Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Who Really Stopped SOPA
The Insta-Prof has a link. Here's a great quotation:
The bitroots movement wasn’t led by Google. It wasn’t led by anyone. Even to look for its leaders is to miss the point. Internet users didn’t lobby or buy their way into influence. They used the tools at their disposal—Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter and the rest—to make their voices heard. They encouraged voluntary boycotts and blackouts, and organized awareness days. This was a revolt of, by and with social networks, turning the tools that organized them into groups in the first place into potent new weapons for political advocacy. The users had figured out how to hack politics.INDEED. We are Internet; hear us roar. Besides, the grand point is that millions of ordinary people -- not professional lobbyists, corporate shills, or political players -- gave the wretched political establishment a good piece of our mind ... and it blinked. The peasants revolted, much to Congress's surprise (and, I suppose, dismay).
Quote of the Day: On a French Bill
Quote:
"I suppose it'll add some spice to history exams though. Get the wrong answer and you not only fail: you get carted off to jail as well."Some un-studious undergrads of my acquaintance should be quaking in their books, ha! The quote refers to a new French bill that, if made law, would criminalize denying that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians in 1915-6. (For what it's worth, I think this bill and others like it are a bad idea in principle.) Anyway, the bill is currently stalled because of questions of constitutionality, and Turkish EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bağış flatly denied the charges of genocide and dared the French to go arrest him. Oh, my.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Plan B: Alternate Speeches From D-Day and the Moon Landing
You remember Eisenhower's speech to the troops for D-Day. How here's a bit of forgotten history: what he planned to say if the invasion failed. See too a Plan B speech for the moon landing. Thank goodness we never had to hear these alternate speeches!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Awesome: Lego Man in Space
Check out what a couple of enterprising high school students from Toronto did with Legos, a camera, and a helium-filled weather balloon! Read all about it, and then watch this delightful (and beautiful) video footage. Outstanding.
Ancient Bread Stamps!
Here's a cool new find from Israel: an ancient bread stamp marked with a menorah. You might love this preserved example from Pompeii. Other bread stamps have been found that date from ancient Egypt. Hey, labeling/branding your product is soooooooo not a new idea.
Newspaper Nastiness: Il Giornale vs. Der Spiegel
*Sigh.* It's an all-around slapfest of crude national stereotypes. Everybody loses, especially good taste and common courtesy. You will of course remember this blog's standing rule that in any argument the first party to refer to Nazis automatically loses, so I guess Il Giornale loses twice.
Post-SOPA, MPAA Head Admits, "We're Not Comfortable with the Internet."
Thanks, Captain Obvious. See this infographic. Look, people: in the marketplace, you innovate or die. It's nothing personal -- it's just business.
Salman Rushdie and the Jaipur Literary Festival
Quote of the Day: From the Social Hierarchy in Egypt
From Egyptian human rights activists Cynthia Farahat:
“But for me, as a woman and a Copt, I am a fourth-class citizen,” she said. “The first class citizen is the Egyptian Sunni Muslim male, the second class is the Sunni female. The third is the Christian male. The fourth is the Christian female. I’m a fourth-class Egyptian citizen with absolutely no legal rights.”Spare a thought for the persecuted Christians in the Middle East -- a group about which we hear nearly nothing in the news media -- and the state of women.
PSA: See the New "Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Academic and Research Libraries"
Are the copyright police on campus? You can't be too careful, I suppose.
Book Reviews: Corporate Conquerors
Let's take some business lessons from some of history's most effective conquerors, shall we? In two different books, Hannibal and Julius Caesar invade the corporate boardroom.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Celebrating India's Republic Day
An Indian friend of mine sent me this cool video of a little celebration on a Finnair flight to mark the day. That particular flight's destination? Delhi, natch.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Nerdworld Soundtrack: "What Doesn't Kill You"
It's been a long time since I posted in the "Nerdworld Soundtrack" category, so here's another song from the trenches of higher education and research/writing Nerdpocalypse Now. "That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger"? Of course, I should note a former classmate's cynical comment on that: "That which doesn't kill you just postpones the inevitable." He then proceeded to flunk out of grad school. ANYWAY. Here's some Kelly Clarkson!
Every State of the Union Address Ever
Here's a cheeky breakdown:
- The State of the Union is strong.
- Applause.
- It’s stronger because I’m up here and you’re not.
- Applause.
- Attack the Supreme Court [Obama only].
- Here’s why my political party is awesome.
- Applause from one side of room.
- Here’s why the other party is a bunch of doody-heads.
