February 29, 2008
3 a.m. ("Now then, Dmitri...")
You've probably heard about Hillary Clinton's latest ad, 3 a.m.. (I wish they had picked a different time for Hillary to be fully dressed and working at her desk in the middle of the night, because every time I hear "it's 3 a.m." I have flashbacks to that obnoxious Matchbox 20 song from the '90s.)
The pundits and blogs are all atwitter ("it's the new Daisy" etc. etc.). It's certainly not the most original ad, considering that Mondale ran a very similar one against Gary Hart back in '84 and LBJ ran one twenty years before that.
The Obama campaign has already put together a response, but Coudal Partners took Clinton's ad and did something simply brilliant with it (click for video):
(I love Dr. Strangelove, as I've mentioned once or twice before, so this was right up my alley.)
29 Feb 23:37 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Humor, Politics, Video
February 22, 2008
SXSW 2008 Music Torrent
Since 2005, SXSW has offered a BitTorrent download of free MP3s from the showcasing artists in the SXSW music festival. This year, you can download the MP3s individually from their website, but for some reason they have decided not to offer a torrent. Hmph.
But don't panic! Greg Hewgill has kindly created a torrent of the 2008 showcasing artists.
Enjoy!
Update: Six-word reviews of every song in the torrent
(via Waxy)
22 Feb 11:18 | Link | Category: Music
February 14, 2008
Will the West dry up?
Photo by Michael Righi
Here in Utah, we've been slammed by an endless string of winter storms this year. So the timing of National Geographic's Drying of the West story couldn't be worse, at least in this state. Still, it will take a number of wet years before we recover from the recent drought. Plus, records of the past indicate that water shortages will very likely pose a significant challenge at some point in the future.
Predicting climate is troublesome for a variety of reasons (particularly when it's necessary to factor in the unpredictable short- and long-term effects of global warming), but looking to the past, a large body of evidence demonstrates that relatively long, severe periods of drought have been the norm for the West during the last several thousand years.
I'm reminded of a 1998 paper about drought in the central U.S. that I read last year in a biogeography class I took. Below is an excerpt from the paper's abstract. (For the full paper, see Woodhouse and Overpeck 1998 - '2000 Years of Drought Variability in the Central United States' - 1.5 MB PDF.)
Historical documents, tree rings, archaeological remains, lake sediment, and geomorphic data make it clear that the droughts of the twentieth century, including those of the 1930s and 1950s, were eclipsed several times by droughts earlier in the last 2000 years, and as recently as the late sixteenth century. In general, some droughts prior to 1600 appear to be characterized by longer duration (i.e., multidecadal) and greater spatial extent than those of the twentieth century. The authors’ assessment of the full range of past natural drought variability, deduced from a comprehensive review of the paleoclimatic literature, suggests that droughts more severe than those of the 1930s and 1950s are likely to occur in the future, a likelihood that might be exacerbated by greenhouse warming in the next century.
More specific to the West, here's an excerpt from the recent National Geographic article:
In Harmon Canyon in eastern Utah, Meko found one Douglas fir log that had laid down its first ring as a sapling in 323 B.C. That was an extreme case, but the scientists still collected enough old wood to push their estimates of annual variations in the flow of the Colorado back deep into the Middle Ages. The results came out last spring. They showed that the Colorado has not always been as generous as it was throughout the 20th century.
...
In fact, the tree rings testified that in the centuries before Europeans settled the Southwest, the Colorado basin repeatedly experienced droughts more severe and protracted than any since then. During one 13-year megadrought in the 12th century, the flow in the river averaged around 12 million acre-feet, 80 percent of the average flow during the 20th century and considerably less than is taken out of it for human use today. Such a flow today would mean serious shortages, and serious water wars. "The Colorado River at 12 million acre-feet would be real ugly," says one water manager.
