August 31, 2005

Humans in the Americas 40,000 years ago?

You may have already heard about this 'news' item since it's nearly two months old, but an international team led by geoarchaeologist Silvia Gonzalez has claimed to find some new evidence of human presence in the Americas prior to 30,000 years ago. They uncovered footprints near Puebla, Mexico that have been dated to nearly 40,000 years ago. (More from BBC News.)

It seems quite evident that the most traditional explanations (Clovis-first, humans arriving via Beringia 11,000 or 12,000 years ago, etc.) are no longer fully adequate. There have probably been multiple migrations (taking various routes - perhaps a coastal route, for example). It should be interesting to see how this story shakes out. I'm skeptical, but if the evidence manages to stand up to scrutiny, it would vindicate those who claim migration and colonization at dates far earlier than Clovis.

31 Aug 13:24 | Link | Category: Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior, Science

Westerners and Easterners see the world differently

Here's an interesting example of an experiment being able to objectively measure something we all know anecdotally: Westerners and Easterners see the world differently. Most of us are aware that both language and culture actually cause us to think differently and see the world in very distinct ways. Still, it's always interesting to see someone put together an experiment that attempts to gather objective data about it.

31 Aug 0:15 | Link | Category: Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior, Science

August 30, 2005

The Undergraduate Experience

Watching the freshmen make their way around campus during fall semester always reminds me of my first year of college so many years ago. I thought it would be a breeze considering my high school record and full scholarship, but I was completely unprepared. Unfortunately, that first year also coincided with other messiness in my life, which didn't help matters. (I know it's easy to mock the idea of people dropping out of life for a few years to "find" themselves, but I completely support it.) Anyway, there I was... an immature, lonely kid thrown into a major I didn't like, taking classes I wasn't interested in. Those of you who know me are probably aware that when something doesn't interest me, I will completely ignore it... which is exactly what I did. My attendance during that first year was embarrassingly low. I didn't enroll the next year, and it took me a long while before I felt like coming back.

It's odd to look around and realize that a quarter of these freshmen won't make it past the first year, and only half will end up with degrees. (Then again, at my rate, I won't be getting one for a long while either.)  Last April, John Merrow wrote a great (and lengthy) piece for the New York Times about the experience of being an undergraduate at the University of Arizona -- a school larger than mine, but relatively similar. The Times is charging for the article now (don't get me started on my rant about that obnoxious policy), but here's an MS Word version I found through Google: The Undergraduate Experience. It profiles several students and details various failings and successes of such universities. At the end of the article, one of the "successful" students offers this bit of advice:

"Get out of your comfort zone. You learn so much more when you have to change what you're doing, than if you just came in and said, 'Well, this is me and I'm always going to be like this and I'm always going to study this.' If you think that way, then you never stop to question whether that's what really you're supposed to do. Relax. You haven't lived 20 percent of your life. What's the rush?"

I completely agree with this sentiment. Among other complaints I have with the secondary education system in general (some private colleges excepted) is that students are set on a path of study while still in high school. The main goal of college becomes quickly plowing through four years of courses so you can hopefully make more money when you get out. The notion of spending time expanding your mind and discovering yourself has become archaic and clichéd, which is really a shame.

A more recent story that caught my eye was an anthropology professor who decided to take a year and live as an undergraduate, in an attempt to better understand the experience. A somewhat obvious observation that ties in with what I just said:

Small also said she found current undergraduates faced more pressure to pick a major that readily translated into a job that could pay off student loans.

Travis Shumake, student body president and a senior at NAU's School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, said he sees that all the time -- students choosing his program because it provides the "fastest results at the highest income."

Small said her generation wasn't as career-oriented in college.

"It was an era of anti-materialism. It was kind of nerdy then to talk about careers," she said. "Now, different things are nerdy."

Another obvious observation:

She found some of the coursework tough and had to seek tutoring for a class far outside her field of study. "It was a hectic life," she said.

