Independent Online Edition > Features
I have remarked before that Brian de Palma has had one of the most wildly uneven careers of any famous director. For the record, I think very highly of Blow Out, The Untouchables (which he is never likely to better) and Mission Impossible (silly, but so much fun.)
The Untouchables in particular was a stunningly good film, and even though I do not have a high tolerance for graphic violence, this was one of those few genuine cases where seeing it was "necessary for the story."
On the other hand, some of the scripts he has worked with have been very bad. I saw Snake Eyes in the cinema and had trouble staying awake. Mission to Mars had a bit of a hokey script, and spent quite a bit on special effects, except when it came to the alien at the end. (Although the title for "most unconvincing recent movie alien" was soon taken over by the man in a rubber suit in "Signs". I would actually like to write at length one day about how bad I thought "Signs" was.)
Anyway, let's hope this new movie is one of his better ones.
Friday, September 08, 2006
A useful brain scan for a change
Brain scan shows that vegetative patients can think - Britain - Times Online
I have recently criticised the type of research that MRI scans have used for (finding a "God spot" in the brain, for example.)
The story above shows a much more meaningful use - finding out whether a person in a vegatitive state has awareness or not.
Mind you, it may make withdrawal of life support decisions more difficult rather than less, but it's still worth looking into.
I have recently criticised the type of research that MRI scans have used for (finding a "God spot" in the brain, for example.)
The story above shows a much more meaningful use - finding out whether a person in a vegatitive state has awareness or not.
Mind you, it may make withdrawal of life support decisions more difficult rather than less, but it's still worth looking into.
Clive leaps into the fray
Death becomes an excuse to savage 'elites' - now that's nasty - Opinion
The ruckus over Steve Irwin's status within the Australian psyche gets kicked along further by Clive Hamilton today.
Let's make it clear: my personal cringe factor about Irwin was pretty high, and I initially assumed (like just about everyone) that his on-screen persona was an act. However, over the years, there were so many people who had worked with him who said that he was really like that in private, that I found there was no reason to disbelieve them.
That he went on about conservation for crocodiles, when in fact they seem to have been conserved to excess in far north Australia for many years now, always struck me as a bit phoney. But the fact that he had a genuine affection for animals and a general concern for conservation of wild life habitat seems beyond doubt. His zoo is well run and seems to have a high level of comfort for the animals. (And unlike older style zoos, pushes the importance of conservation continually.) On the other hand, his attempted justification at taking his baby into a crocodile enclosure was hard to watch, and definitely the low point of his public life.
You get the picture: I don't idealise him by any stretch of the imagination. But the nature of the criticism by Greer, and Clive Hamilton, really is just over the top.
Clive, for example, thinks that Australians feel bad about his death because we feel guilty for encouraging him!:
But, if we are honest, the vitriolic attacks on Irwin's real and imagined critics are rooted in guilt. Whenever Irwin provoked a croc to open its jaws and lunge we were all excited by the prospect that the beast would get him, just as we watch car races anticipating a crash. The filmmakers understand that it is the frisson of danger that makes these shows popular. The close call is the money shot and any real injury would be replayed over and over.
Now Irwin has met the grisly end that excited us, we feel responsible.
In this turmoil of guilt and grief, what a relief it was to find a real target for bitterness in the form of Germaine Greer, whose only mistake was poor timing.
God Lord, how does anyone take Hamilton seriously.
Just maybe, Clive, people feel bad about attacks on him because absolutely everyone who had ever actually known him praised him as a nice guy, with a great enthusiasm for life, good intentions, and he leaves a young family behind.
On the other hand, Germaine (with, for example, her "I seek aboriginal consent whenever I want to return to Australia") presents as the genuine article when it comes to posturing dills.
UPDATE: Matt Price writes well about Irwin today. The Australian also talks about Irwin's land purchases here.
The ruckus over Steve Irwin's status within the Australian psyche gets kicked along further by Clive Hamilton today.
Let's make it clear: my personal cringe factor about Irwin was pretty high, and I initially assumed (like just about everyone) that his on-screen persona was an act. However, over the years, there were so many people who had worked with him who said that he was really like that in private, that I found there was no reason to disbelieve them.
That he went on about conservation for crocodiles, when in fact they seem to have been conserved to excess in far north Australia for many years now, always struck me as a bit phoney. But the fact that he had a genuine affection for animals and a general concern for conservation of wild life habitat seems beyond doubt. His zoo is well run and seems to have a high level of comfort for the animals. (And unlike older style zoos, pushes the importance of conservation continually.) On the other hand, his attempted justification at taking his baby into a crocodile enclosure was hard to watch, and definitely the low point of his public life.
You get the picture: I don't idealise him by any stretch of the imagination. But the nature of the criticism by Greer, and Clive Hamilton, really is just over the top.
Clive, for example, thinks that Australians feel bad about his death because we feel guilty for encouraging him!:
But, if we are honest, the vitriolic attacks on Irwin's real and imagined critics are rooted in guilt. Whenever Irwin provoked a croc to open its jaws and lunge we were all excited by the prospect that the beast would get him, just as we watch car races anticipating a crash. The filmmakers understand that it is the frisson of danger that makes these shows popular. The close call is the money shot and any real injury would be replayed over and over.
Now Irwin has met the grisly end that excited us, we feel responsible.
In this turmoil of guilt and grief, what a relief it was to find a real target for bitterness in the form of Germaine Greer, whose only mistake was poor timing.
God Lord, how does anyone take Hamilton seriously.
Just maybe, Clive, people feel bad about attacks on him because absolutely everyone who had ever actually known him praised him as a nice guy, with a great enthusiasm for life, good intentions, and he leaves a young family behind.
On the other hand, Germaine (with, for example, her "I seek aboriginal consent whenever I want to return to Australia") presents as the genuine article when it comes to posturing dills.
UPDATE: Matt Price writes well about Irwin today. The Australian also talks about Irwin's land purchases here.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Australian art house puzzle
At the Movies: The Book of Revelation
That Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton automatically increase any Australian movie's star rating by 1 is a given.
A further warning sign that a movie they review is not for me is when they start calling an art house style movie "challenging" or "brave". David Stratton's comments on the new film "The Book of Revelation" (which I was in no danger of rushing out to see anyway) are like a big warning sign saying "if you not an artiste, you will hate this":
DAVID: When I came out of this film I thought I've never seen a film like this before, a film that tackled these themes, a film that was so provocative, tantalising. And I was left in many ways puzzling, and I'm still in some ways puzzling, over what we were supposed to come away with from the film.
Margaret said:
I would have wished for just a little more grounding in reality in the look of the film, the power of the story comes from our ability to believe totally in Daniel’s journey, not as a dream, although that may be your ultimate interpretation.
What's it about?:
Daniel (Long) is a dancer who is kidnapped by three masked women. They chain him to a warehouse floor and sexually abuse him for roughly two weeks. This is graphically shown in the film and hence it’s R rating here in Australia.
The three women eventually release Daniel but the experience leaves him a changed man.
There would no odds given for my reaction being the same as this viewer's:
Generally, I thought this was convulated drivel.
Run away, people, run away!
That Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton automatically increase any Australian movie's star rating by 1 is a given.
A further warning sign that a movie they review is not for me is when they start calling an art house style movie "challenging" or "brave". David Stratton's comments on the new film "The Book of Revelation" (which I was in no danger of rushing out to see anyway) are like a big warning sign saying "if you not an artiste, you will hate this":
DAVID: When I came out of this film I thought I've never seen a film like this before, a film that tackled these themes, a film that was so provocative, tantalising. And I was left in many ways puzzling, and I'm still in some ways puzzling, over what we were supposed to come away with from the film.
Margaret said:
I would have wished for just a little more grounding in reality in the look of the film, the power of the story comes from our ability to believe totally in Daniel’s journey, not as a dream, although that may be your ultimate interpretation.
What's it about?:
Daniel (Long) is a dancer who is kidnapped by three masked women. They chain him to a warehouse floor and sexually abuse him for roughly two weeks. This is graphically shown in the film and hence it’s R rating here in Australia.
The three women eventually release Daniel but the experience leaves him a changed man.
There would no odds given for my reaction being the same as this viewer's:
Generally, I thought this was convulated drivel.
Run away, people, run away!
Iron fertilization and global warming
ScienceDaily: Iron Critical To Ocean Productivity, Carbon Uptake
The story above notes:
A new study has found that large segments of the Pacific Ocean lack sufficient iron to trigger healthy phytoplankton growth and the absence of the mineral stresses these microscopic ocean plants, triggering them to produce additional pigments that make ocean productivity appear more robust than it really is.
As a result, past interpretations of satellite chlorophyll data may be inaccurate, the researchers say, and the tropical Pacific Ocean may photosynthesize 1-2 billion tons less atmospheric carbon dioxide than was previously thought. Global ocean carbon uptake is estimated at 50 billion tons, so the reduction in the estimate of the uptake is significant -- about 2 to 4 percent.
It doesn't talk directly about the idea of fertilizing the ocean with iron as a way of decreasing CO2 in the atmosphere, but surely this possible anti global warming method should start attracting more serious attention again soon.
I thought I mentioned this idea before here, but can't find the post now. Anyway, I have found a detailed Wikipedia entry about it which (while apparently written from the "pro" side) does explain some of the possible "cons" too.
