I foolishly spend my time working for a living, or finding ways to improve my life through education.

I guess I ought to be focused on the only value of any merit in a consumer democratic society - lowest price.

The internet shows me the depths of humanity's insatiable creative output, and it frightens me more and more everyday. We are oddity all the way down.

this is brilliant!

thanks so much.

Correlation != Covariation

Correlation: every time the bus drives by, the street lights go on. The bus happens to drive by at 7pm, the same time the lights go on. No agency in either the lights or the bus, no causal relation between the lights and the bus.

Covariation: def: correlated variation (dictionary.com) - seems to imply agency - inferring causal connections as best as possible without being able to readily identify the underlying causal factor due to the messiness of 'privileged access' we each experience as subjective consciousness.

Changingminds.org gives an interesting introduction:

Description

When explaining other people’s behaviors, we look for similarities (covariation) across a range of situations to help us narrow down specific attributions...

Example

If a manager yells at a person, we assume it is his nature if he is the only person to yell at that person (low consensus), he yells at other people too (low distinctiveness) and he yells at them often. However, if everyone else gets cross with the same person (high consensus) and the manager does not yell at other people (high distinctiveness), we assume it is something external—probably the person being yelled at. Finally, if the manager has not yelled at the person before, we assume that something unusual has happened (situational attribution).
So what?

Using it

Use this to help understand how others are thinking.

The film is delightful, but the contrast between the life that exits in NYC vs Winnipeg (where I've lived my whole life) is quite striking. Our streets are barren, theirs are fertile.

[Just to add a little to this great thread, I thought I would repost a response I wrote to the thread "Having a Bad Hair day" at "Dr. Leo Strauss'" bunker. Roubini is very well respected Harvard graduated economist who operates a frequently updated, highly technical blog at his company's website. He has recently been lauded by colleagues as being months (years) ahead of predicting these structural flaws, but was largely ignored - until recently.]

Just finished reading Dr Nouriel Roubini’s always informative blog at RGEMonitor (who has been months ahead of his colleagues in predicting our current crisis) which gives a sketch of just such a plan. He is advocating for a carefully managed nationalization of vital sectors of the mortgage and capital markets to prevent a total watershed of homelessness and an incapacitation of US financial functionality.

Debate rages in the comments about the viability/constitutionality of the plan. Most contention hinges on which will promote/preserve greater freedom: nationalization and the risk of a planned economy encroaching (a la Hayek), or the piecemeal approach currently underway by the fed inducing a negative feedback loop that would sink markets well below their inherent value and thus decapitate American finances. The laissez faire proponents are favouring the latter to the former, hoping this option would maintain American ‘liberty’ but fail to note that the excesses of capitalism remain intact as an anchor firmly tied to a drowning man’s neck. Dr. Roubini is emphatic that,

A market solution to this crisis does not exist; those who believe in such markets solutions are deluding themselves as markets left alone will melt down and enter into the mother of all meltdowns, margin calls, cascading collapse of asset prices, massive credit crunch and liquidity seizure and severe economic recession.

Either way, neither Dr. Roubini nor the commenters recognize that this ambitious, perhaps necessary, prescription requires - as you rightly note - above average management and leadership. Only in a fantasy world could one imagine ‘the Warlord’ and your hobbled federal government to even recognize a viable plan should it come to their attention, let alone capitalize on it and effectively put it into practice.

Link: http://www.rgemonitor.com/blog/roubini/250488#readcomments (unfortunately, the comments are behind a subscription/paywall-thing) but they speak very precisely to the topic you raise here.

Some quotes from Roubini from behind the paywall:

Thus the piecemeal approach to crisis management taken by the Fed, the Treasury and other financial authorities is going to fail miserably. A severe recession and a severe financial crisis cannot be avoided at this point. Only much more radical government action will limit the financial meltdown and start to put a floor on the financial markets collapse. [emphasis mine]

“Such radical policy action includes a government plan to purchase – at a significant discount to minimize its fiscal cost – hundreds of billions of dollars – possibly trillions – of mortgages, effectively a nationalization of mortgages. Once purchased by the governments at a significantly discounted price these mortgages could be restructured to reduce their face value, reduce the interest rate on the mortgage and allow distressed but solvent borrowers to avoid foreclosure.”

“This plan would also include the closing and/or nationalization of banks and other systemically important financial institutions that will fail in droves during the current financial crisis (they can then be privatized again after proper restructuring as many countries did after their banking crises). Again moral hazard distortions can be minimized by wiping out 100% the shareholders in these institutions and firing – with no sweet severance packages - all the reckless senior management that created this mess.”

