Watching, Waiting
Watching, Worrying
Fukushima: How dangerous is it?
Remember Ian Hore-Lacy is a publicist for nuclear power promoters.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Mardi Gras
Beads Would Just Detract
That's why the satin pants half dude is wearing all of "Swirly Girl's."
Not His Cup of T & A
Ben Hoffman's roof-top rant was shot in L.A., not NOLA. (Current TV)
Better Painted
Not His Cup of T & A
Ben Hoffman's roof-top rant was shot in L.A., not NOLA. (Current TV)
Better Painted
Late Night Laughs
Stewart
Colbert
Conan
"Glow Sticking Lessons"... starring Andy Richter as the walrus.
Colbert
Conan
"Glow Sticking Lessons"... starring Andy Richter as the walrus.
Culinary Speed Dating
 | Marketplace Meeting Place Audio Embed: Puget Sound Public Radio 3/11/11, Reporter: Joshua McNichols. |
Science Nerd's Book of 'Modernist Cuisine'
Being a Microsoft millionaire allowed him to indulge his life-long interest in food. His scientific approach dictated the form of his book: "Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking"...
Maybe his Microsoft influence made it so large.
 | A Scientific Approach To Cooking Audio Embed: Weekend Edition Saturday 3/12/11, Host: Linda Wertheimer. |
Friday, March 11, 2011
60-second Inception
A One Minute Movie
Each year a competition called "Done in 60 Seconds" has entrants create a one minute video encapsulating the plot of a favorite film... Wolfgang Matzl, chose "Inception" with 19th century paper cutouts.
Each year a competition called "Done in 60 Seconds" has entrants create a one minute video encapsulating the plot of a favorite film... Wolfgang Matzl, chose "Inception" with 19th century paper cutouts.
Pump It Up
Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone, and Michael Greenberger, former Director of Trading and Markets at the CFTC, talk about Wall Street "banksters" and speculation's role in rising commodity prices.
Elvis Costello - "Pump It Up" - This Year's Model (1978)
One Colorful Story
(Click picture to enlarge. -- via Geekologie)
Give Up Catholicism For Lent
Stephen Colbert's act of devotion to a religion he no longer practices.
Giving Up Political Power
The Dalai Lama's act of devotion to the people he still leads in spirit.
Giving Up Everything But Beer
An Iowa home-brewer's terrible sacrifice for a religious experience.
Stung
Enraged conservatives are crying foul after NPR fundraising executive Ron Schiller was caught on tape making disparaging remarks about the Tea Party and saying "we would be better off in the long-run without federal funding." That'll be put to the test soon.
Even before prankster/activist/convicted felon James O'Keefe released the hidden camera video, public TV and radio programming was facing perhaps the greatest threat in its history, as Republicans talked about killing off the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
 | Kill All the Schillers Audio Embed: BBC, PRI & WBUR's Here & Now 3/9/11, Host: Robin Young. |
Thursday, March 10, 2011
King of the Hill
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Sharia?
What do you do about a Congressman who believes that Muslim Americans should be investigated for failing to denounce terrorist organizations, when the Congressman (Peter King, R-NY) has his own history of openly supporting terrorism by the Irish Republican Army?
Blame Moderate Whites For Supremacists Too?
Rep. King has a long history interacting with Muslims who live in his Long Island district and some say his relationship with the Muslim community changed drastically after 9/11.
Robert Kolker, Contributing Editor for New York Magazine, wrote an article this week on the Congressman's relationship with Muslims.
Dr. Faroque Khan, former chief of medicine at Nassau Medical Center and member of the board of trustees at the Long Island Islamic Center was one such friend and supporter King abandoned.
Investigate Al Cattah!
Whiskers blew himself up in a crowded dog park, 5/08.
What do you do about a Congressman who believes that Muslim Americans should be investigated for failing to denounce terrorist organizations, when the Congressman (Peter King, R-NY) has his own history of openly supporting terrorism by the Irish Republican Army?
Blame Moderate Whites For Supremacists Too?
Robert Kolker, Contributing Editor for New York Magazine, wrote an article this week on the Congressman's relationship with Muslims.
Dr. Faroque Khan, former chief of medicine at Nassau Medical Center and member of the board of trustees at the Long Island Islamic Center was one such friend and supporter King abandoned.
 | Peter King's History With Muslims Audio Embed: PRI & WNYC's program The Takeaway, Hosts: Celeste Headlee & John Hockenberry. |
Investigate Al Cattah!
Whiskers blew himself up in a crowded dog park, 5/08.
Madison Maneuver
Surprise procedural move strips public employees' bargaining rights...
