Random Thoughts - Current Events

Goodbye to an old friend...

ERTorre — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:50:46 GMT

It wasn't too long ago (in fact, it was December of 2009) I found an article about the "largest U.S. city without a bookstore". The article was chilling...how was it possible that a large U.S. city (in this case Laredo) could be without a single bookstore?

Little did I know.

Yesterday, I heard that the large Borders close to us was shutting down. Not changing locations for a smaller venue, but outright shutting down. In its time, the place was simply amazing. It had a large section with books (duh) and an equally large section toward the rear with movies and music. I used to go there quite often, at least once a week if not more, and spend my time looking through the new and interesting works, either in film, music, or literature, before heading out.

But things started to go sour for them. The music section faced what I'm sure all music sellers faced: the threat from both legal and illegal downloads of songs. Slowly, that diverse music base they had became smaller and smaller. No longer could I find interesting and out of the ordinary albums, and when I did, often it would be online. As for their movies, after picking up the "essentials", I found my DVD purchases slowing, and the need to look in the store for new releases was pointless.

One day a little while back, I visited Borders and found the whole movie and music subsection, fully one half of the store, had been shut down. What merchandise remained from the section was moved and incorporated into the book section. The remaining movies and music were a) even less varied than before and had b) prohibitively expensive prices.

Still, there remained the books, but I found things had changed there, too. While before I ventured into the bookstore and would inevitably find new and unusual books, the fact was the damn internet dug into that, too. I was purchasing more and more works online, often used books at bargain basement prices at Amazon.com. When I first got into Michael Connelly's detective thrillers and decided I needed to read more, I found almost his entire printed collection available online for pennies. The biggest cost was often the added price of postage. At the same time, oddball books I would spend hours sniffing around Borders looking for (and often not finding) I'd find in seconds with a quick internet search.

It was shocking to realize, standing there in the soon to be closed Borders, that I had been a part, just as much as everyone else, of its demise.

Unlike the city of Laredo, there are at least a few bookstores still close by...there is a Barnes and Nobles and a used bookstore, but it has been a while since I've gone to either...

How long will they last?

Do Freelance Assassins Really Exist?

ERTorre — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:43:49 GMT

I've mentioned it before but it bears repeating: One of the most fascinating things about the internet is that if you look around, you can find articles concerning just about everything.

With the upcoming release of the George Clooney film The American (wherein he plays a killer for hire), Brain Palmer at Slate magazine examines a question that bears some investigating...Do freelance assassins such as the one George Clooney portrays in the movie really exist? If so, can that really be their only career?

http://www.slate.com/id/2265748/

> > >

Do you like PBS' Antique Roadshow?

ERTorre — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:37:27 GMT

The show features a bunch of people bringing in their (usually) old items and seeing if they're worth anything. While many of them, at least those that are displayed on TV, wind up being worth a few hundred, even a couple of thousand dollars, many of the items that do not make it to the actual TV show fall on the lower side. But there are exceptions.

Are there ever!

Have you ever wondered what were the most expensive items they have appraised? Wonder no more! Click on the link below and see them for yourself...

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/media/the-antiques-roadshows-five-most-valuable-finds/19609763/

Ansel Adams Trust Sues Over Garage Sale Negatives...

ERTorre — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:56:15 GMT

Seriously, I thought this story was already done. Guess not:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/24/ansel-adams-trust-sues-ov_n_692750.html

To recap (you can read my previous posts here, here, and here), man finds photograph negatives at garage sale 10 years ago, buys them for $45. Sees similarities between negatives and famous photographer Ansel Adams' work. Has them checked out, and the people checking them out state that, yes, these are Ansel Adams photographs, early photographs the man took which were thought lost forever.

Photographs are appraised at $200 million. Yes, $200 million. For a $45 investment.

But heirs of Ansel Adams voice doubts about photograph authenticity. Is it sour grapes? Are they unhappy they do not have all of their famous relatives works under their control?

Then the shocker: A lady from Oakland comes forward claiming the photographs were taken by her Uncle years before. Her Uncle, alas, is not Ansel Adams. She presents other photographs that pretty much prove her point, and I figure the story is over.

Not so fast!

It appears our garage sale investor is selling prints and posters from the negatives he bought over the internet, and claiming they are works by Ansel Adams! Needless to say, the Ansel Adams Trust is not happy and wants him to stop.

If everything I've read so far is true, he should do so. It seems pretty clear he's not selling actual Ansel Adams works.

So...is housing a good investment?

