Two things about the presidential campaign are pissing me off monumentally. I'm not trying to convince anybody who to support. But I think we all can stand to know more about the issues. Sound bites just don't cut it any more.
(Actually, in passing, I'll add a third thing that's pissing me off. That it's "McCain" and "Obama" but "Hillary." There's a potential for confusion between Bill and Hillary? Seriously? Who thinks Bill Clinton is running? It smacks of misogyny to me, and I don't like it. Call her Clinton already, or start saying "John" and "Barack." Casual sexism is still sexism. End it.)
The first is the dismissal of the Obama campaign as vague and emotional, lacking specifics and essentially adolescent. Not only is it broadly incorrect - I'm one of the most ignorant Obama supporters I know, and I don't think I'm a moron - but it's patently unfair. I don't see Clinton supporters facing an inquisition on policy points before people will allow them to support her.
And if they did, who among them could answer as thoroughly and intelligently as this? These clips of Derrick Ashong are absolutely worth watching, and this NYT article on them worth reading.
The second is that people are still so racist. Forgive me, I know that's not news. But last night I discovered that someone I love and respect tremendously is (to my mind) shockingly racist, so I'm still reeling. It wasn't about politics - he was judging my dating history, actually - but was a sharp reminder to a naive white suburban girl that racism isn't the faraway thing I have the luxury of thinking of it as being. That made all this hit me even harder than it had been.
The Reverent Wright speech and Geraldine Ferraro comments are not news. But the full stories of them might be. Give these your time.
Olbermann commentary
Obama speech
Anderson Cooper blog on Wright's speech
Whoever you're supporting, it is incumbent upon you to know more than the pundits want to say, more than Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert can find joke material in, more than your favorite blog finds fodder in. We are drowning in an ocean of information and if we die of thirst it's our own fault.
(via Melissa, also El)
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
22 March 2008
20 March 2008
11 March 2008
On Reading, Flocking and Voting
Dewey linked me to Neil which linked me to Science Daily and this article about how humans flock like sheep and birds.
And, by the way, today is the last day to donate at Dewey, so for the deep, abiding, passionate, head-over-heels, seventh-grade-drawing-hearts-on-notebooks, head-over-heels love of books, please go and do it. It's the fifth year running, and so far this year's drive has gotten 15,000 books to libraries that need them. How cool is that shit?
I was at my library yesterday, and seriously, they really are kind of magic. You go in and take whatever you want. It's free. And you basically just bring them back when you're done. Really, where else in life does it work like that? So please: go give. I did.
Anyway, back to sheep. It's interesting that there's a genetic predisposition, and not just a character weakness, to drive us to just sort of follow along. That's usually considered a flaw - but if it's innate...?
The article says all you need are five percent to direct the movement of a whole crowd. And I think the ways you could extrapolate this are pretty interesting.
Like, I wonder if there's something that triggers this more strongly during teenage years. A survival thing, maybe. It would make sense. Before your brain finishes up on the prefrontal cortex, do you automatically get a push to follow the herd more, so you won't go off and do as many stupid things by yourself? Are teenagers programmed to stick together to help themselves survive adolescence?
And if you go even further along bringing the idea from physical movement to strictly thought, what does this mean for the impact of social media on the presidential election? It's safe to say that our "five percent" is not the same media authors that it used to be. (Mine's completely different from the last election, anyway.) But this new five percent is a lot more scattered - less the one voice of reason and more a handful of chatterers.
The post-hoc analysis this election is will show how much effect social-media authors end up having. Until then, though, I don't think anybody knows quite what's going on. Who matters? How much? It's nerve-racking, but at the same time, I like that it's so game-changing. The pandering is not so automatic anymore - the candidates don't always seem to know where to turn. Sort of democratizes things, if you will.
But does social medial go against our genetic sheep mentality? On the one hand, there are more opportunities to band together with people who think similarly. But on the other hand, there's not as much of the Walter Cronkite mentality, where we all look to a trusted person for their opinion.
