Simon's Cat returns in "Santa Claws." Awesome.
23 December 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
THE DIGITAL STORY OF NATIVITY
A co-worker shared this with me. Very creative and fun.
However you celebrate this season, may peace and prosperity be yours.
23 December 2010
However you celebrate this season, may peace and prosperity be yours.
23 December 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
U of Hawaii Marching Band
My sister directed me to this video and I have to say, it is simply impossible not to like. My wife was in a marching band and while she said that this wouldn't actually be too difficult for a band to pull-off, she couldn't think of seeing it done before. Which is weird, once you see the topic! Enjoy.
21 December 2010
21 December 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Bros Before Heroes
Jon Stewart on Senate Republicans blocking health care for 9/11 first-responders.
Sad but true.
10 December 2010
Sad but true.
10 December 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
No More Tigers?!?
Tigers could be gone from the wild in as little as a dozen years, new research shows. How very sad and what shame we should feel.
22 November 2010
22 November 2010
Seattle, Grief, & Love
As I begin this post, I have no idea what I am going to say. This is odd for me. It will probably be part tribute, part catharsis. Maybe the two are one in the same?
My beloved cat Seattle is dead. There is a hole in my heart made larger because of its match in the heart of my wife. Seattle's sister Honor, who had never been apart from her, has had a week of loss largely mimicking our own. At first, she spent time searching our home over and over, looking for her life-long partner. Although it still seems that she knows that all is not right, not well, she is adapting. I hope that my wife and I can find the same resolve and achieve the same outcome.
Seattle's loss was sudden and perhaps the wound is more severe because of this. When we lost our previous cat Ezri, it was at the end of long decline. I loved Ezri no less than I did Seattle, but her loss was different -- bitter, horrible, but different and perhaps less wounding. The wrenching, out-of-the-blue nature of this experience is the difference.
Early on Halloween, my wife woke me with the news that she thought that Seattle had hurt her leg. Indeed, she was putting no weight on the right-front limb and seemed unable to bend it at its mid-joint. We were at our regional animal hospital within thirty minutes and initially, the doctor also thought that a broken bone would be the cause of the distress. Images taken of the limb, however, showed nothing amiss with the bones of the leg or shoulder. However, the images caught Seattle's heart as well and it was this organ that I assumed to be so strong that proved her undoing.
Her heart was at least twice the size that it should have been, likely the result of an unknown congenital defect. One chamber of the heart was far too large and instead of pumping blood as it should have been, much of the blood was being "churned like fluid in a washing machine" instead of moving on through the body easily and in a normal rhythm. Moreover, her heart had "spit out" a clot, which had found its way to her leg, and blocked the flow of blood to the limb. Drug therapy -- Plavix -- proved unsuccessful and circulation was never reestablished to her leg.
By the next morning, she suffered respiratory arrest. Her lungs filled with fluid, perhaps due to another clot. Much of this fluid was removed, but there was great fear that whether or not this instance was caused by a clot or not, her lungs would continue to be a danger, both of death and of pain. And her heart would one day kill her no matter whether we could save her in the short run. She might have lived two days or two weeks. Could she have lived two months? Our doctors were very compassionate and gave us all of the information necessary to make a decision about her care and ending her life. Her remaining natural life would have been one of pain. Her too-early death was certain. And thus, we chose the only rational course of action available to us. God help me. She died in our arms. Tears were in my eyes. Love was in my heart. "I'm sorry" was on my lips.
A hole is in my heart.
I was rereading what I wrote when Seattle and her sister became part of our family. Two lines had me wondering at how times can change. About Honor, I wrote: Like her namesake, she is self-assured and feisty. About Seattle, I said: Seattle, too, has her own personality and while not quite as outgoing as her sister, she is inquisitive and playful. As the kittens grew and we moved from New Mexico to Massachusetts, Honor became our timid girl, while Seattle became a terror! I don't recall ever seeing Seattle scared of anything new. People, dogs, appliances... you name it, she saw the world as Veni Vedi Vicci. She was a marvel to watch and a joy to be around. And around me, she always was.
I had the great fortune to have Seattle bond with me as no other cat has before. When I was home, we were always together. She followed me from room to room to room to room... She was on my lap. She was on my desk. She was under my legs. She slept under the covers with her head poking out and tucked onto my left shoulder. I played every video game with her watching. I read every book with the pages between two ears. She was always there. And because of this, I'm feeling the loss of her presence like and anvil tied to the back of my head. My emotions just feel heavy.
A hole is in my heart.
It has now been two weeks since I last added to this writing. I found myself unable to return and while my grief is becoming easier to bear, I am still struggling mightily with Seattle’s loss. I’m sure that many cannot understand this sorrow and its seemingly ever-present nature. However, I have liked 100% of the cats that I have met more than 99.99999999…% of the people who have crossed my path. When one of these cats has become family, well, you either understand or you don’t.
Seattle is gone. Her sister and my wife remain, shining like the sun and being salves for my wounds. I am so, so thankful for the help that they both are providing me.
I love you Seattle, still and forever. Now, there is a hole in my heart. Love and fond memories will fill that hole. And for the rest of my days, you will be a part of me, loved, treasured, and remembered. Thank God or fate or chance for bringing us together. Thank you for your devotion. Thank you for your spirit. Thank you for being you.
I love you Seattle, still and forever.
22 November 2010
.
My beloved cat Seattle is dead. There is a hole in my heart made larger because of its match in the heart of my wife. Seattle's sister Honor, who had never been apart from her, has had a week of loss largely mimicking our own. At first, she spent time searching our home over and over, looking for her life-long partner. Although it still seems that she knows that all is not right, not well, she is adapting. I hope that my wife and I can find the same resolve and achieve the same outcome.
Seattle's loss was sudden and perhaps the wound is more severe because of this. When we lost our previous cat Ezri, it was at the end of long decline. I loved Ezri no less than I did Seattle, but her loss was different -- bitter, horrible, but different and perhaps less wounding. The wrenching, out-of-the-blue nature of this experience is the difference.
Early on Halloween, my wife woke me with the news that she thought that Seattle had hurt her leg. Indeed, she was putting no weight on the right-front limb and seemed unable to bend it at its mid-joint. We were at our regional animal hospital within thirty minutes and initially, the doctor also thought that a broken bone would be the cause of the distress. Images taken of the limb, however, showed nothing amiss with the bones of the leg or shoulder. However, the images caught Seattle's heart as well and it was this organ that I assumed to be so strong that proved her undoing.
Her heart was at least twice the size that it should have been, likely the result of an unknown congenital defect. One chamber of the heart was far too large and instead of pumping blood as it should have been, much of the blood was being "churned like fluid in a washing machine" instead of moving on through the body easily and in a normal rhythm. Moreover, her heart had "spit out" a clot, which had found its way to her leg, and blocked the flow of blood to the limb. Drug therapy -- Plavix -- proved unsuccessful and circulation was never reestablished to her leg.
By the next morning, she suffered respiratory arrest. Her lungs filled with fluid, perhaps due to another clot. Much of this fluid was removed, but there was great fear that whether or not this instance was caused by a clot or not, her lungs would continue to be a danger, both of death and of pain. And her heart would one day kill her no matter whether we could save her in the short run. She might have lived two days or two weeks. Could she have lived two months? Our doctors were very compassionate and gave us all of the information necessary to make a decision about her care and ending her life. Her remaining natural life would have been one of pain. Her too-early death was certain. And thus, we chose the only rational course of action available to us. God help me. She died in our arms. Tears were in my eyes. Love was in my heart. "I'm sorry" was on my lips.
A hole is in my heart.
I was rereading what I wrote when Seattle and her sister became part of our family. Two lines had me wondering at how times can change. About Honor, I wrote: Like her namesake, she is self-assured and feisty. About Seattle, I said: Seattle, too, has her own personality and while not quite as outgoing as her sister, she is inquisitive and playful. As the kittens grew and we moved from New Mexico to Massachusetts, Honor became our timid girl, while Seattle became a terror! I don't recall ever seeing Seattle scared of anything new. People, dogs, appliances... you name it, she saw the world as Veni Vedi Vicci. She was a marvel to watch and a joy to be around. And around me, she always was.
I had the great fortune to have Seattle bond with me as no other cat has before. When I was home, we were always together. She followed me from room to room to room to room... She was on my lap. She was on my desk. She was under my legs. She slept under the covers with her head poking out and tucked onto my left shoulder. I played every video game with her watching. I read every book with the pages between two ears. She was always there. And because of this, I'm feeling the loss of her presence like and anvil tied to the back of my head. My emotions just feel heavy.
A hole is in my heart.
It has now been two weeks since I last added to this writing. I found myself unable to return and while my grief is becoming easier to bear, I am still struggling mightily with Seattle’s loss. I’m sure that many cannot understand this sorrow and its seemingly ever-present nature. However, I have liked 100% of the cats that I have met more than 99.99999999…% of the people who have crossed my path. When one of these cats has become family, well, you either understand or you don’t.
