June 30, 2008
Playlist - June 2008
Another month, another hour of disjointed listening...
The usual conventions apply, the eMusic list (small as it may be this month) is here, and those not on the mailing list can e-mail me for the magic links.
| MGMT - Time To Pretend >> from Oracular Spectacular |
| Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma >> from Vampire Weekend |
| Vampire Weekend - A-Punk >> from Vampire Weekend |
| The Virgins - Rich Girls >> from The Virgins ('07 EP) |
| Dr. Dog - The World May Never Know >> from Easy Beat |
| Eef Barzelay - The Girls Don't Car >> from Lose BIg |
| Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal >> from Fleet Foxes |
| Lucinda Black Bear - Fought The Bear >> from 'Capo My Heart' And Other Bear Songs |
| Adele - Hometown Glory >> from 19 |
| Adele - Cold Shoulder >> from 19 |
| The Last Shadow Puppets - My Mistakes Were Made For You >> from The Age of the Understatement |
| The Black Keys - Psychotic Girl >> from Attack & Release |
| MGMT - Pieces of What >> from Oracular Spectacular |
| French Kicks - Love in the Ruins >> from Swimming |
| My Morning Jacket - Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt. 2 >> from Evil Urges |
30 Jun 21:22 | Link | Category: Music
June 28, 2008
Links 23
1. IMDb Resume for Troy McClure (see also) - "Hi, I'm Troy McClure. You may remember me from such self-help tapes as 'Smoke yourself thin' and 'Get some confidence, Stupid!'"
2. Top 10 new species ("coolest, weirdest and deadlest") - check out Desmoxytes purpurosea:
3. Epic Bill Gates e-mail rant - This one's been all over the web during the last few days, but if you somehow missed it, it's pretty interesting to know Bill Gates is all too familiar with the user experience woes constantly afflicting computer users. I always assumed he was somehow ignorant of the problem or isolated from it in some way because Microsoft is one of the worst offenders. User experience seems to have been a relatively low priority for them from day one.
4. Baby bounces gleefully to mom's banjo playing - ah, to be a baby again (or to be someone who can play the banjo!):
5. Land of the Lost intro. - Do any of you remember this strange, horribly cheesy show? I was reading an entry at Dooce.com and memories of it came flooding back. I fondly recall watching this dreck on Saturday mornings and, with the perception and imagination of a four year-old, absolutely loving it. (Here's a better-quality copy.)
28 Jun 23:46 | Link | Category: Link Dump '08
Phone Sex Operators
This link was floating around the web a few weeks ago, but as I was about to delete it from my bookmarks list, it seemed worth sharing: Phone Sex Operators. It's a collection of photos and descriptions, taken from a new book by Phillip Toledano, in which he "takes us into the boudoirs of nearly 30 phone-sex operators so we see their faces and also hear their stories—each operator gives his or her take on the business."
28 Jun 23:40 | Link | Category: Photography
Phoenix uncovers ice!
This news is more than a week old, but still worth commenting on. I mean, how cool is it that Phoenix uncovered clear evidence of water ice not very long after reaching the landing site? I'm very skeptical that life exists on Mars (and quite skeptical that it ever existed there), but regardless, it's nice to travel to another planet and find visible evidence of that special water molecule.
For those of you wondering how they know it's water (instead of, say, CO2), check out the Mars Ice FAQ.
28 Jun 23:34 | Link | Category: Science
Obama, the FISA compromise, and the True Believers
Barack Obama is clearly the better candidate in this presidential election and I believe he has the potential to be a superb president. I will vote for him and suggest you all do the same. However, I am also a skeptic and an independent who has never agreed with the entire platform of any party and who has refused to ever join a political party. I'm also a student of human behavior. In that respect, especially, the long, flat, seemingly endless Bataan Death March to the White House has been particularly interesting. The Obama phenomenon hasn't been the only interesting aspect of this election season, but it might be one of the most interesting.
It remained interesting this week, as Obama made some moves that were... let's say 'intriguing' because I don't think it's totally fair to say 'unexpected'. His decision about financing his campaign seems pragmatic (and consistent, albeit unconventionally, with the concept of public financing). His statements about capital punishment are acceptably consistent with other statements throughout his career. But his decision with regard to the Cheney/Rockefeller/Hoyer FISA bill is hard to explain except as political maneuvering - perhaps it's simply an example of the 'run to the center' typically made by candidates after the primaries. Maybe he's just trying to play nice with the current Democratic congressional leadership. Who knows...
It's fascinating that people seem so surprised to find that Barack Obama is, indeed, a politician and not some golden being sent from above. (You simply don't get that far without playing the game, even if you play it a bit differently.) What's most interesting is the way some of his most ardent supporters - who would normally be appalled at his statements with regard to the FISA bill - have shied from criticism and even supported him. Clearly, he has that special "it" that could make him an historic leader. However, that's also something to keep a close eye on if he is elected.