Certainly sounds worth serious consideration (more so than shooting sulfur into the high atmosphere.)
UPDATE: Blogger search is obviously not working well at the moment, for some reason. Here's my earlier post where iron fertilization got a mention.
The story above notes:
A new study has found that large segments of the Pacific Ocean lack sufficient iron to trigger healthy phytoplankton growth and the absence of the mineral stresses these microscopic ocean plants, triggering them to produce additional pigments that make ocean productivity appear more robust than it really is.
As a result, past interpretations of satellite chlorophyll data may be inaccurate, the researchers say, and the tropical Pacific Ocean may photosynthesize 1-2 billion tons less atmospheric carbon dioxide than was previously thought. Global ocean carbon uptake is estimated at 50 billion tons, so the reduction in the estimate of the uptake is significant -- about 2 to 4 percent.
It doesn't talk directly about the idea of fertilizing the ocean with iron as a way of decreasing CO2 in the atmosphere, but surely this possible anti global warming method should start attracting more serious attention again soon.
I thought I mentioned this idea before here, but can't find the post now. Anyway, I have found a detailed Wikipedia entry about it which (while apparently written from the "pro" side) does explain some of the possible "cons" too.
Certainly sounds worth serious consideration (more so than shooting sulfur into the high atmosphere.)
UPDATE: Blogger search is obviously not working well at the moment, for some reason. Here's my earlier post where iron fertilization got a mention.
Drinking and flying
The Age Blogs: The Daily Truth / Terror on flight 555 Archives
If you enjoy stories about urgent needs to go to the toilet (and who doesn't?) then you should find this quite funny.
If you enjoy stories about urgent needs to go to the toilet (and who doesn't?) then you should find this quite funny.
Yet another Google innovation
BBC NEWS | Business | Google opens up 200 years of news
Hey, their corporate behaviour may be problematic when it comes to dealing with China (and other regimes?), but for the most part it is quite a remarkable job they are doing for the world.
Hey, their corporate behaviour may be problematic when it comes to dealing with China (and other regimes?), but for the most part it is quite a remarkable job they are doing for the world.
Conservatism and Islam, again
It's a culture guaranteed to cause a clash - Opinion - smh.com.au
Miranda Devine makes pretty much the same point as someone in The Guardian recently. (I posted about it here.)
That is, Muslim reluctance to "blend in" to Australian society may be partly put down to Australian values (in terms of sexual behaviour, especially amongst the young) taking somewhat of a dive in recent years.
Given my revulsion of all things "Big Brother" (and the puzzling idea of "raunch culture" as being some semi-legitimate form of feminism,) I have some sympathy to the argument.
As I said in the previous post, one would think that the political consequence could be that conservative parties get the Muslim vote. But the conservatives don't seem to play the politics of it the right way. (Or they simply figure the Muslim vote is not worth worrying about given the population size here.)
All very interesting.
Miranda Devine makes pretty much the same point as someone in The Guardian recently. (I posted about it here.)
That is, Muslim reluctance to "blend in" to Australian society may be partly put down to Australian values (in terms of sexual behaviour, especially amongst the young) taking somewhat of a dive in recent years.
Given my revulsion of all things "Big Brother" (and the puzzling idea of "raunch culture" as being some semi-legitimate form of feminism,) I have some sympathy to the argument.
As I said in the previous post, one would think that the political consequence could be that conservative parties get the Muslim vote. But the conservatives don't seem to play the politics of it the right way. (Or they simply figure the Muslim vote is not worth worrying about given the population size here.)
All very interesting.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
The Empire staggers on
The Japan Times Online - Princess Kiko gives birth to a boy
So, finally there is a male grandchild for the Emperor in the Japanese royal family, so the pressure is off Crown Princess Masako to have to have another child. (Her story of stress caused by marrying into a suffocating royal lifestyle is a bit like that of Princess Diana; apart from Masako being academically very smart, successful at a challenging career before marriage, and having a husband who supports her still. OK, almost no resemblance at all really.)
A brief history of the problems caused by having only male heirs to the emperor is set out in this article. Some extracts:
Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) had no male heir with his wife but had 15 children, including five males, with five concubines. Of the five, four died before reaching adulthood, and the one who survived became emperor.
Here's a photo of Meiji. Doesn't look too happy; maybe choosing which concubine to sleep over with gets you down. (Or maybe it's just that it wasn't fashionable in that century to smile for photos.)
Back to the article:
But Emperor Hirohito (1901-1989), known posthumously as Emperor Showa, refused to have a concubine, which led to the postwar abolition of the system. According to Otabe, Emperor Showa wanted to have a close family atmosphere such as might be found in a Western royal family.
And how's this for a let down in your status:
Soon after Japan's 1945 defeat in World War II, 11 families on the collateral line, which served as a safety net to produce male heirs for the Imperial family, lost their Imperial status and became ordinary citizens.
I wonder what happened to those families. Down to the unemployment office?
So, finally there is a male grandchild for the Emperor in the Japanese royal family, so the pressure is off Crown Princess Masako to have to have another child. (Her story of stress caused by marrying into a suffocating royal lifestyle is a bit like that of Princess Diana; apart from Masako being academically very smart, successful at a challenging career before marriage, and having a husband who supports her still. OK, almost no resemblance at all really.)
A brief history of the problems caused by having only male heirs to the emperor is set out in this article. Some extracts:
Emperor Meiji (1852-1912) had no male heir with his wife but had 15 children, including five males, with five concubines. Of the five, four died before reaching adulthood, and the one who survived became emperor.
Here's a photo of Meiji. Doesn't look too happy; maybe choosing which concubine to sleep over with gets you down. (Or maybe it's just that it wasn't fashionable in that century to smile for photos.)
Back to the article:
But Emperor Hirohito (1901-1989), known posthumously as Emperor Showa, refused to have a concubine, which led to the postwar abolition of the system. According to Otabe, Emperor Showa wanted to have a close family atmosphere such as might be found in a Western royal family.
And how's this for a let down in your status:
Soon after Japan's 1945 defeat in World War II, 11 families on the collateral line, which served as a safety net to produce male heirs for the Imperial family, lost their Imperial status and became ordinary citizens.
I wonder what happened to those families. Down to the unemployment office?
Cosmology time
ScienceDaily: Big Bang's Afterglow Fails Intergalactic 'Shadow' Test
Interesting story with unclear implications. Do other scientists think it is a measurement problem? If not, what could explain it?
Interesting story with unclear implications. Do other scientists think it is a measurement problem? If not, what could explain it?
Australian academics need not apply
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran's liberal lecturers targeted
From the above:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for liberal and secular university lecturers to be removed.
He told a group of students that they should organise campaigns to demand that the liberal teachers be sacked.
Mr Ahmadinejad said it was difficult to alter secular influences that had been in place in Iran for 150 years, but added that such a change had begun.
The move echoes campaigns of the 1980s, when hundreds of liberal university teachers and students were sacked....
Last year, an ayatollah was appointed to run Tehran University, sparking protests by students.
From the above:
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for liberal and secular university lecturers to be removed.
He told a group of students that they should organise campaigns to demand that the liberal teachers be sacked.
Mr Ahmadinejad said it was difficult to alter secular influences that had been in place in Iran for 150 years, but added that such a change had begun.
The move echoes campaigns of the 1980s, when hundreds of liberal university teachers and students were sacked....
Last year, an ayatollah was appointed to run Tehran University, sparking protests by students.
Scaring the scientists
Scientists angered by telephone telepathy study - Britain - Times Online
A fascinating story from the Times about scientists being upset that pro telepathy research was presented at a science forum without adequate scepticism tagging along.
I like this bit in particular:
Sir Walter, a geneticist and cancer researcher, said: "I’m amazed that the BA has allowed it to happen in this way. You have got to be careful not to suppress ideas, even if they are beyond the pale, but it’s quite inappropriate to have a session like that without putting forward a more convincing view."
The "more convincing view" is presumably that telepathy is obviously impossible.
Read the article for details of the research. It's interesting.
A fascinating story from the Times about scientists being upset that pro telepathy research was presented at a science forum without adequate scepticism tagging along.
I like this bit in particular:
Sir Walter, a geneticist and cancer researcher, said: "I’m amazed that the BA has allowed it to happen in this way. You have got to be careful not to suppress ideas, even if they are beyond the pale, but it’s quite inappropriate to have a session like that without putting forward a more convincing view."
The "more convincing view" is presumably that telepathy is obviously impossible.
Read the article for details of the research. It's interesting.
More scepticism on emissions trading
Emissions trading is not the answer - Opinion - theage.com.au
Four Corners last week was all about this too, and there are many small "eco" companies in Australia making money out of trading schemes that critics say are of dubious efficiency.
As with wind power, I suspect that the true effect of such schemes is to give false confidence that something effective is being done.
Four Corners last week was all about this too, and there are many small "eco" companies in Australia making money out of trading schemes that critics say are of dubious efficiency.
As with wind power, I suspect that the true effect of such schemes is to give false confidence that something effective is being done.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
One question
BBC NEWS | Health | Autism risk linked to older dads
This article indicates that the rate of autism in children rises quite sharply when the father is over 40.