Seattle is gone. Her sister and my wife remain, shining like the sun and being salves for my wounds. I am so, so thankful for the help that they both are providing me.
I love you Seattle, still and forever. Now, there is a hole in my heart. Love and fond memories will fill that hole. And for the rest of my days, you will be a part of me, loved, treasured, and remembered. Thank God or fate or chance for bringing us together. Thank you for your devotion. Thank you for your spirit. Thank you for being you.
I love you Seattle, still and forever.
22 November 2010
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Friday, November 12, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Best Halloween Cards for 2010
The Huffington Post has a photo display of the best Halloween Cards from SomeECards for 2010. Very funny!
29 October 2010
29 October 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Top Gear on 60 Minutes
Thanks to my sister, who first turned me on to it, I am enamored with the British car show Top Gear. I have a life-long love of cars and when you mix them with wry English humor, what's not to love? I see Top Gear on BBC America and like most English programs, a full-year's schedule only runs eight, or maybe twelve, episodes. My sister and my wife, who are decidedly not car people, also enjoy the show. Again, the humor is compelling and its three hosts are quite charming. And The Stig is so bad-ass that I've named my chief raiding pet for World of Warcraft after him.
Anywho, Top Gear will be profiled on this weeks episode of 60 Minutes, airing Sunday, October 24th. Remember, the late NFL game may play with the schedule unless you live on America's west coast. Enjoy.
23 October 2010
Anywho, Top Gear will be profiled on this weeks episode of 60 Minutes, airing Sunday, October 24th. Remember, the late NFL game may play with the schedule unless you live on America's west coast. Enjoy.
23 October 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Going to the Dogs!
Man, I missed an entire month. However, I'm back with a post that contains a bit of fun. First up, the band Ok Go has a new video featuring our canine friends that is a hoot. If you enjoyed the dog aspect, check out this prancing pooch. And if you just want to see more of the fantastic video work of Ok Go, I recommend this older video.
Enjoy.
3 October 2010
Addition: For you cat people and, of course, I'm one of you.
Enjoy.
3 October 2010
Addition: For you cat people and, of course, I'm one of you.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Playing Possum... not!
It occurred to me recently that, were I to have an opossum as a pet, I would not know how to properly massage said opossum such that the opossum would reach a state of complete relaxation. Now, we all want relaxed pets and this would certainly be true for those of us with pet opossums, should we become people with pet opossums. You can imagine my distress upon realizing this deficiency in my background. Fortunately, and as it does for so many states of ignorance, the Internet came to my rescue. Thus, when one wants properly massage one's opossum, one can search for such knowledge right here.
I shit you not.
13 August 2010
I shit you not.
13 August 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Nothing up my sleeve... presto!
Videos that are funny for reasons you might not expect. Language warning in number eight.
1 August 2010
1 August 2010
What Would Reagan Do?
A very interesting article in Newsweek addresses this question to modern conservatives. It suggests that the answers might surprise most of them.
1 August 2010
Addition: An op-ed in the Times yesterday by David Stockman, a Director of the OMB under Reagan, is also interesting in relation to this topic.
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1 August 2010
Addition: An op-ed in the Times yesterday by David Stockman, a Director of the OMB under Reagan, is also interesting in relation to this topic.
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Sunday, July 25, 2010
July Comedy
Sunday, July 4, 2010
July 4th... err, Buffalo
Happy Independence Day, everyone. And to celebrate, I give you the following sentence, which is not only grammatically valid, but which also typifies just how weird we ultimately are as a people.
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo
If you can't figure it out, don't worry. Neither could I. My days of diagramming sentences are long in my past.
Here's to hoping for a better tomorrow.
4 July 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The Oil Spill Address Obama Should Have Given
Rachel Madow gave the "presidential address" that she wishes -- that I wish -- President Obama had given instead of the one he actually gave last week on the topic of the BP oil spill. It is hard-hitting, but is also filled with basic common sense. As I have alluded, the president failed us last week. He punted instead of truly taking charge and ramming that which is right down the throats of those who are at odds with the good of the Nation and the well-being of the American people. President Obama keeps being handed a raw deal, but instead of turning lemons into lemonade, he mixes lemon drop martinis for the rich and powerful. It is business as usual. And it is very, very sad.
20 June 2010
20 June 2010
Obama & the Oil Spill
Frank Rich has a great op-ed in the Times outlining where the president stands and what he should do going forward regarding the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It is worth a read.
Note that Rich mentions another article, this one in Rolling Stone, that covers the Interior Department as well and its too-cozy, too-familiar relationship with the industries that it is supposed to be policing in the name of the American people. This is was not only a Bush problem -- or simply a problem with presidents dating at least back to Reagan -- but a problem with the Obama White House as well. Great article.
20 June 2010
Note that Rich mentions another article, this one in Rolling Stone, that covers the Interior Department as well and its too-cozy, too-familiar relationship with the industries that it is supposed to be policing in the name of the American people. This is was not only a Bush problem -- or simply a problem with presidents dating at least back to Reagan -- but a problem with the Obama White House as well. Great article.
20 June 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Top 10 Airlines
Skytrax -- I have no idea what Skytrax actually is BTW -- has released its list for the best airlines of 2010. Apparently, Asiam and Middle Eastern carriers are the way to go!
27 May 2010
27 May 2010
2010 Sunscreen Guide
The Environmental Working Group has released its 2010 Sunscreen Guide and only 39 of 500 products on the market are recommended. The Huffington Post detailed ten facts from the findings. Many sunscreens don't provide the protection that they claim to, contain ingredients that may actually increase the chance to get skin cancer, or contain ingredients that are harmful in some other way. You can see their list of Top Picks, as well as their Hall of Shame. Note that the Hall of Shame contains many products marketed for children.
27 May 2010
30 May 2010 Addition: It is sunscreens by four companies that rank highest. The first are made by Badger. I've actually used this company's Badger Balm and really liked it. Note that in addition to basic sunscreens, Badger also sells its SPF 30 sunscreen with a bug repellent built in should that suit your needs. To find retailers for Badger products, follow this link.
The second company is Soleo Organics. It appears that these are offered in various tube sizes, including a fairly-large 5.3 ounce size, which may be nice for family use. You can find Soleo Organics' products here.
The third company is Purple Prairie Botanicals. Note, however, that only its SPF 30 products received the highest rating of "1." Its SPF 15 products received the second highest rating of "2." A store listing can be found here.
The final company to rank highest is UV Natural. Note, however, that only its SPF 30 Baby and SPF 30 Sport products received the highest rating of "1." Its SPF 30 (basic) product received the second highest rating of "2." A retailers list can be found here.
All of the above-mentioned company's products except for Purple Prairie Botanicals can be purchased from Amazon.
Finally, note that single products from two makers also received the highest ranking from the study. The first is a SPF Sunblock Stick by California Baby and the second is an SPF 30 by Loving Naturals. See the rankings for more info.
1 August 2010 Addition: A colleague of mine suggested this sunscreen to me, Green Screen by Kabana Skin Care. It uses zinc oxide as its UV protection.
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27 May 2010
30 May 2010 Addition: It is sunscreens by four companies that rank highest. The first are made by Badger. I've actually used this company's Badger Balm and really liked it. Note that in addition to basic sunscreens, Badger also sells its SPF 30 sunscreen with a bug repellent built in should that suit your needs. To find retailers for Badger products, follow this link.
The second company is Soleo Organics. It appears that these are offered in various tube sizes, including a fairly-large 5.3 ounce size, which may be nice for family use. You can find Soleo Organics' products here.
The third company is Purple Prairie Botanicals. Note, however, that only its SPF 30 products received the highest rating of "1." Its SPF 15 products received the second highest rating of "2." A store listing can be found here.
The final company to rank highest is UV Natural. Note, however, that only its SPF 30 Baby and SPF 30 Sport products received the highest rating of "1." Its SPF 30 (basic) product received the second highest rating of "2." A retailers list can be found here.
All of the above-mentioned company's products except for Purple Prairie Botanicals can be purchased from Amazon.
Finally, note that single products from two makers also received the highest ranking from the study. The first is a SPF Sunblock Stick by California Baby and the second is an SPF 30 by Loving Naturals. See the rankings for more info.
1 August 2010 Addition: A colleague of mine suggested this sunscreen to me, Green Screen by Kabana Skin Care. It uses zinc oxide as its UV protection.
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Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Financial Reform Failure
As we get into the final days of financial reform, Simon Johnson has detailed exactly how little reform there actually is. Wall Street has won again.
26 May 2010
26 May 2010
MLB & Gluten-Free
May is Celiac Awareness Month -- no joke! -- and Major League Baseball is jumping on board with my people. It looks like five big league parks are now offering gluten-free food and drinks, including beer. (Insert sound of a grown man weeping with joy here.) Now, the chance of me actually getting to any of these parks anytime soon is remote. That being said, if these vendors are successful, it will likely catch on!
Play ball!
