CHANGING WITH THE WIND: The Story of God is a book about how wondrous it is that God spins out this ever-changing universe, never damming the rivers of change, never polluting the winds by stopping their flow.
Here is what Karl Rove had to say:
"You either have values ingrained in your heart and soul that will not change with the wind, or you don't."
As soon as I write the book, it will be available. You can pre-order I guess, although I wouldn't suggest it. It may make me get off my ass and finish it though.
Until then...keep on changin'!
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Digby on Kos, Armstrong Williams and institutionalizing "blogger ethics"
What makes Digby so wondrous? Read and see for yourself...
[excerpts]
Those Who Can, Blog; Those Who Can't, Teachout
Well now, it appears that "Zonkette" is causing quite a brouhaha. Atrios and others have more than adequately explained the fact that Jerome and Kos disclosed everything they needed to disclose and any comparison with Armstrong Williams accepting a quarter of a million taxpayer dollars under the table is some kind of cosmic joke. But the damage is done.
...
So the left blogosphere will be the focus of this crusade for online ethics. We don't have institutions like the Claremont Institute who can hire us on as "fellows" --- and launder Republican money through it to pay us. We aren't going to get our marching orders and talking points through the coordinated "left wing" media because there is no coordinated left wing media. We are out here on our own, and when or if we say or do something controversial, there is no institutional defense of us because there is no institution. Certainly, we aren't going to get paid big bucks to be a member of the team.
So fuck a "code of ethics." It will only serve to marginalize us.
All we really have, and ever had, is our credibility with our readers as opinion writers and committed activists. We shall have to measure all of our decisions based upon personal integrity and issue a blanket call of caveat emptor. It's all there is. And, frankly it's all we need. Because despite what some people seem to believe, there is no code of ethics to explain Judith Miller or Lisa Myers.
[excerpts]
Those Who Can, Blog; Those Who Can't, Teachout
Well now, it appears that "Zonkette" is causing quite a brouhaha. Atrios and others have more than adequately explained the fact that Jerome and Kos disclosed everything they needed to disclose and any comparison with Armstrong Williams accepting a quarter of a million taxpayer dollars under the table is some kind of cosmic joke. But the damage is done.
...
So the left blogosphere will be the focus of this crusade for online ethics. We don't have institutions like the Claremont Institute who can hire us on as "fellows" --- and launder Republican money through it to pay us. We aren't going to get our marching orders and talking points through the coordinated "left wing" media because there is no coordinated left wing media. We are out here on our own, and when or if we say or do something controversial, there is no institutional defense of us because there is no institution. Certainly, we aren't going to get paid big bucks to be a member of the team.
So fuck a "code of ethics." It will only serve to marginalize us.
All we really have, and ever had, is our credibility with our readers as opinion writers and committed activists. We shall have to measure all of our decisions based upon personal integrity and issue a blanket call of caveat emptor. It's all there is. And, frankly it's all we need. Because despite what some people seem to believe, there is no code of ethics to explain Judith Miller or Lisa Myers.
"I did not have sexual relations..."
Bold New Clip Exposes Deeds Even More Egregious Than The Infamous Denial
How many times have you seen and heard that clip of Bill Clinton saying "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" -- while looking at Helen Thomas, pausing, and then, as if part of a different thought altogether, uttering the words, "Miss Lewinsky"?
One million? Two million? And why?
Because there wasn't that much else he said that was all that bad. He was a good, smart, and adept president with decent and effective policies that actually made people's lives better.
Here is the counterpart to that clip...only in this case, there are scores of lies and misrepresentations. It is called "Remind Us", but could well be called "I did not have sexual relations"...just to remind Americans how trite were Bill's sins as compared to George's.
At the end, there are links to how you can help with the problem...
How many times have you seen and heard that clip of Bill Clinton saying "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" -- while looking at Helen Thomas, pausing, and then, as if part of a different thought altogether, uttering the words, "Miss Lewinsky"?
One million? Two million? And why?
Because there wasn't that much else he said that was all that bad. He was a good, smart, and adept president with decent and effective policies that actually made people's lives better.
Here is the counterpart to that clip...only in this case, there are scores of lies and misrepresentations. It is called "Remind Us", but could well be called "I did not have sexual relations"...just to remind Americans how trite were Bill's sins as compared to George's.
At the end, there are links to how you can help with the problem...