If you search youtube for Clarke and Dawe they have a load of great clips.

My favorite is most definitely 'front fell off' about an oil spill from a tanker:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WcU4t6zRAKg&feature=related

Thanks for the link, BB!

"The growth of popular sports and entertainment...and the creation of popular culture based on TV...[has created three new classes which are], in ascending order, the morons, the yuppies and the stars. The first watch TV, the second make the programmes, and the third appear on them. And because those wh appear on the screen cultivate the manners of the people who are watching them, implying that they are only there by accident, and that tomorrow it may very well be the viewer's turn, all possibility of resentment is avoided. At the same time, the emotional and intellectual torpor induced by TV neutralizes the social mobility that would otherwise enable the morons to change their lot."

- Roger Scuton, 1980

The point being, television (and nearly all video-based media now) is a toxin for children regardless of the content. I think Scruton does a good job of arguing this philosophically, and there has since been a slew of empirical evidence to support his politically moral misgivings.

Were I to be a parent to a child right now, I would ensure that they grew up in an environment free of television, with very carefully restricted access to a computer (eg 300mhz machine running Ubuntu no net connection). Not that media/technology/computer skills are not valuable (I am posting here after all), but that a large swath of these are so pernicious to developing children that I would be demonstrably negligent should I expose them to it.

I watched both the Brussard talk and this other one presented Eric J. Lerner on their competing fusion technologies in their entirety.

I am no plasma physicist, but I had a few billion to invest in emerging technologies, I would back Lerner's focus fusion as opposed to Brussard's inertial electrostatic confinement fusion (IEC). But watch both, earn a doctorate in plasma physics, and you decide which succeeds! ;) Regardless, I hope one or the other can go intro production soon.

As troubling as this was on first viewing for all the reasons pointed out above, on second thought, it seems that this was a miss-guided attempt to vent and rage after having been tormented by peers steeped in thuggery and might-is-right culture that passes for early adolescence.

Having been a victim of bullying, and likely not the only one on this forum, I think you have to have some sympathy for her. She of course has no tools of articulation, expression or recourse - and comes off sounding half-retarded to us (semi)educated adults, but given that she is probably responding to being tormented by others who adopt the same vocabulary it has a certain internal consistency to it. A culture steeped in violence, ghetto-opulence, insincerity and just plain viciousness produces little else other than this unfortunate victim.

To agree, also, with those above - I too am very happy I did not have internet access/youtube when I was being tormented most everyday through junior high.

I just stumbled across this great LJ entry on the protest in England:

http://deathboy.livejournal.com/1082404.html

Which includes great photos, videos and a stunning LOLCat style captioned pic of the demo.

(i am not affiliated with 'deathboy' or any of his friends, afaik - just stumbled on it using the random LJ image generator)

well, its no girl-throwing-herself-on-random-males-while-being-photographed, but its ok.

haha, this is far more engaging, intelligent, and satisfying than the 'art' featured on the main page today. i appreciate the elegance of functional efficiency.

I would highly recommend the Democracy Now! MLK Day special they broadcast each year. Its available in all kinds of different media (mp3, ogg, mp4) on their website or using Miro. They present MLK in his own words:

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/21/dr_martin_luther_king_jr_1929

You may also want to search DN! as they have done several other specials to commemorate his assisination and other occasions. If you look through the archives, they have also done interviews with his son who discusses the reasons behind the protection by copyright and other means of the 'MLK Brand' (and the use of his image in advertising).

DN! makes a point of presenting public figures from the past and present in their own words - not something you'll find on most other media outlets (other than BB!).

#42 ClintonD said:

"And that host bugs me to death. His mannerisms are so...odd. Who thought he would make a good host?"

I couldn't agree more. That nerd, regardless of how wealthy and/or willing he is to peddle his opinions, should never have been let out of his parents basement.

Just to add my echo to this chamber, its always best to take advantage of a golden opportunity to address issues in the public interest, especially when your 'host' doesn't want you to. So well done for speaking your conscience.

Other comments have said it above, but the price is way off for this product. I was really hoping that they would introduce this sub-$1000 - being nearly double seems to me entirely incorrect for where they should be positioning this item.

I was very happy to see Joel's essay on the (long overdue) future of the sub-compact status in North America. He is bang on on all his points, particularly the input needs (i.e. keyboards) - but price and available ought to be top priorities as well. Certainly the trend with the XO, Asus EEE and others are banking on wide adoption over per unit profit, and its a shame that Apple go this router also. Their cache for a premium brand may be the weak point for this new, desirable, product.