26 May 2010
Play ball!
26 May 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Memorial Day: TAPS
Nancy Gibbs of Time magazine has a great, short piece on an organization called TAPS. It is worth a read in relation to Memorial Day.
25 May 2010
25 May 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Frisky Signs
The Huffington Post has new photos detailing what may be the friskiest signs to be found. Definitely worth a look and a laugh.
24 May 2010
24 May 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Oil Spill Involvement
As the oil spill tragedy continues to unfold in the Gulf of Mexico, the Huffington Post has a page up detailing how ordinary citizens can get involved.
23 May 2010
23 May 2010
Food Allergies and Birthdays
The Huffington Post has an interesting little story on a study that links children born in fall and winter months to increases in food-related allergies. I was a fall baby. Enough said.
23 May 2010
23 May 2010
it IS the squirrrrrrel
I'm not a huge fan of squirrels. Sure, they are cute, but they decimated my garden for years in New Mexico and now they are attacking flower bulbs and seedlings here in Massachusetts. I smile a small, dark smile every time that I see one as road kill. Still, this video of a squirrel defending its fallen peer from crows is heartening.
I just hope that it, too, gets flattened in the next, unseen frame!
23 May 2010
I just hope that it, too, gets flattened in the next, unseen frame!
23 May 2010
Sloths, not Sloth
I've always had a special place in my heart for Sloths. As a boy, I loved looking at pictures of what giant prehistoric sloths might have looked like. I also have a great appreciation for both napping and scratching, so current sloths remain high on my list. If you can't appreciate Sloths, then you haven't seen this video. Take it from me and take a nap. Yep, sloth it up!
23 May 2010
23 May 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
Selling Out Main Street... Again
The Merkley-Levin Ammendment did not get a vote this week as part of the financial reform debate in the US Senate. This piece of legislation would have been one of the chief ways to protect the nation and its citizens from the outlandish banking practices that we have lately seen from Wall Street. It failed due to a Senate that is still largely bought-and-paid-for by commercial banks, although the numbers that voted for the ammendment were not insignificant. Perhaps this means that the tide may one day actually turn?!? Sadly, a big part of the reason that the ammendment failed to pass was not only the lack of enthusiusum for it from the Obama White House, but its outright opposition.
Anyone who thinks that President Obama is a liberal should have the ventilator removed and be allowed to die; They are obviously brain dead already!
21 May 2010
Anyone who thinks that President Obama is a liberal should have the ventilator removed and be allowed to die; They are obviously brain dead already!
21 May 2010
USA: A Lost Decade?
Paul Krugman discusses the possibility of America slipping into a so-called "Lost Decade" that the Japanese faced in the 1990s... and from which they have never fully escaped.
21 May 2010
21 May 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Polish History via Tragedy
Josh Marshall posted the following at Talking Points Memo earlier this evening. Like him, I didn't know this, which I find strange. It seems that this info would have -- should have! -- popped up on my radar at some point. Anywho, quoted here in full.
As always, check out TPM for this and other great news.
11 April 2010
You have read about the tragic plane crash which killed a swath of the highest ranking leadership of the Polish Republic, including the incumbent president, Lech Kaczynski. Here's a small part of that story I just read about.
If you're familiar with the history of World War II, you probably know that somewhat like General Charles de Gaulle's Free French Forces, there was a Polish government-in-exile operating in London during the war. Indeed, the 'Government of the Republic of Poland in exile' had much more continuity with the pre-war Polish government and functioned much more like a government than the entity set up by General de Gaulle.
What I did not know is that the Polish government-in-exile continued in existence in London until 1990, with an unbroken succession of presidents and prime ministers-in-exile going back to 1939. And according to wikipedia, until the end, it maintained regular cabinet meetings every two weeks at its headquarters in London.
The last president was Ryszard Kaczorowski, born in 1919. In 1990, under his leadership, the government-in-exile dissolved itself and handed over various insignia and symbols of government (in addition to some pre-war government archives) to the new post-Communist government under President Lech Walesa. Relatedly, the new Polish government recognized the legitimacy of the London-based government. So that among other things Kaczorowski received a state pension like any other former president.
Kaczorowski, now 90 years old, was one of the 96 killed in the jet crash near Smolensk.
As always, check out TPM for this and other great news.
11 April 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Democratic Party Soul
Ryan Grim and Arthur Delaney of The Huffington Post have written a great article on the search for the soul of Democratic Party and the power struggle for control of its destiny.
8 April 2010
8 April 2010
DINKs Again!
My wife and I are DINKs again. That this is the case is because I'm finally upholding my end of things, having found a job. This was a 16-month search for work, one that was almost-always frustrating and sometimes soul-bending. It was also confusing and a learning experience.
After going through my search, I have great empathy for those in a similar plight. In this economy, the odds are stacked against you and everything reminds you of this time and time again. I had three things in my favor, three things that kept me sane.
I start work on Monday and I'm looking forward to it. I have hope that the job will prove interesting and I believe the company to be a good one, both in product and in corporate citizenship. We shall see. Regardless, I will be financially productive again through work. That is most welcome.
8 April 2010
After going through my search, I have great empathy for those in a similar plight. In this economy, the odds are stacked against you and everything reminds you of this time and time again. I had three things in my favor, three things that kept me sane.
- I had the steadfast support of family and friends, anchored by my ever-loving, always-understanding wife. I cannot begin to tell you what a salve this support is to a weary soul, one suffering from the thousand little cuts that constantly hearing "no" inflicts. Thank you.
- I had planned for this experience financially. While I hadn't expected my joblessness to last as long as it did, my foresight allowed me to sleep at night in a way that I know many others cannot. Years of financial planning and prudent stewardship kept my wife and I safe and whole in terms of our finances. Combine this planning with our normal, low-key way of living and our time of hardship was mostly anything-but. I thank my parents for instilling this discipline in me.
- Finally, I was able to remain objective about my circumstances. I knew the statistics that the media trumpeted day-after-day and, while they were certainly daunting at times, I understood that this was a mountain that I was facing. More importantly, I understood that it was a mountain not of my own making. This knowledge allowed me to never hear "no" as an indictment of who and what I am. And I can tell you, the tug of human nature is for... no, no, no, No, No, No, NO, NO, NO!... to do just that. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger. It really is true in a job hunt.
I start work on Monday and I'm looking forward to it. I have hope that the job will prove interesting and I believe the company to be a good one, both in product and in corporate citizenship. We shall see. Regardless, I will be financially productive again through work. That is most welcome.
8 April 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
The Midterm Elections
FiveThirtyEight has a great analysis of current political play in House and Senate midterm races. Nate Silver has outlined what the Democrats need in terms of numbers to feel that the midterms are successful for them and, yes, a loss for the Democrats doesn't necessarily mean the loss of their majorities in either Congressional body. Democrats could still maintain majorities, but have the ideological bent of the chambers as a whole changed in such a way that their ability to govern is compromised. (And, of course, by "compromised," I mean more than by Democrats simply being Democrats!) It is a good read and really spells out how progressives must stem the "enthusiasm gap" before it is too late.
7 April 2010
7 April 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
We Don't Need No Stinking Yankees!
Five year-old Joshua Sacco is called upon to channel Herb Brooks on opening day at Fenway this year. ROFL
6 April 2010
6 April 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Save the Monarch Butterfly
I posted earlier about the current plight of the Monarch butterfly. Today, I sent an e-mail to friends and family as a "call to arms." I thought I'd repost it here. Can't hurt.
I've been reading about the current -- and sadly on-going -- plight of the monarch butterfly. While habitat decimation and pesticide use has greatly reduced their numbers over the past two decades, this year weather is the chief threat. Their wintering grounds in Mexico have received overly-large shares of both snow and rain, killing up to 50% of the insect. Many scientists believe that this massive calamity, mixed with the already-poor conditions with which humans have left them, may create a danger from which the species cannot come back. However, those of you who live in the American Southwest, American South, and American Midwest can do your part to help save this marvelous creature... and it's easy to do. Plant milkweed in your garden.5 April 2010
http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/
Monarch butterfly eggs are hatched on milkweed and it provides both food and, by absorbing natural toxins through eating the milkweed, the butterflies are provided a natural defense from predators. There are a vast number of species of milkweed that are hardy enough to survive North American winters, coming back year-after-year, so that you only have to plant them once. Plus, these plants seem quite pretty, so it is win-win. So if you live in one of the areas mentioned above, consider planting a small area of milkweed at home and help save the Monarch butterfly.
http://www.butterflyencounters.com/ milkweed/index.html
http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/index.htm
For those of you who, like me, live in the Northeast part of the US, don't worry, you can do your part too... and those of you in the Midwest, South, and Southwest can take part in this as well. Monarch butterflies spend their summers far to the Northeast and need to bulk up to make their amazing circle-of-life migration of thousands of miles each year. Thus, they need food, which mean nectar-rich flowers on which to feed. (They need these along their migration route in the Midwest, South, and Southwest, too. Flying is hard work!)
http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/seed_kit.html
http://www.monarchwatch.org/garden/index.htm
One more thing, those of you who live in California, Colorado, and other Western states, don't feel left out. There is a variety of Monarch that winters in California, summers in the Rocky Mountains, and that faces many of the same man-made dangers that its Eastern relative does. Thus, you can help with milkweed and nectar way-stations in your gardens, too!
http://www.monarchwatch.org/tagmig/spring.htm
Whether you love to garden yourself, want a "learning project" for your children, or just want to help out a beautiful little critter, this is a fun, easy way to play a role in saving an icon of our natural world.
