Jamie has a nice set of links here.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Do Words Matter Anymore?
Do words matter anymore? I heard one news anchor say the Mississippi coast looked like a nuclear bomb was dropped and I thought, well things weren't vaporized and the sand isn't fused into glass. I heard someone else say "the phone was literally ringing off the hook" and thought they really meant figuratively.
Bush said this morning, "I don't think anybody anticipated the breech of the levees." Which is just a blatent lie, many anticipated it, that's one of the reasons they evacuated. There were plenty of stories over the weekend that this could be the big one that will destroy New Orleans. Think Progress points out many warnings over the last 4 years.
I guess if you don't anticipate it, and slash funding for prevention you forget that part where you didn't listent to others and gambled. Because of these cuts, in 2004, the Corps essentially stopped major work on the now-breached levee system that had protected New Orleans from flooding. It was the first such stoppage in 37 years, the Times-Picayune reported. Then there's the whole thing of whether FEMA is less effective now that they are part of the Department of Homeland Security.
I thought it was pretty well established that storms get energy from warmer waters. Apparently Harlan L. Watson, the US envoy for negotiations on climate change, denied any link between global warming and the strength of storms. ''Our scientists are telling us right now that there's not a linkage," he said in Geneva.
How is it that these idiots represent and lead us?
Bush said this morning, "I don't think anybody anticipated the breech of the levees." Which is just a blatent lie, many anticipated it, that's one of the reasons they evacuated. There were plenty of stories over the weekend that this could be the big one that will destroy New Orleans. Think Progress points out many warnings over the last 4 years.
I guess if you don't anticipate it, and slash funding for prevention you forget that part where you didn't listent to others and gambled. Because of these cuts, in 2004, the Corps essentially stopped major work on the now-breached levee system that had protected New Orleans from flooding. It was the first such stoppage in 37 years, the Times-Picayune reported. Then there's the whole thing of whether FEMA is less effective now that they are part of the Department of Homeland Security.
I thought it was pretty well established that storms get energy from warmer waters. Apparently Harlan L. Watson, the US envoy for negotiations on climate change, denied any link between global warming and the strength of storms. ''Our scientists are telling us right now that there's not a linkage," he said in Geneva.
How is it that these idiots represent and lead us?
Satellite Photos of Katrina Damage
Here are very high res photos of the damage done by Katrina. And this one shows the Grand Casinos Biloxi and the destroyed I90 bridge.
3 Amazing Videos of Katrina Damage
Check out the WLBT the NBC affiliate in Gulfport, LA. There are 3 astounding videos (all WMAv9) of the devastation as recorded by their helicopter - nearly unedited footage. The first covers Long Beach, Biloxi, and Gulfport. At about 3 mins in you see casinos (which were barges) that were lifted up and dropped almost whole inland. At 8 mins in you see the Presidents Casino which was dumped on top of a Holiday Inn. at 12 min the Biloxi Hard Rock casino was utterly shredded. At 20 mins in you see a huge bridge of Interstate 90 that was destroyed. The second is of Pascagoula, Gautier, Ocean Springs, Biloxi, and Gulfport and repeats some of the footage of the first. The third a 2 min video from some idiots who rode out the storm in a hotel on the beach, you see the water stream into the hotel.
Chimpanzee Genome Mapped
Scientists have complete genetic maps of humans, mice, and rats, and now they one for chimpanzees, our closest relatives.
Their genome is 3 billion base pairs long. There are 40 million differences from humans. 35 million small variations (believed to be tiny random mutations) and 5 million larger differences. While that's a 4% difference from humans, it's believed 3/4 of the diffs are in junk DNA so we're only 1% different. In looking at the different genes, some have been postualated to be involved in brain development and some for language, which would match up nicely to the real differences between us. But the biggest diffs they've found are in how the genes are regulated.
