Watchlists

Ahead of His Time

Lance Armstrong interview with Oprah (17-Jan-2013)

Tiger Scandal Breaks (25-Nov-2009)

George Carlin Dies (22-Jun-2008)

Bad Guns and Big Pharma

The problem with that position is:  folks who have those kinds of weapons (and who site the 2nd amendment as the /reason/ they have those kinds of weapons) -- they honestly and firmly believe it's to protect against the possibility (however extreme) that they may one day have to use them to protect themselves, their home and family against the authorities who have them too.

Folks opposed can say something along the lines of: "Well that will /never/ happen; it's just paranoid delusion" -or- "If that ever occurs, we'll have much greater problems to worry about". But those arguments have the exact opposite effect. They do nothing to assuage the concerns -- concerns that *precisely* go back to the intent of the founders who created the second amendment.

The only possible shot at a real solution to this problem is not to ban certain guns, but (like anti-smoking campaigns) to:

1) Change the attitudes of many of the folks who would carry them, have a legitimate right to do so, and feel afraid

2) Understand and interdict for the folks who carry them or acquire them and are not mentally able to properly wield them**

It's a very long game. It will take generations (with, unfortunately, many casualties along the way). And, in the end, such an approach will /not/ get rid of all the "bad guns" completely.

I dare say, this "hearts and minds" approach will require more patience than folks like McChrystal are willing to stomach. I honestly believe that any other strategy is not only doomed to fail, but likely to exacerbate the very circumstances we find ourselves in today.

** on a side note: I believe we will come to discover that most, if not all, of the mass shootings that have so horrified the nation have been perpetrated by someone under the influence of serotonin reuptake inhibitors. I am not saying these drugs should be banned, but they are easily misused. I do believe that our society is all too quick to turn to big pharma for a pill that will solve all problems. Our so-called health-"care" system is all too quick to turn to them (and our health insurance system all to quick to pay for them). It's a viscous cycle that really needs to be examined and likely a greater cause of these mass tragedies than the pervasiveness of "bad guns".

Election Overhaul U.S.A.

Dear U.S. friends,

Now that election day is safely in the rear-view mirror:  Ask yourself if you voted for someone or against the "other guy".  Did you vote to get someone into that White House or to keep someone out?  Be honest!  Because; after all, that "other guy" -- if he were to be allowed access to the reins of power over the next 4 years ... well, it would mean utter destruction to everything we hold precious in this world (and quite likely the end of life on Earth as we know it).  Am I right?!

WHAT WE NEED is a complete election overhaul -- nothing short of a total reconsideration of the way we elect our officials in this country.  From campaign financing to standardized voting equipment to rationalization for the existing primary process, delegates from conventions, and our Electoral College.

WE NEED a system that everyone can trust.  And we need an informed electorate that votes for people again.

What we have is quite far from that.

PSA: Transition to CyanogenMod.org

 CyanogenMod.com  is now CyanogenMod.org

It's another interesting sign of how ingrained the DNS system* has become to the way we use the net. How it's policed, too. I think Kim Dotcom should launch the new Megaupload by getting everyone to memorize its IP address. Shouldn't be much more difficult than remembering something like Jenny's 867-5309, amirite? 

* (ah ... jus' like the ol' "GO WORDS" / "KEYWORDS" scams of my youth)

This Guy

-- Eben Moglen
(F2C 2012 Keynote)

We May Be Kinda Eff'd

1. OPPORTUNITY: Synthetic Life
   2. MEANS: Modelling Organisms
      3. MOTIVE: Mutant Mosquitos

* [ update ]

United Breaks Guitars

Musician Dave Carroll had difficulty with United Airlines. United’s baggage handlers damaged his $3500 custom guitar, and he spent over 9 months trying to get United to pay for damages. During his final exchange with the United Customer Relations Manager, Dave stated that he was left with no choice other than to create a music video for YouTube exposing United’s lack of cooperation. The manager responded: “Good luck with that one, pal.” Dave shot and posted his video on YouTube. The video has since received over 11 million hits

The Apocalypse

"Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen -- everyone's playing themselves, and the bit is James Franco's having a party at his house, and the Apocalypse starts happening."

The Apocalypse

The Brotherhood of Man on Planet Earth

This has nothing to do with having been sort of intoxicated