Bates Blog

CyberWar Guide to Iran Election

Too Poor To Make the News
“But the outlook is not so cozy when we look at the effects of the recession on a group generally omitted from all the vivid narratives of downward mobility — the already poor, the estimated 20 percent to 30 percent of the population who struggle to get by in the best of times. This demographic, the working poor, have already been living in an economic depression of their own. From their point of view “the economy,” as a shared condition, is a fiction.”

New Bob and David Interview
I once handed David Cross two beers backstage at the UCB Theater in LA when I was interning. He was thankful and ok. I’ve heard worse stories. He doesn’t suffer fools glady…or journalists…or people…or fans.

PETA Not Happy With Obama Fly-Killer

Respect the Phil (Collins)

Realtime Coverage of Twitter/Blogosphere/Flickr in Iran

What Makes us Happy?
Fascinating read on decades-long study of happiness and satisfaction of Ivy League grads

http://www.foodincmovie.com/

Banksy’s Secret Art Show

Links of the day –

I Was a Marine Sniper

Scientific Ways to Persuade People (from kottke.org)

Lowest Test Score Ever from Paramount Pictures?  Ouch.

The Making of Zach Galifianakis

Talk to Strangers…Online…No Judgement…Omegle!!!

I was at the 99 Cent Only store this afternoon, hoping to find a great deal on some canned eggplant and/or horchata, when I noticed this little gem of a deal beckoning me near the entrance of the store.

Now, at first glance, I thought, “That’s a great idea. Re-selling the Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony program is a novel way to remember the event, and purchase a historical treasure that can be kept for years to come.”

And what a steal. 99 cents! I mean, surely the face value of such an item should be more than a dollar.

At further inspection, however, I realized that the program was…

…wait for it.

…THE 1984 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC GAMES OFFICIAL PROGRAM.

…24 years ago. When Dynasty was still on the air.

…Mint condition. A stack of them.

Let me quickly debunk all these ‘controversies’ that are beginning to gain traction at the games this year.Then I’ll get serious.

Lip Synching at Opening Ceremonies

Hey, you ever see the video for C+C Music Factory’s ‘Gonna Make You Sweat’? The girl in the video wailing — gorgeous. The woman that actually sang on the record that was completely shut out of the video — gorgeously talented

I’m not trying to equate the 2008 Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony to a C+C Music Factory music video, but both had a great impact in my life. I would never have been able to do that fifth push-up during Presidential Physical Fitness Testing in high school, if not for Mr. C, Mrs. C. and their music factory.

Hey, Motorola Bluetooth ear set. Psst. Sorry, did I wake you? Were you charging? I thought your light was flickering light blue, not red, so I thought it’d be cool. if you’re charging, I can come back.

It’s cool? Cool.

Hey. I just wanted to know if we could talk for a bit. Turns out that, as of a few days ago, I no longer can hold my physical phone handset up to my ear whilst driving in the State of California. I mean, you can still suck down a 24 ounce coffee, and hold a mug-shaped can of Doritos Cool Ranch mini-triangles in between watching episodes of Gilmore Girls on your Ipod while you merge on the 405 after a long day. I mean, in theory, it sounds like a good idea.

Homeland Security Expresses Interest in Passenger Stun Bracelet

Umm. Hmm. Let me see. Throughout my flying experiences, I’ve not even been given the correct beverage, luggage, or gate information on a regular basis by airlines and government agencies. Now they want me to put on a bracelet that can possibly incapacitate me worse than ‘an electronic dog collar’? Airports can’t even keep their bathrooms clean! I’ve never seen a TSA employee smile. Now, all I have to do is give the wrong look, or take off my shoes wrong, and I get with 400 volts of juice? No thanks, I’ll Amtrack it.

‘Wire’ Creators New Pilot Deals With Katrina Aftermath

Apple Bungles its iPhone 3G Launch
You know, it’s nice to see Apple humbled. Apple blah blah great blah blah awesome blah blah never messes up blah blah better than you blah blah…guess what!? All your bricks are belong to apple!!! Good.

I saw WALL-E today. I haven’t been to the movies in months. Indiana Jones – never saw it, Iron Man, couldn’t do it, Hulk…no thanks. The first movie that got me out my chair and to the theatre this summer: WALL-E.

The reason being: Pixar doesn’t make bad movies. They just don’t. I never thought a movie about trash-gathering robots would make me tear up, but it did.

I loved it.

A LOT OF SPOILERS AHEAD..BE WARNED.
STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE YET.

I can’t help it. I know it’s all over the place…but it’s so funny.

Also…it’s been rumored that the voicemail could be viral marketing…so what if it is? It’s great.

Dmitri’s Voice Message to Olga

HBO to Replay 11 of Carlin’s Specials this weekend.
He seemed to me to get angrier and angrier in later specials, but I guess he was always pretty angry. And very funny. And kicked open taboos and doors for all comedians that came after. RIP Carlin.

Behind Goldman’s XM-Sirius Slam
It seems to me that when something like this happens, and stocks get battered and battered and yet, and all signs point to something bad happening…you gotta go the other way, right? I opened an e-trade account today, specifically to, perhaps, buy a few hundred shares of Sirius this week. Someone tell me I’m making a mistake…’cause it seems like all the negativity is smoke and mirrors.

Is Arrested Development Movie Happening
My favorite show….Please let this be true!!!!

Michael Pollan – ‘Why Bother?” – New York Times
I’m reading ‘Ominvore’s Dilemma’ right now, and I came across Pollan’s opinion column from a few months ago. I just thought it was kinda inspiring for some reason.

Is Google Making Us Stupid?
What the Internet is doing to our brains. This article made me think. I can’t even finish a book anymore. I don’t remember having to figure out directions by myself. Movies and tv shows have exactly 45 seconds to catch my interest. Good points, good article.

And as a follow up (and inspiration to, really) my Worst.Commencement.Speech post, here are two of the best.

Conan O Brien Commencement

David Foster Wallace Commencement