Other comments have said it above, but the price is way off for this product. I was really hoping that they would introduce this

I was very happy to see Joel's essay on the (long overdue) future of the sub-compact status in North America. He is bang on on all his points, particularly the input needs (i.e. keyboards) - but price and available ought to be top priorities as well. Certainly the trend with the XO, Asus EEE and others are banking on wide adoption over per unit profit, and its a shame that Apple go this router also. Their cache for a premium brand may be the weak point for this new, desirable, product.

My girlfriend and I both quite liked Stardust, a charming sophisticated story that did not make us feel dissapointed for bothering to go to the theatre.

I was sorry to see that neither the Colbert report nor the Daily Show cracked the top 10 for TV. They should get special notice for most aggregate downloads over time or some such. Those two shows have had a rabid torrent following since ShunTV started posting the Daily Show to suprnova in 2003. ShunTV was a great little group of dedicated Daily Show / Colbert fans until it got shut down in 2005 a few months after the famous forced closure of suprnova. The irony being that it actually got EASIER to access DS/CR via torrent after it closed because mininova and a host of a other anonymous website started taking off just as the general bittorrent community was fractured by the shutdowns. Instead of fans getting their shows from one site / ripper it became very decentralized and now you'll see large numbers of public torrent sites hosting rips from a variety of sources.

I miss the ShunTV community because it was a great place for fans to discuss the episodes and topics that emerged - a labour of love for all involved - until it was calously shut down and its members cast to the wind to enjoy in the dark all alone. Ahh the halcyon days...

the only problem is the wide use of digital cable / satellite receiver boxes that could potentially foul up this wonderful little mod. I work at a telco providing technical support for a ton of elderly (and users of all ages) help to get their cable box to work correctly with their TVs and to have all the remotes work in synch with all the various tv channels. it’s a huge headache. in short, this remote would be great up to the minute you introduce modern content into their homes through some type of digital input. Really, these should be commercialized and provided as an option to customers so they don’t constantly call tech support :/

Open firefox, open address "about:config", search for "browser.blink_allowed", change from "true" to "false". enjoy.

This is such an obvious outcome from the situation. It is also possibly the best media news in quite a while, nothing short of pulling the rug out of from under the despicable television industry in one fell swoop. Who would have thought bringing down Big TV would be this easy? Thank you pigheaded networks, we couldn't have done it without you!

Umm, this guy could have easily killed like 5 people and caused a major traffic accident as that minivan nearly careened into oncoming traffic.

That person is lucky they are not now being convicted of manslaughter rather than just being an enormous dick (and thousands of dollars of property damage).

...entertaining video though. My favorite part was when the employee charged up to the car as it crashed over the railing, i wonder if the next 2 minutes show him pummeling the driver for nearly killing him.

so glad we live in the enlightened west, where organizations don't go mad and overreact to content that is marginally offensive to comply with stringent, arbitrary doctrine hooray for ... oh wait, link dead, removed due to terms of use violation.

thank you for protecting me, Supreme Jurisprudent Grand Ayatollah Chad Hurley.

hooray for US policy - creating a situation where 'is home in Sudan' is considered good news. Sudan is hardly a place to be pleased to go home to now, a despicable government, ethnic conflict (darfur) and a corrupt oil economy.

You may want to help draw attention to the plight of Sami al-Haj, an Al-Jazeera cameraman held at Guantanamo Bay for the past five years without charge or trial.

Great article, thanks for the link. I also read the one last week on the supercomputer conference. These new (if not new, at least new to me) Wired photo-writeup-feature-things are very compelling, high-fiber info snacking indeed!

Thank you for posting this list, worthy causes all.

To Nekura20x6:
I would tend to frown on the Amazon collection plate that is Child's Play. I love Gabe and Tycho and the spirit of their actions, but I have serious qualms over actual execution of their activities. I have read many of the testimonials from parents and staff at the recipient hospitals who are overjoyed for their contributions, so I congratulate them on their successes all around, but i think my limited resources are better spent elsewhere.

That said, I listen to Democracy Now! everyday, perhaps the best news source of any medium. All listener funded, always free to download audio, video, transcript for personal use or distribution. I see you have archive.org up there, Democracy Now! uses archive.org extensively as their online hosting service, so giving to them would also be an indirect way of helping DN! and the many other great services archive.org offers.

