Category: Economy

Posted on

American Action Market

Based on the Pentagon’s now-axed Policy Analysis Market (from 29 July) a group has created the American Action Market. From their site:

Some of the contracts traded on AAM will be based on objective data and observable events, as on a horse track, e.g.

  • the next White House lie to break into the news
  • the next country to which the White House will issue an ultimatum, and when
  • the next foreign leader to move from the CIA payroll to White House “most wanted” list
  • the lifespan of various DARPA projects, such as Total Information Awareness [site] and Babylon [site]
  • the first White House staffer to resign in disgrace, and when
  • the President’s approval rating on the day before Saddam is captured or killed

The American Prospect has a thought-provoking article on Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy and Boy Meets Boy shows. Does this reduce the GLBT community to a superficial stereotype?

95% of what I own is packed in two crates on their way to Berkeley, California. I’ll be there Friday, but wow — it’s amazing to think about stuff, the space it takes up, the memories contained within each item, and the nonsense with stuff’s acquisition.

Posted on

DMCA in the Key of E, F

This was probably one of the best spoofs I’ve seen in a while: Metallica Sue Canadian Band over E, F Chords. Still, I wonder if the Digital Millenium Copyright Act will get so silly as to have key provisions overturned so as to enable a fairer version of fair use.

I’m quite happy to see what I’ve thought all along: what an empty experience consumerism can be, and that experience is portrayed quite well through ‘Are You Watching The Shopping Channel?‘

A great anti-war statement through a familiar metaphor? Operation Hidden Agenda playing cards. Similar to the Iraqi cards passed around to the military, these cards talk feature key members of the Bush administration and their role in war and behind-the-scenes dealing with regard to oil profits.

The White House email system endured a Denial-of-Service attack. One can no longer email president@whitehouse.gov, but now must fill out a form, indicating if the sender agrees with current administration policies. Yow.

Posted on

Recession… over?

Oh, my God. The recession is over. Could this be a typo? I mean, there’s, well… this recession going on. Who is smoking what when? Ah, I give up.

Back from the dead: WebVan… I mean, Home Grocer.

Oh, cool! 80s commercials.

In other news, I found a place to live in Berkeley: the second floor of a hacienda-like structure a few blocks from the North Berkeley BART stop. That, and my apartment has been rented. Hooah.

Buy my friend Mary’s car!
It’s quite lovely.

Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was perhaps the most fun I’ve had watching television in a long time. Watch it next Tuesday at 10pm PST. That, and BANZAI!