October 2008
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Cable noose networks
In this election “cycle” (as the professionals call it… used to be a “season”), the only times I’ve found the cable news networks watchable were during and after the debates. CNN was generally good at that, even though the post-debate punditry got tiresome and I turned it off. But otherwise I haven’t been able to… Continue reading
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On behalf of blogging,
I call Twitter, Flickr, Facebook Make Blogs Look So 2004 a crock. Paul Boutin wrote it. He’s an old friend, and I hate to crap on anybody’s work. But he’s wrong about this one. A sample from my reply: As personal journals on the Web go, blogs have no substitute. Twitter is fine for 140-character… Continue reading
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Why online advertising sucks, and is a bubble
It isn’t adveristing itself. It’s the way it’s too often done. I almost never click on an ad, for three reasons. First is that I almost never find what I’m looking for. Second is that I don’t want to waste the advertiser’s money on a bad click-through. Third is that I’m tired of looking at… Continue reading
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Regulators vs. the Internet
Two stories. From 17 May 1999, The CRTC will not regulate the Internet. From four days ago, CRTC to review new media broadcasting in February, and CRTC to examine broadcasting in the new media environment. (Both the same story.) David Warren responds with Time to Say Goodbye. Sez he, The CRTC already has powers of… Continue reading
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Obama’s temperament and Roedjak
Steve Lewis writes, Obama’s “Homeostasis”: It must be the Roedjak! — a deep and wonderful detour from the usual punditry about a candidate’s temperament, informed by Steve’s years working in Indonesia, as well as his exposure to many countries and cultures unfamiliar to most Americans. I hope Steve doesn’t mind my lifting most of his… Continue reading
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Political roundup
Rush: “Would somebody explain to me how it is that you make poor people rich by making rich people poor?” Colin Powell endorses Obama. Roger L. Simon isn’t impressed, and adds, Meanwhile, Obama’s real, quite verifiable and public religious background (and mentor) was not even mentioned by the Secretary of State – namely, the… Continue reading
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Rock onward
Thanks to Richard Sambrook for turning me on to The Story of the Guitar, from the BBC. You might get some of it on BBC One and Four, which are carrying the series on the air and the BBC iPlayer. The easier sampler is a set of videos, all Good Stuff. Continue reading
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The other Brookline
New Hampshire has a Brookline, too. It’s just north of the Massachusetts border, and it’s this pretty little New England town, complete with a covered bridge and a lighthouse. The former was born in 2001 and carries foot and bike traffic, and the latter has less modern provenance, judging from its look. And it is… Continue reading
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Gain of face
Just checked in with Facebook… That’s 465 items, not including the couple dozen friend requests I accepted yesterday, after checking for the first time in a month or two. It’s sort of metasticized from the last time I expressed my annoyance with Facebook, almost a year ago. Maybe in another month I’ll check back again. Continue reading
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The Oral Office
Palin as President is like some kind of weird interactive oval office advent calendar from a parallel polyverse. Click on anything and get surprised by some palinism, in Sarahs voice, explaining. Sort of. Have fun. Continue reading
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Helping save Andrew’s dad
Andrew Baron’s open letter to James C. Mullen of Biogen begins, Mr. Mullen, my name is Andrew Baron and my father Frederick (61 yrs. old), has final stage multiple myeloma has been recommended the drug Tysabri as a last chance effort for life. Please read this carefully. Last Thursday, his doctors at the Mayo Clinic… Continue reading
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Blogging the debate
Came in after it started. Picking it up with the question about negative campaigning. McCain nailed Obama to the wall on that one, and Obama is changing the subject. McCain is also coming across much more knowledgeable and direct. And experienced. McCain is also speaking in final draft, while Obama stumbles. Obama is a great… Continue reading
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The best state-by-state, poll-by-poll rundown
Electoral College Predictions Tool. Dig. Continue reading
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Sailing the Charles
The moon rose while the sun set yesterday evening as we were treated to steady 12-knot winds, tacking back and forth in an MIT sailboat on the Charles. Cambridge to the north, Boston to the south. Skylines all around. Perfect. Continue reading
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Creamed wheat
A few days ago, in Wheat vs. Chaff, I excerpted Christopher Buckley‘s Sorry, Dad, I’m voting for Obama, and added this: What’s happening now is a wheat/chaff divide on the Right. We see the wheat with Chrisopher Buckley, David Brooks, George Will, Kathleen Parker, Andrew Sullivan and other thoughtful conservatives who stand on the rock… Continue reading
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Tweeting the vote
TwitterVoteReport provides a way to live microblog what’s going on in your polling places. The details: So, go to twitter and use the hashtag #votereport and tell us: The time of day (9:20 am, 1:12 pm) The zip code you just voted in (e.g. 10591, 10012) The issue: Wait (e.g. a waiting time… Continue reading
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Following the #marekfire
Just found out about the Marek Wildfire from Sky News on Twitter. Tag: marekfire. Hashtag: #marekfire. Got the image above from MODIS. It shows hot spots found by satellite. As we see, the hot spots (all orange dots) are up the Little Tujunga Canyon in the mountains next to Sunland and San Fernando, just above… Continue reading
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Falling around
Fall in New England is a visual cliché of the first order, and exactly as advertised. Only better this weekend, because it’s been unseasonably warm, as well as clear and perfectly gorgeous, complete with full moons each night. We’ve been out at a church retreat at Otter Lake, New Hampshire. And it’s been a healthy… Continue reading