Again, top quality daily news broadcasts from Democracy Now! that is free as in speech and free as in beer that needs listener support - and their partners archive.org.

as of 8:10pm central the 'Fair Copyright for Canada' group is sporting 4,522 members and growing fast (12 news adds in the few minutes between browser refreshes).

Since BB started noting this story a few days ago, I've promoted it on facebook, joined the group, and mailed my MP and the industry minister. I'd encourage all other Canadian readers to do the same.

Although an amazing discovery, and a leap ahead by an order of magnitude, this is not the first time dinosaur soft-tissue has been discovered.

There was an interesting episode of NOVA Science Now detailing all the advances (to that date) in paleontological soft-tissue discoveries. A good primer before looking into this new discovery.

#45 posted by sonny p fontaine

Wow. Your use of ad hominem is certainly in no need further practise, your ability to malign without offering content or rebuttal is sufficient as it is. Perhaps you should resign your boingboing account and never come back?

Its very helpful that you resort to attacking my character, then use someone else's quote entirely out of context, to call into question my ability to form an argument. I'm glad you didn't waste your time addressing any objections I raised in this thread as you, apparently unlike me, have such an excitement-filled life that you couldn't couldn't possibly find the time to support your criticism with any facts or arguments.

You state that my comparison between two overpriced products, using similar technology, with similar design, aimed at similar purposes, pitched to two different audiences in the name of 'helping them', is 'quite a stretch'.

I was pointing out that these two similar, but not identical, items received two different receptions at boingboing. Perhaps you can point out how this comparison was 'quite a stretch' given that many of their features and shortcomings overlap? But your valuable time could not be wasted on such an activity, as it would eat into your 'calling people names on the internet' time, which is penciled in between pilates and making fun of fat kids at the bus stop.

Dawkins is a third rate philosopher and theologian. He should stick to studying mollusc's and other invertebrates as he does little to intelligently advance the case for atheism.

That being said, my main point is to question whether Dawkins himself would have the guts to go to Turkey and testify to help those who have worked to make money for him.

Chomsky went to Turkey at least twice, once in the 90s and most recently in 2002, to testify on behalf of those who were censured for publishing his works in Turkish. His presence in both instances resulted in acquittal. Lets hope Dawkins can take a few moments from railing against American fundamentalists to leave Oxford and go defends his views when they are actually under attack.

Links about Chomsky visiting in 2002 to aid his publishers:
http://www.cbc.ca/asithappens/international/noamchomsky_020802.html

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2002/02/15/turkey5825.htm

I still listen to the radio as I love the university radio stations in my town (winnipeg).

If you are in Seattle, most likely you can pick up CBC Radio from Canada - very much a joyous companion to your new stylish device. If you listen throughout the (24 hour) day, you can find many delightful things, and later on in the evenings and weekends many shows that target audiences

For the record, Joel Johnson of your BB Gadgets gave a scathing pan to a similar product, on many of the same grounds (cost, materials, hype, image) only marketed to different audiences:

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/10/19/poptech-notes-sheila.html

Why the zealous defense of a product when its $412 rather than when its targeted, nominally at least, to help those who don't have the luxury of easy access to electricity?

Although the products are not identical, ultimately Joel's original criticism stands for both:

"I think it is safe to say...An inexpensive, durable solar-powered light would be fantastically useful in many scenarios...[but]The Portable Light smacks of remedial design as pet project, an expensive solution in search of a problem."

For the record, Joel Johnson of your BB Gadgets gave a scathing pan to a similar product, on many of the same grounds (cost, materials, hype, image) only marketed to different audiences:

http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/10/19/poptech-notes-sheila.html

Why the zealous defense of a product when its $412 rather than when its targeted, nominally at least, to help those who don't have the luxury of easy access to electricity?

Although the products are not identical, ultimately Joel's original criticism stands for both:

"I think it is safe to say...An inexpensive, durable solar-powered light would be fantastically useful in many scenarios...[but]The Portable Light smacks of remedial design as pet project, an expensive solution in search of a problem."

@ #4 by Cory Doctorow

Point taken.

But I've still not purchased a leather, suede, or cowhide item in over a decade. It remains the treated skin of an animal; something I'd rather not decorate myself with (and certainly not for $412).

My main complaint is people perceiving environmental responsibility and 'being green' as distinct from say, eating meat, or drinking bottled water. (You boingers have done a good job on highlighting good journalism on the topic of bottled water) This overpriced accoutrement bundles the dissonance of exploiting animals for their skin, with saving the earth with metal-free dies and carbon-friendly solar kits into one trendy package.

