Wednesday, May 04, 2005
First there was the SUV, Now there is the 15-pound hamburger
It's quantity, not quality, or so says consumptives.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
What is the Republican Party?
City Pages - The Undoing of America - Gore Vidal
EXCERPT
What is the Republican Party? Well, it used to be the party of the small-town businessman, generally in the Middle West, generally sort of out of the mainstream. Very conservative. It now represents nothing but the gas and oil business. They own it. And the people who go to Congress are simply bought. They are lawyers who are paid to represent Halliburton, big oil, big banking. So the very rich corporate America has a party for itself, the Republican Party. The Democrats don't have much of anything but a kind of wistful style. They just want everyone to be happy, and politically correct at all times. Do not hurt other people's feelings. They spend so much time on political correctness that they haven't thought of what to do politically about anything. Like say "no" to these preemptive wars, which are against not only the whole world's take on war and peace, but against United States history.
Learn more about your dying country, and how it is being killed.
EXCERPT
What is the Republican Party? Well, it used to be the party of the small-town businessman, generally in the Middle West, generally sort of out of the mainstream. Very conservative. It now represents nothing but the gas and oil business. They own it. And the people who go to Congress are simply bought. They are lawyers who are paid to represent Halliburton, big oil, big banking. So the very rich corporate America has a party for itself, the Republican Party. The Democrats don't have much of anything but a kind of wistful style. They just want everyone to be happy, and politically correct at all times. Do not hurt other people's feelings. They spend so much time on political correctness that they haven't thought of what to do politically about anything. Like say "no" to these preemptive wars, which are against not only the whole world's take on war and peace, but against United States history.
Learn more about your dying country, and how it is being killed.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Proof the Right Wing is dumbing down
Right-Of-Center Bloggers Select Their Favorite Columnists - Right Wing News (Conservative News and Views)
What has softened the skulls of the Right Wing of late? Is it that they are expected to follow their fuhrers where'er they may lead, and in the process have, themselves, had to slow their cerebrations to a point where fossilized cryptonazis in the bright autumn of their senescence, boys like Rich Lowry, or anyone named Limbaugh suffice as thought leading?
Thanks to the Right Wing News for sharing the embarrassing results of their very scientific study (shown on the other side of this link.)
Give the list a serious pondering, and ask yourself if you envision yourself as someone who would be impressed by such folk as listed there. And should the answer be a resounding "yea"...you may want to redouble your efforts at trying to understand why you never saw reasons to finish high school, or pay attention in college, were you one of the lucky ones.
Oh sure, there are one or two in the favorite columnist list who actually do think thoughts. Hitch and Brooks come to mind. But Coulter, David Limbaugh, Michael Barone?
Thoughts don't convey any better when yelled, and yet yelling seems to be a favorite mode of speech among the more famous voices of the Reich. What is so wrong with speaking in modulated tones, like they do on NPR, PBS, BBC, or other non-Rightwing sources of information. And what is wrong with information? What is so great about hearing Purchased Opinion day in and day out? If opinion is your gig, why not shoot for unpaid opinion? How do you know paid-for opinion is not just PR? Would Rush Limbaugh give a fair assessment of Gutter Helmet? What are the down sides of this unusual sartorial accessory, and would a good haberdasher recommend wearing one? Certainly not with white tie.
So while the Left and Center have to suffer folks like Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Moyers, Garrison Keillor, James Joyce, Shakespeare, Rumi, Lao Tse, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and other Princes of Peace, the Right get to skim from the very top of humanity, and find such radiant sources of Eternal Light as Ann Coulter and Rich Lowry? Sure they are cute, but so is a puppy just learning to walk.
I remember when I first became interested in philosophy. I found great delight in finding a philosopher I liked, and then searching for the thinkers THEY liked. And then the ones THEY liked, and on back to God. Never, in a million years, would I end up at William F. Buckley or Charles Krauthammer or George Will -- fine folks though they may be.
Sometimes it is best to look beyond our time and our place, in order to get a view that is not, in some way, influenced, or paid, or purchased by this or that company, group or movement.
The people on this list are too often at odds with time-tested universal wisdoms, and I can only think that it is either because they are unfamiliar with time-tested universal wisdoms, or that they are simply saying basically what they are paid to say.
One cannot impart even a tenth of one's understanding to another man, and only half to another woman, but that does not mean we should not lament the dumbing down, the awful rowing toward ignorance and ignobility.
It does little good to worry about it, and it is probably best that people learn from their own mistakes.
But, if you find that you are one of those who swoon and gush at the opinions of such and such on said list, it would do no harm to ask: Who are their influences? Whom do they find to be worthy of study? And then go to them, if there is a them. Trace them on back. If nothing else, it will free you momentarily from the Drudge.
