Francisco Commonwealth Club on September 30th, 2008.

We're In For a Shock

2008-10-03T15:39:00.010-04:00

Naomi Klein stops by The Colbert Report to deliver a shock to viewers. Her recent book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, explains her thesis that the government, through years of planning and with survival of the financially-fittest principles, has developed ways to "shock and awe" the public into quite complicity. Capitalizing off disasters to push legislation and ideals that otherwise wouldn't get passed. In other words, taking advantage of bad situations to pad the wallets of their buddies. Think about the Patriot Act, domestic spying and FISA, torture memos, preventative war ("The Bush Doctrine"), no-bid "cost-plus" contracts on private contractors and unbelievable military spending without much oversight, lack of much corporate oversight (at least with respect to taxes and in Iraq), Katrina and the subsequent housing development that is leaving thousands without homes, and the placing of video cameras on street corners in major cities "for our own protection."

The "Economic Crisis" is Klein's recent example of this. Where legislature is purposed (with only a week left before Congressional recess) and the public (and representatives in Congress) is frightened into giving up tremendous amounts of money. This $800 billion bailout (on top of our current trillions in debt) will certainly make it much harder for the next administration to pay for government services. This means we may see a privatization of Social Security, a repeal of Medicare/Medicaid (when we should be increasing it), cut-backs on public education, cut-back on government oversight personnel, privatization of infrastructure, all without lowering taxes because we'll be bankrupting our government. Who benefits from this? Unless you have stock in these companies, do you really benefit? Lame Duck Administration? I don't think so.

"Who's your Daddy?"

A more dramatic explanation below:

Here's her site, the book is out on paperback.

The Real News Network

2008-09-28T19:07:00.008-04:00

Paul Jay started an independent internet news outlet. How are they independent? Well for starters, no government funding, no advertising, and no corporate contributions. They reside at therealnews.com and function solely by member support and viewer contribution. They supposedly have no allegiance to any country or political group and are very willing to tell the events of the world as they appear, with as much historical context as possible. They hope to go global and report on the issues that impact us without the curtain of censorship draped over by special interests. This is the "change I would believe in." This is the "straight-talk." This is our future and "our future depends on knowing." It's hard to decipher through the propaganda.

Here's an interview by Daljit Dhaliwal, host of PBS Foreign Exchange:

Another interview at the 2007 National Conference for Media Reform:

More at these wiki pages: Paul Jay and TRN. And now for a message on the election:

18 Minutes With An Agile Mind

2008-09-28T12:10:00.005-04:00

Clifford Stoll is a astronomer who is known for discovering a KGB hacker at the beginning of the Internet. He's also an eighth-grade physics teacher and a "techno-skeptic," who ironically claimed that the Internet wouldn't replace personal interaction and would then collapse as a means of interaction. He has said "[r]ather than bringing me closer to others, the time that I spend online isolates me from the most important people in my life, my family, my friends, my neighbourhood, my community." And in a Newsweek article in '95 that, "[e]ven if there were a trustworthy way to send money over the Internet--which there isn't--the network is missing a most essential ingredient of capitalism: salespeople." He was obviously wrong about most of that, with Amazon, ebay, facebook, youtube, myspace and all. I don't know, perhaps his skepticism provoked some people to find solutions to his predicted problems? He also makes and sells Klein Bottles in his spare time. It's hard to keep up with a mind that races, so give it a try, I think you'll be entertained:

"It is the voice of life that calls us to learn."

Queerer Than We Suppose

2008-09-27T17:07:00.005-04:00

This amazing TED lecture by Evolutionary Biologist Richard Dawkins explains how human understanding of our universe may be limited by our development. The way we perceive the world around us developed as a means to survive in it and as a consequence we may have limited ourselves to certain perceptions. Our minds will have to evolve to comprehend what exists outside our "Middle World."

Sound Waves Take Shape

2008-09-27T16:45:00.004-04:00

This video shows what happens when salt is placed on a surface vibrating with sound waves and as the frequency is increased the patterns change. You might want to turn the volume down and keep your pets out of the room as the pitch increases.

Source.

Social Welfare

2008-09-27T16:31:00.005-04:00

Maher flips the welfare talking points onto the guys that have trashed our financial sector for short-term gains, and McCain/Palin as well, for good measure.

Once in a Century Rip-off

2008-09-27T15:32:00.005-04:00

From Real News:

Dr. Michael Hudson is a Wall Street financial analyst and historian. Dr. Hudson was Dennis Kucinich’s Chief Economic Advisor in the recent Democratic primary presidential campaign, and has advised the U.S., Canadian, Mexican and Latvian governments, as well as the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). A Distinguished Research Professor at University of Missouri, Kansas City, he is the author of many books, including Super Imperialism: The Economic Strategy of American Empire and of Super-Imperialism and of The Myth of Aid.

I'm no economist, but over the last week many economists have stated strongly that this "bailout" isn't necessary to rush into. Many other solutions have been proposed, some of which do not cost taxpayers a dime. I think if we do bailout Wall Street, there has to be a way to give taxpayers equity in the companies we're bailing out.

Some analysts think the most important steps to avoid another depression may have already occurred without the $700 billion bailout... "It's more hype than real risk," said James K. Galbraith, a University of Texas economist and son of the late economic historian John Kenneth Galbraith. "A nasty recession is possible, but the bailout will not cure that. So it's mainly relevant to the financial industry."

More at Behind The Bailout @ PBS.org

Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) calls the spade and explains the tactics of the Administration.

Don't get fooled again.

Disaster Capitalism at its finest.

Here Be Dragons

2008-09-21T23:32:00.004-04:00

An insight into critical thinking as applied to modern themes, memes, and pseudoscience schemes. Brian Dunning, host of Skeptoid podcasts and forums at Skeptoid.com, explains some approaches one must take to reason out the bullshit in many of the get-healthy-quick ploys and how a critical approach to much of this could save you a lot of money in the long run. Plus, in applying this way of thinking you'll learn an awful lot, and if nothing more, an appreciation for the scientific process.

(the following is from the site)

Here Be Dragons is a free 40 minute video introduction to critical thinking. It is suitable for general audiences and is licensed for free distribution and public display.

Most people fully accept paranormal and pseudoscientific claims without critique as they are promoted by the mass media. Here Be Dragons offers a toolbox for recognizing and understanding the dangers of pseudoscience, and appreciation for the reality-based benefits offered by real science.

Here Be Dragons is written and presented by Brian Dunning, host and producer of the Skeptoid podcast, author of Skeptoid: Critical Analysis of Pop Phenomena, and Executive Producer of The Skeptologists.

"Here be dragons" is a phrase used to denote dangerous or unexplored territories, in imitation of the infrequent medieval practice of putting sea serpents and other mythological creatures in blank areas of maps. In another context, software programmers sometimes use it to indicate especially difficult or obscure sections of code in a program so that others do not tamper with them.

The Difference Between Liberals and Conservatives

2008-09-21T21:04:00.006-04:00

And how the harmony is what matters. Johnathan Haidt is a professor at University of Virginia and had the following to say at TED.

So, do think this political pendulum is necessary? Or could the two views compromise eventually? Too bad there's a third entity - money. When it talks, both sides of the isle listen.

"Use that passionate commitment to the truth to try to turn it into a better future for us all."

An interview at The Believer.

Additionally, this past week it was reported that conservatives tend to be "yellow" relative to their liberal counterparts. Perhaps that explains why they cling so tightly to national security issues and vote for whoever scares them into thinking they'll be more secure with them leading. Not all conservatives, but enough.

The findings, from a team led by Douglas Oxley, of the University of Nebraska, are consistent with previous studies, which found that political beliefs are highly heritable.

Identical twins, who share all their genes, are more likely to have similar views on current affairs and social issues than fraternal twins, who share a similar upbringing but only a proportion of their DNA. A strong role for biology may explain why people change their core beliefs so rarely...

A strong startle response is indicative of heightened fear and arousal. The results, which are published in the journal Science, revealed significant differences in both responses, which corresponded with people’s political views. Those with “markedly lower physical sensitivity to sudden noises and threatening visual images” tended to support liberal positions, while those with strong responses tended to be more conservative.

This would fit with the hypothesis that people who have more fearful responses to perceived threats are more likely to be conservative, while those who have weaker responses develop more liberal views...

This was unlikely to be indoctrination by parents and peer-groups, they said, because involuntary reflexes could be altered only with systematic training, which usually involves punishment. More probable was that political outlook and startle responses were affected by differences in brain activity, possibly in the amygdala region, which processes emotions such as fear and disgust. “Amygdala activity is also crucial in shaping responses to socially threatening images, and may be connected to political predispositions,” they said.

The God Gene

2008-09-15T22:25:00.002-04:00

Discovered recently by John Cleese.

I prefer the fundamental-reductionist point of view, that way everything makes sense and I don't have to embrace my mortality... Ahhhh, bliss.

Burn After Reading

2008-09-14T14:11:00.004-04:00

Go. See. It. Violent at times, but overwhelmingly entertaining.

A whirlwind of a disaster dark comedy executed beautifully by The Coens. I'd say Intolerable Cruelty meets Fargo. Not as "brilliant" as other Coen films, but their style permeates every aspect of it from dialog to editing. A relatively short film, which most likely intentional in order to best bring this outrageous plot to life and smack you with it, leaving you to think it over afterwards. I was particularly impressed with George Clooney and Francis McDormand's acting, as well as Brad Pitts. I don't think you'll get attached to any characters and it's probably best if you didn't.

Olbermann on Palin's Interview

2008-09-14T13:59:00.000-04:00

Amy Goodman Interviews Jon Stewart

2008-09-07T11:01:00.000-04:00

The Daily Show's Take on The RNC

2008-09-06T15:10:00.003-04:00

They did a better job pointing out the hypocrisy.

The Reformed Maverick

Playing the Gender Card [and pointing out hypocrisy]

Dubya at the 2000 RNC

2008-09-04T19:34:00.003-04:00

Did he say "end the politics of fear"?
What about Abu-Ghraib and Gitmo? Walter Reed? And "uphold[ing] the laws"?

But I guess nine-eleven changed everything...

So help him God.

Arithmetic, Population, and Energy

2008-08-25T11:35:00.009-04:00

Do you understand exponential growth and its impact on human survivability?

A lecture called "Arithmetic, Population, and Energy" by Dr. Albert A. Bartlett, a Physics professor at the University of Colorado, provides a Malthusian view with respect to oil production and consumption, basically, he's lecturing on the science behind peak oil. He was quoted saying "sustainable growth is an oxymoron." These days all we're hearing a lot about some pretty disastrous consequences of populations consuming more than their production, hence the food and energy crises. Dr. Bartlett makes a strong argument based mainly on the effects of exponential growth.