Thanks!
Save the Monarch!
Monarch butterflies have been facing longer odds for a while now. This year, harsh weather has further kicked them when humanity already had them down. From Melissa Breyer of Care2 on Yahoo Green:
It is suggested that folks interested in helping to save the monarch butterfly plant milkweed, the plant in which the insect lays its eggs to reproduce. Again, humanity is standing in the way of the circle of life. Says Breyer:
5 April 2010
This year may be one of the worst for the monarch butterfly, experts are reporting.
Severe hailstorms in Mexico (one of the monarch’s winter homes) followed by 15 inches of rain has left the population decimated by up to 50 percent this year. Add to that the ongoing issue of habitat destruction, and the future of the monarch begins to look a little shaky.
Unlike most other insects in temperate climates, monarch butterflies cannot survive a long cold winter, according to MonarchWatch.org. Instead, they spend the winter in roosting spots.
Monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains travel to small groves of trees along the California coast, while those east of the Rocky Mountains fly farther south to the forests high in the mountains of Mexico.
No other butterflies migrate like North American monarchs. They are the only butterflies to make such a long, round-trip migration of up to three thousand miles every year. It’s like "The Odyssey" of the insect world.
Amazingly, they fly in masses to the same winter roosts, often to the exact same trees. Part of the problem monarchs face is the longevity of the trees within which they roost: Illegal logging in Mexico has destroyed the butterflies’ mountain habitats, while property development in California threatens the eucalyptus trees where they roost there.
It is suggested that folks interested in helping to save the monarch butterfly plant milkweed, the plant in which the insect lays its eggs to reproduce. Again, humanity is standing in the way of the circle of life. Says Breyer:
In addition to habitat issues and the increasingly severe weather, there has also been a significant increase in the Midwest of planting corn and soybeans that are genetically engineered to be herbicide-resistant. That allows farmers to spray weed killer without hurting the crops, but it has meant almost no milkweed survive in the fields. No milkweed means no place for the butterflies to breed along the way, a crucial step, obviously, in the survival of the species.Tips on growing milkweed can be found on-line, including at this link.
That's where we can help. An advocacy group is encouraging the public to create monarch habitats by planting milkweed in home gardens. They're also encouraging schools, zoos, farmers, and anyone else with access to unused land to grow the perennial plants.
Visit Monarchwatch.org to find out what else you can do. For more ways to help butterflies see First Aid for Butterflies and How to Make Butterfly Food.
5 April 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Chinese Housing Materials
It would appear that materials made in China for the housing trade, much of them installed during the most recent building boom, are now being found to be not only defective, but dangerous. Drywall, electrical systems, fire alarm systems, gas pipes, and other items are suspect. From Cain Burdeau of the AP, via The Huffington Post:
2 April 2010
Thousands of U.S. homes tainted by Chinese drywall should be gutted, according to new guidelines released Friday by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.I know several folks who built homes during that period, myself included, so be aware.
The guidelines say electrical wiring, outlets, circuit breakers, fire alarm systems, carbon monoxide alarms, fire sprinklers, gas pipes and drywall need to be removed.
...
The drywall has been linked to corrosion of wiring, air conditioning units, computers, doorknobs and jewelry, along with possible health effects. Tenenbaum said some samples of the Chinese-made product emit 100 times as much hydrogen sulfide as drywall made elsewhere.
The agency continues to investigate possible health effects, but preliminary studies have found a possible link between throat, nose and lung irritation and high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas emitted from the wallboard, coupled with formaldehyde, which is commonly found in new houses.
2 April 2010
President Johnson Indeed
Also via my sister, although I've seen references made to this elsewhere of late, is new historical audio tape from the LBJ years. In this audio clip, the president is ordering pants from the Haggar clothing company, using the vernacular I call "Coarse Texan" as only Johnson could. It is sort of Mark Twain meets Beavis. It is not to be missed.
The part of this exchange that really makes me laugh is that there was some poor staffer sitting with Johnson who had to listen to this and then follow through on the details of the purchase. It is said that those who stand too near the sun should expect to get burned. It is true of bungholes as well.
2 April 2010
The part of this exchange that really makes me laugh is that there was some poor staffer sitting with Johnson who had to listen to this and then follow through on the details of the purchase. It is said that those who stand too near the sun should expect to get burned. It is true of bungholes as well.
2 April 2010
"Teabonics"
My sister sent me a link to a Flickr.com site known as "Teabonics." Classic. Unsurprising and very telling, but classic.
2 April 2010
2 April 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
College Aid Reform
Although it has received almost no press, in part due to being in the shadow of health care reform, Congress passed sweeping legislation this week to reform a great deal of the system governing college financial aid. The changes will expand aid; streamline the aid process; and make the system both cheaper to operate and more financial secure. Moreover, it was done in stark, blunt opposition to heavy lobbying by the banking industry, which stood to lose a lot of money if reform passed. Amazingly, the Democrats stood up to this lobbying from one of the most powerful industries and actually did the right thing. (The Republicans stood with the banks. Water is wet.) This is a real victory for the nation, and will help new generations of American students achieve their dreams of higher education, thereby strengthening the country.
26 March 2010
26 March 2010
Rachel Maddow and Scott Brown
New Senator Scott Brown has been trying to raise out-of-state money this week by telling conservatives that the MSNBC television host Rachel Maddow -- who is progressive, brilliant, & funny -- has been asked by the Democratic party to run against Brown... and that she's considering it. Earlier this week, Maddow took the unusual step of having herself interviewed on her own program in an attempt to put this rumor to rest. Brown still kept at it. Now, MSNBC has run an ad in the Boston Globe, printing a letter from Maddow to her fellow citizens of Massachusetts about Brown's false claims, about what it says about him, and about its effect on political dialogue in the nation. Take a look.
26 March 2010
26 March 2010
Walmart & Food
Apparently Walmart may actually be doing something helpful on the food front. No, really. Coby Kummer of The Atlantic, via MSNBC, has the low-down.
26 March 2010
26 March 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Pay It Forward
This story from The Huffington Post caught my eye. I'm quoting it is large part here. Read the complete text at the link.
25 March 2010
When Australian man James Harrison was just 14 years old, he received a life-saving blood transfusion during an invasive chest surgery. Grateful for this gift, Harrison pledged to pay it forward by becoming a blood donor when he was old enough.
True to his word, after turning 18, he became a regular donor. Now, at 74 years old, he has donated blood an astounding 984 times. This alone would be an extraordinary feat, but Harrison's unique blood type makes his gift so special he's been called the man with the golden arm.
Harrison has a rare antibody in his blood that can save babies with Rhesus disease, a deadly form of anemia. Because of his unique blood type, Harrison was also asked to undergo testing to help doctors find a way to prevent the disease. Over his 56 years of donating blood and helping to find cures, it is estimated that Harrison's contributions have saved over 2 million babies.
Even after the recent passing of his wife of 56 years, Harrison remains dedicated to his cause.
25 March 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
World Water Day
Today is World Water Day. Many of us are aware that the lack of access to clean water is a real danger to much of the world. However, 10% of Americans lack such access as well. Dr. Edison de Mello has information on this issue, including some facts about where and how harmful water is allowed to reach each of us. These include not only run-off from farming and other chemically-intensive industries that can harm entire cities, but also the plastic that make up individual bottles for water and bubbler-type office tanks. Take a look.
22 March 2010
24 March 2010 Addition: Bottled water industry fights back with fake "journalism."
25 March 2010 Addition: The April 2010 issue of National Geographic magazine focuses on global water issues.
22 March 2010
24 March 2010 Addition: Bottled water industry fights back with fake "journalism."
25 March 2010 Addition: The April 2010 issue of National Geographic magazine focuses on global water issues.
House Vote: Health Care Reform
In the wake of the House passing the Senate health care reform package, both as written and with changes to be sent back to that body, Robert Reich has written a short blog post regarding the meaning of the event and where it stands historically. He offers some interesting insight into why this reform is tied most closely to policies of previous Republican presidents rather than to FDR and the New Deal.
Christina Bellantoni of TPM outlines what happens next. In a nutshell, President Obama will sign the Senate bill that the House first voted on last night -- "warts and all" as Ms. Bellantoni puts it. Thereafter, the Senate will vote on the second bill passed by the House. This modified bill features the changes to the original Senate bill agreed to by House and Senate members via the reconciliation process. If -- and when -- the Senate passes this modified bill, it will go to the president to sign, and will then supersede the previously signed bill, becoming the law of the final land.
