29th June, 2006
Well, looks like we got ourselves a reader.
So, it’s summertime. What better time is there to laze about in the sun with a good book? None, I say! Here’s a quick rundown of some of the noteworthy stuff I’ve run across in the past month or so:
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond. A bit rambling at times, but overall a good read. With lots of lessons to be learned, this should be required reading for all leaders-of-state. My favorite quote from this book:
What did the Easter Islander who cut down the last palm tree say while he was doing it? Like modern loggers, did he shout “Jobs, not trees!� Or: “Technology will solve our problems, never fear, we’ll find a substitute for wood� Or: “We don’t have proof that there aren’t palms somewhere else on Easter, we need more research, your proposed ban on logging is premature and driven by fear-mongering�
Incidentally, I also read his book, Guns, Germs and Steel, but I wasn’t overly impressed.
The Republican War on Science by Chris Mooney. It probably should have been called “The Neocon War on Science”, but then it wouldn’t sell as many copies. Starting around the Nixon era and continuing through G. W. Bush, this is a highly detailed and documented chronicle of the downward spiral in the role that science plays in policymaking here in the US. Despite the level of detail, it is also quite readable. And extremely angering. If Collapse is required reading for all heads-of-state, then this book should be required for every citizen of this country.
On a lighter note, I recently started the 2nd book in The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone series by Greg Keyes. Really some solid fantasy writing here with strong characters and well-developed environments. Of similar caliber to George R.R. Martin, IMO. I had read his earlier works, The Waterborn and Blackgod, which were decent but not on the same level that I’m seeing so far in this series. Recommended.
Posted at 5:56 am | Comment (0)
16th June, 2006
Friday
Hey, it’s Friday. It is a simply gorgeous day out and the forecast stays the same through Monday. Why not start off the weekend with a bang and some good ol’ anti-establishment tunes.
I declare war on the axis of morons
All out war on complacent consent
I declare war on the war against drugs
Rape and slaughter of the innocentWar on big brother,
Warmongers and profiteers
War on your dogma Dubya
Armageddon’s engineers- from WWIII by KMFDM
Have a great weekend and remember that our government was formed by the people, for the people.
Posted at 4:41 pm | Comment (0)
16th June, 2006
Clark
General Wesley Clark addresses this year’s Yearly Kos. Both a transcript and a (not-so-great-quality) mp3 recording of the talk are available. I’d like to see him run for President again.
Posted at 5:34 am | Comment (0)
13th June, 2006
Lyrebird
Check out this David Attenborough clip featuring Australia’s lyrebird. Simply amazing. (requires Quicktime)
Posted at 5:46 am | Comment (1)
7th June, 2006
Cynic
Now will saying “yes†get you in trouble at times? Will saying “yes†lead you to doing some foolish things? Yes it will. But don’t be afraid to be a fool. Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying “yes†begins things. Saying “yes†is how things grow. Saying “yes†leads to knowledge. “Yes†is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say “yes.†– Stephen Colbert at the 2006 Knox College Commencement Address
Hearing this now, older and wiser as I am (please hold your laughter until after my thought is finished), I wish I had heard these words at my college graduation. However, stepping back into time, I know that as a recent college graduate, I would have most likely dismissed these words as nonsense since I was already knew how the world worked. I hope that these kids are more open-minded at this point in their lives than I was.
Posted at 7:02 am | Comment (0)
2nd June, 2006
Slime
There is a rather long, but very well-documented, article at Rolling Stone that focuses on all the “anomalies” that occured during the 2004 election. The really fun part is that J. Kenneth Blackwell, the current Secretary of State for Ohio, whose name comes up again and again and again in the article is the Republican nominee for governor (Ohio) during this year’s upcoming election. If this slimeball gets any votes this year, it will be proof that lies and money have replaced justice and liberty here in Ohio.
Posted at 5:45 am | Comments (2)