I didn't realized this: "Chimpanzees have repeatedly toppled conceptions about the ways in which humans are purportedly unique. They fashion and use tools, including hammers, anvils, probes for fishing termites from the ground and seats to rest on, though unlike humans, they make all their tools by modifying found objects and never by putting complementary pieces together. Chimps also medicate themselves, swallowing rough leaves and chewing on bitter stems to treat a type of intestinal infection. And in perhaps their cheekiest aping of humanity, chimpanzees display remarkable political acumen. They form complex alliances and trade grooming services, sex and food. Like many denizens of the world's great cities, they lobby, demand bribes, repay favors and, when crossed, extract revenge."
Apparently the differences also match some mathematical corollaries of the theory of evolution. "I can't imagine Darwin hoping for a stronger confirmation of his ideas," said Robert H. Waterston, who led the Washington University team. As Opus would say: "PPHPHPT!"
Their genome is 3 billion base pairs long. There are 40 million differences from humans. 35 million small variations (believed to be tiny random mutations) and 5 million larger differences. While that's a 4% difference from humans, it's believed 3/4 of the diffs are in junk DNA so we're only 1% different. In looking at the different genes, some have been postualated to be involved in brain development and some for language, which would match up nicely to the real differences between us. But the biggest diffs they've found are in how the genes are regulated.
I didn't realized this: "Chimpanzees have repeatedly toppled conceptions about the ways in which humans are purportedly unique. They fashion and use tools, including hammers, anvils, probes for fishing termites from the ground and seats to rest on, though unlike humans, they make all their tools by modifying found objects and never by putting complementary pieces together. Chimps also medicate themselves, swallowing rough leaves and chewing on bitter stems to treat a type of intestinal infection. And in perhaps their cheekiest aping of humanity, chimpanzees display remarkable political acumen. They form complex alliances and trade grooming services, sex and food. Like many denizens of the world's great cities, they lobby, demand bribes, repay favors and, when crossed, extract revenge."
Apparently the differences also match some mathematical corollaries of the theory of evolution. "I can't imagine Darwin hoping for a stronger confirmation of his ideas," said Robert H. Waterston, who led the Washington University team. As Opus would say: "PPHPHPT!"
Where are you Rudy?
Has anyone else noticed about the New Orleans disaster, how little those in charge have learned from Rudy Giuliani? Time Magazine in selecting him 2001 Person of the Year phrased it well, "he managed to sound realistic and optimistic at the same time" and "He knew the difference between information and inspiration and never substituted one where the other was needed."
After the attacks, Giuliani was everywhere. Leading efforts, making decisions, gather information, speaking to the public, etc. He managed to calm everyone down and provided hope and strength. When he spoke everyone in New York if not the whole country stopped what they were doing and listened because he provided real information and strength by example. He told you what they were doing and what you should do.
Did anyone have that reactioni to Bush's speech two days after the storm and after a month long vacation to recharge himself? "We are dealing with one of the worst natural disasters in our nation's history. And that's why I've called the Cabinet together. The people in the affected regions expect the federal government to work with the state government and local government with an effective response." What kind of a statement is this?
Most of the following is from this site On Tuesday Mayor Nagin, "Unhappy that the helicopters slated to drop 3,000-pound bags into the levee never showed up to stop the flow of water. Too many chiefs calling shots he says."
In New Orleans there's martial law and looting. We get reports that the police are overwhelmed. Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said the states have adequate National Guard units to handle the hurricane needs even though about 7,000 troops from LA and MS are in Iraq. "Governor Blanco on looting: We will do what it takes to bring law and order to our area. This is not a place for that behavior. I'm furious. It's intolerable."
Emergency Operations Director Walter Maestri had a number of things to say. "Evacuees from New Orleans and the east bank of Jefferson are flocking to the west bank, overwhelming the facilities...FEMA and national agencies not delivering the help nearly as fast as it is needed...We have no food or water for the evacuees. Says emergency workers have seized the food and water and drinks from Sam's Club, Wal-Mart and other groceries for evacuees, but he said that is all gone. Says water supply is gone. More water expected, but its not there right now. Says evacuees are getting upset and harried."