On youtube it was titled "the most important video you'll ever see." Made in 2003, it is eighty minutes in its entirety, although it's not nearly as boring as you may think (I assume you can sit through a lecture or two), plus it's highly important you understand as much as possible. Try to watch them all.

"The Greatest Shortcoming of the Human Race is our Inability to Understand the Exponential Function!"

"The Growth in any Doubling Time is Greater than the TOTAL of all the Preceding Growth!"

Below are two lectures divided into ten minute clips that detail the problems associated with exponential growth and consumption. I've given them some titles that summarize the specific topic covered. Overall, this is a lesson in arithmetic as well as on the importance of critical analysis when provided just about any type of information. I seriously hope the members of congress understand exponential growth (you'll see what I mean). It is very important that you understand what he's getting at and consider it when listening to media reports and when reading articles that seem to support the opposite sentiments of what you think may be true. Always try to see why someone is saying the things they're saying. I'm referring to ulterior motives, especially when war and oil and profit are considered. Be skeptical, even about this lecture, although I'd be quicker to believe him because he's not profiting much from this (DVD sales a little bit perhaps) and all his information is available to anyone anytime to review themselves; how's that for transparency? It's mainly about how, in his mind, our growth will always surpass technologies ability to provide for the citizens of the world and how many reporters, writers, and energy officials either get the facts wrong or intentionally distort the perceptions of the reader for their own gain.

First, an excerpt from Carter's Energy speech (you'll see why), full speech here:

Part One: Energy Depletion - Was Jimmy Carter Correct?

Part Two: The Human Dilemma - Nature's Taking Care of the Problem

Part Three: Bacteria in a Bottle (and how OPEC controls consumption)

Part Four: Can We Find Enough Oil? Have We Reached The Peak?

Part Five: Strength Through Exhaustion? Why are we in Iraq?
(this video is a little messed up, but the graphs are reproduced on the sites below and if you pay attention to what he says, you really get the drift)

Part Six: What of World Petroleum?

Part Seven: The First Law of Sustainability

Part Eight: Think (how solutions can cause problems)

A billion sound like a lot, but how far does a billion barrels of oil go?

Do you see what just happened with Gas Prices this past year? OPEC raised the price almost 100%, perhaps to reduce consumption a bit. Now they'll lower it again to sustain oil dependence. We're just experiencing a "bump" in the line on the graph. How many times will we go through this until we change the playing field? We need to begin harvesting solar energy for sustainability. We need solutions that are well thought-out and consider the possible side-effects. Is anyone really willing to dedicate the time to think of these solutions? Or are we destined to be so tunnel-visioned with our daily routines to ever consider the ulterior motives of others, particularly politicians?

So after all this, is US offshore drilling the answer? Or is solar energy? Is now the time to implement some new resources? The sun is pretty limitless in its resourcefulness, so is wind, so is tide-power. At least for more than one lifetime.

Some text for his presentation.

Some additional info and his essays and publications.

A lecture of his on Climate Change.

String Theory and Multiple Universes

2008-08-17T11:16:00.008-04:00

Here's a TED talk of Brian Greene explaining String Theory along with some historical prospective. I've posted a little on this before, one with an animation to help visualize 10 dimensions (I find it helpful) and another about the founder of this theory (and his son).

Also, on the most recent episode of Radio Lab called The (Multi) Universe(s), Robert Krulwich interviews Dr. Brian Greene, a professor from Columbia and author of The Elegant Universe (on my book list). Greene's talk is meant to engage and perk interest in the study of our Universe. I read some of the comments at Radio Lab's blog and I always find it amusing that listeners intend to understand everything from a 50 minute talk. That, or they ignorantly deny anything that frightens them or they find evidence for claims that better suit their desires. It seems hard for me to think that I would dispute any of these theories without reading the research and understanding the math behind it. That's one reason I study biology, I can grasp it and it has very little math relative to physics.

For more, here's an interview of Brian Greene with Michau Kaku on similar topics, this may provide some additional explanation. There are three 10-minute parts:

Also, Google Video and youtube have PBS' (with Greene) The Elegant Universe series from NOVA.

The Most Important Image Ever Taken

2008-08-13T17:16:00.003-04:00

That's quite a statement, but one look at Hubble's Deep Field and you'll understand.

Humbling indeed.

Chilling Anti-McCain Video

2008-08-13T16:29:00.005-04:00

Running alongside the theme song from Requiem for a Dream, this video shows some compiled clips and statements about the military-man McCain and why strikes on Iran aren't the best idea. I admit, I got chills.

And you thought only neocons use scare tactics...

Seriously though, electing a military-man with our military budget and capabilities, one who becomes pressured by partisan-politics, lots of money and a philosophy bent on restructuring our country (massive privatization) and the Middle-East (see nation-building and imperialism) is terrifying.

Let's think for a second: we elected an oil-man and an ex-CEO of a military-industrial company and we got a war for oil; what makes you think electing a military-man who doesn't understand two generations younger than him is going to bode well for the future of America?

video from DailyKos (via Reddit) where there are links to the info and quotes mentioned in the clips.

Lightning in Slooooow Moooootion

2008-08-09T22:11:00.000-04:00

Some Beijing OlymPICs

2008-08-09T11:45:00.010-04:00

Most of the opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympics was pretty spectacular. Politics aside, they certainly put on a great show. I was impressed. Some astonishing photos from Boston.com:

The Browser of The Future

2008-08-07T10:38:00.003-04:00

Perhaps. According to Mozilla, we may be upon a revolutionary way in which we interact with each other through the Internet. By combining Instant Messenger-like services with the idea of a browser history in an OS X Time Machine-like format and personalized browsing, Mozilla could significantly raise the bar for browser capabilities. Behold Aurora:

Aurora (Part 1) from Adaptive Path on Vimeo.

It may just be a "concept," and much like a concept car, unlikely to go to market, however it illustrates some impressive ideas that these guys are working on.

They also introduced a browser for an iPhone-like device, utilizing (er- copying?) the touch-screen and sleek white-colored design. Pretty idealistic feat for a browser company, but they could always sell it to LG or Sprint for one of their touch-screen phones.

Aurora (Part 2) from Adaptive Path on Vimeo.

On a similar note, Apple recently filed a patent stating that users of the iPhone will be able to access their iTunes music remotely from their home, effectively reducing the need for larger storage space on the hand-held itself. Now, if they can sync the iPhone so that it can retrieve data such as documents saved on your desktop, I would be extremely impressed.

So what if this browser was unleashed with the capabilities of Apple's sync, but to retrieve documents as well as music? The future of technology is rich with unprecedented capabilities.

Source.

Phil Ochs, The Protest Singer

2008-08-03T10:25:00.012-04:00

I was recently introduced to the songs of Phil Ochs; a protest singer of the sixties and early seventies. I've been listening to the stories and ballads of his albums, deducing much of the frustration and outrage obvious in many of his songs. In case you haven't noticed, I tend to post songs and artists of this nature frequently. What can I say? I find that their words articulate their opinions of history with a razor-sharp reminder of what can happen socially and politically when power is abused and when minds are small.
Phil was tormented by the atrocities he saw throughout his short life. The combination of being commercially unsuccessful (perhaps because serious topics aren't taken seriously), being filled with despair from feeling the futility of being at odds with "the machine" and witnessing his inspirations assassinated was too much for him. A victim of bipolar mental illness and alcohol abuse, he took his life at age 35. He certainly didn't keep his opinions to himself, nor did he seem to care. As long as there was injustice, he picked up his guitar and twanged a tune to tell it as he saw it. Every song is informative with no sugary coat. Certainly his tunes try to shake their listeners from apathy. I don't know what his contributions would've been had he survived through Regan and up through Dubya. I'm guessing he would write songs similar to the ones he's famous for, however, even without him, his songs are applicable to current events if you simply switch the names and dates of the songs, as Eddie Vedder has done is one of Phil's most political songs (below). Here are a few selections (mainly the ones on youtube), but he has many more songs on many more controversial topics. A few of of my favorites, not shown below, are: Colored Town, A.M.A. Song, Talking Cuban Crisis, Bound for Glory, Knock on the Door, Too Many Martyrs, Draft Dodger Rag, Ballad of the Carpenter and Days of Decision. Check him out!

A Tribute:

I Ain't Marching Anymore

One More Parade

Cops of the World

Crucifixtion

What Are You Fighting For?

Here's to the State of Richard Nixon

and Eddie Vedder's rendition (pun intended), Here's to the State of George W

Insight Into Inspiration

2008-07-26T16:54:00.004-04:00

Randolph "Randy" Frederick Pausch, October 23, 1960 – July 25, 2008, was made famous when a recording of his "last lecture" was put on youtube in September 2007. Yesterday, he succumbed to his battle with pancreatic cancer and I am confident that he will rest in peace, as it seems apparent that he found it while alive.

The “Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch is an inspirational lecture about the life and influences of a tenured research professor in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University. The lecture is about achieving your childhood dreams and the benefits gained from the “brick walls” that get in your way. This video is a very telling autobiography of Randy Pausch. I can see the humility in his statements and mannerisms as well as his compulsion to acknowledge every person for their contributions to his life. The lecture is over an hour, but I promise you that it’s worth it. Watch the lecture before the video below it.

“Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.”

On March 13, 2008, Dr. Randy Pausch provided testimony to the Labor, Health & Human Services Subcommittee on behalf of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. This is his personal story about his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and his fight to survive.

He’s given a couple more lectures, one on Time Management and another is a commencement speech; here's a piece done on Good Morning America and here’s an interview with TIME.

So It Was "Fixed News"

2008-07-26T13:32:00.002-04:00

This is precisely what I was referring to in the previous post:

This piece aired yesterday.

The "Sly" Media

2008-07-24T17:36:00.014-04:00

Nas was on the The Colbert Report last night to explain the petition he began against what he believes is racist attacks by Fox news and also to promote his new “untitled” album (which previously held a controversial title). He performed his song Sly Fox (performance below, album track here). Written to provide his listeners some understanding of main stream media influence, he singles out FOX news and Bill O’Reilly as the main sources for propaganda news spin. I have to agree that “Fixed News” (as Olbermann puts it) is the worst (or best, depending on which way you’re looking at it), or “slyest,” at spinning news stories to further an extremely conservative (many are neoconservative) agenda. “Fair and balanced,” ha! They have best illustrated the fact that if you say something in enough ways and enough times, it becomes truth; and it never hurts to tie it to you emotionally, effectively either riling you up or scaring the crap out of you.

