Silver Lining

In honor of President's day, a reminder that even the worst deciders had redeeming qualities...or at least hidden talents.

Also, no post about lousy presidents would be complete without a mention of the Simpsons tribute to the Mediocre Presidents.

Science vs. Faith, a summary

It's flowchart time. This clever one contrasts the scientific method with the, um, non-scientific one.

I love it when people who think they are being open-minded say things to the effect of "science and religion each have much to teach the other." Unthinking reverence for outlandish stories that make no sense? It would certainly make peer-review less painful.

[via BoingBoing]

The Dryyyyyy Cracker!

The Matsuzaka Era has finally arrived. "I would like my first batter, if he is listening, please try and not hit the ball." That's a wit as dry as the Asahi he's pitching.

ATHF plot

Exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the planning of that terrorist plot in Boston last month.

Colloquium Drawing of the Week 5

Two Years

Biennial of this outstanding blog.

158 posts, a bunch of nifty improvements like rotating banners and quotes, and virtually nothing of real substance. I think we all know the appropriate phrase to use here.

Too legit to...slow down

I've been meaning to photograph this sign for months.

The Moon Rulz

28 day time lapse of Earth's satellite. [Via Backreaction from Wikipedia - Moon]

Seeing the moon like this is so exciting that it just makes me want to ditch NASA's funding of actual science and send manned missions there again!

To Err is human

The goal of terrorism is to terrorize. I don't think I have heard a single person point this out anywhere in the news once in the past 6 years. Killing people is the strategy: you murder 100 people to scare 100 million. Then you induce an over-reaction that makes everyone think about you all the time. If you freak out at the drop of a hat and make everyone's life inconvenient you are doing their job for them. Vigilance is half of the anti-terror response, the other half is refusing to be terrorized. Only traitors try to make us afraid of terrorists.

That is why last week's fiasco in Boston is so disturbing. Not merely because our crack police forces shut down the city for an hour because anything with "wires" and "batteries" is an incendiary device (I know if I was making a bomb I would try to light it up and put it in conspicuous places). Or even because as a they are now attempting to scapegoat the two loopy art-house types who planted the ads, to cover up their own incompetence and shame. But because we have now reached the point where we are flying off the handle when anyone even hints at the idea of a terrorist plot--which of course, gives terrorists exactly what they want without even lifting a finger. During last summer's thwarted, and probably overstated liquid bombing freak-out the worst thing I heard anywhere in the news was some guy they interviewed while chucking his souvenir maple syrup saying that it was "better safe than dead." Not only is this an obviously false dichotomy, it is a pathetic, surrendering attitude. You know what the right attitude towards terrorists is? That they should go fuck themselves. That we're not changing anything (other than smart security measures), or obsessing about them. I don't care "why they hate us," or how they decided that violent tactics were a justifiable method of forcing their medieval religious views on us, or what some dipshit retired CIA pion thinks their next target might be. I don't want to hear about how they have a "warped" belief system, that doesn't represent the "real" Islam. All I care about is not giving them what they want, which is for old ladies to be forced to pour out bottles of wine at airports and for everyone else to consider this "necessary."

Nothing is more helpful than broadcasting our reactionary hysteria and fear to show them that they are accomplishing their objective. This might be the best thing I have read on this topic so far. Back after the 9/11 attack I remember thinking that there was something not quite right with all the weepiness on soft news programs. I couldn't put my finger on why it didn't seem quite right then, but I get it now. Obviously some sentimental stories were necessary and cathartic, but generally speaking, your assignment as a citizen after a terrorist incident is to be unshaken and unterrorized, to show the criminals that their tactics are a failue. To be defiant and unmoved. As for sensationalistic news coverage that overstates the danger and importance of these people, you get an F. This Egyptian magazine article is dead on. "Keep terrorists out of the headlines: If we can agree that the goal of terrorism is to terrorize, nothing suits the murderers’ purposes better than horrific images rehashed again and again on page one. If you work in media, be responsible." Look at how London reacted to that bus bombing, carrying on normally despite their anger. Stiff upper lip and all that.

But back to the phoney incident. It just illustrates how everyone, even all this time after 9/11 isn't getting the point. Oh, and the way the media and the embarrassed Massachusetts authorities are throwing around the word "hoax?" Maybe they should look at a definition of the word, since it has to include, you know, an intent to make people think those lite-brite's were bombs. As a silver lining, it seems that the advertising worked, if not in the way it was intended too, and the whole event has produced some decent comedy. At least this incident might throw some light on the ridiculousness of this type of knee-jerk overreacton...but I'm not holding my breath.

Colloquium Drawing of the Week 4

"Boston Sucks, the Moon Rules!"

Part 4 of my award-winning series. Inspired by recent events.

The Ottauquechee River

To the left of the photo there is a sign that says "No one allowed on Dam." I don't think there is much risk of that anytime soon.

Winter of my Discontent

I hate Febuary more than any other time of the year. That is all.

Wikipedathon Update

I just wrote about a fun hobby: connecting two random wikipedia articles through other linked articles. Unsurprisingly, this must not be as new as I thought it was, as there is actually an outstanding online program that can find the shortest path for you.

So friends, from now on, you are on the honor system.