Best Ever!

1. Shout out to Dr Who fans: the coolest video EVER!!!!!!!!
2. Funny (and well produced) tv add
3. Krugman talks about something that many people are asking: what does a recovery out of these troubles look like? There are several ok possibilities (IMHO): a large consumer spending rise in China, a big leap in low cost consumer products innovation in the US. There are also some bad ones: a big expansion in the conflict in the Pakistan/Afghanistan, and just hitting bottom on how far the economy goes down (sort of an oversimplification but I can't articulate what I mean right now). Or the most likely: something completly different that I haven't seen.

1. A good point, this hadn't even occurred to me. Wow. As a good liberal son I guess always though Bush's early tax cuts were 20 bagilion dollars...or more.
2. An excellent idea... that probably won't happen sadly
3. Huh, another thing I never knew.

I love the world

1. I almost lost all composure at work today. Why? The universe is far funnier than I could have imagined. First The Onion publishes this article, then THE NEXT FUCKING day this expose about obscene Japanese games comes out in the Belfast Telegraph. The article mentions that an MP is going to go before parliament with the issue, do you think he might demand... an apology from Japan?
2. I want a subscription to the Atlantic someday, they've really had some great articles. This is a shining example of someone thinking long term. Even if he's proved wrong it's important that people think about the consequences of actions and events.
3. In the same vein this article talks about lessons from the past (Japan's in particular). Both a sense of history and of consequences are crucial to living in a sustainable world.
4. Sweden deploys some interesting ships
5. Dream on Frum, I suspect the current Republican leadership still thinks they can "beat" Obama by attacking everything he does. It'll take a few more serious defeats for them to change their minds (unless Obama really screws up in an uncharacteristic way).

Bunch O Stuff

1. I'm a nominal fan of PA (post-apocalyptic) fiction, and this movie just seems so beautiful, if really depressing. It also really reminds of of the Gunslinger Series by Steven King. The image of a train going through a blasted wasteland is very powerful I guess.
2. Regular readers will know that I love the Economist and reading these articles celebrating the 200th birthday of Lincoln was a powerful reminder of what a great news source it is.
3. I want to keep an eye on this technology. Batteries have many disadvantages including toxicity and the limited availability of raw materials so any technology that can get around that obstacle in the path to sustainable transportation is worth following in my book.
4. I remember seeing a aerogel related technology when I attended a NESEA conference a few years ago and I'm really glad to hear about this novel application of the technology.
5. If you really care about national security and the war on terrorism then I'd recommend reading this paper. I am not a legal expert but Jack Goldsmith is, according to everything I've read so far, a brave, principled, and intelligent man. I think we should treat what he suggests seriously (even if we disagree).
6. PSA for iPhone and iTouch users only: Wired has a new guide to syncing your google contacts/calendars with your mobile device and it looks pretty good to me.

1. I'm disappointed in the Obama administration today. Why? Read this.

I get the argument, I really do, revealing this information would endanger the stability of people and countries that helped the US's rendition program.

But I still feel like saying...

"President Obama, we can do better than this".

2. Keep an eye on this trend, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out. Brooks has some good thoughts on it

3. Innovation the people doing it are so interesting, case in point.

Art Today

1. First, a PSA about cell phone disposal
2. The amount of time this person has... is staggering
3. This is a charming idea
4. I think I've seen this before but it's still neat
5. Wow, photographs of landscapes in fishtanks... never thought that would look cool
6. If you have cable, and like Joss Whedon, or Whedon alums Fridays this spring will be gooooooood.

Yay Posting!

1. This is so cute
2. Interesting thoughts on the rights of robots. I love Wired, they have some good people with long minds.
3. In a related note: self (re)assembling robot video
4. Fascinating article. I've thought about this before (anyone who's seen the global urban demographic forecasts for the next 50 years can't avoid the implications) but this is the first article I've seen on the needs of "secondary forests" that cover areas abandoned by humans who have left for the cities.
5. I want to read the whole document, it's just.... a little intimidating.
6. I want to volunteer for a project like this

Thoughts

More links, not so creative today.

1. Good post, Christopher Alexander was amazing and insightful reading A Timeless Way of Building changed the way I looked at the world
2. Long thoughts, we'll see where things go

Back Now

Inauguration was good. Feeling very uncreative. More digest posts. Sorry

1. Possibly my favorite "Bush is leaving" article
2. I can't decide if this is cute or creepy
3. I read this, then noticed the author and was like, "huh????"
4. BOO-YA!!! IN YO FACE NEWTON-LEIBINZ CONTROVERSY

More digest

I haven't felt up to much writing lately, not sure why...

Anyways, have another digest edition

1. I've wondered about this, environmentalists are so often pie in the sky that it helps to bring them back down to earth from time to time.
2. This might be useful
3. The writer makes a good point
4. I'm going to volunteer for this

Sad

1. Good bye Mr McGoohan

2. Ecosystem services markets are interesting

3. Good writing advice

4. I like this comic

Neat

I like this trash-can design.

Here's a great article on software creation

Back from holiday break

Here are some good (but looooooong) articles about the financial crisis on the NYT. I'll provide breaks for my readers =)

1. The End of the World as we know it.

2. Break

3. How to repair the financial system.

4. Break, the discordian influence that seems to be more prominent in my life recently rejoices in the fact this this man will probably be the next US Senator from MN.

5. Last and longest. Warning: not for the jargon and density faint of heart, but it's worth it if you stick it out.

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

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

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

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.