Tuesday, September 30, 2003always read the fine print
Today I received in the mail something labeled, "YOUR free pass to the event of your life."
What was it? Here's the first few lines of the letter inside:
YOUR FUTURE!!!
It's big. It's real.
And it's going to be so unbelieably cool.
Turns out, this is a financial planning brochure. It's aimed at youngish people looking to buy their first home or plan for the future. It's covered in pictures of beautiful people jumping and smiling.
It invites me to go to a website where I can enter a bunch of personal information regarding my future financial plans and receive free automated advice about what I should do with my money.
Oh, wait... the fine print...
The information you included will enable us to provide you with offers of relevant products and services which may be of interest to you. So by completing and returning your GoalMap, you are giving us permission to use this information to help you achieve your goals.
I wonder what percentage of people who received the mailing will actually take the bank up on their offer of helpful "advice"...
posted @ 10:17 PM PDT Monday, September 29, 2003a little perspective...
Though this doesn't adjust for cost of living, it's definitely food for thought...
How rich are you?
http://www.globalrichlist.com
posted @ 11:14 AM PDT Sunday, September 28, 2003citizenship tests
Could you pass the test for new citizens of your home country?
Not every country requires it, but the US and Canada make new immigrants take a basic history test:
United States
http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/exec/natz/natztest.asp
Canada
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/pub/look.pdf
posted @ 12:33 PM PDT Saturday, September 27, 2003American attitudes towards sex
This is an interesting article about American sexual attitudes, written by a therapist:
Unleashing Your Erotic Intelligence
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16838
What struck most of the non-Americans I talked with was that America, in matters of sex as in much else, was a goal-oriented society that preferred explicit meanings, candor, and "plain speech" to ambiguity and allusion: "If you want to make love to your wife/husband, why don't you say it clearly? . . . And tell him/her exactly what you want." But I often suggest an alternative with my clients: "There's so much direct talk already in the everyday conversations couples have with each other," I tell them. "If you want to create more passion in your relationship, why don't you play a little more with the natural ambiguity of gesture and words, and the rich nuances inherent in communication."
posted @ 03:57 PM PDT Thursday, September 25, 2003optimism
I spend a lot of my time reading about how messed up the world is and sometimes it really does get to me emotionally. It often feels as if I've swallowed the red pill and simply know too much.
However, through a combination of perspective, philosophical study, and observation I remain an optimist. I believe that while many of our unsustainable collective habits are going to bring a lot of destruction, this dissolution will eventually lead humanity towards something better.
I also know firsthand that there's a lot of space for good times along the way.
Read the amazing essays below for some tasty & eloquent optimism...
Apocalpyse Now?
http://www.freewillastrology.com/beauty/beauty.main127.shtml
I propose that the apocalypse we're living through applies in both the degraded modern sense of the word -- the end of the world -- and in the original sense. In other words, collapse and renewal are happening side by side; calamity and blooming; rot and splendor; grievous losses and unpredictable surges of miraculous novelty. Yes, the end of the old world is proceeding apace; but it is overlapped by the birth pangs of a fresh, hot civilization that will be beautiful beyond all imagining.
Please Help The War Effort
Ten sticky and nicely blasphemous things true patriots can do right now to help keep America free
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2002/10/18/notes101802.DTL
Realize that for every ongoing war and religious outrage and environmental devastation and bogus Iraqi attack plan, there are a thousand counterbalancing acts of staggering generosity and humanity and art and beauty happening all over the world, right now, on a breathtaking scale, from flower box to cathedral.
posted @ 12:06 PM PDT Wednesday, September 24, 2003sad environmental news
Below are two important environmental stories you may have missed:
Migrating salmon are polluting Alaska lakes, says study
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-18/s_8552.asp
Salmon migrating from oceans to spawn in Alaska are polluting the state's pristine lakes and could affect local fish, bears, eagles, and even humans, scientists said Wednesday.
