You know what really irks me about this whole trend? People putting so much effort into buying the right lightbulb, while completing neglecting the obvious high-impact behavior of just reducing their own waste (because I've seen these same people with their environmentally-safe toilet paper go out and buy 3 cups of coffee from Starbucks and toss away all of that garbage). In a related vein, this sounds like a terrible idea. Why not just pay $9.99 and get the dvd forever?! Worst case scenario, you hawk it to a used cd/dvd dealer.
As a clarification, I think we should all try to do as much as we can to reduce our impact on the environment and while I think all of these new ways of doing so (consumer products, clean energy, etc. etc.) are great, we shouldn't forget about the common sense tactics we learned in elementary school. Things like turning off the lights/electronics when not in use, using as little disposable products as possible, and conserving water. Basics, people! Then when you've got that down, go ahead and get fancy.
Friday, May 30, 2008
It just keeps getting worse.
Hillary Clinton's campaign makes a very sad attempt to be hip with a t-shirt contest. Take a glimpse at the truly pathetic choices here (haha although I must say that the pantsuit-shirt does make me laugh).
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Homes etc.
Stable for sheep in the Netherlands.
Awesome rug from John Pour Home. Reminds me of studying foreign language in high school, when everyone puts yellow sticky notes on the nouns in their rooms to help them learn. Or at least I did.Stolen from residential architecture blog.
This sounds trippy and fascinating.
"Miracle fruit" apparently rewires your taste buds, making sweet sour, bitter sweet, and so forth, because of a component called miraculin. Interesting...
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Esquire's Best Bars List
Great compilation of note-worthy bars by state. Sadly, I haven't been to any of the three bars in SF on the list, though I've heard many good things. Bourbon & Branch, in particular, I'd like to try. What really surprised me, however, is that I hadn't been to any of the Philly bars either. In fact, the only bars on the list I'd been to were in Delaware, New York and Maryland. Guess I'll have to work a little bit harder on my drinking...
Takes me back...
**From The Onion
Stolen Tour Bus Leads Police On Chase Of Historic Downtown Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA—Police were led on a reckless, high-speed pursuit past more than a dozen of downtown Philadelphia's most historically fascinating locations Tuesday, when an armed assailant hijacked a tour bus full of elderly retirees visiting from Cincinnati. "The suspect took command of the vehicle at Chestnut Street, home to Philadelphia's famous Carpenter's Hall, where the First Continental Congress met, and then fled north in the southbound lane of Sixth Street towards the Liberty Bell," said police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, adding that the driver would have gotten a great view of Independence Hall at sunset had he had not careened off Walnut Street at 45 mph. "He then led police past several Victorian homes, including Edgar Allen Poe's residence from 1838 to 1844, where he penned such classics as the 'The Pit and the Pendulum' and 'The Tell-Tale Heart.'" Police reports indicate the chase ended when the tour bus jumped a curb, slammed into a cheesesteak stand, and exploded in a ball of flames.
Stolen Tour Bus Leads Police On Chase Of Historic Downtown Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA—Police were led on a reckless, high-speed pursuit past more than a dozen of downtown Philadelphia's most historically fascinating locations Tuesday, when an armed assailant hijacked a tour bus full of elderly retirees visiting from Cincinnati. "The suspect took command of the vehicle at Chestnut Street, home to Philadelphia's famous Carpenter's Hall, where the First Continental Congress met, and then fled north in the southbound lane of Sixth Street towards the Liberty Bell," said police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, adding that the driver would have gotten a great view of Independence Hall at sunset had he had not careened off Walnut Street at 45 mph. "He then led police past several Victorian homes, including Edgar Allen Poe's residence from 1838 to 1844, where he penned such classics as the 'The Pit and the Pendulum' and 'The Tell-Tale Heart.'" Police reports indicate the chase ended when the tour bus jumped a curb, slammed into a cheesesteak stand, and exploded in a ball of flames.