What has softened the skulls of the Right Wing of late? Is it that they are expected to follow their fuhrers where'er they may lead, and in the process have, themselves, had to slow their cerebrations to a point where fossilized cryptonazis in the bright autumn of their senescence, boys like Rich Lowry, or anyone named Limbaugh suffice as thought leading?
Thanks to the Right Wing News for sharing the embarrassing results of their very scientific study (shown on the other side of this link.)
Give the list a serious pondering, and ask yourself if you envision yourself as someone who would be impressed by such folk as listed there. And should the answer be a resounding "yea"...you may want to redouble your efforts at trying to understand why you never saw reasons to finish high school, or pay attention in college, were you one of the lucky ones.
Oh sure, there are one or two in the favorite columnist list who actually do think thoughts. Hitch and Brooks come to mind. But Coulter, David Limbaugh, Michael Barone?
Thoughts don't convey any better when yelled, and yet yelling seems to be a favorite mode of speech among the more famous voices of the Reich. What is so wrong with speaking in modulated tones, like they do on NPR, PBS, BBC, or other non-Rightwing sources of information. And what is wrong with information? What is so great about hearing Purchased Opinion day in and day out? If opinion is your gig, why not shoot for unpaid opinion? How do you know paid-for opinion is not just PR? Would Rush Limbaugh give a fair assessment of Gutter Helmet? What are the down sides of this unusual sartorial accessory, and would a good haberdasher recommend wearing one? Certainly not with white tie.
So while the Left and Center have to suffer folks like Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Bruce Springsteen, Bill Moyers, Garrison Keillor, James Joyce, Shakespeare, Rumi, Lao Tse, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and other Princes of Peace, the Right get to skim from the very top of humanity, and find such radiant sources of Eternal Light as Ann Coulter and Rich Lowry? Sure they are cute, but so is a puppy just learning to walk.
I remember when I first became interested in philosophy. I found great delight in finding a philosopher I liked, and then searching for the thinkers THEY liked. And then the ones THEY liked, and on back to God. Never, in a million years, would I end up at William F. Buckley or Charles Krauthammer or George Will -- fine folks though they may be.
Sometimes it is best to look beyond our time and our place, in order to get a view that is not, in some way, influenced, or paid, or purchased by this or that company, group or movement.
The people on this list are too often at odds with time-tested universal wisdoms, and I can only think that it is either because they are unfamiliar with time-tested universal wisdoms, or that they are simply saying basically what they are paid to say.
One cannot impart even a tenth of one's understanding to another man, and only half to another woman, but that does not mean we should not lament the dumbing down, the awful rowing toward ignorance and ignobility.
It does little good to worry about it, and it is probably best that people learn from their own mistakes.
But, if you find that you are one of those who swoon and gush at the opinions of such and such on said list, it would do no harm to ask: Who are their influences? Whom do they find to be worthy of study? And then go to them, if there is a them. Trace them on back. If nothing else, it will free you momentarily from the Drudge.
Poor Red States! Poor, poor Red States!
The American Street - A Surprising Find in the List of Median Income By State
Why is it that Red States tend to be below the national average when it comes to median income? Would the numbers come out differently if you didn't factor in slaves? With millions of limosine liberals pimping desperate househoes should not the manufacturer of the chariots at least be warned of the impending swarms of locusts? And what of man's counter-inhumanity to unman? Will Jack smack the skeet? Green dreams sleep furiously, and yet yellow turtledoves are slow becoming extant, aneusly. Alight! The mose knows, only canst but tell William, caccinative in his land. Formicate your conscious gland. Blue water, blue sky, green grass and you. Tell me, what are you gonna do.
Why is it that Red States tend to be below the national average when it comes to median income? Would the numbers come out differently if you didn't factor in slaves? With millions of limosine liberals pimping desperate househoes should not the manufacturer of the chariots at least be warned of the impending swarms of locusts? And what of man's counter-inhumanity to unman? Will Jack smack the skeet? Green dreams sleep furiously, and yet yellow turtledoves are slow becoming extant, aneusly. Alight! The mose knows, only canst but tell William, caccinative in his land. Formicate your conscious gland. Blue water, blue sky, green grass and you. Tell me, what are you gonna do.
Idea Consultants: May 2 - Dave Winer Day
Idea Consultants: May 2 - Dave Winer Day
Idea Consultants would like to consider May 2...Dave Winer Day in honor of the gentleman who made much of our fascinating lives possible, through his tireless efforts.
Happy Birthday, Dave!