Researchers in Canada and the United States discovered that sockeye salmon carry pollutants known as poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are released into the atmosphere and oceans by industries such as waste incineration.
Artic ice shelf fractures
http://www.nature.com/nsu/030922/030922-8.html
The Arctic's largest ice shelf has broken up, releasing a unique lake. Climate change is the leading culprit.
The Ward Hunt Ice Shelf has been floating on the sea surface, attached to the north coast of Canada's Ellesmere Island for around 3,000 years. In spring of last year, large fractures suddenly appeared; by that August the shelf had broken in two.
posted @ 01:01 PM PDT Tuesday, September 23, 2003tidal power
Here are a few items about a method of generating electricity using the motion of the tides. This isn't going to be a mass scale solution to pollution caused by energy generation (and it only works in certain places) but it's a step in the right direction.
Moon brings novel green power to Arctic homes
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-23/s_8684.asp
A tidal current in a sea channel near the town of Hammerfest, caused by the gravitational tug of the Moon on the Earth, started turning the 10-meter (33 foot) blades of a turbine bolted to the seabed to generate electricity for the local grid. The prototype looks like an underwater windmill and is expected to generate about 700,000 kilowatt hours of nonpolluting energy a year, or enough to light and heat about 30 homes.
The Power Of the Moon
http://www.forbes.com/global/2003/0721/042.html
Tidal energy is plentiful and predictable far into the future, a boon for power generation. The optimal location for a tidal power station is at a place where there is a big difference in water level between high and low tides. Wales is a good place to start because it has this attribute, as well as a sizable population and strong public support for renewable energy. Ullman reckons the U.K. alone could generate 8% of its total power needs from tidal lagoons, and there are at least 19 other places around the world that would be suitable for this type of power station.
How tidal power plants work
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bltidalplants.htm
Tidal energy traditionally involves erecting a dam across the opening to a tidal basin. The dam includes a sluice that is opened to allow the tide to flow into the basin; the sluice is then closed, and as the sea level drops, traditional hydropower technologies can be used to generate electricity from the elevated water in the basin. Some researchers are also trying to extract energy directly from tidal flow streams.
posted @ 10:19 AM PDT Monday, September 22, 2003more on the scary "Patriot Act"
A few more articles by Americans about the so-called Patriot Act in action...
Feeling the Boot Heel of the Patriot Act
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0502-06.htm
The Patriot Act was passed into law on Oct. 26, 2001, in order to facilitate the post-9/11 crackdown on terrorism. Among the unprecedented rights it grants to the federal government are the right to wiretap or detain without a warrant. As I quickly discovered, the right to an attorney has been fudged as well. When I asked to speak to a lawyer, the INS official told me I did have the right to a lawyer but I would have to be taken to the station for security clearance before being granted one. When I asked how long that would take, he replied with a coy smile: "Maybe a day, maybe a week, maybe a month."
We insisted that we had every right to leave and were going to do so. One of the police officers, with his hand on his gun, taunted: "Go ahead and leave, just go ahead." We remained seated.
For Those Who Wish to Dissent: Speech, Silence and Patriotism
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0921-08.htm
The only thing we do know is that all these acts by police and FBI are legal under the USA Patriot Act. A few years ago, I was almost arrested in the middle of the night. The police stopped a hit man just before he reached his target. The hit man had a card with my name and the title of one of my books on the seat next to him, and the police were sure I was involved. But they had to get a warrant, and the assistant state's attorney wouldn't issue it. Today, though, the cops could just come and get me. And U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft thinks that's fine.
posted @ 11:37 AM PDT Sunday, September 21, 2003on marijuana
Marijuana is one of those subjects that's difficult to write about, given its controversial nature. There are places in the United States where getting caught with one joint can truly ruin your life. The government is even allowed to seize property!
For more on the state of marijuana law in America, read Eric Schlosser's Reefer Madness. (He's the genius who unleashed the amazing Fast Food Nation on the world.)