ERTorre — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:16:12 GMT

Interesting article from The Baseline Scenario regarding housing values, both before, during, and after the housing "bubble":

http://baselinescenario.com/2010/08/23/housing-in-ten-words/

Thinking back to only a couple of years ago, when the housing market was in full swing, one can't help but shake their heads at the irrationality of it all. I mean, what were we thinking? People buying one home to live in and another (or two or more) as an "investment" and, surprise surprise, they were actually able to turn around and sell them at a profit, then buy another and so on and so forth.

Somewhere in the madness, I thought: If everyone has one home to live in and another one (or two or more) as "investment", what happens when everyone decided to get rid of their investment? I mean, there are more homes, apparently, than people actually living in them. We obviously have a glut of homes and if people suddenly, at the same time decide to sell...

Well, I didn't have to wonder too long about what might happen then.

Sadly.

The Most Mysterious Google Earth Pictures...

ERTorre — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:12:02 GMT

...funny, too!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/23/google-earth-pictures-the_n_690836.html

Just goes to show...something. Or another.

The Most Isolated Man on the Planet

ERTorre — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:54:46 GMT

Another fascinating article, this one from Slate Magazine, concerning the last survivor of an isolated Brazilian tribe:

http://www.slate.com/id/2264478/pagenum/all

The article makes mention of the "Lone Woman of San Nicolas", who became the subject of the bestselling (and quite moving) novel Island of the Blue Dolphins.

It is this mention in the article that really clicked with something deep inside me. I've always been drawn to the idea of isolation, something that is found to various degrees in literature and mythology. The hero that is somehow alone, whether it be psychological (Dirty Harry, the "rogue cop," people who can't get along with society in general) or be it physical (Robinson Crusoe and Island of the Blue Dolphins to more extravagant forms of isolation like those resulting from nuclear war, etc.).

Only a curious observation, but the article is, as stated before, quite fascinating. Give it a read if you're curious.

Astronaut Strength in Space Equal to 80 Year Old...

ERTorre — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 11:31:13 GMT

Yet another fascinating article that points out yet another of the obstacles NASA and other space agencies have to overcome if, one day, we are to seriously attempt a long range, Mars-type space mission:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/20/astronaut-strength-in-spa_n_689866.html

I've always been aware of the muscle atrophy, but the effect of weightlessness on a human body for an extended period of time is truly brutal, according to this article. Makes one realize how correct Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick were when they devised 2001: A Space Odyssey. In the movie, the space station orbiting Earth is shaped like a carousel, its spin creates gravity. Likewise, the exploration craft Discovery One features a rotating "globe" at its front, which also creates gravity for the two astronauts aboard.

38 Photoshop Disasters

ERTorre — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:33:53 GMT

From the same folks who brought you the 13 Awesomely Useless Machines, a display of 38 truly mindboggling Photoshop disasters:

http://www.urlesque.com/2010/08/17/38-photoshop-disasters/

Great fun for all those artists out there...

13 Awesomely Useless Machines

ERTorre — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:20:51 GMT

The one I've decided to embed below had me laughing. You can check out, as well as the machine below, 12 other similarly "awesomely" useless machines by clicking this link:

http://www.urlesque.com/2010/08/19/useless-machines/

Top 10 Things Today's Kids WIll Never Experience...

ERTorre — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 20:07:31 GMT

This list, from Time Magazine, gave me pause.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2011482_2011480,00.html

While I think some of the things they feel are gone are still hanging on, if only tenuously, the fact that they're dead right about other things (like cameras that use...film!) made me recognize the reality of our changing landscape.

I believe that both Chevrolet and Toyota release their first electronic cars this year. If they succeed, as I'm hoping they will, perhaps the days of going to a gas station to fill up will be in the past, as well.

The Key To Economic Growth: Stealing

ERTorre — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:59:29 GMT

Articles like these absolutely fascinate me. The thesis is provocative: Economic growth in China today and in Germany years ago shared a common element, ignoring copyrights.

http://www.salon.com/technology/how_the_world_works/2010/08/19/the_key_to_economic_growth_is_stealing/index.html

In this day and age, with the internet and copyrighted material floated in the ether free for (illegal as well as legal) downloads, one wonders if copyrights will continue to be enforced to any degree in the near future.

Jack London's dark side

ERTorre — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:24:56 GMT

Absolutely fascinating (although perhaps a little too hysterical) article by Johann Hari for Slate magazine concerning Jack London, the man behind the books:

http://www.slate.com/id/2261928/pagenum/all

I say hysterical because there is some rather...umm...sexualized imagery used by the author that is both in questionable taste and, frankly, unnecessary. You have a fascinating article, Mr. Hari, no need to go to those extremes!