Oh and as near as I can tell, the Vice President hasn't been heard from since Aug 18th. Shouldn't someone be looking for him?
The news keeps reporting conflicting reports and a lack of communication in New Orleans. Someone needs to step up and provide leadership and confidence. They need to be optimistic that we'll succeed and show a path if not to the end, at least to tomorrow. They need to show that they are doing everything humanly possible to help physically and emotionally. Maybe Rudy is available for a consulting gig.
After the attacks, Giuliani was everywhere. Leading efforts, making decisions, gather information, speaking to the public, etc. He managed to calm everyone down and provided hope and strength. When he spoke everyone in New York if not the whole country stopped what they were doing and listened because he provided real information and strength by example. He told you what they were doing and what you should do.
Did anyone have that reactioni to Bush's speech two days after the storm and after a month long vacation to recharge himself? "We are dealing with one of the worst natural disasters in our nation's history. And that's why I've called the Cabinet together. The people in the affected regions expect the federal government to work with the state government and local government with an effective response." What kind of a statement is this?
Most of the following is from this site On Tuesday Mayor Nagin, "Unhappy that the helicopters slated to drop 3,000-pound bags into the levee never showed up to stop the flow of water. Too many chiefs calling shots he says."
In New Orleans there's martial law and looting. We get reports that the police are overwhelmed. Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said the states have adequate National Guard units to handle the hurricane needs even though about 7,000 troops from LA and MS are in Iraq. "Governor Blanco on looting: We will do what it takes to bring law and order to our area. This is not a place for that behavior. I'm furious. It's intolerable."
Emergency Operations Director Walter Maestri had a number of things to say. "Evacuees from New Orleans and the east bank of Jefferson are flocking to the west bank, overwhelming the facilities...FEMA and national agencies not delivering the help nearly as fast as it is needed...We have no food or water for the evacuees. Says emergency workers have seized the food and water and drinks from Sam's Club, Wal-Mart and other groceries for evacuees, but he said that is all gone. Says water supply is gone. More water expected, but its not there right now. Says evacuees are getting upset and harried."
Oh and as near as I can tell, the Vice President hasn't been heard from since Aug 18th. Shouldn't someone be looking for him?
The news keeps reporting conflicting reports and a lack of communication in New Orleans. Someone needs to step up and provide leadership and confidence. They need to be optimistic that we'll succeed and show a path if not to the end, at least to tomorrow. They need to show that they are doing everything humanly possible to help physically and emotionally. Maybe Rudy is available for a consulting gig.
Scientists Create Mutant Healing Factor
The X-Man Wolverine can heal from most wounds, regenerating damaged tissue. Now scientists at the Wistar Institute at the University of Pennsylvannia have created mice that can regenerate amputated limbs or damaged vital organs.
"We have experimented with amputating or damaging several different organs, such as the heart, toes, tail and ears, and just watched them regrow," Professor Ellen Heber-Katz said. "It is quite remarkable. The only organ that did not grow back was the brain." We won't know if they have extended life spans for another several months. Apparently this ability is controlled by about a dozen genes and that humans have comparable ones.
So when mutant mice take over the earth, aim for the head.
"We have experimented with amputating or damaging several different organs, such as the heart, toes, tail and ears, and just watched them regrow," Professor Ellen Heber-Katz said. "It is quite remarkable. The only organ that did not grow back was the brain." We won't know if they have extended life spans for another several months. Apparently this ability is controlled by about a dozen genes and that humans have comparable ones.
So when mutant mice take over the earth, aim for the head.
New Orleans - One Pic Says it All
This picture says it all. The bottom is what the New Orleans area looked like on Aug 27, the top on the 30th. Notice how different the edges of Lake Pontchartrain are. Click on the picture for a larger version.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Windows Vista Beta 1 vs. Mac OS X "Tiger" (Part 1)
Here's part 1 of a comparison between Windows Vista Beta 1 vs. Mac OS X "Tiger". There are a number of screen shots and it seems a pretty balanced view. It covers three areas.
