Interesting blog

This isn't really my shtick but I think some of my friends (who hopefully read this blog) will be interested in this link. It's a blog (often NSFW) of morbid art and history, some of the images are nasty, some are REALLY cool, and some are just pretty. I think you may like it.

Good essay on the future of free speech

One area that hasn't gotten a great deal of legal attention (that I'm aware of). Is free speech legislation on the internet. Here, BoingBoing links to a great summery of some of the issues and dilemmas.

TRON!!!!!!

Enter your own 80s fantasy! Be Tron!!

Changing sound

Check out Reality Sandwich's (counterculture magazine that has some good stuff from time to time) article on how sound technology is changing. I'll be interested to see how some of this pans out.

I'll be watching this

If Obama wins on Tuesday I think that his supporters will inevitably be let down (he isn't perfect and he's working within an imperfect system). In particular I think he might disappoint supporters on how he deals with the presidential power policies established by the Bush administration. I do think he will reverse some things, like torture, Guantanamo (although probably not as soon as you might think). However, there will be a great deal of pressure for him to "stay the course" in some areas. TNR has a good article about one area: authorizing strikes in other countries. So I'll be keeping an eye out for reports of special forces strikes in countries that don't make sense.

I'm speechless...

Possibly the best political ad aimed at twentysomethings of this campaign, I give you... Wassup

I sooo want to do this

BoingBoing shows us what vegan zombies eat

Appeal

Dear Readers,

I'm writing to ask your help for a political cause. I try not to do this very often 'cus when people spam me with political requests I tend to find it obnoxious. As you may or may not know there is an initiative (Proposition 8) on the November ballot in California that would amend the state constitution to "eliminate the rights of same-sex couples to marry in California" (http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/bp_11042008_pres_general/prop_8_titlesummary.pdf). Because of my own beliefs about relationships, my feelings about gay marriage as propounded by the cultural left and orthodox LGBT advocates are a bit mixed.

That being said, this ballot initiative (as it is worded) is wrong and discriminates against a minority (when did anything good start with "eliminate the rights..."). Because of that I think:
1. Every eligible voter in California should VOTE NO on Prop 8.
2. Every ineligible voter in California should oppose this in every reasonable way they can.
3. Everyone outside of California should oppose this by contacting friends and family in California and persuading them to VOTE NO on Prop 8 or by donating money to the cause.

There are two reasons why am I sending this now.
1. The people who want to ban gay marriage are winning. Because of massive donations by special interests (see next reason) polls show that the race is either very close or leaning slightly toward banning gay marriage (http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/10/prop-8-toss-up.html).
2. The "ban gay marriage" campaign seems to be backed by christian conservative special interests (Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic has been covering this recently, see this http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/the-mormon-chur.html and this http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/the-mormon-fact.html). As far as I can tell this race appears to be so close not because Californians are really divided but because special interests have injected tens of millions of dollars to one side. That doesn't sound democratic to me.

Info:
For background info start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_8_(2008)

For info on why you should vote yes on prop 8 and ban gay marriage, go here: http://www.protectmarriage.com/

For info on why you should VOTE NO on prop 8 and keep gay marriage, go here: http://www.noonprop8.com/about/why-vote-no-on-prop-8

I've looked at the arguments, thought about them, and I've decided to both give money and try to find persuadable California voters who will vote no on Prop 8. I hope you'll do the same by forwarding this message (or some version of it) to people who might be able to make a difference and/or by making a donation at https://secure.ga4.org/01/socialnetwork?

I'm never going to Australia ever again

I've gotten over my issues with spiders to a certain degree but seeing this was like a 50lb sledgehammer on my "spider" button.

So to my friends, family, and loved ones: I love you and if you go to Australia I wish you well, but after seeing this I'm not sure I can go with you.

Interesting (and sad) piece on airport security

The Atlantic's Jeff Goldburg has an article on the stupidity of the TSA's security. Some back and forth with the TSA here

Negative campaigning evolving?

Every since I've become politically engaged I've hated Negative Campaigning in politics. I think it lowers the level of public discourse. If I'm watching TV and a negative add comes on, I just switch off. So reading this article about how the internet can make negative campaigns back-fire makes me a bit hopeful.

Programs to have

Slate lists 18 programs they think (and I tend to agree) everyone should have on their computer.

Interesting Article from Damn Interesting

Damn Interesting is a great site that runs interesting articles about once a month on historically events that have been under-reported or forgotten. This months article about the once secret Russian Nuclear town of, now the most polluted place on earth (according to WorldWatch) is no exception.

Wait, Obama can be funny????

As CNN has noticed both Barack Obama and John McCain were REALLY funny last night at the Alfred E. Smith dinner. Both videos are great but I think Barack Obama's was better if only because he's historically had such a dearth of humor. Whoever wrote their jokes deserves a big bonus.

This is really funny

Everyone who watched Dr Horrible this year should enjoy this post. As you may or may not know the Evil League of Evil sent out a request for new applications a few months ago. Tilzy.tv picks their top 5 favorite responses (DO NOT forget to look in the comments section lower down on the page, I particularly loved "The Vengeful Vegan".

Nice Video

This video, created to celebrate the 60th aniversiy of the The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, should be seen by everybody.

Good quote

I'm not a huge fan of Gail Collins most of the time but I liked this quote from one of her op-eds

"Remember how we used to joke about John McCain looking like an old guy yelling at kids to get off his lawn? It’s only in retrospect that we can see that the keep-off-the-grass period was the McCain campaign’s golden era. Now, he’s beginning to act like one of those movie characters who steals the wrong ring and turns into a troll.

During that last debate, while he was wandering around the stage, you almost expected to hear him start muttering: 'We wants it. We needs it. Must have the precious.'"

Also some conservatives are upset by the tone McCain's taken recently

The DOW sucks

So I'm told from sources I trust from left and right that if you really want to know what's going on with the financial crisis you shouldn't watch the DOW. You should be watching the TED spread.

Slightly OT But...

I can feel my mother voice in my head for this post...

The current furor over Angelina Jolie's picture on W magazine annoys me. Apparently people are OUTRAGED that she un-wholesomely exposed her breasts on the front cover of a magazine. My question to those people: have you ever seen any of her movies?

Why you shouldn't go out and buy Blu-ray discs

'Cus they'll probably be replaced by these in a few years

This article doesn't help my mood

CNN runs this sort of article from time to time. They make me sooooo nervous. Bleh

I soooo want to go here

Awesome private collection of assorted books and cool artifacts profiled by BoingBoing

I'm Surprised

Here are some reactions from Culture11 (leans rightward) that are pretty friendly towards Obama that surprised me. I expected them to be more negative.

'Nother good David Brooks Column

Check it out. I disagree with some of what's in the column (I'd put less blame on the traders he refers to).

Bruce Springsteen fans pay attention

How Bruce Springsteen's songs have helped Obama, particularly "The Rising"

Cool Concept Car

Mazda has a neat new concept car focused around the idea of water.

New Insight Looks Neat

Wired has a review

I agree with this

Why Palin will "win" tonight

It may just be my background but...

I found this deeply moving