Triangle Bloggers Conference, Chapel Hill, NC
On Saturday, February 12th, North Carolina is the place to be. Specifically, Chapel Hill, NC. And more specifically, The University of North Carolina. Murphey Hall. Room 116.
...for this is where the Triangle Blogger Conference is to transpire.
Allow Mister Sugar to tell you more about it...
Triangle Bloggercon grows
The word is out: Dave Winer mentioned the conference on his popular Scripting News, our local cable company posted news about the conference on its new local bloggers directory, and Cory Doctorow has even posted to Boing Boing.
We’re up to 61 expected participants for the Triangle Bloggers Conference, which means I’ve got to start looking for a backup location knowing we’ll be growing (the j-school’s conference room holds about 60). Looks like we’ve got at least one New Yorker coming, and my buddy John Ettorre will be driving down from Cleveland. (Hope Jack can join him.) Oh, and Dan Gillmor will be here, too.
UPDATE: Paul has arranged for Murphey Hall 116. I’ll post new directions to the conference wiki. Shortcut is mistersugar.com/triblogs.html.
The idea for a bloggercon in Chapel Hill was to give us North Carolina bloggers a physical forum to discuss some of the exciting issues, trends and activities happening on and between our blogs – blogs and journalism, and blogs and politics in Greensboro (read Ed Cone), online communities (Paul Jones teaches an excellent seminar each fall at the UNC-CH j-school), blogs and local governance (Orange Politics), podcasting (Audio Activism among others), and numerous attempts to aggregate the very active bloggers in our state (see the wiki page for the conference intersession).
...for this is where the Triangle Blogger Conference is to transpire.
Allow Mister Sugar to tell you more about it...
Triangle Bloggercon grows
The word is out: Dave Winer mentioned the conference on his popular Scripting News, our local cable company posted news about the conference on its new local bloggers directory, and Cory Doctorow has even posted to Boing Boing.
We’re up to 61 expected participants for the Triangle Bloggers Conference, which means I’ve got to start looking for a backup location knowing we’ll be growing (the j-school’s conference room holds about 60). Looks like we’ve got at least one New Yorker coming, and my buddy John Ettorre will be driving down from Cleveland. (Hope Jack can join him.) Oh, and Dan Gillmor will be here, too.
UPDATE: Paul has arranged for Murphey Hall 116. I’ll post new directions to the conference wiki. Shortcut is mistersugar.com/triblogs.html.
The idea for a bloggercon in Chapel Hill was to give us North Carolina bloggers a physical forum to discuss some of the exciting issues, trends and activities happening on and between our blogs – blogs and journalism, and blogs and politics in Greensboro (read Ed Cone), online communities (Paul Jones teaches an excellent seminar each fall at the UNC-CH j-school), blogs and local governance (Orange Politics), podcasting (Audio Activism among others), and numerous attempts to aggregate the very active bloggers in our state (see the wiki page for the conference intersession).
Friday, January 14, 2005
Harry Hitler
The Education of Harry Hitler
Diana must be, well, upset with her Harry. And today we hear that Charles wants his boys to watch Schindler's List to get a better sense of just why the world is outraged by Harry's miscreantics. But what other films, books, and such should young Harry add to his education?
Some that come to my are:
Life is Beautiful
Au Revoir Les Enfants
Judgment at Nuremberg
Nasty Girl
The White Rose
Garden of Finzi-Continis
Sorrow and the Pity
Last Metro
Serpent's Egg
Each of these is unique and speaks of different aspects of the horrors of what the world had become. Each I would recommend highly. There are many more, and I may post them as I recall them. Harry needs education, and he needs it soon. Good thing Bill preceeds him.
While he is being videoeducated, he and they might also rest their eyes on this short film.
(Thanks to Roch Smith Jr. of Greensboro 101 for the link.)
Diana must be, well, upset with her Harry. And today we hear that Charles wants his boys to watch Schindler's List to get a better sense of just why the world is outraged by Harry's miscreantics. But what other films, books, and such should young Harry add to his education?
Some that come to my are:
Life is Beautiful
Au Revoir Les Enfants
Judgment at Nuremberg
Nasty Girl
The White Rose
Garden of Finzi-Continis
Sorrow and the Pity
Last Metro
Serpent's Egg
Each of these is unique and speaks of different aspects of the horrors of what the world had become. Each I would recommend highly. There are many more, and I may post them as I recall them. Harry needs education, and he needs it soon. Good thing Bill preceeds him.
