Archives: June 2007
Thu Jun 28, 2007
Doesn't This Change Everything?
According to this story, an Incan skeleton was found in a 1000-year-old grave. In Norway. There are no details and no other coverage. If you look for news of "Inca" you can only find stories about Cameron Diaz carrying a Maoist-chic handback to Machu Pichu. I'm not kidding. Anyway... More...
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Wed Jun 27, 2007
Ending War
I read another depressing article about the Iraq War, this time about the shitstorm that is Basra where the British have already tried and failed with their "surge" that started a long time ago. I've often thought that by flooding a country in civil war with, I dunno: new cars, meat, medicines, clean water, televisions, porn, clothing, candy, and toys you'd get farther than with military intervention. But as I was reading this article, I remembered something else I read earlier this week. Video games might just be making youth LESS violent. I'd add "Doom" and "Grand Theft Auto" to my list of ingredients for peaceful solutions.
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Tue Jun 26, 2007
Denton Iris
Last year, shortly after we heard about Denise Denton's death, we planted an iris bulb. It bloomed this week, just a year later. More...
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Mon Jun 25, 2007
Science, Just Science.
I suppose that sometimes, it is nice to have a national education system. In the UK, the government simply states that creationism and intelligent design shall not be taught. Period. "The Government is aware that a number of concerns have been raised in the media and elsewhere as to whether creationism and intelligent design have a place in science lessons. The Government is clear that creationism and intelligent design are not part of the science National Curriculum programmes of study and should not be taught as science. " The announcement was made in response to a petition that was signed by only 1500 people.
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Fri Jun 22, 2007
Another photo of Woodley
Here's another photo of Woodley, our beloved dog who died yesterday. This is a more familiar pose: in bed, with her bed partner the cat. More...
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Black Snake
After the students leave, UCSC's wildlife returns to the center campus. I saw this black snake on a path between Kerr Hall and the library. It didn't move off the path, and as I stepped past it, it threatened me with its scary red tail curled up to look dangerous. More...
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Graduation Weekend
Last weekend, UCSC held its graduations. The FoodBin got into the familiar mercantile spirit of the week, in their own particular way. More...
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Thu Jun 21, 2007
Woodley Rosewood, 1989 - 2007
Our oldest dog died today. She was a marvelous friend who taught me more than I know because she taught it all with feelings and expressions that cannot be known by the intellect. Her death was so sweet, a mercy, surrounded by people who loved her, and swift and painless. I wish all our deaths could be like that. Here's one of my favorite photos of her. More...
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Tue Jun 19, 2007
Puppetry: Saving Lives, Selling Pleasure
I know it is corny, but I love puppets. Here's a banned condom commercial that puts them to good use. The commercial is on the front page, the little movie about the puppets is in the "making of" video.
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Mon Jun 18, 2007
Geoff Pullum, Emeritus
Last night I went to the retirement dinner for Professor of Linguistics, Geoff Pullum. He's retiring from UCSC, but moving to the University of Edinburgh where he will continue to teach and write, and contribute posts to the Language Log. We over the years, we occasionally had lunch together, and discussed love, sex, the academy, and teaching unix. Last week he posted something wonderful about the difference between plagiarism and allusion. I'll miss him, but he's virtually not far.
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Mon Jun 11, 2007
Worse Drawn Comic Ever
I found a comic where lack of artistic talent didn't stop the artist. I love that. Many of these made me laugh out loud, including this really, really geeky one.
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Sun Jun 10, 2007
Another "Who" Cover
Sure, the idea is simple: Let's film a bunch of old people singing "My Generation." Ha ha. But this video makes singing it --at any age-- look like so much fun--and the song is fresh again, and not in an ironic way.
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Fri Jun 08, 2007
A Tale of the Wind Goddess
Many of us love Lord of the Rings and Tolkien loved The Kalevala, the epic Finnish tale. On the Mythic Journey's website I came across an unforgettable short video of a performance of the beginning of The Kalevala. The tale is sung by Ulla Suokko, and she performs while playing a bass flute, an instrument I've rarely heard, and never heard played like this. The tale begins with the wind goddess conceiving a child and you can heard it all in this performance.
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I Love You Thi$ Much
In Scientific American we read of a study that hopes to find the proper amount to award people who have lost family members. How much money does it take you to be as happy as you were before your loved one died? More...
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Everlasting Gobstoppers
I read an article about plastic pollution last week and thought I wouldn't write about it because it was too depressing. But it has stayed on my mind, and I think has completely changed my plastic consumption/recycling habits. Here is the sentence I can't forget: "Every bit of plastic ever made still exists."
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The new iPhone Ads Are Here
You can watch four advertisements for the iPhone on Apple's website. You can also watch an advertisement for a fake Microsoft phone that, apparently, Microsoft made itself. Microsoft, creating its own parodies. Genius. The Apple ads are cool and now I want an iPhone. The Microsoft parody is hilarious.
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Thu Jun 07, 2007
Reason to go the Brookdale Lodge
The Brookdale Lodge in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s is one of the "views" that shows up often in a search of Santa Cruz postcards. But I've never eaten there, even though the restaurant is supposed to have a ghost. And now, they have a new chef, a refugee from New Orleans. I want to try this: More...
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Wed Jun 06, 2007
No Place Like Home
I used to try to watch "Mad TV" but none of the sketches were ever as good as this one: An alternative ending to the Wizard of Oz. I especially love how the actors captured the accents.
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Cursed Restaurent Locations
Christina Waters recently asked her readers to suggest those locations in town that can't seem to keep a restaurent in business. The most frequent suggestion is the place on the north west corner of Soquel and Ocean. I think I've seen three different businesses "Coming Soon" but not even staying afloat long enough to open.
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Tue Jun 05, 2007
Thinking It Real
A friend of mine, who I respect, suggested that I watch "The Secret" before maligning it. He said that it while it contained some cheesy things, there was enough there to make it worth my while.
I'm sorry to say that I was only able to watch about 30 or 40 minutes before losing interest. Maybe the later sections of the movie addressed criticisms I write here but I couldn't wait any longer before writing up my response and putting the whole experience behind me.
More...
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Mon Jun 04, 2007
More Desert Hearts
AfterEllen this week contains an interview with Donna Deitch, director of Desert Hearts. A new DVD of the movie is being released, with new commentary by Deitch and the two leads. But even better, Dietch is going to make a sequel, set in New York City of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
More...
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Sat Jun 02, 2007
Accolades
Had I known I was nominated, I would have finished it: my neighborhood history site has been recognized with a 2007 Historic Preservation Award Certificate. "....contributed to the knowledge about the Riverside neighborhood historic buildings and background, and has made this knowledge accessible to the general public through an interesting website with text, maps, and photographs. " Pretty cool.
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Fri Jun 01, 2007
Collected Works
A site with laugh-out-loud content: passive-agressive notes. the link is to a note that told someone that they were laid-off. The note was scribbled on a legal pad.
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