Silbakor

policing sweatshops

2008-05-14T16:28:00.000-07:00

Confessions of a Sweatshop Inspector

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.

Oil & Natural Gas from ANYTHING

2007-12-14T11:23:00.000-08:00

PopSci's Best of What's New 2007
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.
We need to build these. Lots of them.

Loss of Arctic ice leaves experts stunned

2007-09-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

Loss of Arctic ice leaves experts stunned
Bad. And getting worse. It's going to be a very different place soon. I hope everyone realizes that, and what it means.

Not a joke...

2007-08-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

William Gibson's blog
And that's really terrifying. I've seen ads like this in too many future-police-state movies. Now it's real.

Awesome.

2007-08-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

AIST develops 3D image projector
Actual 3D images, floating in the air. So cool.

Sen. Ted Stevens takes it in the ass

2007-07-31T12:36:00.000-07:00

Federal agents raid Sen. Ted Stevens' Girdwood home
Corrupt bastard. I hope they find a ton of incriminating crap & lock him up.

Genius Loci: the Spirits of Place

2007-07-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

the Spirits of Place
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.

A Pilot on Airline Security

2007-07-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

A Pilot on Airline Security

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.

The 26 most common climate myths and misconceptions

2007-05-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

Climate change: A guide for the perplexed
Great talking points for your associates who are unbelievers.

The times when I fear for my country...

2007-04-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Culture of Fear: Poetry Professor Becomes Terror Suspect
I'd ask what happens when this gets out of hand, but clearly it already is. This can't be much more depressing.

Daily Show viewers = smart; Fox News viewers = dumb

2007-04-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

SURVEY: Daily Show/Colbert Viewers Most Knowledgable, Fox News Viewers Rank Lowest

Awesome.

Brilliant comedy

2007-03-05T11:26:00.000-08:00

paranoia

In the style of the make-you-feel-good pictures...

So much for the statute of limitations

2007-02-23T13:22:00.000-08:00

Going to Canada? Check your past / Visitors with minor criminal records turned back at border
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.

Cold War government bunkers

2007-02-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

Steve Boggan on what to do in the event of a nuclear war
Great article on Corsham - the huge underground bunker the British gov't built in preparation for the Cold War, and how things have changed.

How war builds our economy

2007-02-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

A National Intelligence Estimate on the United States
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.

Pure Neatness!

2007-02-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

Every Mythbusters Myth ON ONE PAGE
I love this show. And this is great.

F the White House... F the White House!

2007-01-31T11:18:00.000-08:00

Welch: Interference in science "stunning"
I'm just glad some of our lawmakers are finally seeing what's been happening.

The Grand Canyon: created by, uh, we can't tell you...

2007-01-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

Park service can't say how old Grand Canyon is
sigh. And people wonder why some of us have issues with our administration.

What your mini-dog really thinks

2006-12-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

the Phat Phree
I pretty much agree with this completely 100%. It's awesome.

Scientists Unravel Mystery of Ancient Greek Machine

2006-11-30T11:14:00.000-08:00

Scientists Unravel Mystery of Ancient Greek Machine
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.
Imagine where we'd be now, had this knowledge been passed on.

Fascinating article/discussion on oil & energy independence

2006-11-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

STANFORD Magazine: What's Wrong With Energy Independence
A great and insightful read.

50 years of fish left.

2006-11-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

BBC NEWS - 'Only 50 years left' for sea fish
Wonder if BushCo will believe this. More importantly, wonder if anyone will do anything.
I like fish.
Maybe I should eat all I can now, since I won't get any later. :P

Bush Moves Toward Martial Law

2006-10-30T12:17:00.000-08:00

Bush Moves Toward Martial Law : SF Indymedia
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.

How to steal an election by hacking the vote

2006-10-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

How to steal an election by hacking the vote
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.

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.

Baloney Detection Kit

2006-10-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

Baloney Detection Kit
Carl Sagan - how we miss you.

Congress says torture is an American value

2006-09-29T14:53:00.000-07:00

WWdN: In Exile: a statement of conscience
Well said, Wheaton. Well said.

Conservatives have too many kids

2006-09-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

Through the past three decades, conservatives have been procreating more than liberals
ug.

Olbermann kicks the ass of the media's response to Clinton

2006-09-26T18:28:00.000-07:00

Crooks and Liars » Olbermann’s Special Comment: Are YOURS the actions of a true American?
Wow. Quite the response. Pretty much 100% accurate, too. Too bad most people won't see/read/believe it.

