Dr Who and Archeology

I'm a time traveler I point and laugh at archaeologists.

Dr Who, Dr Who S04E08

Dr Who and Timeline Maintenance

Isn't traveling with you one big spoiler.

Donna Noble

I try to keep you away from any major plot developments,

Dr Who

Doctor Who S04E08

Fads and Fickle Voters

As a college professor and parent of college kids, one thing I have observed over the years is that this age cohort changes its mind often. One minute they are excited, the next minute they are bored with a candidate. Most of the college kids I know that were excited for Obama last winter are now questioning his qualifications and moving on to people like Nader (perhaps because they don't remember 2000)or even McCain. During every election cycle over the last 40 years reporters have discussed the youth vote, proclaiming it will be the big year for young voters, and every year they are disappointed. I hope they turn out in force and express their voices, but again, don't count on it all to be for Obama. I have seen more ardent support for Ron Paul than for any other candidate at my university. As researchers have pointed out, most young people do not have full brain development until their mid twenties, which might explain why their participation in electoral politics is often unpredictable.

AZhistorian, in Salon discussion about the "youth vote".

Have a Wonderful Acid Trip in a Ford

The Perils of Sterotyping

It is a shame that all the good Nazis are lumped in with Hitler.

Stephen Colbert, Tues, May 27

The Danger of Cars and Cellphones

(from Ads of the World)

Truth in Advertising

Might As Well Face it We're Addicted to Oil

Manny Aenlle Francisco, The Manila Times, Manila

Pavel Constantin, Romania

Zombies No Threat to Health

Dr. Oliver Morgan, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has looked into the problem of corpse disposal after mass casualty events. He has discovered that that simple precautions, gloves, masks and hand washing, can reduce the risk of handling corpses. On the other hand mass graves is more disturbing to the the survivors mental health than the physical risk of dead bodies.

Here is a journal article.
Here is Dr Morgan discussing his finding.

Gang Sociologist On GTA

Sudhir Venkatesh is a sociologist who has previously done some interesting work on the underground economy. In a article in Slate Magazine, Unjustifiable Carnage, Uneasy Alliances, and Lots of Self-Doubt, he describes how the game GTA IV correctly models the difficult political and economic problems of the demimonde.

Tree Rat as Football Player

If want to see how this was made check out this video about the making of the ad.

Standing on Guard in a Bad Neighbourhood

Rachel Papo is an American photographer who when she was 18 was inducted/drafted into the Israeli army. In her new exhibition/book, Serial No. 3817131, she returns to photograph young Israeli women also doing their mandatory army service. Below is an except of her artist's statement.

Almost fifteen years after my mandatory military duty ended, I went back to several Israeli army bases, using the medium of photography as a vehicle to re-enter this world. Serial No. 3817131 represents my effort to come to terms with the experiences of being a soldier from the perspective of an adult. My service had been a period of utter loneliness, mixed with apathy and pensiveness, and at the time I was too young to understand it all. Through the camera’s lens, I tried to reconstruct facets of my military life, hopeful to reconcile matters that had been left unresolved.

Anti-Idealism Message from P. J. O'Rourke

All politics stink. Even democracy stinks. Imagine if our clothes were selected by the majority of shoppers, which would be teenage girls. I'd be standing here with my bellybutton exposed. Imagine deciding the dinner menu by family secret ballot. I've got three kids and three dogs in my family. We'd be eating Froot Loops and rotten meat.

P.J. O'Rourke, in a commencement address.

Trust?

I kidnapped you. You're surprised I lied to you?

House, HouseS04E14

The Fight Club Matrix

This is a mashup of the audio of trailers of The Matrix and Fight Club.

Insurance that Gives you Nirvana

Bangkok Insurance has a series of ads that promise not only the absence of worry but also the absence of concern of just about all material concern. The ad above promises total relaxation after a serious life threatening accident. Another ad suggest a plane crashed into you house would naturally make you think of dinner plans. The last ad reminds one that the loss of expensive automobile is not as significant as meeting an old friend.

2001 Goodfellas

False Advertising - Movie Trailers Recut to Show the Opposite

The Incredibles as a dark drama about the inner rage of a superhero. on a similar vien is this mashup of the trailer for Miami Vice mashed up with the Incredibles.



Terminator as Girl meet Android love story.

Must Shop for Brains