No shit. I've got a very full schedule this semester, and I have three or four courses that are already killing me. I'm a week into school and I'm already behind, without time to have any semblance of a life (or sleep, for that matter). Ugh. You're probably wondering the same thing I am, which is: Why am I wasting time typing these boring thoughts on my pointless web site? I think I'm trying to distract myself from my studies, but I really should get back to my boring reading now.

30 Aug 12:00 | Link | Category: Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior, Opinion & Thoughts, Site/Life News

August 28, 2005

Katrina

Do any of you live in the path of Hurricane Katrina? I'm not aware of any old friends or regular visitors who live in that part of the world, but I don't do a very good job of keeping track of where everyone lives. Anyway... It looks like a major disaster is on the way. (I'm sure you're high-tailing it as I speak.)

Let me know if there's anything I can do. If you can make it all the way to Utah, you're welcome to crash at my place for as long as you need. (Great time of the year, too - our forecast for this week is sunny and 84°.)

Good luck to all.

For more info., see the constantly developing Wikipedia entry. Also, New Orleans metblog and this LiveJournal contain some firsthand accounts.

28 Aug 23:51 | Link | Category: Current Events

August 24, 2005

Photos of ghost towns

Some nice ghost town photos here: Ghost Town Gallery. Some of the towns don't look very interesting, but there are a few really cool places to check out. If you're itching to visit in person, the site has a handy clickable map to help you get there.

24 Aug 19:24 | Link | Category: Photography, Travel

Flying Spaghetti Monster bumper stickers!

Pastafarians rejoice! Flying Spaghetti Monsterists looking to compete with all the Jesus and Darwin fish now have their own bumper sticker! (See also: The $1 Million Intelligent Design Challenge.)

24 Aug 19:12 | Link | Category: Humor, Science

Do They Know It's Halloween?

From Vice Records, a Halloween spoof of "Do They Know It's Christmas?". Its "inspiration stems from a frustration with other benefit songs' misguided, somewhat patronizing attitude, and Western-centric worldview." Lots of interesting names in the credits.

24 Aug 19:02 | Link | Category: Music

Woolly Rockers

For some reason, I thought these were pretty cool and funny: knitted rock stars. The Morrissey one cracks me up. It's also funny that the different Beatles eras are so recognizable.

24 Aug 18:35 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Misc. Tidbits, Music

August 21, 2005

Baby Aye-Aye

Awwww, ain't it cute? A baby aye-aye made its debut in the UK a few months ago. It was only the second in history to be reared by humans. Aye-ayes are super cool nocturnal primates from Madagascar with a long, specially adapted middle finger. They use their sensitive ears (along with finger-tapping) to locate grubs under tree bark. Then after breaking the bark with their incisors they use the long finger to fish out the grubs. Last time I heard, aye-ayes in the wild number only in the hundreds.

21 Aug 23:13 | Link | Category: Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior, Science

Cool personal web site

This is something I probably haven't said since about '99 or 2000, but here's a fun, creative personal web site: Rtm86.com. It would seem I'm the last person to hear about it since it already won a Webby, but if you haven't seen it either, check it out.

21 Aug 23:04 | Link | Category: Cool Links

August 18, 2005

Artistic Miscellany

Some odds and ends I found while cleaning out my bookmarks:

18 Aug 21:28 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment

Not-So-Mighty Mouse

I got my first Mac in 1999. At the time, Apple was shipping their G4 systems with the same hockey-puck mouse and compressed keyboard that came with the original iMac. I found that I actually liked the keyboard, despite the fact that I was using a Microsoft Natural Keyboard with my PC. (I've also liked Apple's subsequent Pro Keyboard and Wireless Keyboard.)  But that mouse... oh, how I hated it. I've used the later Pro Mouse a lot at school, and while the design is cool and it's a little more usable, I still don't care for it.