While he is being videoeducated, he and they might also rest their eyes on this short film.
(Thanks to Roch Smith Jr. of Greensboro 101 for the link.)
Thursday, January 13, 2005
5,500 soldiers have deserted
by kos
Woah, here's something we haven't seen in the US media...
American Army soldiers are deserting and fleeing to Canada rather than fight in Iraq, rekindling memories of the thousands of draft-dodgers who flooded north to avoid service in Vietnam.
An estimated 5,500 men and women have deserted since the invasion of Iraq, reflecting Washington's growing problems with troop morale...
INFORM. EDUCATE. AND PROVOKE. : Greensboro's Alternative Newsweekly
It's good to be a Carolinian!
Thanks to Dave Hoggard for bringing this gem to my attention. May it thrive!
Meet the Blokkers...
...I mean Bloggers!
Joi Ito has some great photo galleries where one may get to know fellow bloggers...or at least their faces. Here is a gallery from ETech 2004 which includes many of the blognoscenti, including Esther Dyson, Jay Rosen, Ed Cone, Joi Ito, Howard Rheingold, Jon Lebkowsky, Ethan Zuckerman, Dan Gillmor, Rael Dornfest, Doc Searls, Jeff Jarvis, David Isenberg, Joe Trippi, David Weinberger, the dashing and wise Grant Henninger, Cory Doctorow, Danah Boyd, Sean Bonner and more.
Some of these may be in attendance at the February Blog Conference in Chapel Hill whom I shall leave it to Ruby Sinreich to introduce.
Get to know your peers...
Joi Ito has some great photo galleries where one may get to know fellow bloggers...or at least their faces. Here is a gallery from ETech 2004 which includes many of the blognoscenti, including Esther Dyson, Jay Rosen, Ed Cone, Joi Ito, Howard Rheingold, Jon Lebkowsky, Ethan Zuckerman, Dan Gillmor, Rael Dornfest, Doc Searls, Jeff Jarvis, David Isenberg, Joe Trippi, David Weinberger, the dashing and wise Grant Henninger, Cory Doctorow, Danah Boyd, Sean Bonner and more.
Some of these may be in attendance at the February Blog Conference in Chapel Hill whom I shall leave it to Ruby Sinreich to introduce.
Get to know your peers...
Liberal Billionaires seek liberals to lavish with money
Soros Group Raises Stakes in Battle with US Neo-Cons
Oh! So NOW you are a liberal?!
[excerpt]
A group of billionaire philanthropists are to donate tens of millions more dollars to develop progressive political ideas in the US in an effort to counter the conservative ascendancy.
George Soros, who made his fortune in the hedge fund industry; Herb and Marion Sandler, the California couple who own a multi-billion-dollar savings and loan business; and Peter Lewis, the chairman of an Ohio insurance company, donated more than $63m (£34m) in the 2004 election cycle to organizations seeking to defeat George W. Bush.
At a meeting in San Francisco last month, the left-leaning billionaires agreed to commit an even larger sum over a longer period to building institutions to foster progressive ideas and people.
Far from being disillusioned by the defeat of John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, the billionaires have resolved to invest further in the intellectual future of the left, one person involved said.
Their commitment to provide new money comes amid criticism of the efforts of high-profile donors such as the Hungarian-born Mr Soros to sway US politics as well as doubts about the effectiveness of record funding in helping the Democratic cause in 2004.
The details of the San Francisco meeting are closely held. Mr Soros and his son Jonathan, the Sandlers and Mr Lewis asked aides to leave the room as they discussed the planned financial commitment.
But the still-evolving plan, according to one person involved, is “joint investment to build intellectual infrastructure”.
The intention is to provide the left with organizations in Washington that can match the heft of the rightwing think-tanks such as Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute. At a state level, the aim is to build what one person called a “deeper progressive bench”.
...
Stephen Bing, a film producer and heir to a real estate fortune who donated $13m, is also expected to be involved in the investment in progressive infrastructure.
Andrew Stern, who is president of the Service Employees International Union, has been working to include organized labor in the initiative.
