Michael Crichton, Complexity, and the Environment

I was saddened by the death of Michael Crichton. Not only did the world lose an incredibly interesting storyteller, but an incredibly intelligent and objective man.

Here he writes about complex systems, and how they apply to the environment; He even throws little economics and sociology in there. Anybody interested in “saving” the environment should read this. In fact, any body the least bit interested in science, complexity theory, economics, should read this; as it is not only incredibly interesting but incredibly informative.

….who believes that the complex system of our atmosphere behaves in such a simple and predictable way that if we reduce one component, carbon dioxide, we will therefore reliably reduce temperature? CO2 is not like an accelerator on a car. It’s not linear (and by the way, neither is a car accelerator.) And furthermore, who believes that the climate can be stabilized when it has never been stable throughout the earth’s history? We can only entertain such an idea if we don’t really understand what a complex system is.

There are also lots of pictures. So please, read it. It really is very good. A great tribute to a mind that is no longer with us.

9

People have compared this upcoming film to the Secret of the Nymph, which I greatly respected for its mood and animation but not so much for its story.

9 is about the last ‘living’ creatures on earth, created by man before we destroyed ourselves (presumably through war.) It is based on an Academy award nominated short; and is being directed by Tim Burton.

Watch the trailer here.

And here is the original short it was based off of:



Now, I am a bit of an animation geek; and I simply love the fact that American animation seems to be maturing. With shows like Avatar: the last airbender and movie like Beowulf and the Incredibles; the entertainment industry is taking its first steps into a medium rife with opportunities.

It still has a long way to go, both in terms of quality and public acceptance; but the point is that it is going that way.

9 seems to be exploring moods and themes not common in the industry; and I respect the hell out if it for taking the risk, even if it turns out not to be successful.

So, enjoy the video above, and give 9 a chance.

Oh, and Merry Christmas.

Hell Yeah!

Getting to the Heart of It

Bad Movies

Over at Variety, a guy named Eric D. Snider has composed a fairly impressive list of really, really, really bad movies (and some mediocre ones for spice.)

I particularly like his review of Patch Adams.

The Real Thanksgiving

Benjamin Powell lays out the real story behind the famous Thanksgiving feast. Turns out a good deal of economics was involved.

Nunchuck Ping Pong

Just think about how coordinated a person would have to be to do this:



Bruce Lee was incredible. Pity it's fake.

Web 2.0

Final Countdown

These guys play a wicked cello:

DRE 700 for President

If Only:


Voting Machines Elect One Of Their Own As President

The Singularity is going to be scary.

RUSSELL ROBERTS: THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING: A PARABLE OF POSSIBILITY AND PROSPERITY

A Quick Liberty Quote

"Political tags-such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth-are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire."

- Robert A. Heinlein

Skyray 48 Takes Flight

Read the full article here.

P.S. – I just realized that a few too many of my posts come from a Forum I frequent; maybe I should just post a permanent link to there?

Monty Python Philosophy Football

First Direct Image of Multiple Exoplanets Orbiting a Star

This is another great development in science and technology:

For the first time, astronomers have taken a visual image of a
multiple-planet solar system beyond our own.

Using the Gemini North telescope and the W. M. Keck Observatory on Hawaii's Mauna Kea, researchers observed in infrared light three planets orbiting around a star about 130 light-years away from Earth, called HR 8799. The discovery,published today in Science Express, is a step forward in the hunt for planets, and life, beyond Earth.

The next logical step will be to look at the light spectrum coming off the planets, which well tell astronomers what type of gases are in the atmosphere.

If there is an abundance of oxygen, that is pretty strong indicator of organic life. That is something I would very much like to see.

Brain Powered

A few posts ago I mentioned how ‘it really feels like we are starting to live in the future’; to reiterate that point, here is another incredible breakthrough:


Watch CBS Videos Online

This has far more application then merely a diversion for the handicapped; applications which will be created after this technology become more practical.

I am always one for skepticism when it comes to extreme claims; but the ‘man-machine interface’ does seem well underway.

I Give Up

I have officially given in to my geek-ness; a personality trait I have fought before on this blog. To prove the point, here is a picture of the enterprise in the upcoming J.J. Abrams relaunch:

The four things that attracted me to Star Trek where 1) the incredible forward-thinking optimism of the show, 2) the ethical, political, and scientific dilemmas, 3) all the “gee-wiz” moments and 4) the fact that people solved their problems with their minds (it was mostly pro-reason.)

While I think that Abrams will give me item number 1, I don’t know about number 2, 3, or 4. Judging Abrams by his work, the show Lost seems generally anti-reason, while Fringe has a tendency to be anti-science. I could be wrong, and I admit I have never fully watched either of these shows.

In any case, I’m hopeful. Abrams might just be the kick-in-the-pants the franchise needs to launch it out of its recent mediocrity.

P.S. – If any of you have any idea how the Star Trek economy works, please tell me, I have been curious for years.

What Needs to be Known About Hoover

I wince whenever I hear that Hoover was a supporter of free-markets or laissez-faire Capitilism. It is so easily proven wrong. And it is not wrong in some abstract sense, it is not a matter of argumentation, it is factually wrong. It is like saying “President George Washington is a woman”; it simply has no merit.

And yet, in most history books, in most lectures, and in most people eyes: Hoover was a stanch supporter of ‘free-markets’, which eventually led to the Great Depression (and thank God to FDR for saving the day!)

Well, here is Hoover, in his own words, talking about the various achievements of his administration right before the 1932 election. Judge for yourself how “laissez-faire” they are.

UP Trailer

I like the look of this, it has a children’s book, fable –like quality to it that I find charming.

Coraline

I hope the art of stop-motion animation stays alive for awhile more; it creates a unique look on stage that simply is not achieved by any other current technology. Tim Burton’s visually exiting The Corpse Bride was a great leap forward for the genre; and the always entertaining adventures of Wallace and Gromit simply wouldn’t be itself without stop-animation.

The next major stop-animation production coming out is Coraline, a movie based on the novella by Neil Gaiman. It is a ‘through the looking glass’ type story, as I understand it, with an intelligent female lead.

I just hope the movie is able to follow in the footsteps of its impressive poster.