If you are interested in the 34 Democrats who voted against health care reform last night in the House, check this out. While I can see political justification for such an action -- although I would ultimately call it cowardice -- there can be no moral justification for such a vote. Health care has been a bedrock concern for the Democratic Party for the last century if not longer. If expanding this basic human right is not at the core of your values, why the hell are you a member of the Democratic Party? When you have the opportunity to vote to pass the most significant piece of social legislation in the past five decades and you don't... ????
That this vote was even close, says volumes about the political situation in Washington. This bill, however monumental historically, is fairly milk-toast in relative terms. There will be changes to American health care, but all too few to the way the system of care operates. That so many are up in arms to oppose it and that so many call it a great victory demonstrates that we haven't come very far in America and that we have so very much farther still to go.
22 March 2010
Christina Bellantoni of TPM outlines what happens next. In a nutshell, President Obama will sign the Senate bill that the House first voted on last night -- "warts and all" as Ms. Bellantoni puts it. Thereafter, the Senate will vote on the second bill passed by the House. This modified bill features the changes to the original Senate bill agreed to by House and Senate members via the reconciliation process. If -- and when -- the Senate passes this modified bill, it will go to the president to sign, and will then supersede the previously signed bill, becoming the law of the final land.
If you are interested in the 34 Democrats who voted against health care reform last night in the House, check this out. While I can see political justification for such an action -- although I would ultimately call it cowardice -- there can be no moral justification for such a vote. Health care has been a bedrock concern for the Democratic Party for the last century if not longer. If expanding this basic human right is not at the core of your values, why the hell are you a member of the Democratic Party? When you have the opportunity to vote to pass the most significant piece of social legislation in the past five decades and you don't... ????
That this vote was even close, says volumes about the political situation in Washington. This bill, however monumental historically, is fairly milk-toast in relative terms. There will be changes to American health care, but all too few to the way the system of care operates. That so many are up in arms to oppose it and that so many call it a great victory demonstrates that we haven't come very far in America and that we have so very much farther still to go.
22 March 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Rancid Tea
From Sam Stein at The Huffington Post comes details on the Tea Bagger rampage through the Capitol.
20 March 2010
21 March 2010 Addition: The madness continues.
Abusive, derogatory and even racist behavior directed at House Democrats by Tea Party protesters on Saturday left several lawmakers in shock.
Preceding the president's speech to a gathering of House Democrats, thousands of protesters descended around the Capitol to protest the passage of health care reform. The gathering quickly turned into abusive heckling, as members of Congress passing through Longworth House office building were subjected to epithets and even mild physical abuse.
A staffer for Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told reporters that Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) had been spat on by a protestor. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a hero of the civil rights movement, was called a 'ni--er.' And Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) was called a "faggot," as protesters shouted at him with deliberately lisp-y screams. Frank, approached in the halls after the president's speech, shrugged off the incident.
But Clyburn was downright incredulous, saying he had not witnessed such treatment since he was leading civil rights protests in South Carolina in the 1960s.
"It was absolutely shocking to me," Clyburn said, in response to a question from the Huffington Post. "Last Monday, this past Monday, I stayed home to meet on the campus of Claflin University where fifty years ago as of last Monday... I led the first demonstrations in South Carolina, the sit-ins... And quite frankly I heard some things today I have not heard since that day. I heard people saying things that I have not heard since March 15, 1960 when I was marching to try and get off the back of the bus."
"It doesn't make me nervous as all," the congressman said, when asked how the mob-like atmosphere made him feel. "In fact, as I said to one heckler, I am the hardest person in the world to intimidate, so they better go somewhere else."
Asked if he wanted an apology from the group of Republican lawmakers who had addressed the crowd and, in many ways, played on their worst fears of health care legislation, the Democratic Party, and the president, Clyburn replied:
"A lot of us have been saying for a long time that much of this, much of this is not about health care a all. And I think a lot of those people today demonstrated that this is not about health care... it is about trying to extend a basic fundamental right to people who are less powerful."Stein also has photos of "protest" signs at the link above. These people stand for nothing. They are simply against that which is different. Bigotry, pure and simple. And any Republican official who addressed this mod is just as morally culpable as those in the mob itself. And if you support those officials, so are you.
20 March 2010
21 March 2010 Addition: The madness continues.
USA Upward Mobility: Myth?
From Dan Froomkin at The Huffington Post:
20 March 2010
The entire article can be found through the first link above.Is America the "land of opportunity"? Not so much.
A new report from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) finds that social mobility between generations is dramatically lower in the U.S. than in many other developed countries.
So if you want your children to climb the socioeconomic ladder higher than you did, move to Canada.
The report finds the U.S. ranking well below Denmark, Australia, Norway, Finland, Canada, Sweden, Germany and Spain in terms of how freely citizens move up or down the social ladder. Only in Italy and Great Britain is the intensity of the relationship between individual and parental earnings even greater.
...
Recent economic events may be increasing social mobility in the U.S. -- but only of the downward variety. Harvard Professor Elizabeth Warren, for example, argues that America's middle class had been eroding for 30 years even before the massive blows caused by the financial crisis. And with unemployment currently at astronomical levels, if there are no jobs for young people leaving school, the result could be long-term underemployment and, effectively, a lost generation.
According to the OECD report, the main cause of social immobility is educational opportunity. It turns out that America's public school system, rather than lifting children up, is instead holding them down.
20 March 2010
Discovery Channel: Life
From the makers of the multi-part documentary Planet Earth comes Life on the Discovery Channel. The series begins tomorrow night, March 21st, and will run on Sundays thereafter. Note that multiple episodes are set to appear each Sunday. I'm setting my DVR can can't wait to watch it in high definition!
20 March 2010
20 March 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Why We Need Health Care Reform
This Reuters story by Murray Waas titled Insurer Targeted HIV Patients to Drop Coverage tells you all you need to know -- really -- about why we need health care reform in the US. It is simply a morally irrefutable fact.
17 March 2010
17 March 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Avatar & District 9
Yesterday, I saw Avatar 3D for the second time. Week before last, I watched District 9 on DVD. I had been pondering a blog post on Avatar since I first saw the film back in January. After seeing this second film and Avatar for a second time, it is time.
Technology
Avatar is a triumph of technical innovation and it is for this alone that I would recommend that everyone see the film on the large screen and in 3D. It is a once-in-a-generation change to the way that movies are created. The techniques and technology that James Cameron and his cohorts have created will filter down to film-making across the board. Cameron has given us a 3D experience like none other and perhaps the prettiest film that I've ever seen. Avatar is, among other things, an action movie. The temptation with an action film is to over-use 3D, to make the entire movie pop out at the audience. Indeed, I think that most films of whatever nature that use 3D go this route more often than not. However, Cameron's genius with Avatar was to use 3D -- even his amazing new wiz-bang 3D -- relatively sparingly. Many shots contain the technology not at all, or in such economy that I could not tell that it was being used. In the rest, more often than not only a bit of the scenery -- and likely as not it wouldn't even be the focus of the scene itself -- would be 3D... just enough to given the added illusion that the viewer was a part a real world. My wife, who saw the film with me yesterday, said that after a while, she simply forgot that the movie was 3D. I would imagine that Cameron would consider this a great compliment. Indeed, the core purpose of this technology, this film-making technique, will not be to have monsters come flying out at the audience -- although that will be fun, too. Rather, it will be to have a scene set in a library and have the rows of books spread around the viewer, bringing him or her within that simple, quiet room. With the surround sound technology that already exists, if Hollywood can simply provide the smell of the books, the transformation will very nearly be complete. The next step up might actually be a Star Trek holodeck. If Cameron could live long enough, he might be the one to get us there.
Cameron has a history of utilizing the latest and greatest technology in his movies. He utilized the first real fluidic CGI movie shots in his wonderful 1989 film The Abyss. (This was not, however, the first use of CGI.)
District 9 was filmed on a much, much, much, much tighter budget. That said, the money spent on its special effects was well-spent. It is a grittier film than Avatar and the dirt and grime that its world displays are evident to the viewer and serve a purpose to the story-telling. Really nothing more needs to be said, I think, about the effects for this film. They are what they are and that is enough.
The Stories
Much has been written about Avatar and its relatively blunt-nosed story-telling. That it has a "green" theme to it is a given. Many also consider it anti-corporate and with that, I wouldn't strongly argue. (Although the idea that a Hollywood movie made by James Cameron could really be anti-corporate is like saying that a news network owned by a major corporation could really be liberal in nature. Ultimately, you don't bite the hand that feeds you.) The Catholic Church has even gone so far as to condemn the movie, saying that it promotes the pagan worship of nature. That is complete poppycock and I'm not just saying that because the Catholic Church wouldn't know an actually moral stance if it reach up and goosed the Pope on his snow-white backside.