Is marijuana really such a big social problem? It can cause health problems, but so can drinking. In my opinion, alcohol is a more dangerous drug than marijuana, but they already tried making alcohol illegal. Today's pot laws are just as ridiculous, and they don't work.
Drug education is even worse. On South Park they make fun of this, and all the wisdom the teacher has to offer is "Drugs are bad, mmmkay?" Parents, don't rely on the schools to give your kids an informed picture.
One of the best things I've read recently related to marijuana is this from a Ben Harper concert review:
You know the world has been turned upside down in a strangely
surrealistic way when a 33-year-old rocker feels compelled to
caution the boomer-aged members of his audience against being
judgmental about pot use.
Ben Harper, the uninhibited California fusionist whose music
borrows from funk, folk, blues, reggae and rock, is not easily given
to off-hand, rhetorical excursions. But after his performance of
"Burn One Down" produced billows of sweet-smelling smoke throughout
a sold-out Molson Amphitheatre Monday, he moved to head off any
disapproval from the "parents" in the house.
For Harper, it all comes down to personal choice, moderation and
responsibility.
"Some people smoke so much that if they stopped smoking they'd get
high," he said.
Others, he figured, are wound so tight "they do need to take a big
hit."
from "Ben's Loose Lips Sang Hits" by Vit Wagner
The Toronto Star
July 2, 2003
posted @ 03:27 PM PDT Thursday, September 18, 2003coping with junk email
Junk email (or "spam") is pretty much unavoidable. Most days I get more of it than real email, which is irritating, but there are ways to cope:
1. Be careful who you give your email address to.
When you're registering for newsletters, memberships, or contests on the web, look for privacy policies and read the fine print. Does the site promise not to share your address with others? If so, are they a legitimate company that is likely to keep this promise?
2. Be careful about how you put your email address on web pages.
There are programs out there called scrapers that go from page to page collecting email addresses and creating lists. It is good to avoid the HTML "mailto" tag whenever possible, as this is what most of the scrapers look for.
It is possible to trick many of these programs with javascript or other code. Another way is through email obfuscation, which replaces the characters in your email address with numeric codes.
This is not foolproof as many of the scrapers are getting "smarter" but it will help.
3. Use spam-filtering software.
There are many spam filtering tools out there (I even get junk mail advertising them!)
I use a tool called Spampal which is free, updated often, and highly customizable.
It is important not to trust them to work perfectly, as they won't find every spam and they'll sometimes filter out messages that you want. The best method is to filter suspected spam to a separate folder so that you can scan through the headers. This saves a lot of time.
4. Never reply to or click on the links in junk mail!
No matter how alluring a message may be, don't click on it. It is likely that there is a code embedded in the URL that will tell the sender that you were interested in their message. This goes doubly for "remove me" links which serve mainly to verify that your email address is valid, which will make it more likely to be sold to other spammers.
Another reason to avoid clicking on spam is that it's better not to encourage the jerks that send them...
posted @ 08:13 PM PDT Wednesday, September 17, 2003take that, telemarketers
I worked as a telemarketer for 2 days when I was in college. Somehow interrupting people's dinners and getting yelled at all evening wasn't my idea of fun.
In my opinion, this is one of those parasitic industries we'd be better off without.
Dave Barry column unleashes flood of calls on telemarketing group
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/6739380.htm
Encouraging readers to call the ATA ''to tell them what you think'' about the group's telemarketer members, Barry included the organization's toll-free phone number ... Readers of the column, published weekly in about 500 newspapers across the country, took Barry up on his suggestion. They called. And called. And 10 days later, they're still calling.
Ask not what telemarketers can do to you
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/columnists/dave_barry/6649728.htm
I'm just thinking out loud here. I'm sure you have a better idea for how we can resolve our differences with the telemarketing industry. If you do, call me. No, wait, I have a better idea: Call the American Teleservices Association, toll-free, at 1-877-779-3974, and tell them what you think. I'm sure they'd love to hear your constitutionally protected views! Be sure to wipe your mouthpiece afterward.