(Please excuse me these light posts of late, but the political season has burned me out, I just want a break from it all for a time.)

DOLLHOUSE

I liked Joss Whedon’s Firefly, and to a much lesser extent his Buffy and Angel series. He seems to have a knack for creating interesting characters that interact in a kind of extended dysfunctional family. Well now he is starting up a whole new series called Dollhouse; check it out:



My Own Worst Enemy is a show that has a (completely contrived) identity crisis built into it; it is also horribly disappointing and convoluted. Identity is one of the most interesting things about us; what makes me, me? How much can you change a person before they become someone else? Where does responsibility (and free-will) lie in this scenario?

There is some great ground Whedon can cover. I hope he is able to bring it all together in an entertaining and thought-provoking way (unlike My Own Worst Enemy.)

‘Is Obama a Socialist?’

Donald J. Boudreaux talks with his usually clarity and insight on weather or not Obama is a “Socialist.” His answer:

No. At least not in the classic sense of the term. "Socialism" originally meant government ownership of the major means of production and finance, such as land, coal mines, steel mills, automobile factories, and banks.

Be sure to read the rest of his explanation.

Michael Crichton: 1942-2008

A little Mises

Of all the major free-market advocates, Mises is in my top five. Despite some rather blatant philosophical errors, he was able to articulate the justification for free-markets better then any other major voice (Freidman and Hayek included.) He also pointed out the various inconsistencies and contradictions within the anti-Capitalist mentalities:

NOTHING is more unpopular today than the free market economy, i.e., capitalism. Everything that is considered unsatisfactory in present-day conditions is charged to capitalism. The atheists make capitalism responsible for the survival of Christianity. But the papal encyclicals blame capitalism for the spread of irreligion and the sins of our contemporaries, and the Protestant churches and sects are no less vigorous in their indictment of capitalist greed. Friends of peace consider our wars as an offshoot of capitalist imperialism. But the adamant nationalist warmongers of Germany and Italy indicted capitalism for its "bourgeois" pacifism, contrary to human nature and to the inescapable laws of history. Sermonizers accuse capitalism of disrupting the family and fostering licentiousness. But the "progressives" blame capitalism for the preservation of allegedly outdated rules of sexual restraint. Almost all men agree that poverty
is an outcome of capitalism. On the other hand many deplore the fact that capitalism, in catering lavishly to the wishes of people intent upon getting more amenities and a better living, promotes a crass materialism. These contradictory accusations of capitalism cancel one another. But the fact remains that there are few people left who would not condemn capitalism
altogether.

The articles below are not new, and in fact are somewhat dated, but still incredibly relevant for today’s generation. I just thank Capitilism.com for publishing them:

Planned Chaos: Introduction (Part 1 of 11)

Planned Chaos: The Failure of Interventionism (Part 2 of 11)

Planned Chaos: The Dictatorial, Anti-Democratic and Socialist Character of Interventionism (Part 3 of 11)

Planned Chaos: Socialism and Communism (Part 4 of 11)

Planned Chaos: Russia's Aggressiveness (Part 5 of 11)

Some Chopin on Election Day

Something for Halloween

Yeah, I know I’m a little late:



While not technically a piece about Halloween, I none-the-less thought that Edger Allen Poe fit the ‘mood’ of the season. Plus, the design and the narrative of the piece are brilliant; even if you don’t like its darkness.

High-Speed Gene Sequencing

It really feels like we're starting to live in the future:



Full article here.

Nations of the World

In my attempt to post something that won’t require a huge expense of effort (and subsequently decrease the importance of this blog), here is Wacko singing the nations of the world:



Yeah I know; this song needs some updating (as some of the countries don’t exist anymore.) Still a fun song.

And for all my German readers, here is the song in Deutsch.

“Do Not Vote”

Whoever posts at Monopoly on Reason has some very interesting reasons why he will not vote in this coming election (or any one in the foreseeable future, for that matter.)

How the Tax System Works

I love a good metaphor; and Doug Reach has a particularly good one at The Rational Capitalist concerning the tax code, called Barstool Economics.

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

It gets even more entertaining after that.

Mental ‘bandwagoning’

I have never been a big fan of Howard Stern (I have nothing against the man, just never listen to him) but I think this experiment is pretty interesting. His co-host asked several people who they supported in the next presidential race, and why, and then asked if they supported certain policies; the twist is that he switched the policies of the candidates.

A women was asked who she supported, she said “Obama”; she was then asked if she supported Obama’s pro-life, pro-Iraq war stance; the women said “yes”; she was then asked if she didn’t mind Sarah Palin for Vice President; the women didn’t mind at all. He did the same thing with a man who supported McCain; But don’t take my word for it:

(WARNING: some Language and Crudeness.)



A longer version is here.

To be fair, a good social engineer can get people to answer questions they know are false; people, when nervous and on-the-spot, will often say silly things; people who conduct polls have been doing this for years. None-the-less, this still demonstrates the “mental bandwagoning” that politics seems to inspire (and yes, I am fully aware that is not a word.)

It’s funny, very few feel qualified (or for that matter, interested) to talk about issues of philosophy or science, but nearly all feel qualified to talk about politics; a field of philosophy which is theoretically complex, and even more complex in practice.

How many people actually spend the time to research their own opinions, to critically examine their ideas? Wouldn’t a truly honest person want not only an opinion, but a correct opinion? This becomes even more bizarre when you look at the passions that follow politics; the passions seem to go far beyond the intellect.

It seems everybody wants an opinion, but next to nobody seems to want to work for a good one.

Scientific Method and Video Games

Who says video games are making people stupid? According to one Clive Thompson at Wired News, many video games encourage the use of the scientific method, even if the gamers don’t know it.

I knew all the hours I dedicated to World of Warcraft would pay off somehow.

Rational Debate

I wish I knew about this website before today; it is a brilliant mix of debate and argumentation that avoids the messy and un-intellectual nature of most internet debates (I’m looking at you, youtube.) According to the website: Opposing Views is, “real experts, going head to head on issue you care about.” All arguments are posted by people who are recognized authorities on the matter, as well as all counter-arguments.