What does this mean for the health of Wisconsin's state government?
Reich: Walker trampling workers, will 'pay a huge political price'
Fineman: It's a national level GOP partisan political provocation
Maddow: All your base is under attack
Sheen, Behind the Scene
 | Multiple Realities, or Personalities? Audio Embed: CBS Radio's Osgood File 3/9/11. |
Will Charlie Make It to Sitcom Heaven?
Don't Forget to Floss
Wisconsin convicts gained local fame when they almost escaped from prison using simple but sturdy rope ladders made out of dental floss.
(This American Life, via Current TV)
Claim Ruffles Feathers
A study suggests that hens might "feel the pain" of distressed chicks.
Little Feat & friends - "Dixie Chicken" - Midnight Special (1977)
Changing Online Partners
YouTube announces a partnership with Next New Networks. Will this be a positive for site quality or end the access-to-all amateurs era?
Warner Brothers becomes the first major studio to team up with Facebook for offer instant streaming of popular movies. Is it a Netflix killer, or reason to dump the old subscription via mail business model?
What’s the Tweetiquette?
Weighing in are Joe Fernandez, the CEO of a company called Klout, which that analyzes Twitter data; and Duncan Watts, a research scientist at Yahoo! and co-author of a recent paper called “Who Says What to Whom on Twitter.”
 | Do Social Network 'Rules' Follow? APM & WNYC's Freakonomics Radio Podcast 3/8/11, Hosts: Kai Ryssdal and Stephen J. Dubner |
Technorati also offers a guide for deciding who to follow.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Barack O Mau Mau?
Mike Huckabee's smiling man speaking mean-spirited inanities act has finally gone too far, and drawn the wrath of Stephen Colbert.
Mike Huckabee is "On Notice" until he says something outrageous that will get him more unwanted attention on The Colbert Report.
The Rivingtons - Papa Oom Mow Mow (1962)
Mike Huckabee is "On Notice" until he says something outrageous that will get him more unwanted attention on The Colbert Report.
The Rivingtons - Papa Oom Mow Mow (1962)
Churnalism School
“News is what somebody somewhere wants
to suppress; all the rest is advertising.”
-- Alfred Charles William Harmsworth, Lord Northcliffe
 | Churning Out PR Audio Embed: WNYC's On The Media 3/5/11, Host: Bob Garfield. |
A Life of Illusion
Japanese mathematics professor Kokichi Sugihara is one of the world's leading experts of optical illusion. But it's a world where up is down and dimensions aren't as they appear. Rod Serling would like it.
Watt You're Doin'
It takes a lot of extrapolation, and correlation with information from other sources, to translate your raw power consumption data into a meaningful lifestyle profile... Suspicious privacy advocates are getting nervous; maybe paranoid.
 | Smart Meters, Dumb Idea? Audio Embed: PRI's Living On Earth 2/25/11, Host: Bruce Gellerman. |
Beatles for Sale (UK) / Beatles '65 (US)
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Kinetic Typography
You've Never Seen Conan Quite Like This
Jacob Gilbreath illustrates Conan O’Brien’s NBC Tonight Show farewell speech (AKA the “please do not be cynical” speech)
Jacob Gilbreath illustrates Conan O’Brien’s NBC Tonight Show farewell speech (AKA the “please do not be cynical” speech)
Nearly History
An Encyclopedia of Almost America
In his new book "Then Everything Changed," CBS News Senior Political Correspondent Jeff Greenfield rewrites major historical events based upon small things that could have happened, but didn't... And using those "what ifs," speculates on outcomes that keep him up at night.
In his new book "Then Everything Changed," CBS News Senior Political Correspondent Jeff Greenfield rewrites major historical events based upon small things that could have happened, but didn't... And using those "what ifs," speculates on outcomes that keep him up at night.
Passes
Hall Pass
A married man has the urge, but things get crazy when wives do, too.
Free Pass
As committed as they were to fidelity in their marriage, 'B' and 'N' had one surprising exception... An open-ended deal for a free pass.
If they ever "got the chance" to bed the one celebrity fantasy figure they'd designated beforehand, they'd given each other permission to go for a one-nighter without guilt, shame and/or recriminations.
"Without success," I thought when I first heard of it... In our early 30s none of us looked likely to be cast in "Indecent Proposal." Mocking shock, I asked why the hell 'B' had even brought up the subject.
'B' & 'N' were total New Yorkers. It was where they grew up, married and I where met them. But business had smiled on 'B' and brought him (all expenses paid) to Los Angeles, where I worked at the time... More importantly, it was the magic fantasy land where dreams came true, of everyday chance star encounters and home of Meredith Baxter-Birney...