Leftwing policy experts have already got wind of the new funds. One former aide to Mr Kerry said there had been talks with the Center for American Progress about making permanent the network of foreign policy experts established by Democrats in the 2004 campaign. He said he had been told: “Money is not a problem.”
Oh! So NOW you are a liberal?!
[excerpt]
A group of billionaire philanthropists are to donate tens of millions more dollars to develop progressive political ideas in the US in an effort to counter the conservative ascendancy.
George Soros, who made his fortune in the hedge fund industry; Herb and Marion Sandler, the California couple who own a multi-billion-dollar savings and loan business; and Peter Lewis, the chairman of an Ohio insurance company, donated more than $63m (£34m) in the 2004 election cycle to organizations seeking to defeat George W. Bush.
At a meeting in San Francisco last month, the left-leaning billionaires agreed to commit an even larger sum over a longer period to building institutions to foster progressive ideas and people.
Far from being disillusioned by the defeat of John Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, the billionaires have resolved to invest further in the intellectual future of the left, one person involved said.
Their commitment to provide new money comes amid criticism of the efforts of high-profile donors such as the Hungarian-born Mr Soros to sway US politics as well as doubts about the effectiveness of record funding in helping the Democratic cause in 2004.
The details of the San Francisco meeting are closely held. Mr Soros and his son Jonathan, the Sandlers and Mr Lewis asked aides to leave the room as they discussed the planned financial commitment.
But the still-evolving plan, according to one person involved, is “joint investment to build intellectual infrastructure”.
The intention is to provide the left with organizations in Washington that can match the heft of the rightwing think-tanks such as Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute. At a state level, the aim is to build what one person called a “deeper progressive bench”.
...
Stephen Bing, a film producer and heir to a real estate fortune who donated $13m, is also expected to be involved in the investment in progressive infrastructure.
Andrew Stern, who is president of the Service Employees International Union, has been working to include organized labor in the initiative.
Leftwing policy experts have already got wind of the new funds. One former aide to Mr Kerry said there had been talks with the Center for American Progress about making permanent the network of foreign policy experts established by Democrats in the 2004 campaign. He said he had been told: “Money is not a problem.”
Monday, January 10, 2005
10 ways to use blogs for managing projects
Cutting Through - A live case study
and 4 ways to use wikis for project management
Thanks to Cutting Through from across the pond for helping us to "cut through the information and technology clutter"...
and 4 ways to use wikis for project management
Thanks to Cutting Through from across the pond for helping us to "cut through the information and technology clutter"...
The Ideal Government Project
The Ideal Government Project
From the website:
"About the Ideal Government Project
Wouldn't it be better if...
Ideal government is a web user's antidote to personal frustration with public services. If a government process frustrates you, just do two things:
1. Observe and record precisely what happens, and
2. what the ideal encounter should have been like.
Join us and post it up here. Gradually we could map out the reality of this uncharted territory called government, and compile the first-ever user requirement. Start being an ethnographer of bureaucracy today!
Spread the word, leave a comment or mail me if you want to help us map what's there and where we want it headed. "
From the website:
"About the Ideal Government Project
Wouldn't it be better if...
Ideal government is a web user's antidote to personal frustration with public services. If a government process frustrates you, just do two things:
1. Observe and record precisely what happens, and
2. what the ideal encounter should have been like.
Join us and post it up here. Gradually we could map out the reality of this uncharted territory called government, and compile the first-ever user requirement. Start being an ethnographer of bureaucracy today!
Spread the word, leave a comment or mail me if you want to help us map what's there and where we want it headed. "
Our French bretheren
Please allow my French brother to speak my thoughts while I eat this sandwich.
Patience et silence...
Cela fait plus d'un mois que je n'ai pas écrit. Je ne vais pas dire que le temps me manquait, on trouve toujours le temps de faire les choses qui nous tiennent à coeur. Non. Si je n'ai pas écrit, c'est que je n'ai pas pris le temps de penser.
C'est facile de ne pas penser, c'est ce que Sogyal Rinpoché, un grand maître bouddhiste, appelle la paresse à l’occidentale :
« La paresse à l’occidentale consiste à remplir sa vie d’activités fébriles, si bien qu’il ne reste plus de temps pour affronter les vrais questions. […] Un maître compare cela à « faire le ménage en rêve ». Nous nous disons que nous voulons consacrer du temps aux choses importantes, mais ce temps, nous ne le trouvons jamais.