The layout is brilliant, and so is the idea, anybody interested in ideas should spend a good deal of time there. This site deserves, and will be, a permanent part of my links list.

“In Defense of the Rich”

A great article by Larry Elder talks about the ideas and reality behind hurting the rich. Here are a few snippets:

The top 5 percent (those making more than $153,542 — the group whose taxes Obama seeks to raise) pay 60 percent of all federal income taxes. The rich (aka the top 1 percent of income earners, those making more than $388,806 a year), according to the IRS, pay 40 percent of all federal income taxes.

He then starts applying the real data to people's preconceptions:

Now, what do people think the rich pay? The IBD/TIPP poll found that 36 percent of those polled thought the rich contribute 10 percent or less of all federal income taxes. Another 15 percent thought the rich pay between 10 and 20 percent, while another 10 percent thought the rich’s share is between 20 and 30 percent.

He goes on to say:

Let’s try this another way. A U.S. News & World Report blogger went to the Democratic National Convention in Denver and conducted an informal poll of 24 DNC delegates. He asked them, “What should ‘the rich’ pay in income taxes?” Half the respondents said “25 percent”; 25 percent said “20 percent”; 12 percent said “30 percent”; and another 12 percent said “35 percent.”

The average DNC delegate wanted the rich to pay 25.6 percent, which is lower than what the rich pay now — both by share of taxes and by tax rate!

The article says far more, very much worth reading.

Go Jon Stossel!

This is a scathing review of politicians and their promises:



Also be sure to watch the rest. Here is part two, part three, part four, part five, and part six.

A Test

Here’s a test for you. First, look at these two pieces of art:

Now, one of these pieces of art was created by a human, and one by a chimpanzee; can you definitively name which is which?

And for the record, I like “modern art” when it can create interesting aesthetic images (it works especially well in accenting interior design or architecture) but I can’t stand the silliness and arrogance behind the ‘modern art’ world.

(Answer:The first piece of work is by Scott Draves, the second by Cheeta, from the Tarzan movies.)

The Joe Factor

I don’t like Obama, and I don’t like McCain, but I do like Joe. I relate to Joe; a good, hardworking person that doesn’t want to become a serf to thugs in Washington. Sure, he made a few mistakes in interpreting tax law (and you can’t really blame him, current tax law being so needlessly complicated and convoluted) but he still feels what most people feel: that theft is wrong, and government theft is no exception.

Read this, for a good little article on Joe; and spread the word, the 'Joe's' of the world must be heard.

"We’ve Seen Worse"

Richard M. Salsmen talks very rationally about the current financial panic, effectively arguing that we have seen much worse, even within recent history.

The current credit and financial turmoil was inevitable, as long as the U.S. government persisted in massively subsidizing and regulating the financial sector; and the current turmoil is no more severe than what U.S. markets suffered in 1990-1991, when junk bonds crashed and the savings-and-loan industry virtually disappeared due to similarly reckless practices. Not even the housing sector’s current troubles can be said to match those seen in the 1974-75 recession.

In the near-term, the dollar will weaken and commodity prices (especially gold) will rise, due to fears of the Treasury plan being inflationary; but in the coming quarters and years the dollar should strengthen again as commodity prices decline.

He goes on to say:

….all the scare-mongering about a potential “systemic catastrophe” or “financial cataclysm,” should a major financial institution fail, is just that: scare-mongering. These unproven (and unprovable) assertions are made by those who don’t understand the financial system, or stand on the wrong side of trades or are eager to see still more socialist power accumulate in Washington.

I wish everybody could be so level-headed.

Fun with Sticky Notes

I love creative people.

Art = Painkiller

As it turns out, art can serve as a kind of painkiller. According to a study carried out by the University of Bali, people report feeling less pain when viewing art they considered beautiful.

Looking at a beautiful piece of art has long been said to have the power to heal emotional wounds but the new research also claims it offers a distraction from physical pain.

The research….could help vindicate hospitals who are accused of wasting money on art and decor as it suggests a pleasant environment helps patients overcome discomfort and pain.

The article goes on to say:

They were then asked to contemplate either the beautiful paintings, or the ugly painting, or a blank panel while the team zapped a short laser pulse at their hand, creating a sensation as if they had been pricked by a pin. The subjects rated the pain as being a third less intense while they were viewing the beautiful paintings, compared with when contemplating the ugly paintings or the blank panel.

Electrodes measuring the brain's electrical activity also confirmed a reduced response to the pain when the subject looked at beautiful paintings.

This is all very interesting; not just because it enhances the importance to art, but also its implications on how the brain processes information in various circumstances (not to mention the relationship between the mind and the brain.)

Aesthetics is an interesting field; why the human brain is so affected by it remains one of the most mysterious questions science has yet to completely answer.

Cell Video

This is an incredible time-lapse video of some zebrafish embryos:

More Links

While our candidates are busy throwing ad hominem attacks at each other (ironical, at the same time there busy agreeing with each other on nearly everything) I was gathering up a couple more good bits of information and articles on the bailout and financial panic.

Here is one by John Stossel, in which he rightly criticizes Obama and McCain on their continued support of government intervention.

And Thomas Sowell talks very eloquently and clearly on the irony that the Democrats are benefiting from the financial crisis.

Here is a short but sweat article on the mindset of the bailout; it’s deeper philosophical underpinnings and mistakes.

Another P.H.D in economics, Walter Williams, talks here about the history of the Community Reinvestment Act and how unsound political policies led to what is happening now.

Some very sharp analysis of the problem can be found at TCS Daily. This one is not by a straight free-marketer. Neither is this piece of work, but it is intelligent none-the-less. This, this, this, this, and this are also good.

There are plenty of good resources to get information on the current panic; there are honest voices from nearly any political philosophies. I beg anybody that happens upon this post, just do some research.

I will post more articles as long as I read them

The Bailout Passed

Unfortunately, it’s true.

I have to say I am somewhat ashamed of my government right now. I could accept the existence of the bailout if it was based on some mistaken principles; but principle had nothing to do with this. The bailout was padded with almost a 100-billon more dollars (on top of the 700 billion) for things that had nothing to do with the financial sector, to buy off dissenting representatives.

