Thursday, November 11, 2004
They shall not pass
Amazing site devoted entirely to World War One. Filled ot the brim with fascinating information--be sure and check out the vintage film and photography.
People I share my birthday with:
Leonardo DiCaprio
Calista Flockhart
Demi Moore
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (oh yeah)
Alger Hiss
Pat O'Brien
George Patton
On that note:
Where is my birthday in pi?
This day in history
And finally, just what exactly is Armistice Day?
Calista Flockhart
Demi Moore
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (oh yeah)
Alger Hiss
Pat O'Brien
George Patton
On that note:
Where is my birthday in pi?
This day in history
And finally, just what exactly is Armistice Day?
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
save Bambi
What do you do if you're a tree-hugging, PETA-loving, NRA-hating neo-hippy pacifist, yet feel the urge to hang a deer head on your wall or even cover your living room floor with a big black bear-skin rug? Fear not, my tie-dyed friends, for now there are Humane Trophies.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Darwin v. Moses
A trial opened Monday over whether a warning sticker in suburban Atlanta biology textbooks that says evolution is "a theory, not a fact'' violates the separation of church and state by promoting religion.
The case is one of several battles that have been waged in recent years in the Bible Belt over what role evolution should play in science books.
Excuse me, but most of modern science is theory. Since when has anybody taught evolution as definitive proven fact? It is simply the theory with the most plausible explanation at this moment. I just don't know how to react to this.
vogue
Well, it's been some time since my last site redesign, right? I get bored with the same old around here, so sue me. This design is less image-heavy so it should load even faster. Lemme know if you don't like. I've also added a miniblog at lower right focused on internet copyright issues--if you're at all interested in how our freedom of access is being destroyed by overzealous copyright protectors, read on. I'll get an RSS feed down there soon. Cheers.
Saturday, November 06, 2004
Break-up lines of philosphers
Via some random Cornell student. (No, I've never heard of most of these schools of thought either.)
The Teleologist: We aren’t meant for each other.
The Deontologist: We aren’t right for each other.
The Consequentialist: We aren’t optimal for each other.
The Solipsist: It’s not you, it’s me.
The Empiricist: I think we should see other people.
The Rationalist: I’m not a priority to you any more.
The Rationalist, v 2.0: I’ve been doing some thinking…
The Rationalist, v. 3.0: If you can’t see your faults, there’s nothing more I can say.
The Content Externalist: Ever since we moved, you’ve changed.
The Continentalist: You’ve lost that love and feeling.
The Egalitarian: This is the best thing for both of us.
The Paternalist: In time you’ll come to see that this is the best thing.
The Humean: Just because we’re always together doesn’t mean we BELONG together.
The Humean, v. 2.0: Relationships need to be about more than just constant conjoining.
The Reliabilist: This just isn’t working anymore.
The Nagelian: You just don’t know what it’s like to be me.
The Functionalist: I don’t care about accommodating your feelings.
The Quinean: I’m sorry, but you don’t mean anything to me anymore.
The Foundationalist: We have nothing left to build upon.
The Foundationalist, v2.0: I need to be able to branch out more.
The Relativist: It’s no one’s fault.
The Atheist: These things just happen.
The Kantian: You lied to me!
The Consequentialist, v 2.0: You should have lied to my mother about her pot roast!
The anti-Fictionalist: I’m sick of faking it.
The Cartesian: I don’t clearly and distinctly perceive a future together.
The Hegelian: Do we have to go through this again?
The Lockean: Our primary qualities simply aren’t compatible.
The Lockean, v. 2.0: Compared to my last partner, I’m not getting nearly enough, nor as good.
The Quasi-Realist: Of course we’re going to be together forever…
The Motivational Externalist: Even though I believed it at the time, I know now that I never really loved you.
The Behaviorist: I just can’t keep going through the motions anymore.
The Presentist: There just isn’t any future for us.
The Eternalist: At least we’ll always have that weekend in Paris.
The Modal Realist: This will never work—we’re from different worlds.
(I did study St. Anselm in college, so I could at least laugh at this one):
Anslem -
p1 We can conceive of a most perfect breakup.
p2 Whatever is conceived exists in the mind of the conceivers.
p3 Whatever exists in the mind of the conceiver and also in reality is better than the same thing that exists only in the mind of the conceiver.
C1 Therefore, a breakup conceived, than which no greater breakup can be conceived, exists in reality as well as in the understanding.
p4 Ours is a breakup greater than which none greater can be conceived.
c2 Our breakup exists in reality.
The Teleologist: We aren’t meant for each other.
The Deontologist: We aren’t right for each other.
The Consequentialist: We aren’t optimal for each other.
The Solipsist: It’s not you, it’s me.
The Empiricist: I think we should see other people.
The Rationalist: I’m not a priority to you any more.
The Rationalist, v 2.0: I’ve been doing some thinking…
The Rationalist, v. 3.0: If you can’t see your faults, there’s nothing more I can say.