In Look and Feel Tiger is still prettier but Vista is an improvement for Windows. In Search both are very similar. In what he calls Data Visualization and organization he likes some of the Vista features. It comes with predefined "saved searches", which doesn't seem like a big deal to me. He likes that there are more obvious ways to add meta data to files, particular in the Save dialog, which sounds nice, but the problem with meta data as always is getting people to actually add it. Maybe the vista features will help.
He also likes Vista's eye candy of use an image of the first page of a doc as the icon, saying it's easier to find things. He says "there's nothing like it, per se, in Tiger". But that's not true. Tiger does this for images and when minimizing a document to the Dock. I find it useful in those contexts, images are different enough, something comes through at that small size. Same with the different apps you might have open. But for a lot of Office files in a folder, particularly if they all use the same corporate template, I'm not sure much will be helpful.
In Look and Feel Tiger is still prettier but Vista is an improvement for Windows. In Search both are very similar. In what he calls Data Visualization and organization he likes some of the Vista features. It comes with predefined "saved searches", which doesn't seem like a big deal to me. He likes that there are more obvious ways to add meta data to files, particular in the Save dialog, which sounds nice, but the problem with meta data as always is getting people to actually add it. Maybe the vista features will help.
He also likes Vista's eye candy of use an image of the first page of a doc as the icon, saying it's easier to find things. He says "there's nothing like it, per se, in Tiger". But that's not true. Tiger does this for images and when minimizing a document to the Dock. I find it useful in those contexts, images are different enough, something comes through at that small size. Same with the different apps you might have open. But for a lot of Office files in a folder, particularly if they all use the same corporate template, I'm not sure much will be helpful.
A new wrinkle in the Plame affair?
The Financial Times offers a new theory in the Plame affair.
"Many have assumed that [Judy] Miller - who never actually wrote a story identifying Plame as an operative - is protecting Rove and/or other administration officials. But the missing link is that Miller is not a political reporter, but rather an investigative journalist who co-wrote a book on America's secret war against biological weapons and later published controversial articles on Iraq's effort to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Now here's the twist: Plame herself is a CIA operative who also specialised in weapons of mass destruction and bio-terrorism. So did Miller get to know Plame while she was writing her book or even use her as a source for other WMD stories?"
"Many have assumed that [Judy] Miller - who never actually wrote a story identifying Plame as an operative - is protecting Rove and/or other administration officials. But the missing link is that Miller is not a political reporter, but rather an investigative journalist who co-wrote a book on America's secret war against biological weapons and later published controversial articles on Iraq's effort to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Now here's the twist: Plame herself is a CIA operative who also specialised in weapons of mass destruction and bio-terrorism. So did Miller get to know Plame while she was writing her book or even use her as a source for other WMD stories?"
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Another Greenhouse the Administration Disblieves
Bunnatine H. Greenhouse is one of the whistleblowers against Halliburton scandals. Her background is impressive with a BS and 3 MS degrees. She was the Army Corps of Engineers' top procurement official (a civilian post) since 1997. On Saturday she was demoted for what the Corps of Engineers called a poor job performance.
The Army threatened the demotion October 6, 2004 when she first came public with complaints last Oct but agreed to wait until a "sufficient record" of her allegations is complete. Her demotion now is the Army reneging on that deal. Three congressmen believe that this is illegal retaliation for her testimony to the Senate on June 27, 2005 and have asked Rumsfeld to investigate.
Her testimony was damning: "I can unequivocally state that the abuse related to contracts awarded to [Halliburton/]KBR represents the most blatant and improper contract abuse I have witnessed during the course of my professional career." She describes how KBR wrote the $7 billion contract in such a way that only they could fill it. Normally those contracted to write such a plan are prevented from bidding on it. But in an even more disgusting twist the army didn't just let them bid on it, they awarded it to them with out any competive bids for 2 years with a 3 year renewal, which is completely against policy. Oh and awarding such contracts are normally done by the army, but in this case it was controlled by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's office, which is illegal.
How are these crooks getting away with this?
