Official Google Blog: Do you "Google?"

Official Google Blog: Do you "Google?": "What do zippers, baby oil, brassieres and trampolines have in common?"

This is totally bizarre. Someone out there who understands trademark law needs to break this down. It seems very un-google-like as a statement. How could they not know that this would be alienating toward their user base?

By the way, I picked up on this story through Salon's How the World Works which is always pretty interesting.

More No on 90 stuff

The Next American City: "There's one in Arizona called Proposition 207, as well as copycat versions in California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Washington. The details differ from place to place, but they all operate on the same basic principle: If we want property owners to obey the law, then we should pay them. And if we can't afford to pay them, then we should give them a free pass from the law."

I know that you might all be tired of hearing me complain about Prop 90 which is pretty much one of the worst disasters that could happen in the election this November for Californians. If you're in any of the other states the article focuses on, you owe it to yourself to check out what's on your ballot too. Same interests, same warped process...

GOP Bigotry That Backfired - washingtonpost.com

GOP Bigotry That Backfired - washingtonpost.com: "One of the central tenets of anti-homosexual doctrine is the notion of 'recruitment' -- that adult gay people lure young people into homosexuality as a way of increasing their numbers. The most extreme anti-gay activists perceive a full-fledged conspiracy."

I saw this piece last week. I thought the discussion of recruitment as a myth was useful and relevant beyond this narrow scandal. I think that battling the recruitment myth will continue to be an ongoing fight for the LGBT movement.

AlterNet: The GOP Is the Problem, Not Foley

AlterNet: The GOP Is the Problem, Not Foley: "Pity Mark Foley or hate him, try to understand this congressman or try to demonize him, but understand that the fundamental truth of the current moment is that Republican leaders in the House knew that one of their own had a problem and chose to disregard that knowledge in order to protect a 'safe' seat and their shaky grip on power."

I thought this piece was a good analysis of the Foley scandal. It was interesting and added some additional dimensions that have been absent from what I've seen, with a fair amount of background story. It's also a sad story I think about isolation in life.

AlterNet: Blogs: Video#42664

AlterNet: Blogs: Video#42664: "Olbermann once again takes the carving knife to Bush Admin rhetoric."

Not that it's such an amazing diatribe, and it's kind of excessively verbose, but it was on MSNBC which is pretty exciting. I'd give Countdown a try again if RCN had MSNBC.

Improbable Research

Improbable Research: "The winners have all done things that first make people LAUGH, then make them THINK."

This is some pretty funny research. My top choice for reading? "Consequences of Erudite Vernacular Utilized Irrespective of Necessity: Problems with Using Long Words Needlessly," Daniel M. Oppenheimer, Applied Cognitive Psychology. Professor Oppenheimer taught the Psychology for Policy Analysis and Implementation class the year after I took it. It is a great course (WWS502).

Too bad I can only access the abstract. Anyone out there with access to Applied Cognitive Psychology, send me the article please.

Where were you the day Gavin changed his 'do?

Where were you the day Gavin changed his 'do?: "As one pundit wrote in the comments board on SFist.com shortly after the news broke, 'First, he steals the idea for tidal power from Matt Gonzalez, then he steals the hairstyle.'"

You have to admit that this is funny. And a shocker -- the new look is extremely different!

Helicoptering in South Florida

from my trip!

Crooks and Liars » Bill O’Reilly labels Rep. Foley a Democrat

Crooks and Liars » Bill O’Reilly labels Rep. Foley a Democrat

Can you believe this? I'm sort of amused. Can you imagine if every cable new channel just started changing people's political parties to suit the occasion. I'm kind of into it.