Gervais vs. Bush

I’ve decided upon watching this that what I most want to see, and I don’t care how it happens, is an conversation between Ricky Gervais [in character as David Brent} and George Bush. I think that it would give us a real insight into Bushian/Gervaisian thought processes. Preferably, they would both be hooked up to some kind of brain monitoring system so that we could measure the peaks when they decided what would direct their next comment.

Gervais/Brent: What is your view of intelligence and of design and their connection and of creation?

Bush: I feel like both sides ought to be properly taught.

Gervais/Brent: And this is what’s important, isn’t it, that we have sides. Like on dice, which are good for gambling.

Bush: Yes, what is important is that we pursue the good, and protect our ability to be good. We need to protect ouserlves.

Gervais/Brent: I’ve always been an advocate of protection. But you just don’t know what kind of disease are out there do you? Protection is crucial.

Bush: Yes, it’s like my father use to say, that we need to more kind and also more gentle; A sort of decisive gentleness. I decide that there should be gentle things. I’m for the gentle.

Gervais/Brent: Don’t get me started on fathers ….

Waste and Desire

I’m realizing that one of my next projects is going to be to probe the questions around the creation, maintenance and disposal of computers. I love computers. I love using them and I think that the technology, blogging and all the other new communication tools we have are really good not just for society in North Atlantic countries but for the well-being of people throughout the world. I can learn much more about Haiti by paying attention to Global Voices than by listening to NPR. But I’m really ignorant about what it take to make my technology [3,000 gallons of water to make an ounce of silicon?] the sources of the raw products [coltan, which is basically controlled by a paramilitary group in its country of origin] and the disposal of old computers [to china in big toxic heaps?] If I want to own this many computers and use them this much I’m going to need to know more in order to be a more responsible citizen. Part of this comes from reading Adam Greenfield’s note on his book Everyware.

Stargate SG-1

It’s rare that really awful movies can spawn popular, good television series, especially without a ton of tweaking to the story. The Stargate franchise is an example of this. The movie was a great sci-fi flick for 45 minutes and then intolerable sci-fi horror [that’s how it seemed to me when I watched it] for an hour. The show had some difficult to watch moments in the first couple of seasons, but with the exception of the 200th episode it was a great 10 year run; I can even enjoy watching the movie now. Too bad it’s over.

Tennis: The sport of those who hate the poor

Don’t get me wrong. I like tennis. It’s a beautiful game. But I think it was Courier tonight, who upon hearing McEnroe remember that Roger Federer thought that money could be better spent on having more kids be given access to the game, said, in a brilliant combination of absolutely specious logic, American close-mindedness, entitlment, and rabidhypercapitalism, said:

If you don’t invest in yourself, you don’t grow, it’s about time we invested in ourselves, Roger just doesn’t want change, if I won as much as he did I wouldn’t want change either, Don’t even change the balls. Just keep playing.

That’s right Jim, just keep playing.

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Wondering when I will be deported ….

From the Chronicle of Higher Education

The U.S. Education Department has given the Federal Bureau of Investigation information on hundreds of students who applied for financial aid over the past five years as part of the federal government’s antiterrorism investigations following the attacks of September 11, 2001.

The program, known as Project Strike Back, was aimed at finding out if suspected terrorists were financing their operations through federal student aid obtained by using other students’ identities. The secret effort was uncovered by a journalism student at Northwestern University, Laura McGann.

Televised Racism

Over the next two weeks, you best opportunity to watch racism on t.v. will be the US Open tennis championship, televised on the USA television network. The commentators, analysts, and announcers will regale us with how wonderful the straight white tennis players are, and how the lesbians and the black players are struggling and can’t commit to their game. Venus and Serena may be the most popular tennis players in the nation, but you won’t be able to tell that by listening to the coverage. You’ll have wonderful queries like the one today in which the announcers wondered why Mauresmo isn’t talked about more. If they want to here her talked about more, why don’t they talk about her more. They are the ones on national t.v. We’ll here tons about how pretty Maria Sharapova is, in reference to her new Nike commercial. But Serena Williams, who designs her own clothing, will be doubted at every opportunity. Have fun!

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Back

First day of school today. My third year teaching at Bluffton. I now share seniority in my department with only one other person. Seniority is an interesting thing as the oldest person in our department will finish his graduate work last, and the newest member of the department finished his Ph.D. first.

Threw my back out this morning reaching for a towel. First time anything like this has happened to me. I’m in unbelievable pain.

Off to teach.