Hamas as Test
We have all heard the words repeated over the radio many times, “This is a test, this is only a test…” and are relieved. Or in class, “We will have a major test over the material next Friday,” and are terrified. Hamas as test may be the second category and not the first.
I first started to think of Hamas, the recently elected radical party in the Palestinian territories, as a kind of historical test over the last weeks as I watched the various reactions across the Middle East and the U.S. It occurred to me that for whatever reason, all parties involved—the Palestinians, the Israelis, and supporters of American foreign policy (to name just a few)—were being put to a supreme test, and whether we passed or failed would determine much else for our future world. Perhaps, just for that reason, the election of Hamas and our response to it challenge us just now to pass the test, or at least to know what we are missing and need desperately to make up.
Convenience Store Parking Lot Art History 101
Those paintings of dogs sitting around playing poker tell only part of the story.
The truth is, most breeds are terrible at cards.
In the beginning they gamble because they believe that’s what their masters want. Then it becomes an addiction — like chasing cars or bringing back a Frisbee or smoking crack.
I bet you thought that was cigar smoke.
Klaus Von Nichtssagend Gallery
Weekly Picture 46
Two Skaters, Diamond Street, Brooklyn
Vanessa Beecroft
Bird in Hand Book
Ministry of Reshelving
The Ministry of Reshelving wants to move Orwell’s 1984 to your Non-Fiction section.
Jenny Boully
I really like Jenny Boully’s poetry. She has a book out called The Body, which is apparently out of print. I’d like to find a copy somewhere. You can check out some of her work here.
d.school
Introverts Revisited
From Political Animal:
I marvel at Michael [Rauch's extroverted partner] who can always somehow turn the conversation right over effortlessly and keep it going even when what he says is not necessarily profound or interesting. What he comes up with is perfectly tuned to the sense and flow of the conversation. But it’s not words that are particularly intended to convey ideas or mean things. It’s words that socialize — that simply continue the conversation. It’s chit-chat. I have no gift for that. I have to think about what to say next, and sometimes I can’t think fast enough and end up saying something stupid. Or sometimes I just come up dry and the conversation kind of ends for while until I can think of another topic.
This is why it’s work for me. It takes positive cognition on my part. I think that’s probably a core introvert characteristic that you and I have in common and which can probably be distinguished from shyness per se — that small talk takes conscious effort and is very hard work. There’s nothing small about small talk if you’re an introvert.
How being ill can be good for you
From BPS Research Digest:
Peterson’s team found that compared with the participants who had always been well, the 422 participants who had recovered from a physical illness scored slightly higher on bravery, curiosity, fairness, forgiveness, gratitude, humour, kindness, love of learning, spirituality and appreciation of beauty. Meanwhile, recovery from psychological illness was associated with slightly increased appreciation of beauty, creativity, curiosity, gratitude and love of learning. The researchers said these small but significant effects were notable “given the prevailing emphasis on the psychologically scarring effects of illness and disorder”.
Game Theory and the Toilet Seat Problem
From Marginal Revolution:
1. Economizing hand motions is the key, so just leave it “as is” when done. It might be needed in that same position again.
2. Such matters should be arranged to please your wife. It is signaling and a symbolic recognition of her value. The only question is what you get in return, but if you get anything at all it is worth it.
3. Avoiding midnight surprises is the key, which means always leave it down.
4. Many women don’t like the idea that guests could show up and see the insides of their toilet bowls.
#2-4 all point in the same direction, and I don’t give a damn about #1. But somehow I, like many other men, fail to optimize on this question. The more interesting question is why this remains a issue. Here goes:
1. Women keep it an issue, rather than delivering decisive argumentation, to test their men and their sense of commitment.
2. Men cannot help but rebel against the female ethic of caring, especially when it concerns something so infantile as a toilet seat.
3. Existential freedom. I once had a European roommate, and it drove me crazy that he closed all the doors around the apartment. Perhaps an occasional open seat is a quixotic demand that our universe show true randomness and openness.
4. Men prefer to focus more intensely on a smaller number of issues and this isn’t one of them. But obviously that explanation can no longer apply to me.