Friday, May 23, 2008
The internet tackles one of life's most important problems...
Missing game pieces. Well, kind of. Anyway, did you know you can print out your own Monopoly money now? I just thought it was yet another neat use of the internet to take care of even the most minor inconveniences.
Simple pleasures
You know what's great? Sourdough english muffins with a little bit of cherry preserves and mascarpone. You know what else? Blood on the Tracks traveling via iPod into my brain. You know what else? Memorial Day Weekend. I get to leave work at 2 pm today and walk around in 70-degree sunshine. I'm not bragging, but sometimes I think it's important to be grateful for the little things that make one smile. Writing it down helps. What are you grateful for?
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Things I love about San Francisco, Part 562
Bay to Breakers!
Check the video for a glimpse of how I spent last Sunday. I don't think this could happen in any other city. FYI, there is a bit of nudity.
Check the video for a glimpse of how I spent last Sunday. I don't think this could happen in any other city. FYI, there is a bit of nudity.
Heart-warming in light of tragedy
Nicholas Kristof examines post-quake China and finds citizens willing to do their part to assist others in need, despite being relatively poor themselves. Additionally, he tackles the increasingly political (rather than dictatorial) attitudes of the Communist party leaders, particularly in the face of the disaster. Quite hopeful, I say, but we'll see what happens with the Olympics...
Stuff White People Like: Bumper Stickers
Though there is no conclusive evidence about the effectiveness of these stickers, white people show no signs of abandoning the campaign. In fact, there is a popular tale in white mythology that tells of an unenlightened man driving on the freeway who saw a bumper sticker on the back of a Subaru station wagon that said “Go Veg.” The sticker was so moving that he threw the hamburger he was eating right out the window and became a vegetarian on the spot. Two days later, he affixed the same bumper sticker to their car and the process began anew until enough people had changed their views to form what we now know as the city of Portland, Oregon.
Full post here. I've never understood the fascination myself, but then again, I don't drive a car. See entry #61 for a detailed description of how superior that makes me. ;-)
Full post here. I've never understood the fascination myself, but then again, I don't drive a car. See entry #61 for a detailed description of how superior that makes me. ;-)
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
More quotations on a variety of subjects
"It is an odd thing, but every one who disappears is said to be seen at San Francisco. It must be a delightful city, and possess all the attractions of the next world."
— Oscar Wilde
"I would rather someone be wrapped in the Constitution burning the flag than wrapped in the flag burning the Constitution."
— James Colorado (not a famous person, just a regular one with articulation -- found posted on some SF-related sites)
"Art is the greatest stimulus to life."
— Nietzsche
"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed."
— Carl Jung
— Oscar Wilde
"I would rather someone be wrapped in the Constitution burning the flag than wrapped in the flag burning the Constitution."
— James Colorado (not a famous person, just a regular one with articulation -- found posted on some SF-related sites)
"Art is the greatest stimulus to life."
— Nietzsche
"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed."
— Carl Jung
Weather-inspired quote
"I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees."
— Pablo Neruda
— Pablo Neruda
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
75,000!
What a rock star. I love it. I mean, to get that many people revved up about politics, the same way they'd get revved up about Coachella or Burning Man or Glastonbury.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Bob Dylan images
Felt the need to change my desktop background and watched I'm Not There over the weekend. That's more or less how I got here. Enjoy. 
I think I'm in love
Obama gets tough in the right way, and tells Americans the truth. Swoon!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/may/19/barackobama.uselections2008
John McCain, that same Thursday morning, was giving a speech in part about the need to move beyond the partisan bickering of the last decade. Within an hour or two, following Bush's lead, McCain attacked Obama: "What does he want to talk about with Ahmadinejad, who said Israel is a stinking corpse?" The Obama campaign emailed reporters accusing Bush of launching "a false political attack".