Idea Consultants would like to consider May 2...Dave Winer Day in honor of the gentleman who made much of our fascinating lives possible, through his tireless efforts.
Happy Birthday, Dave!
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Friday, April 29, 2005
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Where to find business blog feeds
Business Blog Feeds
When you search Google for "business blog feeds", at least today, you come up with zilch. Time to change that. Too much to learn to go racing everywhere for their feeds, when time is of the essence.
Therefore, I am cobbling together a page where those who often blog about business blogging are syndicated through the magic of java, rss, and so on.
There are plenty of good businesses with nothing to hide, and these should flock to blogging. For one thing, the ones that shy away are going to seem suspect before long. What is wrong with transparency, communicating, sharing, learning, educating, being educated, growing, evolving?
When companies and people share what they know, it has the potential of helping people who might not be helped otherwise, and it creates a situation where you want to keep learning, so as to have better and better things to impart. You grow and learn. Everybody grows and learns. People begin to trust you, and want to enter into a dialogue. The monologues of slow companies will grow tedious in the ears of those who, at best, sit on the phone for sometimes hours waiting for a machine to give them more hoops to jump through. As Harry Beckwith once noted, "Work is personal". But you couldn't tell it by the way some businesses behave today.
Blogs can help humanize a company. As a networking tool, it may well be unparalleled.
And if one considers the 19 or 20 critical subsystems necessary for life of a living system, blogging certainly supplies or enhances the Input Transducer, Internal Transducer, Channel and Net, Decoder, Associator, Memory, Encoder, Output transducer, even Decider, although it has little to do with Matter/Energy processes. But this is good, because a system is more likely to live the more it processes information over matter/energy. Dinosaurs are the converse. So are large, lumbering, deaf and dumb companies, organizations and prisons.
So I've created this page where you can learn about changing your company by seeing how others are changing theirs.
It's not my usual fare, but alas, I contain multitudes. :)
When you search Google for "business blog feeds", at least today, you come up with zilch. Time to change that. Too much to learn to go racing everywhere for their feeds, when time is of the essence.
Therefore, I am cobbling together a page where those who often blog about business blogging are syndicated through the magic of java, rss, and so on.
There are plenty of good businesses with nothing to hide, and these should flock to blogging. For one thing, the ones that shy away are going to seem suspect before long. What is wrong with transparency, communicating, sharing, learning, educating, being educated, growing, evolving?
When companies and people share what they know, it has the potential of helping people who might not be helped otherwise, and it creates a situation where you want to keep learning, so as to have better and better things to impart. You grow and learn. Everybody grows and learns. People begin to trust you, and want to enter into a dialogue. The monologues of slow companies will grow tedious in the ears of those who, at best, sit on the phone for sometimes hours waiting for a machine to give them more hoops to jump through. As Harry Beckwith once noted, "Work is personal". But you couldn't tell it by the way some businesses behave today.
Blogs can help humanize a company. As a networking tool, it may well be unparalleled.
And if one considers the 19 or 20 critical subsystems necessary for life of a living system, blogging certainly supplies or enhances the Input Transducer, Internal Transducer, Channel and Net, Decoder, Associator, Memory, Encoder, Output transducer, even Decider, although it has little to do with Matter/Energy processes. But this is good, because a system is more likely to live the more it processes information over matter/energy. Dinosaurs are the converse. So are large, lumbering, deaf and dumb companies, organizations and prisons.
So I've created this page where you can learn about changing your company by seeing how others are changing theirs.
It's not my usual fare, but alas, I contain multitudes. :)
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Cooking makes us far less beastly
Charlotte Observer | 04/19/2005 | Kathleen Purvis
Cooked food delivers more nutrition in less time, freeing us to do all kinds of things, like hunt, plant and eventually invent the drive-through lane.
Cooked food delivers more nutrition in less time, freeing us to do all kinds of things, like hunt, plant and eventually invent the drive-through lane.
Happy Birthday!: Jim Beckwourth & The Hubble Telescope
Synchronicitously, serendipitously I picked up one of my books on Jim Beckwourth and began to read: "I was born April 26, 1798 in Fredericksburg, Virginia."
Granted, it would have been stranger if I had done that today, but alas it was yesterday. This fact doesn't change the fact of Jim remarkable life, which I summarized into next to nothing in the Wikipedia:
James Pierson Beckwourth (a.k.a. Jim Beckwourth, James P. Beckwith) was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1798 to Sir Jennings Beckwith and an African-American woman about whom little is known.
His father saw to it that his son would not suffer the vicissitudes of slavery, and thrice had him manumitted at court.