His free pass!
His initial exposure was the lone season of "Bridget Loves Bernie." The show's premise featured the marriage between a wealthy Irish Catholic teacher (Bridget) and a Jewish cab driver (Bernie) whom she met at a bus stop.
You know he's from New York, but did I mention 'B' was a trial lawyer? He ripped the short-lived show to shreds with prosecutorial fervor:
When 'B' made his pick she was cast as Nancy Lawrence Maitland (of "Family " 1976-1980), a quickly married & divorced young mother who had walked in on her husband Jeff (John Rubinstein) making love to one of her friends in the first episode. As he explained his deal, 'B' pictured Meredith's fantastic figure in lightweight sweaters perfect for Pasadena. She had not yet become TV uber-Mom Elyse Keaton (of "Family Ties" 1982-1989)... Different setting and different sweaters.
Expired Pass
I don't know what happened to 'B's' dream; whether he "recast;" or even if he's still married to 'N'... But the real life Meredith changed teams in 2005 after 3 marriages and 5 kids; revealed the switch in 2009 to beat a gossip tabloid expo; and at age 63 is promoting her book -- "Untied: A Memoir of Family, Fame, and Floundering."
Meredith Baxter on CBC radio's Q with Jian Ghomeshi 3/4/11.
A married man has the urge, but things get crazy when wives do, too.
Free Pass
As committed as they were to fidelity in their marriage, 'B' and 'N' had one surprising exception... An open-ended deal for a free pass.
If they ever "got the chance" to bed the one celebrity fantasy figure they'd designated beforehand, they'd given each other permission to go for a one-nighter without guilt, shame and/or recriminations.
"Without success," I thought when I first heard of it... In our early 30s none of us looked likely to be cast in "Indecent Proposal." Mocking shock, I asked why the hell 'B' had even brought up the subject.
His free pass!
His initial exposure was the lone season of "Bridget Loves Bernie." The show's premise featured the marriage between a wealthy Irish Catholic teacher (Bridget) and a Jewish cab driver (Bernie) whom she met at a bus stop.
You know he's from New York, but did I mention 'B' was a trial lawyer? He ripped the short-lived show to shreds with prosecutorial fervor:
- If she's wealthy, why is she waiting for public transit?
- If he's a real cab driver, why isn't he at a taxi stand?
- And if transport brought them together, why not his cab?
When 'B' made his pick she was cast as Nancy Lawrence Maitland (of "Family " 1976-1980), a quickly married & divorced young mother who had walked in on her husband Jeff (John Rubinstein) making love to one of her friends in the first episode. As he explained his deal, 'B' pictured Meredith's fantastic figure in lightweight sweaters perfect for Pasadena. She had not yet become TV uber-Mom Elyse Keaton (of "Family Ties" 1982-1989)... Different setting and different sweaters.
Expired Pass
Meredith Baxter on CBC radio's Q with Jian Ghomeshi 3/4/11.
Look To The Skies
Lights!
From the Atlantic photo essay on Antarctica: The Aurora Australis,
as seen from the Amundsen-Scott Station, South Pole (7/14/09)
Balloons!
Science, Adventure & Whimsy intersect in California's high desert.
National Geographic Channel's new show "How Hard Can It Be?" attempted to replicate the flying cartoon balloon house from "Up."
Kites!
Multiple shapes and colors fill the sky over Gujarat, India.
Sunrise at Guanabara Bay
Captured in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by Roberto Machado Alves.
as seen from the Amundsen-Scott Station, South Pole (7/14/09)
Balloons!
Science, Adventure & Whimsy intersect in California's high desert.
National Geographic Channel's new show "How Hard Can It Be?" attempted to replicate the flying cartoon balloon house from "Up."
Kites!
Multiple shapes and colors fill the sky over Gujarat, India.
Sunrise at Guanabara Bay
Captured in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by Roberto Machado Alves.Test Drive
Shira Lazar rides shotgun with Software Engineer Sebastian Thrun during a test of Google's self driving car at the TED 2011 Conference.
Fine Young Cannibals (1989)
Fine Young Cannibals (1989)
Economics: Easy as Pie
Income Inequality for Dummies
Mark Olmsted explains using two things Americans love: pizza & cats.
(via Huffington Post)
New Country for Old Men
America Plus will maintain diplomatic relations with poor America.
Can U.S. Economy Grow Indefinitely?
In The Great Stagnation,
economist Tyler Cowen argues that U.S. economic growth largely plateaued in the 1970s.
He tells Renee Montagne the resources that fueled the country's progress over the last 300 years are largely gone, and expectations need to be readjusted... Mostly downward.
