Yearly Archives: 2005

Iraq, revisited

Government, Iraq

Updates from my previous post, in case you’re still keeping score:

* Weapons of Mass Destruction found before invasion: 0
* Weapons of Mass Destruction declared by US before invasion: LOTS
* US Cost in dollars: 200,000,000,000
* US military deaths: 2,000
* Iraqi civilians killed: 26,690
* Weapons of Mass Destruction found after invasion: 0
* Iraqis who “strongly oppose” the continuing occupation: 82%
* Americans who think the U.S. should have stayed out of Iraq: 55%
* U.S. timeline to leave Iraq: NONE

Hi-Tech returns to Low-Tech

Crafts

I like this, but it seems to be taking something currently prized for its low-tech simplicity, spinning, and automating it. Are there cycles of technology? People reject machined versions of things and do them by hand…only to create machines to help? Hmmmm…..

like mini sci fi audiobooks

Literature

Thanks to a mention on Boing Boing, I discovered an extraordinary podcast called “Escape Pod”:http://www.escapepod.info/ today. It’s a collection of short sci-fi stories read by podcasting veterans, and the result is awesome. There’s some fresh, funny, and thought-provoking stuff in there, and it’s open to everyone.

My favorite so far is “The Burning Bush”:http://www.escapepod.info/2005/09/22/ep020-the-burning-bush/, a sacrelicious must-listen for any feminist. This means you, K and Deb and Deana. Fire up whatever MP3 player you have and start listening now.

Oh, and they’re accepting new submissions, with a $10-20 reward (and an audience of 2,000) for getting published.