Clearly, serious droughts - more serious than those recorded historically - have afflicted the western and central regions of North America. But what can we expect in the future, especially when we consider the effects of anthropogenic climate change? It's hard to say, but some recent studies indicate that global warming might exacerbate Western droughts, at least in the short term. An analysis by Richard Seager and colleagues (orig. article in Science) "suggests the region is in the early stages of a profound shift in climate that may last for decades". Another recent study (abstract from Science Express) concluded that sixty percent of the changes in the West's water cycle are due to increased atmospheric greenhouse gases. The same group of scientists estimate a fifty percent chance that Lakes Mead and Powell will be dry by 2021, and a ten percent chance they'll be dry by 2014 (see the Scripps press release). I'm not worried about 2014 (those are very good odds), but a fifty percent chance of them drying up by 2021 is unnerving.
It's easy to be skeptical of climate prediction studies, but when they all start predicting the same (dire) things, it would be wise to pay attention to them. Besides, even if we set aside the issue of global warming, there's much reason for concern based simply on the far less disputable historical record.
But who listens to scientists?
(For further reading: NYT: The Future Is Drying Up. Also check out the Nat. Geo. Drying of the West Photo Gallery.)
14 Feb 23:23 | Link | Category: Science
February 12, 2008
Libraries and the Google Generation
According to a study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Pew Internet and American Life Project, young adults (18-30) are the heaviest users of public libraries. This might be surprising considering that they're also the so-called Google Generation, but I suspect it isn't surprising to librarians. (Interestingly, those who visit libraries are more likely to use many sources of information. I wonder if young people, having been born into an age of information, are more comfortable with it or crave it more.)
I think this bodes well for libraries that restructure as socially-inviting information centers (as opposed to simple book repositories or Internet cafés). As I type this, my school's library is in the midst of a major seismic renovation. When complete, a central feature of the library will be a knowledge commons -- a sort of research central, where students can interact with each other, get technology support, speak with reference librarians, etc. I have seen similar changes in local public libraries, as well.
There's no denying an ever-growing need for help sifting through information. (In fact, a recent study found that young people - the Google Generation - are lacking in information skills.) But it should not be forgotten that humans are tremendously social animals. We still want a physical place to congregate, communicate, share information, etc. Libraries are seizing on this fact. The main library in Salt Lake City is a pretty good example. It is, more than ever, a community center and a place for people to congregate. Along with the library, there's a coffee shop, art gallery, gardens, a radio station, and various shops. There are also some fairly unconventional choices within the actual library. (USA Today called it America's unquietest library.)
It's no surprise that people with high-speed Internet access use the library less than those with dial-up or no Internet at home, but they go to libraries just as heavily when they have problems to solve. As the ALA president says, libraries need to make sure people are aware of the resources available at libraries. I think libraries should increasingly focus on becoming vibrant social centers, as well.
Finally, here's a link I previously blogged (almost four years ago): 10 Reasons Why the Internet Is No Substitute for a Library. It's slightly dated, but most of the points still apply.
12 Feb 20:05 | Link | Category: Libraries & Digital Information, Technology & Computing
February 11, 2008
The Audition
There are many reasons why I miss Mr. Show, even after all these years. Here's one. (BTW, if you've never seen Mr. Show, you might not like the language.)
This one is good, too (just because it reminds me of pretentious twits I've known).
(via Cynical-C)
11 Feb 0:16 | Link | Category: Humor, Video
February 10, 2008
Mitt's Concession Suspension speech
As you might've guessed, Mitt Romney's departure from the GOP race has been a big story around these parts. Since I have an inexplicable habit of watching the local news, I've seen his concession speech a number of times. Every time, I get very irritated and have to resist the urge to curse at the television set. (Thanks to Jon Stewart, I know I'm not alone. See below...)
The speech, like so many Romney appearances and speeches, was peppered with trite GOP slogans and buzzwords (so much so that it makes me wonder if the "suspension" of his campaign was not Romney's idea as much as it was a stern request by party officials). I think this might be a reflection of his greatest failure as a presidential candidate, and one of the principal reasons his campaign never garnered majority support. As one of the columnists in the conservative, church-owned (i.e., usually pro-Romney) local newspaper opined, the "real" Mitt never showed up in the campaign. Regardless of whether or not this is completely true, there is no doubt Romney painted himself as "the conservative candidate" when his record clearly indicates he is (or was) not. From the same column:
In the end, in his never-ending quest to get votes and be all things to all people, he allowed Rush and Sean, those fading virulent talk-show superstars, to paint him as an arch-conservative when anyone who watched him win the governorship of Massachusetts — not to mention who watched him get along famously with Salt Lake's liberal mayor Rocky Anderson in the Olympic years — knows he's no conservative. He's the absolute king of the moderates. He proved that during our Olympics, building bridges, bringing people together, working within the system, considering all positions, creating solutions.
