Saturday, September 6, 2008

The changing face of bloggage

I've been blogging off and on since January 2001--the stolen election was a pivotal moment for me, I stopped yelling at the TV to an audience of one (my girlfriend at the time also liked to vent) and I started yelling on the internet to an audience of one (or two).

The first Vlogs I saw were annoying. I still do not like talkingheads.

But I think it is quite normal now to post video on blogs. That has changed.

And it is amazing.

International Polar Year

International Polar Year:
The International Polar Year is a large scientific programme focused on the Arctic and the Antarctic from March 2007 to March 2009.

IPY, organized through the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), is actually the fourth polar year, following those in 1882-3, 1932-3, and 1957-8. In order to have full and equal coverage of both the Arctic and the Antarctic, IPY 2007-8 covers two full annual cycles from March 2007 to March 2009 and will involve over 200 projects, with thousands of scientists from over 60 nations examining a wide range of physical, biological and social research topics. It is also an unprecedented opportunity to demonstrate, follow, and get involved with, cutting edge science in real-time.

Rikki Don't Lose that Number



A jazzed up Rikki Don't Lose that Number, performed live by Steely Dan in 1996.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Die Hard



Die Hard, by Guyz Nite. Language NSFW.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Momma's Boy



Momma's Boy
, by Chromeo.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

The composition decomposed

the first few sentences
     jotted notes
the pearl of an idea
          the motif
          a seduction
     a letter of introduction to a grand theme
if one believes in those sorts of things

But in all matters of ambition
there is awkwardness and uncertainty
     until there is flight—
my heart flutters
     my voice quivers
          my chest shakes
struggling to keep this nakedness from my face.

In a dream once
I was the boy I once was
     singing high and pure
     a clarion made of man
     a soul uncomplexed and pure—
and this is the voice I would sing to you with—
     not as a boy, but with that purity,
          that unseeing love.

We forget though
that all things are made and are made to decay—
     even tears
should be left out in the rain.
The last few sentences
are reminders
of all we have learned.
The theme finished
     recapitulated as a caress
a few lines more. . .

Aprés moi



Aprés moi, by Regina Spektor.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Fancy Footwork



Fancy Footwork
, by Chromeo. The video is intriguing, working, as it does, on many different levels. The song itself is a lot of fun.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Boo and hiss...

Tonight's Middleman likely to be the last. What a fun series. A crying shame it was on Monday nights at ten o'clock on ABC Family...

Dream



Dream, by Priscella Ahn.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

German Bold Italic



German Bold Italic
, by Towa Tei and Kylie Minogue. This abstract piece was something of a hit in Japan.