One possible scenario is that it's publicity Nas is looking for, sorry, that’s the skeptic part of me talking, on the other hand, Nas is pretty popular and doesn’t have to go this far for sales. I’m just glad he’s sending a message in a way that will reach many young people and hopefully (there goes that damn word “hope” again) get them to see what’s going on so that they engage their peers and their family members in a conversation that needs a lot of attention: mainly the main stream media influence on everything political. I know that I may sometimes come off as “against anything the MSM says,” but really, I all want is for people to think critically about what they’re watching and listening to. There is no wrong in questioning what is being told to you. Believe it if you want, I’m not saying distrust everything with a generalized and blanketed approach, I’m saying, take it in and ask yourself if it jives with things you’ve previously read and heard throughout your life. Ask yourself if there are any conflicts of interest or benefits if it’s “spun” or edited a certain way. Ask yourself, who stands to benefit (mainly by profit and politics) if stories are portrayed differently than could’ve really occurred?

Fox is not alone in this endeavor. Pretty much anywhere you go - CNN, MSNBC, many newspapers and magazines - what we think of as “news” has become opinion. Fact is hidden in a cloud of agenda. “News is product” and no longer unbiased, it moves for profit and is becoming more pronounced and more obvious. And not just for the sole profit of the networks themselves, but these companies are owned by major corporations that have their paws in everything you do, every day of your life. They are trying, and succeeding on many fronts, to implement their desires. It is much easier to scare people and get them to go along with your plan than taking the time to explain the issues, allowing individuals to come to a decision of their own. Education leaves the door open for dissension. Their tactic is much more air-tight for their intentions.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “[t]hey who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety;" in other words, those who would give up freedom for security deserve neither; and so I plead with you, think about your freedoms and your country, realize there are more ways to fight for them than war. There are some pretty horrendous things happening to our Constitution and our basic freedoms and awareness is the first step to “change” (another buzzword). I mention this because if you watch Fox enough, you may notice a bunch of statements praising items such as FISA, the Patriot Act and many of Bush's subversions, while trying their hardest to make the "democratic congress" look terrible (congress is not off the hook, but the partisan approach just makes everything worse).

Change will not come from a candidate; it will come when the citizens of this country stand up for their beliefs and for what they want. The current path is tragic and can be dissuaded if listeners and viewers take the time to question; if we take the time to look things up. The Internet is one of the only places to go to find some truth (you also have to question the sources), but some of these companies are working hard to stop that too. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s very hard with our busy schedules to find the “truth,” but before you talk to someone about an issue, especially the major political issues, look them up. There is so much you and I don’t know about every issue. All we know is how the “media” has tied it to our emotions and taken it off the table for discussion. Think about it, when can you ever really engage someone who thinks differently about important issues such as immigration, affirmative action, taxes, education, the “free-market,” or abortion? You can’t, and they know it.

More at FoxAttacks.com

A Whole New Approach To Music Videos

2008-07-22T18:49:00.005-04:00

I read of Radioheads' new music video when it was released about a week ago, but didn't spend any time with it until a buddy sent me the link. First, here's the video for House of Cards:

It is made entirely with lasers (yes, for the thousandth time, they made the video with "freakin' laser beams") and the data is compiled and projected as the images you see. So, you're thinking, "eh, not that interesting," well, it doesn't stop there. The video is manipulatable in real time. Check it out and waste some real time playing around with it until your heart's content, that, or until you're sick of the song. I'm pretty impressed, and of course, Radiohead did it first. I applaud their perpetual innovation even as one of the biggest bands in the world. Nice work guys. The "making-of" House of Cards video is below. You can even download the data and make your own video that can be shared at the youtube group.

There's also an animated music video contest at aniBoom with some interesting artistic expressions for some of the songs off In Rainbows.

Interesting tidbit of trivia, Radiohead got the name of their band from the song "Radio Head" in the Talking Heads seventh album and movie True Stories.

The Dark Joker

2008-07-18T20:39:00.004-04:00

I saw the The Dark Knight last night and without any spoilers, I’ll just say that it’s worth all the hype. This is why you see movies in on the big screen. All the Heath Ledger-Joker hype is pretty accurate. He plays one of the best comic book villains I’ve seen in one of the most dramatic and intense comic book movies of all time. It blows Batman Begins away and can only be compared to the Tim Burton original. And although Jack Nicholson is highly respected for his role as a pretty crazy Joker, Ledger exemplifies the distinction between crazy and insane.

The film is extremely balanced with respect to plot, action, dialogue and cinematography. There were only one or two scenes that made me think “eh, could’ve done it a little differently,” but that’s not up to me and I was certainly mind-fu*ked for the remainder of the film, so much in fact, that I was disappointed in myself for being so drawn into it. The film really circles around the Joker for quite a bit, and rightfully so, Batman sagas seem to be focused on new and challenging criminals that force Batman to react in ways that may not be typical or appropriate. After all, he himself is driven by vengeance and anger, and that does not always yield the best decisions. Also, I feel bad saying this, but I think Christian Bale makes a much better Bruce Wayne than he does a Batman, it’s really not worth splitting hairs over though; he did a great job overall.The Knight is Darkest just before the Dawn, or in response to the "Dawn" of a new era in Gotham, one led by an extremely impressive criminal master mind.

Woodrow Wilson Guthrie

2008-07-15T23:51:00.010-04:00

Better known as Woody Guthrie, July 14, 1912 - October 3, 1967, was born 96 years ago yesterday and so I though I'd pay some respect to one of the most influential folk artists in American culture. I’ll begin with his “legacy” from the official web page:

Having lived through some of the most significant historic movements and events of the Twentieth-Century --the Great Depression, the Great Dust Storm, World War II, the social and the political upheavals resulting from Unionism, the Communist Party and the Cold War-- Woody absorbed it all to become a prolific writer whose songs, ballads, prose and poetry captured the plight of everyman. While traveling throughout the American landscape during the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, Woody's observations of what he saw and experienced has left for us a lasting and sometimes haunting legacy of images, sounds, and voices of the marginalized, disenfranchised, and oppressed people with whom he struggled to survive despite all odds. Although the corpus of original Woody Guthrie songs, or as Woody preferred "people's songs" are, perhaps, his most recognized contribution to American culture, the stinging honesty, humor, and wit found even in his most vernacular prose writings exhibit Woody's fervent belief in social, political, and spiritual justice.

The times were certainly slower then and he hitchhiked around the country documenting his travels through rambling lyrics sung to twangy tunes. When listening to his music it seems dreadfully and unfortunately apparent that some things don't change too much and history repeats all too frighteningly. Human desires and tendencies remain throughout the decades and they don't always yield the kind of responsibility many others would like to see. I'm mainly referring to Government in America and although I'd like to steer clear of politics in a dedication post, Guthrie helped me to understand pain and desperation brought upon by political division, war, and economic uncertainty, not too dissimilar from the recent events on our country. I guess times aren't always "achangin'," just the mediums through which they're delivered.

Woody Guthrie, This Land Is Your Land

America First

His biography is worth the read (wiki or official page), but much of his story is told through the lyrics of his songs and I highly recommend giving him a chance. Regarding his music, he once said:

There's several ways of saying what's on your mind. And in states and counties where it ain't any too healthy to talk too loud, speak your mind, or even to vote like you want to, folks have found other ways of getting the word around.

One of the mainest ways is by singing. Drop the word 'folk' and just call it real old honest to god American singing. No matter who makes it up, no matter who sings it and who don't, if it talks the lingo of the people, it's a cinch to catch on, and will be sung here and yonder for a long time after you've cashed in your chips.

If the fight gets hot, the songs get hotter. If the going gets tough, the songs get tougher.

A few years back Wilco and Billy Bragg made two albums honoring Woody Guthrie. The albums, titled Mermaid Avenue Volumes 1 and 2, are unreleased Guthrie lyrics with original music to evoke the time and sentiment from the original stye. It was these albums that really got me listening to Woody’s music. I had heard of him many times and even listened to many of his more playful songs off of cassette tapes when I was much younger. I also knew that he had a tremendous influence on people such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Bruce Springsteen, but I never really got into Woody. That all changed when I got a hold of his Library of Congress interviews and recordings. This album is a glimpse into the mind of a protest singer from the 40’s, exemplified in his words both spoken in the interviews and written as lyrics in his songs.

Guthrie is remembered and honored because he spoke his mind loud and clear and wasn’t afraid to put himself out there. He tried in his way to deliver his message because he understood hardship, freedom, and right from wrong. He knew that there are many paths for America and during his time and that the country wasn't on the correct one. There haven’t been many artists as patriotic as Woodrow Wilson Guthrie and I can only hope for some more.

Wilco, Another Man's Done Gone

Bob Dylan, Song For Woody

Boy With A Coin

2008-07-08T14:56:00.004-04:00

This song has been stuck in my head for a few days now and every time I think of it I see the video. It's quite exquisite the way the mind associates audio and visual stimulus; plus, the choreography in the music video sticks so firmly in my head. A well done video to accompany the rhythm of the song. Iron & Wine singing Boy with a Coin.

A boy with a coin he found in the weeds
With bullets and pages of trade magazines
Close to a car that flipped on the turn
When God left the ground to circle the world

A girl with a bird she found in the snow
Then flew up her gown and that's how she knows
That God made her eyes for crying at birth
Then left the ground to circle the Earth

A boy with a coin he crammed in his jeans
Then making a wish he tossed in the sea
Walked to a town that all of us burn
When God left the ground to circle the world

Solo and acoustically, the simplicity of the riff is made obvious, yet it doesn't take anything away from the song.

Boom De Yada!

2008-06-28T11:01:00.001-04:00

Discover Earth!

and xkcd.

Batman vs. Batman vs. Batman vs. Batman...

2008-06-28T02:00:00.002-04:00

I'm Batman...No, I'm Batman...No, I'm Batman...

How many have there been anyway?
(I'm still excited for the new one)

George Carlin, You Certainly Left an Impression

2008-06-28T01:34:00.003-04:00

Thought I'd join in on the dedications. Celebrate his life: a man of many words, but mostly known for seven. Here's one of my favorites:
"Religion is Bullshit"

I wonder where he's going?
And a little reminder, I think he'd want this one underscored:

The Newseum

2008-06-24T23:19:00.002-04:00

News is product.

Here you go.

Losing The Race

2008-06-23T01:15:00.005-04:00

The American News Project had the following piece on Race and the Presidential Race. Boy, these groups going to be pissed if Obama is elected.

What ever happen to America being a melting pot of diversity? If many of the problems in America (and around the world) are because of all the diverse opinions and backgrounds, then why don't we welcome the mixing of cultures? It's truly a better approach to solving problems then fighting (literally sometimes) with people of opposing viewpoints. It could be a model for the way globalization could be achieved with glory and greatness.

Won't humans eventually all look the same if interbreeding continues? It will take hundreds of years, perhaps thousands, but we'll eventually interbreed and become homogeneous in appearance at least. I'm kinda on the fence with this one. On one hand I want peace and equality with the preservation of many cultures, and on the other hand, I acknowledge that these inherent biases (and overt racism) yield tremendous disdain for people of other denominations. It's a shame we can't get beyond skin color and find some unity behind the philosophy of Democracy and freedom in the country founded on those values. I guess people just need someone to hate (and blame).