In fact, I've been using Microsoft Mice (Mouses?) with my Macs since about a month after I got that first G4. At the time, Microsoft had just come out with their first optical mouse, the super-duper Intellimouse Explorer. I plunked down about $65 for it, but all those extra buttons (and getting to toss my mouse pad) made it worth it. Now I can't even imagine using my computer without it. Microsoft's software works well under both OS 8/9 and OS X. (I actually prefer the MS software's tracking to Apple's.) Microsoft even replaced my mouse - no questions asked - when it developed a short in the wire years after I bought it.

A few weeks ago, Apple finally produced a multi-button mouse, the Mighty Mouse. From all the media attention it's getting, you'd think it was hugely revolutionary. But while the touch-sensitive buttons and "scroll ball" are clever, I can't see why it's such a big deal. For one thing, it has a cord. I hope a wireless version is coming soon, because cords are so very 20th century. The other big problem with the mouse is that it lacks forward/back buttons. It's "side buttons" are really just one programmable button - suggested uses for which are "Dashboard, Exposé, Spotlight, Application Switcher"... Thanks, but I can get to Dashboard & Exposé with hot corners and Application Switcher with a scroll wheel click. As for Spotlight, you'll be typing something in the search field anyway, so you're going to eliminate movement of your hand from mouse to keyboard by just hitting Cmd-Space to bring it up. The Mighty Mouse lacks an easy, built-in forward & back feature for web browsing (or iTunes or whatever else), which is indispensable IMO.

Don't tell Apple, but I just ordered a Wireless Intellimouse Explorer for my G5. (Plus, I found one for $17, versus Mighty Mouse's $49.)

18 Aug 19:36 | Link | Category: Technology & Computing

August 17, 2005

Current Playlist

Pernice Brothers - There Goes The Sun >>
The opening track of the excellent new Pernice Brothers album, Discover A Lovelier You.
Pernice Brothers - My So-Called Celibate Life >>
Perhaps my favorite track from the album I mentioned above.
Youth Group - Someone Else's Dream >>
This indie-pop song from Australia is catchy and well-crafted, a mix of earnest britpop of the past and more recent indie rock. The vocals are smooth (but not over-produced like so many records these days) and expressive. A simple but promising song. When my eMusic downloads get refreshed, I'll grab a few more and see if their other songs are this good.
Beck - Guess I'm Doing Fine >>
I love the twangy, downcast, weary songs from Sea Change. This is one for those times when you're completely falling apart... and guess you're "doing fine" (a line that can be interpreted with whatever spin you choose).
The Beatles - Cry Baby Cry >>
A odd, sublime little song.
Lloyd Cole - Cutting Out >>
Another fine tune from Music in a Foreign Language.
Portishead - Biscuit >>
Radiohead - Talk Show Host >>
One of many excellent Radiohead b-sides. (This one can be found on the "Street Spirit" single.) If you can find Nellee Hooper's remix, it's pretty good too.
David Bowie - Afraid >>
A retro-ish tune from Heathen with catchy guitar and synth. And apparently Bowie still believes in Beatles (a reference to Lennon's "God"). Hmm.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Nature Boy >>
Incredible.
R.E.M. - Country Feedback (live, 2003) >>
A stunning performance of one of R.E.M.'s best songs ever. (I chose this version because of Peter Buck's kick-ass guitar, but the album version is also very good.) [iTunes incorrectly labels it as a 1992 version.]
Wilco - Ashes of American Flags >>
Natalie Merchant - After The Gold Rush >>
I prefer this smooth, graceful, melancholy rendition of Neil Young's dreamscape to all others I've heard.
Bob Dylan - With God on Our Side >>
One of Bob's early classics. Sadly, it's still as timely and relevant as ever (especially when I see so many of those shocking yellow-ribbon variants on cars). (Lyrics) I chose the version from 1994's Unplugged performance for a couple of reasons. First, I'm always a sucker for pedal steel. Second, it's a touching performance because the combination of Dylan's older voice with the instrumentation gives the song a weary, desperate, sad feel. It's very different from the spirited, defiant tone of the original (which is also excellent).