Run the Numbers
Wow, are you having a good time imagining what you would do with the 365 million dollar powerball lotto prize if you alone hit all the numbers? Here’s a possibility: after taxes you could use all of your winnings to single handedly finance approximately 1 / 2,000th of the cost, so far, of the war in Iraq.
Snapshot from David Black
If Batman were more innovative
These guys are not your typical pot heads.
From WTVF Nashville:
From the outside, the house looks like a beautiful vacation home, but investigators say it was just a prop and what it concealed is right out [of] the movies.
More than 1,000 marijuana plants were grown deep underground.
The house was built on top of the natural cave, but investigators say no one lived there. It wasn’t even furnished. But inside the house there is a secret passageway into the cave.
Read the rest here
Good News!
From Marginal Revolution:
To see how revealing good news can paradoxically make one look bad, we consider situations where the sender can reveal good news that is unambiguously favorable and perhaps even the best available, but still not impressive. When good news is relatively common, is boasting about it still a good idea? Or is boasting treated with such skepticism that modesty is the best policy?
Blink
From Marginal Revolution:
“We found that when the choice was for something simple, such as purchasing oven gloves or shampoo, people made better decisions – ones that they remained happy with – if they consciously deliberated over the information,” says Dijksterhuis.
“But once the decision was more complex such as for a house, too much thinking about it led people to make the wrong choice. Whereas, if their conscious mind was fully occupied on solving puzzles, their unconscious could freely consider all the information and they reached better decisions.”
In the Sun Foundation
In the sun foundation.org is the home of a very special project launched by R.E.M.’s lead singer, Michael Stipe, in response to the ongoing hardship experienced by thousands of residents of the Gulf Coast. More than five months later, many are still displaced by the devastating effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita with no relief imminent, and yet, the news cycle has moved on, taking our focus, as a nation, away from something which still should be at the center of our attention. In this spirit, Stipe felt moved to join others who have remained dedicated to the cause, reminding the public in his own way, through music, that there is still an incredible amount of work to be done: “Things are not fine. The storm is still impacting people’s lives in very real ways and many have been left desperate. I want to remind each of us that as humans, and certainly as Americans, it is our responsibility to help those in need… I had to do something as a public figure. The one thing I can do is sing, and it’s probably the best way to get people to pay attention.” To that end, Stipe will release a charity EP featuring six versions of a song, “In the Sun,” which the singer hopes will remind the public of the continued suffering of survivors of Hurricane Katrina. All proceeds will go directly to Mercy Corps, an international humanitarian agency, via the In The Sun Foundation, to aid those in the Gulf Coast affected by the August tragedy. “No matter where you go in the world, people are the best agents of their own recovery in situations like this,” said Mercy Corps CEO Neal Keny-Guyer. “Michael and everyone he mobilizes to buy the song are investing in the people of the Gulf Coast, giving them the resources they need to get back on their feet.”
Ira
One time I came home and he was on the sidewalk. I said, “What are you doing today, Ira?” He said, “Well, I stopped going to that evening class I was going to.” He paused and shook his head, then with all the conviction he could muster said, “It’s time to do something for Ira!”
Useful Coping Lyric
I am the luckiest boy in the world.
My wish to fly has come true.
I am the luckiest boy in the world.
I’m so much luckier than you.
The Pee-wee Herman Show, 1981
Campfire
37signals has just launched Campfire, their “simple real-time web based group chat tool for business”. Here are some of its features:
- Every chat has a permanent URL — just like a web page or a blog post
- Campfire chats don’t require special chat software or networks
- Campfire chats are persistent — the rooms are always open and when you return you can catch up on the conversation you missed
- You can instantly share and discuss files with your colleagues/clients
- Upload a gif, jpg, png, or PDF and get a live preview of the image inline — it’s fantastic for discussing a mock-up or logo or design in real-time
- You can search or browse through transcripts of past chats.
- Campfire also offers secure chat over SSL (Plus and Premium plans)
Wars not make one great.
-Yoda
Volkswagen Concept A
6,500-Year-Old Pendant
Add George Will
Egad! Even George Will is questioning the Administration’s arguments in defense of the NSA warrantless spying program in today’s edition of the Washington Post.
