Following Up On The Juan Williams Thing...

He was recently invited to the Diane Rehm show on NPR.

Neither I nor the listeners who called in thought he redeemed himself. On the other hand, what other news organization would allow their staff to openly question and discuss the firing of an employee? (though technically I understand Diane is employed by American University, but this topic has been discussed on NPR's news programming)

However, this has inspired a tumblr blog: Pictures of Muslims Wearing Things

Via LGM: How to Know “Muslim Garb” When You See It

Awesome stuff such as

On Juan Williams

I never found him to be an insightful commentator on NPR, and NPR was probably looking for a way to end his contract.

But it was handled in perhaps the worst possible way.

Two best things I have read on the incident:

1. James Fallows at The Atlantic: Why NPR Matters

2. Glenn Greenwald at Salon: The real danger from NPR's firing of Juan Williams

Stop Me If You've Heard This Old Chestnut

I've been making updates about the return of American Chestnuts since 2006.

The WaPo is getting in the act now: The mighty American chestnut tree, poised for a comeback

Liz Phair At 43

Matador is celebrating their 21 years. Liz Phair wrote for the Wall St Journal about it: Liz Phair on Nineties Nostalgia

Liz Phair might be getting a second wind at 43. She's going to release Girlysound with Funstyle beginning October 19th.

Her recent interviews shows she's just over the whole indie queen thing.

AmericanSongWriter: I’m Not Joaquin Phoenix: An Interview With Liz Phair

KEXP: Live Preview + Interview: Liz Phair

Liz recently performed at Matador 21. The songs are up at YouTube. Here's 'Divorce Song'

Someday We Will All Be Driving Locomotives

That is, the cars we drive will eventually be diesel-electric hybrids.

Ever since the Ford Reflex concept car I have written to Volvo, Ford, Subaru, Mazda, Honda, and other manufacturers to tell them my family would support any company that is the first to bring a diesel-hybrid station wagon to market. Finally, finally, a major news outlet is covering this topic and it seems we're about to get our wish.

See Newsweek: Not So Dirty

Alton Brown Is A 5 Tool Threat

Editor, director, producer, writer, star.

USAToday has an in-depth profile of AB who is doing a tour to promote his latest book: Alton Brown barely has time to enjoy his 'Good Eats' green

Related news: Good Eats hits Hulu (yeah!!!)

Government Working

Earlier this year Steven Chu told BP how to use gamma rays to image their broken well.

Now another example of American government scientists helping private industry solve a problem.

See TheAtlantic: How NASA Engineers Helped Rescue Trapped Chilean Miners

Something to remember when some argue that government can't accomplish anything, the private industry is always better, science is flawed, etc.

I Don't Think This Is A Good Thing

A large influx of freshwater into the ocean can turn off ocean currents which halts the transfer of heat from the equator to the poles. (See Shutdown of thermohaline circulation)

UCIrvine: 18 percent more water fed into the world’s oceans from rivers and melting polar ice sheets in 2006 than in 1994, with an average annual rise of 1.5 percent.

[Via Juan Cole]

Uncommon Wool

I love wool. Love it. Hydrophobic on the outside and hydrophilic in the inside makes it perfect for clothing.

It can also be used in construction.

As insulation. See FC: Bellwether Materials Turns Sheep's Wool Into High-Quality Insulation

And in bricks. See Inhabitat: Researchers Develop Eco Super Bricks Made of Wool

'Running Wilde' Is How Mitch Hurwitz Teaches Fox A Lesson

Via B&C: Is 'Running Wilde' 'Arrested's Heir Apparent?

No, but it is how the Arrested Development players get back at Fox.

" When asked by an audience member if viewers of Running Wilde could expect the same sort of foreshadowing they saw in Arrested, Hurwitz answered with a cryptic "If I say yes, wouldn't I be doing exactly what Fox told me not to do?"

"Arrested Development didn't work in the ratings because of its complexity, so we have to bury that," Hurwitz said."

My prediction is each episode will include a buried homage to AD.

So far we have:
-the "made a huge mistake" moment in the Pilot
-the treehouse in the last week's episode

Instead of AD's multi-variant story lines and triple entendre jokes, Mitch and crew have dumbed the new show down and focus on the one story line. Basically taking the GOB and George Bluth relationship storyline and turning it into a show. The Switch Hitter episode expanded for the masses in other words.

Did I Say 2020? I Meant 2010.

Don't listen to analysts; look at how people in the know are preparing.

TOD: The oil 'peak' has been reached



TOD: World Oil Capacity to Peak in 2010 Says Petrobras CEO

BNET: Richard Branson Gives Peak Oil Street Cred

NYT: U.S. Military Orders Less Dependence on Fossil Fuels

CSMonitor: Secret German strategy leaked: Plans for peak oil

...the report bluntly indicates there’s the distinct possibility that “every market-oriented national economy would collapse.”

Alton Brown Links

[this post has been sitting in Draft status for over a year, finally getting around to it]

MemphisFlyer: Alton Brown Fish Recipes

Gizmodo: Alton Brown: Safe and Scary Kitchen Hacks

FastCompany: Alton Brown's Essential Kitchen Gadgets

Eater: Alton Brown on Being a Vessel, Next Iron Chef, and His Faith

Zap2It: Alton Brown talks 'Good Eats 2' celebrity chefs

Rebel Girls

I loved, loved the Riot Grrrl movement. Now it is getting the reflection it deserves.

A history of Riot Grrrl has been written by Sara Marcus and it is called Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution (Amazon link)

The Faster Times has an interview: Rebel Girls: Asking Sara Marcus about Girls to the Front: The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution

This is a good enough of a reason to post Bikini Kill's 'New Radio'