I especially like his very first points, found in the article's very first paragraph:

The United States has a startling ability to take its most angry, edgy radicals and turn them into cuddly eunuchs. The process begins the moment they die. Mark Twain is remembered as a quipster forever floating down the Mississippi River at sunset, while his polemics against the violent birth of the American empire lie unread and unremembered. Martin Luther King is remembered for his prose-poetry about children holding hands on a hill in Alabama, but few recall that he said the U.S. government was "the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today."

Isn't that the truth for just about everyone famous? We have a tendency to take the "best" of them and, Cliff's Notes style, write a narrative about these individuals which sanitizes whatever ugly elements surrounded them.

However, I fault Mr. Hari for one thing: This isn't something done in the United States alone. As I mentioned a long time before, while living in Venezuela in the 1980's, I recall getting into a very heated discussion in High School with a fellow student about their national hero, Simon Bolivar. The man was viewed, rightly for the most part, as the great liberator. The man who freed almost all of South America from Spanish occupation. But the argument I had was regarding their hero's eventual death. You see, Bolivar was born in Venezuela and was, for a time, the country's leader. However, he died in Columbia.

Why?

I pointed out to this fellow student that Bolivar was effectively forced to leave Venezuela. He had become, due to his dictatorial rule, a persona non grata in his country of birth. My fellow student was indignant at that notion that the great liberator could be anything but saintified. There was no way in hell he could have been expelled from Venezuela. No way.

Our argument got heated, and could well have become physical, but either the school bell rang or I just let it go (trust me, he wasn't about to) and we went our separate ways. It was only after studying the matter some more that I realized Bolivar's end was even worse than I had thought: Not only was he exiled from Venezuela, but there was even an attempt to assassinate him while in power (I can only imagine what that fellow student would have thought of that!). Ultimately, Bolivar's dissatisfaction with South America reached the point where, after being exiled to Columbia, he planned to leave for Europe. He died before doing so.

In the end, all the good Bolivar accomplished is in the texts and are part of the culture's verbal folklore, while the bad is conveniently brushed under the proverbial rug.

And so it goes...

(Sexual) Engineering in the Womb...

ERTorre — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:45:22 GMT

Fascinating -and scary- article from the Los Angeles Times regarding a treatment for babies, in the womb, to treat the possibility of "ambiguous genitalia":

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-adrenal-20100815,0,5576220.story

The controversy lies in the fact that this may also be used to "treat"...homosexuality?!

I suspect our future will be loaded with stories like these. How long before we can make sure our next baby is a boy...or girl? Then what? Will we be able to determine a child's intelligence? Looks? Athleticism?

I recall reading a while back that we have, effectively, already defeated Darwin's natural selection. This may be another example of this fact.

You gotta see it to believe it...

ERTorre — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 19:06:15 GMT

Sorry for the advertising at the start, but this is from CNN and they love to put that stuff there. What follows is just about the most ridiculous thing you're likely to see (well, today anyway!): A jet powered school bus...

Not that there's anything wrong with it...

ERTorre — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:59:46 GMT

...The Most Homoerotic Vintage Ads:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/13/the-most-homoerotic-vinta_n_663796.html#s125709

If it weren't so funny...

ERTorre — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:52:39 GMT

...you might want to cry.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/11/the-most-epic-education-f_n_679081.html

Living "Off The Grid"

ERTorre — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:49:43 GMT

A fascinating interview with Nick Rosen about his new book Off The Grid: Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government, and True Independence in Modern America:

http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2010/08/09/off_the_grid_interview_ext2010/index.html

Particularly insightful into the motivations and philosophies of the "off the grid" movement people. Something to think about, although I'm pretty happy where I'm at..."on the grid"!

Having said that, there is an undeniable romance to the idea that one could live without all the modern conveniences currently available. Whether you want to turn your back (and your money) on corporate America, you're an environmentalist, or perhaps you're just suspicious about government and corporations, there is an allure to the idea of living on your own, beholden to no one.

The most ridiculous car hood of all time...

ERTorre — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 13:10:47 GMT

While driving just yesterday, I spotted a car sporting a drawing on its side of an elf holding a short sword with colorful butterflies surrounding him. It wasn't nearly as ridiculous as some of these images...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/07/the-most-ridiculous-car-h_n_674382.html

Gotta love "amor eterno" (eternal love) and the crazy pitbull.

What I think distinguishes all these fine examples, and truly elevates them to the lofty status of "ridiculous" has to be the fact that so much effort was made to make these works of...art. I mean, the elf drawing was simple and almost crude compared to some of these fine examples.