Now here's the important part. In the past two presidential campaigns, that's where this would have ended. The Democrat "responded" for the record, but somewhat perfunctorily, while the Republicans got their point across: the Democrats are appeasers, the Democratic nominee wants to talk to terrorists and he won't keep the country safe.
Game, set, match. This is how Bush built margins of trust with voters over Al Gore and John Kerry on national-security questions. Invoke appeasement of Hitler, toss in Israel's safety: this is exactly the kind of thing that sent Gore and Kerry running for the hills. Even Bill Clinton, who knew better how to return a punch, would have tried to change the subject back to the economy.
But the current version of the story ends differently. Last Friday, in South Dakota, Obama gave an extended and aggressive press conference in which he hit back hard. Bush and McCain, he told Americans, "are trying to fool you. They're trying to scare you. And they're not telling you the truth." He ticked off the lies that were told about Iraq and the benefits that would redound from making war there, noting that not one of the promises had come to pass.
The headline that afternoon on the influential blog of Mark Halperin, of Time magazine, conveyed the takeaway: "Bam!! Bop!!!! Bash!!"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/may/19/barackobama.uselections2008
John McCain, that same Thursday morning, was giving a speech in part about the need to move beyond the partisan bickering of the last decade. Within an hour or two, following Bush's lead, McCain attacked Obama: "What does he want to talk about with Ahmadinejad, who said Israel is a stinking corpse?" The Obama campaign emailed reporters accusing Bush of launching "a false political attack".
Now here's the important part. In the past two presidential campaigns, that's where this would have ended. The Democrat "responded" for the record, but somewhat perfunctorily, while the Republicans got their point across: the Democrats are appeasers, the Democratic nominee wants to talk to terrorists and he won't keep the country safe.
Game, set, match. This is how Bush built margins of trust with voters over Al Gore and John Kerry on national-security questions. Invoke appeasement of Hitler, toss in Israel's safety: this is exactly the kind of thing that sent Gore and Kerry running for the hills. Even Bill Clinton, who knew better how to return a punch, would have tried to change the subject back to the economy.
But the current version of the story ends differently. Last Friday, in South Dakota, Obama gave an extended and aggressive press conference in which he hit back hard. Bush and McCain, he told Americans, "are trying to fool you. They're trying to scare you. And they're not telling you the truth." He ticked off the lies that were told about Iraq and the benefits that would redound from making war there, noting that not one of the promises had come to pass.
The headline that afternoon on the influential blog of Mark Halperin, of Time magazine, conveyed the takeaway: "Bam!! Bop!!!! Bash!!"
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Digging Collins' sarcasm today.
A Victory Plan For Hillary
If Clinton wants to continue, there’s $11 million that says she has paid for the right to go the distance. But is it hopeless? Not entirely. Given the Democratic Party’s innovative method of doling out delegates, all that’s necessary for her to snatch the nomination is:
1) A big, big win in Kentucky next Tuesday. Ideally, Obama should be limited to no more than 100 votes.
2) Oregon, scheduled for the same day, inexplicably breaks off and sinks into the Pacific Ocean.
3) Puerto Rico, clocking in on June 1, not only gives Clinton a huge majority, but also manages to become a state in advance of the vote.
4) Finally, on June 3 as the South Dakota polls open, Thomas Jefferson’s head on Mount Rushmore comes to life and starts shouting, “You go, girl.”
If Clinton wants to continue, there’s $11 million that says she has paid for the right to go the distance. But is it hopeless? Not entirely. Given the Democratic Party’s innovative method of doling out delegates, all that’s necessary for her to snatch the nomination is:
1) A big, big win in Kentucky next Tuesday. Ideally, Obama should be limited to no more than 100 votes.
2) Oregon, scheduled for the same day, inexplicably breaks off and sinks into the Pacific Ocean.
3) Puerto Rico, clocking in on June 1, not only gives Clinton a huge majority, but also manages to become a state in advance of the vote.