I'm not sure why Romney chose the campaign path he did. I suspect he and his staff simply calculated that it was the most viable path to the presidency. (It might have been, if not for Mike Huckabee.) But it's problematic when a candidate's stump speech rhetoric clashes so starkly with his record.
Like Romney's so-called JFK-speech (which I complained about in December), the 'campaign suspension' speech hit upon all the same tired themes we've been hearing from social conservatives and talk radio goons for years now. (The Democrats want to surrender to terrorists; pornography, welfare, and gay marriage are ruining the country - not disastrous wars, political corruption, woefully inadequate education, or dependence on foreign oil; etc.) Come on, Romney... you must be smarter than that. If you're not, you certainly do not deserve to be the Republican nominee, now or ever.
Watch Jon Stewart's brilliant analysis of the speech:
(Update: Fixed YouTube link. When they take it down again, try the official one. The followup story about what gay marriage has done to Massachusetts is pretty funny, too.)
10 Feb 21:05 | Link | Category: Humor, Opinion & Thoughts, Politics, Video
February 9, 2008
The Music of "The Omega Man"
I received an e-mail about yesterday's post, reminding me of something I should've mentioned: the music in The Omega Man. I cannot believe I didn't mention it! The film's soundtrack is certainly notable. It was probably considered very cutting-edge for its time, with little blips of synthesizer and drums mixed in with more traditional elements (i.e., strings and horns) and some jazz and rock. It's a weird soundtrack that could only have come from the early '70s, but in most ways that's not such a bad thing. It's certainly an interesting and memorable mix, from the melancholy warble of the horns when Neville's alone, to the organs that play during scenes featuring "the family".
Ron Grainer wrote and arranged the film's music. His Wikipedia entry calls The Omega Man "one of his most eclectic film works," which contains "a mix of symphonic, jazz, avant garde and electronic music."
One of the things I remember from the movie is that Neville (Heston) has a taste for mellow lounge jazz. Even if you consider it 'elevator' music, his taste is pretty good. In the opening scene where he's driving through the empty streets in his convertible, he listens to a version of Max Steiner's "Theme From 'A Summer Place'" on 8-track. Later on, we hear versions of Cole Porter's "All Through the Night" and Cootie Williams' & Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight". They're all arranged (by Grainer, I presume) in an early '70s lounge style. There's also a little tune composed by Grainer called "Swinging at Neville's" that's pretty cool. (It's the one Neville listens to when he dresses up for Sunday dinner in his green crushed-velvet suit. Heh.)
According to Grainer's Wikipedia entry: "The soundtrack was not released on CD until 2002 in a limited run of 3000 copies through FilmScoreMonthly. Copies appear on eBay from time to time, but it is now considered a rarity."
Luckily for you, I was able to track down a copy on the web! What a terrific find. Download while it's still there. (The files are hosted by a download service so you'll have to jump through a few hoops to download.)
You can also grab a couple of the tracks from eccentric-cinema.net (but they're not totally representative so I still recommend downloading the whole thing from the link above):
On The Tumbril / Motorcycle Escape
Surprise Party
For a while, I'll host the mellow lounge jazz tunes, for your sophisticated 1970s cocktail parties:
Swinging At Neville's
All Through The Night
'Round Midnight
Theme From 'A Summer Place'
Here are the tracks that open and close the film, too:
The Omega Man
Dutch Takes Over (edit)
09 Feb 23:54 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment, Music
February 8, 2008
The Last Man on Earth
I have yet to see I Am Legend (and I suspect it will be a while before I get around to it), but for some reason I've always had a soft spot for The Omega Man. (Both are loosely based on the same Richard Matheson novel.) I'm not sure why. The Omega Man is pretty awful. The confused message, the mediocre effects, the influence of early '70s blaxploitation films, the fake blood, Charlton Heston wandering around shooting anything that moves ... well, actually, I can see why it's strangely enjoyable. In fact, if you've never seen it, rent a copy and have fun. (Pay attention to the motorcycle scene where the stunt double barely resembles Heston... heh.)
