Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Weird

Huh, I wonder what's going on with this?

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Wow

13-year-olds get it, why doesn't the US government?

Also, an AWESOME video

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Xeni raises a good point about this. The MSM was all over the creepy guy in Austria who kept his daughter locked up for years. Why aren't they all over this new creepy story?

Wired has a good article about early detection systems for cancer

Plus, see for all of you Gordan Ramsey nuts see video of him as a child

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Neat Design Article

Interesting article from worldchanging about products that force people to act in sustainable ways.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Good insight

TNR has a good article on the new Secretary of Education and how his pick offers insight in the the coming Obama administration.

Also a neat video

Saturday, December 13, 2008

James Polous has some interesting thoughts about Pakistan. He characterizes the situation in Pakistan as something the US shouldn't be involved in because it isn't a problem to solve but rather a situation that exists and needs to be left alone. In his words it is an "uncrackable nut". I'm not sure I agree with him but I do think that he makes a valid point about how American arrogance lead it's leaders to think that any bad political situation could (and should) be solved.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Really quick post

I need to drive somewhere before the roads start freezing so I'll be really quick

1. Neat video
2. Good idea
3. Jaw dropping

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Design Idea

In sustainability articles in the MSM one thing that doesn't get touched on much is efficiancy. It's more exciting to talk about new technology and projects than making existing things work better, however being efficient is a huge part of "the solution". Take packaging for example.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Poetry

I have my own (private) journal of poetry and art that I keep but this poem was so beautiful that I want to share it more widely. It's by Rowan Williams (I only recently discovered his poetry) and seems very appropriate for the season. All hail the Holly King!

Advent Calendar

He will come like last leaf's fall.
One night when the November wind
has flayed the trees to bone, and earth
wakes choking on the mould,
the soft shroud's folding.

He will come like frost.
One morning when the shrinking earth
opens on mist, to find itself
arrested in the net
of alien, sword-set beauty.

He will come like dark.
One evening when the bursting red
December sun draws up the sheet
and penny-masks its eye to yield
the star-snowed fields of sky.

He will come, will come,
will come like crying in the night,
like blood, like breaking,
as the earth writhes to toss him free.
He will come like child.

Good Science

I found an oldish example of a WONDERFUL science article, illustrating (to me at least) why science can be exciting. So want to know how bees are connected to quantum fields?

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Missed a couple

Grrr, I missed several articles from my digest post.

1. Wow, I had no idea that it would be this easy to make Earth maps look like Middle Earth maps.

2. Article from Wired about an amazing (and somewhat creepy) music video. Watch the video first.

3. Amazingly designed website about cities in the 21st century. I first started really thinking about this after the Long Now Seminar talking about how cities will probably be the political powerhouses of the 21st century (I think it was Philip Longman but I'm not sure). Obviously current trends could change but if they don't I think the implications are huge. I can't wait for Stewart Brand's book on the subject, assuming he ever finishes it!

4. A new reality show about busting cops on illegal drug raids. Barkingshaman follows this way more closely than I do and I'm curious about what he thinks. I guess I'll just have to ask ;)

5. Good article by Malcolm Gladwell about finding good teachers. Yes I know it's really long but I think it's worth the time investment. I wonder what teachers think of some of the ideas he mentions (and the source of his inspiration for teacher recruiting techniques) .

Backlog

I've built up a backlog of sites/articles I want to post about so I'm going to do another "digest" edition of AFITH today.

1. Check out the tools section below, I've added a bunch of cool software apps that I use or want to use.
2. I think everyone should read Philip Jenkins article on the intellectual origins of the fundamentalist and extremist Islamic groups operating today. Please read with a critical eye because although I can find examples of good journalism in his background I don't see obvious experience in the matters he touches on in the article. To my eyes the article makes sense and is interesting but others may feel differently.
3. A moving op-ed by Asif Al Zardari about the attacks in Mumbai. I like the sentiments but I'm not sure how much impact he will have.
4. Worldchanging (briefly) reviews The Atlas Of Hidden Water. It's a really neat PDF with profound political implications. Note, for example, how much water crosses international boarders.
5. My top five favorite Obama speeches from his campaign

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Interesting but not sure about long term consequences

I've heard about this before, and I'm skeptical for exactly the reasons discussed here. I just worry that having millions of them would effect climate in unanticipated ways.

Pretty

This is just a beautiful example of craftsmanship (also makes me thing of Merlin's bag)

Whoa

I want to believe that he's faking it.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Where are we going?

Wow, this sounds like so many science fiction books I've read

Monday, December 1, 2008

In a hurry

I want to get home so you get to have the short short version of my thoughts today.

1. I can think of a million things to do with this. The Erisian potential abounds!
2. One of my favorite places to go on the internets is Worldchanging. Here they have another good article, this one about "Enlightened Capitalism". Mental note: forward this to my uncle Steve.
3. Good article about the future of communication by security consultant Bruce Schneier (what a sucky name to spell, bleh!) who I've referenced before.