The reason that I am blogging about these movies together is that at their core I think they are about what it is that makes us human, about what is it that we share as "collective humanity." Is it only our physical nature, our DNA and features and tissue? I would say no, although surely this is a part of the picture. Is it our souls as those "of faith" would argue? If we have souls, then I would say again, it is a part of the picture, but only a part. What makes us human, what gives us our collective sense of humanity, is our ability to empathize beyond ourselves. We can reach out to another human -- and even to beings other than human, both real and imagined -- and put ourselves in their place, to feel what they feel, to see through their eyes. Thus we say: Walk a mile in my shoes. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Treat your brother as you want to be treated. And so on. I am able to rationally believe that I am not the center of the universe, that another has value, even that another has rights equal to my own.
Science fiction has long been among the best, most powerful tools to tell such stories. Indeed, it is often a way to convey the moral message of acceptance to audiences who would or could hear no other. Star Trek -- the original series -- did this in America for example, dealing with topics ranging from the Vietnam War to racial bigotry to McCarthyism to nuclear armageddon. Themes and direct imagery that never would have made it past the censors -- much less the goodwill of the corporate sponsors -- were shown to a public that knew what it was seeing. At least in part.
The mother ship in District 9 comes to rest over Johannesburg rather than the more-often-used New York or Washington DC or Moscow. This is not a mistake, nor is it due to the backgrounds of the movie-makers or to budget constraints. Rather, setting this film on a continent that itself has been plundered by the more powerful, among people who have been abused by those more powerful, sends a message with every frame. Humans -- even those otherwise downtrodden themselves -- treat the aliens not only as being lesser, but as being nothing. It is not the concentration camp into which they have been placed that is most telling. It is the very dehumanizing name that the aliens are given, Prawn. A prawn is other. A prawn is lesser. A prawn can be used and abused and even killed... without it reflecting on us, without it lessening us. Yet it very much does reflect on us. It does lessen us. An attack on a prawn is an attack on a human. The biology may be different, but the humanity is the same.
And so it is with the Na'vi on Pandora in Avatar. What is more, however, is that it is not only the Na'vi who are mistreated, tortured, and murdered by humans. It is also Aywa who is harmed -- and disregarded -- by the humans. Seen as a deity by the Na'vi, Aywa is not truly that. Nor is Aywa humanoid. Still, Aywa does -- I would argue -- possess humanity and should thus be treated as such. This mass of biology may be something that the humans on Pandora -- much less we humans here on the earth of 2010 -- can not hope to understand. Still, Aywa is conscious. Aywa is aware. Aywa is sentient. And just as harming the Na'vi diminishes us, so too does harming Aywa.
That a planet-wide mass of biological matter can be "human" represents the wonder of science fiction. Avatar is slick and smooth and clean. District 9 is raw and messy and bloody. Both of these films, however, have much to say. And not all of it as blunt-nosed as critics might think.
14 March 2010
27 March 2010 Addition: I added the "Pope" link above to a NYT article to make my point.
Technology
Avatar is a triumph of technical innovation and it is for this alone that I would recommend that everyone see the film on the large screen and in 3D. It is a once-in-a-generation change to the way that movies are created. The techniques and technology that James Cameron and his cohorts have created will filter down to film-making across the board. Cameron has given us a 3D experience like none other and perhaps the prettiest film that I've ever seen. Avatar is, among other things, an action movie. The temptation with an action film is to over-use 3D, to make the entire movie pop out at the audience. Indeed, I think that most films of whatever nature that use 3D go this route more often than not. However, Cameron's genius with Avatar was to use 3D -- even his amazing new wiz-bang 3D -- relatively sparingly. Many shots contain the technology not at all, or in such economy that I could not tell that it was being used. In the rest, more often than not only a bit of the scenery -- and likely as not it wouldn't even be the focus of the scene itself -- would be 3D... just enough to given the added illusion that the viewer was a part a real world. My wife, who saw the film with me yesterday, said that after a while, she simply forgot that the movie was 3D. I would imagine that Cameron would consider this a great compliment. Indeed, the core purpose of this technology, this film-making technique, will not be to have monsters come flying out at the audience -- although that will be fun, too. Rather, it will be to have a scene set in a library and have the rows of books spread around the viewer, bringing him or her within that simple, quiet room. With the surround sound technology that already exists, if Hollywood can simply provide the smell of the books, the transformation will very nearly be complete. The next step up might actually be a Star Trek holodeck. If Cameron could live long enough, he might be the one to get us there.
Cameron has a history of utilizing the latest and greatest technology in his movies. He utilized the first real fluidic CGI movie shots in his wonderful 1989 film The Abyss. (This was not, however, the first use of CGI.)
District 9 was filmed on a much, much, much, much tighter budget. That said, the money spent on its special effects was well-spent. It is a grittier film than Avatar and the dirt and grime that its world displays are evident to the viewer and serve a purpose to the story-telling. Really nothing more needs to be said, I think, about the effects for this film. They are what they are and that is enough.
The Stories
Much has been written about Avatar and its relatively blunt-nosed story-telling. That it has a "green" theme to it is a given. Many also consider it anti-corporate and with that, I wouldn't strongly argue. (Although the idea that a Hollywood movie made by James Cameron could really be anti-corporate is like saying that a news network owned by a major corporation could really be liberal in nature. Ultimately, you don't bite the hand that feeds you.) The Catholic Church has even gone so far as to condemn the movie, saying that it promotes the pagan worship of nature. That is complete poppycock and I'm not just saying that because the Catholic Church wouldn't know an actually moral stance if it reach up and goosed the Pope on his snow-white backside.
The reason that I am blogging about these movies together is that at their core I think they are about what it is that makes us human, about what is it that we share as "collective humanity." Is it only our physical nature, our DNA and features and tissue? I would say no, although surely this is a part of the picture. Is it our souls as those "of faith" would argue? If we have souls, then I would say again, it is a part of the picture, but only a part. What makes us human, what gives us our collective sense of humanity, is our ability to empathize beyond ourselves. We can reach out to another human -- and even to beings other than human, both real and imagined -- and put ourselves in their place, to feel what they feel, to see through their eyes. Thus we say: Walk a mile in my shoes. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Treat your brother as you want to be treated. And so on. I am able to rationally believe that I am not the center of the universe, that another has value, even that another has rights equal to my own.
Science fiction has long been among the best, most powerful tools to tell such stories. Indeed, it is often a way to convey the moral message of acceptance to audiences who would or could hear no other. Star Trek -- the original series -- did this in America for example, dealing with topics ranging from the Vietnam War to racial bigotry to McCarthyism to nuclear armageddon. Themes and direct imagery that never would have made it past the censors -- much less the goodwill of the corporate sponsors -- were shown to a public that knew what it was seeing. At least in part.
The mother ship in District 9 comes to rest over Johannesburg rather than the more-often-used New York or Washington DC or Moscow. This is not a mistake, nor is it due to the backgrounds of the movie-makers or to budget constraints. Rather, setting this film on a continent that itself has been plundered by the more powerful, among people who have been abused by those more powerful, sends a message with every frame. Humans -- even those otherwise downtrodden themselves -- treat the aliens not only as being lesser, but as being nothing. It is not the concentration camp into which they have been placed that is most telling. It is the very dehumanizing name that the aliens are given, Prawn. A prawn is other. A prawn is lesser. A prawn can be used and abused and even killed... without it reflecting on us, without it lessening us. Yet it very much does reflect on us. It does lessen us. An attack on a prawn is an attack on a human. The biology may be different, but the humanity is the same.
And so it is with the Na'vi on Pandora in Avatar. What is more, however, is that it is not only the Na'vi who are mistreated, tortured, and murdered by humans. It is also Aywa who is harmed -- and disregarded -- by the humans. Seen as a deity by the Na'vi, Aywa is not truly that. Nor is Aywa humanoid. Still, Aywa does -- I would argue -- possess humanity and should thus be treated as such. This mass of biology may be something that the humans on Pandora -- much less we humans here on the earth of 2010 -- can not hope to understand. Still, Aywa is conscious. Aywa is aware. Aywa is sentient. And just as harming the Na'vi diminishes us, so too does harming Aywa.
That a planet-wide mass of biological matter can be "human" represents the wonder of science fiction. Avatar is slick and smooth and clean. District 9 is raw and messy and bloody. Both of these films, however, have much to say. And not all of it as blunt-nosed as critics might think.
14 March 2010
27 March 2010 Addition: I added the "Pope" link above to a NYT article to make my point.
Rove-Cheney: The New Assault on Reality
Frank Rich has a great new op-ed detailing the current full court press to rewrite history in an attempt to absolve President George W. Bush -- and themselves -- of their failures in foreign affairs... not to mention their war crimes. This campaign is being waged for reasons both historical and political. Both are a danger to the United States and its people.
14 March 2010
14 March 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Of Celebrities & Alternate Lives
I found a site that features 7 Celebrites Who Had Badass Careers You Didn't Know About. There is some interesting -- and often funny -- stuff there. Some of it I knew, but most was new to me.