The Fast Draw Explains Stocks and Bonds
Cycle complete, it all comes back to cats... And your pizza is gone.
(via Huffington Post)
New Country for Old Men
America Plus will maintain diplomatic relations with poor America.
Can U.S. Economy Grow Indefinitely?
economist Tyler Cowen argues that U.S. economic growth largely plateaued in the 1970s.
He tells Renee Montagne the resources that fueled the country's progress over the last 300 years are largely gone, and expectations need to be readjusted... Mostly downward.
| Stick A Fork In It Audio Embed: Morning Edition 3/7/11. |
The Fast Draw Explains Stocks and Bonds
Cycle complete, it all comes back to cats... And your pizza is gone.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Celebrity Flavors
Stephen Colbert can't handle Jimmy Fallon getting his own Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor, but he's good with a spoon... And a tune.
Have a favorite flavor suggestion of your own? Use this do it yourself carton template and submit your handiwork to the Huffington Post... Sadly, not everyone will be winning.
 | But What If Charlie Sheen Really Is? Audio Embed: Dave Ross, KIRO-FM/Seattle, 3/4/11 |
Rolling Stone's Toure, with guest host Matt Miller 3/4/11.
SNL's Bill Hader, Duh... Winning!
Tax Time
Since 2007 this "IRS Pencil Sharpener" has been up on the web.
But CBS News documented one couple's trying three different tax-filing methods to see which would bring them the best returns.
One Man Bands
Teenage Dream (Katy Perry) / Just The Way You Are (Bruno Mars) a capella covers by Mike Tompkins
Darth Bieber
James Earl Jones dramatic reading of lyrics from "Baby, Baby, Baby" by Justin Bieber happened on the Gayle King Show on OWN, 2/16/11.
Mars Scars in 3-D
Sunday, March 6, 2011
UFO - Science? Fiction?
Intriguing British Document Dump
See E.T. In The Tree
No surprise, really... In the movie 'E.T.' was a botanist.
See E.T. In The Tree
No surprise, really... In the movie 'E.T.' was a botanist.
Zombie, Spaceship, Wasteland
The comedian thinks that he and his circle of high school friends could be parsed into one of three different categories — Zombies, Spaceships, and Wastelands — that shaped their paths to adulthood, their careers, and their lives. Oswalt says he realizes now that he's a Wasteland...
But what are you?
 | Patton Oswalt Geeks Out Comedian Patton Oswalt reads the title essay from his book. The quiz exists, but just asks you to choose. Too lame to link. |
Teenage Wasteland
Dirk Quinn, solo acoustic guitar - Baba O'Riley
Quilt Show Controversy
I came across this report from Hampton, VA's Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show and shared the link with a friend who is an avid teacher of the craft.
The quilt, by Kathy Nida of California, depicts a homeless woman and her unborn child living in a cardboard box. Nida says the quilt is about being one paycheck away from desperation and begging for help.
My reaction was to the tremendous sense of vulnerability in exposure.
My friend was shocked by the upset interviewees' insensitivity over the issue of the woman's homelessness... And she decided to post it in an online forum of quilters to see how they'd react.
There were 5 pages of lively debate over the next day, including:
The quilt, by Kathy Nida of California, depicts a homeless woman and her unborn child living in a cardboard box. Nida says the quilt is about being one paycheck away from desperation and begging for help.
My reaction was to the tremendous sense of vulnerability in exposure.
My friend was shocked by the upset interviewees' insensitivity over the issue of the woman's homelessness... And she decided to post it in an online forum of quilters to see how they'd react.
"I think in bygone years quilting may have been connected with all white, older Christian women making feed sack quilts. Now, however, there is a much wider cross section of both quilters and quilts... Plus contemporary 'art quilts' are popular."Among the initial feedback:
- Artists have a right to create, but I don't have to like it
- Recognition of the ideas of poverty, women's vulnerability, etc.
- Indignation... Quilting is for (pleasant) entertainment only
There were 5 pages of lively debate over the next day, including:
"Several writers (who) went back and forth with some strong opinions, but nothing inappropriate..."Until the administrator shut down the topic.
"First time I've ever seen that on this board. I am so disappointed that he/she felt that a spirited discussion warranted shutting it down. I guess body parts and/or controversy are just too scary for some. Sad."Representational Art in any medium can be quite provocative... Not everybody likes that feeling. But being moved is the whole point of it.
River of Ducks
It's an annual event this time of year for duck herders in Bataan, Philippines, also home of the infamous WW II human death march.
Which Came First?
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Earthquake, tsunami,