Glenn Greenwald wrote an interesting article about it. I wanted to quote several passages, but I suppose this one offers the best summary:
... perhaps it will be that the illusions of "lily-ness" about Barack Obama can finally fade away and be replaced by a more realistic perception of what he is, what his limits are, and the reasons why he merits real scrutiny, criticism and checks -- like everyone else pursuing political power does. Recall that the very first thing that he did upon securing the nomination was run to AIPAC to prostrate himself before them and swear undying fealty to their militant pieties. There will be plenty more of these sorts of ugly rituals to come. Whether you think he is engaging in them out of justifiable political calculation or some barren quest for power doesn't much matter.
Either way, no good comes from lending uncritical support to a political leader, or cheering them on when they do bad and destructive things, or using twisted rationalizations to justify their full-scale assault on your core political values. The overriding lesson of the last seven years is that political figures, more than they need anything else, need checks and limits. That is just as important to keep in mind -- probably more so -- when you love or revere a political leader as it is when you detest one.
Obama will get my vote and I hope he gets yours; but if he is elected, remember that slogan, "Yes We Can." It's not about one man or woman, as much as we are drawn to that idea. Too much executive power is dangerous, even in the best hands. At the end of Greenwald's article, you will notice two quotes:
"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." - John Adams
"Free government is founded in jealousy, not confidence . . . . Let no more be heard of confidence in men, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitutions." - Thomas Jefferson
28 Jun 0:26 | Link | Category: Politics
June 27, 2008
I just calculated fuel costs for my upcoming move, so here's a rambling post about OIL.
Everyone wants to blame someone for the latest oil crisis. I think it has more to do with geopolitics, the U.S. political establishment, and the oil industry than it does with environmentalists or socialists or whoever else. But it doesn't really matter who you choose for your whipping boy. We've all wasted more than thirty years during which we could've started working our way out of the inevitable end of cheap oil. Things will keep getting uglier; it's just a matter of how quickly that happens.
Lifting the ban on drilling off the coasts (and in places like ANWR) seems like a decent short-term solution, right? 60% of Americans think so. Unfortunately, the impact on gasoline prices would be negligible and it would take quite a while to ramp up drilling anyway.
Even if you feel the (dubious) short-term benefits of drilling in these places outweighs the potentially severe long-term environmental costs, I think it's worth pointing out the fact that the oil industry already has access to millions of leases to existing areas but has not tapped them yet. Instead, they're pushing to open areas in which drilling may be easier. Why? Oil may hit $150 / barrel any day now -- but much of this has to do with speculation, the weak dollar, and other economic factors. (And maybe one or two of those crazy conspiracy theories you've heard.) The oil companies are afraid the price will come down and investments in costlier areas won't pay off. (Wait... I thought they were reinvesting every penny of their record profits?)
President Bush, Senator McCain, and others are suggesting a knee-jerk reaction with questionable short-term benefits and potentially serious long-term costs. Even regardless of environmental damage, the amount of oil produced if we opened all of these areas will not solve our energy problems, especially if world oil consumption continues to rise as predicted (from 85 million barrels a day to 100 million barrels a day by 2025).
We need a focused, long-term strategy for dealing with this mess. But it's a very complicated mess and it seems like none of our policymakers have the slightest idea how to deal with it. As for the presidential candidates, John McCain's proposals amount to basically nothing. Barack Obama's proposals are better for the most part (aside from a few boneheaded ones), but even if all the better ones were implemented, I'm still not sure they would be enough.
I remember hand-wringing about oil on this blog three years ago. The politicians have done nothing in those three years. And while I would love to believe it's all George W. Bush's fault, I know it's not. I don't think policymakers are going to find a way to really grapple with this issue, so get ready for some interesting times and figure out ways to deal with it on your own.
27 Jun 23:32 | Link | Category: Current Events, Politics
June 25, 2008
Carlin (again)
In his NYT eulogy for George Carlin, Jerry Seinfeld writes:
As a kid it seemed like the whole world was funny because of George Carlin. His performing voice, even laced with profanity, always sounded as if he were trying to amuse a child. It was like the naughtiest, most fun grown-up you ever met was reading you a bedtime story.