This seems an easily identified trend. Why is it only coming to attention now?
This article indicates that the rate of autism in children rises quite sharply when the father is over 40.
This seems an easily identified trend. Why is it only coming to attention now?
Some detail on the prisoners
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Who are the Mid-East prisoners?
I've been waiting some time for the details in this article. Surprisingly, there really are only a handful of Lebanese prisoners involved.
I've been waiting some time for the details in this article. Surprisingly, there really are only a handful of Lebanese prisoners involved.
On conservation and conservatism
Niall Ferguson: Conservative Doesn't Mean Anti-Conservationist - Los Angeles Times
This column makes some valid points:
The idea that there is something fundamentally unconservative about protecting the environment is, of course, a canard. At the very core of British conservatism since the time of Benjamin Disraeli has been a romantic reverence for the land and a desire to mitigate the damage done by industrialization. It was Marx and Engels who sneered at "the idiocy of rural life." It was Lenin and Stalin whose mania for smoke-belching steelworks turned huge tracts of Russia into toxic wastelands.
It's worth reading it all.
This column makes some valid points:
The idea that there is something fundamentally unconservative about protecting the environment is, of course, a canard. At the very core of British conservatism since the time of Benjamin Disraeli has been a romantic reverence for the land and a desire to mitigate the damage done by industrialization. It was Marx and Engels who sneered at "the idiocy of rural life." It was Lenin and Stalin whose mania for smoke-belching steelworks turned huge tracts of Russia into toxic wastelands.
It's worth reading it all.
More Adams rubbish
Hero to pols who were left right out | Phillip Adams | The Australian
Phillip Adams has yet another reality challenged column in the Australian today.
He has repeated the theme many times recently: that John Howard's Liberal Party has become solidly right wing, not the "broad church" of old. He also claims that, unlike in the 1960's, there is no cross party co-operation or friendships any more.
Nice theory, but only if you ignore the following examples:
* Howard withdrew his recent migration law changes to avoid the defeat they obviously faced because of the number of Libs (and probably National Barnaby Joyce) would made it clear they would not vote for it.
* Liberal women are not shy of supporting their own legislation for particular "womens' issues" such as the availability of the "abortion drug" and on stem cell research.
* Warren Entsch, of all people, speaks out on gay law reform all the time. (Although it is clear that there is no strong move to support gay marriage type laws in the Liberals.)
* It is clear that there still are cross party friendships, if you watch Sunrise and see the amiable exchanges every week between Kevin Rudd and Joe Hockey. (They also did the Kokoda track together recently.) I get the feeling that Lindsay Tanner might have the respect and (possibly) friendship of a few on the other side as well. It was pretty clear that Christopher Pyne and Mark Latham were friendly enough at a personal level when they used to do their Lateline stuff. I recall Jacki Kelly talking recently of inviting Labor women to some private party of hers.
Actually, I have found it encouraging that polite and friendly personal contact across the parties appears to have been a feature of the current government.
Adams seems not only wrong about this, but quite hypocritical, in that his great political hero Paul Keating gave every appearance of a politician who could in no way tolerate having a personal friendship with someone from the other side. (And who from the Liberals would want to be be close to him, given the highly personal and nasty character of his parliamentary attacks.)
Give it up Phil, this is a stupid argument.
Phillip Adams has yet another reality challenged column in the Australian today.
He has repeated the theme many times recently: that John Howard's Liberal Party has become solidly right wing, not the "broad church" of old. He also claims that, unlike in the 1960's, there is no cross party co-operation or friendships any more.
Nice theory, but only if you ignore the following examples:
* Howard withdrew his recent migration law changes to avoid the defeat they obviously faced because of the number of Libs (and probably National Barnaby Joyce) would made it clear they would not vote for it.
* Liberal women are not shy of supporting their own legislation for particular "womens' issues" such as the availability of the "abortion drug" and on stem cell research.
* Warren Entsch, of all people, speaks out on gay law reform all the time. (Although it is clear that there is no strong move to support gay marriage type laws in the Liberals.)
* It is clear that there still are cross party friendships, if you watch Sunrise and see the amiable exchanges every week between Kevin Rudd and Joe Hockey. (They also did the Kokoda track together recently.) I get the feeling that Lindsay Tanner might have the respect and (possibly) friendship of a few on the other side as well. It was pretty clear that Christopher Pyne and Mark Latham were friendly enough at a personal level when they used to do their Lateline stuff. I recall Jacki Kelly talking recently of inviting Labor women to some private party of hers.
Actually, I have found it encouraging that polite and friendly personal contact across the parties appears to have been a feature of the current government.
Adams seems not only wrong about this, but quite hypocritical, in that his great political hero Paul Keating gave every appearance of a politician who could in no way tolerate having a personal friendship with someone from the other side. (And who from the Liberals would want to be be close to him, given the highly personal and nasty character of his parliamentary attacks.)
Give it up Phil, this is a stupid argument.
Monday, September 04, 2006
Steve Irwin and the speed of Wiki
Steve Irwin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Steve Irwin's unusual death was reported here (Brisbane) at around 2.30pm. It looks like Reuters and AP reported it after 4 pm. It is now 4.35 pm and his Wikipedia entry is up to date, referring to him in the past tense, and giving some detail about his death.
Looking at the history of his entry, there have been many people checking and posting today following news of his death.
History gets written very quickly these days.
As for his death, everyone's reaction on talkback radio here goes like this: "a stingray can kill you? I mean, I knew they could sting and hurt, but kill you?"
Steve Irwin's unusual death was reported here (Brisbane) at around 2.30pm. It looks like Reuters and AP reported it after 4 pm. It is now 4.35 pm and his Wikipedia entry is up to date, referring to him in the past tense, and giving some detail about his death.
Looking at the history of his entry, there have been many people checking and posting today following news of his death.
History gets written very quickly these days.
As for his death, everyone's reaction on talkback radio here goes like this: "a stingray can kill you? I mean, I knew they could sting and hurt, but kill you?"
Mao's reputation continues its dive
China | Big bad wolf | Economist.com
This is a short review of a new book that continues the revisionism of Mao's reputation (in a downwards direction.) This latest book sounds more scholarly and less obviously partisan than the recent one co-authored by Jung Chang. (Not that I have read it either.)
From the article:
The heart of the book is a detailed chronicle of how Mao cynically twisted ideology and manipulated those around him, setting off hysterical and murderous attacks on everything from Confucian morals and bourgeois culture to intellectuals, “capitalist roaders” and “class enemies”.
Using sources that range from official party and government documents to letters, diaries and interviews with surviving participants and victims, the authors document the orders that went out, the mayhem that resulted and the fear it all struck in the hearts of people across the country. And it is chilling stuff. In August and September of 1966, for example, as thousands were being murdered in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere, Mao put out the word that the police were not to interfere. Faithfully relaying Mao's instructions to the Beijing police force, the public security minister assured them that, “After all, bad persons are bad, so if they're beaten to death it is no big deal.”
This is a short review of a new book that continues the revisionism of Mao's reputation (in a downwards direction.) This latest book sounds more scholarly and less obviously partisan than the recent one co-authored by Jung Chang. (Not that I have read it either.)
From the article:
The heart of the book is a detailed chronicle of how Mao cynically twisted ideology and manipulated those around him, setting off hysterical and murderous attacks on everything from Confucian morals and bourgeois culture to intellectuals, “capitalist roaders” and “class enemies”.
Using sources that range from official party and government documents to letters, diaries and interviews with surviving participants and victims, the authors document the orders that went out, the mayhem that resulted and the fear it all struck in the hearts of people across the country. And it is chilling stuff. In August and September of 1966, for example, as thousands were being murdered in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere, Mao put out the word that the police were not to interfere. Faithfully relaying Mao's instructions to the Beijing police force, the public security minister assured them that, “After all, bad persons are bad, so if they're beaten to death it is no big deal.”
Medical marijuana wars
TCS Daily - The Straight Dope on 'Medical Marijuana'
Also from TCS, an article about the "medical marijuana" wars in the USA.
This tactic (of encouraging a limited legalisation of the drug for medicinal purposes) has not been promoted strongly in any jurisdiction in Australia, as far as I can recall. This article confirms, from a medical point of view, why it is a dubious thing to do.
Also from TCS, an article about the "medical marijuana" wars in the USA.
This tactic (of encouraging a limited legalisation of the drug for medicinal purposes) has not been promoted strongly in any jurisdiction in Australia, as far as I can recall. This article confirms, from a medical point of view, why it is a dubious thing to do.
IEDs in Iraq
TCS Daily - Roadside Bombs: The Hydra Effect
This article at Tech Central goes into technical detail about how roadside bombs in Iraq are made and why it is so hard to stop them. Interesting, even though pessimistic.
This article at Tech Central goes into technical detail about how roadside bombs in Iraq are made and why it is so hard to stop them. Interesting, even though pessimistic.
An odd comparison
Martyrs' widows wait outside doors to paradise - World - theage.com.au
This short story about how Hezbollah looks after the widows of "martyrs" in Lebanon contains this:
The community believes martyrs go directly to heaven and their wives are venerated because of their sacrifice. "The wife of a martyr is like Jennifer Lopez to us," said Mohammed Husseini, spokesman for Hezbollah's Martyrs' Association illustrating how widows are admired.
