Category: Culture+Politics


Interview with the designer of Wall-E

February 21st, 2009 — 8:19pm

 

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The pros and cons of high-definition

February 2nd, 2009 — 1:50pm

obama_inhd

Obama has made a name for himself as the most media-savvy president in history. He has also earned his reputation for his ability to deliver a message with clarity and impact. Obama further cemented his reputation last week beginning his first in a series of weekly TV addresses, available on whitehouse.gov to view as an embedded youtube video, or as an mp4 download in full 1280×720 high definition wonder, so web audiences worldwide can now receive the leader of the free world’s message fully and clearly, with each freckle, creeping stubble, errant eyebrow and stray hair for the world to see.

I wasn’t surprised when this week, the weekly address was posted at a slightly more modest resolution of 720×404, and changes in the lighting. The president was looking like he could use some sleep… understandably, with the mess he has to deal with, but it makes one wonder if he got his implant yet. No news of falling down after choking on a prezel yet, but we’ll stay tuned. For now, one thing is certain, Obama’s media team and make-up artists are hard at work.

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Politicians’ new pet ethincs: Aliens

January 28th, 2009 — 1:41am

David Cameron admitted to the audience that he has no idea if there is intelligent life in space

Nico Hines

David Cameron vowed today that if he was elected Prime Minister he would bring an end to the era of government secrecy over UFOs and extra-terrestrial activity.

Speaking at one of his “Cameron Direct” public meetings, the Conservative Party leader pledged that a Tory government would be “entirely open and frank” in sharing any information about alien life-forms.

At the meeting in Tynemouth, North-East England, he was questioned about a string of recent mysterious incidents. “I have no idea if there is intelligent life out there,” he replied. “I do believe in freedom of information and openness and this question has been asked from time to time, and I think we should be as open and clear as possible.”

via David Cameron: we will publish secret UFO files – Times Online .

The UFO rumor mill seems to have been fired up again. The media has escalated to a near frenzy in the past 12 months with this topic, especially in the UK media. We’ve heard from a variety of witnesses, some average civilians, some government insiders, however this is a new precedent: A candidate for leadership of a G7 nation has pledged more “openness” in regard to the UFO phenomena. So…Is someone coming to dinner?

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Atheist bus adverts: The pros and cons of hitch-hiking

January 27th, 2009 — 10:32pm

A devout Christian has become the first driver to refuse to get behind the wheel of a bus bearing an atheist poster declaring God probably does not exist.

By Martin Beckford, Religious Affairs Correspondent

Last Updated: 11:52PM GMT 16 Jan 2009

Ron Heather, a Christian bus driver, refused to drive bus with atheist message Photo: SOLENT NEWS

Ron Heather, 62, walked out in protest after seeing the advert declaring: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

He told his managers he could not drive the bus because the slogan, placed on the side of 800 buses across the country last week after a fundraising campaign raised £140,000, went against his faith.

via Atheist bus adverts: Christian refuses to drive bus declaring ‘there’s probably no God’ – Telegraph.

London busses have been raking it in from the PR war between evangelicals and atheists in recent weeks. Now a bus driver has raised the stakes by refusing to drive a bus carrying the athiest message. I feel fortunate to live in a time where I can be a spectator to how this plays out, though I have doubts that either camp will ever get their money’s worth in winning over the hearts and minds of the public wearily making their way to and from work.

The problem I have with campaigns like these, whether pushing an athiest message or a “theist” message, is that they both present a message that underestimates the intelligence of the audience. To inform the public that “god is great” or “there probably is no god” is equally laughable, because either campaign comes from people who think they need to enlighten people with their message. And naturally, when this happens, some people get offended, and push back.

What will happen, for example, when a Muslim bus driver walks off the job because he doesn’t like the signs promoting JesusSaid.org, which enlightens their audience with reminders of God’s wrath.

Things can only get interesting, now that the atheist bus campaign has come to Canada.

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Gary McKinnon vs. Seal

January 27th, 2009 — 1:55pm

So what do you do when you:  1. Were arrested for hacking into US Military networks with a dial up modem to get a glimpse of some UFO pictures, 2. Are facing extradition to said country, and to top it all off, 3. Suffer from Asperger’s syndrome?

Why, you get a green screen and make yourself into an internet star, fashioned after the cool retro stylings of Seal, of course.

This video may be ghetto as it gets for 2008, but when you follow the whole McKinnon story, you have to stand in awe of the guy. Gary, please put some tracks up for sale on iTunes so we can all get behind your cause. Then perhaps your next video can feature flame throwing gestures and CGI dolphins.

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Probed again by Bjork

January 27th, 2009 — 10:29am

Only Bjork can inspire robots to make out and gush milky warmth over a sterile laboratory floor. I can always appreciate her work as she consistently supports the fearsome quantum principles that the world presented to us is, at best, an illusion that is entirely subject to individual interpretation.

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