Do we want people to tell us what to do, and is it so uncomfortable to have to go out and find the details, that we'd rather not bother? I wondered when I read this memo released today by the Obama camp. How many people are actually going to read it - versus the ones who'd rather just hear a sound bite and watch an ad? I guess there's no way to really tell for another eight months.
And, by the way, today is the last day to donate at Dewey, so for the deep, abiding, passionate, head-over-heels, seventh-grade-drawing-hearts-on-notebooks, head-over-heels love of books, please go and do it. It's the fifth year running, and so far this year's drive has gotten 15,000 books to libraries that need them. How cool is that shit?
I was at my library yesterday, and seriously, they really are kind of magic. You go in and take whatever you want. It's free. And you basically just bring them back when you're done. Really, where else in life does it work like that? So please: go give. I did.
Anyway, back to sheep. It's interesting that there's a genetic predisposition, and not just a character weakness, to drive us to just sort of follow along. That's usually considered a flaw - but if it's innate...?
The article says all you need are five percent to direct the movement of a whole crowd. And I think the ways you could extrapolate this are pretty interesting.
Like, I wonder if there's something that triggers this more strongly during teenage years. A survival thing, maybe. It would make sense. Before your brain finishes up on the prefrontal cortex, do you automatically get a push to follow the herd more, so you won't go off and do as many stupid things by yourself? Are teenagers programmed to stick together to help themselves survive adolescence?
And if you go even further along bringing the idea from physical movement to strictly thought, what does this mean for the impact of social media on the presidential election? It's safe to say that our "five percent" is not the same media authors that it used to be. (Mine's completely different from the last election, anyway.) But this new five percent is a lot more scattered - less the one voice of reason and more a handful of chatterers.
The post-hoc analysis this election is will show how much effect social-media authors end up having. Until then, though, I don't think anybody knows quite what's going on. Who matters? How much? It's nerve-racking, but at the same time, I like that it's so game-changing. The pandering is not so automatic anymore - the candidates don't always seem to know where to turn. Sort of democratizes things, if you will.
But does social medial go against our genetic sheep mentality? On the one hand, there are more opportunities to band together with people who think similarly. But on the other hand, there's not as much of the Walter Cronkite mentality, where we all look to a trusted person for their opinion.
Do we want people to tell us what to do, and is it so uncomfortable to have to go out and find the details, that we'd rather not bother? I wondered when I read this memo released today by the Obama camp. How many people are actually going to read it - versus the ones who'd rather just hear a sound bite and watch an ad? I guess there's no way to really tell for another eight months.
15 February 2008
Superdelegates
The below is from MoveOn.org. Who knows if it'll work, but it's worth a try.
You've probably heard about the "superdelegates" who could end up deciding the Democratic nominee.
The superdelegates are under lots of pressure to come out for one candidate or the other. We urgently need to encourage them to let the voters decide between Clinton and Obama — and then support the will of the people.
I signed a petition urging the superdelegates to respect the will of the voters. Can you join me?
You've probably heard about the "superdelegates" who could end up deciding the Democratic nominee.
The superdelegates are under lots of pressure to come out for one candidate or the other. We urgently need to encourage them to let the voters decide between Clinton and Obama — and then support the will of the people.
I signed a petition urging the superdelegates to respect the will of the voters. Can you join me?
07 February 2008
Guest Post: For the Record
Guest post by El, who wants it on the record that he had this idea yesterday. So that when it actually happens (God forbid) he can brag about it (God forbid).
oh and I'll say it now
just because I don't doubt it's possibility
don't be surprised if some news surfaces during this campaign by Hillary
about Islamic fundamentalist terror mongers
bashing America for having a woman in the race
and she rises to the top and commands her country to rebel against this tyranny
and as president she'll blah blah blah blah
Dramatic Lemur has his own feelings about this.
