Sunday, September 30, 2001
Counterpane: Crypto-Gram:
Lots of interesting issues raised here with regards to the post-WTC world with security and so on....
Lots of interesting issues raised here with regards to the post-WTC world with security and so on....
Saturday, September 29, 2001
A Snurcher's Guide to Farscape
A good Farscape guide.
(have I mentioned here that I've really started to get into this show lately -- it's the best new SF show I've seen in years, and I've really gotten into it once the Sci-Fi channel started their repeats.)
A good Farscape guide.
(have I mentioned here that I've really started to get into this show lately -- it's the best new SF show I've seen in years, and I've really gotten into it once the Sci-Fi channel started their repeats.)
Thursday, September 27, 2001
Ain't It Cool News says that the first season of Buffy will come out in January on DVD, with a good set of extras.
Yes!
Yes!
Labels: buffy
American Life Turns Into Bad Jerry Bruckheimer Movie
The Onion says what we've all been thinking the last couple of weeks.
Thank you. They still rule. They are so right....
The Onion says what we've all been thinking the last couple of weeks.
Thank you. They still rule. They are so right....
Tuesday, September 25, 2001
'Buffy' faces her toughest task: popularity
Only one week until the season starts up....excellent!
(And Angel was good as well last night, as it distances itself a little from Buffy after the network change....)
Only one week until the season starts up....excellent!
(And Angel was good as well last night, as it distances itself a little from Buffy after the network change....)
Labels: buffy
Monday, September 24, 2001
STACK: BUSH APPROVAL RATING HIGHEST EVER
Continuing with my little Rush browsing, I think this is a bit much, and the Bush administration shouldn't take the high poll results too seriously -- in a time of crisis, we're going to rally around the President, regardless of our political stripes. As we should.
But I'm still skeptical about him -- Bush has done some not-too-wise things (like saying that we should go on a crusade against terrorism, which plays into the mideval mindset of the terrorists) -- but he's not rushing in, and they seem to be playing this very carefully so far.
(Though I'd probably count in a poll as generally approving what he's done with regards to this...)
[I'd seen this in other reports though, and would have had much the same comment....]
Continuing with my little Rush browsing, I think this is a bit much, and the Bush administration shouldn't take the high poll results too seriously -- in a time of crisis, we're going to rally around the President, regardless of our political stripes. As we should.
But I'm still skeptical about him -- Bush has done some not-too-wise things (like saying that we should go on a crusade against terrorism, which plays into the mideval mindset of the terrorists) -- but he's not rushing in, and they seem to be playing this very carefully so far.
(Though I'd probably count in a poll as generally approving what he's done with regards to this...)
[I'd seen this in other reports though, and would have had much the same comment....]
STACK: ROBERTSON AND FALWELL WERE WRONG
I don't agree with Rush Limbaugh about a lot (but not nothing either; I don't like to knee-jerk) -- but I'm very pleased to see him say these sorts of things. I don't think it's a necessity that conservatives are bigots -- and I think there are plenty of liberals who can be as well.
I don't agree with Rush Limbaugh about a lot (but not nothing either; I don't like to knee-jerk) -- but I'm very pleased to see him say these sorts of things. I don't think it's a necessity that conservatives are bigots -- and I think there are plenty of liberals who can be as well.
Friday, September 21, 2001
Thursday, September 20, 2001
Various movie theater chains are donating their proceeds next Tuesday, September 25, 2001 towards the victims of the terrorist activity next week. You can see the Participating Theatre Companies here -- and I listed the local theaters on the MISFITS site.
(I'll probably see something that day....)
(I'll probably see something that day....)
Monday, September 17, 2001
Guardian Unlimited | Archive Search
I find this article about the role of religion in the crash to be a bit disturbing and interesting. Personally, I think there's a big flaw here -- the problem is not religions in general, or the belief in an afterlife. The problem is the belief that by killing yourself and taking out thousands of people with you, that you'll somehow collect some heavenly bonus prize that is worth trading your life for.
But there are, as Dawkins says himself in his (good) book The Selfish Gene, reasons why beings interested in their own survival would be willing to lay down their life -- for the survival of their kin, if they then go on and reproduce. Religion provides the framework; because it can unfortunately be used as a way to seperate "us" and "them". But other philosophies could easily fit the same job description; including a completely materialistic one that says that there is no afterlife.
Religion and faith are responsible for good things too; for helping with charities, for comforting those when life is difficult, for providing some context for the insane world we live in, for giving people some reason to go on living as well.
I'm not saying that religion isn't dangerous at times -- it is -- just that to say that religion is bad generally is like blaming the airplane for being turned into a weapon, or having buildings that reach so high and concentrate so many people in one spot to be an attractive target. A tool can always be misused by evil and misguided people.
So I think that Richard Dawkins -- even if he has the intelligence and wisdom to marry Lalla Ward -- is perhaps quick to blame religion; if there wasn't religion to make bad men do evil things, they'd find something else; patriotism, misplaced social justice, or whatever...
I find this article about the role of religion in the crash to be a bit disturbing and interesting. Personally, I think there's a big flaw here -- the problem is not religions in general, or the belief in an afterlife. The problem is the belief that by killing yourself and taking out thousands of people with you, that you'll somehow collect some heavenly bonus prize that is worth trading your life for.
But there are, as Dawkins says himself in his (good) book The Selfish Gene, reasons why beings interested in their own survival would be willing to lay down their life -- for the survival of their kin, if they then go on and reproduce. Religion provides the framework; because it can unfortunately be used as a way to seperate "us" and "them". But other philosophies could easily fit the same job description; including a completely materialistic one that says that there is no afterlife.
Religion and faith are responsible for good things too; for helping with charities, for comforting those when life is difficult, for providing some context for the insane world we live in, for giving people some reason to go on living as well.
I'm not saying that religion isn't dangerous at times -- it is -- just that to say that religion is bad generally is like blaming the airplane for being turned into a weapon, or having buildings that reach so high and concentrate so many people in one spot to be an attractive target. A tool can always be misused by evil and misguided people.
So I think that Richard Dawkins -- even if he has the intelligence and wisdom to marry Lalla Ward -- is perhaps quick to blame religion; if there wasn't religion to make bad men do evil things, they'd find something else; patriotism, misplaced social justice, or whatever...
Sunday, September 16, 2001
Counterpane: Crypto-Gram: September 15, 2001
has some interesting observations about what we shouldn't let the need to stop terrorism drive us to do -- we can't become the enemy to stop the enemy, and let us surrender the very reasons they attacked us for.
It's like my long standing statement about burning the American flag -- as long as I can do such a thing, I have no reason to do such a thing.
has some interesting observations about what we shouldn't let the need to stop terrorism drive us to do -- we can't become the enemy to stop the enemy, and let us surrender the very reasons they attacked us for.
It's like my long standing statement about burning the American flag -- as long as I can do such a thing, I have no reason to do such a thing.
Thursday, September 13, 2001
Images of World Trade Center Fire Plume from Space
I think these are some of the most terrifying images of it all, really.
I think these are some of the most terrifying images of it all, really.
Mike's Message 9/12/2001 [from blogdex]
Michael Moore goes and reminds us to look at ourselves for some of the reasons behind the terrible events... I don't think it excuses anything; as I said -- no rational American of any party wanted this, and I'm uncomfortable with just looking at the actions of this adminstration or the last one -- they all played a part in the sequence of events that created monsters of earlier this week....
Michael Moore goes and reminds us to look at ourselves for some of the reasons behind the terrible events... I don't think it excuses anything; as I said -- no rational American of any party wanted this, and I'm uncomfortable with just looking at the actions of this adminstration or the last one -- they all played a part in the sequence of events that created monsters of earlier this week....
With the dust (literally) still settling in NYC, one of the thoughts one goes to is how we are to blame, and some of the internal US poltics to it. No American wanted this; and it was unthinkable (and still is unthinkable).
We probably created these terrorists; monsters left over from an ideological war of economic systems that are now have gone against us. We should have focused more attention on them when we cut back on our military after the end of the cold war. The current administration probably paid too little attention to the middle east in the early months of their adminstration, as the situation there deteriorated over the last year or so.
One of the things that I'm also going to be aware of are some small, little things that sometimes were tolerant of terrorism in various forms. The local Irish-themed bands that include IRA songs in their set lists, which frequently put me a little off-ease, will probably even make me more uncomfortable in the future; even though I like many of the other songs those bands perform. As there were still disgusting actions brought on by both Catholics and Protestants there... (and I think it's a valuable thing to think about before one starts to go off against Muslims generally -- I believe that most people are good people; and the extremists aren't by any means representative...)
I don't know what I'm really rambling on about here... just a few things on mind. I'm not really sure this is the time to think about past poltics though; whether it's the people I've heard raise concerns about whether the person who was selected as President is up to the task, or the comments about previous administrations might have done. None of them wanted this. And we need our leaders to live up to their positions right now. I hope and pray that they are all wiser in the future than they might have been in the past.
We probably created these terrorists; monsters left over from an ideological war of economic systems that are now have gone against us. We should have focused more attention on them when we cut back on our military after the end of the cold war. The current administration probably paid too little attention to the middle east in the early months of their adminstration, as the situation there deteriorated over the last year or so.
One of the things that I'm also going to be aware of are some small, little things that sometimes were tolerant of terrorism in various forms. The local Irish-themed bands that include IRA songs in their set lists, which frequently put me a little off-ease, will probably even make me more uncomfortable in the future; even though I like many of the other songs those bands perform. As there were still disgusting actions brought on by both Catholics and Protestants there... (and I think it's a valuable thing to think about before one starts to go off against Muslims generally -- I believe that most people are good people; and the extremists aren't by any means representative...)
I don't know what I'm really rambling on about here... just a few things on mind. I'm not really sure this is the time to think about past poltics though; whether it's the people I've heard raise concerns about whether the person who was selected as President is up to the task, or the comments about previous administrations might have done. None of them wanted this. And we need our leaders to live up to their positions right now. I hope and pray that they are all wiser in the future than they might have been in the past.
Wednesday, September 12, 2001
Well, I picked up my Doctor Who DVDs today. I was looking forward to getting them yesterday, but of course events made that impossible. It's a cursed series when it comes to america, it seems. (For those of you who aren't Doctor Who experts, the series first started in the UK the day after the JFK was assassinated.)
One of the people in the store before me saw the DVDs and was astonished -- "why would anyone want to buy that crap". Ah well. Some people just don't understand.
I had a conversation with one of the managers of the Suncoast about alarm systems. It was sort of odd.
I've put in all three of them and skimmed through them, and they all look pretty good. Especially Spearhead from Space, which looks fantastic, amazing, and the best Doctor Who ever has on any television I've ever owned.
They're great.
(I might do a more complete review at some point as well.)
One of the people in the store before me saw the DVDs and was astonished -- "why would anyone want to buy that crap". Ah well. Some people just don't understand.
I had a conversation with one of the managers of the Suncoast about alarm systems. It was sort of odd.
I've put in all three of them and skimmed through them, and they all look pretty good. Especially Spearhead from Space, which looks fantastic, amazing, and the best Doctor Who ever has on any television I've ever owned.
They're great.
(I might do a more complete review at some point as well.)
Labels: doctorwho
The Problem With Retaliation by Robert Wright
Why not rushing to respond -- and making sure we get evidence on who is responsible -- is good.
Why not rushing to respond -- and making sure we get evidence on who is responsible -- is good.
Another good column on yesterday.
Today, I'm going to get my Doctor Who DVDs that I couldn't get yesterday and watch one of them with my cat. Life will continue as it does; and we in the civilized world are better than they are, and will prove it every day.
Today, I'm going to get my Doctor Who DVDs that I couldn't get yesterday and watch one of them with my cat. Life will continue as it does; and we in the civilized world are better than they are, and will prove it every day.
Labels: doctorwho
11 September 2001: A Strange and Terrible Day
Something I found worth reading.
I don't have much else intellegent to say. I might have other notes on things.
Do you remember the made-for-tv-movie Special Bulletin? It probably aired 20 years ago, when I was just old enough to understand what was going on in the story; and even though I knew it wasn't real, I had nightmares for months.
This time, it was real. I wasn't able to get to sleep until 3:00 AM or so. I tried not to watch any TV last night, I just couldn't handle it.
Something I found worth reading.
I don't have much else intellegent to say. I might have other notes on things.
Do you remember the made-for-tv-movie Special Bulletin? It probably aired 20 years ago, when I was just old enough to understand what was going on in the story; and even though I knew it wasn't real, I had nightmares for months.
This time, it was real. I wasn't able to get to sleep until 3:00 AM or so. I tried not to watch any TV last night, I just couldn't handle it.
Tuesday, September 11, 2001
It looks like my earlier message didn't show up in any fashion to be useful.
I don't know what to say on a day like today. I don't think anyone does.
I'm thankful that it sounds like my friends in NYC and DC are ok -- though I fear I didn't forget anyone. Though I'm terribly saddened for all of the people that lost loved ones today; or those that are injured. And for our country.
I used to be optimistic about the future. I'm not sure I am anymore.
I just don't know what else to say. I just want to hide, escape...
take care all of you.
I don't know what to say on a day like today. I don't think anyone does.
I'm thankful that it sounds like my friends in NYC and DC are ok -- though I fear I didn't forget anyone. Though I'm terribly saddened for all of the people that lost loved ones today; or those that are injured. And for our country.
I used to be optimistic about the future. I'm not sure I am anymore.
I just don't know what else to say. I just want to hide, escape...
take care all of you.
I don't have much to say on this, as it's too terrifying to contemplate -- and I have friends in NYC, but if you, like me, are trying to find news sites with pictures, and finding that cnn or are overloaded, try a UK news site like Sky.com
This is really terrifying.
This is really terrifying.
Sunday, September 09, 2001
I saw Ghost World over the weekend, and I really recommend it. It's fantastic.
Friday, September 07, 2001
Morning Improv adds a new panel or two to an on-line comic every day. Kind of interesting. [from memepool]
Thursday, September 06, 2001
I just found out that Garbage is going to have a new album [Beautiful Garbage] out on October 2nd. Excellent!
Wednesday, September 05, 2001
BBC America is doing a survey of what Doctor Who we'd like to see on DVD
And there's a chance to win some nice prizes with it as well. I voted for Talons of Weng Chiang, Genesis of the Daleks, and Deadly Assassin. Though I didn't vote for stories that I knew were already have or are set to get the DVD treatement (like Ark in Space or Remembrance of the Daleks) -- and I hope they make sure that the releases are of good quality, which is more important to me than rushing them out...
Of course, we're less than a week until The Five Doctors, The Robots of Death, and Spearhead from Space are released on DVD. Can't wait!
And there's a chance to win some nice prizes with it as well. I voted for Talons of Weng Chiang, Genesis of the Daleks, and Deadly Assassin. Though I didn't vote for stories that I knew were already have or are set to get the DVD treatement (like Ark in Space or Remembrance of the Daleks) -- and I hope they make sure that the releases are of good quality, which is more important to me than rushing them out...
Of course, we're less than a week until The Five Doctors, The Robots of Death, and Spearhead from Space are released on DVD. Can't wait!
Labels: doctorwho
Tuesday, September 04, 2001
WooHoo -- FX Networks will be starting repeats of Buffy the Vampire Slayer from the beginning at 7 pm eastern / 6 pm central starting September 24th. I'm pleased, because that's not a time that really conflicts with anything big. (Babylon 5 sure, but I've seen all of those...)
Labels: buffy
Saturday, September 01, 2001
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