The Army threatened the demotion October 6, 2004 when she first came public with complaints last Oct but agreed to wait until a "sufficient record" of her allegations is complete. Her demotion now is the Army reneging on that deal. Three congressmen believe that this is illegal retaliation for her testimony to the Senate on June 27, 2005 and have asked Rumsfeld to investigate.
Her testimony was damning: "I can unequivocally state that the abuse related to contracts awarded to [Halliburton/]KBR represents the most blatant and improper contract abuse I have witnessed during the course of my professional career." She describes how KBR wrote the $7 billion contract in such a way that only they could fill it. Normally those contracted to write such a plan are prevented from bidding on it. But in an even more disgusting twist the army didn't just let them bid on it, they awarded it to them with out any competive bids for 2 years with a 3 year renewal, which is completely against policy. Oh and awarding such contracts are normally done by the army, but in this case it was controlled by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's office, which is illegal.
How are these crooks getting away with this?
Bush and Katrina
There's much in the blogosphere about Bush and Hurricane Katrina. it seems in December of 2001 FEMA listed a Category 5 Hurricane hitting New Orleans was one of the "three likeliest, most castastrophic disasters" that could affect the US (California Earthquake and NY terrorism being the other two. People connect this with Bush in three ways:
1. Budgets have reduced funding in ways to protect New Orleans. The numbers cited are the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is having federal funding reduced a record $71.2 million in 2006. In 2001 they spent $147 million, and it looks like 2005 will be $82 million. But I haven't found a good listing of their total costs and total funding.
This presentation from 2004 shows they want to replace a lock and I think some bridges. The total cost to complete in 2014 is $770 million. In 2003 they needed $23 million and got $15 million. In 2004 they requested $20 million and at least at the time the budget had $7 million.
In this article from 2004 the Corps thinks they could protect New Orleans with a 20 year $1 billion project to raise levees and build floodgates. "Just the study would take four years and cost $4 million, Naomi said, but the money is not in the federal budget for 2005, though the Senate has yet to act."
2. Scientists agree that global warming is making these storms worse, but of course Bush thinks the debate is still out with global warming (and evolution), so the US isn't doing much of anything help reduce it.
3. You know how the first thing the president does in such a situation is to declare a disaster and send out FEMA and the National Guard? Well Bush did just this Sunday though his talk was 3 paragraphs on Katrina and 12 on Iraq. Well people point out that much of the National Guard (people and equipment) is in Iraq and as a result can't help the cleanup effort. And in fitting irony, Louisiana has lost more National Guardsmen in Iraq than any other state except New York.
The bloggers on the right are already accusing the left of acussing Bush of causing the storm. Obviously that's moronic. The above issues are perhaps not slam dunks, but why does it seem like the Bush administration is death by a 1000 cuts. Sitting here now I can't think of a single thing I think he's done right, Not in Iraq, the budget, science, health care, civil rights, education, or foreign affairs. But that's a subject of another post. For now, I just send my support to those affected by the storm.
1. Budgets have reduced funding in ways to protect New Orleans. The numbers cited are the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is having federal funding reduced a record $71.2 million in 2006. In 2001 they spent $147 million, and it looks like 2005 will be $82 million. But I haven't found a good listing of their total costs and total funding.
This presentation from 2004 shows they want to replace a lock and I think some bridges. The total cost to complete in 2014 is $770 million. In 2003 they needed $23 million and got $15 million. In 2004 they requested $20 million and at least at the time the budget had $7 million.
In this article from 2004 the Corps thinks they could protect New Orleans with a 20 year $1 billion project to raise levees and build floodgates. "Just the study would take four years and cost $4 million, Naomi said, but the money is not in the federal budget for 2005, though the Senate has yet to act."
2. Scientists agree that global warming is making these storms worse, but of course Bush thinks the debate is still out with global warming (and evolution), so the US isn't doing much of anything help reduce it.