Well, perhaps "Paris Hilton" would have been a less apt comparison, but only just.
This short story about how Hezbollah looks after the widows of "martyrs" in Lebanon contains this:
The community believes martyrs go directly to heaven and their wives are venerated because of their sacrifice. "The wife of a martyr is like Jennifer Lopez to us," said Mohammed Husseini, spokesman for Hezbollah's Martyrs' Association illustrating how widows are admired.
Well, perhaps "Paris Hilton" would have been a less apt comparison, but only just.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
About Iran and Iraq
Crime boss brokered nuclear-delivery missile sale to Iran - Sunday Times - Times Online
Further to the concerns about Iran:
THE British government was warned more than two years ago that Iran had illegally acquired a missile system capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
It has emerged that a foreign government delivered the warning to Britain in early 2004.
Separately, it has been disclosed that the system was sold to Iran by a former senior member of the Ukrainian security service. The deal was brokered by an organised crime boss and, it is feared, contributed to the Iranian nuclear programme that is now the subject of an international confrontation.
The Times report also notes this:
It has also emerged that in 2004 the Ukrainian government was investigating the transport of weapons from Iraq to Syria and Iran before the war to topple Saddam Hussein.
I still suspect that the complete story of WMD in Iraq is not yet known.
Further to the concerns about Iran:
THE British government was warned more than two years ago that Iran had illegally acquired a missile system capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
It has emerged that a foreign government delivered the warning to Britain in early 2004.
Separately, it has been disclosed that the system was sold to Iran by a former senior member of the Ukrainian security service. The deal was brokered by an organised crime boss and, it is feared, contributed to the Iranian nuclear programme that is now the subject of an international confrontation.
The Times report also notes this:
It has also emerged that in 2004 the Ukrainian government was investigating the transport of weapons from Iraq to Syria and Iran before the war to topple Saddam Hussein.
I still suspect that the complete story of WMD in Iraq is not yet known.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Modern annoyances
Here's a few things I have been saving up to complain about:
* It seems impossible to buy a simple set of plain Lego blocks anymore. (Duplo, yes, but not older kids' basic Lego.) As anyone with children is probably aware, Lego seemingly went totally "themed" many years ago, as if a corporate decision was made that all kids' imaginations must come prepackaged. I'm sure I read somewhere in the last year or two how the Lego company was not doing well. Here's a tip: stop paying for movie tie-in's and overly specialised fiddly pieces and start selling basic sets again. I could live with the little figures (although they do sully the "purity" of the Lego of my childhood,) if basic kits could be found again.
* A pharmacy I was in recently was selling "Hopi ear candles". If I ruled the world, there would be some minimum standard of vague utility for what a pharmacy could sell, and Hopi ear candles would never reach that threshold.
* The twee obsession that ABC Radio National listeners have with fonts irritates me. The Saturday morning show recently did a segment on Microsoft changing the font for (I think) Outlook, and sure enough the following week the host noted how much response that segment received. Oh for God's sake. If you are 95 and live alone on a mountain, maybe an undue interest in default fonts is half justifiable. If you are under 50 and you are worrying about default fonts, you really, really need another interest in life.
* Talking about fonts reminds me: I still occasionally find people who still think Wordperfect stopped at DOS version 5.1. In fact, the Windows based versions are up to X3, which is what they named version 13 in order to avoid the unlucky number. Ironically (if that is the correct use of the word for this example), this latest version lets you run it in DOS 5.1 emulation.
It drives me crazy when I have to sometimes use Word instead of WP. My long held belief that formatting anything in WP is always easier than in Word (which continually tries to guess my intention and 9 times out of 10 gets it wrong) seemed to have been confirmed this week when I showed a Word only user how to do indents and edit codes in WP. He seemed genuinely surprised, and I am sure this could be true of many Word users if only they had exposure to WP.
By the way, I do not own shares in Corel.
* It seems impossible to buy a simple set of plain Lego blocks anymore. (Duplo, yes, but not older kids' basic Lego.) As anyone with children is probably aware, Lego seemingly went totally "themed" many years ago, as if a corporate decision was made that all kids' imaginations must come prepackaged. I'm sure I read somewhere in the last year or two how the Lego company was not doing well. Here's a tip: stop paying for movie tie-in's and overly specialised fiddly pieces and start selling basic sets again. I could live with the little figures (although they do sully the "purity" of the Lego of my childhood,) if basic kits could be found again.
* A pharmacy I was in recently was selling "Hopi ear candles". If I ruled the world, there would be some minimum standard of vague utility for what a pharmacy could sell, and Hopi ear candles would never reach that threshold.
* The twee obsession that ABC Radio National listeners have with fonts irritates me. The Saturday morning show recently did a segment on Microsoft changing the font for (I think) Outlook, and sure enough the following week the host noted how much response that segment received. Oh for God's sake. If you are 95 and live alone on a mountain, maybe an undue interest in default fonts is half justifiable. If you are under 50 and you are worrying about default fonts, you really, really need another interest in life.
* Talking about fonts reminds me: I still occasionally find people who still think Wordperfect stopped at DOS version 5.1. In fact, the Windows based versions are up to X3, which is what they named version 13 in order to avoid the unlucky number. Ironically (if that is the correct use of the word for this example), this latest version lets you run it in DOS 5.1 emulation.
It drives me crazy when I have to sometimes use Word instead of WP. My long held belief that formatting anything in WP is always easier than in Word (which continually tries to guess my intention and 9 times out of 10 gets it wrong) seemed to have been confirmed this week when I showed a Word only user how to do indents and edit codes in WP. He seemed genuinely surprised, and I am sure this could be true of many Word users if only they had exposure to WP.
By the way, I do not own shares in Corel.
Reasons to worry about Iran
Lateline - ABC
The link is to a transcript of an interview on last night's Lateline that was about particular intelligence from 2004 that indicates definite military involvement in Iran's nuclear program. (Iran claims it is a fabrication, but it would seem most European nations think it is genuine.)
Worth reading in full.
The link is to a transcript of an interview on last night's Lateline that was about particular intelligence from 2004 that indicates definite military involvement in Iran's nuclear program. (Iran claims it is a fabrication, but it would seem most European nations think it is genuine.)
Worth reading in full.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Move on, nothing to see here
Former weapons inspector disappointed with handling of concerns. 31/08/2006. ABC News Online
ABC's 7.30 Report and Lateline tonight both featured this story at some length. I see that Marion Wilkinson had the story in The Age this morning.
Former weapons inspector John Gee, who did not look all that well in the interview, resigned from the Iraq Survey Group in 2004 and wrote to the government saying that the search for WMD in Iraq (after the invasion) was not being well run, and that he did not think anything would be found.
Foreign Minister Downer met him at the time and said, "well let's wait and see." Gee says to him "I can assure you they won't find any."
Apparently, a subsequent sense of (relative) vindication by the ISG's report isn't enough for Gee. He now complains that his letter was not distributed outside of Foreign Affairs to the Defence Department.
Scandal!
What is significant about this story? Extremely little, it seems to me.
ABC's 7.30 Report and Lateline tonight both featured this story at some length. I see that Marion Wilkinson had the story in The Age this morning.
Former weapons inspector John Gee, who did not look all that well in the interview, resigned from the Iraq Survey Group in 2004 and wrote to the government saying that the search for WMD in Iraq (after the invasion) was not being well run, and that he did not think anything would be found.
Foreign Minister Downer met him at the time and said, "well let's wait and see." Gee says to him "I can assure you they won't find any."
Apparently, a subsequent sense of (relative) vindication by the ISG's report isn't enough for Gee. He now complains that his letter was not distributed outside of Foreign Affairs to the Defence Department.
Scandal!
What is significant about this story? Extremely little, it seems to me.
Researchers with too much time on their hands
ScienceDaily: Brain Scan Of Nuns Finds No Single 'God Spot' In The Brain, Study Finds
I'm sure I've commented before about the highly dubious priorities that neuroscience seems to have now, at least with regard to what they do with MRI scanners. This one for example:
Fifteen cloistered Carmelite nuns ranging from 23 to 64-years-old were subjected to an fMRI brain scan while asked to relive a mystical experience rather than actually try to achieve one. "I was obliged to do it this way seeing as the nuns are unable to call upon God at will," said Beauregard. This method was justified seeing as previous studies with actors asked to enter a particular emotional state activated the same brain regions as people actually living those emotions.
This study demonstrated that a dozen different regions of the brain are activated during a mystical experience. This type of research became very popular in the United States in the late 1990s. Some researchers went as far as suggesting the possibility of a specific brain region designed for communication with God. This latest research discredits such theories.
I find it hard to imagine that anyone would think that the essential nature of a mystical experience would be capable of being explained by watching such scans.
Psychologist Jerome Kagan was interviewed on ABC radio recently and made the point:
Well the brain is the foundation of all mental phenomenon but the vocabulary we use for the brain - neurons, circuits, transmitters - that's not the language of thought or feeling. And so mind got put in the background under the assumption that if - an assumption I disagree with - that if and when scientists can understand exactly what's going on in the brain then they'll be able to predict and know exactly what your thoughts, feelings and intentions are.
The rest of his interview, which covers quite a few areas of psychology, is interesting too.