Why can't it be thought about from the point of view that, if minorities increase at the rates projected, and all those horrible things mentioned begin to occur, that we instead, begin engaging each other in a manner that yields compromise and unity? We could begin now.

Also, I don't know if it's fair to say "white" versus "all minorities added together." Doesn't that still make the "whites" in the majority over all other races? Plus, it's projected to be 47%! I'm sure their "majority" is still within the percent of error within the census. Perhaps they're worried that all the "other minorities" will conspire against "whitey." Keep doing and saying crap like that and you may have a self-fulfilling prophecy on your hands.

And that thing about Affirmative Action and air traffic controllers, woah; this is some pretty ridiculous propaganda. I'm pretty sure that just about anyone, regardless of color, could do just about any job once given the proper training.

The Nader Dilemma

2008-06-19T11:02:00.006-04:00

Some of my closest friends are avid Nader supporters and, I too, frequently act as though I'll be voting for Ralph Nader in November even though I'm a registered [Anti-Republican] Democrat. My only problem with voting for Nader is that although the issues he stands for parallel mine more than either of the "corporate candidates," I still feel that, especially in a "battleground" state such as Florida, a vote for Nader is a vote for McCain. The reality is harsh and thus I am obviously stuck in the predicament of voting for the "lesser of to evils." Watch the add below and go to VotePact.org and VoteNader.org for a little more on the following idea. Be courageous, break the Partisanship.

The Nader team came up with an idea and I'm considering it. If I can get a Republican from Florida to fill out an absentee ballot in front of me (I'll do the same) and we both vote for Nader, then I don't have to worry about my vote being "canceled out" by a Republican. My vote doesn't have to be a vote "against the Republican candidate" and the same goes for the Republican, who doesn't want the Democratic candidate. This arrangement just gives Nader a louder voice and more support. It's got me thinking for sure...

Even if Nader doesn't win (I could bet on this one), the larger the amount of votes he gets, the farther his stances go. His stances on the issues are by far the best for everyone in this country. If he were to receive 10 million votes this Fall, even 15 or 20 million, the President (especially if it's the left-leaning Candidate) will, hopefully, be forced to adopt some of the ideals of the third party platforms.

An Aside: I understand that the majority of people want to vote for a winner and will jump on the bandwagons of the mainstream candidates without reading a damn thing on either one of their policies. Loyalties are abound and most people seem to think something along the line of, "free-market candidate who lowers taxes (for the richest)," versus "Socialism and handouts." There is so much more at stake than that. Political rhetoric aside, these guys are basically two sides of the same coin: Wall-Street owed, lobby-loving, corporitocrats, who will maintain the status quo. Obama is better for America than McCain, but Nader is by far the best. Or better phrased, the Democratic Party is better than the Republican Party and an Independent would be the best. Remember, partisan minds think alike and Independents think for themselves.

It's a shame that this election is going to come down to McCain and Obama. It will be a decision between "staying the course," being completely terrified of "change," or "hoping" for some change in America. America is seeing the darkest days in decades and we need a new direction. Pay attention to the issues and understand that your role as a voter, as a citizen of America, is much more than picking "a winner," it's about standing up for your rights and freedoms and the issues you want on the table. It is about much more than "lowering taxes."

Nader was on Democracy Now! yesterday and had some important things to say about the issues at stake in '08.

Elections Matter

2008-06-17T16:50:00.003-04:00

Al Gore endorses Barack Obama in Flint, Michigan, a city that alone has lost almost 400,000 jobs since Bush took office.

He is well aware of how much elections matter.

Batman: Gotham Knight

2008-06-16T23:12:00.005-04:00

Just prior to the release of the highly anticipated The Dark Knight, there will be a straight to DVD release of a new animated series, or series of animated "chapters." The "Batmanime" looks wild and the chapters each appear to be done in different styles. It seems to be true to anime form and, needless to say, it looks promising.

Bonnaroo LIVE

2008-06-13T15:31:00.005-04:00

Check out Claypool tonight at 8:30pm here!
Iron & Wine tomorrow and Sigur Ros on Sunday.
Also, Cat Power and Ben Folds.
Death Cab and Metallica too if you're so inclined.
Bonnaroo's site.

UpDate 6pm: The Bluegrass Allstars are pretty sweet!

Toe Jam and a Musical Building

2008-06-12T14:44:00.009-04:00

Interesting title to the post, I never would think that those words would be juxtaposed. But that's what you get with David Byrne.

Recently, I've been wondering what he's been up to, his last album Grown Backwards was released back in 2004 and it's been a quiet four years. Then I came across an article explaining that he made a building in New York into a musical instrument. A pretty wild installment for an art piece, but hey, that's David.

Still, I earned for some new music. I've been jamming to some of his past live performances and older albums with the Talking Heads, but I wanted more. The wait is over. And although just one track, the video is a work of genius. He got together with Fatboy Slim and Dizzee Rascal, then made a music video with Director Keith Schofield for a new song called Toe Jam. I'm not sure what they mean by "toe jam," but watch the video and you'll see what I mean when I say genius.

The Battery Maritime Building Installation
Now, watch him explain much of it and "play a building."

"It kind of democratizes the whole experience."
Much more at his site.

Men In Helicopters

2008-06-12T11:52:00.004-04:00

Some more Belew. One of my favorite songs, played recently as The Power Trio. This one's rather self explanatory, he's made many versions over the years, this just happens to be the one I found on youtube. Enjoy.

Wouldn't it be great
To see the african plains
Before they lay them to waste
And only the bones remain?
Wouldn't it be poetry
To shoot holes in the poachers we see
With an elephant gun?

Men in helicopters fly
Shooting rhinos from out of the sky
Why do we always assume
The planet is ours to ruin?
What a legacy we're leaving behind
What a legacy

Wouldn't it be something
For the men killing dolphin
To be caught up by their necks
In their greedy fishing nets?
Wouldn't it be irony
If the tuna fish canneries
Were to fall into the sea?

The dolphins and the whales still left alive
Cry to the stars in the deep blue night
"there's nowhere to hide,
The people on earth will not be denied"
What a legacy we're leaving behind
What a legacy?

Wouldn't it be odd
If there really was a god
And he looked down on earth
And saw what we've done to her?
Wouldn't it be just
If he pulled the plug on us,
And took away the sun?

Will We Become Dinosaurs?

2008-06-08T13:09:00.009-04:00

First, the song by Adrian Belew, Dinosaur, performed with King Crimson.

Long ago and far away in a different age
When I was a dumb young guy
Fossilized photos of my life then
Illustrate what an easy prey I must have been
Standing in the sun, idiot savant
Something like a monument
I'm a dinosaur, somebody is digging my bones

Ignorance has alway been something I excel in
Followed by naivety and pride
Doesn't take a scientist to see how
Any clever predator could have a piece of me
Standing in the sun, idiot savant
Something like a monument
I'm a dinosaur, somebody is digging my bones

When I look back on the past
It's a wonder I'm not yet extinct
All the mistakes and bad judgments I made
Nearly pushed me to the brink
It doesn't pay to be too nice
It's the one thing I have learned
Still, I made my fossil bed
Now I toss and turn

I'm a dinosaur, somebody is digging my bones

I think this song is meant to be a retrospective look at human-beings as a species. Disguised as a metaphor about Dinosaurs, it tells a bit about how we appear or how we may appear in the future.

It is possible that it's about a young and naive human growing up and reflecting upon his ignorance, his mistakes, and lessons learned from his past decisions. History is of utmost importance, it's a way of understanding the mistakes humans have made, a way to learn from them, and then make attempts to never to repeat them.

If we continue our path of "bad judgments," we'll "make our fossil beds" and our fate will be sealed by our ignorance, arrogance, and pride.

Dinosaurs were powerful creatures that dominated the Earth for millions of years and then suddenly it all came to a crashing end, albeit from circumstances they couldn't foresee: a meteor (or another cause of massive climate change). Perhaps it won't be a meteor that removes humans from Earth (a different source of Climate Change perhaps). It may be something more tangible, something such as weapons and war held in the hands of powerful fundamentalists who don't understand their role in the Universe and out of convenience desire for something much different. Well, at least some humans are capable of understanding our susceptibilities and are able to avoid them to achieve greatness. "With great power comes great responsibility," (and that's from a comic book), we just need more people subscribing to the underlying philosophy.

"It doesn't pay to be too nice, It's the one thing I have learned." A line at the end of the song in which I find a lot of sarcasm (or would like to believe it to help my argument). It seems to say that over all this time of living and evolving, we still have this "every man for themselves" attitude, a sort of social darwism where every person in society is for themselves. People need to realize that Evolution and Natural Selection are for the benefit of the species via the individual. This yields two approaches or thought processes. One, the "if I am better off, the humans will be better off eventually by my seed, which is better, and it will propagate further over time, thereby helping the human race;" or secondly there is the, "if we're all better off, humans are better off overall." The former necessitates larger families with more children from "better-off" individuals, which we know is not happening. The later will achieve greatness for the human race much quicker and more successfully, creating a uplifted society capable of innovating and thinking on a much more accelerated basis. So go forth and prosper, just keep in mind all those you are prospering with, it's not just your immediate family.

A Couple Recent Interviews of Importance

2008-06-05T15:47:00.005-04:00

Why is Jon Stewart the only member of media that sticks it to these guys? Is that because it's a comedy show and not investigative journalism and reporting? Or is it because he's speaking for his viewers? I'm not sure, but we really need him to continue.

More recently, the interview with Scott McClellan, former White House Press Secretary, his new book What Happened.
Part One:

Part Two:

I'll tell you what happened, Sh** Happened, that's what.

Another outstanding interview, just as engaging, with Douglas Feith, for his new book War and Decision. Inside the Pentagon at the Dawn of the War on Terrorism.
Part One (Uncut):

Part Two (Uncut):

Keep it up Jon!

The Beauty of Evolution

2008-06-02T10:30:00.009-04:00

Shedding some light on the creatures of the deep.
After reading this short article on Nautilus memory I was reminded of the TED talk below by David Gallo called Underwater Astonishments. The animals down there are truly astonishing, especially the cephalopods.

More on Bioluminescence.
Also, NOVA did a show called Kings of Camouflage, which is all about the Cuttlefish, a cousin of the octopus. There are a bunch of pretty wild videos in that episode; I'm partial to the Cuttlefish for obvious reasons.
National Geographic made the following 5 minute video about many creatures and their abilities to camouflage, the end is the best part.

More on Dinoflagellates and the Red Tide.