Shameful. It almost makes me wish the first bill passed. Not that it would make much difference.

I will follow this story as long as it is possible to (and the effects of the bill before it gets lost in natural economic confusion.) For those still interested, keep doing research, and maybe in the future history won’t repeat itself. I implore all of you to do think, debate, and apply logic (and if you interested, look at the Swedish banking crisis in 1991 or the real-estate crises in Japan at around the same time; both have a great deal to say about what's happening right now.)

“Reason and Emotion”

Wartime propaganda cartoons are an interesting thing; from an artistic perspective, there actually not all that bad (Keep in mind that many of these cartoons where showed before movies, and where intended to reach kids and adults alike.) The biggest studies that made these kind of cartoons where: Disney and Warner Brothers. Of the two, Warner Brothers attempted to be more frantic and comic, often dropping Bugs Bunny or Daffy into war zones (the shows where also incredibly racist, but that’s a different story.) Disney, on the other hand, created more quite and thought-out pieces of work. Like this one:



I suppose it’s too much to ask for a Disney cartoon from the 1940's to be philosophically perfect. Still, there is actually some good stuff there (though the film rather explicitly upholds the reason/emotion dichotomy.) It is surprising to find something so pro-reason, especially in wartime cartoons, which tended to appeal heavily to emotions. Disney was more positive then that, and made films that even today the company can be proud of (unlike Warner Brothers, which tries to hide much of their wartime propaganda.)

Though I do have one major complaint: why does ‘reason’ have to be a balding, scrawny guy in his mid-to-late forties?

SpaceX: Falcon I Launch

With the election in full swing, and the current financial crisis (and its political ramifications) it is easy to lose sight of what is really happening in the world; especially when it comes to developments in science, or in this case, technology.

In a soaring step forward for privatized space exploration, the Falcon I rocket has made it into space (after a few failures.) This is all aimed at the goal to, “make spaceflight ten times cheaper then it is now.”


This, of course, follows in the footsteps of the incredible achievements of SpaceshipOne and Virgin Galactic; a company more aimed towards space tourism.

There is an obvious industry for communication in space, which is now being exploited, after long years of being held down by silly government mandates (like the law against advertising on your space-craft, or how NASA works at a loss to lift satellites.) Despite the incredible achievements made by government space agencies, the first real push into space (and eventual colonization) will come from private ventures.

Though there are many issues that need to be panned out first. Ownership of other worlds like Mars and even the Moon; drilling and exploitation rights on objects like meteorites; who handles threats like meteorites and comets when it comes to Earth’s safety; and just what can a person do and not do in space?

In my humble opinion, many of these issues can be dealt with before they actually come up; and governmental forces will need to get involved. Property rights on distant worlds can be decided beforehand (and will actually create powerful incentives for exploration.) Large scale (Earth-wide) threats like comets and meteorites will require government; and certain codes and laws for transporting possibly contaminated material from space will also need to be created.

But for now, let’s just enjoy the achievements of companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic; the ones just beginning to bring us into a new age of spaceflight and exploration; the first real Space Age has not even been born yet; but thanks to them, it might happen sooner then we think.

Tremendous Foresight

Back in 2000, a man named Howard Husock wrote an article on the possible ramifications of the Community Reinvestment Act; how it was structured and what it would do. Considering what is now happing in the financial sector, I wish he was listened to:

The Trillion-Dollar Bank Shakedown That Bodes Ill for Cities

"The Clinton administration has turned the Community Reinvestment Act, a once-obscure and lightly enforced banking regulation law, into one of the most powerful mandates shaping American cities—and, as Senate Banking Committee
chairman Phil Gramm memorably put it, a vast extortion scheme against the nation's banks. Under its provisions, U.S. banks have committed nearly $1 trillion for inner-city and low-income mortgages and real estate development projects, most of it funneled through a nationwide network of left-wing community groups, intent, in some cases, on teaching their low-income clients that the financial system is their enemy and, implicitly, that government, rather than their own striving, is the key to their well-being.

The CRA's premise sounds unassailable: helping the poor buy and keep homes will stabilize and rebuild city neighborhoods. As enforced today, though, the law portends just the opposite, threatening to undermine the efforts of the upwardly mobile poor by saddling them with neighbors more than usually likely to depress property values by not maintaining their homes adequately or by losing them to foreclosure. The CRA's logic also helps to ensure that inner-city neighborhoods stay poor by discouraging the kinds of investment that might make them better off."

And here is one more article from CNN politics , here is a U.S. senator talking about it, and here is a Forbes article on where that ‘700’ billon figure come from; if what I have been posting is not enough for you.

A Couple More for the Crusade

In my ongoing quest to get the word out about the bailout and the financial “crisis”; I am posting two more good articles I found on another blog (Café Hayek, if you’re interested):

Why the Bailout is Bad for America, by Daniel Mitchell

Dear comrades: Let's do nothing

This really is a crucial time for debate and rational inquiry. So do research, get educated, and get the word out. Public opinion means a great deal to legislators, so don't let up.

One More Post on the Crisis

David, at Truth, Justice, and the American Way also has something to say about the current financial situation:

What you Need to Know about the Economic “Crisis”

"Economics is not a complicated science. This may not seem obvious to you if you’ve following the news from Washington, where a cabal of politicians, financiers and lobbyists have been spent the last several weeks desperately making a series of increasingly complicated, expensive, and ultimately unsuccessful plans to “save the economy.” As the costs of their schemes have spiraled from billions and into the trillions of dollars, it has become increasingly urgent for you, the source of Congress’ deep pockets, to examine the potential impact of their actions on your taxes, savings, and investments.

The key to understanding economic theory is to grasp that the same principles that apply to your personal finances, and perhaps to your interaction with your local grocer apply equally to the world at large, at all levels of economy activity. The key to understanding politics is to grasp that political success requires advocating policies which violate these basic
economic principles - and then evading the consequences of their own policies - with the voters’ eager participation in the delusion."

Thomas Sowell on the Bailout

Here are a few astute observations by economist Thomas Sowell the recent financial crisis:

Bailout Politics

"....If Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were free market institutions they could not have gotten away with their risky financial practices because no one would have bought their securities without the implicit assumption that the politicians would bail them out.