Like his father, Jim enjoyed nature, native Americans and adventure, and it was not long before he set out to explore the vast expanses of what would become that which kept the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans apart.
Places still bear his name.
Later in his life, Jim recounted his astonishing life to Thomas D. Bonner, who set the book The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth, Mountaineer, Scout, and Pioneer, and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians to type. As notable as are the adventures, Jim's linguistic and stylistic prowess also impresses as being beyond the normal scope of reportage. The lessons of the book have currency, and much can be learned that might help us understand the role of alcohol in the US Government, how occupations effect the occupied, our historical relationship to diseases, wildlife, and the environment...among other things, including massacres and war.
and added his father's mini-bio today:
Sir Jennings Beckwith is perhaps best known for being the father of James P. (Jim) Beckwith (Beckwourth), or more commonly known and spelled as Jim Beckwourth, who, among other things, was a writer, raconteur, trapper, trader, explorer, mulatto and Indian Chief. Jennings Beckwith was the son of Sir Jonathan Beckwith, signer of the Virginia Stamp Act, and grandson of Sir Marmaduke Beckwith who documented nearly every aspect of life in that part of the Northern Neck of Virginia which produced such statesmen as Washington, Lee, Mason, Carter, Tayloe, Fauntleroy, Brockenbrough, and others whose influence on the early republic was felt far and wide.
As it was a fondness of Virginians, at the time of Sir Jennings Beckwith, to regard time with relative disregard, and consider it something that one "kills", so too did Jennings have such an attitude. One obituary even said that he had "insuperable objections to spending his time profitably". But because of this freedom, he was able to travel to, what was then, the Far West, and thus help expand America...which he did -- and took his family, some of whom were of African-American descent, through their mother.
It seems Jennings Beckwith may well have brought his family out west in order to shelter them from such a life, as on three seperate occasions he saw to it that his children were manumitted. And it is obvious, from the magnificent liguistic inventory of Jim Beckwourth that he had been taught the fine details of the language.
Jennings Beckwith died at Mount Airy, the beautiful palladian ancient home of the Col. John Tayloe family. Story is told that his spirit still visits the ancient mansion.
Happy birthday, Jim!
It is also the birthday of the most wondrous invention ever...the Hubble Telescope.
Again! May you have many more years!
Granted, it would have been stranger if I had done that today, but alas it was yesterday. This fact doesn't change the fact of Jim remarkable life, which I summarized into next to nothing in the Wikipedia:
James Pierson Beckwourth (a.k.a. Jim Beckwourth, James P. Beckwith) was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1798 to Sir Jennings Beckwith and an African-American woman about whom little is known.
His father saw to it that his son would not suffer the vicissitudes of slavery, and thrice had him manumitted at court.
Like his father, Jim enjoyed nature, native Americans and adventure, and it was not long before he set out to explore the vast expanses of what would become that which kept the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans apart.
Places still bear his name.
Later in his life, Jim recounted his astonishing life to Thomas D. Bonner, who set the book The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth, Mountaineer, Scout, and Pioneer, and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians to type. As notable as are the adventures, Jim's linguistic and stylistic prowess also impresses as being beyond the normal scope of reportage. The lessons of the book have currency, and much can be learned that might help us understand the role of alcohol in the US Government, how occupations effect the occupied, our historical relationship to diseases, wildlife, and the environment...among other things, including massacres and war.
and added his father's mini-bio today:
Sir Jennings Beckwith is perhaps best known for being the father of James P. (Jim) Beckwith (Beckwourth), or more commonly known and spelled as Jim Beckwourth, who, among other things, was a writer, raconteur, trapper, trader, explorer, mulatto and Indian Chief. Jennings Beckwith was the son of Sir Jonathan Beckwith, signer of the Virginia Stamp Act, and grandson of Sir Marmaduke Beckwith who documented nearly every aspect of life in that part of the Northern Neck of Virginia which produced such statesmen as Washington, Lee, Mason, Carter, Tayloe, Fauntleroy, Brockenbrough, and others whose influence on the early republic was felt far and wide.
As it was a fondness of Virginians, at the time of Sir Jennings Beckwith, to regard time with relative disregard, and consider it something that one "kills", so too did Jennings have such an attitude. One obituary even said that he had "insuperable objections to spending his time profitably". But because of this freedom, he was able to travel to, what was then, the Far West, and thus help expand America...which he did -- and took his family, some of whom were of African-American descent, through their mother.
It seems Jennings Beckwith may well have brought his family out west in order to shelter them from such a life, as on three seperate occasions he saw to it that his children were manumitted. And it is obvious, from the magnificent liguistic inventory of Jim Beckwourth that he had been taught the fine details of the language.