12 March 2010
12 March 2010
Daylight Savings Time: Cat Style
This comic is the creation of Ed Allison. The comic can be found at the ComicsDotCom website.
12 March 2010
HBO: The Pacific
I wanted to give everyone a heads-up regarding a miniseries that is beginning on HBO this Sunday, March 14th, titled The Pacific. Created by those who previously did the truly-outstanding Band of Brothers, this series charts WWII in the Pacific campaign.
Set in the European theater of WWII, BoB was gritty, real, well-acted, and a triumph. One-hundred-million dollars was spent to make it so. This time, $250 million are on the line to ensure that The Pacific measures up, a staggering sum for a TV production. That production has much to do with Tom Hanks, who was recently interviewed in Time Magazine regarding his history-based works and his love for this genre.
If you have HBO, my suggestion is make the series a priority. If you lack access to HBO, I have no doubt that the series will appear on DVD in the following months. Get your Netflix queue fired up!
12 March 2010
Set in the European theater of WWII, BoB was gritty, real, well-acted, and a triumph. One-hundred-million dollars was spent to make it so. This time, $250 million are on the line to ensure that The Pacific measures up, a staggering sum for a TV production. That production has much to do with Tom Hanks, who was recently interviewed in Time Magazine regarding his history-based works and his love for this genre.
If you have HBO, my suggestion is make the series a priority. If you lack access to HBO, I have no doubt that the series will appear on DVD in the following months. Get your Netflix queue fired up!
12 March 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Of Glenn Beck & Radicchio
Just when you thought Glenn Beck couldn't become a bigger parasite. Just when you thought those who watch his program for the "news" couldn't get any more stupid. Just when you thought Mole Men were as fictional as the Chupacabra. I give you this from Stephen Colbert.
It would be even funnier if some a$$hole wasn't out there falling for it. Daily.
11 March 2010
19 March 2010 Addition: This time, Jon Stewart spent half a show on Beck, to priceless result.
It would be even funnier if some a$$hole wasn't out there falling for it. Daily.
11 March 2010
19 March 2010 Addition: This time, Jon Stewart spent half a show on Beck, to priceless result.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Deadly Baby Slings
The federal government is on the verge of putting out a safety warning on sling-type baby carriers. Apparently babies have been hurt via their use and even killed, it seems via suffocation. The entire story can be found at The Huffington Post, quoted here in part.
9 March 2010
12 March 2010 Addition: MSNBC ran an AP story on this topic today.
24 March 2010 Addition: A recall has taken place.
The government is preparing a safety warning about baby slings – those popular and fashionable infant carriers that parents strap around their chests to give the little ones a cuddle on the move.
The concern: Infants can suffocate, and at least a few have.
The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Inez Tenenbaum, said Tuesday that her agency is getting ready to issue a general warning to the public, likely to go out this week, about the slings.
"We know of too many deaths in these slings and we now know the hazard scenarios for very small babies," said Tenenbaum. "So, the time has come to alert parents and caregivers."
9 March 2010
12 March 2010 Addition: MSNBC ran an AP story on this topic today.
24 March 2010 Addition: A recall has taken place.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals: Obesogens
I read this on the MSNBC website and found it interesting, quoting the story in part.
8 March 2010
Read the entire story at the above link.But if you've ever followed a diet program and achieved less than your desired result, you probably came away feeling frustrated, depressed, and maybe a bit guilty. What did I do wrong?Instead of X, it's XXL.
Why?
Because there's probably more at work here than just calories in/calories out. More and more research is indicating that America's obesity crisis can't be blamed entirely on too much fast food and too little exercise. (Or on these seven habits of highly obese people.) A third factor may be in play: a class of natural and synthetic chemicals known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), or as researchers have begun to call them, obesogens. The new weight-gain threatObesogens are chemicals that disrupt the function of hormonal systems; many researchers believe they lead to weight gain and, in turn, numerous diseases that curse the American populace. They enter our bodies from a variety of sources — natural hormones found in soy products, hormones administered to animals, plastics in some food and drink packaging, ingredients added to processed foods, and pesticides sprayed on produce. They act in a variety of ways: by mimicking human hormones such as estrogen, by misprogramming stem cells to become fat cells and, researchers think, by altering the function of genes.
8 March 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Failure of Financial Regulation
It looks like financial reform may end up being as toothless as that in the offing for medical care. Arianna Huffington has the low-down. America should be rising up for this type of reform, but as usual, people are easily distracted by shiny objects and flashing lights. And the media really isn't any sharper.
5 March 2010
5 March 2010
Taxes, Tea Parties, and Murder
Frank Rich had an interesting op-ed in last week's NY Times on the great possibility of violence -- and perhaps mass violence -- growing out of the so-called Tea Party Movement.
5 March 2010
5 March 2010
Reconciled to Hypocracy?
Josh Marshall of TPM had the following to say, linking a great, short explanation of the current battle over health care reform.
5 March 2010
Let's stop dancing around it. On "reconciliation" the Republicans are being such a gang of hypocritical liars it's shocking even for them. It really is. The Health Care Bill isn't being passed through reconciliation; it's being used to pass a few amendments to the bill that's already passed. The Republicans have used it numerous times and themselves and for bill's that were far bigger in budgetary terms than this bill. The whole thing is just an immense crock. And it's borderline scandalous that any of their nonsense is even being taken serious. E.J. Dionne has a great column explaining the whole thing. Do read it.
5 March 2010
Funny Stuff
The most ridiculous caution signs. Wonderful!
Creepy classified ads. Renew your faith in humanity.
Presidential trivia. OK!
Duck replaces doctor. What a quack! (Touching story. I provided the quack joke.)
Following a different path, Jon Stewart again discredits Fox "News." Yes, he does this quite often, but this one is funnier than most... and that is saying something.
As you probably know, we from Massachusetts have elected ourselves a new Senator, a Republican who once posed nude for Cosmo Magazine. Now, even funnier is what his wife was doing back in the 1980s! If you haven't found yourself staring at her hands in news footage before, you certainly will now!
And finally, while not really funny, sidewalk art that is really amazing. Enjoy.
5 March 2010
Addition: I'll point you back to this post from December for more humor, should you have missed it.
Addition 2: Today came Staticky Cat vs. Balloon: A Showdown. You can watch it without sound, but it is funnier with the music. No cats were harmed in the making of this film, but one was really, really cheesed off.
11 March 2010 Addition: A friend forwarded the following YouTube Clips to me, which are related. Someone has produced a intro for "Han Solo, P.I." in the spirit of "Magnum, P.I." The two intros can be seen here side-by-side. The new Han Solo intro can be seen here alone in a larger format.
Also on the funny front, I've learned that Betty White will be hosting SNL on May 8th. For Betty White, I'll watch SNL. Hmmm, I wonder if Abe Vigoda will do a cameo?
.
Creepy classified ads. Renew your faith in humanity.
Presidential trivia. OK!
Duck replaces doctor. What a quack! (Touching story. I provided the quack joke.)
Following a different path, Jon Stewart again discredits Fox "News." Yes, he does this quite often, but this one is funnier than most... and that is saying something.
As you probably know, we from Massachusetts have elected ourselves a new Senator, a Republican who once posed nude for Cosmo Magazine. Now, even funnier is what his wife was doing back in the 1980s! If you haven't found yourself staring at her hands in news footage before, you certainly will now!
And finally, while not really funny, sidewalk art that is really amazing. Enjoy.
5 March 2010
Addition: I'll point you back to this post from December for more humor, should you have missed it.
Addition 2: Today came Staticky Cat vs. Balloon: A Showdown. You can watch it without sound, but it is funnier with the music. No cats were harmed in the making of this film, but one was really, really cheesed off.
11 March 2010 Addition: A friend forwarded the following YouTube Clips to me, which are related. Someone has produced a intro for "Han Solo, P.I." in the spirit of "Magnum, P.I." The two intros can be seen here side-by-side. The new Han Solo intro can be seen here alone in a larger format.
Also on the funny front, I've learned that Betty White will be hosting SNL on May 8th. For Betty White, I'll watch SNL. Hmmm, I wonder if Abe Vigoda will do a cameo?
.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Stop Monsanto GMO Contamination
From Credo:
Subject: Stop Monsanto's GMO contamination
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is on the verge of granting Monsanto permission to market its genetically modified alfalfa, despite findings that show almost certain danger of the spread of modified genetic material to conventional and organic alfalfa crops.
The approval would present a huge threat to organic farmers and the integrity of the organic label. We need to act now to stop the USDA from making a colossal mistake.
The USDA is accepting public comments in the approval process, but only until February 16. Will you submit your comment urging the USDA to consider the impacts on organic farmers in its review of Monsanto's genetically modified crops? Just click here:
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/monsanto_alfalfa/?r_by=7943-985559-sgIS.Hx&rc=paste1
28 February 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Francis & Video Games: He's Not Gonna Take It Anymore
This video may only appeal to a certain audience. I can appreciate that. I, however, most certainly am that audience. My friends may rib me that I'm two Twinkies and a bottle of Yoo-Hoo from being this guy after a night of binge gaming. (I know that Twinkies are not gluten-free, so I have that going for me. No idea about Yoo-Hoo.) We have killed the Blood Prince Council, so there is that, too. Francis is just going to have to play through his pain.