The Content Externalist: Ever since we moved, you’ve changed.
The Continentalist: You’ve lost that love and feeling.
The Egalitarian: This is the best thing for both of us.
The Paternalist: In time you’ll come to see that this is the best thing.
The Humean: Just because we’re always together doesn’t mean we BELONG together.
The Humean, v. 2.0: Relationships need to be about more than just constant conjoining.
The Reliabilist: This just isn’t working anymore.
The Nagelian: You just don’t know what it’s like to be me.
The Functionalist: I don’t care about accommodating your feelings.
The Quinean: I’m sorry, but you don’t mean anything to me anymore.
The Foundationalist: We have nothing left to build upon.
The Foundationalist, v2.0: I need to be able to branch out more.
The Relativist: It’s no one’s fault.
The Atheist: These things just happen.
The Kantian: You lied to me!
The Consequentialist, v 2.0: You should have lied to my mother about her pot roast!
The anti-Fictionalist: I’m sick of faking it.
The Cartesian: I don’t clearly and distinctly perceive a future together.
The Hegelian: Do we have to go through this again?
The Lockean: Our primary qualities simply aren’t compatible.
The Lockean, v. 2.0: Compared to my last partner, I’m not getting nearly enough, nor as good.
The Quasi-Realist: Of course we’re going to be together forever…
The Motivational Externalist: Even though I believed it at the time, I know now that I never really loved you.
The Behaviorist: I just can’t keep going through the motions anymore.
The Presentist: There just isn’t any future for us.
The Eternalist: At least we’ll always have that weekend in Paris.
The Modal Realist: This will never work—we’re from different worlds.
(I did study St. Anselm in college, so I could at least laugh at this one):
Anslem -
p1 We can conceive of a most perfect breakup.
p2 Whatever is conceived exists in the mind of the conceivers.
p3 Whatever exists in the mind of the conceiver and also in reality is better than the same thing that exists only in the mind of the conceiver.
C1 Therefore, a breakup conceived, than which no greater breakup can be conceived, exists in reality as well as in the understanding.
p4 Ours is a breakup greater than which none greater can be conceived.
c2 Our breakup exists in reality.
less-than-brave new world
Cory Doctorow over at bOING bOING has an interesting article on Canada's decision to ratify the the 1996 "Internet Treaties" proposed by the World Intellectual Property Organization. On particularly onerous provision is the "notice-and-takedown" policies the treaties would encourage:
ISPs liable for the copyrighted material that goes through their systems!? This is ludicrous. Because AOL would now be legally liable if you trade copyright-protected music on their system, they would undoubtedly be forced to monitor, regulate, or in some way track your use of the internet to prevent lawsuits. Sound like 1984 anyone? You bet it does.
While America did not ratify these treaties, these are the same treaties that caused Congress and the American music industry to implement the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, under which people are being sued today for sharing music. Soon, it looks like the ISPs will be sued as well.
The internet appears to be headed toward a limited existence, shackled by laws that restrict the flow of information, and ultimately, freedom and creativity. This process must be stopped.
In what is bound to be a controversial element, the committee recommended that Internet service providers (ISPs) must be held liable for copyrighted material that goes through their systems. To be exempt from that liability, the ISPs must show they are acting as true "intermediaries," without actual or constructive knowledge of the content.
ISPs should be required to comply with a "notice and takedown" system against subscribers who violate copyright laws.
ISPs liable for the copyrighted material that goes through their systems!? This is ludicrous. Because AOL would now be legally liable if you trade copyright-protected music on their system, they would undoubtedly be forced to monitor, regulate, or in some way track your use of the internet to prevent lawsuits. Sound like 1984 anyone? You bet it does.
While America did not ratify these treaties, these are the same treaties that caused Congress and the American music industry to implement the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, under which people are being sued today for sharing music. Soon, it looks like the ISPs will be sued as well.
The internet appears to be headed toward a limited existence, shackled by laws that restrict the flow of information, and ultimately, freedom and creativity. This process must be stopped.
Friday, November 05, 2004
For an amazing source of WWI information, check out the World War I Document Archive. This is an impressive collection of official and unofficial documents, ranging from President Wilson's inaugural address to memoirs of ambulance drivers on the front, of which the following is an excerpt:
On arriving at Nancy I was met by Salisbury, our Section leader, and after a very good meal in the most beautiful little town you could hope to see (and where the Kaiser and ten thousand troops in dress parade were waiting on a hill close by to enter in state last October), we started by motor for Pont-à-Mousson. Some fifteen kilometres farther on, our lights were put out and we then entered the region under shell fire. It was a funny feeling listening to my conductor talking about how this shell and that shell hit here and there; and all along the route we passed torn-up trees, houses, and roads. At last we came to Pont-à-Mousson, a dear little village with about eight thousand inhabitants, and felt our way, so to speak, in the darkness and silence to the barracks which are now the Headquarters of the Ambulance. I found that there were about twenty cars and twenty-two men here, the latter all enthusiastic about their work and the help the Section were giving the French. The day before I arrived a shell hit the house next door, and on first sight one would think it was the barracks itself which had been hit. These huge high-explosive shells are sent into the town every two or three days, and everywhere one sees masses of brick and stone, all that remains of houses struck. The Germans have bombarded the town over one hundred and ten times.