Bruce Schneier Blasts Politicians, Media

2006-09-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

Slashdot article and commentary
Schneier pretty much always gets it right. Most of the time he's limiting his complaints & attacks on poorly designed & marketed software, and computer security issues. This time, he's in open war with the "leaders" who claim to be doing what's best for us, and those who tell us about it every day.
I don't honestly know how much of the problem is the level of self-serving behavior in the media & politicians, and how much is simply ignorance and incompetence. But the problem is enormous, and if we don't somehow manage to do something about it, we'll never be able to bring a drink on a plane again, we'll have to go through metal detectors & x-rays every time we enter a building (or the subway), and government cameras will track our every move.
I dunno about you, but somehow that isn't the brilliant, glowing future I had naively expected as a kid. And that really depresses me.

Bush Aims to Kill War Crimes Act - Yahoo! News

2006-09-05T11:04:00.000-07:00

Bush Aims to Kill War Crimes Act
Our president likes to torture people. And doesn't like to get in trouble for it. So when the law disagrees... change the law. Cuz that's how you rule. I wish approval of torture was impeachable.

US judge blocks Bush logging plan in protected Giant Sequoia park - Yahoo! News

2006-08-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

US judge blocks Bush logging plan in protected Giant Sequoia park
OK, so it's been a while. But this was worth posting, cuz it's been so nice watching the administration taking it up the tailpipe lately over just about everything, and I'm just glad to see someone thought about this one.

In a single bound, Colbert surpasses Stewart

2006-05-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

Colbert Lampoons Bush at White House Correspondents Dinner -- President Not Amused?
Wow. Now that's balls. Big, huge, 20 pound cojones. Beyond brilliant. What you got to say, Stewart? You've been surpassed.

tee-hee

2006-04-26T15:32:00.000-07:00

California Becomes Second State to Introduce Bush Impeachment

nice. at least, once cheney's officially in charge, the person who's really in charge will actually be in charge.

Richard Feynman

2006-04-18T15:59:00.000-07:00

The pleasure of finding things out - Google Video
40 minute documentary interview with the brilliant doctor - absolutely worth every minute of your time.

Here are some other Great links:
Article on helping design the first parallel-processing computer
4 recordings of Feynman lecturing in New Zealand
Miscellaneous other video clips
6 great excerpts

Al Gore and Something He Cares About

2006-04-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

'An Inconvenient Truth' Exclusive Trailer
For all of the folks in this country who continue to believe whatever the administration tells them, regardless of the fact that 90% of the planet disagrees, maybe just maybe this will convince them otherwise. But I doubt it.
For the rest of us, we'll just get that much more depressed. And start moving to higher ground.

"Esquire" Lays the Smackdown on Creationism

2006-03-24T17:01:00.000-08:00

"Esquire" Lays the Smackdown on Creationism

Yeah, I know, I haven't blogged in a while. I've been lax. And busy. And moving offices, and dealing with $$, and hurting my new car, and wah wah wah yes, I'll shut up already.

But then I saw this. And I just couldn't stop any longer. Here are some examples of why:

"The kids run past that and around a corner, where stands another, smaller dinosaur.
Which is wearing a saddle.
...
This is very much a show dinosaur."

And if that's not enough to get you started, this sure is:
"It is impolite to wonder why our parents sent us all to college, and why generations of immigrants sweated and bled so their children could be educated, if it wasn't so that we would all one day feel confident enough to look at a museum filled with dinosaurs rigged to run six furlongs at Belmont and make the not unreasonable point that it is all batshit crazy and that anyone who believes this righteous hooey should be kept away from sharp objects and his own money."

Thank God for the Liberal Elite, for without them, I think those of us who remain reasonably in touch with reality would all have to shoot ourselves.

The Universe is amazing

2006-01-19T12:27:00.000-08:00

Astronomy Picture of the Day
Click on the actual image for the higher res version, and have a good close look. Looks like art. A painting maybe. Something photoshopped, perhaps. But no. It's real. That's what space actually looks like. Could you imagine being in a ship, somewhere right on the edge of that? What it must look like from so close?
Astounding.

Introduction - The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire - The Bancroft Library - University of California, Berkeley

2006-01-18T16:02:00.000-08:00

The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire - The Bancroft Library - University of California, Berkeley

Very cool online collection of photos & info from the great '06 quake. The interactive city map is fantastic.

