August 2005

Gen. Wesley Clark: On the military side, the vast effort underway to train an army must be matched by efforts to train police and local justices. Canada, France and Germany should be engaged to assist. Neighboring states should also provide observers and technical assistance. In military terms, striking at insurgents and terrorists is necessary but insufficient. Military and security operations must return primarily to the tried-and-true methods of counterinsurgency: winning the hearts and minds of the populace through civic action,…

So last night I went with Aaron over to Amoeba in The Haight to catch the free show by The New Pornos. I’ve actually never been that far down Haight, but it seems rather cool and I’d like to spend a Saturday strolling it. Fortunately for me the 7 and 71 buses go straight from Montgomery BART (2nd/Market) to literally across the street from Amoeba. We arrived a little early and perused their music. That’s the first time in awhile…

AP: The Associated Press Wednesday, August 24, 2005; 4:02 PM VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson insisted Wednesday that he did not call for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, despite comments broadcast on his program two days earlier. “I didn’t say ‘assassination,’” Robertson said Wednesday on his Christian Broadcast Network show “The 700 Club” about remarks reported by The Associated Press and other media outlets. “I said our special forces should ‘take him out.’ ‘Take him…

‘We all joke about race in here. But there are things said off the cuff that I don’t interpret as being funny. They are funny to him and [comedian] Jeff Foxworthy, but not to Milton Bradley.’ — Milton Bradley, speaking about the Dodger clubhouse and referring to Jeff Kent

Welcome back, Dave.

Macworld Podcast #6: Mac Gems By Cyrus Farivar If you spend any significant time in front of your Mac, it’s a pretty safe bet that you do—then you probably have at least one or two small applications that you use constantly to improve your productivity. Senior writer Dan Frakes keeps tabs on low-cost Mac software and wrote the “50 Mac Gems” article in the September 2005 issue. In this podcast, he explains how he picked them and what some of…

X-Rays Reveal Ancient Text By Cyrus Farivar Wired News 02:00 AM Aug. 24, 2005 PT Using a technique called X-ray fluorescence, a team of researchers at Cornell University has revealed ancient inscriptions carved into stone that had faded away over the centuries. Scientists fired high-energy X-ray beams at the 2,000-year-old inscriptions using Cornell University’s synchrotron, exposing trace elements left over from paint that dried up and faded away centuries ago. Concentrations of those elements can then be mapped along the…

Slashdong: Amazon Sells Sex Toys: A Sex Toy Modder’s DREAM 79 CENT VIBRATORS. 7 FUCKING 9 CENT VIBRATORS. Who CARES if you fuck it up, the motor inside the thing is worth more than 79 cents! Buy a bunch! Mod your brains out! AND YOU CAN BUY BACON THERE TOO! Bacon and Sex Toys, together at last! Also of note: SF Chron (Aug. 19, 2005) on Amazon selling sex toys. Regina Lynn on Slashdong. (June 3, 2005)

University of Arizona: The current warming trends in the Arctic may shove the Arctic system into a seasonally ice-free state not seen for more than one million years, according to a new report. The melting is accelerating, and a team of researchers were unable to identify any natural processes that might slow the de-icing of the Arctic. Such substantial additional melting of Arctic glaciers and ice sheets will raise sea level worldwide, flooding the coastal areas where many of the…

Bold means I’ve already bought tickets. Sept. 7 Bimbo’s 365 (SF) Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Sept. 11/12 The Fillmore (SF) The Decemberists Sept. 27/28 Bimbo’s 365 (SF) The New Pornographers Oct. 15 Bob Hope Theater (Stockton) Cake Oct. 25 Yoshi’s (Oakland) Arturo Sandoval Oct. 29/30 Mountain View Amphitheater (Mountain View) Bridge School Benefit Nov. 11 Warfield (SF) Death Cab for Cutie Nov. 11 Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley) Youssou N’Dour