For serious, how awful would that be - but scarily, how totally believable a scenario is it? Reminds you how canny the Clintons can be, when you realize how easily you can imagine it.
Oh: it's IM, not blank verse, as it looks. (Although political predictions in blank verse would be sort of cool and anti-establishment and Russell Simmonsy, yes?)
Got a guest post? Gimme. Blank verse preferred.
oh and I'll say it now
just because I don't doubt it's possibility
don't be surprised if some news surfaces during this campaign by Hillary
about Islamic fundamentalist terror mongers
bashing America for having a woman in the race
and she rises to the top and commands her country to rebel against this tyranny
and as president she'll blah blah blah blah
Dramatic Lemur has his own feelings about this.
For serious, how awful would that be - but scarily, how totally believable a scenario is it? Reminds you how canny the Clintons can be, when you realize how easily you can imagine it.
Oh: it's IM, not blank verse, as it looks. (Although political predictions in blank verse would be sort of cool and anti-establishment and Russell Simmonsy, yes?)
Got a guest post? Gimme. Blank verse preferred.
05 February 2008
Yes We Can
I read my spam from Barack and Michelle Obama, because it's not spam. They send short, conversational emails... they get it. His are more direct; hers are more peripheral. It was one from her that had a link to this video, which I love:
And while I'm being political, two quick non-partisan things:
And while I'm being political, two quick non-partisan things:
- A graphic from the NYT that shows who's endorsing who.
- A link to GlassBooth.org - because not knowing who you want to vote for is no excuse not to vote.
04 February 2008
26 January 2008
23 December 2007
The Royal Channel
This is the coolest thing on YouTube.
Not just because I'm a ridiculous Anglophile, although there is that.
But truly, The Royal Channel is genius. It's a government really getting new media - and, importantly, one already in power, not just a desperate candidate.
(Which is not to take away from YouChoose - just to point out that there's less need for the monarchy to do it, and yet they are. I'm pretty positive there's no White House channel. The Office of National Drug Control Policy has one (which... yawn), but if you search for President Bush? Let's just say it's not flattering.)
But back to the monarchy, because frankly, I like them better. And moreover, they got this right. The execution is perfect. The design is in keeping with YouTube but representative of the monarchy. There's new content, but there's almost a century of very cool old footage and links to pre-TV transcripts. (The Queen Mother's silent-film wedding procession, with her getting into her carriage in her cloche hat - fabulous. As well as Princess Elizabeth and Margarets' message to the evacuee children at Christmas 1940.)
Watching the Queen's first Christmas TV broadcast in 1953 is not only interesting in comparison to her first YouTube-televised Christmas message this week - but also because of what she says about what the advent of a novel medium can do to a society. The more things change... you know?
But yes. This is a lot of thinking for a holiday week. So. If that's a little much, you can learn how to say "bra" in German with Posh! (Along with... which one was Geri?)
Not just because I'm a ridiculous Anglophile, although there is that.
But truly, The Royal Channel is genius. It's a government really getting new media - and, importantly, one already in power, not just a desperate candidate.
(Which is not to take away from YouChoose - just to point out that there's less need for the monarchy to do it, and yet they are. I'm pretty positive there's no White House channel. The Office of National Drug Control Policy has one (which... yawn), but if you search for President Bush? Let's just say it's not flattering.)
But back to the monarchy, because frankly, I like them better. And moreover, they got this right. The execution is perfect. The design is in keeping with YouTube but representative of the monarchy. There's new content, but there's almost a century of very cool old footage and links to pre-TV transcripts. (The Queen Mother's silent-film wedding procession, with her getting into her carriage in her cloche hat - fabulous. As well as Princess Elizabeth and Margarets' message to the evacuee children at Christmas 1940.)
Watching the Queen's first Christmas TV broadcast in 1953 is not only interesting in comparison to her first YouTube-televised Christmas message this week - but also because of what she says about what the advent of a novel medium can do to a society. The more things change... you know?