It would be better if no such government-supported enterprises had been created in the first place and mortgages were in fact left to the free market. This bailout creates the expectation of future bailouts.

Phasing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would make much more sense than letting politicians play politics with them again, with the risk and expense being again loaded onto the taxpayers."

Bailout Didn't Pass!

This one came out of left field; I honestly expected the bill to pass, but it didn’t:

The House rejected the 700 Billion dollar bailout bill.

I don’t know, maybe tons of blogs like this one made the difference; maybe the public and politicians looked outside of their sound-bites for a moment and recognized the economic reality of the situation; or maybe this is just the result of cheap political tactics and partisan politics.

In any case, this is good news; though I foster no delusions that it will last.

John Allison Speaks

John Allison is the CEO of BB&T, A successful financial institution. He has a few things to say about the current financial situation:

1. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are the primary cause of the mortgage crisis. These government supported enterprises distorted normal market risk mechanisms. While individual private financial institutions have made serious mistakes, the
problems in the financial system have been caused by government policies including, affordable housing (now sub-prime), combined with the market disruptions caused by the Federal Reserve holding interest rates too low and
then raising interest rates too high.
2. There is no panic on Main Street and in sound financial institutions. The problems are in high-risk financial
institutions and on Wall Street.
3. While all financial intermediaries are being impacted by liquidity issues, this is primarily a bailout of poorly run
financial institutions. It is extremely important that the bailout not damage well run companies.
4. Corrections are not all bad. The market correction process eliminates irrational competitors. There were a number of poorly managed institutions and poorly made financial decisions during the real estate boom. It is important that any rules post “rescue” punish the poorly run institutions and
not punish the well run companies.
5. A significant and immediate tax credit for purchasing homes would be a far less expensive and more effective cure for
the mortgage market and financial system than the proposed “rescue” plan.
6. This is a housing value crisis. It does not make economic sense to purchase credit card loans, automobile loans, etc. The government should directly purchase housing assets, not real estate bonds. This would include lots and houses under construction.
7. The guaranty of money funds by the U.S. Treasury creates enormous risk for the banking industry. Banks have been paying into the FDIC insurance fund since 1933. The fund has a limit of $100,000 per client. An arbitrary, “out of the blue” guarantee of money funds creates risk for the taxpayers and significantly distorts financial markets.
8. Protecting the banking system, which is fundamentally controlled by the Federal Reserve, is an established government function. It is completely unclear why the government needs to or should bailout insurance companies, investment banks,
hedge funds and foreign companies.
9. It is extremely unclear how the government will price the problem real estate assets. Priced too low, the real estate markets will be worse off than if the bail out did not exist.Priced too high, the taxpayers will take huge losses. Without a market price, how can you rationally determine value?
10. The proposed bankruptcy “cram down” will severely negatively impact mortgage markets and will damage well run
institutions. This will provide an incentive for homeowners who are able to pay their mortgages, but have a loss in their house, to take bankruptcy and force losses on banks. (Banks would not have received the gains had the houses appreciated.) This will substantially increase the risk in mortgage lending and
make mortgage pricing much higher in the future.
11. Fair Value accounting should be changed immediately. It does not work when there are no market prices. If we had Fair Value accounting, as interpreted today, in the early 1990’s the
United States financial system would have crashed. Accounting should not drive economic activity, it should reflect it.
12. The proposed new merger accounting rules should be deferred for at least five years. The new merger accounting rules are creating uncertainty for high quality companies who might potentially purchase weaker companies.
13. The primary beneficiaries of the proposed rescue are Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. The Treasury has a number of smart individuals, including Hank Paulson. However, Treasury is totally dominated by Wall Street investment bankers. They do not have knowledge of the commercial banking industry. Therefore, they can not be relied on to objectively assess all the implications of government policy on all financial intermediaries. The decision to protect the money funds is a clear example of a material lack of insight into the risk to the total financial system.
14. Arbitrary limits on executive compensation will be self defeating. With these limits, only the failing financial institutions will participate in the “rescue,” effectively making this plan a massive subsidy for incompetence. Also, how will companies attract the leadership talent to manage theirbusiness effectively with irrational compensation limits?

I found this at Rule of Reason, which linked to blogger Dave Wilson.

The Man and His Dream

Great Clip from the 1988 movie:

Burning Down the House

Below is an almost-good video about the current ‘economic crisis.’ You can ignore what it says about immigration and schools, and try to read just the facts from the current political point it is trying to make (please ignore the politics of the video and focus on the facts! This video is somewhat one-sided and ignores the Conservative contribution to this problem.) Ironically, this video correctly identifies that free-markets had little to do with the current crisis, but doesn't seem to know what ‘free-markets’ are.

Still, there are a good deal of facts in this short video, and it’s worth a watch:



It is a common practice for people to point to the failures of government as the failure of free-markets. Let’s just hope people have the slightest inkling to look at the facts.

And I love the slogan of video: “if you don’t believe it, just Google it.” There is a difference between facts and opinions, ideology and reality. The idea that this mess was caused by free-market ideals is factually untrue; I don’t care what political spin anybody, on any side, puts on this; this simple fact is irrefutable. Period.

Fun Video on Quantum Physics

Quantum Physics is weird.

Maps of War

Maps of War is an interesting site, it’s dedicated to several major historical trends, and plays them out on animated maps; it also has several articles.

This video, which shows the rise and fall of major powers in Europe, Africa and Asia (from 1400 B.C. to 1979) is great.

I also liked thier History of Religion video; which only shows Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, but is fascinating none-the less:

Some Sense among Economic Woes

I know I’m basically the only one that reads this blog, but I thought I would post these and spread them around as much as possible, just in case:

Free Markets to the Rescue, by Donald J. Boudreaux

Organic Market, by Russell Roberts

At a time when political vultures are circling and the widespread ignorance of economics is leading people to believe the most silly of things; it important to have as many voices of reason and logic as possible.

Just like the Enron crisis, this will be a time when politicians advance, some people of dubious intent get rich, and many others panic; all at the expense of the economy and freedom.

Where’s Matt?

I thought this was a fun video:



Go to Matt’s blog here.