On an aside, scientists have harnessed these properties to evaluate gene expression. Simply, what they do is attach a gene for luminescence, say firefly luciferase, to a desired gene. When the desired gene is made into a protein, the glowing luciferase gene product is made as well. This one to one ratio allows for quantitative analysis of gene transcription. Pretty neat stuff.

UPDATE June 5th: Cuttlefish apparently see a certain type of prey while inside their embryo and then have a preference towards it once born. Wow.

Saviour Machine

2008-06-01T12:12:00.004-04:00

I'm a bit busy these days, but the compulsion to post remains. Have some Bowie to tide you over. Saviour Machine off his The Man Who Sold The World album. The album is phenomenal, I highly recommend you pick it up.

President Joe once had a dream
The world held his hand, gave their pledge
So he told them his scheme for a Saviour machine

They called it the "prayer," its answer was law
Its logic stopped war, gave them food
How they adored till it cried in its boredom

"Please don't believe in me, please disagree with me
Life is too easy, a plague seems quite feasible now
Or maybe a war, or I may kill you all!

"Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
My logic says burn so send me away
Your minds are too green, I despise all Ive seen
You can't stake your lives on a Saviour Machine

"I need you flying, and Ill show that dying
Is living beyond reason, sacred dimension of time
I perceive every sign, I can steal every mind

"Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
My logic says burn so send me away
Your minds are too green, I despise all Ive seen
You can't stake your lives on a Saviour machine"

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the Media

2008-05-29T10:59:00.005-04:00

This says it all...

"The News departments have become corporate profit makers."

"They cut cost by firing their investigative reporters...Nobody's making those connections."

"We have no idea what's going on in other countries."
"Their only obligation is to their shareholders."

"By appealing to the lowest common denominator."

"We know more about Tom and Kate than about Global Warming... and that has profound implications on our Democracy...it cannot perform well without an informed public."

"How come I never heard this before?"

"80% of Republicans are just Democrats who don't know what's going on."

Pay attention to the differences between Red and Blue states.

"Not a values deficit but an information deficit."

"That is why it is so critical to have a working press in our country."

Why don't the vaccine-mercury linkers go after the people appointed by the Bush Administration? Because they don't know any better.

May the Internet set us free...please?

FULL SPEECH at "Atlas-t, some insight." More on The Fairness Doctrine.
All the cards are stacked against the public, and they don't even know it.

A Few Afterthoughts

2008-05-27T16:54:00.006-04:00

First, with regard to Nader's recent speech.

Neil Young's Impeach The President off his Living With War album.

I particularly like the style Young chose with this song. It's sung by a united voice of people.

Let's impeach the President for lying
And misleading our country into war
Abusing all the power that we gave him
And shipping all our money out the door

Who's the man who hired all the criminals?
The White House shadows who hide behind closed doors
They bend the facts to fit with their new stories
Of why we have to send our men to war

Let's impeach the President for spying
On citizens inside their own homes
Breaking every law in the country
By tapping our computers and telephones

What if Al Qaeda blew up the levees
Would New Orleans have been safer that way
Sheltered by our government's protection
Or was someone just not home that day?

Flip - Flop
Flip - Flop
Flip - Flop
Flip - Flop

Let's impeach the president for hijacking
Our religion and using it to get elected
Dividing our country into colors
And still leaving black people neglected

Thank god he's cracking down on steroids
Since he sold his old baseball team
There's lots of people looking at big trouble
But of course our president is clean.

Thank God

Second, for the Hail to the Thief post, Jet Pilot by Son Volt:

Jet pilot for the day
Washed his sins away
Loves to see the Rangers play
His daddy has a job in Washington
Wants to raise a Harvard son

Junior liked to let his hair down
Only trouble is, word gets around

Revolution will be televised
across living rooms
and the great divide
Robbing barren ghettos
for us now
everybody needs a hunting ground

Jet Pilot flown away
Got a passing grade
Made it to the world stage
A hemisphere away
Death is on display
The sins would never wash away

Junior liked to let his hair down
Only trouble is, word gets around

Revolution will be televised
across living rooms
and the great divide
Robbing barren ghettos
for us now
everybody needs a hunting ground

Junior liked to let his hair down
Only trouble is, word gets around

Remembering Our Fallen Soldiers

2008-05-27T11:32:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was Memorial Day and I didn't get to make this post (you know, all those bbq and sports distractions). I'd just like to underscore the reason we have this day. It is to remember those who have died in battle for this country.

For the soldiers and their families, thank you. Your sacrifice has allowed me to experience freedom and joy in America.

But this day must also be a pledge; that no more lives are to be lost. It is quite the difficult goal to achieve, given this Endless War. Loss of life will only end through peace. Peace via negotiations, compromises and treaty agreements. It's not gonna happen if we "stay the course;" not with our foreign policy, that's for sure. Alas, I digress.

In addition to the lives lost abroad, this Memorial Day, take note of those who lose their lives post-Iraq and Afghanistan. Those veterans that die at home, either by succumbing to the illness and wounds acquired abroad or by taking their own lives as their unrelenting nightmares consume them and death is their only means of achieving their peace. It pains me when I realize that we have two days a year dedicated to our soldiers, Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Two days dedicated to reflection upon the casualties of war and the means by which we create them. There are better avenues to take, we just aren't taking the time to consider them.

Allow me to reiterate and emphasize. Thank you for your sacrifice, your pain is understood and I hope the empathy felt by millions eventually ends the pain of future Americans.

Bill Moyers had this to say:

I hope the day comes when we go to Arlington National Cemetery solely to visit those who've fallen from previous wars. A static Memorial Cemetery, not one for additional soldiers.
God Bless America, we need it.

Hail To The Thief

2008-05-25T01:03:00.009-04:00

In the spirit of the previous post, a tribute to the citizens of the world in an effort to relate the freedom of expression through art to freedom in general. Thus, I bring you some Radiohead.

Below is the opening track to the album, and in my opinion, it sets the tone towards a politically motivated, anti-Bush, album. Radiohead's album Hail To The Thief, released in 2003, is intense, thought-provoking, and full of poetic and beautiful expression. It climbed the charts while getting mixed reviews at first, but I find it more valuable as time goes on. Radiohead denies any direct Bush attacks in this album and I respect that public statement, I just find it difficult to believe. Also, to help that statement, some of the tracks were partially written in the '90s, and other tracks do not make references that could be interpreted as protest-like. It may just be easy for frustrated patriots to desire that it have politically motivated undertones. Therefore, sure, if Radiohead would prefer to state that this is not about Bush, that it speaks of things larger than him, that's fine; I'm just glad Yorke said in an interview, that "[The Gloaming] is the imminent sense of moving into the Dark Ages again. The rise of all this right-wing bigotry, stupidity, fear and ignorance."

2 + 2 = 5

This song gets its title from George Orwell's 1984. "In the book, inhabitants of an authoritarian future state are made to engage in doublethink, replacing their own conscience and beliefs with those imposed from above. At the end of the novel, the protagonist's individuality is demolished, as he avows that two and two are, in fact, five. The song contains similar inaccuracies including January bringing April showers." (quote source)

With lyrics like "All hail to the thief..but I'm not" and "don't question my authority" there have been repeated suggestions from many musical critics that the song is based on the controversial election of George W. Bush in 2000. The band has strenuously denied this, saying in one interview, "It would be too easy for us to insult George Bush."

Now, more than ever, we must all "pay attention" to what's going on these days and the days leading up to January 20, 2009.

Are you such a dreamer?
To put the world to rights?
I'll stay home forever
Where two & two always makes up five

I'll lay down the tracks, sandbag & hide
January has April's showers
And two & two always makes up five

It's the devil's way now
There is no way out
You can scream & you can shout
It is too late now, Because...

You have not been paying attention.
Pay attention

I try to sing along, I get it all wrong...

Go & tell the king that the sky is falling in
When it's not, Maybe not.

The Gloaming

The Gloaming is the subtitle for the album as well as a track on it. This song is about a "dark" shadow coming over our civilizations' philosophy. There are plenty of warnings abound, but no one's listening. The "alarms should be ringing." And if I may, I'd like to emphasize that there are even darker consequences to be had in world built by an unregulated "free-market." We will see the pillaging of the planet for profit.

Genie let out the bottle
It is now the witching hour
Genie let out the bottle
It is now the witching hour

Murderers, you're murderers
We are not the same as you

Genie let out the bottle
Funny haha funny how

When the walls bend
When the walls bend
With your breathing
With your breathing
With your breathing

They will suck you down
To the other side

To the shadows blue and red
To the shadows blue and red
Your alarm bells
Your alarm bells
Should be ringing

This is the gloaming

Backdrifts

This was originally my favorite song on this album, probably because it's the most beat-driven, catchy song on the record. This video is a bit different. It's made of scenes from the movie Hard Candy, and although put together pretty well, it is rather dark and intense. The song's lyrics fit well with the scenes, but to keep with the theme of this post, I feel the lyrics speak much more to the tune of a disposable proletariat who's votes are just as disposable as their health, while wealthier individuals are convinced their disposable income will trickle-down and save everyone else. The people will be empowered the moment they understand their value.

We're rotten fruit
We're damaged goods
What the hell, we've got nothing more to lose
One gust and we will probably crumble
We're backdrifters

This far but no further
I'm hanging off a branch
I'm teetering on the brink
Oh honey sweet
So full of sleep
I'm backsliding

You fell into our arms
You fell into our arms
We tried but there was nothing we could do
Nothing we could do

All evidence has been buried
All tapes have been erased
But your footsteps give you away
So you're backtracking

Ah ah ah
You fell into our arms
You fell into our arms
We tried but there was nothing we could do
Nothing we could do
You fell into our, ah
You fell into a...

We're rotten fruit
We're damaged goods
What the hell, we've got nothing more to lose
One gust and we will probably crumble
We're backdrifters

And after that video (as intense as it was), the following one should be a bit more relaxing.

Sail to the Moon

This song was written for Thom's son. Sometimes I wish I had a means of leaving this planet.

I sucked the moon
I spoke too soon
And how much did it cost?
I was dropped from moonbeams
And sailed on shooting stars

Maybe you'll be president,
But know right from wrong
Or in the flood you'll build an Ark
And sail us to the moon
Sail us to the moon
Sail to the moon

There is a lot going on behind the scenes. Can you read between the lies?

Nader On The Lawn

2008-05-25T00:27:00.006-04:00

Ralph Nader refreshes our memories and calls for impeachment.

Check out VoteNader.org

Read his "Open Letter to George W. Bush" as well as some other thoughts about recent events. It's sort of a History lesson.

Before you judge Nader as simply a spoiler for the 2000 race, read up on him. Also listen to every thing he says while in this race and check out his YouTube channel. He may not become president, but he's in this race to be heard. It really just depends on how many people are listening. Why isn't his message being broadcasted constantly over the mainstream media? Because his message throws a stick in the spokes of the mainstream candidates' platforms. Check out his platform and below is a list of some laws/Acts he pioneered to have established, all with the American citizen in mind. He is probably one of the most selfless advocates this country has ever seen.