macro/micro
View the Milky Way at 10 million light years from the Earth. Then move through space towards the Earth in successive orders of magnitude until you reach a tall oak tree just outside the buildings of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida. After that, begin to move from the actual size of a leaf into a microscopic world that reveals leaf cell walls, the cell nucleus, chromatin, DNA and finally, into the subatomic universe of electrons and protons.
View the world here.
View the world here.
ahem
It might behoove one to utilize such mind-improving technology as to render the brain’s synapses more effective, provided improvement of said technology is adequate to effectuate the desired objectives. Should utilization prove effective, the possibility of certain linguistic and communicative enhancements may become certain.
(via bOINGbOING)
(via bOINGbOING)
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Wow--these guys have written a palindrome novel--it reads the same forward as it does backward. The hero's name? You guessed it- Bob. A sample:
O readers, meet Bob. (Elapse, year! Be glass! Arc!) Bob's a gem. O, hot Bob, now one decimal, debased ullage. Pen, if Bob—saga's sage motif—set arenas. Sideman Bob: X. All eve, loner: go. Goddesses, Bob? (Arc!) No bellissima? A dank cab spans 2002's Bob.
O readers, meet Bob. (Elapse, year! Be glass! Arc!) Bob's a gem. O, hot Bob, now one decimal, debased ullage. Pen, if Bob—saga's sage motif—set arenas. Sideman Bob: X. All eve, loner: go. Goddesses, Bob? (Arc!) No bellissima? A dank cab spans 2002's Bob.
that's staal
Swedish woman wants to name her baby "Superman" because the kid was born with one arm pointing upwards.
Finally someone says it like it is: The music industry is crippling itself by relying on one-hit-wonders. This is why internet file-trading has flourished--we are tired of CRAPPY POP HITS.
the first rule in pillow fight club is...
I love it. London flash mob pillow fights. Show up at a random spot in the city with a pillow hidden in a plastic bag; at appointed time begin pummeling anyone who also holds a pillow. Brought to you by the same folks behind mobile clubbing: show up with your headphones, begin dancing en masse.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
It's time for KID'S COURT
Here are some
abstracts of recent decisions.
1. Elephant or no?
During sleepover, preschoolers A and Z were in A’s room for “talking,” a quiet time intended for winding down prior to bed. Conversation turned to recently rented cartoon movie, “Dumbo.” A remarked that “Dumbo is a cute little elephant.” In response, Z stated, flatly, “Dumbo is not an elephant.” Shocked by this, A replied, with some emphasis, to the effect that Dumbo certainly is anelephant. Z then repeated the assertion. A introduced into argument Dumbo’s trunk and elephant mother. For rebuttal, Z simply restated previous position, “Dumbo is not an elephant.” A called in counsel, who advised that since Z was the guest, why not let her say Dumbo is whatever she wants Dumbo to be? Outraged, A said again that Dumbo was an elephant, meanwhile beginning to cry and kick the side of her bed as Z, unmoved, looked on.
Court at first refused to hear the case. On reapplication, court ruled that it didn’t really matter what kind of animal Dumbo was, now please go to sleep. Decision upheld on appeal.
1. Elephant or no?
During sleepover, preschoolers A and Z were in A’s room for “talking,” a quiet time intended for winding down prior to bed. Conversation turned to recently rented cartoon movie, “Dumbo.” A remarked that “Dumbo is a cute little elephant.” In response, Z stated, flatly, “Dumbo is not an elephant.” Shocked by this, A replied, with some emphasis, to the effect that Dumbo certainly is anelephant. Z then repeated the assertion. A introduced into argument Dumbo’s trunk and elephant mother. For rebuttal, Z simply restated previous position, “Dumbo is not an elephant.” A called in counsel, who advised that since Z was the guest, why not let her say Dumbo is whatever she wants Dumbo to be? Outraged, A said again that Dumbo was an elephant, meanwhile beginning to cry and kick the side of her bed as Z, unmoved, looked on.
Court at first refused to hear the case. On reapplication, court ruled that it didn’t really matter what kind of animal Dumbo was, now please go to sleep. Decision upheld on appeal.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Support your local hacker
Subvert the dominant Microsoft paradigm--buy boxed sets of open-source software from Lulu.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
33dd
Stereo images. (Beware, some of the images are not safe for work.)
(via Adam, who is not sure whether these are cool or just cause headaches.)
Thursday, October 28, 2004
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