I recently learned of an earlier film adaptation of Matheson's novel, from 1964. It's called The Last Man on Earth and stars Vincent Price. It has entered the public domain, which means you can download a free copy from the The Internet Archive (a site I've mentioned before).
I just watched it and... I dunno. It's completely different from 'The Omega Man'. In some respects this could be considered a good thing, and the film does have its moments. But unless you like Vincent Price or enjoy old low-budget horror flicks (neither of which apply to me), it probably won't be your cup of tea.
(Do rent 'The Omega Man', though. And let me know if I should bother with 'I Am Legend'.)
08 Feb 23:33 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment
February 7, 2008
Sheet Music Consortium
I occasionally become obsessed with a piece of classical music. This time around, it's Chopin's Nocturne No. 19 in E minor - Op. 72, No. 1. (Don't let the opus number fool you. It was actually written very early in Chopin's career but wasn't published until after his death.) It may well be my favorite of his nocturnes... or at least among the top three. Anyway. I decided to learn it, which meant tracking down sheet music. These days, it's not very difficult to find sheet music for well-known compositions (unlike the "good old days" when you had to take a trip to the music store, hope they had a copy of the piece you were looking for, and pay some exorbitant amount for it). However, doing a simple web search means sifting through lots of extraneous links, commercial sites, and such.
For well-known classical pieces, my first stop is the wonderful Mutopia Project, which has a decent selection of sheet music (based on public domain editions and created using LilyPond). If that doesn't work, I often try to find a site that focuses on a particular composer, like chopinmusic.net. They had a PDF version of the song. Theirs appears to be scanned from a print version and unlike the copy I found at Mutopia, it has fingering, which is helpful at first (even if you don't end up following it exactly).
Finally, it's often useful to check with university libraries and music departments, which often have extensive sheet music collections, many of which have been digitized and put online. (See this list, for example.) The University of Chicago has a large collection of Chopin first editions, which is pretty cool.
But the reason I'm writing this post is because today I stumbled across a site that I had previously been unaware of. Several schools have formed a Sheet Music Consortium, using OAI-PMH to make their collections interoperable. What this means is that in one step, you can search several sheet music collections at once. (There are currently seven data providers.) I tried it and immediately located a digitized, accessible copy of the nocturne from the Library of Congress. I love stuff like this. I hope the project continues to grow and incorporate even more collections.
07 Feb 18:53 | Link | Category: Libraries & Digital Information, Music
February 4, 2008
Election Fatigue
In each issue of The Week, editor William Falk writes a short message. I particularly enjoyed the most recent one (subscrip. req.), in which Falk amalgamates all the candidates (and most of the buzzwords and phrases they've been using). I reproduce the message here, in its entirety (shhh, don't tell anyone):
My good friends, I'm running for president. Let me enumerate just a few of the many reasons why I deserve your vote. I am, above all, the candidate of change, much more so than my opponents; indeed, if elected, I will change everything that you, the American people, want changed, including any of my positions that I have already changed. Due to my wealth of experience, which is both unique and yet somehow universal, I will be ready to serve on Day One, and to protect the nation from the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad people who want to destroy our way of life because they are jealous of our freedoms, our 50-inch plasma TVs, and our very large food portions. You should know that my desperate yet selfless quest to be your president is very, very personal for me, and that I am, of course, a Christian who reads my Bible every night—not a Muslim, or a Mormon, or, God forbid, a Unitarian.
I promise to bring your job back from overseas, even if it hasn't gone there yet, to build walls and dig moats at the border, to cut taxes, to provide universal health care, to preserve all of our government entitlements, and to balance the budget. I am firmly opposed to storing the nation’s nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, or in any state that holds its primaries before, say, March. I promise to model my presidency on Ronald Reagan's, because, like me, he had good hair and was an agent of change, or, if you prefer, on John F. Kennedy's. Whichever. And please remember that by voting for me, you are also voting for yourself, your children, your gender, your race, your religion, and for unifying our great nation. Thank you.