Following my earlier post on the article by conservative David Brooks, I wanted to post links to two follow-up pieces to the topic. The first is a TPM post by David Kurtz and the second is a response to that post.
I am not holding out a lot of hope.
12 July 2011
Addition: Well, this has been a fast-moving day.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Love Is A Battlefield: Literal Video Version
Not as good as Total Eclipse of the Heart, but it is worth it anyway for the scene starting at 3:00. Enjoy.
8 July 2011
8 July 2011
Atlantis Launch: Look What We Can Do
This morning, I watched the final launch of a space shuttle. We have a remarkable, resourceful IT department at the company for which I work. They managed to get the NASA feed onto a conference room television. It was great fun watching the launch pad prepare for lift off...the shuttle actually lift off... the two smaller tanks separate... the shuttle rotate with the earth in the background... and finally the main tank separate and seeing the shuttle rise up in the background. God's speed!
During an episode of one of my favorite television programs, Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night, one of the characters goes to see the Lion King on Broadway. Thereafter she exclaims, "I didn't know we could do that!" Having felt that wonder at seeing that musical myself, I understood the full force of her statement. It has resonated with me ever since and I often find myself saying "look what we can do" at times when my amazement at human creativity and ingenuity overwhelms my misanthropic self. How could one not feel this way when listening to Mozart, when gazing at van Gogh's Starry Night, when standing on China's Great Wall, and on and on.
Watching Atlantis this morning I said, Look what we can do!"
Many often complain about the cost of the space program. I never have. Listening to NPR yesterday, a scientist said that no significant earthly problem could conceivably be solved by spending this money elsewhere. Regardless of the veracity of this statement, I understand his greater point. Moreover, a great many scientific discoveries have emerged from our space program, including the very small size of the computer on which I am typing this post. That it sits near my feet rather than filling ten rooms behind me is a direct result of the Apollo program. And we need this sense of wonder, this discovery as a species. It makes us better, richer in spirit, broader in intellect.
China and India are ramping up for a huge expansion in their space programs, including manned flights. Perhaps one day they will go to the moon. I say more power to them. The cause of humanity will be advanced thereby. Chinese, Indian, or American, I will say, "Look what we can do."
8 July 2011
During an episode of one of my favorite television programs, Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night, one of the characters goes to see the Lion King on Broadway. Thereafter she exclaims, "I didn't know we could do that!" Having felt that wonder at seeing that musical myself, I understood the full force of her statement. It has resonated with me ever since and I often find myself saying "look what we can do" at times when my amazement at human creativity and ingenuity overwhelms my misanthropic self. How could one not feel this way when listening to Mozart, when gazing at van Gogh's Starry Night, when standing on China's Great Wall, and on and on.
Watching Atlantis this morning I said, Look what we can do!"
Many often complain about the cost of the space program. I never have. Listening to NPR yesterday, a scientist said that no significant earthly problem could conceivably be solved by spending this money elsewhere. Regardless of the veracity of this statement, I understand his greater point. Moreover, a great many scientific discoveries have emerged from our space program, including the very small size of the computer on which I am typing this post. That it sits near my feet rather than filling ten rooms behind me is a direct result of the Apollo program. And we need this sense of wonder, this discovery as a species. It makes us better, richer in spirit, broader in intellect.
China and India are ramping up for a huge expansion in their space programs, including manned flights. Perhaps one day they will go to the moon. I say more power to them. The cause of humanity will be advanced thereby. Chinese, Indian, or American, I will say, "Look what we can do."
8 July 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Total Eclipse of the Heart: Literal Video Version
If the 80s was the decade of your youth, you'll find this very funny. Thanks to my sister.
7 July 2011
7 July 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
David Brooks: Republicans and Normalcy
Conservative David Brooks has written an op-ed questioning whether the Republican party of today is a "normal" -- read logical -- political party. The topics are the debt limit and taxes, and the Republican response to the negotiations over both. Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, it is worth a read.
Dangerous times are these.
6 July 2011
Dangerous times are these.
6 July 2011
Beach Walker Creations
From the BBC comes a wonderful story about an inventor who creates artificial "life forms" that move about the beaches of the Netherlands powered by the wind. Really cool. Thanks to my mother for this link.
5 July 2011
5 July 2011
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