Jennings Beckwith died at Mount Airy, the beautiful palladian ancient home of the Col. John Tayloe family. Story is told that his spirit still visits the ancient mansion.
Happy birthday, Jim!
It is also the birthday of the most wondrous invention ever...the Hubble Telescope.
Again! May you have many more years!
The Commonly Confused Words Test
OKCupid! The Commonly Confused Words Test
English Genius
You scored 92% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 93% Expert!
You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!
Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!
For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.
Well, I got one question wrong. So shoot me!
English Genius
You scored 92% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 93% Expert!
You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go!
Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it!
For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.
Well, I got one question wrong. So shoot me!
Monday, April 25, 2005
RSS Feeds at Charlotte.com
The Charlotte Observer now has a host of syndicable feeds for ye blognoscenti.
I have already stocked "My Yahoo" with a number of them.
Now all they have to do is allow commenting, and invite community bloggers into their fold. And podcast, of course.
I have already stocked "My Yahoo" with a number of them.
Now all they have to do is allow commenting, and invite community bloggers into their fold. And podcast, of course.
Sunday, April 24, 2005
The Mood of the Newsroom
First Draft by Tim Porter
Tim Porter, who will be attending BlogNashville from California, as he puts it: "interviewed several hundred journalists - reporters, photographers, copy editors, executive editors, designers, graphic artists. I've been in newspaper newsrooms of more than 500 people and in newsrooms of less than 50. It has been an immersion course in the mood of the press - and much of it hasn't been pretty."
He goes on the surmise the following:
Here is the litany of shame that echoes in newsroom after newsroom:
We don't have the money.
We don't have the time.
We don't have the people.
We have lousy editors.
We have lousy reporters.
We can't communicate.
We don't talk.
We don't listen.
But he also shows some bright spots, such as Greensboro.
"There are plenty of ideas for change out there and some very smart people pushing them. "
An excellent read, with much else besides...
Tim Porter, who will be attending BlogNashville from California, as he puts it: "interviewed several hundred journalists - reporters, photographers, copy editors, executive editors, designers, graphic artists. I've been in newspaper newsrooms of more than 500 people and in newsrooms of less than 50. It has been an immersion course in the mood of the press - and much of it hasn't been pretty."
He goes on the surmise the following:
Here is the litany of shame that echoes in newsroom after newsroom:
We don't have the money.
We don't have the time.
We don't have the people.
We have lousy editors.
We have lousy reporters.
We can't communicate.
We don't talk.
We don't listen.
But he also shows some bright spots, such as Greensboro.
"There are plenty of ideas for change out there and some very smart people pushing them. "
An excellent read, with much else besides...
Going to BlogNashville
Are you going?
It has been a while since I looked at the list of folks already signed up to "please come to Nashville for the springtime", and so I am going blog my perusal of the additional folks I have yet to discover...
I peeked earlier and saw that the legendary Dana Blankenhorn is planning on attending, which spawned my excitement of yet other possibilities. I have read Dana's work since the mid-90s, and hope to get an opportunity to speak with him.
Now...whom else??
Weel, there is chris muir of daybydaycartoon.com who is coming up from Melbourne. Maybe he can bring my dear old friend, Ken Phillips, who lives right down the street in Palm Bay. He and I held each other's hand during the learning phases of the Internet, back in 94...when I decided to climb back in. An idea anyway. Carpooling is healthy.
Ross Myers from Greensboro! Awesome! Is Tara coming too? Hmm...
Minky Worden, from Human Rights Watch, and so many more. Too many to name really. Over 200. Maybe I'll just stay at home.
Naa.
Maybe YOU should come, instead! Can I git a witness!
It has been a while since I looked at the list of folks already signed up to "please come to Nashville for the springtime", and so I am going blog my perusal of the additional folks I have yet to discover...
I peeked earlier and saw that the legendary Dana Blankenhorn is planning on attending, which spawned my excitement of yet other possibilities. I have read Dana's work since the mid-90s, and hope to get an opportunity to speak with him.
Now...whom else??
Weel, there is chris muir of daybydaycartoon.com who is coming up from Melbourne. Maybe he can bring my dear old friend, Ken Phillips, who lives right down the street in Palm Bay. He and I held each other's hand during the learning phases of the Internet, back in 94...when I decided to climb back in. An idea anyway. Carpooling is healthy.
Ross Myers from Greensboro! Awesome! Is Tara coming too? Hmm...
Minky Worden, from Human Rights Watch, and so many more. Too many to name really. Over 200. Maybe I'll just stay at home.
Naa.
Maybe YOU should come, instead! Can I git a witness!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)