Impuissants, nous voyons nos journées se remplir de coups de téléphones, de projets insignifiants ; nous avons tant de responsabilités… »
Sogyal Rinpoché – Le livre tibétain de la vie et de la mort
On retrouve d’ailleurs une idée très similaire chez Pascal :
« Rien n'est si insupportable à l'homme que d'être dans un plein repos, sans passions, sans affaire, sans divertissement, sans application. Il sent alors son néant, son abandon, son insuffisance, sa dépendance, son impuissance, son vide. »
Pascal – Pensées
Je me demande parfois si tout ce que nous apprenons, tout ce que nous entreprenons, n’est pas simple divertissement, comme pour oublier notre finitude.
Patience et silence. Il faut de la patience et du silence pour ne pas trop s’égarer.
posted by martin
Also some note on Queneau & other news from Paris. ceci est un blog. - ah oui?-Nonny
Patience et silence...
Cela fait plus d'un mois que je n'ai pas écrit. Je ne vais pas dire que le temps me manquait, on trouve toujours le temps de faire les choses qui nous tiennent à coeur. Non. Si je n'ai pas écrit, c'est que je n'ai pas pris le temps de penser.
C'est facile de ne pas penser, c'est ce que Sogyal Rinpoché, un grand maître bouddhiste, appelle la paresse à l’occidentale :
« La paresse à l’occidentale consiste à remplir sa vie d’activités fébriles, si bien qu’il ne reste plus de temps pour affronter les vrais questions. […] Un maître compare cela à « faire le ménage en rêve ». Nous nous disons que nous voulons consacrer du temps aux choses importantes, mais ce temps, nous ne le trouvons jamais.
Impuissants, nous voyons nos journées se remplir de coups de téléphones, de projets insignifiants ; nous avons tant de responsabilités… »
Sogyal Rinpoché – Le livre tibétain de la vie et de la mort
On retrouve d’ailleurs une idée très similaire chez Pascal :
« Rien n'est si insupportable à l'homme que d'être dans un plein repos, sans passions, sans affaire, sans divertissement, sans application. Il sent alors son néant, son abandon, son insuffisance, sa dépendance, son impuissance, son vide. »
Pascal – Pensées
Je me demande parfois si tout ce que nous apprenons, tout ce que nous entreprenons, n’est pas simple divertissement, comme pour oublier notre finitude.
Patience et silence. Il faut de la patience et du silence pour ne pas trop s’égarer.
posted by martin
Also some note on Queneau & other news from Paris. ceci est un blog. - ah oui?-Nonny
Let It All Hang Out
(spoken): "A preachment, dear friends, you are about to receive
on John Barleycorn, nicotine, and the temptations of Eve"
(Bronx cheer)
No parkin' by the sewer sign
Hot dog, my razor's broke
Water drippin' up the spout
But I don't care, let it all hang out
Hangin' from a pine tree by my knees
Sun is shinin' through the shade
Nobody knows what it's all about,
It's too much, man, let it all hang out
Saw a man walkin' upside down
My T.V.'s on the blink
Made Galileo look like a Boy Scout
Sorry 'bout that, let it all hang out
Sleep all day, drive all night
Brain my numb, can't stop now
For sure ain't no doubt
Keep an open mind, let it all hang out
It's rainin' inside a big brown moon
How does that mess you baby up, leg
Eatin' a Reuben sandwich with sauerkraut
Don't stop now, baby, let it all hang out
-THE HOMBRES
Sometimes ya just feel this way.
on John Barleycorn, nicotine, and the temptations of Eve"
(Bronx cheer)
No parkin' by the sewer sign
Hot dog, my razor's broke
Water drippin' up the spout
But I don't care, let it all hang out
Hangin' from a pine tree by my knees
Sun is shinin' through the shade
Nobody knows what it's all about,
It's too much, man, let it all hang out
Saw a man walkin' upside down
My T.V.'s on the blink
Made Galileo look like a Boy Scout
Sorry 'bout that, let it all hang out
Sleep all day, drive all night
Brain my numb, can't stop now
For sure ain't no doubt
Keep an open mind, let it all hang out
It's rainin' inside a big brown moon
How does that mess you baby up, leg
Eatin' a Reuben sandwich with sauerkraut
Don't stop now, baby, let it all hang out
-THE HOMBRES
Sometimes ya just feel this way.
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