I am no saint, he mutters texting swiftly on his cell, but I can recognize a walking contradiction when I see one.

This was brought to my attention by a friend who referred me to this post about how to block it:

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/11/09/how-to-block-facebook-beacon/

Upon reading it, however, I discovered the same problem could be easily overcome without installing yet-another Firefox addon. I simply added http://*facebook.com/beacon/* to my Adblock Plus* list of blocked elements. I assume that would work just as well. Either way, I've seen no evidence of this Beacon thing that everyone is in an uproar about. But I haven't purchased anything online in quite a while, so maybe its just not interested in me...

* http://adblockplus.org/en/

I strenuously second #2 by Robert.

Any possible energy savings or efficiencies generated by the solar array are entirely eliminated by the wasteful process of energy-intensive animal rearing. That bag has a huge footprint it would need to fill before it becomes 'carbon neutral' again.

I'd prefer my trendy, overpriced, sustainable development-poseur products to come without needless death.

On the bright side, maybe that shameless waste Kevin Trudeau has moved his target market from desperate sick people to desperate small-time reprobates.

During a brief tenure being employed at a local health-food store I was shocked, SHOCKED, to discover the frequency with which people would approach me with 'facts' or questions and cite Trudeau's several books/infomercials as a reliable source. I had no idea prior to this the influence what obviously contemptible huckster could have on seemingly competent citizens. But these occasions did allow me to indulge a favorite pastime, tirading against his fraudulence and dishonesty.

I would cite frequently the revealing article published by Scientific American ( http://tinyurl.com/n2v62 ). I vociferously denounced his quackery, pointing out his jail time, highlighting his contradictory (and nonsensical) medical advice, while underscoring his repeated censures by the FTC. The customers would then point over my should to a copy of Trudeau's "Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About" prominently displayed amongst the few books for sale. Thus, it was our supposedly reputable business that was using him to trick our own customers. Overall, its a dire shame, and further evidence of how quickly people will buy into a well-marketed scam - even experienced con-artists like pool sharks.

#8 posted by Tavie Author Profile Page, November 18, 2007 5:24 PM

I figure "aeroplane" is Cory's Canadian showing - they sometimes favour the English spelling, doncha know...

No, in Canada its just airplane. And we certainly do not spell tire as 'tyre.' I am not sure if this is someone's who uses odd spelling for its own sake or they were just trained in 19th century British English.

(Also, the portion that contains the world 'aeroplane' was not written by Cory, but from the ad by the makers of the product - hence the quotation marks surrounding it - a frequent tipoff that the text comes from a different author)

Canadians are proud of our spelling, we use it with honoUr, but we do not say aeroplane, tyre, aluminIum, or lift.

looks like a brilliant (sorry, pun) product to me. indirect illumination, unique style, energy efficient - sounds like a winner. I'd love to have it resting on a floor to give an oddly oriented light source, or it could easily sit on a table and give nice ambient light.

It would be great to see something like this in production, and me with the disposable income to afford it!

FINALLY!! Gathering energy from ambient movement is long overdue. This type of technology should be moved rapidly into general production.

Given that devices such as cell phones are tossed, jiggled, vibrated, and generally on the go most of the time I see no reason they should need to be plugged in to be recharged. By collecting the kinetic energy of its owner, the battery ought to be able to recharge itself on the go.

I first mentioned this to BoingBoing on Nov 8 here: http://www.boingboing.net/2007/11/08/georgian-riot-cops-i.html

I wrote in my comment:

"I saw footage (via Miro) from this protest, the masks were definitely necessary given the copious tear gas canisters dispatched to disperse the crowd. The gas was quickly followed by cops with clubs, water cannons, and the infamous LRAD, or long-range acoustic device covered previously on boingboing (the benefits of American sponsorship no doubt)."

The footage in question came from the "EuroNews No Comment" feed on Miro. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a link to the clip on their website at the time. (I should looked on YouTube, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj1hGarg8lk )

Thank you for picking it up. What would be most valuable to understand now is the exact extent of US (government and/or corporate) support for these repressive measures ongoing in Georgia. Just speculation, but without western assistance, I don't believe we'd see the LRAD turn up in Tbilisi. The US role in Georgia has been subject to some scrutiny, and it has served as an archetypical example of the United States controversial attention to former Easter Block countries.

The United States has pushed for Georgia to become a full member of NATO, and there was speculation of interference in the turmoil that occurred in the country a few years ago.