I'm sure I've commented before about the highly dubious priorities that neuroscience seems to have now, at least with regard to what they do with MRI scanners. This one for example:
Fifteen cloistered Carmelite nuns ranging from 23 to 64-years-old were subjected to an fMRI brain scan while asked to relive a mystical experience rather than actually try to achieve one. "I was obliged to do it this way seeing as the nuns are unable to call upon God at will," said Beauregard. This method was justified seeing as previous studies with actors asked to enter a particular emotional state activated the same brain regions as people actually living those emotions.
This study demonstrated that a dozen different regions of the brain are activated during a mystical experience. This type of research became very popular in the United States in the late 1990s. Some researchers went as far as suggesting the possibility of a specific brain region designed for communication with God. This latest research discredits such theories.
I find it hard to imagine that anyone would think that the essential nature of a mystical experience would be capable of being explained by watching such scans.
Psychologist Jerome Kagan was interviewed on ABC radio recently and made the point:
Well the brain is the foundation of all mental phenomenon but the vocabulary we use for the brain - neurons, circuits, transmitters - that's not the language of thought or feeling. And so mind got put in the background under the assumption that if - an assumption I disagree with - that if and when scientists can understand exactly what's going on in the brain then they'll be able to predict and know exactly what your thoughts, feelings and intentions are.
The rest of his interview, which covers quite a few areas of psychology, is interesting too.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
A bad sign for Democrats
The Democrats and religious voters. By Amy Sullivan - Slate Magazine
Just recently I posted about how the Catholic vote for Bush in 2004 was higher than I expected. (Well, the white Catholic vote, anyway.)
Further along these lines is the above interesting article on how, despite attempts by the Democrats to paint a friendlier image to the religious, they have lost substantial ground in this over the last couple of years:
The Pew Research Center's annual poll on religion and politics, released last week, shows that while 85 percent of voters say religion is important to them, only 26 percent of Americans think the Democratic Party is "friendly" to religion. That's down from 40 percent in the summer of 2004 and 42 percent the year before that—in other words, a 16-point plunge over three years. The decline is especially troubling because it cuts across the political and religious spectra, encompassing liberals and conservatives, white and black evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Catholics, and Jews.
That seems a very bad sign indeed for the Democrats. Isn't it odd how, despite all the liberal fights in churches getting so much publicity, there still don't seem to be many (or enough) liberal churchgoers who can sway these figures more in favour of the Dems.
Just recently I posted about how the Catholic vote for Bush in 2004 was higher than I expected. (Well, the white Catholic vote, anyway.)
Further along these lines is the above interesting article on how, despite attempts by the Democrats to paint a friendlier image to the religious, they have lost substantial ground in this over the last couple of years:
The Pew Research Center's annual poll on religion and politics, released last week, shows that while 85 percent of voters say religion is important to them, only 26 percent of Americans think the Democratic Party is "friendly" to religion. That's down from 40 percent in the summer of 2004 and 42 percent the year before that—in other words, a 16-point plunge over three years. The decline is especially troubling because it cuts across the political and religious spectra, encompassing liberals and conservatives, white and black evangelicals, mainline Protestants, Catholics, and Jews.
That seems a very bad sign indeed for the Democrats. Isn't it odd how, despite all the liberal fights in churches getting so much publicity, there still don't seem to be many (or enough) liberal churchgoers who can sway these figures more in favour of the Dems.
Newsweek on the new childlessness
Why More Married Couples Are Going Childless - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com
Maybe it doesn't add much to what Mark Steyn's readers already knew, but it's interesting to see the topic being covered widely.
Maybe it doesn't add much to what Mark Steyn's readers already knew, but it's interesting to see the topic being covered widely.
So that's why we elect people to parliament
MP attacked on suicide speech | Herald Sun
It's obvious, isn't it. We elect politicians so they can promote methods of suicide from Parliament.
From the above story:
AUSTRALIAN Democrats MP Sandra Kanck's use of parliamentary privilege today to detail ways of committing suicide, has been widely attacked as provocative and a stunt.
Ms Kanck detailed ways to commit suicide in a speech to South Australian parliament this evening aimed at provoking a clash with the federal government.
In an hour-long address, Ms Kanck, a supporter of voluntary euthanasia, used the protection of parliamentary privilege to catalogue ways in which people could take their own lives.
Ms Kanck, who earlier this year sparked controversy by telling parliament there was no evidence the drug ecstasy was dangerous, said she wanted her speech to highlight "odious" federal laws.
What a class act: a politician who not only promotes a drug that is widely believed to lead to depression, but is also happy to advise on preferred methods of suicide. Well thought out, Sandra.
It's obvious, isn't it. We elect politicians so they can promote methods of suicide from Parliament.
From the above story:
AUSTRALIAN Democrats MP Sandra Kanck's use of parliamentary privilege today to detail ways of committing suicide, has been widely attacked as provocative and a stunt.
Ms Kanck detailed ways to commit suicide in a speech to South Australian parliament this evening aimed at provoking a clash with the federal government.
In an hour-long address, Ms Kanck, a supporter of voluntary euthanasia, used the protection of parliamentary privilege to catalogue ways in which people could take their own lives.
Ms Kanck, who earlier this year sparked controversy by telling parliament there was no evidence the drug ecstasy was dangerous, said she wanted her speech to highlight "odious" federal laws.
What a class act: a politician who not only promotes a drug that is widely believed to lead to depression, but is also happy to advise on preferred methods of suicide. Well thought out, Sandra.
Communist monk victory
The Japan Times Online - Monk with JCP fliers ruled not trespassing
This story highlights some odd things about Japan:
* Buddhist monks can be politically active (for the communist party)
* going into a condo complex to put flyers in letterboxes could be much more trouble than it is worth. (This monk was detained for 23 days for this, presumably after his arrest.)
* the lesson (especially for foreigners): try to avoid being arrested for anything in Japan!
This story highlights some odd things about Japan:
* Buddhist monks can be politically active (for the communist party)
* going into a condo complex to put flyers in letterboxes could be much more trouble than it is worth. (This monk was detained for 23 days for this, presumably after his arrest.)
* the lesson (especially for foreigners): try to avoid being arrested for anything in Japan!
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Japan needs babies
Rural Japan | Where have all the young men gone? | Economist.com
For more on the almost certain demographic decline of Japan, have a read of the above article.
An extract:
Over the next half century, demographers expect Japan's population to fall to from 128m to 100m. The process began last year, the first peacetime fall in population since records were kept. Yet in the countryside numbers have been falling for decades—and rural Japan will bear a disproportionate share of the future reduction in population. Already, more than two out of five people living in rural communities are 65 or over.
The only good thing I can see out of this is that maybe Japan has a built in way of reducing green house gas emissions over the next 50 years!
For more on the almost certain demographic decline of Japan, have a read of the above article.
An extract:
Over the next half century, demographers expect Japan's population to fall to from 128m to 100m. The process began last year, the first peacetime fall in population since records were kept. Yet in the countryside numbers have been falling for decades—and rural Japan will bear a disproportionate share of the future reduction in population. Already, more than two out of five people living in rural communities are 65 or over.
The only good thing I can see out of this is that maybe Japan has a built in way of reducing green house gas emissions over the next 50 years!
Ghosts in the Salon
Ghost world | Salon Books
Its politics are always predictable, but some of the reviews and cultural articles in Salon can be OK.
This article, a review of a book about the founders of the Society for Psychical Research (in England in the late 19th Century), is a good one.
Years ago, I read some other accounts of the Society and its early investigations, and have always felt that it is a story that could make good movie material. The founders of the society were well intentioned scientists and academics, and it was really the first attempt to take science to the issue.
The results were ambiguous, but I admire the open mindedness displayed. As for at least one Salon reader, his reaction to the review was:
What a crock of shit.
And that's just Laura Miller's writing. The SPR's particular brand of excrement deserves its own scatalogical label.
Please stop publishing intelligent interviews with people such as Michael Shermer if all you're going to do a few days later is "balance" fact with this pathetic fiction.
As a local sidenote: Many people know that Arthur Conan Doyle became a (rather loopy) believer in spiritualism and all things mystical. In fact, there is a spiritualist church in Brisbane that was opened by ACD during a visit here. This is recorded on a plaque on the church. (Perhaps he just laid the foundation stone, I can't remember for sure, and Google has come up a blank.)
Its politics are always predictable, but some of the reviews and cultural articles in Salon can be OK.
This article, a review of a book about the founders of the Society for Psychical Research (in England in the late 19th Century), is a good one.
Years ago, I read some other accounts of the Society and its early investigations, and have always felt that it is a story that could make good movie material. The founders of the society were well intentioned scientists and academics, and it was really the first attempt to take science to the issue.
The results were ambiguous, but I admire the open mindedness displayed. As for at least one Salon reader, his reaction to the review was:
What a crock of shit.
And that's just Laura Miller's writing. The SPR's particular brand of excrement deserves its own scatalogical label.
Please stop publishing intelligent interviews with people such as Michael Shermer if all you're going to do a few days later is "balance" fact with this pathetic fiction.