- Applause from the same side of the room.
- Here’s a program I want you to pass.
- Applause.
- Here’s an Ordinary Average Guy whose story should convince you to pass my program.
- Television shot of Ordinary Average Guy.
- Applause.
- Repeat steps 6-14 about 874 times.
- Here’s a couple more reasons why I’m awesome.
- Applause.
I didn't even bother watching the State of the Union address last night. I was doing homework while watching "Mission: Impossible 3." UPDATE: Apparently I missed even less than I'd thought. So rhetoric isn't enough, eh? I told you that years ago, and you already knew it before I blogged it. The real question is why so many people still seem enamoured of politicians' speeches that are really be-glittered piles of [insert substance here]. If I want [insert substance here], I can just listen to my undergrads' utterances of big words and little substance. *Yawn.* BORED NOW.
Girl Talk: Old and New Feminism
Here's an interesting little rumination from Down Under. The very end of it is right on target. Perspective, people.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Read: "Lords of the Sea" and the Story of the World's First Dominant Navy
Before the Roman navy made the Mediterranean Sea their lake and before the British navy ruled the waves around the globe, the Athenian navy underpinned a maritime empire. I'm checking out Lords of the Sea by archaeologist John R. Hale (Penguin, 2010). Does it have anything at all to do with my own schoolwork? Nope! And I don't care. Triremes are cool. They're even cooler when some crazy history buffs and archaeologists re-create one and sail it around!
Geek Icon Vs. Pro-SOPA MPAA and Politicians: A Rant
Yup, it's Wil Wheaton, and he's got something to say!
Nerd News: A Glance at Japanese University Student Life
Here's something interesting! It looks like college students will be college students just about everywhere in terms of playing with technology. (OK, but to the guy who says he spends 3 hours a week doing homework ... REALLY? Is that 3 hours total? I mean, I tell my students that they should be spending around 3 hours outside class for every 1 hour in class, which averages out to 9 hours a week for any given class doing reading/homework/review/etc. Or perhaps grad school has turned me into a cranky old slavedriver...?)
Monday, January 23, 2012
Don't Know Much About History
ALAS. Nevertheless, some of us are still fighting the good fight. I refuse to give up. I know you do too.
Happy Year of the Dragon!
Happy Chinese New Year, my lovelies. Bring on the firecrackers and red paper envelopes! UPDATE: Check out some lovely photos from celebrations all over Asia.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
DVD Review: "Warrior" -- Ain't That a Kick in the Head
Rocky Road.
You'll see just about every sports-movie cliché known to man in 2011's "Warrior" ... and you'll love this flick anyway because Brit Tom Hardy and Aussie Joel Edgerton turn in knockout performances that transcend the preposterous storyline.
Forgotten History: Forbidden Coffee
Did you know that one ruler of 17th century Turkey (Sultan Murad IV) made drinking coffee a capital offense? Oh, come on. Coffee is the greatest addiction ever!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Movie Critique: "Mission: Impossible-Verdana Font"
I really liked "Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol." So did a typographer named Matthew Butterick, who wrote a letter to director Brad Bird to lodge a complaint not about the plot but about the font. That's a guy passionate about his fonts!
LOL: John Scalzi 1, Slate 0
Scalzi eviscerates a particularly awful and whiny Slate article. The whole thing's worth a read, but I'll leave you with an ice skating reference and what he says about the hapless writing of that terrible piece:
It’s like a triple axel directly into a pile of pig manure. It’s impressive in its way, but you have to question the wisdom of skating on sh*t to begin with.Bwahahahaha!
"Welcome to the Party!": Larry Correia's SOPA Rant
Quirky Asia Files: Bamboo Scaffolding in Hong Kong
Yup, folks are still using bamboo for construction projects as they've done for ages. Why not? If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Here's a little video:
Friday, January 20, 2012
Quote of the Day: William Faulkner
You know, I would totally read more Faulkner if he wrote like he spoke in this splendid speech when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Here's the conclusion:
The Sport of Sheep-Shearing
I'm taking a break from my SOPA sermonizing to give you more of the silly/quirky/amusing content that you've come to expect ... Here's a tale of New Zealand farmers who want sheep-shearing to be an Olympic sport!
Google Reports 7 Million Signatures on Anti-SOPA Petition
GOOD. (Correction/Update: Now 7 million signatures. An earlier report noted 4.5 million) Meanwhile, SOPA and PIPA are losing sponsors in Congress amid the rage of millions of nerds and geeks ... nerds and geeks who vote. Ah, digital grassroots.