17 Aug 16:16 | Link | Category: Music

August 16, 2005

Illustrations

Magic Group is a professional illustration company based out of the Czech Republic. Check out some of their work. I was particularly impressed with the various drawings/illustrations of animals, from invertebrates and the underwater world to mammals and birds. Definitely check out the hominids, too.

16 Aug 20:24 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment

Computer helps decipher khipu

An interesting item from New Scientist about scientists using a computer to analyze Incan khipu. (Learn more about khipu at the Khipu Database Project.)

16 Aug 11:36 | Link | Category: Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior

Photography Links

16 Aug 0:08 | Link | Category: Photography

August 15, 2005

Christopher Walken for President

I don't know if this a joke or if it's for real... regardless, let me say this: I would so totally vote for Christopher Walken (mirror). Speeches and press conferences would never be the same. He would easily be one of the oddest and coolest actors-turned-politicians, and compared to the likes of Reagan and Schwarzenegger would totally kick ass. Walken 2008!

15 Aug 17:44 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Humor

Is My Child Becoming Homosexual?

I found an amusing, depressing article from James Dobson's "Focus on Your Child" site, via Cynical-C. (Dobson is the wingnut who runs Focus on the Family, a site which would require many paragraphs to comment on.)

Here are some warning signs that your child is becoming homosexual (try not to laugh):

  • A strong feeling that they are "different" from other boys.
  • A tendency to cry easily, be less athletic, and dislike the roughhousing that other boys enjoy.
  • A susceptibility to be bullied by other boys, who may tease them unmercifully and call them "queer," "fag" and "gay."
  • A tendency to walk, talk, dress and even "think" effeminately.

Happily, Dr. Dobson informs us that homosexuality is preventable and reversible!

How does one even begin to comment on this? I think I'll just direct you to Fafblog's better ways to tell how gay your son is.

Oh, I suppose I shouldn't joke about it, considering all the lost, gutted souls that result from this kind of repressive cultural ideology. But what else can you do? There's no way to easily change notions of gender in Western society that are so old and deeply ingrained. Certainly reason won't work. And even highlighting other cultural approaches probably won't work (because ours is superior, of course!)... which is too bad. In an anthropology class last semester, I read an interesting excerpt from The Spirit and the Flesh, a book by Walter Williams about the Native American berdache tradition. I can't find an online copy of the exact excerpt I read, but suffice it to say the Native American approach was radically different from ours, taking what we consider negative and regarding it as positive. A berdache was often endowed with special powers. From Williams' book:

"Since no cultural system can explain everything, a common way that many cultures deal with these inconsistencies is to imbue them with negative power, as taboo, pollution, witchcraft, or sin. That which is not understood is seen as a threat. But an alternative method of dealing with such things, or people, is to take them out of the realm of threat and to sanctify them."

It's always enlightening to see what approaches other cultures take (or, rather, took when they still existed)... something that is sadly impossible for folks like Dobson who know their way is the one and only right way. (Today's broadcast over at Focus on the Family: "Ergun Caner shares his amazing testimony of becoming a Christian after being raised by an Islamic leader in a devout Muslim family.")

15 Aug 16:11 | Link | Category: Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior, Humor, Opinion & Thoughts

Indie Rock Cribs, Episode Two

A while back, I linked to Joe Pernice's Indie Rock Cribs pilot. Here's Episode Two. Enjoy.

15 Aug 13:42 | Link | Category: Humor, Music

Let's Save Our Environment

I don't even know what to say about this one... you just need to watch it.

One day my uncle picked up a hictchiker going down Topanga Canyon Blvd. The hitchiker gave my uncle a packet containing a cd-rom video and a few pages of song lyrics and the synopsis/proposal for a movie called "Kathy and Erol". Here is the video for your consideration.

(If you have trouble with the Flash version, try the QuickTime copy.)

15 Aug 13:30 | Link | Category: Humor, Video

Cuban Posters

There's some really nice graphic design and artwork to be found in this collection of Cuban posters, mostly among the selections from 1967-1971.

15 Aug 13:20 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Misc. Tidbits