L.A. Times Overrated/Underrated list

ERTorre — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:19:29 GMT

It wasn't all that terribly long ago I posted the somewhat controversial list of author Mark Juddery's "overrated" items and, subsequently, 8 underrated things that should take the place of the 8 overrated items (check it out here).

Anyway, in a somewhat similar vein, the L.A. Times offers their list of overrated/underrated things, for what its worth...

http://www.latimes.com/theguide/la-overrated-underrated2010-pg,0,4281951.photogallery

Can't say I find much fault in their opinions, at least on the items I'm familiar with/have an opinion about. Am curious about the music of Josh Clayton-Felt, item #13.

Why do foreigners love Fanta so much?

ERTorre — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:19:22 GMT

Always find these kind of articles fascinating:

http://www.slate.com/id/2262956/

Especially the history of where said product -in this case Fanta soda- comes from. There's almost always a story behind the story that merits some kind of look, and Fanta soda certainly isn't any different.

Truly intriguing!

America in Color from 1939-1943

ERTorre — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:43:39 GMT

Thanks, perhaps mostly due to the movies of the era, one can almost imagine those who lived in the years of 1939-43 did so in an almost film noir black and white.

These absolutely fascinating photographs prove this was obviously not the case:

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/07/26/captured-america-in-color-from-1939-1943/2363/

As I said before, absolutely fascinating stuff. Perhaps the most depressing aspect of seeing these photographs is the realization that most of the adults in them have likely passed away by now. Indeed, and the younger children in the photographs, if still living, are now senior citizens in their 70's.

Why I like vicious, anonymous online commenting...

ERTorre — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:09:08 GMT

...according to Matt Zoller Steiz at Salon.com:

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2010/08/03/in_defense_of_anonymous_commenting/index.html

What the fuck does he know?!

Seriously, I'm squarely behind Mr. Steiz's comments. There are times I find myself laughing out loud at some of the more vulgar, opinionated (duh), and vicious comments on the web. Not that I may necessarily agree with said comments, but as Mr. Steiz puts it so eloquently:

(These anonymous comments) shows us the American id in all its snaggletoothed, pustulent glory, with a transparency that didn't exist before the Internet.

Thus, these anonymous comments DO at times give us an unfiltered look into people's raw opinions. But, are they an accurate measure of what people think or are they exaggerations posted more for effect? I suppose there lies the question and, maybe, the reason some really dislike these very same posts.

But like 'em or not, I suspect they're here to stay, despite the attempts of many websites to curtail them.

Once more, with even more feeling...Mystery of the Ansel Adams photographs solved...?

ERTorre — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:32:52 GMT

I've been both shocked and amused by the story regarding the photographs bought for $45 at a garage sale which might have been early works by Ansel Adams and worth approximately $200 million. Yes, that million.

When the grandson of Mr. Adams expressed doubt about the authenticity of the pictures, I figured he might be upset because of the possibility that such a valuable collection of his relative's artwork might be possessed by others. As it turns out, the man was on to something, the photographs are probably NOT by Ansel Adams, after all:

http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/woman-from-oakland-calif-claims-to-have-solved-ansel-adams-mystery-once-and-for-all/19574153

This is one of those stories that is just so damn intriguing you can't help but follow it through. I feel for the poor garage store purchaser...the man paid $45 for what, for at least one brief, shining moment, was estimated at a fortune. Anyone who's stopped to buy things at a garage sale knows there might be gold among the debris, and this looked to be the ULTIMATE story of found treasure. At least for a day or two.

Alas, it looks like the treasure turned into a mirage overnight.

A little more on those Ansel Adams photographs bought at a garage sale...

ERTorre — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:33:45 GMT

Yesterday I pointed out a CNN report regarding some photographs bought at a garage sale for $45 which may well be a cache of lost prints by the legendary Ansel Adams. Their worth was estimated at an unbelievable $200 million dollars (Read about it here).

Didn't take long for the relatives of the late Mr. Adams to object/challenge the findings:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/07/28/ansel.adams.negative.dispute/index.html?hpt=T2

I can't help but wonder if the challenge to the authenticity and/or value of the photographs is more an issue of the money involved. $200 is an awful large amount of cash for something that, I'm certain, the relatives (and specifically the grandson) of Mr. Adams feels should be rightfully theirs. It doesn't surprise me if he's trying to downplay or contradict even the possibility that the garage sale produced a genuine treasure.

But I suspect, in the end, Mr. Adams' relatives are bound to reap a reward in the renewed interest in Mr. Adams' most famous works, which are obviously in their possession.