3. You know how the first thing the president does in such a situation is to declare a disaster and send out FEMA and the National Guard? Well Bush did just this Sunday though his talk was 3 paragraphs on Katrina and 12 on Iraq. Well people point out that much of the National Guard (people and equipment) is in Iraq and as a result can't help the cleanup effort. And in fitting irony, Louisiana has lost more National Guardsmen in Iraq than any other state except New York.
The bloggers on the right are already accusing the left of acussing Bush of causing the storm. Obviously that's moronic. The above issues are perhaps not slam dunks, but why does it seem like the Bush administration is death by a 1000 cuts. Sitting here now I can't think of a single thing I think he's done right, Not in Iraq, the budget, science, health care, civil rights, education, or foreign affairs. But that's a subject of another post. For now, I just send my support to those affected by the storm.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Stellarium - Free Astronomy Software
Stellarium looks like a great, free, open source astronomy program that runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. It shows the night sky wherever you want, plays movies over time, can draw stars, planets, nebulas, constellations and their names. And can also show some pretty art for the constellations.
There's a Mac .dmg and X Windows is not required. To get full screen on odd Mac dimensions, set the resolution in the Stellarium.app/Contents/Resources/config/config.ini file instead of the GUI. Very nice stuff.
Bright Blue Dot
The MESSENGER space craft is going to Mercury but went by the Earth on Aug 2, 2005 in a gravity assist maneuver. It took some great pictures including a movie of a full rotation of the earth that's a real photo, though it looks like CGI. Just amazing.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Hurricane Katrina in Wikipedia
I think you have to be impressed with the coverage of Hurricane Katrina in Wikipedia. In addition to articles in WikiNews the main article has more detail than I've ever seen in a newspaper on a Hurricane and has been updated about once every minute or two for the last several days.
Imagine if newspapers could release continually updated versions of a story. For anything that lasts more than a day, that will save a lot of rewriting of backstories.
Imagine if newspapers could release continually updated versions of a story. For anything that lasts more than a day, that will save a lot of rewriting of backstories.
Cutest Bug Ever
My friend Mike found this in his backyard. It's real, not photoshopped. He's trying to figure out what kind of bug it is, who knew there were that many insect sites on the web?
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Who are the Activist Judges?
A Yale Law School professor tried to measure judicial activism on the Supreme Court. The question is what measure to use? While nothing perfect came to mind, he figured the number of times a justice voted to strike down a law passed by Congress was a reasonable measure. "Until 1991, the court struck down an average of about one Congressional statute every two years. Between 1791 and 1858, only two such invalidations occurred...Since the Supreme Court assumed its current composition in 1994, by our count it has upheld or struck down 64 Congressional provisions." Here's how often the justices voted to strike down the law in each of these 64 cases.
By this measure, the conservative justices are the most activist. While this might not be a good measure, it does question the conservative claims that liberal activists are ruling from the bench. From this It seems that conservative justices are far more likely to strike down laws passed by an elected (and during this time Republican) Congress. I guess that's why Congress is so upset about it. One thing that strikes me about the figures, I'm not sure why they didn't look at all decisions, not just these 64, surely there must of have many times when the Court voted to retain the law and had some dissenters who wanted to strike it down.
| Thomas | 65.63% |
| Kennedy | 64.06% |
| Scalia | 56.25% |
| Rehnquist | 46.88% |
| O'Connor | 46.77% |
| Souter | 42.19% |
| Stevens | 39.34% |
| Ginsburg | 39.06% |
| Breyer | 28.13% |
By this measure, the conservative justices are the most activist. While this might not be a good measure, it does question the conservative claims that liberal activists are ruling from the bench. From this It seems that conservative justices are far more likely to strike down laws passed by an elected (and during this time Republican) Congress. I guess that's why Congress is so upset about it. One thing that strikes me about the figures, I'm not sure why they didn't look at all decisions, not just these 64, surely there must of have many times when the Court voted to retain the law and had some dissenters who wanted to strike it down.
Three By Reference
Here are three interesting articles I'll just point to.
Roberts Knew He Was Acting Unethically points out that while Roberts didn't recuse himself in a ruling on Guantanamo prisoners while he was interviewing with Bush he did recuse himself in the same situation with Reagan.