Why put cars in a parking space, when you could put a park there?

2005-12-21T15:25:00.000-08:00

PARK(ing)
You know, even though SF doesn't have enough parking, I don't think this could ever annoy me. It's just too cool/funny.
I'd use it. And I'd feed the meter, too.

Poor Bush...

2005-12-21T12:28:00.000-08:00

Senate Blocks Alaska Refuge Drilling
He and his republican poofs are just getting smacked down on every front nowadays. No drilling in Alaska, no Intelligent Design in schools. What's the country coming to when some Republicans can't even get their bills passed?
Oh, right. It's coming to its senses. Finally.
I'm not a religious man, but Thank God for a REAL Christmas gift!

Aw, poor Bush. He can't torture people any more.

2005-12-15T11:57:00.000-08:00

Politics News Article

Really way too much fun.

2005-12-08T15:34:00.000-08:00

string spin
Possibly the coolest bit of flash I've ever seen.

Motorcycle @ 150mph + car = bad

2005-12-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

Extreme Motorcycle Crash, Sweden
Ouch. This is why speeding is bad. The bike rider would have travelled over 360 feet between the time he saw the car and would have had a chance to react (1.6 seconds).

It's official: I will never move to Kansas.

2005-12-06T16:49:00.000-08:00

Professor beaten; attackers cite KU creationism class
Though it's kind of ironic: Kansas board of education declares that schools must include criticism of evolution; Civilisation collapses in Kansas.

Tee-Hee.

2005-12-05T12:14:00.000-08:00

IS GEORGE BUSH THE WORST PRESIDENT -- EVER?
Hmmm...

Fancy a new line of work?

2005-12-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

eBay: ENTIRE PORN COMPANY FOR SALE !!!
Buy it on Ebay!

Sexsomnia.

2005-12-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

Sexsomnia.
Yeah. That's a new one to me.

Global warming inspires US-Canadian war!

2005-12-02T11:52:00.000-08:00

Melting Arctic Ice opens new sea route
OK, probably not, but you have to love that, rather than discussing the rather shocking graphic of just how much the ice has receded in the North Pole, they're discussing that the US & Canada may make alternating claims over a new sea route. Lovely.

ummm...

2005-10-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

"I Just Wish I Could Stop Shitting Blood" | The Onion

Holy fuck.

This is why you don't stupidly piss off really smart people with b/s crap like this.

As Nelson Muntz would say...

2005-10-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

Bush Abandons Push for Miers Nomination
Ha-Ha!

Decidedly freaky

2005-10-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Remote Control Device 'Controls' Humans
These Japanese... they'll come up with anything!

Star Trek IV gets it right!

2005-10-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

Air Force testing Transparent Aluminum
They keyboard may be quaint, but transparent aluminum is a reality, with or without Scotty's help.

Better your Googling!

2005-10-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

Google Search Tips 2005
Lots of handy stuff here.

mmm... governmental incompetence...

2005-09-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Offer of buses fell between the cracks
The heads of some of the country's largest bus organizations called FEMA 2 days after Katrina hit to offer help, but could never get in touch with anyone in charge.

Yeah. That's what bureaucracy is for. To prevent helpful things getting done.

Global warming quite possibly worse than previously thought... again.

2005-09-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

Arctic sea ice may have reached point of no return
Well, this could be bad.

Spontaneous human combustion? almost...

2005-09-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

Power-dressing man leaves trail of destruction
ya don't see that every day, now do ya?

How Bush Blew It

2005-09-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

How Bush Blew It - Newsweek
Well, the major news sources are finally really starting to turn on Bush.
Rather nasty stuff here as well.

Japanese Castles

2005-09-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

Guide to Japanese Castles
Found this great website through MetaFilter. I spent some 5 months in Japan in '97, and still miss it. The Japanese architectural style is absolutely beautiful, and their medieval castles are fantastic examples.

The Best Picture Ever

2005-09-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

A screen cap of Sky News Ireland...
Brilliant!

wow.

2005-09-02T13:20:00.000-07:00

Save New Orleans Cocktail Hour
wow. I'm not quite sure what else to say.

Want to help? Donate!

2005-09-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

American Red Cross - Credit Card Donation
You don't have to give much. Every bit counts. 1 million people donating $1 each is $1 million. That's a hell of a lot of money. And there are, what, 250 million Americans or more? Do your part. These people need it.