National Automobile and Highway Traffic Safety Act (1965)
Clean Water Act (1968)
Clean Air Act (1970)
Co-Op Bank Bill (1978)
Law establishing the Environmental Protection Agency (1970)
Consumer Product Safety Act
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Mine Health and Safety Act
Whistleblower Protection Act
Medical Devices safety
Nuclear power safety
Mobile home safety
Consumer credit disclosure law
Pension protection law
Funeral home cost disclosure law
Tire safety & grading disclosure law
Wholesome Meat Act
Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act
Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act
Wholesome Poultry Product Act
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1970
Safe Water Drinking Act
Freedom of Information Act
National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act

Founded or sponsored the following organizations:

American Antitrust Institute
Appleseed Foundation
Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest
Aviation Consumer Action Project
Buyers Up
Capitol Hill News Service Center for Concerned Engineering
Center for Auto Safety
Center for Insurance Research
Center for Justice and Democracy
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Center for the study of Responsive Law - 1969
Center for Women Policy Studies
Citizen Action Group
Citizen Advocacy Center
Citizen Utility Boards
Citizen Works
Clean Water Action Project
Clearinghouse for Professional Responsibility
Congress Project
Congress Watch
Congressional Accountability Project
Connecticut Citizen Action Group
Consumer Project on Technology
Corporate Accountability Research Group
Critical Mass Energy Project
Democracy Rising
Disability Rights Center
Equal Justice Foundation
Essential Information
FANS (Fight to Advance the Nation's Sports)
Fisherman's Clear Water Action Group
Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights
Freedom of Information Clearinghouse
Global Trade Watch
Government Purchasing Project
Health Research Group
Litigation Group
Multinational Monitor
National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest
National Insurance Consumer Organization
Ohio Public Interest Action Group
Organization for Competitive Markets
Professional Drivers (PROD)
Professionals for Auto Safety
Public Citizen
Pension Rights Center
Princeton Project 55
PROD - truck safety
Public Citizen's Visitor's Center
Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGS)
Resource Consumption Alliance (conserve trees) 1004
Retired Professionals Action Group
Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest
Tax Reform Research Group
Telecommunications Research and Action Center
(from draftnader.org)

Ask not what Nader has done for your country, ask what the current system has done to you. You're probably more partisan polarized, more confused, more in debt, less safe, more angry, more uncertain and insecure of your future, more divided, farther from The American Dream, looking worse in the minds of the rest of the world, and blaming everyone else for it. Come on, are you better off now than you were eight years ago?

What do you think Nader would do once in office? Please, tell me what "evil-doings" he'd do. Certainly nothing that would make this country any worse off than it is now.

Also, check out An Unreasonable Man, and what PBS had to say about it.

Moron impeachment here.

A Mind-Numbing Therapy

2008-05-22T11:34:00.004-04:00

Please consult a physician before using Republican.

From OneGoodMove, The Change You Deserve.

The "Frogamander"

2008-05-22T11:09:00.006-04:00

It may not be absolute proof (can we ever be 100%?), but the fossil of Gerobatrachus hottoni may shed some light on the evolutionary link between salamanders and frogs. From Reuters:

"It's a missing link that falls right between where the fossil record of the extinct form and the fossil record for the modern form begins," said Jason Anderson of the University of Calgary, who led the study.
"It's a perfect little frogamander," he said.

Gerobatrachus has a mixture of frog and salamander features, with fused ankle bones as seen only in salamanders, a wide, frog-like skull, and a backbone that resembles a mix of the two.

The fossil suggests that modern amphibians may have come from two groups, with frogs and salamanders related to an ancient amphibian known as a temnospondyl, and worm-like caecilians more closely related to the lepospondyls, another group of ancient amphibians.

"Frogs and salamanders share a common ancestor that is fairly removed from the origin of caecilians," Anderson said.

Nonetheless, transitional fossils are springing up all over the place. Enough said, I wonder where evolution is taking our planet. Only time will tell.

How Do Cells Work?

2008-05-20T17:54:00.007-04:00

We don't know fully, at this point, nor do I anticipate knowing fully, the way cells work anytime soon. We have the Human Genome pretty much figured out, but the next frontier is the Human Proteome. This is the compiled knowledge of all the proteins and their functions derived from the genome. One strand of RNA from a gene can be spliced into many different forms and then post-transcrptionally modified, then the protein product can be post-translationally modified; this greatly diversifies a protein in structure and function. And you thought knowing the genome was all we needed...

We do know a few things though. Here are some lessons on The Central Dogma:

This amazing "molecular machine" is one of the most fascinating process in biology. This video shows cellular replication, as well as "the dogma," which is bascially: DNA transcription to RNA and then RNA translation to proteins. Proteins carry out many of the desired functions in a cell. Watch and see:

100 trillion hemoglobin molecules per second! I find it hard to even fathom that.

An even more incredible animation of cell division,
from Hybrid Medical Animation dot com:

And a pretty cool animation from Nucleus Inc dot com:

Special Comment on The Golf War

2008-05-17T18:20:00.007-04:00

The Daily Show had some fun with Bush's recent comments.

And Keith Olbermann made a much more serious and extensive Special Comment about it.

Pretty intense stuff. This guy's got chutzbah!

Also, it's quite ironic that when quoting Mr. Bush, MSNBC spelled intelligence wrong ("intelliegence"). Too much excitement for proofreading? Hate to point it out, but I really don't...

UPDATE: May 20th, 2008

Olbermann has some 'splainin' to do. Well, not really, just a clarification (with some added jabs).

Bill Moyers on Countdown

2008-05-17T18:09:00.006-04:00

I like Moyers and I like what he said on Countdown.
I'm going to have to read his new book, Moyers On Democracy.
Bill Moyers is the host of The Journal on PBS. Check it out, all the episodes are archived.

Why Don't Americans Pay Attention to World Events?

2008-05-15T10:54:00.003-04:00

Is it because "we're too busy?" Are World events too depressing? Or is it that we don't even know what's out there?

"Alisa Miller, head of Public Radio International, talks about why -- though we want to know more about the world than ever -- the US media is actually showing less. Eye-opening stats and graphs."

"Miller is an advocate for a global perspective in news programming. She notes that, even while society becomes more globally interconnected, 'Americans seem to know less and less about the world around them.' (Symptoms include the closure of foreign news bureaus -- and the increasing share of broadcast time devoted to Britney Spears.) Diversity in reporting, she says, is not just important -- it is vital for everyone who seeks to understand and act for good in an interdependent, increasingly complex world."

Is Anna Nicole more interesting than World Politics? We are told it is, but is it really?

"Is this distorted World-view what we want for Americans in our increasingly interconnected world? I know we can do better, and can we afford not to?"

From The Atlas.

Who Killed the Electric Car?

2008-05-14T23:37:00.009-04:00

From Google Video,

"It was among the fastest, most efficient production cars ever built. It ran on electricity, produced no emissions and catapulted American technology to the forefront of the automotive industry. The lucky few who drove it never wanted to give it up. So why did General Motors crush its fleet of EV1 electric vehicles in the Arizona desert?"

There is so much more to this than personally saving money on gas. It's about a culture shift. The film basically implicates the oil industry, the auto industry, the government and the consumer for the murder of electric car. And I say murder because, with the exception of the last one, there was premeditation and strategic planning involved.

All the while they were killing the EV1, they were promoting the SUVs. Think about it, the '90s saw a tremendous boom in SUV sales. This is quite the coincidence. I see Land Rovers everywhere in Miami. Miami! It's completely flat here! Well, they reap what they sow, it must cost over $150 to fill one of those bad boys. I just hope, for the World's sake, that there will be trade in programs for hybrids and electric cars.

Look at the domestic sales today, a decade later than "the murder." Toyota is the world's number one automaker, they created the hybrid Prius and are leading a philosophical revolution. America's companies are still trying to sell SUVs. Gosh, we really missed the boat on that one.

According to the film, Rick Wagoner at GM said that, "Axing the EV1 is probably the worst decision he ever made, on his watch."

Well, the second coming is upon us. The electric car is back, resurrected if you will. A Norwegian company called Think Global will sell them to the US in January 2009 and I'm fairy sure the Japanese automakers will turn their industry to electric cars; more and more electric and less and less oil, especially as our demand for fuel efficiency increases.

PBS's NOW did a story about the film and interviews director Chris Paine. Watch the film and watch the interview, you will be enlightened.

"Why would a car company destroy the very the car it created in the first place? It's like an act of cannibalism...

"For a hundred years, companies have been selling the internal combustion engine; that's an engine that needs to be fixed, and with repairs; there's lots to it and they know how to do it... If you say, 'how about an electric car?' Its' a totally different game...

"There's almost no maintenance, because there is no internal combustion engine. So there's no carburetor, there's no tune-ups, no air-filters to change, there's not even a transmission. So, the electric car really challenges the whole foundational business structure for the car companies and unfortunately the electric has another problem: it doesn't use an oil."

They're practically giving cars away these days, and it's because of the repairs and gas expenses over the years, "that's where the money is." Like those printers for $49 but the ink is $79. Gas credits with auto purchase-incentives, anyone?

"Why is it so hard to get off of oil?"

"A fuel cell car, powered by electricity, uses 3-4 times more energy than a car powered by batteries."

I was talking with a mechanic recently and he told me that something like 50% of our oil is used, not as fuel for energy, but as oil for our engine, and that the only reason we change it "every three-thousand miles" is because Jiffy Lube started a campaign. And to boot, we don't even have to change it every time, we can take it out, clean the filters and put the same dirty ol' oil back in. We just think we have to change it. Personally, he collects it in vats and sells it to roof-tarring companies, his form of reusing I guess.

"Anybody who wants to make a revolution, shouldn't grab a gun. Just go and start working like we do to change the world by using science and technology."

- Stanford R. Oyshinksy, President of Energy Conversion Devises, Inc.

NOVA did an hour on cars and alternative fuels (divided into chapters). It was hosted by the fellas from Car Talk, NPR's weekend car-advice call-in show. The one about Iceland's geothermal and waterfall technologies to make hydrogen fuel is fascinating.

To conclude, we have to move from gas to hybrid, to plug-in hybrid to solely electric energy supplied by solar- and wind-based power grids. Until then, until batteries get better, efficiency, efficiency, efficiency! Come on, we're America, the greatest country in the world, we need to be world leaders with this.

The skeptics say that this shifts the burden to coal plants, but I think we need to go with this technology and built better and more efficient plants that run on solar and wind power. Remember, a "type two civilization" runs on renewable energy from the sun. What we need then is a plug-in electric car that has solar panels to charge the excess energy, instead of gas.