As a local sidenote: Many people know that Arthur Conan Doyle became a (rather loopy) believer in spiritualism and all things mystical. In fact, there is a spiritualist church in Brisbane that was opened by ACD during a visit here. This is recorded on a plaque on the church. (Perhaps he just laid the foundation stone, I can't remember for sure, and Google has come up a blank.)
Nuttiest theory ever?
CIA behind Bali attack: Bashir | NEWS.com.au
Indonesian Muslim cleric Bashir comes up with his very own theory as to what exactly blew up the Bali night club (and 202 people):
In an interview tonight on ABC television's Foreign Correspondent, Bashir claims the device that killed most people in the Bali attack was a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) "micro-nuclear" bomb.
"The micro-nuclear bomb that did so much damage was a CIA bomb, not Amrozi's bomb," Bashir told the ABC.
"The Bali bombing was actually masterminded by America. Well, not masterminded, but hijacked. They planned it, but their plan was hijacked by America."
Just nuts.
By the way: I just saw the Foreign Correspondent episode. This program is consistently interesting and enjoyable. Tonight's episode is typical of its eclectic mix of topics: the problems of Indonesian maid abuse in Malaysia; Star Trek fans who makes their own Star Trek shows, and then the nutty Bashir interview.
The Indonesian maid story was good. (A transcript and video of it will be up later.) Malaysia has 300,000 odd Indonesian maids. Filipino ones are protected by Filipino laws which mean that Malaysia must ensure that they are paid a basic wage and have one day off a week. Indonesia does not have such laws, and says they won't be coming soon, because there are too many maids already there, and it would cause too much trouble to force their salary up. Not only that, maids don't deserve a day off (said one Indonesia government figure.) Then there is the physical abuse many suffer.
What a life they have. And the big question is: Malaysia, what's to stop you making your own laws to improve the lot of your fellow Muslim maids?
Indonesian Muslim cleric Bashir comes up with his very own theory as to what exactly blew up the Bali night club (and 202 people):
In an interview tonight on ABC television's Foreign Correspondent, Bashir claims the device that killed most people in the Bali attack was a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) "micro-nuclear" bomb.
"The micro-nuclear bomb that did so much damage was a CIA bomb, not Amrozi's bomb," Bashir told the ABC.
"The Bali bombing was actually masterminded by America. Well, not masterminded, but hijacked. They planned it, but their plan was hijacked by America."
Just nuts.
By the way: I just saw the Foreign Correspondent episode. This program is consistently interesting and enjoyable. Tonight's episode is typical of its eclectic mix of topics: the problems of Indonesian maid abuse in Malaysia; Star Trek fans who makes their own Star Trek shows, and then the nutty Bashir interview.
The Indonesian maid story was good. (A transcript and video of it will be up later.) Malaysia has 300,000 odd Indonesian maids. Filipino ones are protected by Filipino laws which mean that Malaysia must ensure that they are paid a basic wage and have one day off a week. Indonesia does not have such laws, and says they won't be coming soon, because there are too many maids already there, and it would cause too much trouble to force their salary up. Not only that, maids don't deserve a day off (said one Indonesia government figure.) Then there is the physical abuse many suffer.
What a life they have. And the big question is: Malaysia, what's to stop you making your own laws to improve the lot of your fellow Muslim maids?
About Lindzen
Seed: The Contrarian
An interesting story on Richard Lindzen, the global warming skeptic. (Although to what degree this remains a fair title remains a little unclear when you read the article.)
An interesting story on Richard Lindzen, the global warming skeptic. (Although to what degree this remains a fair title remains a little unclear when you read the article.)
Cars for the future
The Race to 100 MPG - Popular Science
See the article above for a few ideas about how to make cars that can do 100 miles per gallon (to go back to Imperial for the moment.)
Interestingly, the X Prize people are going to get involved in this too:
The race should heat up further when the X Prize Foundation—the group that kick-started the space-tourism industry with its $10-million competition to produce a reusable private spacecraft—announces in the next few months a competition for the first car to break 100 miles per gallon and sell a yet-to-be-decided number of units. The prize money hadn'’t been finalized at press time, but X Prize officials are discussing figures in the $25-million range as an appropriate incentive. They hope the prize will urge people to completely reconsider what a car should look like and how it should function. '“We need a paradigm shift,'” says Mark Goodstein, the executive director for the automotive X Prize. '“We need to change the way people think about automobiles.'”
The photo of a prototype super lightweight and aerodynamic car at the top of the article gives an idea of how odd such a vehicle may look. One thing that crosses my mind as soon as I see that picture is how it looks like it could double as a pizza oven if it was parked in the Brisbane summer sun for more than 5 minutes. Look at that big oblique windscreen that seems designed to let as much heat as possible.
Don't forget such obvious practicalities, bug car designers...
See the article above for a few ideas about how to make cars that can do 100 miles per gallon (to go back to Imperial for the moment.)
Interestingly, the X Prize people are going to get involved in this too:
The race should heat up further when the X Prize Foundation—the group that kick-started the space-tourism industry with its $10-million competition to produce a reusable private spacecraft—announces in the next few months a competition for the first car to break 100 miles per gallon and sell a yet-to-be-decided number of units. The prize money hadn'’t been finalized at press time, but X Prize officials are discussing figures in the $25-million range as an appropriate incentive. They hope the prize will urge people to completely reconsider what a car should look like and how it should function. '“We need a paradigm shift,'” says Mark Goodstein, the executive director for the automotive X Prize. '“We need to change the way people think about automobiles.'”
The photo of a prototype super lightweight and aerodynamic car at the top of the article gives an idea of how odd such a vehicle may look. One thing that crosses my mind as soon as I see that picture is how it looks like it could double as a pizza oven if it was parked in the Brisbane summer sun for more than 5 minutes. Look at that big oblique windscreen that seems designed to let as much heat as possible.
Don't forget such obvious practicalities, bug car designers...
Monday, August 28, 2006
Plame case continues to shrink into insignificance
Eat The Press | David Corn: The Meaning of the Armitage Leak News (from the Book I Co-Wrote) | The Huffington Post
David Corn, who is no shrinking violet when it comes to criticism of Bush, explains how it appears very clear now that the initial leak in the Plame case was almost certainly an accident ( my words, not Corn's.)
I recall that there was speculation along these lines from some calmer parts of the press at the time.
Corn still manages to criticise the White House for taking advantage of the leak (see his post for details.) However, the fundamental character of the initial leak appears vastly different from what Bush critics expected.
David Corn, who is no shrinking violet when it comes to criticism of Bush, explains how it appears very clear now that the initial leak in the Plame case was almost certainly an accident ( my words, not Corn's.)
I recall that there was speculation along these lines from some calmer parts of the press at the time.
Corn still manages to criticise the White House for taking advantage of the leak (see his post for details.) However, the fundamental character of the initial leak appears vastly different from what Bush critics expected.
Not a good sign
USATODAY.com
From the above article about Iran in USA Today:
Until recently, Ahmadinejad's hard-line ideology had little impact upon Iranians' daily existence. The tight social strictures imposed in the early days of Iran's Islamic revolution, when morals police roamed the streets chastising women for insufficiently modest clothing, have long since eased. Iranians, especially in cities, take for granted the ability to hear Western music, read foreign news on the Internet and dress with a little flair.
In recent weeks, though, officials began confiscating home satellite dishes, which Iranians use to watch the British Broadcasting Corp. and Western entertainment. The sudden enforcement of this long-ignored regulation has been coupled with a heavy hand on the media and intellectuals.
From the above article about Iran in USA Today:
Until recently, Ahmadinejad's hard-line ideology had little impact upon Iranians' daily existence. The tight social strictures imposed in the early days of Iran's Islamic revolution, when morals police roamed the streets chastising women for insufficiently modest clothing, have long since eased. Iranians, especially in cities, take for granted the ability to hear Western music, read foreign news on the Internet and dress with a little flair.
In recent weeks, though, officials began confiscating home satellite dishes, which Iranians use to watch the British Broadcasting Corp. and Western entertainment. The sudden enforcement of this long-ignored regulation has been coupled with a heavy hand on the media and intellectuals.
Men and fidelity
Spare us men's natural urges - Comment - Times Online
Caitlin Moore's commentary on a new book on the (alleged) impossibility of men being faithful to one partner is pretty funny, and accurate.
Some examples:
On how the author is hardly qualified to write about successful relationships:
His parents were locked in a loveless marriage, which he was able to observe only during the summer holidays from his boarding school.
Subsequently, when Blews attained his majority, his first lover became so agonised in the final stages of her multiple sclerosis that she blew her head off with a shotgun. In any other age, Blews would probably have abandoned any further attempt at trying to deal with human relationships. He would simply have become a sad-eyed and slightly bitter monk, tending a vat of hyssop liqueur and kicking the priory’s chickens out of the way.
However, in the 21st century, the coping mechanism of the troubled middle classes is slightly different: they come up with a theory about how awful people are and then get a publishing deal. And, so, here we are with Marriage & How To Avoid It, which some cultural commentators (primarily the men’s magazines Nuts and Zoo, albeit that their commentary consists predominantly of “phwoar!”), have hailed as a great truth.
Caitlin Moore's commentary on a new book on the (alleged) impossibility of men being faithful to one partner is pretty funny, and accurate.
Some examples:
On how the author is hardly qualified to write about successful relationships:
His parents were locked in a loveless marriage, which he was able to observe only during the summer holidays from his boarding school.