19 Most Regrettable Pop Culture Tattoos

ERTorre — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:47:38 GMT

There was a time, a few years ago, when it seemed all the rage to get a tattoo. Some were intriguing, some were sexy...and some were a little too extreme. While I could be wrong (certainly wouldn't be the first time!), I get the impression that the whole tattoo thing is receding somewhat.

But not before these beauties made their way to some people's skin:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/27/the-most-regrettable-pop_n_656069.html#s117644

There are so many bad ones to choose from...but I'd have to give props to the daring souls who had the "Snakes on a Plane" design as well as...Bob Barker?!

Come on down.

Indeed.

Why you should go to garage sales...

ERTorre — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:21:04 GMT

I think the results of this garage sale, a $45 investment on the part of the buyer, may well be the best investment EVER made:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/07/27/ansel.adams.discovery/index.html?hpt=C1

Simply amazing.

An In-Depth Statistical Investigation of...Tiger Woods?

ERTorre — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:23:44 GMT

For those who see the word "golf" and develop a hazy look on their eyes just before completely zoning out, this article is not for you...

http://www.slate.com/id/2261252/pagenum/all

On the other hand, if you're somewhat interested in golf and, specifically, Tiger Woods, the above article focuses on the deteriorating play of the golf superstar, and what may be behind it. I would also add that the statistician within me finds the numbers presented fascinating. I know it can be dry stuff, but the reality is that behind all sports are statistics...how fast, how long, how much, etc. etc. and this article looks at all the major elements in Mr. Woods and his game, and offers reasons for why his play is down.

For the rest of you, you can now remove the glaze from your eyes...

Ancient Sex Toy excavated...?

ERTorre — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 12:16:35 GMT

Or, to put it in more graphic terms...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/22/ancient-dildo-excavated-i_n_655766.html

11 Most Overrated Things Ever...

ERTorre — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:16:07 GMT

...at least according to Mark Juddery:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-juddery/11-most-overrated-things_b_649671.html#s114727

Have to go with many of the comments, however, below the article.

#1: Who exactly is Mr. Juddery to make this list? Seriously?

#2: If you're going to list things you feel are overrated, then present a strong argument as to why you think such things are indeed overrated. For example, he notes that Star Trek is overrated because the first interratial kiss presented on this show was the product of...alien influence. Ok...but that's it?! What about the fact that this was one of the first truly intelligent sci-fi space operas (third season excluded)? The fact that it presented characters and situations that were a little beyond the cookie cutter standards found on TV during that time? Also, like it or not, the show spawned millions and millions of dollars in sequels, movies, merchandise, etc. Good, bad, or indifferent, someone was buying into all that stuff, and not just for a few years...we're talking generations!

But it goes beyond Star Trek. While Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band is not my favorite Beatles album (I'm more inclined to give that honor to either the White Album or Abbey Road) how can you argue that it is "overrated"? The album was a BIG hit when released and defined a generation while showing the Beatles were truly willing to push the boundaries of music...both as product and as art. How does that make it "overrated"?

For that matter (and crossing genres here) how is Superman overrated? Because he wasn't "real"? That seems a pretty weak argument. I suppose all fictional characters, from Sherlock Holmes to James Bond to Sam Spade to Harry Bosch are therefore overrated as well?!

I could go on, but I'm beginning to agree with one of the posters: This is more of a list of things Mr. Juddery thinks are overrated. Your mileage may vary.

This year's Comic Con...a preview

ERTorre — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:50:27 GMT

CNN offers a mild preview (and a decent enough look back) at the San Diego Comic Con and the products that have been promoted there:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/07/19/comiccon.rollout/index.html

As with many things, there have been products "rolled out" that have brought about considerable buzz. Sometimes, that translates into success when said product is eventually released. Sometimes, of course, it doesn't.

Jonah Hex, Kick Ass, perhaps even Watchmen, were films that received considerable buzz during Comic Con's of years past. Yet each of them either underperformed or did a little better than even.

On the other hand, you have Iron Man and Twilight, as well.

It's been a while since this was a comic con.

American hypocrites...

ERTorre — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:19:22 GMT

Fascinating article by Anne Applebaum for Slate:

http://www.slate.com/id/2260968/

If I might get on my high horse for a second...

I think Ms. Applebaum's points are pretty much on target. We have this almost schizophrenic relationship with government. On the one side, we feel that it's filled with financial abuse, a monstrous bureaucracy, inept politicians, etc. etc. .... and yet, we expect instant solutions from this self-same bloated, wasteful, mismanaged system whenever there is a problem, however small or large, that rears its head.

