Graham Glass, etc.

News Channels: Pathetic

Here is a great example of why the US News Channels are utterly pathetic. They take a simple, straightforward quote from Wesley Clark and twist it into a big deal. What a bunch of incompetent fools.

Update: here's a good post about the issue over at the Huffington

Reefer Madness

This interesting article provides a critique of the recent publicized study that suggests occasional marijuana use can significantly increase the risk of schizophrenia. It provides insight into conventional wisdom, bias and failure to properly place science in context.

Update: Here's an interesting related article.

UK Security Threat Levels

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have raised their threat level from "Miffed" to "Peeved". There is some concern that things will worsen and security levels will be rapidly be raised yet again to "Irritated" or "a Bit Cross". Londoners have not been "a Bit Cross" since the 1940 Blitz when tea supplies all but ran out.

New 7 Wonders

The new 7 wonders of the world have been voted for and announced.

Overall, I think the selection is pretty good. However, I would have replaced Brazil's statue with the Sydney Opera House. The logistics behind the design of the Opera House were amazing, and it is unlike any other building.

Howard Roarke might have been proud.

5 Things About Me

I was tagged recently by Mike Cannon Brookes, so I feel compelled to share 5 things you might not know about me:

1. I lived in Israel and Iran between the ages of 4 and 6.
2. I used to teach Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas.
3. I can bend my thumbs back to a 90 degree angle.
4. I have been accused of being an android.
5. I love music, and used to sing Opera at Covent Garden, as well as write my own songs.

I now hereby tag Heida, Chris, Peter, Simon and Mark.

The British Spirit

I'm British and used to work in London, so the recent bombing incident brings back memories of similar events in the past. The IRA would often leave bombs during Christmas in places like the restroom in Harrods in order to kill a few innocent tourists and create unease. However, as many people have noticed, the British are used to this kind of thing and it has very little effect except to bolster our resolve and temporarily increases sales of tea.

One blogger describes the British as brave, unflappable and open-minded. I think this is generally true. In addition, I've noticed that the British will tend to look for the humor in almost any tense situation; victims in train wrecks have been known to crack sick jokes about their own predicament whilst waiting for help. For example, here's a quote from someone who lived through the World War II blitz and was caught up in the recent Canary Wharf explosion:

"I've been blown up by a better class of bastard than this!"

That is just classic! Click here for some similar stories.

Rocky Update

I know that several visitors to this site knew my old friend Rocky Stewart, who tragically perished in a plane crash in the Cascades last fall. This news update reports that the plane wreckage was finally found by some hikers. Rocky was a great guy who is missed by many.

Hello Kitty Crop Circles

What's the intersection between Japan and the supernatural? Hello Kitty Crop Circles, of course! According to this article, Sanrio commissioned Surface to Air (New York) to make some crop circles celebrating the Kitty's 30th birthday. It could be a hoax, but it's pretty funny anyway. Thanks to Jennifer Rice of Brand Mantra for sending me this link.

First Places to Celebrate New Years Day

Kiribati, Christmas Islands is the first well-known place to experience New Year's day. The first major cities to enjoy New Year are Wellington, New Zealand (hi Malia), and Sydney, Australia (hi Blair).

2005: Resolutions

I take New Year's resolutions pretty seriously, as it's depressing to make promises to yourself that you don't keep. That being said, here are some of my resolutions for 2005:

• Evangelize the Semantic Web.
• Buy a house.
• Write music.
• Have a full preventative medical exam.
• Try snowboarding.
• Travel to China, Russia, Thailand, Japan, Spain, Miami and Indonesia.
• Become a US citizen.
• Get LASIK surgery.
• Find a new personal trainer.
• Play a racquet sport regularly.

I have some other resolutions, of course, but they shall remain secret for now.