Democracy Now! has done some reporting on the issue:

"Saving President Bush: Send in James Baker (2003)
When the President’s in trouble there is one man he turns to more than any other: James A. Baker III. He was Bush’s man during the Florida recount, he was in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia just months before the government fell."
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/12/08/150250

"Pipeline to Promise or Pipeline to Peril? New U.S.-Backed Oil Route Starts Moving Crude Oil From Azerbaijan to the West (2005)
The route of the pipeline is reportedly designed to only go through nations with strong U.S. support like Azerbaijan and Georgia, which have both been criticized for human rights abuses."
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/05/27/1410246

to #3 - SCOUTMASTER

I will let Nick Negroponte answer those questions himself, as he does very well in his TED talk.

Link: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/41

i really wish i had $400 to spare right now :/

For once, the price being in USD is an ADVANTAGE for us Canadians! ha

good review - showing where the awkward mouse actually was would have been nice, and the lack of a tab key seems to be a deal-breaker for me.

I'll be in the market to actually purchase one of these types of sub-compact laptops (UMPCs) one day, so please keep me informed. The video review format is a very good way to do that too.

I strongly agree with the above, skip the popularized 15 minute gloss found in most media (and podcasts!), and look to much more detailed explanations like those offered by Lee Smolin.

I find it find extremely disappointing that, despite there being so many science programs available on the internet, they remain high level, popularized and without the detail and insight required to get a coherent picture of modern physics. I do like Q&Q, I have been a huge fan of Bob McDonald since I was about 5 yrs old when he hosted a kids science show on the CBC, it was brilliant - but this report was uninformative to knowledgeable laymen, and a mediocre introduction for initiates. I truly desire science programming, on the internet, on tv, or on the radio to be at a level sufficient to challenge those with a decent lay familiarity - like NOVA used to be.* Rather than attempt to pander to the uniformed masses, trying to draw them into something well beyond their scope with flashy graphics, soft metaphors, and fancy editing. Science for science sake, damnit! Its supposed to be hard.

For those interested in this topic, please do look to Lee Smolin's writing. His 'Trouble with Physics' and 'Three Roads to Quantum Gravity' are some of the most brilliant science writing I have ever encountered.

*NOT like the Elegant Universe - very disappointed in that series as it was a hyperventilating whirlwind barely scratching the surface. (Although, there were some very good interviews included)

ianal, but ...

imho random, unidentified person's image from >20 yrs ago - not an invasion of privacy.

to the the point addressed above regarding the status of abandoned film or film found in an abandoned camera, it is just that abandoned. if i recall correctly, there is a precedent that collecting a discarded/abandoned item is not illegal search or seizure. by the fact that they have abrogated any rights to the possession of the property, it would seem they have also given up any claim to the contents of the film. i would think this is particularly true for items that have been neglected for a decade or more.

unidentifiable nostalgia, taken from abandoned property, posted without malice to me seems reasonable use.

Of course, with respect to minors or questionable/identifiable content the admin's best discretion ought to be used.

to OM:

Couldn't agree more, this is brilliant stuff. :)

I think the near-future of space exploration and astronomy are going to see amazing advances (and we have a front row seat). This is a great send-off for the renewed interest in the moon shown by many countries and science agencies.

has anyone considered covering the brutal treatment these combine-esque storm troopers are meeting out to the public in georgia?

I saw footage (via Miro) from this protest, the masks were definitely necessary given the copious tear gas canisters dispatched to disperse the crowd. The gas was quickly followed by cops with clubs, water cannons, and the infamous LRAD, or long-range acoustic device covered previously on boingboing (the benefits of American sponsorship no doubt).

Instead of admiring design, reflecting on how much our world now resembles unpleasant aspects of video games (or mickey mouse?), why not start exploring the issues involved?

to wolfiesma:

I too am bothered by gratuitous reference (in most any medium) to branding - its jarring and interrupting. I haven't yet read this Gibson book, but my guess is that he is trying to capture the current state of language. I try not to use brand names in daily speech - but have you ever asked random people for driving directions? What they did on the weekend? What are some things they like? Often answers to those and similar questions will usually be a string of verbs connected by brand names and adjectives like 'really' or 'awesome'.

'Just drive to the Wendy's, turn left, go to the really big Wallmart, look for the awesome McDonalds, and you're there.' - 'I had an awesome time, we ate at Olive Garden, got some Coors, and got wicked trashed, and rolled into 7-11 at 8am' etc... etc...

Its not Gibson's fault, its ours. Our language is so impoverished by the omnipresence of branding, even for those who consciously reject it, its almost impossible not to be inundated by it.