Here's a clip of Carlin actually performing for children. Not all that different from his normal style:
25 Jun 19:04 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Humor, Video
June 23, 2008
George Carlin Video Clips
George Carlin will be sorely missed. Here are several of the many clips you can find online:
- Modern Man
- Airline Announcements, Part 1
- Airline Announcements, Part 2
- It's Bad for Ya! (Part 6 of 7)
- Mike Douglas Show 1971 w/ Lennon & Ono, Part 1
- Mike Douglas Show 1971, Part 2
- Seven Words
23 Jun 16:50 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Humor, Video
June 11, 2008
Links 22
1. My Favorite Liar - A story about a professor who used a brilliant teaching technique, telling students he would insert one lie into every lecture and challenging them to catch his daily lie.
2. For graphic designers, but of interest to all: Typefaces no one gets fired for using (and the ones you should get fired for using).
3. I've probably mentioned this before, but one line of thought about ADHD is that it has some genetic basis and that it was adaptive in certain environments. Plenty of interesting writing if you do a quick search. Anyway, this item caught my eye today: Did hyperactivity evolve as a survival aid for nomads?
4. Is Google Making Us Stupid? - A very thoughtful article (with a headline that doesn't reflect the thoughtfulness)
5. Purves Lab / See For Yourself - A number of interesting optical illusions
11 Jun 0:09 | Link | Category: Link Dump '08
June 10, 2008
Links 21
1. Earth and Moon as seen from Mars - like the Apollo 8 Earthrise photo, Apollo 17 full-earth shot, Pale Blue Dot photo, and Earth from Saturn photo, this is a deeply moving photo that reminds us of our spectacular, tiny, solitary, beautiful, fragile home.
2. i am neurotic. - People send in their secret neuroses to this site where they are published. Funny, sad, frightening, weird. Via Cynical-C, where it was described as "like Post Secret but with neuroses." I probably have a few I could send in.
3. Rachmaninoff had big hands - Long long ago, I could play this song (Prelude in C-sharp minor). I never managed to completely perfect it. Also, I always had to leave out a few notes here and there. Maybe these piano sticks would have been a better solution:
4. Rose-Tinted Vision - I've noticed since childhood that if I open only one eye at a time, colors have a slightly different tint. I only notice it when the light is right (and never with both eyes open). Other people act like I'm very strange when I mention this, so I was quite relieved to find that there are folks out there who experience the exact same phenomenon. Exactly why it occurs is up for debate, but there are plenty of ideas in the entry's comments section.
5. It's Not You, It's Your Books - exploring how literary taste does (or does not) affect romantic relationships.
10 Jun 0:16 | Link | Category: Link Dump '08
June 9, 2008
Blogspot
I started a blog at blogspot.com.
Really. I've been thinking about doing it for a while, but finally bit the bullet. At the moment, I think I could use a spot for self-absorbed, over-analyzed writing and off-the-cuff venting. It has been years since I've done that, but I think it's time to revisit the experiment.
Some of you will have already received invitations. (It's not meant for public consumption.) If you haven't, you can e-mail me and ask. But just to warn you, I'll almost certainly say no unless you're someone I met through my last attempt at a self-absorbed online diary (on the old site) and somehow lost touch with.
We now return to regular programming...
09 Jun 2:22 | Link | Category: Site/Life News
June 8, 2008
Links 20
1. Google News In A Better Future World - Some great headlines. I'd quote a few of the best, but there are so many... Take some time to check out all the little details
2. Looking Back - an interesting Flash applet showing how different groups voted in the Clinton vs. Obama race. Oversimplified and probably misleading in some cases, but fun to look at nontheless.
3. Photographs of uncontacted Amazon population (see also) - I have lots to say about this, and unfortunately no time. Upon my first viewing of the photographs, however, I felt an almost overwhelming sense of sadness. Would love to write more... perhaps another day.
4. Another thing I've wanted to write a long piece about are these TV shows in which, every week, some intrepid adventurer shows us what it's like to live with a different 'tribal' group. Here's a short blog entry about it from New Scientist: Going Tribal: Cheap entertainment or awareness raiser? Again, hopefully I can revisit the topic someday.
5. Sorry I haven't posted in awhile - a collection of excuses given by various bloggers for lack of posts.
08 Jun 23:21 | Link | Category: Link Dump '08
June 2, 2008
Links 19 (The Cost of War)
I'm starting to go crazy (and the shit hasn't even hit the fan yet -- that'll probably happen later this week). I won't be doing any online whining or venting here like I used to do, but posts may continue to be sporadic. (I have thought about starting an anonymous blogspot or livejournal blog as an outlet, though. If I do, I'll post notice here and I'll give the address to a select few of you.)
Anyway, let's soldier on with the link dump... Today's topic is the Cost of War. Specifically, the cost of U.S. misadventures in Iraq. "Cost" here is in the economic sense -- this is, needless to say, a fairly narrow view of the costs of war, but it has the virtue of being easy to quantify ...relatively easy, at least. There are plenty of estimates, but the general consensus is something like, um, a lot.
