Monthly Archive for October, 2002

Mon
Oct
21
2002

CIA v. Bush 0 cmts

Slightly old, but I finally got around to reading the article:
So what we have here is our top intelligence agency endorsing the past success of a peaceful, enforceable disarmament technique that our allies and the United Nations support, while our president and his Cabinet repeatedly belittle it as a sham.

Bush vs. the CIA

Wed
Oct
16
2002

Something I just realized 0 cmts

Talking to Sally about Buffy helped me to realize why I like some aspects of Judaism.

Willow visits Tara’s gravesite and leaves stones. She leaves stones because it is the Jewish tradition — flowers die. Stones are permanent, or as permanent as something can be.

The basis of so many of the Jewish customs is about being deliberate. About doing things and living life deliberately. I like that.

Deliberate \De*lib”er*ate\, v. i.
To take counsel with one’s self; to weigh the arguments for
and against a proposed course of action; to reflect; to
consider; to hesitate in deciding; — sometimes with on,
upon, about, concerning.

Tue
Oct
15
2002

I’m Kermit! 0 cmts

You are Kermit!
Though you’re technically the star, you’re pretty mellow and don’t mind letting others share the spotlight. You are also something of a dreamer.

Mon
Oct
14
2002

Big Questions 1 cmts

I have them from time to time. And they come back again and again. And I don’t know the answers. I’ll post them here as they come to me.

BigQ 1: What is wealth? How is it generated?

BigQ 2: What is the definition of human? Will it last?

BigQ 3: Are our thoughts our own? Are the chemicals of the synapses to our benefit or detriment?

Something I should have posted long, long ago… 0 cmts

And also…

It’s strange to me. I walk around and watch these cute leetle goth children with their shirts about voices in their heads. They have this thinking “Self, we are super cool because we pretend to have voices in our head.” Or even better they think they actually do have voices: “Selves, we are gloriously mentally ill!”

From Hello, I take zoloft. I am so gloriously mentally ill! You will love me, yes?

I’ve done it again. I start reading Everything and I just can’t stop.

Sun
Oct
13
2002

The march of war 0 cmts

This is such a very, very good article.

Fri
Oct
11
2002

Girly schools 0 cmts

From seventeen.com (Seventeen Magazine):

In the October issue of seventeen, we named the 50 coolest schools where girls can get the best college experience. From frat parties to professors’ involvement, from campus safety to great shopping, we’ve picked the best of the best. Read on for more information on each school.

Now, from InstaPundit:

“Seventeen” has ranked the 100 “coolest” colleges. Apparently the first 50 were worthy enough to be investigated. I guess they didn’t look too closely at numbers 51-100. I’m proud to say that my alma mater – Wabash College – made the list at number 76. Unfortunately the editors forgot to check and see that Wabash is one of only three colleges exclusively for men still left out there. Has been since 1832. I guess this is further proof that rankings don’t mean too much. Although given their criteria and the enriching experiences that women have had while visiting Wabash – I’m not too surprised.

Well, to be fair, Seventeen says it was looking at the “coolest schools where girls can get the best college experience.” It didn’t say “as a student.”

I’m happy to say that Brandeis was ranked 77 – right below Wabash. Not sure what that means…

Thu
Oct
10
2002

Andrew Sullivan’s Imperialism 0 cmts

Mr. Sullivan, in his article, “The imperialist canard,” demonstrates himself to be rather easily (or, perhaps, conveniently) fooled. There’s a very good reason that, “In the campaign, [Bush] was clearly less interventionist than Gore, asked for less defense spending and urged America to be a ‘humble nation.’”

He was lying.

– Roger Rueff


Salon Letters in response to Andrew Sullivan

It won’t even make it to Lifetime 0 cmts

87 percent say that while women are ridiculed and criticized for doing something bad, or unfavorable, men earn a ‘cool’ or ‘humorous’ image from … the same behavior.”

Before you write the study off as unvarnished feminist nonsense, consider Martha Stewart, Kathie Lee Gifford, and now Winona. Now think about Robert Downey Jr.

Is he adorable or what?


Justice, Interrupted
Why Winona Ryder will do time for O.J.’s crimes.

Biometric Security 0 cmts

Lauren Weinstein of the Privacy Forum on thumbprint security for computers:

“What do you do when somebody’s biometric information is compromised?” he said. “Do you have them go out and get a new thumb? Getting a replacement thumb is expensive and painful.”

College Seeks Security in Thumbs by Wired News


Your Proprietor

I'm Danny Silverman, a guy in Cambridge, MA with an interest in law, culture, media, and using technology to bring people together even as we work ever harder to push ourselves apart.

My day job is maintaining computer systems. I like exploring the outdoors. I catch and throw flying discs for sport. My cat is fuzzy.

To contact me: zeno@ this site.

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