By the way, I survived the hurricane! (I’ll talk about that later.)

My Impending Doom

So Hurricane Ike is hitting the Texas coast, gunning it straight for my house (actually, I think it’s aiming for my house in particular.) Bummer.

My house is all taped up, I notice my neighbor has a power generator (and I don’t), Fox News says people in Galveston will face “Certain Death,” I can’t find my cat, and I’ve grown really bored with the constant ‘wind began to twitch’ Wizard of OZ references. Not to mention I have come to accept my fate.

Still, I can’t help feeling that it would be a shame if I met my demise at the hands of a hurricane named ‘Ike.’ It’s such a puny and unimpressive name for a hurricane. So, if I survive the hurricane is still just puny old 'Ike'; but if I die, I demand it be renamed ‘The Megaglamoton.’

But I hope I do survive; the looting, and the subsequent breakdown of society, should be fun.

Remind Me

I hope people don’t think I’m lazy because I’m just posting videos:



I also found this one at Twenty Sided.

Trust Computing

You can find a good post on Trust Computing at Twenty Sided.

The God of the Banana

Finally! Somebody found irrefutable scientific evidence for the existence of God.

Blue Brain Project

"In July 2005, EPFL and IBM announced an exciting new research initiative - a project to create a biologically accurate, functional model of the brain using IBM's Blue Gene supercomputer. Analogous in scope to the Genome Project, the Blue Brain will provide a huge leap in our understanding of brain function and dysfunction and help us explore solutions to intractable problems in mental health and neurological disease."

I would say that the project offers far more advantageous then that; understanding the nature of the brain, and by extension, the nature of intelligence, could radically accelerate our knowledge in dozens of fields.

I see technologies like this as the first real steps to the digital human analogue that I spoke about before; as well as created truly intelligent machines; improving the human brain; and from a more academic perspective, improve our understanding of ourselves and the universe.

Visit the site here (and be sure to look around, information is a bit hidden.)

Don LaFontaine: 1940 - 2008

Abortion on Trial in Colorado

Colorado’s recent attacks on abortion have brought up some issues. Here is an article about why Amendment 48 (which would ban abortion completly) is a very bad Idea:

Amendment 48 Is Anti-Life: Why It Matters That a Fertilized Egg Is Not a Person

Even if the Amendment passes, it will have to make it through the federal Supreme Court; in which case I think Roe v. Wade will be upheld. Though I don’t know what Bush’s appointees will do (and it's clear that the whole purpose of this Amendment is to challenge Roe v. Wade.)

Which Super-Villain am I?

Your results:
You are Lex Luthor

A brilliant businessman on a quest for world domination and the self-proclaimed greatest criminal mind of our time!

Lex Luthor
60%
Dr. Doom
58%
Green Goblin
58%
Riddler
55%
The Joker
54%
Mr. Freeze
54%
Magneto
51%
Apocalypse
51%
Venom
50%
Kingpin
48%
Mystique
46%
Dark Phoenix
46%
Catwoman
45%
Juggernaut
38%
Two-Face
34%
Poison Ivy
33%

Click here to take the "Which Super Villain am I?" quiz...

Quotes on immigration

"I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. [I]n my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and heart to get here."

- Ronald Reagan

It should also be noted that Reagan also supported and signed the 1986 immigration bill, which gave amnesty and permanent residency to millions of immigrants.

"The anti-immigration issue that's now sweeping the country in my view is no different than the movements that swept the country in the past You look back at the Chinese Exclusionary Act, or the Know-Nothing movement—these were movements that encouraged Americans to fear foreigners, to fear something that is different, and to stop immigration."

- Rudy Giuliani

I don’t know at what point in the last twenty years the republicans became anti-immigration. But Giuliani is right; our current fight against illegal immigrants just representation of a larger trend that has been going on for hundreds of years, and just as irrational.

I’ll end with a final quote from one of our nations greatest monuments:

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-toss to me, I lift my lamp besides the golden door!

Good Writing and Health Care

Being concise is hard; saying what you want to say in the most compact form possible is what distinguishes great non-fiction writers from the rest (unfortunately, I currently land well with in the ‘rest’ zone.)

Take this article, about healthcare, for example:

Government Medical Care Always Becomes Political Medical Care

There is an incredible amount of argumentation and facts within this article; and it is less then 700 words long. In a short time the author: lists the various controls in the health care industry; explains why it doesn’t work; talks about the proper form of government; creates a parallel with the education system; and talks about the wider issue involved (with a few Thomas Jefferson quotes thrown in for good measure.)

What is incredible is that the article doesn’t suffer from all this information; it comes of as a completed and balanced piece of work. The clarity he achieves is fantastic. Just read this:

Only the government can maintain armed forces to protect us from the threat of foreign force, and only the government can maintain the police and the courts to protect individuals from the use of force by criminals. But it does not follow that government should use force to rule every aspect of our lives. Those who say that government should seize control of all of our medical care are ultimately advocating the elimination of all restraint on government.

I hope some day; I am able to achieve the same clarity and conciseness in my own writing. Unfortunately, with a blog name like “Ryan’s Rantings”, I might have doomed myself to failure.

A Little Hayek

Hayek was a pretty smart dude (I don’t even feel right calling him a “dude.”) Sure, he had his share of intellectual and philosophical flaws; but overall, he brought a lot of great ideas into existence, and into the minds of others.

So, while trying to break from a long stream of fluff posts, I decided to post something from Hayek (one of the most un-fluffy men your likely to read.)

Here you go:

The Use of Knowledge in Society

Like Hayek himself, not perfect, but thought provoking and intelligent.

Meet Emily

This is all Animated, no joke:

Mirror’s Edge Video

I found this Here.

Three More

I thought I would throw a few more games out there that I’m exited about; just for fun, and because these posts are easy to write and require little thought. So here you go:

Prototype


Another sandbox game, this one looks a little more brutal then most (even by GTA IV standers.) You play a genetically engineered dude with no past searching for whoever "did this" to him. He has quite a few powers available to him; including a particularly brutal one in which he kills someone, and then is able to absorb the body into his own, and become that person (with their memories.)