I just finished watching the presentation on the TED Talks channel on everyone's favorite Miro Player. Excellent, as others have observed. Certainly a great distillation of many themes that have been embraced by the majority of previous ted speakers. But this theme that has always remained as subtext. By connecting the open content / CC movement with the legal and social aspects, Lessig coalesced the essence of all those previous talks that embraced CC implicitly to the fore. He spelled out EXACTLY why it makes good sense that all those other smart people had built CC into their implicit design or methodology. Were there one talk that could serve as a copping stone, an epitome, for all TED - I think this one ought to be it.

The most salient portion, however, was the connection he drew between criminalization and behaviour. That is, asserting the prevailing moeurs (to borrow Rousseau's term) of our 'kids' living against the law without being against their own 'common sense.' The most important point being that this is an extremely destructive feature of contemporary social experience. The combination or passivity, coupled with assumed criminality, I think says a lot for why things are coming off the rails in many respects. Only when community, creativity, morality (moeurs) are harmonized with the spirit of the rule of law can democracy function reasonably. Otherwise, extremism of both types undermines us all.

ahem, Fred Thompson, Law n' Order 24/7. There have been mumblings about this as a possible violation, but little has been done about it.

@Dave Hecht

Thank you for your response.

I am an avid follower of science and technology - and have been so from a very early age. So I am not (entirely) unfamiliar with the developments and methodologies.

I will give you one example why I would recommend that someone engage a book outside their time and place - Friedrich Schiller. He lamented the decline of modernity he saw in 18th century Germany, he abjured the chaos and torment of the 'liberating' French Revolution, and he admired and acknowledged the power and achievement of science. In fact, he put forward a science of beauty - a rational understanding of art that allows the viewer to engage both their passionate (aesthetic) responses to a piece, while simultaneously enabling their rational understanding. This 'science of beauty' would allow those who are driven by hedonistic desires to be elevated by rational themes while simultaneously enjoying a visceral experience. It would take those who are rationally hidebound (think fundamentalists) and allow them to see a rational doctrine coupled with beauty and provide a softening experience; pulling them more towards their opposite, hedonistic, inclinations. Schiller reports that his investigation is 'untimely' - unfit for his time when everyone is so concerned with politics and science. But it is precisely because of this that he recommends they learn about the timelessness of beauty - so that people can work towards political freedom and responsible use of technological innovation through his coupling of the freedom of art and the freedom of thought.

If you are simply trapped within your day, the faddishness of contemporary pop and academic culture, you are blind to vast swaths of human history and learning. By engaging texts removed from your own time, you extend your horizon for morals, beauty, and how to live your life far more so than simply cognitive exercises can provide. (Also, they're really great reads). Exercise for the body, while smoking and eating terribly, does not a healthy individual make. Mental acuity without judgment, without the knowledge of human achievement (and error) - in my mind - is empty.

I would refer you to the biography of J Robert Oppenheimer - who chose to study in California for its collection of Sanskrit documents and not for its physics. You say that I suffer from 'hyperopia', I am unsure how this is possible if I am attempting to call attention to items in the DISTANCE. Conversely, I would counsel that you do not fall into "those modern philosophical blunders" of positivism and technological fetishism. (Cf. Rousseau's First Discourse on the Arts and Science, as well as Popper's long project against positivism).

Personally, I engage in far more intellectual activities than simply reading, as should be evident from my appearance on boingboing. Although I encourage mental fine-tuning, and I seek it out myself, my main point is that there is a glut of resources readily available to make a mind strong, and a person robust.

You say that "neither the improvement, development, or emergence (across evolutionary time) of cognition was solely dependent upon the ability to transduce meaning from squiggly lines on parchment or in pixels"

But it was vastly aided by this ability to record and transmit information accurately beyond a generation or two. Reading and writing were once cutting edge technologies as well - eschewed by no less than Socrates.

But some of the supposed benefits to the mental gym were increased attention and increased memory (among others). All of these skills can be acquired by engaging in serious reading projects by sitting still and attending to a book, by recalling the events/arguments of the previous chapters. Of course this is not for everyone, but those who are privileged enough to be engaging with 'mental gyms' also ought to be the ones responsible enough and capable enough to engage texts (or music, or art or otherwise) at a level sufficient to maintain their skills while also improving their person.

Two final points, babies developed quite well by using the diverse stimuli of the world around them. That they would not need these particular programs could be argued as most any environment is stimulating enough. However, things like baby sign language are very compelling - any tool (perhaps something like SharpBrains) that provides infants with access to avenues of conveying meaning should not be derided.