I've lived in countries that featured very left wing (socialist) as well as very right wing (conservative) governments. If I had to choose which one I'd prefer to live in, it would clearly be the former rather than the later. Yes, taxes are high, but on the other hand the services you receive are extraordinary. I can't help but wonder if sometimes those who protest the most against government and its services have become so used to what they have that they aren't even aware of what their taxes pay for.

From having decent roads to police to fire rescue to public transportation to...think about it. Look around.

I'm not suggesting the system is perfect. But live for a while in a country that takes in almost no taxes and see what the roads are like. Marvel as dogs run loose around the streets (and if one gets run over, watch as its body disintegrates over the course of several days and/or weeks). Don't even bother questioning whether its safe to drink the tap water....And on and on.

All right...getting off the high horse in three...two...

Apple's Rotten Response...

ERTorre — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:59:33 GMT

At the risk of sounding like another "Apple basher", I just wanted to point out this article that, I feel, is probably the clearest, best thought out opinion piece regarding the current controversy about the Apple iPhone 4, and Steve Jobs' response in particular:

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/16/apple-s-rotten-reponse.html

Apple, the company, has produced some truly wonderful items. But what has bothered me about the company is the fact that they seem to be creating a (for lack of a more elegant word) cult like mentality about their products. When they're released, whatever product it should be, the word is out that this product will be completely, truly, incredibly revolutionary. And many, many people have bought into this...cult. They stay in line for hours (if not days) for the most recent release of...whatever. And then they speculate and build up ideas of what's coming next, only to go through the whole procedure again when said new product finally is released.

Which pleases Apple -and the company's bottom line- to no end.

But with all success, there comes the risk of hubris, and if there's anything this current situation regarding the iPhone 4 has proven its that Mr. Jobs, and by extension Apple itself, may be victims of this malady.

In the Market for a Mega-Mansion?

ERTorre — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:47:53 GMT

Looks like the time is right to buy one is finally right:

http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/16/real_estate/megamansion_price_cuts/index.htm

Come on, who can't afford these bargains?

A 48,000-square-foot home in Bel Air, Calif., was recently reduced by $13 million to $72 million. A 16,000-square-foot nouveau Mediterranean in Las Vegas went to $11.9 million from $14 million. And a 15,000-square-foot Dallas domain is down to $15 million from $17.5 million after more than two years on the market.

At these prices, I'll take two! ;-)

NASA Radar-Ready Rover Helps Solve Murder Mystery...

ERTorre — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:40:43 GMT

Proving that space technology has its uses on terra firma:

http://www.switched.com/2010/07/15/nasa-radar-ready-rover-helps-solve-murder-case/

How Technology is Stealing Our Lives

ERTorre — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:12:48 GMT

Fascinating article by Rebecca Traister from Salon.com noting that in these modern days, we may well be working very, very full days thanks to the technology around us:

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2010/07/15/tech_exhaustion/index.html

I suspect her points are very valid. There has been, slowly but surely, an erosion of the boundaries between being "on the job" and being "off". Used to be a very long time ago you clocked out and you were "free". But with emails, text, instantaneous communication, this is slowly no longer being the case. When you're off the job and needed, its a simple matter to communicate with you where ever you are. Used to be if you weren't at home, there was no way anyone could communicate with you...unless they knew where you were going and had the number to the place(s) you were going to (Watch some old detective shows on TV and note how the Detective/Police Officer is reached at a restaurant or scene of a crime/home of a suspect/victim only because they told the station in advance they would be there).

Now, of course, getting in touch with a person is as easy as calling their cell phone...and people always carry that around with them. With the advent of more and more sophisticated cell phones, they can now receive emails and their attachments and, effectively, be "on call" at all hours of the day.

Which leads me to the article's most fascinating, IMHO, line:

In Canada, labor leaders have pushed to make employers pay for the hours workers spend on their BlackBerrys out of the office, and in the United States, lawsuits to recoup overtime pay for timehand-held devices are piling up. Perhaps making bosses pay for out-of-office texting time will be just the thing to get them to discourage it, but I fear that irreversible shifts in attitude and metabolism make this an unlikely hope. Professional rhythms have quickened to match technological possibility in ways that make resistance futile.

Perhaps it is.

Losing one's sense of smell...

ERTorre — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:46:45 GMT

It's one of those things you probably take for granted: Your sense of smell. I certainly did.

But after reading this terrifying account of one person's loss of smell, I guarantee you I'll never take it for granted again:

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2010/07/13/losing_my_sense_of_smell/index.html

Probe takes detailed pictures of crater covered asteroid...

