I read about Dave Winer in an article that Om Malik wrote about people who inspire him. Ever since, Dave’s is one of the first blogs I read as soon as I wake up (sometimes, even before I’m out of bed!); as is his river of news. After several months of reading about it from him, I finally caved in & installed the OPML editor and use it as my diary-writing tool (& enjoy it too, although a spell-check would help me significantly!). Dave, in a longish post, explains why he writes on his blog.
The farce that is Bradley Manning’s Court Martial [news]
If you were being tried in a court set up by war criminals, you’d expect no justice. Bradley Manning has been barred by the military court from presenting a whistle-blower defence. Richard Stallman opines that the judge works for the military command, including Obama, and knows her career depends on making the decisions that he command structure wants. The deck is stacked against Manning.
Ralph Nader’s open letter to Mike Duke, the CEO of Walmart [Letters of Note]
Just what the title says. The American Dream has slowly turned into the Great Nightmare for the vast majority of its citizens. Ralph Nader elucidates in an open letter how much power ONE company really wields over the nation’s citizens & their livelihoods. The US seems to have become a society in which political and financial elites systematically evade accountability for their bad acts, no matter how destructive. And this is the direction that the powers that be who rule “developing countries” want to go in.
The Dog-house Blues [Video]
You don’t believe animals have a sense of rhythm? Or that don’t have a ear for music? Watch for yourself.
Driving in a slow car [Wiki entry]
An insatiable appetite for fuel has been a primary reason for countless wars – disguised, of course, as the good “fight for democracy”. Several alternative energy sources are dismissed as being too “inefficient”to be of any practical use. However, as this wikipedia entry suggests, about a hundred years ago, rechargeable battery operated cars ran upto a mind-boggling 340km on a single charge, while 130km per charge was guaranteed. Granted, top speed was 20km, but adequate for city driving (have you been in a fast moving traffic jams that is ubiquitous the world over?). It’s a bit hard to believe that despite all progress, there are no commercially viable batteries, after 100 years! Or maybe it is so by choice?
Presidential ageing: Time lapse photography
Take a fascinating look at how US presidents age when in office; & get a feel of what drives such immense physical change.
Australian Indians, the originals [Article]
Researchers (how do they do this, I wonder) have traced about 11% of the genomes in contemporary Australian Aborigines to migrants from India – 4000 years ago! Them, & the ancestors of the dingo. That is roughly 141 generations ago. I guess its a little more material to work with for those really keen on genealogy!
Surfing lessons from a 5 year old [Video]
Take inspiration, & surfing lessons, from Cameron, a 5 year old surfer, especially about why he let falling off disappoint him.
Big Mama Thornton, [Video]
I’m listening to quite a bit of blues music, going back a few decades, not years. Here’s a short selection Big Mama Thornton singing “Ball N Chain” and “Hound Dog“. If you like this, enjoy over four hours of blues on a playlist, from the American Blues & Folk Festival, 1962-1965.
Instant Ice, anyone? [Video]
Dmitry Klimensky demonstrates, from Novosibirsk, Russia, what happens when he throws a pot full of hot water out into the -41C air. And check out the scientific explanation of this effect, aka Mpemba effect, after a schoolboy from Tanzania, claimed in his science class that icecream would freeze faster if it was heated first before being put in the freezer. As the article says, the laughter stopped when a school inspector tried the experiment himself, & vindicated Erasto Mpemba.