Last night I finished re-reading A Wrinkle In Time for the first time since elementary school. Not nearly as good as I remembered, and woah, where did all that religious stuff come from?
Monthly Archive for September, 2008
Fri
Sep
26
2008
The notion of American exceptionalism too-strongly clouds or modern-day attitudes and expectations, especially on the right side of the political spectrum. We’ve had eight years of go-it-alone maverick policy making, and we’ve seen how American attitudes need to change to confront the challenges of the interconnected modern world.
Guilt-free SUVs 4 cmts
Is the Honda CR-V, which puts out less CO2 than a Mini Cooper, has good visibility, and is fairly low to the ground, a guilt-free SUV? Not entirely, but it is better than most. Regardless, “it just feels like a jacked-up hatch.” He says it as a put-down, but since I was looking for a hatchback to begin with…
Longer post on this whole process forthcoming, once everything is wrapped up.
Clive Thompson’s New York Times Magazine piece is notable for its thoroughness, straightforward explanations, and for using the awesome term “ambient awareness” to describe the sorts of online interactions that are so commonplace today. The powerful and evolving online social world has gone beyond the silly “social network” or “microblogging” conceit to become something far more: a way to keep in constant contact, a way to stay loosely connected to a larger social environment, and also a powerful tool for self-reflection and growth.
Tue
Sep
23
2008
How much difference a week makes 0 cmts
For years now, they’ve told us that we can’t afford — that the government providing healthcare to all people is just unimaginable; it can’t be done. We don’t have the money to rebuild our infrastructure. We don’t have the money to wipe out poverty. We can’t do it. But all of a sudden, yeah, we do have $700 billion for a bailout of Wall Street.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Fri
Sep
19
2008
Tim Wise argues that several prominent themes and moments of the current presidential campaign are directly tied to American racism. He has also written a follow-up to criticism of the original piece.
Still September 0 cmts
Somehow, I don’t think buying a new car will bring me greatness, no matter how clean its windshield. But it does serve to temporarily distract from the bleary desperation (ennui?) of life. Summer is slipping away, and winter approaches. Winters are not a good time of year for me.
Thu
Sep
18
2008
A tribute as only The Onion could write one. See also their previous entry, Girlfriend Stops Reading David Foster Wallace Breakup Letter At Page 20, a dead-wringer for his prose style. I had serious, serious trouble slogging through Infinite Jest and gave up circa page 150, but I’m increasingly feeling that I need to sample one or more of his less intense works. Just as soon as I put aside an uninterrupted week to pick my way carefully through Neal Stephenson’s latest tome, Anathem.
Tue
Sep
16
2008
Bovine representation 0 cmts
On the plus side, there’s a cow. Far too few science fiction dramas involve cows as regular cast members. I wholeheartedly approve of this bold leap forward for bovine representation on TV.
Sat
Sep
13
2008
It is rare to see a child star make such a conscious, deliberate, and well-executed jump to serious theater. Usually when a kid gets their starring role at age 12, they end up pretty messed up by the end…
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