In Was Pat Robertson's Call For Assassination Of A Foreign Leader A Crime? John Dean (yes that John Dean), shows us US Code Title 18, Section 112(b) which says threatening foreign officials is a crime. He also points out some nice irony for a strict constructionist.
In Leaked Document Exposes Bolton's Reforming Genius, Arianna Huffington shows the leaked edits John Bolton made to the 38 page draft document of UN Reform. I think his edits are disgraceful.
Roberts Knew He Was Acting Unethically points out that while Roberts didn't recuse himself in a ruling on Guantanamo prisoners while he was interviewing with Bush he did recuse himself in the same situation with Reagan.
In Was Pat Robertson's Call For Assassination Of A Foreign Leader A Crime? John Dean (yes that John Dean), shows us US Code Title 18, Section 112(b) which says threatening foreign officials is a crime. He also points out some nice irony for a strict constructionist.
In Leaked Document Exposes Bolton's Reforming Genius, Arianna Huffington shows the leaked edits John Bolton made to the 38 page draft document of UN Reform. I think his edits are disgraceful.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Plantimals
Photoshop contests can be really interesting. In this one, people needed to merge plants and animals.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Movie Review: The Aristocrats
Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller fame came up with the idea for this documentary about comedy. In jazz you listen to various musicians play the same song while putting their own improvisational touches on it. It turns out that comedians do the same thing. To demonstrate, he gathered the best comedians and writers and had them all tell the same joke. There aren't that many jokes suited to this, so they choose an old joke known as "The Aristocrats". It has very little structure, a one sentence intro, and a one word punchline which isn't even that funny. The middle is left for the comedian to personalize and to push the boundaries of outrageous, stomach-turning, revulsion. Comedians don't usually tell it to audiences but rather to each other. The tagline of the film is "No Nudity No Violence Unspeakable Obscenity".
George Carlin opens with one of the best tellings. Kevin Pollack tells the joke doing a fantastic Christopher Walken impression, Mario Cantone does it as Liza Minelli. Bob Sagat is probably the most extreme, then again, Cartman of South Park manages to offend everyone and still explain how the joke isn't funny. Gilbert Gottfried told it at the Friar's Roast of Hugh Hefner 3 weeks after 9/11 and let everyone remember how to laugh again. There are variations you never would have expected. Eric Mead tells it as a card trick, jugglers turn it into a juggling joke and seeing a mime tell this joke you've watched some of the funniest people in the world tell, needs to be seen to be believed.
This film is not just clips of stand up, it also has these comedians explain how they approach it, what works and what doesn't. When Drew Carey tells it he adds a little flurish at the end and you hear what the ten other comedians think of it. George Carlin explains the importance of telling extreme things in a matter-of-fact way. Women explain the gender differences in telling the joke. Whoopi Goldberg explains how everyone expects her to swear so he she to go some place else with it. Eric Idle discusses differences between Americans and British.
The 2002 film "Comedian" with Jerry Seinfeld was about what it takes to build the material for a standup act. This film shows that it's not the material as much as the comedian that matters and how no two comedians are alike. I walked out thinking George Carlin's opening telling was the best, and then remembered one funny part after another for two hours.
George Carlin opens with one of the best tellings. Kevin Pollack tells the joke doing a fantastic Christopher Walken impression, Mario Cantone does it as Liza Minelli. Bob Sagat is probably the most extreme, then again, Cartman of South Park manages to offend everyone and still explain how the joke isn't funny. Gilbert Gottfried told it at the Friar's Roast of Hugh Hefner 3 weeks after 9/11 and let everyone remember how to laugh again. There are variations you never would have expected. Eric Mead tells it as a card trick, jugglers turn it into a juggling joke and seeing a mime tell this joke you've watched some of the funniest people in the world tell, needs to be seen to be believed.