ERTorre — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:35:03 GMT

Despite the many smart-assed/unimpressed comments below the article, I find the photo stunning...and beautiful. Is this the clearest, most pristine photograph yet of an asteroid?

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/07/11/asteroid.images/index.html?hpt=C2

Can't wait for the probe to reach the comet!

In these days of summer...

ERTorre — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 12:57:02 GMT

...10 destinations NOT to visit:

http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/07/08/10-destinations-not-to-visit

I suppose "any hotel that used to be a prison" is a given...right? ;-)

Olivia Munn interview

ERTorre — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:26:13 GMT

There has been something of a mini-controversy regarding G4's Olivia Munn's appearance on The Daily Show. Apparently some thought she was there only because she was "eye candy". She most certainly is a very beautiful woman, but she's also very funny, as evidenced by her Attack of the Show hosting. She is moving on and up, and its fascinating to read this interview with her.

Please note, however, that she can be pretty blunt in some of her commentary...

http://www.salon.com/books/int/2010/07/07/olivia_munn_interview/index.html

> > >

BP and Lindsay Lohan

ERTorre — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:00:36 GMT

They're two of the bigger stories in the news nowadays, so why not merge and examine 'em?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/07/bp-gets-preferential-trea_n_638627.html

For what it's worth, I think Lucia Graves makes some very interesting comments here. Say what you will about Lindsay Lohan and her downward spiral, thus far the only person she's hurt was herself. When the judge gave her 90 days in jail (and I've heard that, provided she displays the required good behavior while imprisoned, she may serve a little over 20 days before being released to her home), I thought that was rather harsh.

I know, I know. The internet gossip columns have been clamoring for Lindsay's head. And I know, I know, she has displayed incredible self-destructive, arrogant, perhaps even sociopathic tendencies.

But, again, who has she hurt other than herself and her reputation?

And we turn our heads from Lindsay to BP. And we focus on whom they have hurt. And we focus on their record (not just what's currently happening in the Gulf of Mexico), and suddenly Lindsay Lohan's "crimes" sure look like what they are: very petty compared to what BP has done/is doing. To ALL of us. But the reality is that we live in a world that is very reliant on oil and its byproducts (not just gasoline). So much so that we find there are many in public life willing to bend over backwards to resolve a situation BP created without, seemingly, going full bore after them for what is a massive, massive environmental calamity. While Lindsay Lohan is given "the book" (she was given more jail time than the prosecution asked), BP has some people in powerful positions willing to defend them for their various reasons. In the end, we're all the poorer.

All right, getting off my soapbox in 3...2...

Actually, its Mountains...

ERTorre — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 13:17:01 GMT

Absolutely fascinating article regarding successful and "failed" states, and the relationship between them and geographic features. In this case, a focus on mountains:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/21/actually_its_mountains

As filled as the internet is with nonsense (this site included! ;-) ), its always a pleasure to find such fascinating articles as the one above. If nothing else, it certainly makes you think a little more about the area around you and why certain things become what they are.

Italian Police to Open Tomb to Solve Girl's Disappearance...

ERTorre — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:54:04 GMT

There's that old cliche that truth is sometimes more interesting than fiction:

http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/italian-police-to-open-tomb-of-enrico-de-pedis-to-solve-emanuela-orlandis-disappearance/19543122

Until today I had never heard the case of Emanuela Orlandis, but its a true heart breaker, as is any case involving the disappearance of any loved one, particularly children. The fact that this case potentially intersects with the Vatican, the Mafia, and, of all things, the KGB adds several more layers of intrigue to an already depressing story. Was the young Ms. Orlandis the victim of the machinations of higher ups? And will her disappearance finally be solved by, of all things, opening the coffin of a reputed mobster?

Wild, wild stuff. While finding evidence of what happened to a missing family member in a reputed mobster's coffin seems a little...far fetched...for the sake of Ms. Orlandis' family, I truly hope they can at least receive some kind of closure, if not justice for their loss.

World's Worst Theme Parks

ERTorre — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 12:40:33 GMT

Despite the occasional frustration, the occasional anger, the occasional trolls to deal with, you gotta love the internet. At least for this:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/07/04/the_world_s_worst_theme_parks

Now, I don't want to give too much away, but read the bit on "Love Land". My favorite parts comes (no pun intended) at the end:

To get nervous couples in the mood for procreation, the park invites visitors to "appreciate the natural beauty of love," with attractions such as Breast Mountains, Giant Stone Penis, and the masturbation bike.

Giant Stone Penis?!

Finally...a flying car!