The gameplay footage I’ve seen so far seems a bit choppy, and the combat seems at times awkward; though the adaptive Parkour seems spot on and incredibly fun. Let’s hope this promising title turns into something great.

Ghostbusters

I don’t know much about the gameplay, except that it is a third-person shooter; what I do know is that all the voices from the original film will be back, and this will be an official sequel to the Ghostbusters franchise.

Now, Ghostbusters was one of the movies that helped shape my childhood, I was the kid running around his backyard with a plastic protopack. So you can understand why I would get exited about this.

I just hope the game is able to deliver.

Little Big Planet

I’m surprised I haven’t mentioned this game yet; I love puzzle games, and I love platformers, I also like a sense of freedom and control in my game. Little Big Planet is a game that gives you all this, and then some. The degree of customization in the environment is incredible, as well as the very natural looking physics engine.

I can’t wait to play with it, and to see what other people are able to come up with.

Kung Fu Panda: A Review

Kung Fu Panda is not a film about talking animals, it is a film about anthropomorphic animals; big difference (really.) The world of Kung Fu Panda is just like our own (if our world was ancient mythical China.) People own shops, have children, set off fireworks, and go to restaurants; except these “people” happen to be furry, or scaly, or covered in feathers.

Now I’m sure some of you out there can find some flaws in the idea of a society made of animals of all different shapes and sizes; all I have to say to that is, “shut up you smarmy cynical twit and enjoy it for what it is!”

Anyway -as I have already mentioned- a Chinese village is the setting for this movie; the village and the surrounding valley is protected by a team of martial artists called the furious five, made up of a Crane, a Tiger, a Monkey, a Praying Mantis, and a Viper (fans of Kung Fu will recognize these animals as representing real styles.)

Po, the main character, is a Panda (voiced by Jack Black); who idolizes the furious five from his father’s noodle shop (did I mention he is overweight and somewhat clumsy.) Things get set into motion when the wise Buddhist sage (a turtle, naturally) has a vision that Tai Lung, a very nasty snow leopard bent on revenge, will escape from prison. To counter this threat, the temple decides to appoint the Dragon Warrior, who naturally will read the Dragon Scroll, which holds the secrets to “limitless power.”

It is through this that Po is (literally) launch into history; and Po suddenly becomes central to the events in the story.

I won’t be exaggerating when I say I think this is DreamWorks’s best animated effort yet. Yes, Shrek was funnier and even had a lot of heart, but the constant cultural references have dated it. Kung Fu Panda is a completely self-contained world with the exception of a few kung fu movie references that won’t be noticed unless you’re looking for them); all the movies humor derives from the characters and story, nothing more.

And the story never feels at odds with the comedy; unlike DreamWorks films like Madagascar, whose story was a contrived vehicle for laughs; everything is consistent within the Kung Fu Panda universe, everything compliments everything else. Ultimately, this means the movie is funnier, more heartfelt, and more interesting.

The voice acting is another thing this movie gets right. I still don’t understand DreamWorks desire to attach big names to their animated movies; I’m just glad it worked this time. Never am I thinking that Po is Jack Black and that Angelina Jolie is Tigress. The characters break away from their voices, which is a great compliment to the filmmakers. Dustin Hoffman does a great job as Shifu, possibly the best voice acting in the movie (though I will never understand the movies decision to cast Jackie Chan in the role of Monkey, who only has maybe five lines in the movie.)

As for the themes of the film, there really isn’t much new here. There is some body-image issues it deals with, about self-belief and self-acceptance; nothing too new; but is done very well. I particularly like the revelation about the Dragon Scroll, and how it fits into the movie. I found it very positive and life-affirming. There is some Zen-Buddhist-esc platitudes thrown in there (and actually gets it right), but this is more to connect it to its Kung Fu movie origins then anything else.

The movie was ‘filmed’ in cinemascope, which gives it a unique look; the color palette is strong, the direction of the camera is tasteful (which is somewhat lacking in the animation world); all the characters are clean and well-designed, and the character motions are natural and fluid. In fact, the kinematics are some of the best I have ever seen in any American animated movie, it might even top The Incredibles in this regard.

This movie was fun because I wasn’t expecting much from it, and I ended up getting a very good film. Kids will like it for the Kung Fu, the colorful atmosphere and the comedy (which actually had me laughing out loud at points); parents might appreciate the good story and voice acting. Animation geeks will like it for obvious reasons. Kung Fu movie enthusiasts will gush over this movie.

There is a lot to enjoy here, it might not take as many risks as Wall-E, but it stands on its own as one of the strongest animated films to come out in the last few years. It makes me hopeful and exited about DreamWorks future as an animation producer; which is possibly the best compliment I can give it.

My Rule

I’ve recently made a rule for myself concerning this blog: if I don’t post anything in five days or more, I need to post something, about anything at all

You see, I made a mistake; I got so exited about blogging that I started making blogs about every subject I was interested in. I now have eight blogs. This has turned blogging into a chore, and I now have eight mediocre blogs then one good one.

Well, I plan to fix this problem soon; but until then, I have to stick to the rule. So here it goes:

Camponotus saundersi


This is a Malaysian Ant species with a very unique defense mechanism. When threatened, the solider ants will contract their bodies, causing glands to explode which sprays poison in all directions, killing the surrounding enemy. Of course, the ant dies in the process. It turns out Nature created suicide bombers long before we did.

So there, I have posted something, the rule is satisfied.

One More Game I’m Exited About

Mirror’s Edge

A first-person game stressing parkour and hand-to-hand combat? Surly this is some madman’s silly musings; these features can’t possibly mix into a coherent title that looks incredible.

Surly this and this is not really in-game -footage; and this is not the trailer depicting an interesting character and a possibly great story.

And maybe this developer’s diary is just a scheme by evil game-developers to get us exited and then crush our hopes.

This can’t be one of the most original and interesting titles to come out in years; a game that will change the first-person game as we know it. Right?

Watchmen: Movie Trailer

I had some differences with the graphic novel (though I liked it) and I’m not so sure about the movie; but wow, this is a great trailer:



And see some incredible posters here.

Fast-Food Banned!

This is a great idea.