Let me be the first to welcome our new Killer Whale overlords...

2005-09-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

Clever Whale Uses Fish to Catch Seagulls
Nifty that.

New Orleans. Some reading.

2005-09-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

First I'll note - I didn't find any of these; a friend sent them. But they're all of them worth reading.
The Reality: Hunger and rage
Bush's vague promises
A 1-year old National Geographic article predicting exactly what happened.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin desperate for help, and the US gov't attempts to pass the buck again
Interesting reactions from foreign press about the hurricane, and the likelihood that it's related to global warming, and whether or not it will have an effect on the Bush presidency

Free country? not.

2005-08-25T12:11:00.000-07:00

Riot police, dogs, and guns bust up innocent, legal rave
Gotta love our men in blue. Glad to see they're working so hard to protect us from having fun.
Read more about it here.

Would Mr. President like some more cowbell?

2005-08-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

Walken 2008
I would buy so much merchandise for this THIS F*CKING INSTANT, yet they have none.
This is beyond awesome; it's moved into the absurd.

I still can't believe it's not a joke. It must be a joke. But what a brilliant joke. And if it's not a joke... I'm not quite sure what I'll believe anymore.

Help keep Alaska un-drilled

2005-08-12T17:25:00.000-07:00

Send photos to your Congressperson!
It's not often I ask my readers to do something. In fact, I'm not sure I ever have before. But now I do.
Many of the Republicans in Congress want to do an end-run around debate, and stick drilling the Alaskan Arctic Refuge into the budget, which is not debated like normal Senate bills. A group of some 2 dozen Republicans have joined most of the Democrats in decrying this action, but they are probably not enough on their own. So we need to get enough people to complain to convince their moderate peers to join them and nip this action in the bud.
Click the link. Choose a photo, and send your representatives a message that you care about the environment. Tell them that you are aware that drilling Alaska will have a negligible impact on our energy needs.
If you want to be really active, Go here for resources on writing letters to the editor and other more vocal activities.
Also, go here to find out how your members of Congress voted on the preliminary measure to allow Alaskan drilling in April.

Bush and his cronies don't care about the environment. Unless we make it politically painful for them to drill, they will.

Not all republicans are idiots

2005-08-11T12:50:00.000-07:00

GOP Members Oppose Arctic Oil in Budget
2 dozen. That's wonderful news. I don't know if that'll be enough to make the difference and shoot down the end-run around usual debating procedure to get ANWR drilled, but we can hope.

Um, wow. Nature yet again reveals it is, in fact, awesome.

2005-08-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

Giant octopus kicks shark's ass
Yay Nature. That's awesome.

This just in: President doesn't believe in science! Oh, wait... that's not news.

2005-08-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

Equal Time For Creationism
This has been depressing me enough that I really didn't want to devote blog space to it, but I think I just can't avoid it anymore, because it's still in the news. So I'll link to the Slashdot comment on it, allowing you (my gentle reader) to enjoy the Slashdot commentary on Great Leader Idiot.
So tell us, Mr. President, should public schools have to teach us how Jesus saved all our souls as well?

Fascinating graphic of Shuttle debris impacts over the years

2005-07-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

15,000 Hits and Counting
Via the NYTimes. If the link complains, go try this one:
link

Let me be the first to welcome our new American overlords

2005-07-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

House votes to extend Patriot Act
Thinking about leaving yet? Cuz our government is looking for you. Not because you're a terrorist, but because someone in your extended family is, or because you were caught by a camera in a train talking to one, or maybe just sitting vaguely near one. Cuz that's enough reason for them to wiretap you (without having to identify you, btw - Section 206 allows investigators to obtain warrants to intercept a suspect's phone conversations or Internet traffic without limiting it to a specific phone or identifying the suspect), stalk you, and look at what you've checked out of the library. Better hope you haven't read any Huxley lately.

And for all of you who like to spout "If you haven't done anything wrong, what do you have to hide?" here's a great little commentary from a Slashdot poster about what you have to hide. If you're too lazy to actually read it, the basic argument is that it's not the truth you ought to be afraid of. It's the hunters. Because the hunters claim to be after the truth, but are usually happy when they find something that only looks like truth. And a photo of you talking to a terrorist looks like truth, because there's no way to tell from a photo that you had no idea who or what they were.