But yes. This is a lot of thinking for a holiday week. So. If that's a little much, you can learn how to say "bra" in German with Posh! (Along with... which one was Geri?)
24 June 2007
Weekly Roundup: Supersized, with Extra Editorializing
The Definitive 1,000 Songs of All Time, 1955-2005. I don't know why you'd go to the bother of sorting and counting. Frankly, I wouldn't go to the bother of reading it. But the sheer size of the project is pretty impressive. (Seems to have pop-ups, though, even on Firefox. Yuck.)
Vazaar. Social photography, sort of? Like Flickr, but with critiques, and members-only. Mike might like it. Not one of my new favorites, but again, I can see how people might get into it.
Relatedly, let me know if you find a photography class. Something that would teach you how to use all the manual controls on a prosumer digital SLR. I've been looking and calling and finding nothing.
"I Got a Crush... on Obama". (I, too, kinda have a crush on him.) Fascinating to see how user-created media will affect the election. Because they will. Blogs, Youtube, Facebook - they will shape the under-30 voter opinion. Because we trust each other more than mainstream media. (And candidates are catching on.) The question is, will we actually vote? I hope so. As that article says, by 2015 Gen Y (1977-1994) will be 1/3 of the electorate. Wouldn't it be cool if we used all that power?
One Hour No Power. Speaking of power and campaign issues. Noon on July 1. It's so little. But it makes you think.
Tickle. If you need to fill your day. (Karen.) Lots, and lots, and lots, of quizzes. (I'm a "Cultural Traveler," it's "Puppy Love," and my true talent is "Verbal Ability.")
The Impossible Quiz. If you really need to fill your day. Thanks to Tracy, I got to 40 before my brain started to melt out my ears. (Damn. Now I'm sucked in again. This time I got to 63.)
Where Daft Punk Got Their Samples From. Fun. If you like them.
Unazukin. I want one. It's a Magic 8 Ball and a Russian nesting doll all in one.
Nabaztag . Similar, but I don't get it at all. Peter? Can you explain?
Facebook. Seems to be becoming the new Myspace like Myspace became the new Friendster? At what point will I tip and move over? And where do Orkut or Bebo fit in?
Trojan "Evolve" ad. Love it. And because I'll get whined at if I don't, here.
Groove Armada feat. Mutya Buena, "Out of Control (Song for Mutya)." Love it.
Vazaar. Social photography, sort of? Like Flickr, but with critiques, and members-only. Mike might like it. Not one of my new favorites, but again, I can see how people might get into it.
Relatedly, let me know if you find a photography class. Something that would teach you how to use all the manual controls on a prosumer digital SLR. I've been looking and calling and finding nothing.
"I Got a Crush... on Obama". (I, too, kinda have a crush on him.) Fascinating to see how user-created media will affect the election. Because they will. Blogs, Youtube, Facebook - they will shape the under-30 voter opinion. Because we trust each other more than mainstream media. (And candidates are catching on.) The question is, will we actually vote? I hope so. As that article says, by 2015 Gen Y (1977-1994) will be 1/3 of the electorate. Wouldn't it be cool if we used all that power?
One Hour No Power. Speaking of power and campaign issues. Noon on July 1. It's so little. But it makes you think.
Tickle. If you need to fill your day. (Karen.) Lots, and lots, and lots, of quizzes. (I'm a "Cultural Traveler," it's "Puppy Love," and my true talent is "Verbal Ability.")
The Impossible Quiz. If you really need to fill your day. Thanks to Tracy, I got to 40 before my brain started to melt out my ears. (Damn. Now I'm sucked in again. This time I got to 63.)
Where Daft Punk Got Their Samples From. Fun. If you like them.
Unazukin. I want one. It's a Magic 8 Ball and a Russian nesting doll all in one.
Nabaztag . Similar, but I don't get it at all. Peter? Can you explain?