United States Government "Do Not Call Registry"
http://www.donotcall.gov/
posted @ 11:37 AM PDT Monday, September 15, 2003transcendent music
Here's an interesting piece of research about church music...
Organ music 'instils religious feelings'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3087674.stm
"It has been suggested that because some organ pipes in churches and cathedrals produce infrasound this could lead to people having weird experiences which they attribute to God," said Professor Richard Wiseman, a psychologist from University of Hertfordshire.
...
Sarah Angliss, an engineer and composer in charge of the project, added: "Organ players have been adding infrasound to the mix for 500 years so maybe we're not the first generation to be 'addicted to bass'."
posted @ 07:43 PM PDT Sunday, September 14, 2003a wacky family band
It's interesting that this odd little family act is becoming so popular...
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
Trio Blends Kitschy Photos with Catchy Tunes
http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_1187900.html
One of the hippest drummers to hit the New York City nightclub scene recently is also one of the youngest. She's Rachel Trachtenburg, and at age nine, she's the youngest member of the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, an eccentric act that's become one of the most talked-about bands in Manhattan and its environs.
posted @ 03:26 PM PDT Saturday, September 13, 2003top 25 Censored Media Stories
This is interesting stuff, enjoy:
Project Censored: The Top 25 Censored Media Stories of 2002-2003
http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2004/index.html
posted @ 11:06 AM PDT Thursday, September 11, 2003escalation
when in conflict with others
as a child my mother told me
to avoid revenge as it leads
to a slippery slope of never
ending retribution with each
side exchanging increasingly
negative actions against the
other if only those in power
could understand this wisdom
posted @ 01:19 PM PDT Wednesday, September 10, 2003spyware
Some software applications contain hidden "spyware" that attempts to gain information about your surfing habits, usually for "marketing" purposes.
Download this excellent software to see what's lurking on your machine:
Lavasoft's Ad-aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
The free version does complete scans, but you must buy the full version in order to get system monitoring.
posted @ 10:17 AM PDT Tuesday, September 9, 2003librarian action figure
Most librarians today are not stern, shushing spinsters in sensible shoes, but the stereotype persists. There are a number of people that are obsessed with the librarian's public image and much has been written on the subject.
A dowdy new librarian action figure has become especially controversial. Some say it propagates the old-fashioned image, while others see it as good publicity for libraries in general.
I personally think the doll is funny and that the best way for librarians to change their image is to get up to date with technology, show others the real value of an information expert, and maybe stop wearing that ugly brown cardigan. As much as the badly dressed and/or severely tight hairbun look is a stereotype, I see it in real life far too often.
Look out for the new type of librarian who is younger, hipper, technology-savvy, and out there fighting for freedom of speech. Our ranks are growing.
Toymaker finds librarian who's a real doll
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/135224851_librarian10.html
Librarians speak out loud and clear against "shushing" action figure
http://www.wmtw.com/Global/story.asp?S=1432291
Michael Moore on librarians:
They are subversive. You think they're just sitting there at the desk, all quiet and everything. They're like plotting the revolution, man. I wouldn't mess with them...
posted @ 12:30 PM PDT Monday, September 8, 2003yoga en masse
Yesterday I went to a large yoga gathering which was part of Woody Harrelson's publicity campaign for his new (and very timely) movie about activism and sustainability, Go Further. They are hoping to get it into the Guinness Book of World Records for largest yoga class. I went mainly for the experience of doing yoga with such a large group.
The event was sponsored by the clothing company Roots, which has a new yoga line (complete with lotus flower corporate logo!) The event also seemed like an advertisement for the (expensive) local yoga studio that provided the teacher. Despite those things, I enjoyed the class and am glad I went! It was quite something to see over 1000 people moving together.