The creator of Tesla Motors said, "It's insane, we're up against some big guys out there," referring to the current car companies.

"Whenever there's big change, there's big forces that say, 'no, no, no,'" said Paine.

Timeline of the electric car.

A Painting Comes To Life

2008-05-13T18:47:00.003-04:00

or, A Wall Goes AWOL...but that's really cheesy.

Regardless, here's a Dynamic-Graffiti Artist, who calls himself BLU, turning a street wall and the sides of buildings into his palette and then makes them come to life (I wonder if the other graffiti artists mind his art over their work). His work is interesting and a bit deranged, he has an obsession with birth and rebirth, as well as heads. His recent work is called MUTO, An Ambiguous Animation Painted on Public Walls. You'll see what I mean, it's amazing.

He has a bunch on youtube and many on his site, he also has some sketches.

I've posted about this artist before, but now I've found his website and blog.

Educational Graffiti

2008-05-12T14:27:00.005-04:00

Click here to actually see it. I think it speaks volumes.

Healthcare on The Journal

2008-05-10T21:52:00.006-04:00

Bill Moyers ran this segment about the California Nurses Association and their thoughts on Healthcare today. Realize the benefits of a system where we hold the government responsible to actaully run the country for the people that make up its citizenry. The CNA advocates for "CheneyCare" for all, which implies that every citizen in America deserves the same type of care our Government officials receive. We pay for their Healthcare, but the Medical Industry lobbies won't allow us to get anything from it. Get the profit out of Healthcare! It will not stifle innovation, it will encourage it. Companies would then have to compete for a limited source of funds and this increases desire to innovate especially with regard to efficiency. The overhead of our current system is ridiculous, the bloated salaries are unbelievable. Realize that a system out for profit has, not the consumer in mind, but only the mighty dollar. You are worth more if the last days of your life are the costliest and then you aren't there to complain. You life is being gambled and bottom-lined. Currently, our "free-market system" is being run by lobby money, no-bid contracts and Monopoly-like industry. It is not truly free. Much more on this topic here. And as they pointed out, we need "Medicare for all," as proposed by Dennis Kucinich. If need be, a system that provides medicare for all (or VA system care for all) with some insurance to buy, if you want, in addition to the services provided by the government. You would still be able to purchase insurance if you want additional coverage. Say that you want plastic surgery or a procedure performed earlier than the "wait list;" things such as that would be allowed. But there would be regulations that kept doctors from accepting higher payments for the same procedure the government pays. Procedure payment caps, if you will. More on this soon, but check out another post on Healthcare in the meantime.

I Too Am Afraid

2008-05-10T14:15:00.012-04:00

Afraid by David Bowie, off his 2002 album Heathen. This entire album discusses his feelings of religious bliss, his doubts about eternal life and,

"Most of the song lyrics found in Heathen are focused on the degradation of mankind and the world. This is evidenced in songs like Slow Burn, Afraid, A Better Future and the title track."

Unfortunately, the best sounding youtube video was made with scenes from Resident Evil, but it does show a protagonist in very dangerous situations. Here Bowie is performing it.

I interpret this song as the loss of innocence gained by understanding the world in a more detailed fashion. He states how "putting faith" in all the luxuries that modern society offers you "won't be afraid." This pretty much tells, through his sarcasm, that if you take a look at reality (the name of his following album), you see a world of pain and suffering; a dreadful and terrifying place. Opening your eyes is frightening and many people aren't tough enough to face, and try to understand, it. They'd rather take "medication" to cope with their troubles.

I feel that this song is meant to more thoroughly analyze American ideals than his I'm Afraid of Americas, (see below) which just loudly and harshly criticized those ideals. Afraid shows an internal struggle of thoughts, perceptions, and principles, alternating throughout the verses to debate reality and the bliss of consumer culture; or hopeful faith in humanity versus the negative perceptions he's feeling. He ends with the idea that if he lies to himself, if he acknowledges and accepts the culture for what it is and no longer struggles with it, he'll be better off and live happier. This is my struggle everyday. Fortunately, I feel that it is humbling and it gives me a sense of responsibility. Understanding is the first step to change. I also really like The Beatles reference, used to describe the loss of innocence and how going back to beginning would be preferable to maintain ones' happiness. The evolution of a person, even with this loss, is still capable of brilliance, just different. I feel that we can overcome obstacles and maintain our values during any changing times, even if we lose our naivety.

I wish I was smarter
I got so lost on the shore
I wish I was taller
Things really matter to me

But I put my face in tomorrow
I believe we're not alone
I believe in Beatles
I believe my little soul has grown
And I'm still so afraid

Yes, I'm still so afraid
Yea, I'm still so afraid on my own
On my own

What made my life so wonderful?
What made me feel so bad?
I used to wake up the ocean
I used to walk on clouds

If I put faith in medication
If I can smile a crooked smile
If I can talk on television
If I can walk an empty mile

Then I won't feel afraid
No, I won't feel afraid
I won't be be afraid
Anymore
Anymore
Anymore

I'm Afraid of Americans

Written by David Bowie and Brian Eno, then produced by Bowie, Eno, and Trent Reznor (of NIN). This song came out on Bowie's Earthing album of 1997.

This song illustrates an English view of America and the philosophy of its people. How most young people are only out for themselves and most young men are out for "pussy and cars," but they don't have the "brains" to do it themselves or even come up with a "joke" to try and woo a woman. But hey, maybe someone will invent a pill to make us funnier. Want, want, want; nothing is ever enough to be happy. Once again, I struggle within to "help it," but there's an overwhelming feeling that it's fruitless to fight it.

Johnny's in America,
Low-techs at the Wheel
No-one needs anyone,
They dont even just pretend
Johnny's in America

Im afraid of Americans
Im afraid of The world
Im afraid I cant help it
Im afraid I cant...
Johnnys in America

Johnny wants a brain,
Johnny wants to suck on a Coke
Johnny wants a woman,
Johnny wants to think of a joke

Johnny's in America
Johnny's in America,

Johnny looks up at the Stars
Johnny combs his hair and
Johnny wants pussy and cars
Johnnys in America

Im afraid of Americans
Im afraid of The World
Im afraid I cant help it
Im afraid I cant..
Johnnys in America

God is an American
God is an American
God is an American

Bowie said the following about American Culture,

"[The song is] not as truly hostile about Americans as say 'Born in the U.S.A.': it's merely sardonic. I was traveling in Java when the first McDonald's went up: it was like, 'for fuck's sake.' The invasion by any homogenized culture is so depressing, the erection of another Disney World in, say, Umbria, Italy, more so. It strangles the indigenous culture and narrows expression of life."

They end the song by repeating the phrase "God is an American," which to me, has never been more exemplified than our recent foreign policy. I urge you to reflect upon your values and your understanding of the world, ask yourself as many questions as possible, then seek those answers; you'll find them.

McSame's Agenda?

2008-05-09T23:30:00.004-04:00

Arianna Huffington creator of The Huffington Post is on a book tour for her Right Is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe.

The interview briefly touches on why McCain is not the man he used to be, thereby illustrating a concern I've a had for a while, what with all the Right Wing pandering and all.

Stephen alludes to the only reason why I haven't totally given up on McCain. I do not have the faith to vote for him based on his "2000 campaign," but I was absolutely sure, which will be very hard to determine, that he is the "Maverick" people say he is, I'd vote for him. That would mean that all this pandering to the "fringe" is just "politicking" to get elected, after which he would commit career suicide by siding with moderates and progressives (pass his old policies), and thereby institute an appropriate Immigration reform, Climate Change initiatives, Campaign finance- and lobbying-reform, pork-barrel spending and line-item veto reform, and Universal Healthcare (the only one he hasn't at some time come out to endorse, but I'm begging). These are things that he originally stood for, they would make him an excellent candidate.

HOWEVER, I am not so naive to think that electing a Republican into office couldn't just yield a stalemate for two years and then a Republican majority in Congress again which may or may not advance this neoconservative movement. I am not willing to put that much faith in him. I do not know if his ego (desire to get elected) surpasses his commitment to the people of America. There is too much at stake. Karl Rove envisions a country of one ruling party for decades. This one Republican-Christian State will achieve this through "democratic" elections and processes and it will stay the course we are currently on: The rich get richer, socialism for the corporations, failed domestic policies, failed foreign policies and wars, and a much more terrified and much less safe Union.

It is one thing to hope for this "Maverick" and another thing to err on the side of caution. With respect to the Democrats, I would welcome the chance to see what a team of Democratic executive and legislative branches could do for this country; after all, there is a lot of mess to clean up and they had it their way for at least five years.

"If your Erection lasts longer than a hundred years... Pull out!"

If that wasn't scripted, it was improv genius from Colbert.

Keep scrolling down for more on the Right Movement.

Pastoring Judgement

2008-05-09T23:17:00.007-04:00

Keith Olberman weighs in on Pastor-gate and takes a bite out of slime:

And a recent BraveNewFilm about McCain's Pastor-idolizing process:

Pay attention, they say, "I believe" to justify their reasoning quite a bit. You must know the faulty logic in these statements. Association does not mean causation. These are their opinions, nothing more. There is obviously no proof to any of these statements. And people believe these guys? Because they're pastors? Or because they say they've "been saved?" Come on, these guys are promoting fear and terror by scapegoating Muslims and creating a clash of religious ideals (of which none can be proven). These men are, and have always been, trying to gain great power by taking the sanctity of the Holy Bible and people's will to believe in it, and then using and manipulating its messages to confuse and coerce Church-goers. They do this to encourage mass-hate for their own racist and unfounded agenda of intolerance; one that they will never be on the frontline for. They will only be profiting behind the scenes while sending the young and innocent children to fight and die for their cause.

We have such a strong history of intolerance, it's a shame to see them propagate it so fervently, instead of working to end it. Oh yeah, Peace isn't profitable. These guys appear to be certain that if they bring upon the End of Days, they will be saved by Christ. They're nuts.

So begins a series of anti-fundamentalism and its impact on our country and our future. We can't "secularize" people, but our government sure as hell better be secularized, at least non-discriminatory. Equal opportunity and protection under that law. One nation under God (not under the Christian God).

Brainwashing America with Jesus Camp

2008-05-09T22:41:00.007-04:00

Right by Fright: When Religion Goes Wrong

How reality becomes so much more frightening than a movie could ever be. A documentary about how Pastor Becky Fischer brings children to her religious camp hideaway and preaches her interpretations of the bible. Her interpretations, by the way, aim to create an army of Christian soldiers to fight the impending religious war with Islam.

