The concert yesterday rocked! Of course it would - the lineup was amazing, but the performances uneven (like me). The only real problem was that the artists only played 4-6 songs each.
The Police - Started off with a strong performance of Roxanne, and then seemed to play the order of their set list from the their 1980s best of albumn. Their solid performance definitely earns them a strong recommendation that you see them at Pimlico for the Virgin Festival on August 4th.
Roger Waters - First time I've seen him perform, and it was excellent. His superb performance of Us and Them seemed to be especially attuned to the current zeitgeist. For the less intelligent in the crowd, he beat them over the head by mixing the final juxtaposiiton of the song and war images with that of President Bush in a flight suit and the Mission Accomplished banner in the background.
Smashing Pumpkins - Gave a strong performance out of the gate with a lot of guitar gnashing before going into a new song from their next albumn (Zeigeist, out on Tuesday). Great performances of crowd pleasers Bullet with Butterfly Wings and Today. Based on this performance, I highly recommend you buy tix to their Tuesday show at the 930 Club, and see their August 5th performance at Pimlico during The Virgin Festival, on August 5th.
Bon Jovi - Obviously, the hometown favorite, after all the Meadowlands is actually in New Jersey. Added thousands of new faces that he's rocked at the concert. Ok, he spent his alotted time mostly playing from Slippery When Wet, and seriously rocked the stadium with Dead or Alive , which was one of the highlights of the night. The rumors of a surprise Bruce Springsteen appearance to paly with Bon Jovi proved unfounded. Unfortunately.
Kelly Clarkson - Put on a solid perfomance and really moved the crowd with Since You've Been Gone. Her newer music didn't sound as good.
Akon - Definitely won new fans with his great performance.
Dave Mattews Band - Not as strong as other performances I've seen. Mostly focused on early favorites that seemed to especially please the folks who came up from Virginiga. a surprisingly high number of the much younger fans could sing along to the early favorites too.
Missed John Mayer and Alicia Keys, both to my chagrin. Also missed Melissa Ethridge - a good artist, i just felt like eating instead.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
The Problem With Romney
Isn't that he is a born-again converst to social conservativism. The problem isne't even that he is a Mormon. The problem is that he is an inhumane subhuman who intentionally made his Irish setter ride for 12 hours in a carrier on top of the car. He didn't stop to walk the dog for exercise or bathroom purposes and instead let it soil its cage. That is an inhumane act in terms of interaction with dogs. This by itself is a fatal character flaw which should disqualify him from ever occupying the White House.
And not only is what he did inhumane, it is against the law in Massachusetts, where he lived at the time.
For more on this disturbing story, please visit:
http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1638065,00.html
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_06/011591.php
And not only is what he did inhumane, it is against the law in Massachusetts, where he lived at the time.
For more on this disturbing story, please visit:
http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1638065,00.html
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_06/011591.php
Friday, June 29, 2007
Why Illegals Should Not Be Allowed to Become Citizens
Unfortunately, the comprehensive immigration bill died this week - likely for the rest of the Bush Administration. Establishing a path to legalized status is a good idea, but allowing illegal immigrants to become citizens is not. Here's Why:
The right to vote is the only true right anyone possesses in our society. And it is a powerful possession we exercise periodically in order to elect individuals in whom we vest the power to establish the laws (or rules) by which we all agree to live.
People who have shown a willingness to break our laws should not be given the privilege of participating in the process of their creation. For this reason, anyone who entered this country illegally or illegally over stayed their visas in order to remain in America should not be allowed to become citizens. They should be allowed a path to legalized status, but it should be a status below that of current legal permanent residents. Because they were unwilling to obey our laws, they should not be given the privilege of inviting any of their family members to benefit from their illegal behavior with the exception of MINOR children and one spouse.
I also believe that US fellons, except for those convicted of non-violent drug offenses, should be permanently stripped of the franchise for the same basic reason: an unwillingness to obey the laws that exist disqualifies one from participating in the creation of new laws.
The right to vote is the only true right anyone possesses in our society. And it is a powerful possession we exercise periodically in order to elect individuals in whom we vest the power to establish the laws (or rules) by which we all agree to live.
People who have shown a willingness to break our laws should not be given the privilege of participating in the process of their creation. For this reason, anyone who entered this country illegally or illegally over stayed their visas in order to remain in America should not be allowed to become citizens. They should be allowed a path to legalized status, but it should be a status below that of current legal permanent residents. Because they were unwilling to obey our laws, they should not be given the privilege of inviting any of their family members to benefit from their illegal behavior with the exception of MINOR children and one spouse.
I also believe that US fellons, except for those convicted of non-violent drug offenses, should be permanently stripped of the franchise for the same basic reason: an unwillingness to obey the laws that exist disqualifies one from participating in the creation of new laws.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
The Best Thing Ever!
The upside of bio-genetics - Scientists jave bred cows that give skimmed milk. This is an incredibly efficient way to get skimmed milk, which most people like, and will reduce the amount of operating expenses dairies have to pay. Looks win-win right now. Now all we have to do is eliminate the outdated milk pricing system.
Scientists breed cows that give skimmed milk-News-UK-Science-TimesOnline
Scientists breed cows that give skimmed milk-News-UK-Science-TimesOnline
Saturday, May 26, 2007
WTF? Giant Wild Pigs in the South?
Since this is the second giant boar (both about 1000 pounds) caught and killed in the South, does that meant there is a whole species wandering around down there in wild forests? It also gives credence to the idea that there are stil large, undiscovered mammals even in North American. If these animals can go so long undetected, is it possible that Bigfoot and the Chupacabra actually do exist?
Perhaps wer're only encountering these creatures only now has to do wtih the growth of the human population and destruction of wild habitat. Perhaps.
And the kid that killed it was 11! Dude, what an adventure. I bet there will be few things in his life to top killing this monster. And I especially like the fact the kid is going to get 700-800 pounds of sausage from this, AND have the head mounted.
Perhaps wer're only encountering these creatures only now has to do wtih the growth of the human population and destruction of wild habitat. Perhaps.
And the kid that killed it was 11! Dude, what an adventure. I bet there will be few things in his life to top killing this monster. And I especially like the fact the kid is going to get 700-800 pounds of sausage from this, AND have the head mounted.
How they Screwed the Subway Hero
The subway hero is a guy in New York who risked his life to save somebody else. They way I understand it is he jumped down onto the subway tracks to save person having a seizure by pulling them both into a crawl space on the other side of the tracks. A truly selfless act committed in a very selfish city. He is a hero.
Now for the disturbing part which proves that no good deed goes unpunished - This guy has been completely fucked over by everyone who's gotten near him. He lost his job, his time is not his own because he is expected to make so many public appearances, someone screwed him out of the rights to his own life story, he had to pay his own expenses for his trip to Washington. He can barely afford his own legal fees, much less the taxes on the "free" jeeps he got from Chrysler and Deal or No Deal. I feel for him.
Now for the disturbing part which proves that no good deed goes unpunished - This guy has been completely fucked over by everyone who's gotten near him. He lost his job, his time is not his own because he is expected to make so many public appearances, someone screwed him out of the rights to his own life story, he had to pay his own expenses for his trip to Washington. He can barely afford his own legal fees, much less the taxes on the "free" jeeps he got from Chrysler and Deal or No Deal. I feel for him.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Poor Jimmy Carter . . .
The only President worse than him in recent memory is George W. Bush and he's so obsessed with erasing the disaster that was his administration, that he'll attack Bush on anythimg.
Carter's administration has now done the nearly impossible - moved up from worst Presidecny of the post-World War II period to the 2nd worst Presidential Administration since World War II. His administration was an utter disaster from start to finish (anyone else remember singing "Cause Jimmy Carter has a way of screwing up teh USA to the tune of the Oscar Mayer weiner song?)
Had Carter the courage in 1979 to have the Marines protect the US Embassy in Iran from the student rioters, there would have been no hostage crisis and it is likely that we would have avoided the series of events that eventually lead to the current War in Iraq because Middle Easterners would have known we meant business The events I refert to specifically are the US support for and arming of Iraq in its 1980-1988 war with Iran, which emboldened Iraq to invade Kuwait in 1990 in order to recoup its financial expenses from that war. However, President H.W. Bush's US Ambassador to Iraq, April Gillespie, played a "small" part in letting Iraq think that the US wouldn't oppose its Iraq invasion.
That of course led to one well conducted war and over ten years of no-fly zones before the 2nd Iraq War.
Getting back to the main point, had Carter any real courage during his Presidency, these later events would not have happened in the way they did and the Global position of the U.S. would be much enhanced.
All the good works in his post-Presidency can't make upfor his disastrous administration. All he can hope for is to be rated better than W. Bush. I doubt that'll be hard at this point, but he'll never get higher than W.
Carter's administration has now done the nearly impossible - moved up from worst Presidecny of the post-World War II period to the 2nd worst Presidential Administration since World War II. His administration was an utter disaster from start to finish (anyone else remember singing "Cause Jimmy Carter has a way of screwing up teh USA to the tune of the Oscar Mayer weiner song?)
Had Carter the courage in 1979 to have the Marines protect the US Embassy in Iran from the student rioters, there would have been no hostage crisis and it is likely that we would have avoided the series of events that eventually lead to the current War in Iraq because Middle Easterners would have known we meant business The events I refert to specifically are the US support for and arming of Iraq in its 1980-1988 war with Iran, which emboldened Iraq to invade Kuwait in 1990 in order to recoup its financial expenses from that war. However, President H.W. Bush's US Ambassador to Iraq, April Gillespie, played a "small" part in letting Iraq think that the US wouldn't oppose its Iraq invasion.
That of course led to one well conducted war and over ten years of no-fly zones before the 2nd Iraq War.
Getting back to the main point, had Carter any real courage during his Presidency, these later events would not have happened in the way they did and the Global position of the U.S. would be much enhanced.
All the good works in his post-Presidency can't make upfor his disastrous administration. All he can hope for is to be rated better than W. Bush. I doubt that'll be hard at this point, but he'll never get higher than W.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Is Battlestar Galactica Racist?
The mini-marathon last night got me thinking about this. And I'm not talking about the complex human-cylon relationship - I'm talking about in real American terms. The original series had a much better integrated cast and black characters that were greater parts of the show. Does adding central hispanic and asian characters really make up for the lack of black actors on the show?
Out of the entire human population in the civilian and military fleets, there have only been two black characters. One completely minor, and the other the subject of an entire episode (which exposed Admiral Adama's abandonment of him in Cylon territory previously.
How do we even attempt to measure racism in a science fiction show? Is it just that there weren't that many blacks that escaped Caprica, the colonies and New Caprica? Earth presumably represents the Atlantis-like 13th Colony, and those settlers came from the same places as the other members of the fleet. We know empirically that earth has a diverse racial/ethnic mix (which are meaningless terms outside of politics - biology and genetics have demonstrated that there is more variation within racial groups, than there is between them).
At least the show makes up for the extreme lack of diversity by beginning to address class issues that exist on the fleet and its original (now destroyed) civilzation.
Out of the entire human population in the civilian and military fleets, there have only been two black characters. One completely minor, and the other the subject of an entire episode (which exposed Admiral Adama's abandonment of him in Cylon territory previously.
How do we even attempt to measure racism in a science fiction show? Is it just that there weren't that many blacks that escaped Caprica, the colonies and New Caprica? Earth presumably represents the Atlantis-like 13th Colony, and those settlers came from the same places as the other members of the fleet. We know empirically that earth has a diverse racial/ethnic mix (which are meaningless terms outside of politics - biology and genetics have demonstrated that there is more variation within racial groups, than there is between them).
At least the show makes up for the extreme lack of diversity by beginning to address class issues that exist on the fleet and its original (now destroyed) civilzation.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
The Downside of Commodifying Your Body
Black-Market Scandal Shakes India's Ban on Organ Sales -
I, and Western Culture illicitly support the commodification of the body in multiple ways. We pay for superior egg and ova, we pay to enhance our physical attributes through such means as breast and calf implants, and we pay to abort unwanted fetuses. (The entire idea that it is an unwated fetus actually comes from the commodification of the body. But we have to support it illicitly to fool ourselves that we don't really commodify the body). We ban the sales of organs, though most of the middle and upper classes oppose this ban and will purchase the organs they need in China or elsewhere.
I also support unfettered capitalism. I support the right to sell any part of my body and patent any gene sequence or protein, prion, bacteria, etc. that is unique to me.
But the intersection of unfettered capitalism and growing commodification of the body, are likely to produce a very ugly period in World History. The poor, often from the poorest nations, will increasingly sell their organs. In a moderate-sized population this could result in the need for many new caretakers for all of the new post-operative complications that will pop up. The poor won't be able to pay for these health care procedures, and the rich, safe continents away won't care.
It's going to get ugly before it gets better,
I, and Western Culture illicitly support the commodification of the body in multiple ways. We pay for superior egg and ova, we pay to enhance our physical attributes through such means as breast and calf implants, and we pay to abort unwanted fetuses. (The entire idea that it is an unwated fetus actually comes from the commodification of the body. But we have to support it illicitly to fool ourselves that we don't really commodify the body). We ban the sales of organs, though most of the middle and upper classes oppose this ban and will purchase the organs they need in China or elsewhere.
I also support unfettered capitalism. I support the right to sell any part of my body and patent any gene sequence or protein, prion, bacteria, etc. that is unique to me.
But the intersection of unfettered capitalism and growing commodification of the body, are likely to produce a very ugly period in World History. The poor, often from the poorest nations, will increasingly sell their organs. In a moderate-sized population this could result in the need for many new caretakers for all of the new post-operative complications that will pop up. The poor won't be able to pay for these health care procedures, and the rich, safe continents away won't care.
It's going to get ugly before it gets better,
The Slope Gets a Bit More Slippery
A British clinc recently obtained permission to screen embryos for a COSMETIC defect. Screening features to date have focused on congenital defects. Now this specific cosmetic defect can be screened for, and there likely soon will be other cosmetic defect screening tests.
Once we start doing this, there really is no bright line between cosmetic and athletic/eugenic screening tests. If you have have enough money, you'll be able to create the perfect embryo from the egg and sperm of you and your partner. Even if such procedures are banned here, China and other nations don't share "our" values a and will proceed with such research. Western doctors will look the other way when pregnant women begin showing up for pre-natal care they weren't aware of needing to perform in advance, much the way western doctors treat the side effects of liver transplants on Westerners who receive their new kidneys from Chinese prisoners etc.
It just seems like the the slope is getting steeper. While I may like where it's going, not everyone will. And our society really does not debate the cultural impact of these technologies in a sober, reflective manner.
And as I've mentioned before, once technology like this becomes widely available, those with the money and foresight to jump on it first, my succeed in permanently embedding a social strata alien to America's national DNA.
Once we start doing this, there really is no bright line between cosmetic and athletic/eugenic screening tests. If you have have enough money, you'll be able to create the perfect embryo from the egg and sperm of you and your partner. Even if such procedures are banned here, China and other nations don't share "our" values a and will proceed with such research. Western doctors will look the other way when pregnant women begin showing up for pre-natal care they weren't aware of needing to perform in advance, much the way western doctors treat the side effects of liver transplants on Westerners who receive their new kidneys from Chinese prisoners etc.
It just seems like the the slope is getting steeper. While I may like where it's going, not everyone will. And our society really does not debate the cultural impact of these technologies in a sober, reflective manner.
And as I've mentioned before, once technology like this becomes widely available, those with the money and foresight to jump on it first, my succeed in permanently embedding a social strata alien to America's national DNA.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
The Beginnings of Brain Implants & Artificial Intelligence. . .
BBC NEWS | Technology | Mouse brain simulated on computer
This is the first necessary, but not sufficient step towards the creation both of artificial intelligence, but also brain tissue-computer chip interfacing. This last presents the possibility of being able to "download" entire sections of world history, quantum mechanics, or learn a new language relatively effortlessly.
Of course Terminator predicted that AI would spontaneously generate and become a threat to humanity on August 29, 1997. We've made it 10 years past that deadline, and I'm not sure how to feel about the advent of AIs with complex reasoning skills. Its possible that their emergence will cement the current social strata and hinder vertical income movement.
From the BBC article:
Potentially scary stuff. How do our politics catch up with such potential social change? How will the current faux left-right structure be replace by a dominant, shared national ideology that could be effortlessly transmitted to anyone by virtue of a brain-computer automatic "update." How do such advances interact with advances in biotechnology and is there some type of possible synergy.
Looks like 20th Century Science Fiction may eventually become 21st Century science and consumer goods.
This is the first necessary, but not sufficient step towards the creation both of artificial intelligence, but also brain tissue-computer chip interfacing. This last presents the possibility of being able to "download" entire sections of world history, quantum mechanics, or learn a new language relatively effortlessly.
Of course Terminator predicted that AI would spontaneously generate and become a threat to humanity on August 29, 1997. We've made it 10 years past that deadline, and I'm not sure how to feel about the advent of AIs with complex reasoning skills. Its possible that their emergence will cement the current social strata and hinder vertical income movement.
From the BBC article:
US researchers have simulated half a virtual mouse brain on a supercomputer.
The scientists ran a "cortical simulator" that was as big and as complex as half of a mouse brain on the BlueGene L supercomputer.
In other smaller simulations the researchers say they have seen characteristics of thought patterns observed in real mouse brains.
Now the team is tuning the simulation to make it run faster and to make it more like a real mouse brain.
Potentially scary stuff. How do our politics catch up with such potential social change? How will the current faux left-right structure be replace by a dominant, shared national ideology that could be effortlessly transmitted to anyone by virtue of a brain-computer automatic "update." How do such advances interact with advances in biotechnology and is there some type of possible synergy.
Looks like 20th Century Science Fiction may eventually become 21st Century science and consumer goods.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Support the Innocence Project
The 200th person innocently sent to death prison was freed this week due to the work of the Innocence Project.
Jerry Miller was cleared because DNA testing proved he couldn’t have committed the crime for which he was accused. An Illinois judge this week exonerated 48, of all charges relating to a brutal 1981 rape after Chicago police tested Miller's DNA against DNA found at the crime scene. The test cleared Miller, who was paroled in 2006 after serving 25 years. As a result of this week’s order, Miller will no longer be required to register as a sex offender.
The work the Innocence Project does is essential in preserving public support for the Death Penalty. The more people freed BEFORE DNA exonerration, the fewer "martyr cases" to rally around by the left.
I am a staunch supporter of the Death Penatly, but it must be applied fairly and appropriately in each case. And I believe that positive DNA evidence should be mandatory in all Death Penalty convictions.
I also believe the Death Penatly should apply to all pre-meditated murders, all violent rapes, and all sexual crimes against children.
Jerry Miller was cleared because DNA testing proved he couldn’t have committed the crime for which he was accused. An Illinois judge this week exonerated 48, of all charges relating to a brutal 1981 rape after Chicago police tested Miller's DNA against DNA found at the crime scene. The test cleared Miller, who was paroled in 2006 after serving 25 years. As a result of this week’s order, Miller will no longer be required to register as a sex offender.
The work the Innocence Project does is essential in preserving public support for the Death Penalty. The more people freed BEFORE DNA exonerration, the fewer "martyr cases" to rally around by the left.
I am a staunch supporter of the Death Penatly, but it must be applied fairly and appropriately in each case. And I believe that positive DNA evidence should be mandatory in all Death Penalty convictions.
I also believe the Death Penatly should apply to all pre-meditated murders, all violent rapes, and all sexual crimes against children.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Why Republicans Should Like Obama (but not necessarily vote for him)
Barack Obama did well in the debates tonight. That's not why GOPers should like him. Republicans should like him because as a person he represents the type of world in which Republicans want to live (minus the patriarchal oppression of women). He is a true product of the meritocracy. He used his natural abilities to become part of what Thomas Jefferson referred to as the "Natural Aristocracy." He was elected the first African-American head of the Law Review through a competitive process and has been excelling ever since.
He also has spent a significant portion of his life working to improve local communities. While he may persue policy goals Republicans find anathema, he does so honorably and to achieve goals that republicans often share.
In short, he may not be a member of the GOP or support its platform, but his life story is exactly the story Republicans want for everyone. Onward and upward for everyone through competition and commitment to community.
He also has spent a significant portion of his life working to improve local communities. While he may persue policy goals Republicans find anathema, he does so honorably and to achieve goals that republicans often share.
In short, he may not be a member of the GOP or support its platform, but his life story is exactly the story Republicans want for everyone. Onward and upward for everyone through competition and commitment to community.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
DHS is officially the new FEMA . . .
. . . in the conspiracy community. Of course this may seem obvious 5 years after 9/11 and the resulting creation of DHS which, of course then became the new FEMA. It only took mainstream media culture (MMC) 5 years to officially catch up. (FEMA had played prominently in conspiracy culture for about 15 years prior to this).
I am of course referring to Jericho's revelation that the Department of Homeland Security is the party culpable for setting off the nukes and creating a new "emergency government."
I guess Rayelan and Theresa (and their associated communities) get it right sometimes.
I am of course referring to Jericho's revelation that the Department of Homeland Security is the party culpable for setting off the nukes and creating a new "emergency government."
I guess Rayelan and Theresa (and their associated communities) get it right sometimes.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Alien Abduction is All in Your Head
Belief in reincarnation tied to memory errors - LiveScience - MSNBC.com:
Here's the money quote:
Of course, couldn't the memory loss be caused by the repeated abductions. In statistics that would be called the alternative hypothesis and I doubt anyone tested it here.
Here's the money quote:
"Past life memories are not the only type of implausible memories that have been studied in this manner. Richard McNally, a clinical psychologist at Harvard University, has found that self-proclaimed alien abductees are also twice as likely to commit source monitoring errors. "
Of course, couldn't the memory loss be caused by the repeated abductions. In statistics that would be called the alternative hypothesis and I doubt anyone tested it here.
Friday, April 06, 2007
CVS Responds to A Mo(u)rning Portrait
As mentioned in a follow-up item to the guy who criticized me for not helping the old man at CVS (which I actually did do), I mentioned that Ms. Uneven called CVS to share her thoughts on the matter.
CVS responded very positively in writing and promised to send someone to the store to make sure that the store was following all CVS customer service guidelines. Someone from their corporate office is going to take this up with all 3 pharmacy techs and the manager.
Even though the individual employees did not display the level of customer service one would hope for, the corporate response is excellent and CVS gets mad kudos from US.
CVS responded very positively in writing and promised to send someone to the store to make sure that the store was following all CVS customer service guidelines. Someone from their corporate office is going to take this up with all 3 pharmacy techs and the manager.
Even though the individual employees did not display the level of customer service one would hope for, the corporate response is excellent and CVS gets mad kudos from US.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Another U.S. Governor Has UFO Sighting
The first was Jimmy Carter when he was governor of Georgia. Former Arizona Governor Fife Symington says UFOs flew over Phoenix in '97. The money quote:
The two notable things about this are: (1) Symington is a very credible witness as both a trained pilot and high ranking government official; and (2) fear of panicking the public as a reason to cover up alien contact has become a cultural meme.
In fact, there would have been good cause to believe (2) 60 years ago. The pandemonium caused by the Orson Welles's radio broadcast of War of the Worlds had occured fewer than 10 years before the Roswell crash. Any Eisenhower Administration official involved in the Roswell event would have had this in the forefront of his mind when handling the issue.
Assuming you believe the Roswell events occurred, then there are some very interesting questions. Have we been gradualy accurated to the idea of extraterrestrial biological entities through our popular culture for the past 60 years? If so, how would we react now if the government actually revealed "the truth" about Roswell? Would we behave as our grandparents had in the 1930s, or would we just shrug it off and silently think "I knew it!" Would the government reveal such information to the public before developing weapons to defend ourselves from the new "invasive" species?
The cultural impact of such a governmental revelation, if mishandled, (and is there a correct way to handle it?) COULD be severe. The political consequences range from impeachment of the President and Vice-President whose administration revealed the info (because they hadn't come clean sooner and had covered it up) to a sprawling decades long Congressional investigation. And then there's the potential religious upheavel which is impossible to estimate.
The massive potential chaos caused by such a revelation could reverberate around the globe and result in a global temporary autonomous zone. What an event to live through. It would be almost like living through the Biblical endtimes. Maybe that's why the meme keeps spreading - it simply updates an underlying fear.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Roswell event.
"I'm a pilot and I know just about every machine that flies. It was bigger than anything that I've ever seen. It remains a great mystery. Other people saw it, responsible people," Symington said Thursday. "I don't know why people would ridicule it."
Symington, who was in his second term as governor of Arizona during the Phoenix Lights incident, recently told a UFO investigator making a documentary that he had kept quiet about his personal close encounter because he didn't want to panic the populace.
The two notable things about this are: (1) Symington is a very credible witness as both a trained pilot and high ranking government official; and (2) fear of panicking the public as a reason to cover up alien contact has become a cultural meme.
In fact, there would have been good cause to believe (2) 60 years ago. The pandemonium caused by the Orson Welles's radio broadcast of War of the Worlds had occured fewer than 10 years before the Roswell crash. Any Eisenhower Administration official involved in the Roswell event would have had this in the forefront of his mind when handling the issue.
Assuming you believe the Roswell events occurred, then there are some very interesting questions. Have we been gradualy accurated to the idea of extraterrestrial biological entities through our popular culture for the past 60 years? If so, how would we react now if the government actually revealed "the truth" about Roswell? Would we behave as our grandparents had in the 1930s, or would we just shrug it off and silently think "I knew it!" Would the government reveal such information to the public before developing weapons to defend ourselves from the new "invasive" species?
The cultural impact of such a governmental revelation, if mishandled, (and is there a correct way to handle it?) COULD be severe. The political consequences range from impeachment of the President and Vice-President whose administration revealed the info (because they hadn't come clean sooner and had covered it up) to a sprawling decades long Congressional investigation. And then there's the potential religious upheavel which is impossible to estimate.
The massive potential chaos caused by such a revelation could reverberate around the globe and result in a global temporary autonomous zone. What an event to live through. It would be almost like living through the Biblical endtimes. Maybe that's why the meme keeps spreading - it simply updates an underlying fear.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Roswell event.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
The Revolution Will Be Webcast
A Brave New World of Political Skulduggery? - washingtonpost.com
Finally, politics has embraced our post-modern condition with thr massive dissemination of the Hillary-Obama 1984 ad via (print, tv and web) media in addition to blog and email forwards. The ad is everything good about post-modernism - the mixing of media (video and text), the use of sampling (the reuse of the 1984 Macintosh commercial - aired during that year's superbowl incidentally), superbly crafted subtext(s) (which I go into here using only the video and not the audio) and the ability to spread itself virally. Oh Joy!
Gil Scott Heron was right in that the Revolution will not be televised. It will be brought about by thousands of free spirits creatively using the tools at their disposal to effect massive change. James Carville once made the point that the entire Renaissance was only 1500 people but they changed the world. This ad could herald something similar. I hope it really is the beginning of "citizen political ads" as the MSM has stated. And this WaPo article makes the point that the commercial was made very easily. While it "only" reached a few million of our 300 million citizens, those are the people paying attention early and who will be opinion and grassroots leaders in their communities.
This brings me to a point I haven't made on this blog yet. Namely, that political campaigns belong to the people, not the politicians. Abominations like McCain-Feingold give politicians too much control over the direction of political debate and cultural discourse by limiting who may participate and when they may participate. This is simply the political class's unique version of rent-seeking.
Ads like this show that the barrier to entry for political ads (now that YouTube and its rivals exist) is extremely low and relatively inexpensive. Normal citizens can now make their own advertisements (assuming the FEC doesn't freak out and ban them all) very cheaply and still have impact. What happens now is the question.
Finally, politics has embraced our post-modern condition with thr massive dissemination of the Hillary-Obama 1984 ad via (print, tv and web) media in addition to blog and email forwards. The ad is everything good about post-modernism - the mixing of media (video and text), the use of sampling (the reuse of the 1984 Macintosh commercial - aired during that year's superbowl incidentally), superbly crafted subtext(s) (which I go into here using only the video and not the audio) and the ability to spread itself virally. Oh Joy!
Gil Scott Heron was right in that the Revolution will not be televised. It will be brought about by thousands of free spirits creatively using the tools at their disposal to effect massive change. James Carville once made the point that the entire Renaissance was only 1500 people but they changed the world. This ad could herald something similar. I hope it really is the beginning of "citizen political ads" as the MSM has stated. And this WaPo article makes the point that the commercial was made very easily. While it "only" reached a few million of our 300 million citizens, those are the people paying attention early and who will be opinion and grassroots leaders in their communities.
This brings me to a point I haven't made on this blog yet. Namely, that political campaigns belong to the people, not the politicians. Abominations like McCain-Feingold give politicians too much control over the direction of political debate and cultural discourse by limiting who may participate and when they may participate. This is simply the political class's unique version of rent-seeking.
Ads like this show that the barrier to entry for political ads (now that YouTube and its rivals exist) is extremely low and relatively inexpensive. Normal citizens can now make their own advertisements (assuming the FEC doesn't freak out and ban them all) very cheaply and still have impact. What happens now is the question.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Another Nation Admits to Trackg UFOs
Breitbart reports that France has opened its secret UFO files to the public. These files cover 50 years of sitings.
It's fairly interesting that France is the second nation since 2005 to admit to researching UFOs up to the present day. The U.S. Disclosure Project has been trying to accomplish the same thing over here, even though Project Blue Book was officially closed in the late 1960s.
There are really two explanations as to why elite members of these last two nations are pushing to open their nations' respective files:
Occam's Razor says that option (1) is more likely. I think I'll go with that one. The second option is too creepy to contemplate in any event.
Of course, we can now get into a conversation about Faction One vs. Faction Two, but we'll leave that for another time.
It's fairly interesting that France is the second nation since 2005 to admit to researching UFOs up to the present day. The U.S. Disclosure Project has been trying to accomplish the same thing over here, even though Project Blue Book was officially closed in the late 1960s.
There are really two explanations as to why elite members of these last two nations are pushing to open their nations' respective files:
1) To prove that "there's no there there" and try to dispel the growing cultural belief in alien visitations (Jung would have an interesting take on the UFO phenomena).
2) It is part of the gradual acculturation process that began decades ago with the first alien-human contact during the Eisenhower Administration with the crash at Roswell.
Occam's Razor says that option (1) is more likely. I think I'll go with that one. The second option is too creepy to contemplate in any event.
Of course, we can now get into a conversation about Faction One vs. Faction Two, but we'll leave that for another time.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Hey Asshole - More info on CVS poor service
If you're going to leave a comment, be a (wo)man about it and leave an actual email address for me to respond to your comments and criticisms - and I will respond via email to comments. (Aside from this post) I'm not going to waste my blog space on replying to idiot/self-righteous morons. Unfortunately, some people are too cowardly to leave comments w/o doing it anonymously.
To the asshole who wrote saying I should have helped the old guy at CVS and criticized me for not being a decent human:
The fact is that I am the one who asked her to call the pharmacy tech from the day before, and Ms. Uneven suggested the pharmacy tech call her doctor. Yes, I used some literary license - it is afterall called a "portrait" as opposed to an actual retelling of the event. If you don't understand the difference, look at the differences between James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man vs. his actual biography. There are significant differences. Too bad you're too much of a coward to leave an actual email address to respond to so that we could have a real conversation about this.
For the record, the portrait was of an old man being beaten down by the beauracracy. It wasn't supposed to be a completely true story, just the outlines of a sad one.
To the asshole who wrote saying I should have helped the old guy at CVS and criticized me for not being a decent human:
The fact is that I am the one who asked her to call the pharmacy tech from the day before, and Ms. Uneven suggested the pharmacy tech call her doctor. Yes, I used some literary license - it is afterall called a "portrait" as opposed to an actual retelling of the event. If you don't understand the difference, look at the differences between James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man vs. his actual biography. There are significant differences. Too bad you're too much of a coward to leave an actual email address to respond to so that we could have a real conversation about this.
For the record, the portrait was of an old man being beaten down by the beauracracy. It wasn't supposed to be a completely true story, just the outlines of a sad one.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Deconstructing the Hillary-Obama 1984 Ad
The Hillary-Obama Ad is a great juxtaposition of the most famous commerical of all time (Apple's initial upstart assault on dominant Microsoft, in turn based on Orwell's 1984) with the dates of the a previous general election and the commercial's first airing (1984) and the next general election 2008. Scroll down to watch the ad.
What happened in the 1984 election? - the Democratic candidate annointed by primogeniture (as only Republicans do), Walter Mondale, had beaten off an insurgent campaign based on new ideas and charisma, Gary Hart, to lose in a disastrous landslide in the 1984 general election (to Ronald Reagan). The visual reference to the 1984 commercial also provides the undertones (subtexts) that Hillary:
What could happen in the 2008 election? - The American people, tired of the same (type) of people running the government as those of the last 20 years will pick a new (type?) of politician. It could be Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, Newt Gingrich, Al Gore and a few others.
The visual statement: "2008 won't be like 1984" provides the undertones (subtexts):
What happened in the 1984 election? - the Democratic candidate annointed by primogeniture (as only Republicans do), Walter Mondale, had beaten off an insurgent campaign based on new ideas and charisma, Gary Hart, to lose in a disastrous landslide in the 1984 general election (to Ronald Reagan). The visual reference to the 1984 commercial also provides the undertones (subtexts) that Hillary:
(1) Is Big Brother, again enforcing orthodoxy
(2) Again advancing through primogeniture in a party which finds such a process alien to its political DNA and distateful to its (small d) democratic roots.
(3) Will lose disastrously because (1) will produce an result completely in sync with the American People
What could happen in the 2008 election? - The American people, tired of the same (type) of people running the government as those of the last 20 years will pick a new (type?) of politician. It could be Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, Newt Gingrich, Al Gore and a few others.
The visual statement: "2008 won't be like 1984" provides the undertones (subtexts):
1) It won't be Hillary. She represents the continuity of the political past, not the break from it we're all yearning for.
2) The above-referenced yearning which didn't really exist in 1984 because people were relatively satisified with President Reagan
3) Poses a direct challenge to Hillary (from the Obama campaign based on the logo, but they have denied it).
4) Hillary as recipient of the "two-minute hate" against which true-believers can rebel.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
A Mo(u)rning Portrait
At the Waterfrong CVS earlier today (store #1348) , I overheard a distraught elderly gentlman patiently trying to pick up medicine for his wife/daughter (I wasn't paying that much attention). Apparently CVS had misplaced the prescritions he dropped off yesterday so that he could have them today. The CVS technician offered neither to call the doctor (most of which have answering services for emergencies) nor to call the CVS pharmacy tech working yesterday (whom he described well - I've been to that pharmacy before) to find out if she knew if she had misplaced them.
Instead of helping him resolve the issue, she blew him off and shooed him out. When he asked if she would call the doctor about the prescriptions, she said it was unlikely the doc would answer and his best bet would be to come back tomorrow. She also refused to call the accurately-describted pharmacy tech. As he patiently pointed out (if it were ME, I'd be boiling over at this point), he had dropped off the prescriptions Yesterday so he could have them TODAY for his sick loved one. No one should have to wait a day for basic medical treatment because a retail employee is lazy.
Watching him shuffle out of the door has darkened my mood. I hope that missing one day of medication won't harm his loved one's medical treatment. I wish customer service were a bigger priority for CVS pharmacies.
I think I'll transfer my prescriptions to a different branch or find a entirely new pharmacy in my neighborhood - hopefully I can find a locally-owned one.
Instead of helping him resolve the issue, she blew him off and shooed him out. When he asked if she would call the doctor about the prescriptions, she said it was unlikely the doc would answer and his best bet would be to come back tomorrow. She also refused to call the accurately-describted pharmacy tech. As he patiently pointed out (if it were ME, I'd be boiling over at this point), he had dropped off the prescriptions Yesterday so he could have them TODAY for his sick loved one. No one should have to wait a day for basic medical treatment because a retail employee is lazy.
Watching him shuffle out of the door has darkened my mood. I hope that missing one day of medication won't harm his loved one's medical treatment. I wish customer service were a bigger priority for CVS pharmacies.
I think I'll transfer my prescriptions to a different branch or find a entirely new pharmacy in my neighborhood - hopefully I can find a locally-owned one.
External Validation Rocks!
"I even saw the lights of the Goodyear blimp, and it read Uneven Steven's a pimp." (With apologies to Ice Cube)
Of course, it WAS an honor to be nominated. I'd like to give a shout out to the Dewey Crew who have been calling me "Big Sexy" for years - you know who you are (of course most of those people have actually partied with me). I'm also grateful for the many votes I received from the DC blogging community. While some of the gracious people in this community know (and have done body shots with) me, not enough of you could possibly know me for me to win this award straight out. But thanks again for (further) external validation.
I won because of the method of voting. Different methods of voting produce different results. There is a whole branch of Rational Choice Political Theory dedicated to the different results that different voting methodologies produce. This is important enough that Democrats and Republicans both have crafted specific rules on legislative issue in hope of engendering their desired result through "democratic" means. Both parties are equally known for using their majority power to structure favorable voting rules for legislation coming to the floor (the acually most important method for determining what public policy will pass the House of Representatives). Both parties had their favorite rules, but the previous Democratic majority was masterful at it in a way that Republican never were. We'll have to see how this Democratic majority fairs
Being the second or third choice for most people when you're able to cast four per person means that you can be nobody's favorite and still win. This raises significant issues as to whether someone coming in first in such a contest (e.g., myself) is actually the democratic choice. In some sense the only contestant that can claim to be the "true" democratic choice is the "Condorcet winner", the one that beats EVERY other option in a head-to-head competition. I likely would not since I don't know enough of you.
All of that said, I DO APPRECIATE THE VOTES.
- US
Oh C'Mon, typical incompetence is not a conspiracy
Apparently, Mayor Nagin Suspects a plot To keep blacks away from New Orleans. Apparently it's all part of some plot by evil Republicans (or whichever party is now the party of racists - it used by the Dems until Nixon's Southern Strategy) to use natural disasters to disperse populations to benefit their party. Doubtful.
(ed - but Hurricane Katrina really did vastly redistribute hundreds of thousands of poor people who had never left their home neighborhoods, let alone towns. Many of them won't be coming back. But the lack of federal help (i.e., tax expenditures) in bringing these people back to New Orleans doesn't make it a conspiracy)
The government is generally very bad at big things (like this), and very good at little things (actually processing Social Security checks etc.). And I doubt the folks that brought us the Iraq War (complete with flower offering children), the ham-handed firings of the US Attorneys, and Plamegate could really get away with something like this.
Bad things happen. There's not always an invisible hand (except in capitalism) no matter how much we want the bad things to be CAUSED so that we have someone/thing to rail against.
(ed - but Hurricane Katrina really did vastly redistribute hundreds of thousands of poor people who had never left their home neighborhoods, let alone towns. Many of them won't be coming back. But the lack of federal help (i.e., tax expenditures) in bringing these people back to New Orleans doesn't make it a conspiracy)
The government is generally very bad at big things (like this), and very good at little things (actually processing Social Security checks etc.). And I doubt the folks that brought us the Iraq War (complete with flower offering children), the ham-handed firings of the US Attorneys, and Plamegate could really get away with something like this.
Bad things happen. There's not always an invisible hand (except in capitalism) no matter how much we want the bad things to be CAUSED so that we have someone/thing to rail against.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
A True Conspiracy? Did RFK Really Kill Marilyn?
FBI file links Kennedy to Monroe's death - World - smh.com.au
According to this articlte, the FBI had an ACTUAL FILE about RFK's role in inducing Marilyne Monroe's suicide. Even more, it was buried for DECADES as a classified document that detailed RKF's on and off again sexual relationship w/ Norma Jean. Apparently, it even conjectures that RFK had her killed when she realized he had no intention of divorcing his wife and marrying her.
Of course, this is a Kennedy Hater's dream.
According to this articlte, the FBI had an ACTUAL FILE about RFK's role in inducing Marilyne Monroe's suicide. Even more, it was buried for DECADES as a classified document that detailed RKF's on and off again sexual relationship w/ Norma Jean. Apparently, it even conjectures that RFK had her killed when she realized he had no intention of divorcing his wife and marrying her.
Of course, this is a Kennedy Hater's dream.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Taegan Goddard Describes My Life
This describes a lot of my life w/ a few caveats. I really like to read Political Wire before the WaPo or NYT, and having a dual-tuner TiVo means never having to get out of bed to tape anything on Sunday. Plus, the PBS and local weekend political shows are always worth watching. I'm also pretty much over Prime Minister's question hour until there's a new PM (though that's just a matter of taste and I think we should require something similar of our President(s).
Instructions for becoming a political junkie, courtesy of Political Insider. (Required reading for college students and budding politicos).
But enough about me.
Instructions for becoming a political junkie, courtesy of Political Insider. (Required reading for college students and budding politicos).
But enough about me.
The routine of one obsessed political junkie:
DAILY TASKS: Wake up. Check Drudge. Read the NYT and WaPo. Check Political Wire, the hotline blog, politico.com, the AP wire, the Reuters political wire, and MSNBC.com. Read ABC's The Note when it arrives in my inbox, around 10am. Throughout the day, check Drudge at least once an hour, check Political Wire a few times, check the hotline blog every hour or two. Once or twice a day, read Wonkette, Political Insider, potomacflacks.com, cqpolitics.com, HuffingtonPost, and TVNewser. Watch Hardball at 5pm or 7pm. During commercials, check in on Sit Room.
MUST READS: Everything by Howard Fineman (Newsweek). Almost everything by George Will. Everything by David Yepsen and Tom Beaumont (DM Register). Everything written by Mike Allen and Roger Simon (Politico).
TRICKS OF THE TRADE: Keep '08 staff list. Google alert names of spokespeople from campaigns to follow messaging. Check presidential websites weekly.
MONDAYS: Read Dana Milbank's Washington Sketch (WaPo).
TUESDAYS: Read E.J. Dionne's column in the WaPo.
WEDNESDAYS: Read Maureen Dowd and Tom Friedman's NYT columns.
THURSDAYS: Read Novak's column. Read John DiStaso's weekly Union Leader column. Read David Brooks' Thursday NYT column.
FRIDAYS: Read the Time articles that matter. Tivo HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher.
WEEKEND: Savvy political junkies know that Novak's must read "Inside Report" column is printed on townhall.com on Saturday, a full day before it's available in his syndicated column. Read Maureen Dowd's Sat column in the NYT. Read David Brooks' Sun NYT column. Tivo all three network Sunday talk shows and FNC's Fox News Sunday. Tivo the Chris Matthews Show. Tivo McLaughlin Group and McLaughlin One-on-One. (Sunday recording requires taping shows at the same time). Watch at my leisure on Sunday. Watch C-SPAN's Road to the White House on Sunday night. Fall asleep watching Prime Minister's questions on C-SPAN.
REPEAT
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Plagiarism is the Sincerest Form of Flattery - I'm looking at you Jazz Chill Corner
Jazz Chill Corner decided to repost my 2007 Music Festival listing w/o any type of attribution. You can compare them side by side - a his here and mine here and you'll see they're identical. He couldn't even be bothered to add a few new ones.
Not only does this probably violate my creative commons license, it's just rude not to give credit where it's due. It's called a footnote in academia (or a hat tip in the blogosphere). When I reposted E)'s stoner job search ad and commented on it, I gave her credit because that's appropriate.
While I'm flattered, it'a just not polite to acknowldege my hard work to compile that list (and solicit more info for future updates) or provide a link to the original source.
Not only does this probably violate my creative commons license, it's just rude not to give credit where it's due. It's called a footnote in academia (or a hat tip in the blogosphere). When I reposted E)'s stoner job search ad and commented on it, I gave her credit because that's appropriate.
While I'm flattered, it'a just not polite to acknowldege my hard work to compile that list (and solicit more info for future updates) or provide a link to the original source.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Gotta Love the Post-Modernism of Robotics Ethics Laws Based on Asimov
The tradition of SciFi writers predicting the future continues and has now advanced from Jules Verne to Isaac Asimov. It'll be interesting to see how long it takes to get to some of the things Heinlein predicted.
That said there is something vaguely creepy about an entire national obsession with robots and the need for a nation to actually have a robotic ethics codes. Even the Europeans are getting in on the act. Though it does make practical sense for nations whose populations are imploding. However, it seems premature to establish robotic ethics at all before any of them pass the Turing test.
The most interesting implications of robotics combined w/limited AI are those related to creating sex robots. And all new successful technology from the VCR to the internet has been driven through its applicability to pornography (and making its use more anonymous). If robots are to become commonplace this is the most profitable place for manufacturers/researchers to start. And regardless of what I think, it's only a matter of time before some company starts doing this. Most likely Korea or Japan due to the population pressures mentioned above (which is getting worse due to the aborting of what would be female children in those cultures - we're actually witnessing cultural suicide, from a detached perspective, it would make an excellent PhD thesis).
The positive aspects the spread of sex robots could virtually eliminate trafficking in women and sexual slavery. This has enormous potential to reduce human rights abuses and vastly improve the lives of women around the world since sexual slavery would become comparatively more expensive.
Of course, despite these positive cultural impacts, the christianists likely will rise up in outraged opposition. I'm sure they'll find some obscure Biblical passage to justify opposing another form of sexual release. More likely however, they'll just trot out the chestnut about Onan. Any literate reader of Scripture would realize his punishment was due to "gaming the system" to keep fucking his sister-in-law - which Hebrew law condoned in order to give her a son, but which activity would have to stop once she became pregnant - not for having sex that didn't result in conception (even the Song of Songs praises sexuality) which as become the justification for opposing birth control etc.
That said there is something vaguely creepy about an entire national obsession with robots and the need for a nation to actually have a robotic ethics codes. Even the Europeans are getting in on the act. Though it does make practical sense for nations whose populations are imploding. However, it seems premature to establish robotic ethics at all before any of them pass the Turing test.
The most interesting implications of robotics combined w/limited AI are those related to creating sex robots. And all new successful technology from the VCR to the internet has been driven through its applicability to pornography (and making its use more anonymous). If robots are to become commonplace this is the most profitable place for manufacturers/researchers to start. And regardless of what I think, it's only a matter of time before some company starts doing this. Most likely Korea or Japan due to the population pressures mentioned above (which is getting worse due to the aborting of what would be female children in those cultures - we're actually witnessing cultural suicide, from a detached perspective, it would make an excellent PhD thesis).
The positive aspects the spread of sex robots could virtually eliminate trafficking in women and sexual slavery. This has enormous potential to reduce human rights abuses and vastly improve the lives of women around the world since sexual slavery would become comparatively more expensive.
Of course, despite these positive cultural impacts, the christianists likely will rise up in outraged opposition. I'm sure they'll find some obscure Biblical passage to justify opposing another form of sexual release. More likely however, they'll just trot out the chestnut about Onan. Any literate reader of Scripture would realize his punishment was due to "gaming the system" to keep fucking his sister-in-law - which Hebrew law condoned in order to give her a son, but which activity would have to stop once she became pregnant - not for having sex that didn't result in conception (even the Song of Songs praises sexuality) which as become the justification for opposing birth control etc.
Does it matter what the Pope thinks about Biotech?
Obviously the Pope's opinion is wrong, especially his comments on artificical insemination for infertile couples (doesn't that go against God's command to "be fruitful and multiply" - of course people like Benedict don't really use logic). Additionally, the Pope is wrong and Andrew Sullivan right on gay marriage - if you're pro-marriage you allow gays to have civil union because it would provide the same social benefits to and from these couples that married people receive.
But does it even matter that he has an opinion? He is not the head of Christendom, only Catholicism (which recently has been seeking to reconcile with many of the protestant denominations). Aside from Catholics and christianists, do we even care?Most Europeans seem to ignore him. And what about the Chinese who have no cultural connection to the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam)? It's unlikely they would respond to his opinion either.
Additionally, the entire protestant movement was based on the idea that the Catholic church was too dogmatic and didn't allow others to interpret Christianity as they saw fit. So there's really no reason for him to pay much attention to him since the Anglican Church, to which I belong, does not agree with him.
But does it even matter that he has an opinion? He is not the head of Christendom, only Catholicism (which recently has been seeking to reconcile with many of the protestant denominations). Aside from Catholics and christianists, do we even care?Most Europeans seem to ignore him. And what about the Chinese who have no cultural connection to the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam)? It's unlikely they would respond to his opinion either.
Additionally, the entire protestant movement was based on the idea that the Catholic church was too dogmatic and didn't allow others to interpret Christianity as they saw fit. So there's really no reason for him to pay much attention to him since the Anglican Church, to which I belong, does not agree with him.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Designer Babies in the UK
At the end of the day I completely support this. The individual and social benefits to eliminating genetic diseases such as diabetes, parkinsons, alcholism etc. are enormous.
I'd love to have my future children partially designed to eliminate hereditary diseases. That's a no brainer.
Unintended Social Consequences & Controversies of This Technology
Would I use this technology to enhance their intelligence and athletic ability - of course, what responsible parent wouldn't want their child to have every possible advantage. This is more controversial because thousands(millions?) of individuals making individual decisions for similar reasons can cause an unintential social movement. Such genetic enhancement runs counter to our American ideals of fair play (witness our laws against performance enhancing drugs for athletes).
What about the ethics of deleting a gay gene, deaf gene or genes that make you fat? Parts of our society would do this without blinking. But other parts of our society(beyond the christianists) will have severe issues with this? E.g., won't deaf culture die out and should it (which is a huge issue)?
Depending on how far such technology progresses, it also has has the potential to cement the position of those at the top and eliminatig the eternal goal of meritocracy and social mobility. Without the last two, our Democratic-Capitalist society will eventually collapse due to revolts and possible revolutions - they'll be slow in coming, but they'll come. And it won't just be our nation, it will occur in other nation where the same technology is available and utilized.
I'd love to have my future children partially designed to eliminate hereditary diseases. That's a no brainer.
Unintended Social Consequences & Controversies of This Technology
Would I use this technology to enhance their intelligence and athletic ability - of course, what responsible parent wouldn't want their child to have every possible advantage. This is more controversial because thousands(millions?) of individuals making individual decisions for similar reasons can cause an unintential social movement. Such genetic enhancement runs counter to our American ideals of fair play (witness our laws against performance enhancing drugs for athletes).
What about the ethics of deleting a gay gene, deaf gene or genes that make you fat? Parts of our society would do this without blinking. But other parts of our society(beyond the christianists) will have severe issues with this? E.g., won't deaf culture die out and should it (which is a huge issue)?
Depending on how far such technology progresses, it also has has the potential to cement the position of those at the top and eliminatig the eternal goal of meritocracy and social mobility. Without the last two, our Democratic-Capitalist society will eventually collapse due to revolts and possible revolutions - they'll be slow in coming, but they'll come. And it won't just be our nation, it will occur in other nation where the same technology is available and utilized.
Biological Data Storage
How cool is this? Using artificial DNA to store information in bacteria is just brilliant and potentially will lead to faster computer processors, and EMP-proof data storage for corporations. Someone's going to figure how to make a lot of money off of this.
For all the potential benefits, it does raise three questions:
(1) What exactly is "artificial DNA," and what are its other potentially malicious uses of which we should be wary?
(2) Can this data be written into creatures beyond bacteria? Will I eventually be able to use my dog as a backup storage device? How cool would that be?
(3) Will scientists be able to use this artifical DNA to modify humans? In what way will they choose/be able/forced to do so? How far away is this?
Anyway, just things to consider. Still doesnt' change the coolness factor.
For all the potential benefits, it does raise three questions:
(1) What exactly is "artificial DNA," and what are its other potentially malicious uses of which we should be wary?
(2) Can this data be written into creatures beyond bacteria? Will I eventually be able to use my dog as a backup storage device? How cool would that be?
(3) Will scientists be able to use this artifical DNA to modify humans? In what way will they choose/be able/forced to do so? How far away is this?
Anyway, just things to consider. Still doesnt' change the coolness factor.
Of Course the Government Abused Its Power
Another name for Big Government Conservativism is Fascism and we're rapidly sliding down that slope. Fortunately, American-style fascism hasn't made "the trains run on time" (witness Katrina, Walter Reed, Iraq), so America likely will survive and recover from the latest assault on the Bill of Rights.
I'm shocked, shocked the FBI is abusing the powers granted to in the abomination known by the Orwellian name "The Patriot Act." Most of the extreme provisions in this bill should have been allowed to sunset per the originial law. However Congress, and especially the spineless Democrats raised few objections to expanding to renewing these provisions and only eliminate some of them.
And now the government is attempting to resurrect the Total Information Awareness system. Of course this time they're getting the private sector to do it for them so they contract for the services instead. [Note: to bring in another of my favorite themes,the original seal for the TIA office prompted many concerns from conspiracy groups about the Masons, Illuminati etc. taking over]. FOr real problems TIA could cause, see here.
Begin Self-Involved Explication
I'm shocked, shocked the FBI is abusing the powers granted to in the abomination known by the Orwellian name "The Patriot Act." Most of the extreme provisions in this bill should have been allowed to sunset per the originial law. However Congress, and especially the spineless Democrats raised few objections to expanding to renewing these provisions and only eliminate some of them.
And now the government is attempting to resurrect the Total Information Awareness system. Of course this time they're getting the private sector to do it for them so they contract for the services instead. [Note: to bring in another of my favorite themes,the original seal for the TIA office prompted many concerns from conspiracy groups about the Masons, Illuminati etc. taking over]. FOr real problems TIA could cause, see here.
Begin Self-Involved Explication
Many of the provisions in the Patriot Act simply gave the FBI the same powers to pursue suspected terrorists that the DEA already possessed for going after potential drug traffickers. On that front these provisions could be considered relatively harmless. One the other hand the War on (Some) Drugs could easily be ended by legalizing most drug consumption, regulating it and putting it in the hands of corporations. This would also result in the defunding of many of the terrorism organizations. I had a really interesting conversation about this at CPAC with a law enforcement officer advocating legalizing drugs for these reasons. For what it's worth, he told me he had a much better reception this year than last.End Self-Involved Explication.
Shamrock Festival Rocked! RFK Management Blows! DC Police Are Professional
I say the festival rocked because I am no longer there. The management company decided to stop honoring VIP wrist bands for the VIP area (which was not the organizers fault). Like I always do with bad customer service, I asked to speak to the supervisor but was told no. He was only 10 feet away so I walked towards him to straighten everything out. Before I even got to him I was physically assualted by the staff - attempting to break my arm by pushing it up behind my back - and physically threatened further by the staff. The staff also refused to give me their names etc. so that I could file a formal complaint with the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission (who run RFK) and the police. That is unacceptable, but typical cover your ass behavior by the type of uneducated people who work these jobs and realize their in the wrong. (To quote the asshole professor from Real Genius "[they're] laborers ... that's what you get for not having an education").
I was visibly upset by their unwarranted assault and called the police on 911. Someone came very promptly, and I was escorted out of the event. I don't blame the police - they were doing their job and in their situation I would take the management company's word over mine since the management company is also part of DC government. I was very tense and the officers kept commenting on it and asked me to relax as we walked out. They were very professional the whole time and I appreciate their difficult jobs. I also believe that law enforcement at any level is second only to military servicen in terms of noble callings and professions deserving respect. Kudos to the DC police for handling this well.
However, if I were the guys who sponsored the event and the D.C. Sports & Entertainment Commission stopped honoring the tickets I had sold (as well as vendor passes - many of whom also were barred from the VIP area despite the fact they were supposed to have access), I would stop having Shamrock Fest and Blocktober Fest at RFK. They did not provide acceptable customer service to the festival promoters.
Instead, I would do like the HFStival and do the events at Ravens stadium in Baltimore. In addition to better management, there is more to do around the stadium than at RFK, and it's just a better environment for having a good time than the RFK area. Of course, there will be a new Nationals stadium, so maybe they can do it there in the future.
RFK deserves to close due to poor management and inability to resolve customer service issues. Maybe the DC United (our excellent soccer team that not enough people see) could play at the new stadium too. For a WaPo article that mentions previous management problems at the stadium, click here.I worked in customer service for over five years service is a big thing for me.
Despite all the drama the festival was fun. The Connells aren't quite as good as they were 15 years ago, but still put on a solid show, as did all the Dewey Bands and Kelly Bell. I'm bummed I'm missing DJ AM and Carbon Leaf, but that's what happens for sticking up for yourself with the government (you can't fight city hall). I'm sure they'll both put on excellent performances.
I was visibly upset by their unwarranted assault and called the police on 911. Someone came very promptly, and I was escorted out of the event. I don't blame the police - they were doing their job and in their situation I would take the management company's word over mine since the management company is also part of DC government. I was very tense and the officers kept commenting on it and asked me to relax as we walked out. They were very professional the whole time and I appreciate their difficult jobs. I also believe that law enforcement at any level is second only to military servicen in terms of noble callings and professions deserving respect. Kudos to the DC police for handling this well.
However, if I were the guys who sponsored the event and the D.C. Sports & Entertainment Commission stopped honoring the tickets I had sold (as well as vendor passes - many of whom also were barred from the VIP area despite the fact they were supposed to have access), I would stop having Shamrock Fest and Blocktober Fest at RFK. They did not provide acceptable customer service to the festival promoters.
Instead, I would do like the HFStival and do the events at Ravens stadium in Baltimore. In addition to better management, there is more to do around the stadium than at RFK, and it's just a better environment for having a good time than the RFK area. Of course, there will be a new Nationals stadium, so maybe they can do it there in the future.
RFK deserves to close due to poor management and inability to resolve customer service issues. Maybe the DC United (our excellent soccer team that not enough people see) could play at the new stadium too. For a WaPo article that mentions previous management problems at the stadium, click here.I worked in customer service for over five years service is a big thing for me.
Despite all the drama the festival was fun. The Connells aren't quite as good as they were 15 years ago, but still put on a solid show, as did all the Dewey Bands and Kelly Bell. I'm bummed I'm missing DJ AM and Carbon Leaf, but that's what happens for sticking up for yourself with the government (you can't fight city hall). I'm sure they'll both put on excellent performances.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Even a Convicted Pot Smuggler Needs a Job
Hat tip to E:) for this great picture.
And let's face it, the guy is qualified to run a medium size business. I mean managing 120 employees and shipping operations for a $100 million business must take some solid education and management skills. That said, do you really want to hire somebody who may start laundering illegal funds through your company? I don't think that's a good risk consdiering US Zero Tolerance laws Could result in the government seizing the company.
Of course, only in Canada would someone think about something like this.
And let's face it, the guy is qualified to run a medium size business. I mean managing 120 employees and shipping operations for a $100 million business must take some solid education and management skills. That said, do you really want to hire somebody who may start laundering illegal funds through your company? I don't think that's a good risk consdiering US Zero Tolerance laws Could result in the government seizing the company.
Of course, only in Canada would someone think about something like this.
Sell the book! Sell the book quick!
As a libertarian, I am deeply conflicted about the now-infamous " Beltway Madam", Ms. Debra Palfrey, but think that she should sell her little black book of clients before the courts stop her from doing so. (ed - little black book my ass - the 10,000 names and phone records weigh 46 pounds)
Begin Self-Involved Explication
End Self-Involved Explication
Now that that's over, I really do think that she has the absolute right to publish the book or sell it since it is her property and I am offended the prosecutor is trying to stop it. Simply doing that and embarassing some people is not the same as blackmail and the prosecution should stop pretending that it is. There is no law against embarassing thousands of people simultaneously.
At this point there has mainly been only small comments of titillation that some people will be embarassed. No one yet has really thought through the implications. After all, Brent Wilkes is going to jail for procuring prostitutes for Congressman Duke Cunnigham and others. There likely will be many other lobbyists in there as well, which will present problems for some of them, and not just of the going to jail variety. I'm talking about their personal life fallout.
Many of the people in the book likely procured sexual services for themselves. However, many of the lobbyists in the book will tell their wives/girlfriends/boyfriends that they simply were procuring the escorts for their clients. Many of the significant others will believe this because people who play at the level where it's plausible to hire an escort for a Congressman know how the game works. The problems will come for those who have cheated on their wives in the past and remained together or those who have had past relationship problems that this further contributes to. I feel bad for them
Finally, the publication of this book may result in some resignations from Congress or other scandals on K Street. We can only hope . . .
Begin Self-Involved Explication
My main source of internal conflict is that while I support the right to engage in prostitution as a matter of principle, I abhor trafficking in people and sexual slavery. I don't doubt that Ms. Palfrey and people at her level of the sex industry don't buy and sell people to provide sexual services. However, the fact that they exist helps fuels demand for all types of escort services, especially the more downscale ones. Escort services that compete on price (as most services do in our capitalist society - I am pro-capitalist btw) seem more likely to be run by those who engage in sex trafficking.
End Self-Involved Explication
Now that that's over, I really do think that she has the absolute right to publish the book or sell it since it is her property and I am offended the prosecutor is trying to stop it. Simply doing that and embarassing some people is not the same as blackmail and the prosecution should stop pretending that it is. There is no law against embarassing thousands of people simultaneously.
At this point there has mainly been only small comments of titillation that some people will be embarassed. No one yet has really thought through the implications. After all, Brent Wilkes is going to jail for procuring prostitutes for Congressman Duke Cunnigham and others. There likely will be many other lobbyists in there as well, which will present problems for some of them, and not just of the going to jail variety. I'm talking about their personal life fallout.
Many of the people in the book likely procured sexual services for themselves. However, many of the lobbyists in the book will tell their wives/girlfriends/boyfriends that they simply were procuring the escorts for their clients. Many of the significant others will believe this because people who play at the level where it's plausible to hire an escort for a Congressman know how the game works. The problems will come for those who have cheated on their wives in the past and remained together or those who have had past relationship problems that this further contributes to. I feel bad for them
Finally, the publication of this book may result in some resignations from Congress or other scandals on K Street. We can only hope . . .
Thursday, March 08, 2007
I got Lollapalooza Tix! I got Lollapalooza Tix!
All 3 days for $60! Limited Pre-sales are THE BEST REASON to sign up for festival email lists and band listservs. Regular tickets for Lollapalooza go on sale next month.
For a list of other upcoming music festivals, see here , which will be updated sporadically.
Oh, and Big Props to Blogger for hosting their party at SXSW this weekend!
For a list of other upcoming music festivals, see here , which will be updated sporadically.
Oh, and Big Props to Blogger for hosting their party at SXSW this weekend!
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
2007 Music Festivals (Updated)
Thanks to everyone who helped update the Music Festiva list. As you may know, I put this list together because I have missed too many of them by not knowing their exact dates until it was too late. Some of these are a bit off the beaten path, but should be well worth it.
Again, thanks to everyone who helped update this list. Please Keep 'em coming.
The List So Far
March 9-11 Langerado (Sunrise, CA)
March 9-18 South x Southwest Music Festival (Austin, TX)
March 10 Shamrock Festival 2007 (Washington, DC - RFK Stadium)
March 15 - April 1 Savannah Music Festival
March 23-24 Ultra Music Festival (Montreal, Canada)
April 20-21 Dewey Beach Pop Festival(Rehoboth,DE)
April 27-29 Coachella (Indio, CA)
April 27-29 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (New Orleans, LA)
May 4-6 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
(New Orleans, LA)
June 1-3 Rock am Ring (Germany)
June 1-2 Rock im Ring (Nuremberg, Germany)
June 7-10 Chicago Blues Festival
June 8-10 The Download Festival (Donnington Park, Leceistershire, UK
June 22-24 Glastonbury Festival (U.K.)
June 22-24 Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (Booneville, CA)
July 5-7 Essence Music Festival (New Orleans, LA)
July 5-8 Roskilde Festival (Roskilde, Denmark)
July 6-8 Vancouver Island Music Festival.
July 7 Live Earth/Earth Aid (henceforth referred to as Live Earth Aid). (Washington, DC)
July 7 Ozzfest begins
Mid-July Heineken Jammin' Festival (Italy)
July 14-15 Pitchfork Music Festival (Chicago)(lineup TBA 3/16)
July 18-21 10,000 Lakes Festival (Detroit Lakes, Minnesota)
July 19-21 Goodstock (West Virginia)
July 19-22 Festival Internacional de Benicassim (near Valencia, Spain with an excellent line-up)
July 27-30 Eclipe Outdoor Electronic Music Festival (Montreal, Candada)
August (TBA) Burning Man
August 3-5 Lollapallooza (Chicago, IL)
August 8-13 Shambhala (Canada)
August 18-19 V Festival (Hylands Park, Chelmsford & Weston Park, Staffordshire - UK)
August 24-26 Reading and Leeds Festival (U.K.)
August 30 - September 2 Chicago Jazz Festival
September 1-3 Bumbershoot link is to last year's lineup but Rumor is that Kanye West is headlining again. (Washington State)
I have some downtime in August, so I'd love to start at the Eclipse Festival in Montreal end at Bumbershoot in WA and then head home.
I would like for this list to be as comprehensive as possible, so please let me know (and include a link) about festivals left off this list, no matter where they are in the world. Thanks!
Also please let me know if the Pixies or Garbage are playing near you, so I can figure out where I can see them play again. Thanks!
Again, thanks to everyone who helped update this list. Please Keep 'em coming.
The List So Far
March 9-11 Langerado (Sunrise, CA)
March 9-18 South x Southwest Music Festival (Austin, TX)
March 10 Shamrock Festival 2007 (Washington, DC - RFK Stadium)
March 15 - April 1 Savannah Music Festival
March 23-24 Ultra Music Festival (Montreal, Canada)
April 20-21 Dewey Beach Pop Festival(Rehoboth,DE)
April 27-29 Coachella (Indio, CA)
April 27-29 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (New Orleans, LA)
May 4-6 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
(New Orleans, LA)
June 1-3 Rock am Ring (Germany)
June 1-2 Rock im Ring (Nuremberg, Germany)
June 7-10 Chicago Blues Festival
June 8-10 The Download Festival (Donnington Park, Leceistershire, UK
June 22-24 Glastonbury Festival (U.K.)
June 22-24 Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (Booneville, CA)
July 5-7 Essence Music Festival (New Orleans, LA)
July 5-8 Roskilde Festival (Roskilde, Denmark)
July 6-8 Vancouver Island Music Festival.
July 7 Live Earth/Earth Aid (henceforth referred to as Live Earth Aid). (Washington, DC)
July 7 Ozzfest begins
Mid-July Heineken Jammin' Festival (Italy)
July 14-15 Pitchfork Music Festival (Chicago)(lineup TBA 3/16)
July 18-21 10,000 Lakes Festival (Detroit Lakes, Minnesota)
July 19-21 Goodstock (West Virginia)
July 19-22 Festival Internacional de Benicassim (near Valencia, Spain with an excellent line-up)
July 27-30 Eclipe Outdoor Electronic Music Festival (Montreal, Candada)
August (TBA) Burning Man
August 3-5 Lollapallooza (Chicago, IL)
August 8-13 Shambhala (Canada)
August 18-19 V Festival (Hylands Park, Chelmsford & Weston Park, Staffordshire - UK)
August 24-26 Reading and Leeds Festival (U.K.)
August 30 - September 2 Chicago Jazz Festival
September 1-3 Bumbershoot link is to last year's lineup but Rumor is that Kanye West is headlining again. (Washington State)
I have some downtime in August, so I'd love to start at the Eclipse Festival in Montreal end at Bumbershoot in WA and then head home.
I would like for this list to be as comprehensive as possible, so please let me know (and include a link) about festivals left off this list, no matter where they are in the world. Thanks!
Also please let me know if the Pixies or Garbage are playing near you, so I can figure out where I can see them play again. Thanks!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Ok, So Al Gore Didn't Announce (Yet)
Ok, so Gore didn't announce for President at the Oscars the way I predicted. Oh well, sometimes I'm wrong. However, he basically received a nomination speech from Leonardo DiCaprio.
Gore also is nominated for a Nobel Prize. Given the Nobel Committee's recent penchant for including political considerations in its awarding process, Gore likely will win. He also has accumulated enough money in the private sector to jump start a late campaign (similar to the Gingrich strategy).
I believe that Gore will announce for the Presidency shortly after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, and will be the nominee.
Gore also is nominated for a Nobel Prize. Given the Nobel Committee's recent penchant for including political considerations in its awarding process, Gore likely will win. He also has accumulated enough money in the private sector to jump start a late campaign (similar to the Gingrich strategy).
I believe that Gore will announce for the Presidency shortly after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, and will be the nominee.
The Shamrock Festival is Going to Rock!
I love music and music festivals (no surprise to regular readers). The Shamrock Festival is going to ROCK! And let me tell you why.
In the past, the Shamrock and Octoberfest music festivals have been held in Ballston. They generally feature a mix of local talent and VERY popular cover bands such as Mr. Greengenes, Burnt Sienna, Kristen and the Noise, Laura Lea & Trip Fabulous. Love Seed Mama Jump usually plays too - they have an eclectic mix of their excellent original music plus covers. (You know - the typical Dewey Beach bands). Kelly Bell usually plays too and this year features Scott's New Band - a reworking or LRS.
This year is going to be better because it will be at RFK. This will minimize the crowding, but possibly make it bigger. It also is going to have major headliners and a lot of the favorites I mentioned above.
I hope that this eventually supplants the now-defunct HFStival.
In the past, the Shamrock and Octoberfest music festivals have been held in Ballston. They generally feature a mix of local talent and VERY popular cover bands such as Mr. Greengenes, Burnt Sienna, Kristen and the Noise, Laura Lea & Trip Fabulous. Love Seed Mama Jump usually plays too - they have an eclectic mix of their excellent original music plus covers. (You know - the typical Dewey Beach bands). Kelly Bell usually plays too and this year features Scott's New Band - a reworking or LRS.
This year is going to be better because it will be at RFK. This will minimize the crowding, but possibly make it bigger. It also is going to have major headliners and a lot of the favorites I mentioned above.
I hope that this eventually supplants the now-defunct HFStival.
Bad Service at Best Buy (Another One for the Best Buy/Ketchum Viewers)
Best Buy's customer service leaves much to be desired - Pay Attention you Best Buy and Ketchum folks still checking out my entries about boycotting Geek Squad for corrupt practices.
Ms. Uneven and I went to two different Best Buy locations last night since both our laptops have crapped out in the past week (My real boycott effort/annoyance is aimed specifically at Geek Squad, and not Best Buy per se). The first location we went to (Best Buy in Potomac Yards off Route One - Store 493) we had to stand in line for 45 minutes just to get some service. And then we had to go to the other Arlington location to get what we needed.
Per the norm, the Pentagon City store (Store 276) was so understaffed we couldn't find anyone to help us. We knew specifically what we wanted (due to the help we received at the Potomac Yards branch), but we couldn't find a sales associate and no one bothered to help us for 20 minutes. Due to this poor service, we walked out only with the new laptop and nothing else despite our intention to purchase a significant dollar amount of periperals.
The fact that customer service is so bad at those locations is a real problem. Best Buy's poor service at that location lost them several hundred dollars in sales from me.
PS - I have over 5 years experience working in retail and customer service. Best Buy needs to take lessons from some of the other retail giants on how to provide good service.
Ms. Uneven and I went to two different Best Buy locations last night since both our laptops have crapped out in the past week (My real boycott effort/annoyance is aimed specifically at Geek Squad, and not Best Buy per se). The first location we went to (Best Buy in Potomac Yards off Route One - Store 493) we had to stand in line for 45 minutes just to get some service. And then we had to go to the other Arlington location to get what we needed.
Per the norm, the Pentagon City store (Store 276) was so understaffed we couldn't find anyone to help us. We knew specifically what we wanted (due to the help we received at the Potomac Yards branch), but we couldn't find a sales associate and no one bothered to help us for 20 minutes. Due to this poor service, we walked out only with the new laptop and nothing else despite our intention to purchase a significant dollar amount of periperals.
The fact that customer service is so bad at those locations is a real problem. Best Buy's poor service at that location lost them several hundred dollars in sales from me.
PS - I have over 5 years experience working in retail and customer service. Best Buy needs to take lessons from some of the other retail giants on how to provide good service.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
The War at Home is still on!
I'm very excited about this generally. Given the sheer amount of references to/jokes about drugs and premarital sex, I'm surprised the Lifestyle Police have let them stay on the air. BTW - I predicted a while back it would only last one season. I was wrong.
I think the use of the characters performing a monologue against a totally white backdrop is great for demonstrating the inner monologue, as well as for setting future jokes. Very PoMo.
I think the use of the characters performing a monologue against a totally white backdrop is great for demonstrating the inner monologue, as well as for setting future jokes. Very PoMo.
Geek Squad Paranoid of Boycott Effort
Best Buy Executives and Ketchum folks (their PR) firm have been checking out my last post on boycotting Geek Squad all week. Apparently, some folks at Ketchum and Best Buy haven't figured out how to mask their IP addresses from the Stat counter. The Best Buy and Ketchum people spent over an hour on the site. Apparently figuring out how to respond to the original article I linked to and commented on.
Some Circuit City people have been checking it out too. Possibly to figure out how to benefit from this.
Some Circuit City people have been checking it out too. Possibly to figure out how to benefit from this.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Why You Should Boycott Geek Squad
This horror story about Geek Squad's corrupt corporate practices, is enough for me to never use them again. It is simply unconsionable, that they would charge for services not performed and refuse a full refund for forcing the customer to fix what they claimed they couldn't.
After reading this post, you may think "where else should I go to get my laptop fixed? Well, if you're in DC, there is an excellent laptop repair service in Dupont Circle called Cyberlaptops. They have repaired three of my laptops at very reasonable prices and have excellent service. I have no affiliation with the company other than satisfied customer.
If we all start boycotting and helping the little guy, Geek Squad will be forced to provide better service at lower prices
After reading this post, you may think "where else should I go to get my laptop fixed? Well, if you're in DC, there is an excellent laptop repair service in Dupont Circle called Cyberlaptops. They have repaired three of my laptops at very reasonable prices and have excellent service. I have no affiliation with the company other than satisfied customer.
If we all start boycotting and helping the little guy, Geek Squad will be forced to provide better service at lower prices
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The Comments Heard Around the World
Maureen Dowd's recent column has put Hillaryland and her campaign into a tizzy with her comments by David Geffen. While they've been covered extensively, here is a summary of what Hillaryland is upset about:
The real panic in Hillaryland is that Geffen's defection will signal to other high dollar donors that it's ok to raise money for someone else. Their other fear is that Geffen was right: Clinton still has a zipper problem (just like John Boehner - Carl Hulse of the New York Times told me this about Boehner while we were waiting for last year's GOP leadership elections) and Clinton's problem WILL come out during the campaign and cost her some valuable media time. Additionally, talking about him and his pecadillos really doesn't help her much.
Her status as trailblazing first lady to become a Senator and presidential candidate puts her in the same category as Vice Presidents running to succeed predecessor. It's hard for her to tie herself to the successes of her husband's administration without being tarnished with his administration's failures. This proved awkward for Al Gore, and as the latest spat shows, will be even harder for her. Gore could separate himself from Clinton by picking Joe Lieberman, but Hillary can't do anything similar.
Here only real way to distance herself from her husband's failures is to try to intimidate the political class and punditocracy into not tying her to her husband. She even brought back the 90s meme of the "politics of personal destruction." Ironic for a woman who once boasted that her husband's election would give us "two for the price of one"
(Oh and then there are the reports that the whole Hillaryland reaction was actually due to Bill's furiousness about criticism regarding his pardon of multi-millionaire fugitive Marc Rich).
Unfortunately for her, the Clinton years, and Bill's ongoing affairs will be issues that will be embarassing and a challenge for her campaign to overcome. Good thing for her she has enough money to become the nominee anyway. Bad thing for the Democratic party.
Mr. Geffen said the Clintons lie “with such ease, it’s troubling” and that the Clinton political operation “is going to be very unpleasant and unattractive and effective.” Mr. Geffen called Mr. Clinton a “reckless guy” who had not changed in the last six years, and suggested that Mrs. Clinton was too scripted.
The real panic in Hillaryland is that Geffen's defection will signal to other high dollar donors that it's ok to raise money for someone else. Their other fear is that Geffen was right: Clinton still has a zipper problem (just like John Boehner - Carl Hulse of the New York Times told me this about Boehner while we were waiting for last year's GOP leadership elections) and Clinton's problem WILL come out during the campaign and cost her some valuable media time. Additionally, talking about him and his pecadillos really doesn't help her much.
Her status as trailblazing first lady to become a Senator and presidential candidate puts her in the same category as Vice Presidents running to succeed predecessor. It's hard for her to tie herself to the successes of her husband's administration without being tarnished with his administration's failures. This proved awkward for Al Gore, and as the latest spat shows, will be even harder for her. Gore could separate himself from Clinton by picking Joe Lieberman, but Hillary can't do anything similar.
Here only real way to distance herself from her husband's failures is to try to intimidate the political class and punditocracy into not tying her to her husband. She even brought back the 90s meme of the "politics of personal destruction." Ironic for a woman who once boasted that her husband's election would give us "two for the price of one"
(Oh and then there are the reports that the whole Hillaryland reaction was actually due to Bill's furiousness about criticism regarding his pardon of multi-millionaire fugitive Marc Rich).
Unfortunately for her, the Clinton years, and Bill's ongoing affairs will be issues that will be embarassing and a challenge for her campaign to overcome. Good thing for her she has enough money to become the nominee anyway. Bad thing for the Democratic party.
CNN late to the Zeitegeist: Al Gore to Annouce at Oscars
CNN posts an article about Gore declaring for the Presidency at the Oscars tonight. The article rehashes a series a points I made here.
The Washington Post disagrees with this prediction.
The Washington Post disagrees with this prediction.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Another Defense of Lobbying
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Some "Conspiracies" May Not Be. . .
The Salt Lake Tribune reports claims that Timothy McVeigh had government help. If so, this would be a sort of covert Wag the Dog effort to outrage and alienate Americans enough to begin trading their liberties for "security."
I'm not sure I buy this one. It seems to fall into the Conspiracy as Causation fallacy instead of being based on a rational analysis of events.
I'm not sure I buy this one. It seems to fall into the Conspiracy as Causation fallacy instead of being based on a rational analysis of events.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Some Conspiracies Are Real . . .
The movie Breach is a true life thriller about Robert Hanssen who betrayed our national secrets to the Soviets and Russians in exchange for monetary gain.
I don't remember all the details about this from when it was in the news, but I certainly hope he had to pay bribery taxes.
It is the existence of real conspiracies (like the one to betray your country) that prompts the continued belief that there are Hidden Masters pulling all the strings. Excessive government secrecy and classification also create an aura of mystery about what the military could be "hiding," such as aliens et al at Roswell. It is entirely possible that nothing happened out there, but the issuance and retraction of the press release about capturing a "flying disk" possibly stoked the increasing paranoia we now feel towards the government.
I don't remember all the details about this from when it was in the news, but I certainly hope he had to pay bribery taxes.
It is the existence of real conspiracies (like the one to betray your country) that prompts the continued belief that there are Hidden Masters pulling all the strings. Excessive government secrecy and classification also create an aura of mystery about what the military could be "hiding," such as aliens et al at Roswell. It is entirely possible that nothing happened out there, but the issuance and retraction of the press release about capturing a "flying disk" possibly stoked the increasing paranoia we now feel towards the government.
More Potential for Biotech
How cool is this?
Regeration and cloning of limbs leads to a whole host of ethical issues that no one has confronted yet with the exception of a few Science Fiction writers. Our society as a whole has had no real discussion or discourse on the implications of such technologies because scientfic/medical research is far outpacing the ability of our society to digest these changes and adopt a coherent, consensus regarding these changes. For example, regeneration may lead to longer life spans for those here whenn it is fully realized, but may also lead to the birth of fewer children, resulting in the loss of some genes and increased risk of decimating plagues.
Scientists Grow Mouse Teeth From Single Cells
02.19.07, 12:00 AM ET
MONDAY, Feb. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Using tissue regeneration technology, Japanese researchers have been able to grow a new tooth from single mouse tooth cells and use it to replace natural teeth in a mouse.
The achievement is "a breakthrough in the development of bioengineered organs and proposes a novel concept for the organ replacement in future regenerative therapies," lead researcher Takashi Tsuji, associate professor, Department of Biological Technology, Tokyo University of Science, said in a prepared statement.
Reporting in the Feb. 19 online issue of the journal Nature Methods, Tsuji's team started by using the two cell types that form teeth -- mesenchymal and epithelial cells. They grew sufficient quantities of each of these cells and then injected them into a drop of collagen. This eventually developed into a budding tooth, which they transplanted into the cavity left by an extracted tooth in a mouse. . .
Regeration and cloning of limbs leads to a whole host of ethical issues that no one has confronted yet with the exception of a few Science Fiction writers. Our society as a whole has had no real discussion or discourse on the implications of such technologies because scientfic/medical research is far outpacing the ability of our society to digest these changes and adopt a coherent, consensus regarding these changes. For example, regeneration may lead to longer life spans for those here whenn it is fully realized, but may also lead to the birth of fewer children, resulting in the loss of some genes and increased risk of decimating plagues.
More Dicussion of our Impending Loss of Habeas Corpus
The Washington Post has an article on the appeals court decision I discussed here.
Maybe all is not lost . . .
Here is another good discussion of the issue from Talk Left. It is causing me a bit of Cognitive Dissonance though since I have been a proponent of the Unitary Executive theory.
Maybe all is not lost . . .
Here is another good discussion of the issue from Talk Left. It is causing me a bit of Cognitive Dissonance though since I have been a proponent of the Unitary Executive theory.
New Tools to Control the Masses
Just the thing to handle rioting students in the developing world, or peaceful protesters in the Washington Mall. . .
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Conspiracy Goes Mainstream (Again)
Joe Conason's latest book(and essay) rehashes the implications of Dye & Ziegler points about our society in their excellent book The Irony of Democracy. It also retreads Hofstadter's The Paranoid Style in American Politics.
But does his book contribute to a new left-wing paranoid syle in American politics, or is he on to something? Remember, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross" - Sinclair Lewis
10 Zen Monkeys has a discussion of this meme.
But does his book contribute to a new left-wing paranoid syle in American politics, or is he on to something? Remember, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross" - Sinclair Lewis
10 Zen Monkeys has a discussion of this meme.
The Slippery Slope to Facism Gets Steeper
I must confess, I always thought that Big Brother would be established by the radical left and not the right. After all, Jeanne Kirkpatrick's famous essay made the point that right-wing authoritarian governments have the potential to evolve into democracies. No one has seriously considered the possibility of a modern democracy moving towards fascism since the mid-20th Century.
Removing the ability of some people to gain habeas corpus review is just a step towards limiting its ability to all of us.
Removing the ability of some people to gain habeas corpus review is just a step towards limiting its ability to all of us.
Regenerating Limbs through Biotechnology
Biotechnology has the potential to radically affect our culture. Here's an interesting story from the AP with about the cultural implications of biotechnolgy.
Allowing soldiers to regrow lost limbs might enable our military to lower its recruiting goals to still meet its obligations. Alternatively, the technology could be used for civilian uses, but such use could be regulated in a way that not everyone needing such a procedure will get it.
Allowing soldiers to regrow lost limbs might enable our military to lower its recruiting goals to still meet its obligations. Alternatively, the technology could be used for civilian uses, but such use could be regulated in a way that not everyone needing such a procedure will get it.
Science Finding Ways to Regrow Fingers
Feb 18 11:33 PM US/Eastern
By MALCOLM RITTER
AP Science Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Researchers are trying to find ways to regrow fingers _ and someday, even limbs _ with tricks that sound like magic spells from a Harry Potter novel.
There's the guy who sliced off a fingertip but grew it back, after he treated the wound with an extract of pig bladder. And the scientists who grow extra arms on salamanders. And the laboratory mice with the eerie ability to heal themselves.
This summer, scientists are planning to see whether the powdered pig extract can help injured soldiers regrow parts of their fingers. And a large federally funded project is trying to unlock the secrets of how some animals regrow body parts so well, with hopes of applying the the lessons to humans.
The implications for regrowing fingers go beyond the cosmetic. People who are missing all or most of their fingers, as from an explosion or a fire, often can't pick things up, brush their teeth or button a button. If they could grow even a small stub, it could make a huge difference in their lives.
And the lessons learned from studying regrowth of fingers and limbs could aid the larger field of regenerative medicine, perhaps someday helping people replace damaged parts of their hearts and spinal cords, and heal wounds and burns with new skin instead of scar.
Italian Government Forced 13-year-old to have an abortion
Turning a hypothetical government ban on abortion on its head: The Italian government is forcing a 13-year-old to have an abortion. This is a true life cautionary tale of what can happen when we the people consent to let the government have control over reproductive decisions.
Banning abortion is just the first step on the slippery slope of giving all control over reproduction to the government. Laws regulating who is allowed to reproduce in this country were passed at the hight of the American Eugenics movement in the early 20th Century. As a side note, the Nazi Regime obtained much information on forced sterilization etc. from American States that had passed Eugenics laws already.
If I were a stronger pro-lifer, I might be more concerned that banning abortion in the U.S. would be just the first step towards eventually mandating abortions for specified categories people. Think of a dystopia even more twisted than Brave New World, 1984, or modern-day China.
And of course, this happens in China too, but in a Western nation?
Banning abortion is just the first step on the slippery slope of giving all control over reproduction to the government. Laws regulating who is allowed to reproduce in this country were passed at the hight of the American Eugenics movement in the early 20th Century. As a side note, the Nazi Regime obtained much information on forced sterilization etc. from American States that had passed Eugenics laws already.
If I were a stronger pro-lifer, I might be more concerned that banning abortion in the U.S. would be just the first step towards eventually mandating abortions for specified categories people. Think of a dystopia even more twisted than Brave New World, 1984, or modern-day China.
And of course, this happens in China too, but in a Western nation?
Monday, February 19, 2007
Rose Joins Her Own Conspiracy?
I am a huge fan of Two and a Half Men. On last week's episode, Charlie's stalker neighbor Rose on Two and a Half Men left town for London last week. Actually, she left the recurring role on that show for a starring role in Drive. It seems to be a cross between Rat Race and the Kaiser Soze elements of the Usual Suspects. We'll have to see how that plays out though. . .
I always liked Rose's character. My theory was that since Rose already had her MA in Pschology, she was working on her doctoral thesis and Charlie was her subject. The twisted things she does to Charlie, in addition to allowing her to exact her revenge for how he treated her, allows her to chart Charlie's reactions. I figured this would all be revealed as the twist at the end of the series. The only way this is going to happen now is if Melanie Lynskey new show is cancelled or she gets killed off it.
Bummer.
I always liked Rose's character. My theory was that since Rose already had her MA in Pschology, she was working on her doctoral thesis and Charlie was her subject. The twisted things she does to Charlie, in addition to allowing her to exact her revenge for how he treated her, allows her to chart Charlie's reactions. I figured this would all be revealed as the twist at the end of the series. The only way this is going to happen now is if Melanie Lynskey new show is cancelled or she gets killed off it.
Bummer.
A Blow Against the Mercury Causes Autism Conspiracy
Many celebrities and influential people have concluded that mercury (poisoning) is the cause of autism. In fact, Congressman Burton has been heavily involved with the campaign to link the two and used his Chairmanship of the Government Reform Committee as a pulpit to preach that view.
It now turns out that he was wrong.
Minus one for the Autism Conspiracy.
It now turns out that he was wrong.
Minus one for the Autism Conspiracy.