4) Finally, on June 3 as the South Dakota polls open, Thomas Jefferson’s head on Mount Rushmore comes to life and starts shouting, “You go, girl.”
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Does anyone else get the feeling we're way over our heads in the Middle East?
By "we", I mean Americans and this Friedman column takes a look at our historical political initiatives there.
The Bush team, by contrast, in eight years has managed to put America in the unique position in the Middle East where it is “not liked, not feared and not respected,” writes Aaron David Miller, a former Mideast negotiator under both Republican and Democratic administrations, in his provocative new book on the peace process, titled “The Much Too Promised Land.”
“We stumbled for eight years under Bill Clinton over how to make peace in the Middle East, and then we stumbled for eight years under George Bush over how to make war there,” said Mr. Miller, and the result is “an America that is trapped in a region which it cannot fix and it cannot abandon.”
In general, when I read commentary on the Middle East (which, I'll admit, is not nearly as often as I read about domestic policy, but I try to stay informed) -- most of the article is spent explaining how things work and why, with very little concrete advice on how to proceed. Sometimes I get the feeling even the author isn't certain of the knowledge he or she is relying on. Makes me wish I had taken a Middle Eastern history course in college, or something to help me understand this whole situation better. I want to muse on this some more, but in the meantime, if anyone has any resources they'd like to recommend, I welcome it.
The Bush team, by contrast, in eight years has managed to put America in the unique position in the Middle East where it is “not liked, not feared and not respected,” writes Aaron David Miller, a former Mideast negotiator under both Republican and Democratic administrations, in his provocative new book on the peace process, titled “The Much Too Promised Land.”
“We stumbled for eight years under Bill Clinton over how to make peace in the Middle East, and then we stumbled for eight years under George Bush over how to make war there,” said Mr. Miller, and the result is “an America that is trapped in a region which it cannot fix and it cannot abandon.”
In general, when I read commentary on the Middle East (which, I'll admit, is not nearly as often as I read about domestic policy, but I try to stay informed) -- most of the article is spent explaining how things work and why, with very little concrete advice on how to proceed. Sometimes I get the feeling even the author isn't certain of the knowledge he or she is relying on. Makes me wish I had taken a Middle Eastern history course in college, or something to help me understand this whole situation better. I want to muse on this some more, but in the meantime, if anyone has any resources they'd like to recommend, I welcome it.
Colbert takes on Bill O'Reilly's vintage Inside Edition meltdown
Honestly, I think everything about this is hilarious.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Did we somehow end up with the short end of the stick?
Generally, I think I have a pretty good life. As the first four-year college graduate in my family line, I definitely feel like I'm at a better place than my parents at 24 years old. I'm sure they would agree. However, on the grand scale - it seems that my generation might be facing much tougher times than previous generations (basically the boomers have really messed things up for us, and us for ourselves, most likely). Bob Herbert artfully (and tragically) describes it as the loss of the American dream. Thus, the importance (which I have been preaching about for years) of political involvement from the get-go. Believe me, the other generations are protecting their interests - and because, in a democracy, real change stems primarily from mass, coordinated action - we need to get our shit together and stop the apathy. The good news is (I love when there is good news!), it seems to be happening. Barack Obama is obviously the catalyst - but, as cheesy as it is, he's also right about this - we are the change we've been waiting for. It's like, for the past eight years, we've all been waiting for everyone else to step up. And vice-versa. Once we got a sense that others of our age/values/mindsets were taking accountability for ensuring this one (guh - don't even get me started on the 2004 election...) goes right, once we had someone who could inspire us to actually desire a well-informed state of being, well then, the changes in ourselves and our colleagues started appearing. A few years ago, I don't think I could actually believe I would ever know THIS MUCH about politics at their current state. Pet issues, sure - but details about two candidates policies, personal lives, histories, campaign goals, etc. etc. etc. - not so much. And it's not just me - it's a very large percentage of my friends. I'm just musing at the moment - there is a lot here I'd like to address, but unfortunately do not possess the time right now (oh how I wish I could stop using that phrase - where does the time go?) - but I believe things are heading in the right direction. The important thing is that we recognize our own significance, the changes that we have every potential to make. Now that we're nearly done debating Clinton v. Obama with fellow twenty-somethings (or whomever) - it's time to figure out how we're going to make sure the change we all voted for, the vague idea that the toxic political atmosphere could clear, the renewed sense of hope - let's make sure the conservatives don't kill it. I think the GOP is probably already assuming younger folks won't show up for the general election - that's not let it slip through our fingers again. Stay involved, informed, and willing to engage. I can't wait to take on some of my Republican friends (I know, can you believe it? But I'm from Lancaster county, give me a break!) and I hope the rest of you young'uns feel the same. We're a big group with a lot of political power - we just haven't been using it. Time to start using our demographic strength - seems like we'll be needing it for quite a while.