UPDATE: See this cool breakdown of who in Congress publicly supports or opposes SOPA/PIPA before and after the January protests. Oh, I hope it's so. I'm especially glad to see that Marco Rubio (R-Florida) has disavowed PIPA. Meanwhile, other senators are running from PIPA likerats Francesco Schettino from a sinking ship. In current politics, all the GOP presidential candidates in the latest debate came out opposing SOPA/PIPA. These bills have now become political Kryptonite.
UPDATE: See this cool breakdown of who in Congress publicly supports or opposes SOPA/PIPA before and after the January protests. Oh, I hope it's so. I'm especially glad to see that Marco Rubio (R-Florida) has disavowed PIPA. Meanwhile, other senators are running from PIPA like
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Discovered: Prehistoric Tulipomania!
Here's some cool scientific news from Canada, eh! Would a bunch of these fossils make an awesome "bouquet" for a paleontologist whom you fancy?
Dirtbag of the Year: the Cowardly Captain
Unbelievable. So the captain of the shipwrecked Costa Concordia repeatedly refused to go back and help evacuate the passengers thrown into distress by his own negligence. You can practically hear the Italian Coast Guard hopping with frustration and rage. See too this study in contrasts. UPDATE: A bit of rude Italian has now gone viral.
Awesome: Southwest Airlines and a Damaged Suitcase
Three cheers for a customer and a company that both have a sense of humor! See first the customer's letter about a damaged suitcase, and then see Southwest Airlines' response. Public relations and customer service? You're doing it right! (United Airlines, take note!)
Anti-SOPA/PIPA Protests Are Having An Effect
GOOD. Here's more as Senators start abandoning their support of the anti-piracy bills. Keep on voicing your opposition to SOPA and PIPA! I'll tell you what -- I had never written to my Congresspeople before this, but SOPA and PIPA so enraged me that I did. It's worth getting stupid campaign spam from the Congressdorks in the future if I could tell them right now in no uncertain terms what I thought of SOPA, PIPA, and their support for these crapulous, noxious bills.
UPDATE 1: Senate websites are crashing due to overwhelming emails. Check out some cool screenshots of protesting websites. On a related note, here is one opinion on how things even got to this point. Hmmm.
UPDATE 2: See what Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), a SOPA/PIPA opponent, has to say. You'll recall Representative Jared Polis (D-Colorado), the gamer.
UPDATE 3: Check out this hilarious response to the SOPA protest by Representative Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) posted on the Congressman's official YouTube channel. Kudos, sir, for not only grasping the issue but having a sense of humor too:
UPDATE 1: Senate websites are crashing due to overwhelming emails. Check out some cool screenshots of protesting websites. On a related note, here is one opinion on how things even got to this point. Hmmm.
UPDATE 2: See what Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), a SOPA/PIPA opponent, has to say. You'll recall Representative Jared Polis (D-Colorado), the gamer.
UPDATE 3: Check out this hilarious response to the SOPA protest by Representative Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) posted on the Congressman's official YouTube channel. Kudos, sir, for not only grasping the issue but having a sense of humor too:
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
How Do You Like Me Now?
Now that my semi-blackout for the SOPA/PIPA protest is over, I was thinking about a new blog look for a new year (my fifth blogiversary went by a few days ago -- I had completely forgotten about it until now!). Whaddya think? Fugly or fabulous?
Irony Alert: Supreme Court Vs. Public Domain
ON TODAY OF ALL DAYS. On SOPA/PIPA protest day. REALLY?
The SOPA/PIPA Internet Strike is Today. Please Contact Your Congresspeople.
The SOPA/PIPA strike is on from 8 AM - 8 PM Eastern Standard Time for some sites and for all 24 hours for others. Mad Minerva Blog has gone partially dark today to mark this protest. Please call/email/contact your senators and representatives! Kill these pernicious bills! Boing Boing does my ranting for me. More here and here and here and here and here. The main page of the English Wikipedia is blacked out for the protest, but it will give you contact information for your Congresspeople if you enter your ZIP code.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The American Dream Lives in Canada?
A professor at the University of Ottawa has recently done a study. What do you think, eh? It's a lot about upward economic mobility. We should also be thinking about opportunity.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Martin Luther King Jr Tells a Joke
Here is another (and charming) side of the civil rights leader during an appearance on The Tonight Show on February 8, 1968:
Rhode Island Bakery Creates TSA-Compliant Cupcake
In response to this idiocy, one enterprising bakery has created a TSA-compliant cupcake! Check out the Silver Spoon Bakery's cheeky advertising image.
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