LOL
19 February 2010
LOL
19 February 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Child Car Booster Seats
I've been watching the television show MotorWeek for most of my life. It is produced by Maryland Public Television and can be found on your local PBS station and now also on Speed TV. This week's program featured news on the latest testing of child booster seats for cars performed by IIHS. The site first explains how to properly use these seats and gives their recommendations based on their findings. Since I have so many friends and family members with small children, I wanted to note this. One thing that was mentioned is that if you now have a seat that the IIHS has found not to be safe, they say that under no circumstances should you stop using it in favor of using no booster seat at all. Any booster seat properly used is better than a child in no booster seat. Rather, use your current seat until you can replace it with one that is recommended.
Be safe out there!
13 February 2010
Be safe out there!
13 February 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Grasping Defeat from the Jaws of Victory
Once again, it would appear that Democrats -- here specifically President Obama -- have once again grasped defeat from the jaws of victory. The topic of this "Keystone Caper" is recess appointments. Ezra Klein has the scoop.
/sigh
12 February 2010
/sigh
12 February 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Of Storms & Fox "News"
Noticing that it had snowed twice in a week in Washington DC, Fox "News" took it upon itself to use this fact as evidence (1) that global warming is fiction; and (2) that Al Gore should be mocked for his views on the subject. Humanity cries that people watch this sort of crap and believe it. Anywho, as usual, satire did the best job of puncturing the balloon of crap that is Fox "News." Stephen Colbert was on fire. Watch and laugh.
11 February 2010
11 February 2010
Why Men Die Younger
I found this post at The Huffington Post on why men generally die younger than women to be of interest. It was once thought to be purely biological. Now, it is thought that the habits of men play a much greater roll and that as women take on these habits in greater number in western societies -- drinking, smoking, working longer hours -- the "death-gap" will narrow. Indeed, this is already being seen in the United States.
11 February 2010
11 February 2010
Dinosaur Color Pattern Learned
Scientists have discovered the color pattern of at least one type of dinosaur, letting us know for the first time what the animal truly looked like. The story can be found at National Geographic on-line.
Amazing!
11 February 2010
Amazing!
11 February 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
"Oh. My. God."
Paul Krugman details today his bewilderment as to why President Obama just doesn't get it regarding economic reform. He is a flipper and a flopper to do any other politician proud.
Sad.
10 February 2010
Sad.
10 February 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Denny's Grand Slam
Denny's is giving away free Grand Slam meals on Tuesday, February 9th, between the hours of 6 AM and 2 PM. Anyone is welcome.
8 February 2010
8 February 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
State of the Union Drinking Game
President Obama's first State of the Union speech is this evening and The Huffington Post has a drinking game devised to go along with it. Be warned! LOL
27 January 2010
27 January 2010
"Cute Beekeepers"
As a beekeeper, I can totally get behind this movement to objectify us on physical grounds! LOL
27 January 2010
27 January 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Vote Coakley Tuesday!
This coming Tuesday, January 19th, is election day in Massachusetts for the senate seat once held by Ted Kennedy. I implore you to vote for Martha Coakley. This race is ridiculously important to the nation. Indeed, in thinking about it for the past few days, I cannot think of another special election during my lifetime that has been more important. Which is odd, given the fact that it has flown under the radar even in Massachusetts until the past week or so. This race is neck-and-neck. Your vote WILL matter. If you don't vote, it WILL matter.
I will be honest with you. I am not enamored with Coakley. Having said that, she is by far -- by far! -- the lesser of two evils. Her Republican opponent, Scott Brown, would be a disaster, both for Massachusetts and for the country as a whole. Should Brown be elected, not only will any form of health care reform be dead in the water, but many other battles may be lost. The Democratic majority slipping to 59 really is that important. For example:
Several specific things to note about Scott Brown include:
Please vote on Tuesday and vote Martha Coakley.
Thank you.
17 January 2010
I will be honest with you. I am not enamored with Coakley. Having said that, she is by far -- by far! -- the lesser of two evils. Her Republican opponent, Scott Brown, would be a disaster, both for Massachusetts and for the country as a whole. Should Brown be elected, not only will any form of health care reform be dead in the water, but many other battles may be lost. The Democratic majority slipping to 59 really is that important. For example:
- Many federal judges will either not be approved or the president will have to make appointments other than those he would have but for Brown being in office. The federal bench has moved very far to the right since Bush II took office, a fact that has changed very little thus far in Obama's first year in office.
- Many US attorneys will either not be approved or the president will have to make appointments other than those he would have but for Brown being in office. This will have a major impact on several fronts, especially privacy and civil rights.
- Bills protecting the rights of American gays and lesbians are making their way through Congress and have a real chance of passing as things now stand. They would be dead in the water with a Brown victory.
- Even the relatively pitiful banking reforms and consumer protections that have thus far been proposed would be further watered down or shelved altogether with a Brown victory. Corporations will be further rewarded and the individual American citizen will be further screwed over.
Several specific things to note about Scott Brown include:
- In a race that many have called a referendum on health care reform, the man who is championing the Conservative cause doesn't even offer health insurance for his campaign staff. Every single member of Brown's staff, no matter how high or low, is an independent contractor, so that Brown doesn't have to provide the benefits that he would have to under the law if they were actual employees.
- Brown has been a part of the so-called Tea Party movement, speaking at their events and championing their causes. Also, official Tea Party events have been held in Brown's honor.
- Brown has been on the fringe of the so-called birther movement. He has stated that he didn't believe that President Obama's parents were married and that Obama was thus an illegitimate child.
- He posed nude for a Cosmopolitan magazine pictorial in June of 1982. This really isn't bad, but how often do you get to write that in a political blog?
Please vote on Tuesday and vote Martha Coakley.
Thank you.
17 January 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Haitian Earthquake Relief Scams
I blogged yesterday regarding the Haitian earthquake and requested that you consider giving to a relief organization. Now, I want to remind you to be vigilant in the face of those seeking to enrich themselves in the face of human misery. There are a great many e-mails and websites already in motion that indicate they are for Haitian earthquake aid, but are not. Some of these are made to mimic actual relief organizations. Do not be fooled. Verify that the method you are using to donate is secure and that you are donating to a legitimate relief organization. Doctors Without Borders suggests that you use only the secure website form or the toll-free number of any organization to give at this time. Moreover, unless you trust a linking entity, don't follow links to charity sites. Find them yourself.
Thanks.
14 January 2010
Thanks.
14 January 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Move Your Money: Bank Locally!
Since we have started the new year, I wanted to again call your attention to a rapidly-growing movement across the country. Namely, having those with bank accounts at national banks move their assets to local institutions. You can read about the movement, how it will positively affect the country, and how it can help you as well in my previous post here.
13 January 2010
13 January 2010
Earthquake: Haiti
I spent part of the summer of 1985 in Haiti building schools in many smaller villages around the island nation. Today, I'm wondering if those schools are still standing. A massive 7.0 earthquake has struck Haiti and as many as 100,000 are feared dead. I remember my time in Haiti fondly and found its people to be friendly and full of joy... in the face of crushing poverty and dictatorship.
Pat Robertson, dead soul and all-around moron, says that the Haitians brought this on themselves via a "pact with the devil." (Does anyone actually listen to this nitwit?) Haitian governments have long failed their people and the people themselves have made some questionable decisions, especially regarding their environment. However, those decisions by the people stem much more from reacting to the day-to-day quest for their very survival than from stupidity or malice. On a good day, Robertson should be stuffed in a toilet. Today, that toilet should be flushed for good.
How can you help? I can tell you that Haiti itself will need help. They will be overwhelmed. Check out this page of organizations at The Huffington Post. Doctors Without Borders would be an organization that I'd recommend for their right-now impact. If you can recommend a good organization for current or longer-term recovery efforts, please let us know.
God bless Haiti and those helping the nation now.
13 January 2010
Pat Robertson, dead soul and all-around moron, says that the Haitians brought this on themselves via a "pact with the devil." (Does anyone actually listen to this nitwit?) Haitian governments have long failed their people and the people themselves have made some questionable decisions, especially regarding their environment. However, those decisions by the people stem much more from reacting to the day-to-day quest for their very survival than from stupidity or malice. On a good day, Robertson should be stuffed in a toilet. Today, that toilet should be flushed for good.
How can you help? I can tell you that Haiti itself will need help. They will be overwhelmed. Check out this page of organizations at The Huffington Post. Doctors Without Borders would be an organization that I'd recommend for their right-now impact. If you can recommend a good organization for current or longer-term recovery efforts, please let us know.
God bless Haiti and those helping the nation now.
13 January 2010
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