Subsequently, when Blews attained his majority, his first lover became so agonised in the final stages of her multiple sclerosis that she blew her head off with a shotgun. In any other age, Blews would probably have abandoned any further attempt at trying to deal with human relationships. He would simply have become a sad-eyed and slightly bitter monk, tending a vat of hyssop liqueur and kicking the priory’s chickens out of the way.
However, in the 21st century, the coping mechanism of the troubled middle classes is slightly different: they come up with a theory about how awful people are and then get a publishing deal. And, so, here we are with Marriage & How To Avoid It, which some cultural commentators (primarily the men’s magazines Nuts and Zoo, albeit that their commentary consists predominantly of “phwoar!”), have hailed as a great truth.
Steyn attack
Warrior of the Right | Herald Sun
Oh dear, lefty favourites Jill Singer and Jon Faine "stared at each other with incredulity" after interviewing Mark Steyn on his recent Australian visit.
Singer tries to put the boot into Steyn in her article above, and I don't have time to do a full "fisk" as it thoroughly deserves.
The fact that Steyn can use humour in his commentary upsets them. Funny how the Left worried so much that anti terrorism legislation might make satire illegal. The importance of the "right" to use humour only exists when the "Right" is the target, obviously.
Singer criticises Steyn for "exaggerating" the Muslim population of the town of Malmo in Sweden. She claims his source is a 2 year old Fox News report, which put it at 25%. She does not say what Sweden's "official statistics department" says the current figure is. One suspects it must be between 25 and 40% by now.
Anyway, Singer suggests that Steyn's main source is the right leaning Fox News. A quick Google of "Malmo Muslim population" shows that the bad situation in that town has been the subject of stories by the Washington Post, the Christian Science Monitor, and other far from right wing sources. Furthermore, the 2004 Washington Post story notes:
About 40 percent of Malmo's population is foreign-born or has at least one foreign-born parent. The bulk of foreign-born people come from the former Yugoslavia, Iran, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.
As I said, this suggests to me the correct figure is probably between 25 and 40% Muslim. Steyn's website published a letter questioning this figure, to which Steyn replies:
As to the 40 per cent, that'’s the figure I was given by the late Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh in 2003. I don'’t know whether she was talking about the '“greater Malmo'” area, or adding in non-Swedish Muslims plus Swedish Muslims. But certainly the youth population in Malmo is already 50-50.
Does it matter much how accurate this figure is? Whether it is 25 or 40%, the more important issue is what effect this is having on the town itself, and Steyn is big enough to publish a letter that even questions that. (It's the same one that questions the 40%). Looking at the ways the mainstream press has covered this story, it is not a trivial issue.
Singer then claims that:
Now, I am as scared as Steyn is about Islamist terrorists, but a faith-based US President also scares the bejesus out of me.
This is based on Bruce Bartlett's analysis that Bush thinks "he is on a mission from God." Someone else can analyse Bartlett's views, I don't have time right now. But the point is not whether someone thinks that they are trying to do God's will, but whether they are crazy enough to think that they are infallible in understanding God's will. Is there convincing evidence that Bush thinks he is infallible on religious grounds? Maybe some would argue that he is overconfident. Can't any politician suffer from this?
Let's face it, for Faine and Singer, any right wing politician of serious religious inclination is always going to be criticised because of the possible role of their religion in helping form their views. As I have written before, there are so many involved in the American political system that I find it hard to believe that any megalomaniacanic President with delusions of infallibility will ever get to push the red button.
With a system such as that in Iran, for example, you could hardly have the same confidence.
Finally, of course I can concede that Steyn may not always have every fact correct. It's also fair enough to not agree 100% with all of his opinions. But this sort of snide criticism of him from the Left misses the mark by a country mile.
UPDATE: I previously forgot to link to the Steyn on line mailbox for the letter about Malmo. (You have to scroll down to find it.) And welcome all Mark Steyn readers; it's somewhat of a surprise to find he's linked to this post.
Oh dear, lefty favourites Jill Singer and Jon Faine "stared at each other with incredulity" after interviewing Mark Steyn on his recent Australian visit.
Singer tries to put the boot into Steyn in her article above, and I don't have time to do a full "fisk" as it thoroughly deserves.
The fact that Steyn can use humour in his commentary upsets them. Funny how the Left worried so much that anti terrorism legislation might make satire illegal. The importance of the "right" to use humour only exists when the "Right" is the target, obviously.
Singer criticises Steyn for "exaggerating" the Muslim population of the town of Malmo in Sweden. She claims his source is a 2 year old Fox News report, which put it at 25%. She does not say what Sweden's "official statistics department" says the current figure is. One suspects it must be between 25 and 40% by now.
Anyway, Singer suggests that Steyn's main source is the right leaning Fox News. A quick Google of "Malmo Muslim population" shows that the bad situation in that town has been the subject of stories by the Washington Post, the Christian Science Monitor, and other far from right wing sources. Furthermore, the 2004 Washington Post story notes:
About 40 percent of Malmo's population is foreign-born or has at least one foreign-born parent. The bulk of foreign-born people come from the former Yugoslavia, Iran, Iraq and the Horn of Africa.
As I said, this suggests to me the correct figure is probably between 25 and 40% Muslim. Steyn's website published a letter questioning this figure, to which Steyn replies:
As to the 40 per cent, that'’s the figure I was given by the late Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh in 2003. I don'’t know whether she was talking about the '“greater Malmo'” area, or adding in non-Swedish Muslims plus Swedish Muslims. But certainly the youth population in Malmo is already 50-50.
Does it matter much how accurate this figure is? Whether it is 25 or 40%, the more important issue is what effect this is having on the town itself, and Steyn is big enough to publish a letter that even questions that. (It's the same one that questions the 40%). Looking at the ways the mainstream press has covered this story, it is not a trivial issue.
Singer then claims that:
Now, I am as scared as Steyn is about Islamist terrorists, but a faith-based US President also scares the bejesus out of me.
This is based on Bruce Bartlett's analysis that Bush thinks "he is on a mission from God." Someone else can analyse Bartlett's views, I don't have time right now. But the point is not whether someone thinks that they are trying to do God's will, but whether they are crazy enough to think that they are infallible in understanding God's will. Is there convincing evidence that Bush thinks he is infallible on religious grounds? Maybe some would argue that he is overconfident. Can't any politician suffer from this?
Let's face it, for Faine and Singer, any right wing politician of serious religious inclination is always going to be criticised because of the possible role of their religion in helping form their views. As I have written before, there are so many involved in the American political system that I find it hard to believe that any megalomaniacanic President with delusions of infallibility will ever get to push the red button.
With a system such as that in Iran, for example, you could hardly have the same confidence.
Finally, of course I can concede that Steyn may not always have every fact correct. It's also fair enough to not agree 100% with all of his opinions. But this sort of snide criticism of him from the Left misses the mark by a country mile.
UPDATE: I previously forgot to link to the Steyn on line mailbox for the letter about Malmo. (You have to scroll down to find it.) And welcome all Mark Steyn readers; it's somewhat of a surprise to find he's linked to this post.
Time for colour
Not sure that it was worth the effort, but this is done from a photo with some "painter" style software that came with a cheap tablet. (Graphics tablets are a lot of fun if you enjoy doodling.)
I just like to add some colour here occasionally anyway.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Oh great...
Iran takes new nuclear step - Sunday Times - Times Online
From The Times story:
IN A show of defiance against western efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the new phase of a heavy water reactor project yesterday, prompting an Israeli warning that Tehran had taken another step towards producing a bomb.
The Arak plant in central Iran can now make eight tons of heavy water a year, with output expected to rise tenfold.
Heavy water aids nuclear fission and the plutonium by- product could be used to make warheads. But the reactor to produce plutonium is still under construction. ...
Arak’s construction was kept secret until the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran revealed its existence along with the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in 2002.
An Iranian nuclear official claimed there was no need for the International Atomic Energy Agency to supervise Arak as it did not have a military purpose. But experts warned plutonium production could pose a greater threat than uranium enrichment.
“With uranium it’s much easier to put in safeguards to monitor the atmosphere and instruments,” said Paul Ingram, a nuclear analyst with the British American Security Information Council. Arak could produce enough plutonium for one or two nuclear weapons a year.
For a look at this facility, see here. It appears to be an easy target. I therefore wouldn't be bragging about such advances if I were the Iranian President.
From The Times story:
IN A show of defiance against western efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the new phase of a heavy water reactor project yesterday, prompting an Israeli warning that Tehran had taken another step towards producing a bomb.
The Arak plant in central Iran can now make eight tons of heavy water a year, with output expected to rise tenfold.
Heavy water aids nuclear fission and the plutonium by- product could be used to make warheads. But the reactor to produce plutonium is still under construction. ...
Arak’s construction was kept secret until the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran revealed its existence along with the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in 2002.
An Iranian nuclear official claimed there was no need for the International Atomic Energy Agency to supervise Arak as it did not have a military purpose. But experts warned plutonium production could pose a greater threat than uranium enrichment.
“With uranium it’s much easier to put in safeguards to monitor the atmosphere and instruments,” said Paul Ingram, a nuclear analyst with the British American Security Information Council. Arak could produce enough plutonium for one or two nuclear weapons a year.