Her logic has so many false premises and fallacies. She fails to see the irony in that she is creating the same fundamental fanaticism that she is accusing the "Islamo-fascists" of doing. She thinks that proudly responding with an equally polarizing force is appropriate when all it is going to do is make things worse by shutting down the minds a new generation. Understanding is lost and these problems will propagate. This is wrong on so many levels. She then uses fear to prey upon unknowing Christians and their children. Religion, without saying, is capable of many great things and yet it is capable of even greater evils. Needless to say, I'm sufficiently frightened. This is an example of why religious zealots scare me so much. There is additional irony in that the location of the Camp is in Devils Lake, North Dakota. Seems to me like the Devil has strong powers there.

This documentary shows what I consider cruelty to minors under the guise of religion, although I am not a part of that culture and would like additional insight. My feeling is that removing children from public school and teaching them only from the bible is not fair and best and intellectual thievery at worse. It is biased and keeps the children from thinking for themselves. If they were in public school learning for "eight hours" and then home for the remaining eight (and sleeping for eight), then to me, that is pretty equal and provides the children with varying points of view and exposure to people of other cultures and races. This film was on Google Video (hence the embed), so if you watch it, go on and support the film anyway. There is unreleased and edited footage on the DVD. The anti-rational thinking movement has begun.

"Science doesn't prove anything."

"A slow chipping away at the separation of Church and State."

Teaching children to proselytize, filling their innocent minds with hatred, misunderstandings and anger; then sending them on a mission to influence America of their "moral" ideals; and doing so by taking advantage or their naivety is completely unacceptable. For the record, no one is "Pro-Abortion." Liberals are pro-choice. There have been, and will always be, women seeking abortion, it is our duty as a society, to educate and provide choices for women, be it contraception and safe-sex, or adoption, education. If you outlaw abortion you will create many more problems. Accept that premise and work within it. Do not try to make laws to ban it. Here are some stats:

Romania outlawed abortion and contraception in 1966; abortion-related deaths skyrocketed, in 1990 abortion was legalized abortion-related deaths plummeted .

There are 205 million pregnancies/yr, 42 million induced abortions, half of these abortions are unsafe (20 million). 40 women undergo a dangerous and unsafe abortion every minute.

Abortion rates decline where contraceptive prevalence is high, but never to zero.

80,000 deaths/yr due to unsafe abortion, 5 million hospitalizations/yr due to unsafe abortion (world-wide) these deaths and injuries are completely preventable.

Poor, rural, and young women are most at risk for unsafe abortions.

Abortions in Latin America (where it is mostly illegal):

The highest rates of unsafe abortions in the world occur in LA with 4.6 million abortions performed/yr and 800,000 require hospitalization for complications.
6,000 women die from abortion-related complications
30% of all maternal deaths are attributed to unsafe abortion
Latin American women have, on average, 1.2 abortions

In the U.S. in the 1950’s and 60’s, there were 200,000 – 1.2 million illegal abortions/yr
17% of all deaths during pregnancy were due to unsafe abortion
In 1973- risk of dying from abortion was 3.4 per 100,000
In 1977- risk of dying from abortion was 1.3 per 100,000
In 1973- 36% of abortions were done at or before 8 weeks of pregnancy
Today- 56% of abortions are done at or before 8 weeks of pregnancy, and 88% are done w/in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (early abortion = safer abortion)

Legal abortion is 11 times safer than carrying a pregnancy to term and twice as safe as a penicillin injection.

More at Guttmacher Institute and at abortionfacts.com

"Jesus Christ is in the House"

"Had it been in the Old Testament, Harry Potter would have been put to death."

"Make war with them. This means War! This means WAR! Are you a part of it or not?"

"It's massive warfare everyday. Let the Battle begin!"

"Enough sway to determine any election." Ted Haggard is hypocrite.

"We're being trained to be warriors in a much better way."

"A lot of people die for god and they're not even afraid."

"Martyr! Martyr! It's really cool."

"I think Democracy is the greatest political system on Earth, but that's just it, it's just what on Earth and it's ultimately designed to destroy itself; because you have to give everyone equal freedom and ultimately it's going to destroy us."

Oh my goodness, I didn't think this was possible.

A Few More Rightems

2008-05-09T21:24:00.004-04:00

First, check out PBS' NOW program "God and Global Warming." It was eluded to in the film, but this has to be re-stated. Evangelicals, who have a lot of political power, believe that the second coming of Christ will be within their lifetimes. (Every evangelical has always thought this and it hasn't been correct thus far). Therefore, they do not see any need to care about the environment. They have blended Christian principles with American patriotism and sprinkled a little capitalism on top. Their leaders (or voices/loudmouths) have, ingrained within their minds, the equation that Christianity + Capitalism = Americanism and any veering off this thinking is anti-American or unpatriotic. This is a false premise within which they vehemently attack any other thought process. This is a polarizing response to America being a melting pot of multiculturalism and that if this country isn't all white and Christian, then they must at least be Christian. Let's get this straight: There will be no Second coming of Christ anytime soon and so do not push for the "End of Days." This is a pretty scary thought because radical fundamentalists, particularly within Christianity, will choose (choose!) to end all life on this planet because they "know" they will be saved. And as the segment points out, there are over 100 million evangelicals in America (it may be less). They have taken control and their movement has some of the most powerful people in the world within it. Jesus Christ!

Secondly, as per GWB's first day in office, any country that receives any aid from the US must pledge to never mention abortion as a choice for women. This was termed the Global Gag Rule aka the Mexico City Policy. Even if a country were to use their own funds, they are not permitted to teach proper family planning, including condoms and birth control. If they do, they risk losing all funding from the US. The countries that need the most help are the ones most adversely affected. Talk about strings attached, woah. This is one thing I certainly hope doesn't last beyond Jan 2009.

The Future of Exoskeletons

2008-05-08T13:45:00.008-04:00

The quest for the exoskeleton. The first step towards a bridge between intellectual evolution and physical evolution. Our abilities are rapidly progressing while our bodies are evolving at a snails pace in comparison. These projects are mostly funded by DARPA with the intention of combat, while I would like to see these technologies go to more humane uses such as post-cyclone Myranmar (provided we're allowed in) or Hurricane Katrina; nonetheless, they're pretty friggin' cool. Can you imagine having the jaws of life at your finger tips, literally? Combine it with the dexterity of Kamon's prosthetics, the design of Troy Hurtubise's Halo-like suit below, and the strength of Sarcos’ Exoskeleton, also below; and we may soon see a super-suit that enables the user to have super-human capabilities. The only question remains: Can they get it to fly? And what about doing it with genetic engineering? If we had an insect exoskeleton made of lichen-like material but bullet-proof, with wings and super-strength, would we have a super army? But then what would happen if they realized their potential? Would we be hunted as prey? Perhaps keeping it as an removable exoskeleton is a better idea, perhaps with a remote shut-off switch.

Troy Hurtubise's Halo-like Suit:

Sarcos’ Exoskeleton:

Sakakibara-Kikai's Landwalker Exoskeleton:

This last one reminds me of the villain from Robocop:

More at Environmental Graffiti.

Kent State Shooting

2008-05-04T23:48:00.003-04:00

Today is the 38th anniversary of the Kent State Shootings where four college students were killed, and nine other severely wounded by the Ohio National Guard, for protesting or "walking nearby or observing the protest" of Nixon's invasion into Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Wikipedia has a timeline of the events.

Immediately after, Neil Young wrote a song and then played it with Crosby, Stills, and Nash. It's called Ohio.

"Two of the four students killed, Allison Krause and Jeffrey Miller, had participated in the protest, and the other two, Sandra Scheuer and William Knox Schroeder, were walking from one class to the next. Schroeder was also a member of the campus ROTC chapter. Of those wounded, none was closer than 71 feet (22 m) to the guardsmen. Of those killed, the nearest (Miller) was 265 feet (81 m) away...

Eight guardsmen were indicted. They claimed self-defense and all charges were dismissed on "the basis that the prosecution's case was too weak to warrant a trial." I wasn't there, so I do not know how this event truly played out. However, universities are places where young minds freshly emerging from innocence react to events they deem immoral. They deserve to be heard and met without violence, but when their desires and pleas fall on deaf ears, there is a tipping point and violence may ensue. There is tremendous miscommunication and hysteria and should be prevented with transparency and understanding. No one should die over these unresolved issues and if so, it had better be accidental.

"There was a significant national response to the shootings: hundreds of universities, colleges, and high schools closed throughout the United States due to a student strike of eight million students, and the event further divided the country along political lines.

"The Adjutant General of the Ohio National Guard told reporters that a sniper had fired on the guardsmen, which itself remains a debated allegation. Many guardsmen later testified that they were in fear for their lives, which was questioned partly because of the distance of the wounded students. Time magazine later concluded that 'triggers were not pulled accidentally at Kent State.' The President's Commission on Campus Unrest avoided the question of why the shootings happened and harshly criticized both the protesters and the Guardsmen, but concluded that 'the indiscriminate firing of rifles into a crowd of students and the deaths that followed were unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable.'

"On May 1, 2007, various news agencies reported the claim of a former student who was injured in the shooting to have uncovered new evidence that the guardsmen were ordered to fire upon the crowd. Terry Strubbe, a student who lived in a dormitory overlooking the anti-war rally site, placed a microphone at a windowsill and recorded nearly 30 minutes of the event on reel-to-reel tape. He sent a copy of the tape to the FBI and kept a copy in a safe deposit box. The government copy has been archived at Yale University. According to Alan Canfora, who was injured in the wrist that day by a gunshot, a voice can be heard on the tape yelling, 'Right here! Get Set! Point! Fire!' before the 13-second volley of gunfire. Canfora said he has obtained a copy of that tape and that he plans to release it on CD. He wants the government to reopen the investigation of the 37-year-old case."

This event precipitated a much-needed look into police- and military-led anti-protest tactics.

"The Kent State incident forced the National Guard to re-examine its methods of crowd control. The only instruments the Guardsmen had that day to dispel demonstrators were bayonets, CS gas grenades, and .30-06 ball ammunition. In the years that followed, the U.S. Army began developing less lethal means of dispersing demonstrators (such as rubber bullets) and changed its crowd control and riot tactics to attempt to not cause casualties amongst the demonstrators. Many of the crowd control changes brought on by the Kent State events are used today by police and military forces in the United States when facing similar situations, such as the 1992 Los Angeles Riots and civil disorder during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005."

I think it's great that they desire non-lethal tactics, but does that make them more likely to be used in undeserving situations? It's human nature to think that it's justified. Tasers are readily used, and in many situations that guns would never be used. I'm also be a little worried about this ray gun too. UPDATE (5/9/08): Canada had a recent problem.

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.

How America Spends Its Money

2008-05-04T21:17:00.003-04:00

The NYT put out this interactive graph illustrating how the American consumer spends its hard earned and deflating dollar. It also has the percent change since last year. The bright side? People bought less TVs and a few more books...