I've been doing yoga on and off since the late 1970s, when my parents took me to "family yoga" classes as a young child. It's been interesting to watch yoga skyrocket in popularity, and though I'm glad more people are doing it (thanks in part to Oprah, Christy Turlington, and Madonna) there's something odd about how trendy and commercial it has become. To me, there's something just plain wrong about yoga gear with the Nike swoosh on it. I guess not everyone knows or cares about their human rights record...
However, I also believe that yoga is becoming popular largely because it does amazing things for one's fitness level, stress level, and general state of well-being. I highly recommend it to everyone, and if you don't like a particular teacher or style, seek out another. It's magical stuff when the fit is right.
posted @ 12:30 PM PDT Saturday, September 6, 2003scientists retract study on the dangers of ecstacy
As I wrote about in my Science or $cience article, "scientific proof" is often prone to error...
Ecstasy Study Botched, Retracted
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,60328,00.html
The Sept. 27, 2002 study warned that even one typical recreational dose of MDMA could cause severe brain damage. Scientists around the country applauded the study and warned young people not to experiment with ecstasy. Now Ricaurte says it was a case of mixed up bottles.
posted @ 01:20 PM PDT Thursday, September 4, 2003the power of PR
Public Relations has become one of the most powerful industries out there. This site keeps an eye on the PR industry and reports on attempts to manipulate public opinion:
http://www.prwatch.org
I also highly recommend their excellent books and "Weekly Spin" newsletter.
A sample from the most current issue:
FOX'S SUIT SELLS MORE BOOKS
http://www.prweek.com/news/news_story.cfm?ID=188420&site=3
I'd love to make the case that Fox News will suffer irreparable damage to its reputation as a result of its frivolous lawsuit against satirist and author Al Franken, but I can't," writes Paul
Holmes for PR Week. "Because the kind of people who take Fox News seriously won't care, and the kind of people who care are already incapable of taking Fox News seriously. ... The suit is rich in
irony, from the fact that Fox News can trademark a phrase so unrelated to its true agenda (it's as if Larry Flynt had trademarked the phrase 'tasteful and modest') to the fact that O'Reilly can accuse anyone of launching 'gratuitous personal attacks' to the fact that right-wing Fox, which is opposed to frivolous lawsuits, would itself launch one of the most frivolous in living memory. (Even The Wall Street Journal editorial page found the suit ridiculous.)
...
In fact, the only impact of the suit will be that Franken's book sells many more copies than it could without the publicity - it's already shot to number five on Amazon's bestseller list.
SOURCE: PR Week, August 25, 2003
More web links related to this story are available at:
http://www.prwatch.org/spin/August_2003.html#1061784001
To discuss this story in the PR Watch Forum, visit:
http://www.prwatch.org/forum/discuss.php?id=1061784001
posted @ 10:18 AM PDT Wednesday, September 3, 2003When a horse isn't a horse...
Did you know that Mr. Ed was really a zebra named Amelia?
http://www.snopes.com/lost/mistered.asp
Explore the rest of Snopes.com for other interesting information regarding the truth of various rumors, urban legends, and forwarded email hoaxes.
posted @ 06:54 AM PDT Tuesday, September 2, 2003bringing home the bacon
Nutrition is one of those inexact sciences that no one truly understands. What the media says is good or bad for us seems to change every few months. Some people swear by raw, grain free, vegan, macrobiotic, or high protein diets. It's difficult to know what to eat.
I believe that there is no one diet that will work for everyone. We're all different, and our ethnic heritage, family eating habits, and personal tastes are all factors. Each of us needs to do a bit of experimenting to see what works.
For the past few years I've been eating a mostly vegetarian diet with occasional seafood, though this summer I have been incredibly tempted by meat and have been experiencing intense cravings for salt. Though I have major issues personally with how factory farmed meat is produced, I don't think eating meat is morally wrong.
I'm not sure what pushed me over the line, but something made me eat a piece of bacon over the weekend. The taste was completely sublime, and though I don't plan on making a frequent habit of it (and you still won't be seeing me at McDonald's) I think it was just what I needed.
posted @ 07:34 AM PDT
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