Whoops!
A New York NBC News anchor drops the f-bomb live. Hardly the first time, but still - how do people keep making this mistake?
Monday, May 12, 2008
A little too morbid for my taste...
You've probably heard about the horrific earthquake that happened in China by now - thousands are estimated to have perished. CNN's coverage of this tragedy includes video footage - and I'm all for visuals, BUT is this really necessary?
"Watch as the death toll rises »"
Does anyone really want to watch as the death toll rises? This isn't primary coverage, these are dead people. CNN (and others!) - show some respect, eh?
"Watch as the death toll rises »"
Does anyone really want to watch as the death toll rises? This isn't primary coverage, these are dead people. CNN (and others!) - show some respect, eh?
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Friday, May 09, 2008
Wolfgang's Vault Gets Even Better
Now available - the "I'm Not There" benefit concert (the dvd is out - get it!) and indie Mondays. I'm loving it. I just wish there were more available for download...
Update: I found this cover of "Masters of War" (set at the beginning to the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner") by The Roots to be a pretty interesting listen.
Update: I found this cover of "Masters of War" (set at the beginning to the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner") by The Roots to be a pretty interesting listen.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Dusty: Who knew Steve Allen was so hip???
Dusty (cont.): All interviews need to be conducted in that manner, not all with a piano,but the hosts need to be playing some sort of instrument while they talk.
Agreed, my friend. I just love that this piece is AVAILABLE, and with such ease. Lordy, the times they are a-changin'...
Brooks begins to redeem himself
David Brooks contrasts the vastly different styles of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Most of the argument we've heard before, but here was the part that shocked me:
She peddled her sham gas-tax holiday and repeated her attempt to blame Indiana’s job losses on outsourcing and Nafta. Stephanopoulos asked her to name a single economist who thinks a tax-holiday plan would work, and the daughter of Wellesley and Yale took the chance to shove the geeks into their lockers: “I’m not going to put my lot in with economists.”
When Stephanopoulos pointed out that Paul Krugman, a Times columnist, has raised doubts about the plan, Clinton lumped Krugman in with the Bush administration and said she wasn’t going to listen to the people responsible for the last seven years.
Ok I don't know how many of you are familiar with Paul Krugman, but he's WAY more liberal than I am (and despite my love of capitalism, I'm pretty liberal) and I believe he owns a Bush-faced dartboard. He's always been on the Democrats' side. Anyway, this was just shameful. Which I guess is the continuing theme of the Clinton campaign - I mean, it's gotten her this far, right? HA!
She peddled her sham gas-tax holiday and repeated her attempt to blame Indiana’s job losses on outsourcing and Nafta. Stephanopoulos asked her to name a single economist who thinks a tax-holiday plan would work, and the daughter of Wellesley and Yale took the chance to shove the geeks into their lockers: “I’m not going to put my lot in with economists.”