This film is not just clips of stand up, it also has these comedians explain how they approach it, what works and what doesn't. When Drew Carey tells it he adds a little flurish at the end and you hear what the ten other comedians think of it. George Carlin explains the importance of telling extreme things in a matter-of-fact way. Women explain the gender differences in telling the joke. Whoopi Goldberg explains how everyone expects her to swear so he she to go some place else with it. Eric Idle discusses differences between Americans and British.
The 2002 film "Comedian" with Jerry Seinfeld was about what it takes to build the material for a standup act. This film shows that it's not the material as much as the comedian that matters and how no two comedians are alike. I walked out thinking George Carlin's opening telling was the best, and then remembered one funny part after another for two hours.
Republicans and Election Tampering
James Tobin was Bush's 2004 campaign chairman for New England. A few weeks before the November 2004 election he stepped down from the post because Democrats suggested he was involved with tampering with an election.
On December 1, 2004 he was charged with tampering with the November 2002 New Hampshire election. At the time Tobin was the New England Regional Political Director for the RNC. Tobin was concentrating on the Senate race in which John Sununu defeated Democratic former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen by about 19,000 votes.
He's been indicted for conspiring with Charles McGee, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, to repeatedly call the get-out-the vote phone banks of the NH Democratic Party and the Manchester Professional Firefighters. These lines offered voters free transportation to the polls. Mr. McGee has already pleaded guilty and is cooperating with prosecutors.
The RNC spent nothing for McGee's defense, but even though the case against Tobin seems pretty strong (there's another witness too), the RNC has spent more than $722,000 on Tobin's defense. The first payment was made on December 9, 2004 under former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie. But additional payments were made on May 19 and June 15 under current chairman Ken Mehlman who took over in January 2005. There's some idle speculation that they must be paying Tobin's bills for a reason. It's a much bigger deal if Tobin was involved because he was a national official not just a state one. If the RNC really did tamper with an election, that's bad.
On December 1, 2004 he was charged with tampering with the November 2002 New Hampshire election. At the time Tobin was the New England Regional Political Director for the RNC. Tobin was concentrating on the Senate race in which John Sununu defeated Democratic former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen by about 19,000 votes.
He's been indicted for conspiring with Charles McGee, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee, to repeatedly call the get-out-the vote phone banks of the NH Democratic Party and the Manchester Professional Firefighters. These lines offered voters free transportation to the polls. Mr. McGee has already pleaded guilty and is cooperating with prosecutors.
The RNC spent nothing for McGee's defense, but even though the case against Tobin seems pretty strong (there's another witness too), the RNC has spent more than $722,000 on Tobin's defense. The first payment was made on December 9, 2004 under former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie. But additional payments were made on May 19 and June 15 under current chairman Ken Mehlman who took over in January 2005. There's some idle speculation that they must be paying Tobin's bills for a reason. It's a much bigger deal if Tobin was involved because he was a national official not just a state one. If the RNC really did tamper with an election, that's bad.
Why Does Anyone Listen to Pat Robertson?
First he says about Hugo Chavez on The 700 Club on Aug 22: "You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war."
Then he lies about saying it on an Aug 24 broadcast, where he says: "Wait a minute, I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should, quote, "take him out," and "take him out" can be a number of things including kidnapping. There are a number of ways to take out a dictator from power besides killing him. I was misinterpreted by the AP, but that happens all the time."
He did in the original say "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability." "take him out" could also mean for dinner and a movie, but I don't think that's what he meant. The first quote was clear enough.
Then he lies about saying it on an Aug 24 broadcast, where he says: "Wait a minute, I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should, quote, "take him out," and "take him out" can be a number of things including kidnapping. There are a number of ways to take out a dictator from power besides killing him. I was misinterpreted by the AP, but that happens all the time."
He did in the original say "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability." "take him out" could also mean for dinner and a movie, but I don't think that's what he meant. The first quote was clear enough.
The Need for Copyright Reform
Here's a Flowchart for Determining when US Copyrights Expire. This in itself seems a good rationale for the need of reform. Should copyrights really last 95 years or more before others can remix the work?
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