ERTorre — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:58:17 GMT

At least one of those sci-fi concepts appears to be close to realization:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/06/30/transition.flying.car/index.html?hpt=T2

But as cool as the concept of a flying "car" is to the child in me, the adult I am can't help but think about the ramifications of such an object becoming common place. Crashes, deaths, destruction. We're unleashing armageddon, I tell you!

Then again, the price tag of the vehicle, just under $200K, makes it likely there will suddenly be hundreds of these vehicles in the air and on the ground. At first anyway. But if the flying car...ahem...takes off and sells well, prices may go down and then we may see many, many more of these guys...

Armageddon!

Ads we hate

ERTorre — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:57:58 GMT

An amusing article from Slate Magazine about, you guessed it, ads that these people hate, for a variety of reasons:

http://www.slate.com/id/2258134/pagenum/all

To me, the worst commercials are those that run over and over and over again. Part of the delight in having a DVR is the fact that you can record your shows and zip through the commercials and therefore not be bothered by them.

But, out of curiosity, I can't help but wonder which commercials have been particularly effective. Usually, they tend to be humorous in nature, and more than a little off the wall. The Little Ceasar's commercials of a few years back fit the bill...for the most part.

Have I entered some kind of time warp?!

ERTorre — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:15:16 GMT

Hard to believe, but it has now been one year since Michael Jackson's death. A tribute and plenty of photographs, should you be interested in seeing them, can be found here:

http://www.ew.com/ew/package/0,,20396305,00.html

It feels like only a few days ago I first heard the news that Michael Jackson was being whisked to a Hospital after apparently fainting or losing consciousness. My wife, who arrived home after the cameras and helicopters were surrounding the Hospital in California, instantly knew the singer was dead. If he wasn't, she noted, we would have heard something already. She felt (and, it turned out she was right) that the hospital and staff and everyone else were dotting their "i"s and crossing their "t"s in preparation for the eventual press conference announcing Michael Jackson's death.

As I said back then, I wasn't a particularly big fan of Michael Jackson. It was impossible, given the era I grew up in, to not hear much of his music. While it was never anything horrible, to my ears neither was it anything that got me particularly excited. But as the years progressed and we moved away from Thriller, his most successful album, to his later days, the shining light of success turned, ever so slowly, into something far darker. His subsequent albums never quite reached the pinnacle of Thriller, and his music receded while stories about his bizarre behavior took the forefront.

Now, a year later, much of that darkness is being swept away with tributes to his music. For the fans, this is understandable. If you like his music there is little reason, especially now that he's gone, to focus on the (to put it mildly) eccentric behaviors.

But its been a year, and this year has rushed by at a pace that I can hardly believe. To my mind, the 1980's and 1990's were only a few weeks ago. I can hardly believe when I think about those times I'm reflecting on things that happened between 10 and 20 years ago. Curiously, I found another person also reflecting on the passage of time, Smashing Pumpkin's lead singer (and only original member still in the band) Billy Corgan. I visit the Smashing Pumpkins website now and again to see if they've released another new song (legally and for free!) from their current album. Their original intention, according to Mr. Corgan, was to release a new song each month, but after releasing four songs more or less on that schedule, they've slowed down. According to Mr. Corgan, also mentioned in the message, the next song will be released on the website on July 7th. However, here's the full message, which includes some interesting thoughts regarding the passage of time:

http://www.smashingpumpkins.com/anotefrombilly.php

Nurse in Iconic WWII Photo dies...

ERTorre — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:46:50 GMT

A sad story:

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/edith-shain-nurse-in-iconic-wwii-times-square-kiss-photo-dies-at-age-91/19527275

Edith Shain, a nurse, was involved in what is probably one of the best known WWII photographs ever taken. She was kissed by a sailor (his identity, to this day, is unknown) in Times Square immediately following the end of WWII and during the subsequent celebration. The article provides some interesting details about her life. Rest in Peace, Nurse Shain...

28 Awesome and Crazy X-Rays

ERTorre — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:03:05 GMT

Two lists in a row!

This one is fascinating: 28 Awesome and Crazy X-Rays. Not all of them are winners, but the ones that are...

http://www.urlesque.com/2010/06/16/28-awesome-and-crazy-x-rays/

And you thought the Gulf oil spill was horrible...

ERTorre — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:12:40 GMT

I've heard about the Niger Delta's oil spill problems, but this article brings the reality of the situation to the forefront, and proves, if proof of such a thing were ever necessary, that the world's attention on environmental disasters depend, sadly, on where these disasters occur...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37746494/ns/world_news-the_new_york_times/

One can only imagine the outrage such a continued environmental disaster would have caused had it occurred elsewhere...