Jeffrey Sachs speaks the truth!

Here's a video (you'll have to click on the word 'Here' to watch the video on YouTube, as BloombergTV has disabled embedding) from a couple of days ago of (one of my all time favorite economists) Jeffrey Sachs being interviewed on Bloomberg Television. He really hammers home the point that (many others have also made) that before we can start seeing any real progress in this country, we're going to need to go to the public financing of campaigns. Well, he didn't exactly use those words, but the case he laid out and the evidence he presented clearly support that position. I was also amused by the way he handled the question about the Laffer Curve: he answered it the way any good biologist would answer a similar question about Intelligent Design.

Why celebrate Darwin Day?

Why Celebrate Darwin Day? from American Humanist Association on Vimeo.

Guerrilla Cinema

I've been a fan of guerrilla theatre for quite a while now. The very idea of an acting troupe showing up unexpected (and often uninvited) to a public location to do a surprise performance for their unsuspecting audience is both clever and intriguing. Seeing a performance live is even better. After the initial surprise, it's lots of fun and turns into something you'll remember.

However, up until I saw the clip below, I had never heard of it being done for cinema. The trailer below is absolutely brilliant! The plot seems mundane and ordinary enough, but it's not really the plot that makes it so great. I have to wonder how long they were able to record each scene before getting kicked out (or did they?). I would imagine that they probably rehearsed the scenes to death, then went on location and tried to shoot each scene in a single take (unless something went wrong--like getting kicked out). Obviously the bed scene was done in multiple takes since they're in different beds with practically every change in camera angle. I don't know whether that was intentional or the result of being constantly chased out by management, but either way: Bravo!

End of the sausage link line

Jimmy Dean (1928-2010)

Dennis Hopper R.I.P.

This makes me sad.

Here's a classic scene:

Puppets sing about the financial crisis

From The Dylan Ratigan show. Brilliant!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

QualiaSoup on Dualism

I'll have more to say about this later, but in the meantime, enjoy this video:

Google honors Cookie Monster!

As many of you may already know, Google often has a themed homepage. Yesterday was Big Bird, today is Cookie Monster. Might there be some Sesame Street anniversary going on? Yes. The show will be 40 years old on the 10th of this month. Expect to see a different character for the next five days (I'm guessing Kermit will be the theme on the 10th itself). However, today's character, Cookie Monster, actually has a further Google connection.

Behold The Google Song--recorded 16 years before the corporation of Google even existed. Enjoy!



(via Bleuz00m)

Robotic seeds take flight!

First there was the robotic dog. Let's not forget the swimming robotic snake. Or my personal favorite: the flying robot penguin. But now we have a new potential overlord, modeled after this.



That's right: a maple seed! "But Javier," you ask, "maple seeds are boring compared to dogs, snakes, and penguins. Why are you so excited about RoboSeed?"

Ah! Just take a look at these Samara-esque monocopters in action.



UPDATE: Speaking of funky robots, behold the skiing robot! It just needs a machine gun and it can chase James Bond down the slopes.

The evolution of a GWD lie.

Bug Eats Bird!

Protect the Insurance Companies!

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Ahoy mateys!

Happy Talk like a Pirate Day!

QualiaSoup is back

That's a person who died!

Jim Carroll R.I.P.

Be aware of cyclists!

This video refers to specific laws in Chicago. These all sound like reasonable laws and I assume that most cities have similar laws to some or most of these laws.

I think it being illegal for cars to turn right if front of a cyclist is so important that it should be "federal".

I Google You

Performed by Amanda F***ing Palmer
Lyrics by Neil Gaiman

The Face of Insurance Denial

(via)

Peformance

Barney Frank PWNZ Teabagger!

I've already seen this video on at least six different blogs, but I click to watch it every single time. These people need to be called out for what they are.