Facebook. Seems to be becoming the new Myspace like Myspace became the new Friendster? At what point will I tip and move over? And where do Orkut or Bebo fit in?
Trojan "Evolve" ad. Love it. And because I'll get whined at if I don't, here.
Groove Armada feat. Mutya Buena, "Out of Control (Song for Mutya)." Love it.
03 June 2007
Weekly Roundup: The Weekend of Showers Ends
After a bridal shower, a baby shower, and about seven hours driving to and from them this weekend, I come to realize yet again how not girly I really am. (And how little I enjoy bingo.)
So, a whole bunch of links that are by turns geeky, posh and artsy, but not particularly girly. Happy June.
So, a whole bunch of links that are by turns geeky, posh and artsy, but not particularly girly. Happy June.
- How Class Works as decided by an interactive chart. If you're superficial enough to care what the Times says what social class you ought to fall into. (Yeah, I was too.)
- The Rockhouse Hotel, Negril. I would really, really, really like to be here. And it's actually phenomenally well-priced, so maybe I will be someday soon.
- The Sushi FAQ. If you, like me, can never remember much past "miso".
- MapsKrieg. One of the more fantastic Google mashups: Craigslist housing listings viewed on Google Maps.
- The Members Project. One of the more fantastic corporate citizenship projects.
- BlueQ. A Bluetooth-enabled wristband that vibrates. Not exactly the most necessary thing ever, but kinda neat.
- Indian wife catches her husband cheating. Probably fake, but still awfully funny.
- Tamyra Grey is Mimi in Rent. And I don't really. However, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp are back until September. That, I do care about. Anybody want to go for old time's sake?
- The Voco Clock. What a splendid way to wake up. I want the girl version.
- BetterWall. Museum street banners. Much better than tired reprints.
- Donate food for shelter animals just by clicking.
- BornRich. "Your ultimate guide to the most expensive things in the world."
- AlterNet. Pinko commie liberal news. Love it.
- Photoshop in action. I love this clip that shows what retouching really can do.
- Makeup in action. Also interesting.
- Top 10 things I've learned about computers from the movies and "24". Geeky funny, but still kinda funny.
12 December 2006
Darfur
Not to get all "Do they know it's Christmas" on you... but go to SaveDarfur.org. Sign a petition, donate five bucks, read up - whatever.
Over 400,000 people have died in the last three years. Almost 3 million are homeless. And it's not stopping. It doesn't have to be holiday time to do something good for somebody. But it does make you think a bit.
Over 400,000 people have died in the last three years. Almost 3 million are homeless. And it's not stopping. It doesn't have to be holiday time to do something good for somebody. But it does make you think a bit.
07 December 2006
Coming Soon to Iraq
…the new Active Denial System, which apparently causes “highly motivated escape behavior.”
I’d be pretty highly motivated too if a Hummer was coming at me, broadcasting a beam that was MICROWAVING THE TOP LAYER OF MY SKIN.
(I'm oversimplifying, but not by much.)
I can see how it can help disperse riots, of course. But at the same time, if you WERE a demonic infidel, isn't this just the sort of thing you'd have handy?
I’d be pretty highly motivated too if a Hummer was coming at me, broadcasting a beam that was MICROWAVING THE TOP LAYER OF MY SKIN.
(I'm oversimplifying, but not by much.)
I can see how it can help disperse riots, of course. But at the same time, if you WERE a demonic infidel, isn't this just the sort of thing you'd have handy?
01 December 2006
"Keep the Promise."
Like many other bloggers I'm taking a break from regularly scheduled programming. But you know it's World AIDS Day. You don't need me to tell you. And you know all about HIV. We grew up with Ryan and the Quilt and Magic. We know. Right? Yeah. Probably not really as much as we think. I didn't, anyway.
- Take a quiz. Maybe learn a little.
- Read the news. See what's going on.
- Buy something RED or otherwise support a cause. Be a walking reminder.