Los Angeles has passed a law banning new Fast-Food establishments for one year. I expect in this one-year obesity will sharply decline (as fast food is undoubtedly the main cause of obesity; not silly things like behavior and lifestyle.)

Thank you, Los Angeles, for protecting us poor folk from the horrors of choice and responsibility. Now we don’t have to spend long hours teaching our children these false virtues; simply depriving us of bad choices makes us better. Right?

And who does McDonalds (and their ilk) think they are? How dare they try to exercise their moral and constitution rights to trade willingly with other people without the State’s permission! How dare they create a desirable product! How dare they create good food, convenient locations, fun atmosphere, and an affordable product!

A laugh at the old myth that obesity is caused primarily (in most cases) by life choices; Ha! Everybody knows that free-will and self-control are myths (and by extension, responsibility and self-responsibility.) Fast-food restaurants are devious manipulators of our desires; twisting us until we are practically slaves to their dollar menus. Well, now we have a state that will protect us from them. And really, what is free-will in the face of a quarter-pounder with all the fixings?

This bill creates some great precedents. I can only hope it goes further. Maybe Los Angeles can forcibly replace kid’s Playstations with treadmills. Force birthday cakes to be made out of asparagus. Limit the amount of TV a person can watch to thirty minutes a day. Even decree that the only thing a person can play on the radio is the theme to Rocky.

And isn’t that the Governments job? To stop people from making choices contrary to what the state deems as appropriate; To curtail that old demon: Free-Trade; and to protect us from the tyranny of choice.

All I have to say, is 'good thing we have an all-powerfull State to protects us from ourselves.'

Obama’s Turn

A few posts ago I criticized McCain on his economics; well, just to show you I’m not one-sided, Obama is getting some time on the grill.

Barack Obama mentioned that he wants to help gas prices by giving out an “emergency rebate” to consumers (in the amount of 1000 dollars.) Where will he get this money, you ask? Why, by taxing the “windfall profits” of oil companies.

Just take a moment, and let that all sink in. He plans to give money to consumers (which will increase demand) and then punish the produces (which will decrease supply); you don’t need to be a expert in economics to figure out what will happen.

I can only hope that he is not serous, that what he said was a mere crowd pleaser, “I will punish those evil oil executives and give you money!” I have to believe a person with such blatant economic ignorance could have a chance for the most powerful position in the world in this day and age.

This somewhat reminds me of one of the “New Deal” programs, which stated intention was to decrease productivity, and increase wages. One wonders if these politicians have ever talked to a real economist.

But frankly, I don’t know what’s more dangerous: compromise and politicizing (as embodied by McCain); or outright ignorance and silliness (I’m looking at you, Obama.)

In either case, I don’t think the next four-or-so years is going to be positive for the economic health of the country.

E3 Run Down

I’m still exited about a bunch of new games coming out this year, and this guy can’t stop me; but dahm if he ain’t funny (and there’s a good deal of truth in what he says.)

Be warned, this guy can get pretty crude.

Hope for Alzheimers Victims

This is fantastic news:

Breakthrough: The new drug reverses symptoms in 81% of patients….A new drug halts the devastating progress of Alzheimer’s disease, say British scientists.

Read the full article here.

There’s another article about this breakthrough here.

Turning a Mortgage Mess into a Mortgage Disaster

If you don’t know why Mortgage Bailout is a very bad idea, read this:

The Government Did It.

The simple fact is, the mortgage bailouts will do nothing to help the housing situation; and will most certainly not help those who it proposes to help. It won’t work for the same reason that other Socialist ideas don’t work. Simply injecting money into something does not change the underlying reality of the situation.

At least these bills will do two things: Break the myth that Conservatives are in favor of-and try to maintain- Free-Markets; and the myth that problems are caused by un-regulation (as the article above mentions.)

Large Hadron Collider Rap

This is a rap about CERN’s Large Hardron Collider (as you could probably deduce from the title of this post) and the physics around it:



You might know about this from reading Dan Brown’s Angles and Demons (which was just a little bit exaggerated.)

One (More) New Game that I’m Exited About

Blah, blah, blah, blah; you know the routine by now; I’ve decided to just mention any game I’m personally exited about, I no longer care about making a list.

Final Fantasy XIII

Of all the Final Fantasy games I’ve owned, I finished only two. Final Fantasy VII, which had a highly original story (for the time), great gameplay, graphics, and even characters (for the time); I also finished Final Fantasy XII, simply because I loved the none turn-based gameplay.

I don’t know what this one will shape into, but it’s a fair bet that it will continue the high production values set out by its predecessors.

Edit: I used to include Too Human in this post, but after playing the game a little and reading some more about it, I decided It does not belong here. Which is sad, it had potential.

White Knight Two Revealed!

I’m highly skeptical of most claims- blame it on my cynical nature - but I really do think that we could be witnessing the dawning of a new age for space flight and exploration. Case and point, Virgin has actually delivered on its promises; first to get into low orbit, and now to roll out the new carrier vehicle for Virgin Galactic: a vehicle for the first private space tours. They call it White Knight Two.

Just read this from the press release:

Christened “EVE” in honor of Sir Richard’s mother, who performed the official naming ceremony, WK2 is both visually remarkable and represents ground-breaking aerospace technology. It is the world’s largest all carbon composite aircraft and many of its component parts have been built using composite materials for the very first time. At 140 ft, the wing spar is the longest single carbon composite aviation component ever manufactured.

Richard Branson (founder of Virgin Galactic) continued with some comments about the ships greater significance:

….Virgin Galactic is central to our ambition at Virgin to become the world’s leading group in the operation of energy and environmentally efficient transportation, in the air, on the ground and in space. We arrived here this morning on an aircraft operated by Virgin America, who run the most fuel efficient commercial fleet in the US, to roll out what by most definitions, is the most energy efficient aircraft in history. We are naming it EVE after my Mother, Eve Branson but also because it represents a first and a new beginning, the chance for our ever growing group of future astronauts and other scientists and payload specialists to see our world in a completely new light. I for one can’t wait!”

I for one can’t wait. For all those who felt that the end of the “space age” left a particular emptiness in the world, and those that never experienced it; thank you-Virgin-for giving us something to admire.

I also like the whimsical art on the craft: