tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66989862024-03-13T14:33:15.987-07:00SilbakorA meandering commentary on the World at Large.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comBlogger306125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-22950363256999014122008-05-14T16:28:00.000-07:002008-05-14T16:29:45.258-07:00policing sweatshops<a href="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2008/0804.frank.html">Confessions of a Sweatshop Inspector</a><br /><br />This is a fantastic article, and very informative. If you care about where your products come from, you should read it. Some things may surprise you. Some won't.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-77142719053042461122007-12-14T11:23:00.000-08:002007-12-14T11:23:41.372-08:00Oil & Natural Gas from ANYTHING<a href="http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/innovator_2.html?">PopSci's Best of What's New 2007</a><br />This is amazing. Genius. Brilliant. The best example of what inventors are for. It produces almost 20 times the energy it requires, and can be used to recycle/eliminate much of our worst waste products - used tires, etc.<br />We need to build these. Lots of them.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-70115566272139649662007-09-05T14:29:00.000-07:002007-09-05T14:29:47.341-07:00Loss of Arctic ice leaves experts stunned<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/sep/04/climatechange">Loss of Arctic ice leaves experts stunned</a><br />Bad. And getting worse. It's going to be a very different place soon. I hope everyone realizes that, and what it means.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-61432942584367407582007-08-27T14:44:00.000-07:002007-08-27T14:44:23.662-07:00Not a joke...<a href="http://www.williamgibsonbooks.com/blog/2007_08_01_archive.asp#3195531117082957537">William Gibson's blog</a><br />And that's really terrifying. I've seen ads like this in too many future-police-state movies. Now it's real.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-31684972685442437282007-08-15T13:38:00.000-07:002007-08-15T13:38:59.055-07:00Awesome.<a href="http://www.pinktentacle.com/2006/02/aist-develops-3d-image-projector/">AIST develops 3D image projector</a><br />Actual 3D images, floating in the air. So cool.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-36062582350074434072007-07-31T12:36:00.000-07:002007-07-31T12:36:37.258-07:00Sen. Ted Stevens takes it in the ass<a href="http://www.adn.com/news/politics/fbi/story/9179115p-9095789c.html">Federal agents raid Sen. Ted Stevens' Girdwood home</a><br />Corrupt bastard. I hope they find a ton of incriminating crap & lock him up.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-70430360504565717032007-07-25T14:30:00.000-07:002007-07-25T14:30:33.130-07:00Genius Loci: the Spirits of Place<a href="http://cabinet-of-wonders.blogspot.com/2007/07/genius-loci-spirits-of-place.html">the Spirits of Place</a><br />I share the same feeling, and love to find those little hidden spots that must have a caretaker floating about, keeping them happy and mysterious even in the heart of a city. I fervently dream of someday living in a home with just such a place (or perhaps 2 or 3...) about its grounds, perhaps even integrated into the house itself.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-27766028231040432372007-07-24T12:29:00.000-07:002007-07-24T12:29:28.746-07:00A Pilot on Airline Security<a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/07/16/a-pilot-on-airline-security/">A Pilot on Airline Security</a><br /><br />This is a brilliant write-up and analysis of the problem, of what a real functional solution would be, and of just how badly we're missing it.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-44072273589622206672007-05-17T12:16:00.000-07:002007-05-17T12:16:12.269-07:00The 26 most common climate myths and misconceptions<a href="http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn11462">Climate change: A guide for the perplexed</a><br />Great talking points for your associates who are unbelievers.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-57436244041153474232007-04-25T15:16:00.000-07:002007-04-25T15:16:42.634-07:00The times when I fear for my country...<a href="http://alternet.org/rights/50939/">Culture of Fear: Poetry Professor Becomes Terror Suspect</a><br />I'd ask what happens when this gets out of hand, but clearly it already is. This can't be much more depressing.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1176771890304976522007-04-16T18:04:00.000-07:002007-04-16T18:04:50.460-07:00Daily Show viewers = smart; Fox News viewers = dumb<a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/16/daily-show-fox-knowledge/">SURVEY: Daily Show/Colbert Viewers Most Knowledgable, Fox News Viewers Rank Lowest</a><br /><br />Awesome.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1173122798186304922007-03-05T11:26:00.000-08:002007-03-05T11:26:39.333-08:00Brilliant comedy<a href="http://digitalfury.popmartian.com/images/20070202/paranoia.jpg">paranoia</a><br /><br />In the style of the make-you-feel-good pictures...Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1172265722838300432007-02-23T13:22:00.000-08:002007-02-23T13:22:02.966-08:00So much for the statute of limitations<a href="http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/23/NEVIUS.TMP">Going to Canada? Check your past / Visitors with minor criminal records turned back at border</a><br />OK, so Canada has a policy that those convicted of criminal offenses can't enter the country. That's fine, they're a country, they can do whatever they want. However, for this to be a blanket policy with no expiration date on those convictions is absurd. Say a 70-year-old was convicted of stealing a loaf of bread when he was 20. Since then, he's become a mayor or some equally honorable role. You still won't let him in? That's ridonkulous.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1170959892832384142007-02-08T10:38:00.000-08:002007-02-08T10:38:12.953-08:00Cold War government bunkers<a href="http://politics.guardian.co.uk/politicspast/story/0,,2006099,00.html">Steve Boggan on what to do in the event of a nuclear war</a><br />Great article on Corsham - the huge underground bunker the British gov't built in preparation for the Cold War, and how things have changed.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1170880660171732412007-02-07T12:37:00.000-08:002007-02-07T12:37:40.273-08:00How war builds our economy<a href="http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16260.htm">A National Intelligence Estimate on the United States</a><br />This is an engrossing article. And a bit disturbing. Not that we aren't constantly surrounded by disturbing things, but sooner or later that pile is going to be tall enough that it collapses for real, and then we'll be in trouble.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1170799293623344372007-02-06T14:01:00.000-08:002007-02-06T14:01:34.380-08:00Pure Neatness!<a href="http://www.drivl.com/myths/">Every Mythbusters Myth ON ONE PAGE</a><br />I love this show. And this is great.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1170271100108325802007-01-31T11:18:00.000-08:002007-01-31T11:18:20.190-08:00F the White House... F the White House!<a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2007/01/31/welch_interference_in_science_stunning/">Welch: Interference in science "stunning"</a><br />I'm just glad some of our lawmakers are finally seeing what's been happening.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1167778347306696232007-01-02T14:52:00.000-08:002007-01-02T14:52:27.410-08:00The Grand Canyon: created by, uh, we can't tell you...<a href="http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=801">Park service can't say how old Grand Canyon is</a><br />sigh. And people wonder why some of us have issues with our administration.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1165618837747177272006-12-08T15:00:00.000-08:002006-12-08T15:00:37.836-08:00What your mini-dog really thinks<a href="http://www.thephatphree.com/features.asp?StoryID=1800&SectionID=11">the Phat Phree</a><br />I pretty much agree with this completely 100%. It's awesome.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1164914080993810842006-11-30T11:14:00.000-08:002006-11-30T11:14:41.776-08:00Scientists Unravel Mystery of Ancient Greek Machine<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20061129/sc_livescience/scientistsunravelmysteryofancientgreekmachine">Scientists Unravel Mystery of Ancient Greek Machine</a><br />Absolutely astounding. And somewhat frightening and saddening that we were capable of a construction of this technical sophistication, which was then completely lost over the next thousand years. Sometimes the wheel must be reinvented, for we have forgotten how it was made.<br />Imagine where we'd be now, had this knowledge been passed on.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1163794034474889822006-11-17T12:07:00.000-08:002006-11-17T12:07:14.563-08:00Fascinating article/discussion on oil & energy independence<a href="http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2006/novdec/features/energy.html">STANFORD Magazine: What's Wrong With Energy Independence</a><br />A great and insightful read.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1162591334040769032006-11-03T14:02:00.000-08:002006-11-03T14:02:14.246-08:0050 years of fish left.<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6108414.stm">BBC NEWS - 'Only 50 years left' for sea fish</a><br />Wonder if BushCo will believe this. More importantly, wonder if anyone will do anything.<br />I like fish.<br />Maybe I should eat all I can now, since I won't get any later. :PHoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1162239467532131052006-10-30T12:17:00.000-08:002006-10-30T12:17:47.870-08:00Bush Moves Toward Martial Law<a href="http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/1732834.php">Bush Moves Toward Martial Law : SF Indymedia</a><br />Yike. That's about all I can say. If the shit don't seriously hit the fan for the GOP next week, we're in a world of trouble.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1161986243819951452006-10-27T14:57:00.000-07:002006-10-27T14:57:23.940-07:00How to steal an election by hacking the vote<a href="http://arstechnica.com/articles/culture/evoting.ars">How to steal an election by hacking the vote</a><br />This article is well written, well researched, and absolutely terrifying in its implications. All this information is out there, and we the people are not getting a clear message about just how bad it is.<br /><br />If something isn't done, someday very soon (possibly November 7, possibly later) elections will be completely stolen, and we will have no way of proving it.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6698986.post-1160530109576545092006-10-10T18:28:00.000-07:002006-10-10T18:28:29.696-07:00Baloney Detection Kit<a href="http://www.skepticreport.com/tools/baloney.htm">Baloney Detection Kit</a><br />Carl Sagan - how we miss you.Hoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16446512617400993283noreply@blogger.com