2007 Music Festivals
I love Music Festivals, but have missed a large number of them by not knowing their exact dates until it was too late. Therefore, I have compiled a list of the top 2007 Music Festivals. Some of these are a bit off the beaten path, but should be well worth it.
The List So Far
March 9-11 Langerado (Sunrise, CA)
March 9-18 South x Southwest Music Festival (Austin, TX)
March 15 - April 1 Savannah Music Festival
March 23-24 Ultra Music Festival (Montreal, Canada)
April 20-21 Dewey Beach Pop Festival(Rehoboth,DE)
April 27-29 Coachella (Indio, CA)
April 27-29 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (New Orleans, LA)
May 4-6 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
(New Orleans, LA)
June 1-3 Rock am Ring (Germany)
June 1-2 Rock im Ring (Nuremberg, Germany)
June 8-10 The Download Festival (Donnington Park, Leceistershire, UK
June 22-24 Glastonbury Festival (U.K.)
June 22-24 Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (Booneville, CA)
July 5-7 Essence Music Festival (New Orleans, LA)
July 5-8 Roskilde Festival (Roskilde, Denmark)
July 6-8 Vancouver Island Music Festival.
July 7 Live Earth/Earth Aid (henceforth referred to as Live Earth Aid). (Washington, DC)
July 7 Ozzfest begins
Mid-July Heineken Jammin' Festival (Italy)
July 19-21 Goodstock (West Virginia)
July 19-22 Festival Internacional de Benicassim (near Valencia, Spain with an excellent line-up)
July 27-30 Eclipe Outdoor Electronic Music Festival (Montreal, Candada)
August (TBA) Burning Man
August 3-5 Lollapallooza (Chicago, IL)
August 8-13 Shambhala (Canada)
August 24-26 Reading and Leeds Festival (U.K.)
September 1-3 Bumbershoot link is to last year's lineup but Rumor is that Kanye West is headlining again. (Washington State)
I have some downtime in August, so I'd love to start at the Eclipse Festival in Montreal end at Bumbershoot in WA and then head home.
I would like for this list to be as comprehensive as possible, so please let me know (and include a link) about festivals left off this list, no matter where they are in the world. Thanks!
Also please let me know if the Pixies or Garbage are playing near you, so I can figure out where I can see them play again. Thanks!
The List So Far
March 9-11 Langerado (Sunrise, CA)
March 9-18 South x Southwest Music Festival (Austin, TX)
March 15 - April 1 Savannah Music Festival
March 23-24 Ultra Music Festival (Montreal, Canada)
April 20-21 Dewey Beach Pop Festival(Rehoboth,DE)
April 27-29 Coachella (Indio, CA)
April 27-29 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (New Orleans, LA)
May 4-6 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
(New Orleans, LA)
June 1-3 Rock am Ring (Germany)
June 1-2 Rock im Ring (Nuremberg, Germany)
June 8-10 The Download Festival (Donnington Park, Leceistershire, UK
June 22-24 Glastonbury Festival (U.K.)
June 22-24 Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (Booneville, CA)
July 5-7 Essence Music Festival (New Orleans, LA)
July 5-8 Roskilde Festival (Roskilde, Denmark)
July 6-8 Vancouver Island Music Festival.
July 7 Live Earth/Earth Aid (henceforth referred to as Live Earth Aid). (Washington, DC)
July 7 Ozzfest begins
Mid-July Heineken Jammin' Festival (Italy)
July 19-21 Goodstock (West Virginia)
July 19-22 Festival Internacional de Benicassim (near Valencia, Spain with an excellent line-up)
July 27-30 Eclipe Outdoor Electronic Music Festival (Montreal, Candada)
August (TBA) Burning Man
August 3-5 Lollapallooza (Chicago, IL)
August 8-13 Shambhala (Canada)
August 24-26 Reading and Leeds Festival (U.K.)
September 1-3 Bumbershoot link is to last year's lineup but Rumor is that Kanye West is headlining again. (Washington State)
I have some downtime in August, so I'd love to start at the Eclipse Festival in Montreal end at Bumbershoot in WA and then head home.
I would like for this list to be as comprehensive as possible, so please let me know (and include a link) about festivals left off this list, no matter where they are in the world. Thanks!
Also please let me know if the Pixies or Garbage are playing near you, so I can figure out where I can see them play again. Thanks!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Next Stop: Dystopia?
This mind reading techology, though in its infant stage, has a number of implications, some cool, some creepy.
The Creepy Implications
Our society continues its slide towards a police state - I always thought it would be done by the left; imagine my disappointment at being blindsided by the fascists. This technology could become used to routinely screen airport travelers and border crossers. Due to its enormous appeal for stopping terrorism, the people will learn to live with or ignore the hassle and it will spread. The end result will be the stifling of dissent by those in power - and who will those be?
Cool Implications
That said, it also has some pretty cool implications in terms of pioneering technology that will eventually be able to help those that are currently parapalegics or bed-ridden.
(Bio)Ethically Interesting Implications
The above begins to raise the questions of the gradual emergence of cybernetic organisms (CyBorgs). It will start out gradually, as a means of helping victims of war and accident. But how will it end? Will people decide to add an additional set or arms like Dr. Octopus? Will they be allowed to? How will our religious conservatives react to this?
Another implication is the possibility that humans will eventually be able to augment their intelligence, knowledge and skills by downloading information directly into their brains. This possibility is raised in Johnny Zed . Again, how will our religous conservatives react? What about our liberals concerned that such a technology will further widen the gap between the haves and have-less. What about our national puritan streak that makes us ban performing enhancement drugs for sports - would that translate to academia and science?
The Creepy Implications
Our society continues its slide towards a police state - I always thought it would be done by the left; imagine my disappointment at being blindsided by the fascists. This technology could become used to routinely screen airport travelers and border crossers. Due to its enormous appeal for stopping terrorism, the people will learn to live with or ignore the hassle and it will spread. The end result will be the stifling of dissent by those in power - and who will those be?
Cool Implications
That said, it also has some pretty cool implications in terms of pioneering technology that will eventually be able to help those that are currently parapalegics or bed-ridden.
(Bio)Ethically Interesting Implications
The above begins to raise the questions of the gradual emergence of cybernetic organisms (CyBorgs). It will start out gradually, as a means of helping victims of war and accident. But how will it end? Will people decide to add an additional set or arms like Dr. Octopus? Will they be allowed to? How will our religious conservatives react to this?
Another implication is the possibility that humans will eventually be able to augment their intelligence, knowledge and skills by downloading information directly into their brains. This possibility is raised in Johnny Zed . Again, how will our religous conservatives react? What about our liberals concerned that such a technology will further widen the gap between the haves and have-less. What about our national puritan streak that makes us ban performing enhancement drugs for sports - would that translate to academia and science?
Good bye to a Creator of Mass Culture
Robert Adler's contributions have helped my stereo, DVD player and TiVo make life much easier and entertaining. Not to mention the use of my cell phone . . .
He, Philo T. Farnsworth and Edward Bernays did more more to create mass culture/media than anyone else until the creation of the internet.
Goodbye to someone who made it easier to be an agoraphobic couch potato obsessed with convenience . . .
He, Philo T. Farnsworth and Edward Bernays did more more to create mass culture/media than anyone else until the creation of the internet.
Goodbye to someone who made it easier to be an agoraphobic couch potato obsessed with convenience . . .
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Jericho Returns! Vanished resurrected (temporarily)
I just learned that fans ov Vanished can watch the complete season (though cancelled) on the web. I am very excited to see this show unwind.
Jericho finally returns this on Wednesday. Last week CBS aired a composite episode to bring new fans up to speed and to remind current fans of the intricacies of the plot and conspiracy.Whose side is Hawkins on? . . .
Jericho has done a good job of integrating its website into the show (especially during the looooong hiatus). That has allowed the curious viewer to carefully review Hawkins' actions and determine which side he is on. It currently seems as if he is some part of Homeland Security (the successor Department of FEMA as the new bugaboo for some conspiracy theorists).
Regardless, I am anxious for the 12 new episodes in a row, but anxious that that may indicate there will be no second season. But really what you do with a second season except stretch it into a big rebuilding America thing and morph the show into some type of Peacemaker-type drama). And if there is a second season, I'll be watching.
Jericho finally returns this on Wednesday. Last week CBS aired a composite episode to bring new fans up to speed and to remind current fans of the intricacies of the plot and conspiracy.Whose side is Hawkins on? . . .
Jericho has done a good job of integrating its website into the show (especially during the looooong hiatus). That has allowed the curious viewer to carefully review Hawkins' actions and determine which side he is on. It currently seems as if he is some part of Homeland Security (the successor Department of FEMA as the new bugaboo for some conspiracy theorists).
Regardless, I am anxious for the 12 new episodes in a row, but anxious that that may indicate there will be no second season. But really what you do with a second season except stretch it into a big rebuilding America thing and morph the show into some type of Peacemaker-type drama). And if there is a second season, I'll be watching.
A brief word on 24 and civil liberties
I haven't watched 24 since the end of the first season (which rocked!), but have been getting into the current season (how could you not if you watched the season premiere).
Like most people concerned with national security, I almost believe that our troops and intelligence officers should be able to use all of the same techniques Jack Bauer does. Almost. However, once we start allowing that to occur against "foreign enemies" how soon until it turns to "domestic enemies" whether native born citizen or legal resident alien.
Actually empowering the government with the legal authority to act the way Jack Bauer does (which pretty much breaks the law in every episode) is just the first step on the road to tyranny. That said, I believe that the real life Jack Bauers should only act like him in extreme circumstances; but they should do so with the full understanding they are breaking the law. If they're actions are truly justified and protect Americans, then the agent would qualify for a Presidential partdon. Hmm... maybe we should offer our military forces and intelligence operatives that deal. "You can act like this, but if it doesnt pay off you're going to jail. If it saves lifes you'll get a pardon."
Like most people concerned with national security, I almost believe that our troops and intelligence officers should be able to use all of the same techniques Jack Bauer does. Almost. However, once we start allowing that to occur against "foreign enemies" how soon until it turns to "domestic enemies" whether native born citizen or legal resident alien.
Actually empowering the government with the legal authority to act the way Jack Bauer does (which pretty much breaks the law in every episode) is just the first step on the road to tyranny. That said, I believe that the real life Jack Bauers should only act like him in extreme circumstances; but they should do so with the full understanding they are breaking the law. If they're actions are truly justified and protect Americans, then the agent would qualify for a Presidential partdon. Hmm... maybe we should offer our military forces and intelligence operatives that deal. "You can act like this, but if it doesnt pay off you're going to jail. If it saves lifes you'll get a pardon."
Screw the Politics: Earth Aid is going to Rock! (and Al Gore will be President)
I will happily shell out the $500 for VIP tickets to Live Earth Aid. The line-up, though not finalized, threatens to outdo that of the 1998 Tibetan Freedom Concert in talent. That concert, in my humble opion, actually had a better lineup than any music festival since, and including, the original Woodstock.
And I really don't care about the politics of the concert, and neither should you. Really, who are you hurting by not seeing a kick ass concert line up? Yourself, that's who!
Plus, if you go the American Concert you're likely to witness Al Gore lay the foundation for (or further) his effort to become President. Potentially, he'll announce, and all the publicity surrounding the concent, plus the simulcasting of the event will allow Gore to build an enormouse following.
My previous theory was that the'll announce at the Oscars if he wins. Which he still may do, but doing so may complicate his efforts to pull off the concert (due to FEC regulations and campaign finance laws). And it's actually a smart strategy for him to drop hints at the Oscars and then use the run up publicity to the concert will raise his national profile. Additionally, the concert would be the greatest presidential announcement venue EVER!
And I really don't care about the politics of the concert, and neither should you. Really, who are you hurting by not seeing a kick ass concert line up? Yourself, that's who!
Plus, if you go the American Concert you're likely to witness Al Gore lay the foundation for (or further) his effort to become President. Potentially, he'll announce, and all the publicity surrounding the concent, plus the simulcasting of the event will allow Gore to build an enormouse following.
My previous theory was that the'll announce at the Oscars if he wins. Which he still may do, but doing so may complicate his efforts to pull off the concert (due to FEC regulations and campaign finance laws). And it's actually a smart strategy for him to drop hints at the Oscars and then use the run up publicity to the concert will raise his national profile. Additionally, the concert would be the greatest presidential announcement venue EVER!
Monday, January 01, 2007
Back for the New Year
Thanks for checking back. I know it's been awhile, but life got in the way. Anyway I'll be back shortly with more comments on Politics, Post-Modernism and Pop Culture.
Hello 2007!
Happy New Year!!!
-US
Hello 2007!
Happy New Year!!!
-US
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