If as you say, it is a variety of factors that help to stave off the ravages of age, I know of few people who remain so acute in their advancing years as professors (not least of them philosophy profs) who have done so by placing themselves in environments and activities that encourage all of these factors - not by buying a product.

umm, last I checked, there were these things called books. They cover a variety of subjects, are geared for many levels of interests, and several do not even deal with celebrities, murders, or the murder of celebrities!

It such a terrible shame that people who have a lot of time on their hands (retirees), and a desire to maintain their cognitive ability, have to be sold something that is so universally available and often free. All this activity may make our soccer moms, baby boomers, silver hairs, corporate execs more mentally 'fit', but it wont make them one ounce more knowledgeable.

I am a philosophy student. We truck in books, articles and lectures. When my boomer parents complain they are having seniors moments, but that they are at a loss for how to correct it, I shout 'read a book!' I would like to collectively shout this to North America, READ A BOOK! Preferably not one written this century, preferably not one written on this continent. There is a vast corpus just waiting to be explored for anyone willing to forgo the 'gym' and get an education.

I am so ashamed for our decaying culture, when we have forgotten the very source of the knowledge that allowed us to arrive at the stage of having 'mind gyms' in the first place. Turn off the TV, stop shopping, and LEARN.

this is not the first time.

in 2004 you may recall they closed the financial sectors in NY and Washington because of a 'credible' threat by a man captured in Pakistan who had 'flipped'. The informant, a web admin, was actively being used by MI5 and the CIA to gather FURTHER intelligence until his cover was blown by the ... Dept of Homeland Security. This led to a premature number of arrests in england and pakistan, many of the suspects were later released due to lack of evidence. This occurred in september 2004, right during the DNC. DHS and the white house burned a valuable link in 'fighting terror' to gain a very small political victory.

If i recall correctly, this was also the case with the Liquid bombers (or some other recent, high profile, embroyonic plot) that they announced it to the media, going public in 'saving everyone' when all they did was prematurely halt the investigation, allow the suspects to flee, or later be released on insufficient evidence.

sorry, i am too lazy to google these at the moment and provide links, but they are documented.

in short, Short Term political gain > Long term security interests. trying to say things such as "Not as big deal a deal as some think. We found this network, and we will find their next one. The terrorists groups can't hid!" belies the fact that your trust in the authorities is misplaced - they will routinely sell you out to gain personal advantage.

given the vast array of possible human behaviours, and the vanishingly slight chances that someone will commit a terroristic act (at least in the US, in the fashion that is labeled 'terrorist' i.e. sensation, 24-style attacks) this software system appears overbearing. a system to detect shoplifting would seem to me to be far more valuable in terms of actual deterrence, apprehension, and likelihood of occurrence.

but, slap an 'anti-terrorist' label on any project and no doubt your grant money increases exponentially. such a shame.

aside - i think timkuo makes some excellent remarks, but I think my above comment still stands in light of his clarification.

series 2 has been a complete disappointment. Its very discouraging to see the quality drop so precipitously from the very sharp first season.

i would echo many of the complaints mentioned above - the canned laughs, the bawdy unfunny themes of many of the episodes, and the divergence from the 'IT' theme of the IT crowd.

re: vaporizers - yes, always, everyone should use them.

Here is the wisest purchase you can make if you puff - The V-Tower high performance vaporizer. And here's link to a demo video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxQU_6KMr08

I have no affiliation with the creator, distributors, or retailers in anyway - just a very satisfied customer and a stoner who spent too many years searing his lungs with low quality combustion devices.

for the record, Plato said the exact same thing in the Republic - that all democracies will become tyrannies - he just didn't have Wolfe's catchy recipe.

I dont know why everyone is so eager to pan this out of hand without argument other than invective.

i dont know if Wolfe is correct, but at least it sounds plausible. Her main point is, if this is the script being followed, we need to step in NOW to amend the ending before the final cut.

if this were slashdot, i'd say !news

As a fan and follower equally of BoingBoing, Naomi Klein and Democracy Now! I'd like to draw boingers attention to Klein's address to the American Sociological Association recently broadcast on DN!.

The theme was 'Is Another World is Possible?,' and it is a rousing address. It is one that I think demonstrates Klein's ability as a first rater thinker. She acutely attacks the intellectual framework behind the type of disaster capitalism described in her most recent book.

Enjoy!

Naomi Klein at the ASA