Just do something. Anything; do anything. Just don't do nothing.
17 November 2006
My Worlds Collide on "The O'Reilly Factor"
Peter on
Dr. Levinson on
I give it six months till they're both on together, but I'm not sure what they'd disagree about... besides who got to talk more.
Dr. Levinson on
I give it six months till they're both on together, but I'm not sure what they'd disagree about... besides who got to talk more.
25 October 2006
10 September 2002
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/pale_blue_dot.html
I saw a dishwasher in someone's yard this morning. It wasn't set out for the trash at the curb. It looked like it had been very carefully set in the middle of the landscaping: in the front yard, there was a carefully sculpted little shrub, some groundcover... and a dishwasher. It looked like a nice dishwasher, too.
And I got really close to hysterical over the dishwasher. Not funny laughing hysterical, but that weird laughing out of control hysterical. As in hysterics and such. That's when I realized that all this September 11th stuff is getting to me.
I'm so tired of the news. I'm tired of the news because none of it is news. It's all the same memory-anniversary-remembering stuff over and over and over again. But if that was all it was it would be okay... but it's not. It's all that sad stuff plus all the nervous worrying panic stuff, and it just makes everyone crazy. I'm all keyed up and there is nothing to do about anything. Last year I was frantic but there was stuff to do, because it was a crisis, and however bad a crisis is, at least there are things that need doing. This time it's watching and waiting and worrying and remembering, and I can't deal.
But then when I say I can't deal, I remember that I'm upset because I've had all this in-your-face remembrance for the past week. I didn't lose anyone I loved and have to deal with it being in my face every minute of the past year. And that thought makes me feel pretty small.
I saw a dishwasher in someone's yard this morning. It wasn't set out for the trash at the curb. It looked like it had been very carefully set in the middle of the landscaping: in the front yard, there was a carefully sculpted little shrub, some groundcover... and a dishwasher. It looked like a nice dishwasher, too.
And I got really close to hysterical over the dishwasher. Not funny laughing hysterical, but that weird laughing out of control hysterical. As in hysterics and such. That's when I realized that all this September 11th stuff is getting to me.
I'm so tired of the news. I'm tired of the news because none of it is news. It's all the same memory-anniversary-remembering stuff over and over and over again. But if that was all it was it would be okay... but it's not. It's all that sad stuff plus all the nervous worrying panic stuff, and it just makes everyone crazy. I'm all keyed up and there is nothing to do about anything. Last year I was frantic but there was stuff to do, because it was a crisis, and however bad a crisis is, at least there are things that need doing. This time it's watching and waiting and worrying and remembering, and I can't deal.
But then when I say I can't deal, I remember that I'm upset because I've had all this in-your-face remembrance for the past week. I didn't lose anyone I loved and have to deal with it being in my face every minute of the past year. And that thought makes me feel pretty small.
07 June 2002
England beats Argentina. I wish I knew more about football (other than that I decidedly like Beckham's looks). The whole planet is at a frenzied standstill over the World Cup, and the big, fat, dumb USA doesn't even notice. Don't care about nothing unless it's American... hormone-enhanced, artificially-colored, lard-fried, vacuum-packed, environmentally-unfriendly, and mass-marketed. Twinkie-hot-dog-Easy-Cheese sandwiches.
But then, perhaps we're too busy inventing new parts of our executive branch on the pretense of homeland security. Who needs checks and balances, anyway? To heck with that eighteenth-century sentimentalism. Emperor Bush certainly doesn't appear to need it.
Oooh, but I'm crabby today. Goodness me.
~ Happy birthday Krissen! ~
But then, perhaps we're too busy inventing new parts of our executive branch on the pretense of homeland security. Who needs checks and balances, anyway? To heck with that eighteenth-century sentimentalism. Emperor Bush certainly doesn't appear to need it.
Oooh, but I'm crabby today. Goodness me.
~ Happy birthday Krissen! ~
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