Happy Easter!

But if you're thinking of getting your child a bunny, think long and hard about it. As you know I own one (or it owns me)... and while extremely rewarding, she can be a lot of work.

Here's a PSA. Click for more info.

Markets vs. Mandates

This writeup proposes a viable alternative to the Obama health care bills under review in Congress.

http://reason.com/archives/2009/07/28/markets-not-mandates

On Global Warming

As you might have heard, the computer network of prominent British climate researchers, and proponents of man-made global warming, were recently hacked. Two points: I have not yet given this scientific topic the deep dive it deserves for me to reach a conclusion. Second: I do not condone the hackers who broke in to the computer network. That's a crime and should be punished as such.

But what's done is done, and the data is now out in the open. And there is some incriminating stuff.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704888404574547730924988354.html

Or here, for more detail:
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/global-warminggate-what-does-it-mean/

Funky Russian Art

Ever wonder what happens in the Moscow Subway? Check out artist Alex Andreev's "footage." Hard to put in words, but very cool. (special thanks to my friend Jason for finding this.)

http://englishrussia.com/?p=2854

RIP Les Lye

Remember the guy who played Barth, The Principal, The slob Senator Father, and the insane bus driver on 80's kid series You Can't Do That On Television? He just died at 84:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Canadian%20actor%20broadcaster%20dead/1817899/story.html

I'm posting this because he arguably had more influence on my early childhood than the late Michael Jackson. I also want to thank the several Canadians reading this for giving us this show.

Articles

All,
I'm having a great time interning in Orlando. I can't add much to the recent photo galleries. So for now, here are two articles I found interesting. Both are longish and informative.

David Miscavige, head of the "Church" of Scientology, is a thug who beats up his staff regularly. According to four high-level defectors. Considering the insane things Scientologists believe (just Google them), it *would* take violence to keep the minions in line.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012148.ece

Next, read about Brad Blanton, a Virginia psychotherapist who preaches "radical honesty." Whatever is on your mind - at any time - just say it.
http://www.esquire.com/features/honesty0707

Philosophically, this topic has long been very interesting to me. I, for one, do not believe in lying unless your (or someone else's) self defense or privacy is at stake. This includes "polite" or "white" lies. I feel that social graces should instead be maintained by honest vagueness.

There's much I admire about Blanton's direct honesty. But he seems to wield it as an excuse to be a jerk to people. Read this if you have time - I'd love to hear your thoughts. Including you psych majors I tagged =)

Test

This is just a test. Please ignore.

The funniest thing I've seen in ages

Disregard the last email. Here are two commercials for a fake energy drink. There are a few curse words, fyi.

Words can't do this justice.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRuNxHqwazs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-3qncy5Qfk

oops, again

That last link might not have worked.

If so, try this:
http://failblog.org/2009/03/24/trucks-fail/

..and if the video doesn't play, hit reload.

Oops

Whenever I'm on the freeway, I still get nervous watching semi trucks pass under bridges. Fortunately, the bridge clearance height is standardized.

Usually.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzqwFAVsbKo&feature=player_embedded

Reality Check

Bailouts, stimulus, layoffs. Yet we don't realize how good we really have it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoGYx35ypus


Kat, thanks for finding this.

Barack Obama: He Fights Crime!

It recently occurred to me that I have a thing for politician action figures. I wonder why. I might be because, long ago, I concluded that politics in the USA is seriously messed up- perhaps beyond repair. That leaves me enjoying politics for the manipulative little game it reduces to.

I wish President Obama all the luck. But I don't believe he's the magic fix others make him out to be. Sure, we can all throw "Hope" and "Change" around all we want. It's a start. Barack's campaign bothered me because it seemed to be only about Hope and Change. Rather than, say, the concrete meaning of whatever change he wants. Bush's "Compassionate Conservatism" tagline of 2000 was nearly as vapid (and had some awful consequences) - but at least it delineated an ideology. Had Obama ran as "Liberal Change" he might have lost.

I digress. I recently got wind of a Japanese company that makes an Obama action figure. You can pose him with microphones, machine guns, and even a light saber. He looks badass.
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/34709834/m/506002576931/p/1

Should that link ever vanish, I also made a PDF of the page. It's really that good- so much that, for a moment anyway, I wished I had voted for Obama. (Thanks also to my pal Zac for finding this).

No comment

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28545081/

Letter

All,
I have written my 2008 Holiday Christmas Letter. It's long, and I have posted it to my website's iLog. Those of you reading this from my email list can find access directions below.
If anyone else is eager to read my tidings of cheer, drop me a line.

Thanks and Happy New Year,
Philip

No comment

Etcetera

My semester is almost over. It was uniquely insane. I'll write more later, but needless to say I'm now patting myself on the back.

Here are some links.

I just found out that President-Elect Obama was spotted listening to music on a Zune rather than an iPod.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2008/dec/04/obama-ipod-zunegate

The Zune is Microsoft's lame response to Apple's superior iPod. Any Hope(tm) America has had for their new president was clearly in vain. Everyone knows Microsoft is a Big Evil Monopoly.

Second, the EPA recently considered taxing farmers for their flatulent farm animals because that gives off greenhouse gas.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081205/ap_on_bi_ge/farm_scene_cow_tax

For argument's sake, let's set aside the environmental concern over tailpipe CO2 emissions. I've heard scientists and regulators fume over 'polluting' farm animals before. I've never understood why.

Large animals were farting for hundreds of million years before we invented cars.

If anyone could shine more light on this from a scientific perspective, I'd welcome your feedback. It seems ridiculous.


Back to studying...