msqr: August 2004 Archives
Chain emails: political clout for the right
Remember when chain emails were harmless and mildly amusing? Like "forward this message on to 10 people and you'll be rewarded with sex within 2 days!" Now chain emails have a way of spreading bogus propaganda that manages to shape popular opinion. Harper's magazine has an interesting dissection of this trend, where Jon Lackman tracks down the author of one of these emails to find out the story behind the email's story.
That matters to me, too
In case you didn't catch Barak Obama's speech from the 2004 Democratic National Convention, he was a fantastic speaker and it's worth listening to or watching and distilling some of the topics he mentions. I've copied the transcript along with highlights of my favorite parts, along with links to the video.
Wilsonian?
Is America isolationist? Imperialist? Promoter of self-determination? The Democrat Republican explores these ideas.
G.I. Joe Veterans for Truth lash out
G.I. Joe, our Real American Hero, has come under political fire!
Manufacturing Consent
So I think Noam Chomsky is very interesting. I rented a documentary film (made in Canada, by Canadians (!)) and have to say I think it's very good. Here's a little clip from the film that highlights one thing I agree with whole-heartedly: it takes a lot of work to make informed decisions about politics, work I'm afraid many people can't or choose not to make.
Elite concerns
I'm still in the middle of Noam Chomsky's latest book, Hegemony or Survival. He can be pretty far "out there" at times, but even then relentlessly points out so many well-thought and researched observations that you at least have plenty to think about, no matter what you agree/disagree with.
Check out this sub-chapter called Elite Concerns from early in the book to get a taste.
Fogalicious
San Francisco has a reputation for being foggy in the summer. It's quite true, but I love watching the fog. At least when I'm looking at it from in the sunshine. I snagged this video (40", 3.2 MB; also available at 1.4 MB or 336 KB) yesterday from atop my favorite perch above the city. These were taken on my little digital camera, thus the quality is something to be desired.
Also, here's an experiment in mood swings: the same video, this time with either joyful or sobering musical accompaniment (each 3.9 MB). Which do you prefer?
Errol Morris
Error Morris is my favorite documentary film maker. For me it started with Fast, Cheap & Out of Control, which I found utterly fascinating both in content and style. His latest film, Fog of War, was exceptional and strikingly relevant today (even knowing McNamara was nostalgic about his own acts, I found him to at least have a soul, a stark contrast to Rumsfeld).
How he's produced a series of potential ads that interview people who voted for Bush in 2000 that have decided to vote for Kerry this November. Their stories are clear and personal, touching on issues that affect normal, everyday peoples' lives.
Ringing true, 11 years later
I stumbled on a magazine clipping in one of Minette's books today. It's an interview with Noam Chomsky from the New Zealand Listener from October 1993. The strangest (and perhaps most telling) thing about the piece is that it could have been written today... some things have not changed much in 11 years.
Like a Rock
I read an interesting article a few weeks back, and thought I'd scan it in and post it here. It talks about the White House's "decisiveness" and , as the White House would make the argument at least, John Kerry's "flip-floppiness". It's an interesting piece, touching everything from Bush's "I belive God wants me to be president" to Chirchill's "I am finished!" to FDR's "Above all, try something".
The Office
At lunch today I nearly dropped my food after looking up to see whom I thought to be David Brent of The Office, walking straight towards me! Was I in trouble? Was he looking for me? Luckily it was not him (or Ricky Gervais who plays him). If you haven't seen the UK television series The Office, I recommend it. It can be a bit on the nausiatingly funny side. The DVD comes with a handy UK english slang dictionary to help make sense of all those British colloquialisms.
How to survive the atomic bomb: paint your house
Did you ever see that movie Crazy People? Dudley Moore plays an advertising executive that flips out and creates a series of "truthful" ads, like "Metamucil: it helps you go to the toilet. If you don't use it you'll get cancer and die." or "Volvo: boxy, but good!" Well here's a commercial brought to you by the US Government (and the paint industry) where you find out that you can survive nuclear holocaust if only you paint your house and rake those leaves in the yard: The House in the Middle. I'm calling my land lords!
My Cup