More nasty environmental issues

2005-07-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Warmer Oceans May Be Killing West Coast Marine Life
Is it global warming? Is it a random climatological variation? Who knows. I only hope we figure it out in time to do something about it if we can.

Alaska: see it while you can

2005-07-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

The Race to Alaska Before It Melts
My parents used to spend each summer in Alaska, because my dad was a geologist and would take his students on summer work trips there to study the glacial moraines. It would be interesting to see how much he'd recognize now.

LIVE 8 - all the songs from all the artists, on demand

2005-07-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

LIVE 8 Concert
This is fantastic. A huge number of fantastic groups, all live, all uncut, all full length, and all free. THIS is what the internet is for.

Just because it's so cute

2005-07-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

The Daily Kitten

Looky! The loonies lost!

2005-07-08T12:58:00.000-07:00

Scientologists drop copyright case
What a bunch of nut-jobs. Either that, or everyone in the 'church' actually realizes that it's a pyramid scheme, and is just doing it in order to get to the top of the pyramid and start getting rich off all the noobs.

Sauron found in space!

2005-07-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hubble spies lord of the stellar rings
Yay space.

Let the battle for abortion begin

2005-07-01T12:11:00.000-07:00

O'Connor Retires From Supreme Court
To all of you who pooh-poohed it, or didn't worry about it, or figured it'll never go away, I truly truly hope you're right. But I'm not willing to put money on it.

The Force keeps church attendance up!

2005-06-27T12:38:00.001-07:00

Church goers celebrate Star Wars
Wow. I wonder if Lucas ever saw that coming? Looks like yet another Sci/Fi author is creating a religion. And this one's a lot better than Dianetics.

cute trains

2005-06-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

250 mph bullet train with cat ears
Count on the Japanese to even make a new bullet train cute.

Pray out the gay!

2005-06-13T13:21:00.000-07:00

Pray out the gay! | MetaFilter
Um, holy fucking shit, if you'll pardon my french. These people need to be put away. And I'm definately not talking about the poor kids.
Our country is so clearly out of touch with reality, it's gone beyond frightening.

Cats make you CRAZY! literally...

2005-06-10T13:05:00.000-07:00

Dangerrrr: cats could alter your personality
uh, that's actually rather creepy, if true. especially the infection rates mentioned on page 2. um.
more info. Yeah, that's 50% of the US population that's infected. wow.

The World: before & after

2005-06-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

Changing planet revealed in atlas
Impressive & frightening.

Monkey == Investor

2005-06-06T13:36:00.000-07:00

Monkey Business
Best quote:
"The data generated by the capuchin monkeys make them statistically indistinguishable from most stock-market investors."

Also worthy of note:
"What he witnessed was probably the first observed exchange of money for sex in the history of monkeykind. (Further proof that the monkeys truly understood money: the monkey who was paid for sex immediately traded the token in for a grape.)"

Yet more proof that prostitution is truly universal. Even monkeys, given the opportunity, will pay for sex.

This is the Way Democracy Ends

2005-05-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

Think Progress » Baucus’ Rebuttal: “This is the Way Democracy Ends”
A great speech. Unfortunately I doubt any of those 'in charge' will pay it any real heed. Also interesting that its closing words were nearly duplicated in Star Wars: Episode 3, as the Galactic Senate confers more and more power on Chancellor Palpatine.
Lucas has claimed that he wrote it 30 years ago, and was referencing the same Roman Senate that this speech references, but it's just as applicable now.

Shocking, truly.

2005-05-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

Researchers pinpiont brain's sarcasm sensor
Something tells me this particular part of my brain must be somewhat larger than average.

Richard Feynman. Not merely brilliant, but one of the world's greatest communicators of science as well.

2005-05-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

'This is how science is done'
A great article, with some excerpts from a new anthology of letters he wrote, available from Amazon:
Perfectly Reasonable Deviations From The Beaten Track: The Letters Of Richard P. Feynman
Here's a great website of all sorts of books & information on Dr. Feynman:
Basic Feynman