When Stephanopoulos pointed out that Paul Krugman, a Times columnist, has raised doubts about the plan, Clinton lumped Krugman in with the Bush administration and said she wasn’t going to listen to the people responsible for the last seven years.
Ok I don't know how many of you are familiar with Paul Krugman, but he's WAY more liberal than I am (and despite my love of capitalism, I'm pretty liberal) and I believe he owns a Bush-faced dartboard. He's always been on the Democrats' side. Anyway, this was just shameful. Which I guess is the continuing theme of the Clinton campaign - I mean, it's gotten her this far, right? HA!
This is why I love YouTube.
Who knew such awesome old stuff would eventually end up on there?
This (and the millions of other amateur videos like it) is why I don't. 4 stars, really?
Monday, May 05, 2008
Friedman scores again!
Another fabulous column from Thomas L. Friedman - he must have really rejuvenated on that book tour. I've copied way too much from the article below, but I just couldn't choose which bit to share. Read the whole thing; you won't regret it.
Our president’s latest energy initiative was to go to Saudi Arabia and beg King Abdullah to give us a little relief on gasoline prices. I guess there was some justice in that. When you, the president, after 9/11, tell the country to go shopping instead of buckling down to break our addiction to oil, it ends with you, the president, shopping the world for discount gasoline.
We are not as powerful as we used to be because over the past three decades, the Asian values of our parents’ generation — work hard, study, save, invest, live within your means — have given way to subprime values: “You can have the American dream — a house — with no money down and no payments for two years.”
Who will tell the people? We are not who we think we are. We are living on borrowed time and borrowed dimes. We still have all the potential for greatness, but only if we get back to work on our country.
I don’t know if Barack Obama can lead that, but the notion that the idealism he has inspired in so many young people doesn’t matter is dead wrong. “Of course, hope alone is not enough,” says Tim Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics, “but it’s not trivial. It’s not trivial to inspire people to want to get up and do something with someone else.”
It is especially not trivial now, because millions of Americans are dying to be enlisted — enlisted to fix education, enlisted to research renewable energy, enlisted to repair our infrastructure, enlisted to help others. Look at the kids lining up to join Teach for America. They want our country to matter again. They want it to be about building wealth and dignity — big profits and big purposes. When we just do one, we are less than the sum of our parts. When we do both, said Shriver, “no one can touch us.”
Friday, May 02, 2008
A halfway decent summer blockbuster?
I was pretty surprised today to find that Iron Man has actually gotten some pretty solid reviews. I've had mixed feelings about this film from the start:
a) I'm not a huge fan of typical summer action blockbusters - I almost always end up disappointed, so I've more or less stopped going.
b) On the other hand, I love Robert Downey Jr. Most recent example - his performance in Zodiac was definitely one of the major assets of the film.
c) I don't think the commercials do it justice at all, but the trailer seems to hit closer to the mark.
d) Jon Favreau directs. As much as I dig Swingers, and I as much as I loved his guest appearance in The Sopranos, it is now very hard to take him seriously in the role of a director. Like, really? Favreau? Maybe I'm just a snob though.
Anyway, I think my interest has piqued enough to perhaps go and pay the $10 to see it. If one of you beats me to the punch though (which is very likely), I'd be curious as to your thoughts.
a) I'm not a huge fan of typical summer action blockbusters - I almost always end up disappointed, so I've more or less stopped going.
b) On the other hand, I love Robert Downey Jr. Most recent example - his performance in Zodiac was definitely one of the major assets of the film.
c) I don't think the commercials do it justice at all, but the trailer seems to hit closer to the mark.
d) Jon Favreau directs. As much as I dig Swingers, and I as much as I loved his guest appearance in The Sopranos, it is now very hard to take him seriously in the role of a director. Like, really? Favreau? Maybe I'm just a snob though.
Anyway, I think my interest has piqued enough to perhaps go and pay the $10 to see it. If one of you beats me to the punch though (which is very likely), I'd be curious as to your thoughts.
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