For a look at this facility, see here. It appears to be an easy target. I therefore wouldn't be bragging about such advances if I were the Iranian President.
Hard to believe
The Observer | UK News | Offset your carbon emissions with a text
This short story from the Guardian relates a very hard to believe scheme:
Mobile phone users will be able to offset their carbon emissions by sending a text message using a scheme launched by conservation charity the World Land Trust.
For each text received, the WLT will offset 140kg of C02 through various reforestation projects worldwide. This is the equivalent of the amount of C02 produced by a return flight from London to Paris, 16 people sitting down for a restaurant meal, eight nights in a hotel, two nights on a cruise ship or 120 school runs in a 4x4.
The texts will cost £1.50 plus network charges.
Something is wrong with those figures, surely!
This short story from the Guardian relates a very hard to believe scheme:
Mobile phone users will be able to offset their carbon emissions by sending a text message using a scheme launched by conservation charity the World Land Trust.
For each text received, the WLT will offset 140kg of C02 through various reforestation projects worldwide. This is the equivalent of the amount of C02 produced by a return flight from London to Paris, 16 people sitting down for a restaurant meal, eight nights in a hotel, two nights on a cruise ship or 120 school runs in a 4x4.
The texts will cost £1.50 plus network charges.
Something is wrong with those figures, surely!
Grumpy parenting advice
Booze, boys and other headaches - Opinion - theage.com.au
Parents and teenagers today, I dunno. The article above (from The Age) relates a mother's attempt to "do the right thing" in the way she manages her daughter's party for a bunch of 15 year olds (some 14).
Maybe I will regret some of these comments when the time comes that my children are teenagers, but at the moment, here's how I feel:
1. There are 57 year nine students invited to this party. Seems quite a lot of invitees, doesn't it? Why do school kids, or their parents hosting, want to have a party at which (surely) they don't know a significant proportion of the invitees very well at all? A smaller party is a more controllable party, and 60 people over is pushing the limits.
2. The mother gives up on the idea of banning alcohol entirely, because she has learnt from experience that it will be smuggled in anyway. (And the effort to police a ban is too overbearing.) The end result was allowing each guest to bring "2 or 3" drinks.
She seems well intentioned, but isn't this attitude just waving the white flag of parental responsibility way too early? There are 14 year olds at this party. What parent should care that a 14 or 15 year old resents going to an alcohol free party? What 14 year old should expect to be able to drink at a party?
3. The limited alcohol option fails anyway, with a few impostors getting drunk, a fight (apparently not alcohol related) and some damage to the house.
What is it with this teenage party gatecrashing phenomena? It puzzles me in several respects. What's the typical reason the gatecrashers want "in"? Because they were not invited and they want to prove a point? What sort of point would that be usually - fail to invite me and I'll come and smash up your house (or your friends)? Is it that they don't want to go to the party at all, but are just out to pick fights with someone they know there? Or is it that it is because some parties are alcohol free-for-alls that is the attraction?
Anyway, it's a disturbing thing that parents these days live in fear of gatecrashing teens. I expect, however, that parents allowing consumption of alcohol is not the way to reduce the likelihood of it happening.
Teenagers: you don't run the world. You have decades ahead of you to drink. You can wait.
Parents: when did you start letting teenagers set the rules? You don't have to be buddies with them. Make yourself unpopular for a change.
Parents and teenagers today, I dunno. The article above (from The Age) relates a mother's attempt to "do the right thing" in the way she manages her daughter's party for a bunch of 15 year olds (some 14).
Maybe I will regret some of these comments when the time comes that my children are teenagers, but at the moment, here's how I feel:
1. There are 57 year nine students invited to this party. Seems quite a lot of invitees, doesn't it? Why do school kids, or their parents hosting, want to have a party at which (surely) they don't know a significant proportion of the invitees very well at all? A smaller party is a more controllable party, and 60 people over is pushing the limits.
2. The mother gives up on the idea of banning alcohol entirely, because she has learnt from experience that it will be smuggled in anyway. (And the effort to police a ban is too overbearing.) The end result was allowing each guest to bring "2 or 3" drinks.
She seems well intentioned, but isn't this attitude just waving the white flag of parental responsibility way too early? There are 14 year olds at this party. What parent should care that a 14 or 15 year old resents going to an alcohol free party? What 14 year old should expect to be able to drink at a party?
3. The limited alcohol option fails anyway, with a few impostors getting drunk, a fight (apparently not alcohol related) and some damage to the house.
What is it with this teenage party gatecrashing phenomena? It puzzles me in several respects. What's the typical reason the gatecrashers want "in"? Because they were not invited and they want to prove a point? What sort of point would that be usually - fail to invite me and I'll come and smash up your house (or your friends)? Is it that they don't want to go to the party at all, but are just out to pick fights with someone they know there? Or is it that it is because some parties are alcohol free-for-alls that is the attraction?
Anyway, it's a disturbing thing that parents these days live in fear of gatecrashing teens. I expect, however, that parents allowing consumption of alcohol is not the way to reduce the likelihood of it happening.
Teenagers: you don't run the world. You have decades ahead of you to drink. You can wait.
Parents: when did you start letting teenagers set the rules? You don't have to be buddies with them. Make yourself unpopular for a change.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Pull the other one, Tim
Braving the cold for a talk on warming | Science & nature | The Australian
Environmentalist and global warming author Tim Flannery spoke at the Melbourne Writers Festival and claims this:
"Writers' festivals are a really good opportunity to talk to a great number of people who might not usually be exposed to this issue, and this kind of discussion," said Dr Flannery, who won this year's NSW Premier's Book of the Year award.
Oh come on. As if the typical person who attends a writers' festival would not be interested and well versed in this already.
Environmentalist and global warming author Tim Flannery spoke at the Melbourne Writers Festival and claims this:
"Writers' festivals are a really good opportunity to talk to a great number of people who might not usually be exposed to this issue, and this kind of discussion," said Dr Flannery, who won this year's NSW Premier's Book of the Year award.
Oh come on. As if the typical person who attends a writers' festival would not be interested and well versed in this already.
Caroline does Cuba
Caroline Overington: Land of rum and rumba blighted by communism | Opinion | The Australian
Pamela Bone used to write for the age, as did Caroline Overington. Funny how they now appear in The Australia, both sounding rather right wing.
Caroline short article on how bad she found Cuba just a couple of years ago is worth a read.
Pamela Bone used to write for the age, as did Caroline Overington. Funny how they now appear in The Australia, both sounding rather right wing.
Caroline short article on how bad she found Cuba just a couple of years ago is worth a read.
Friday, August 25, 2006
US Catholics not so wussy after all
GOP dips in religion poll - Yahoo! News
This snippet from the above report is interesting:
Bush got 78 percent of the white evangelical vote and 56 percent of the white Catholic vote in 2004, according to exit polls.
I kind of expected the Catholic vote to be significantly less than that for Bush in 2004. Certainly, the liberal side of the church is the one that gets all the publicity.
This snippet from the above report is interesting:
Bush got 78 percent of the white evangelical vote and 56 percent of the white Catholic vote in 2004, according to exit polls.
I kind of expected the Catholic vote to be significantly less than that for Bush in 2004. Certainly, the liberal side of the church is the one that gets all the publicity.
Next year's Survivor format predicted
NYC officials want new 'Survivor' pulled - Yahoo! News
Not that I have ever watched it for more than 10 minutes, but it's interesting to note that a decision by the makers of "Survivor" to use racially based competing teams is controversial.
Of course, if they really want controversy, next year's teams will be based on religion/philosophy: The Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhist, and Hindu teams.
I would then have a few secular humanists to be added into the teams at random. Have one of them gay, and watch the tension in the first episode as they draw straws for who will get into the Muslim team.
I could go on, but readers can supply their own fantasies of this scenario.
Not that I have ever watched it for more than 10 minutes, but it's interesting to note that a decision by the makers of "Survivor" to use racially based competing teams is controversial.
Of course, if they really want controversy, next year's teams will be based on religion/philosophy: The Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhist, and Hindu teams.
I would then have a few secular humanists to be added into the teams at random. Have one of them gay, and watch the tension in the first episode as they draw straws for who will get into the Muslim team.
I could go on, but readers can supply their own fantasies of this scenario.
Some interpretation needed
This paper on arxiv seems important. (It talks about the very nature of space, gravity, black holes and dark matter.) Beyond sensing its possible importance (and that it is not written by a complete nutter, unless they are still allowed in the physics department of Flinders University,) it is otherwise very difficult to understand.
I need a science journalist to do an interpretation of it.
UPDATE: OK, here's a page that explains more about what Cahill is on about. Can't say I have heard about "process physics" before.
I need a science journalist to do an interpretation of it.
UPDATE: OK, here's a page that explains more about what Cahill is on about. Can't say I have heard about "process physics" before.
Pamela goes right
Pamela Bone: Muslim sisters need our help | Opinion | The Australian
Pamela Bone writes on the Western feminists' general silence on the plight of Muslim women in Iran and other rabidly Islamic nations. Good reading.
Pamela Bone writes on the Western feminists' general silence on the plight of Muslim women in Iran and other rabidly Islamic nations. Good reading.
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