update:
Having just finished reading that first article (I was sidetracked by a wonderful video which you can find through the Basic Feynman link), I just had to say a little more. First, that it is enormously to our (and by our, I mean the entire world's) disfortune that there are no longer (to the best of my knowledge) any people such as Dr. Feynman, and like him Dr. Carl Sagan, who were not only brilliant men of science and great standing in society, but who could also speak of science, what it means, and what it does, and how it works, in layman's terms. I believe that this could be a large part of the problem we're currently facing, with an administration which disregards science, except when it shows the answers they're looking for; with large parts of the country (see Kansas) working actively for the retreat of real science in schools with the advancement of intelligent design over the theory of evolution; with the modern media which believes that it must needs give equal weight and time to all sides of a given argument, no matter the actual weight or value to those sides, without commenting on that relationship.
We in the United States are rolling back down the hill of enlightenment which we've toiled so hard to climb up, partly by design, but partly also I believe because we're running short on people of eloquence on whose backs we've reached our current heights.
Let us hope, for all our sakes, that someone of Feynman or Sagan's ilk, and talents, will make him or herself known, and that right soon.

How our government is no longer working for us

2005-05-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

Does the Real ID act contain a Constitution-busting Trojan horse?
The first step has been taken toward removing the last vestige of control and balance over our extremely right-wing 'republican' government which has forgotten that republicans supposedly believe in small government. Not only have they passed a bill instituting a national ID card and associated database, but the same bill also prohibits judicial review of any action taken by the Secretary of Homeland Security while constructing border defenses, and finally, there was no debate at all over any of this.
Yes, our 'government, by the people, for the people' has just declared that there will be a national database tracking all of us, and they've declared that a man who isn't even elected can do whatever the fuck he wants to build up the border, and there's nothing anyone can do to stop it. Not even the Supreme Court.
What if it's unconstitutional, you ask? Too bad. He can do it anyway. Welcome to the beginnings of fascism, ladies and gentlemen. Those who forget history are unfortunately doomed to repeat it. I just never would have guessed that we'd be on the evil side of that repetition.
Here are some more links, in case you don't believe me.
Wil Wheaton's blog entry
Metafilter entry

Blade Runner is becoming reality!

2005-05-10T14:39:00.000-07:00

Dual Photography
Remember the scene in Blade Runner where Deckard is analyzing the photo, and has the computer move the viewpoint around to see what's in the background?
Given this, and some time, it could happen.
Watch the video at the bottom - you'll need bittorrent to get it, but it's worth it. The playing card bit at the end is almost unbelievable.

Our brain(s)...

2005-05-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

Of Two Minds
Lacking a more apropo comment, this is some crazy shit. Read it.

IQs are improving across the globe

2005-05-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

Wired 13.05: Dome Improvement
Fascinating research. And a very logical reason for the increase too.

A big F YOU to the MPAA

2005-05-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

Court yanks down FCC's broadcast flag
Victory declared for fair use rights everywhere! This is huge, and with a little (ok, a lot of) luck it will be the beginning of the tide turning against the companies who want to control how we use their media.

Headline: Bush Hates Forests!

2005-05-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

New Rule Opens National Forest to Roads
I've trouble believing it, but continuing evidence just goes to further prove... our current president believes that forests are more attractive when they're clearcut and full of oil pipelines.
Perhaps someone needs to clearcut his ranch, fill it with oil pipelines, and see if he maintains that belief.

Students & politics - always a good combination

2005-05-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

"Filibuster Frist" @ Princeton University
I approve. Fully.

Intelligent design butts into Pennsylvania schools

2005-05-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

The Pseudoscience of Intelligent Design
Here's a great, simple writeup of just what is wrong with the Intelligent Design argument. It's too bad that those in charge of teaching our children don't seem to get it.

Men and women really are different, brainwise.

2005-04-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

Scientific American: His Brain, Her Brain
Some really interesting studies. So far, they've only really proved that there are lots of minor physical differences in the brains of males & females, and in how they react to stimuli. What does it mean? We're not sure yet, but this should lead to some really interesting and potentially quite useful further research on how best to help boys & girls grow up in environments and using methods that are best for each.

Sri Lankan tsunami as it arrives, among other amazing pics

2005-04-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

Surprises Lurk in Satellite Snaps
Satellite imagery only gets cooler when it's current, and catches random things happening.
The tsunami, and the 747 landing are both rather amazing.

Another case of sci-fi becoming reality

2005-04-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

'Minority Report' interface created for US military
schnazz.

Yay for Japan

2005-04-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

Homemade Mecha Walks in JapanAnd their crazy addiction to robots.

Fake White Shark

2005-04-06T14:01:00.000-07:00

Cousteau Sub Mimics Great White
Now that's cool and creative stuff. How fun would it be to swim with one of the world's oldest, greatest killers as one of them?