1. Last year, when the Bush Administration was requesting more funding for the war, the total official cost - just up to that point - came to $611.5 billion. This led many people to ask What can $611 billion buy? The answers were sobering.
2. Later, the Joint Economic Committee concluded that the Iraq war would cost $1.3 trillion - that's $1,300,000,000,000 - by 2009, and the combined cost of Iraq & Afghanistan could reach $3.5 trillion by 2017. They factored in the cost of borrowing money to pay for the war, lost productivity, higher oil prices, cost of healthcare for veterans, etc. At that price, the cost to a family of four would be more than $20,000 between 2002 and 2008.
3. But the cost is actually higher than that, pointed out economics professor Tyler Cowen in the Washington Post. One needs to factor in opportunity cost (more about opportunity cost). His article points out wasted opportunities, hidden costs, and the 'fruitless investment' Iraq has been. (Not to mention the human cost, which is of course incalculable.)
4. Nobel prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz arrived at a conservative figure of $3 trillion to the U.S. and another $3 trillion to the rest of the world. Can you even imagine what else we could have done with that money? Some could have been applied to actually protecting the U.S., and the rest could have been spent on energy independence, environmental and social issues, etc. The list is huge. Even those who argue that manned space exploration is a boondoggle would probably agree it would've been a better use of the money - and for that much money, we could have embarked not just on an exploration program of Mars, but we could've practically colonized the place.
5. So. An enormous economic cost for a war that, according to the National Intelligence Estimate, has fueled the terror threat.
None of this is terribly new or surprising, though. In many ways, the current terror threat stems directly from the Cold War, another simply incredible waste of resources. I recall a speech delivered by Carl Sagan twenty years ago for the rededication of the Gettysburg memorial. (A copy can be found on the History Channel site or in the book Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History; a copy updated by co-author Ann Druyan is in Sagan's posthumous publication Billions & Billions.)
In the speech, Sagan pointed out the $10 trillion spent by the U.S. waging the Cold War, more than a third of which was spent during the Reagan years. (And it never really stopped... Druyan notes in the update in "Billions & Billions" that the Clinton defense budget in post-Cold War 1995 was $30 billion higher than Nixon's defense budget in the height of the Cold War.) Sagan wondered what else we could have done with, say, half of that $10 trillion:
What else could the United States have done with that money (not all of it, because prudent defense is, of course, necessary — but, say, half of it)? For a little over $5 trillion, skillfully applied, we could have made major progress toward eliminating hunger, homelessness, infectious disease, illiteracy, ignorance, poverty, and safeguarding the environment—not just in the United States but worldwide. We could have helped make the planet agriculturally self-sufficient and removed many of the causes of violence and war. And this could have been done with enormous benefit to the American economy. We could have made deep inroads into the national debt. For less than a percent of that money, we could have mustered a long-term international program of manned exploration to Mars. Prodigies of human inventiveness in art, architecture, medicine, and science could be supported for decades with a tiny fraction of that money. The technological and entrepreneurial opportunities would have been prodigious.
02 Jun 8:01 | Link | Category: Current Events, Link Dump '08, Politics, Site/Life News
May 31, 2008
Playlist - May 2008
Another month, another hour of disjointed listening...
Links to easy non-DRMed downloads are a bit sparse this month (mostly because of the lesser-known '60s songs, for which many had no download at all). The eMusic list (also sparse this time around) is here. Finally, if you're not on the mailing list, e-mail me and I will be happy to provide you with the magic links.
| Firewater - Borneo >> from The Golden Hour |
| Islands - Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby >> from Return to the Sea |
| The Old Haunts - Volatile >> from Poisonous Times |
| Future Clouds and Radar - Malice of Stars >> from Future Clouds and Radar |
| The Kinks - Nothin' in the world can stop me worryin' bout that girl >> from Kinda Kinks |
| Lee Hazlewood - The Night Before >> from Cowboy in Sweden |
| The Rolling Stones - Play With Fire >> from The Last Time (Single) |
| Nick Drake - Blues Run the Game >> from Family Tree |
| The Zombies - Leave Me Be >> from Leave Me Be (UK Single) |
| The Chocolate Watchband - In The Past >> from The Inner Mystique |
| The Beatles - Because >> from Abbey Road |
| The Stranglers - Golden Brown >> from La Folie |
| Grand Archives - A Setting Sun >> from The Grand Archives |
| Firewater - Six Forty Five >> from The Golden Hour |
| Stereophonics - Mr. Writer >> from Just Enough Education to Perform |
| Stereophonics - Getaway >> from You Gotta Go There To Come Back |
| DeVotchKa - New World >> from A Mad And Faithful Telling |
31 May 23:47 | Link | Category: Music
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