Wikipedia Go!
For me, Wikipedia is something I open several times a week to answer specific questions. The other day, I happened to go to Wikipedia’s front page and was impressed by what was there. A few highlights from today:
Today’s featured article Dartmouth College is a private, coeducational university located in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. It is a member of the Ivy League and one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution. (their motto is Vox clamantis in deserto – the voice of one crying in the wilderness for those who aren’t fluent in Latin)- Did You Know? … that the Chinese character referring to the mythological sea monster Shen is used in Chinese, Korean and Japanese terms for “mirage“? (apparently some kind of illusion-exhaling, shapeshifting giant clam)
- In the news John McCain chooses Sarah Palin, the Republican Governor of Alaska, as his vice-presidential running mate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election. (after days of obsessively trying to uncover the deep game thinking behind the Sarah Palin selection, I have to recommend The Worst Vice-Presidential Nominee in U.S. History – found through bootstrap analysis. I also think that The Palin Trap might hold the key to understanding this apparently idiotic move)
- On this day August 31: Ramadan begins at sunset and in 1888 – Mary Ann Nichols‘ body was found on the ground in front of a gated stable entrance in Buck’s Row, London, allegedly the first victim of the unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper.
- Today’s featured picture (appearing right) is the The Bearded Vulture or Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), is an Old World vulture, the only member of the genus Gypaetus. (looks like it’s wearing the goat pants from the Dragnet movie – how there can be no YouTube video of this is beyond me)
If you want to get really crazy, check out all their portals and dive into Michigan or Anime & manga.
Image: Wikipe-tan icon by ja:利用者:Kasuga. I so do not understand what is up with that picture. Or this one.
Another Marshall Plan.
I’m not old enough to remember the Marshall Plan, or as Wikipedia sez, the “European Recovery Program”.
Major governmental initiatives I remember are mostly wars on nebulous foes like Drugs, Terror and Objectionable Record Lyrics. Somewhere before I reached awareness that We the People of the United States of America could actually focus change through our government, We the People seemed to lose our collective appetite for ambitious campaigns. Maybe Vietnam and the social struggles of the 60s and 70s beat the New Dealing, Marshall Planning, Space Racing, Great Societizing impulse right out of us.
Whatever it is, the last 30 years have seen a nation that has attempted little that could be called ambitious, preferring instead to coast into the future. Unfortunately, neither the rest of the world or the world itself seems content to stop pedaling, and we’re left blearily standing on the curb watching the future race past us as we wonder if we’ll end up in the second or third world … or if there will indeed be a world for us or our children.
I heard yesterday that the average child in our country has a higher level of anxiety than the average institutionalized child in the 1950s. A large percentage of the population is dramatically strapped by energy, food and other prices that are outstripping income. We’re mired in war in two nations and unable to do more than watch as the Russian bear goes on the hunt again and tyrants the world around decide the paths of nations.
Our response? Drill here, drill now?
I hope that if nothing else, our dire situation will focus us to make a massive investment in the future of our country, our people and the peoples of all the world.
The photo is titled Jumptacular and that’s my family.
Our Karl Rove weighs in on clean energy
Well, apparently there’s a Karl Rove for folks who think like me now too. Our Karl Rove has a little advice for Barack Obama about political messaging regarding his energy plan. He says that Obama’s New Energy ad leave him flat, and suggests Obama may have come down with (horrors) Democratitis and that:
Ultimately, the Obama campaign should define 3-4 pillars that completely encompass your brand, your priorities, and your values. These pillars should be labeled aspirationally, and should act as sub-brands that people can use as linguistic shortcuts to easily and readily discuss the ideas.
To help make the point, which conversation can you imagine happening at the water cooler or over the dinner table?
“So, what do you think of Obama’s energy plan, where he is going to make energy independence an urgent priority, raise mileage standards, fast-track technology for alternative fuels, and give us a $1000 tax rebate?”
or…
“So, what do you think of Obama’s energy plan, you know, that ‘Free, Clean and Green Country’ thing where we become free from foreign oil while also cleaning up the pollution by investing in green technologies to help make America beautiful again?”
See the difference? People are much more likely to discuss and share your plans when they’re wrapped in a compelling brand than if they are just a list of policies.
I’ll take “b” please … and hold the Democratitis please. The doctor says I have to watch my partisanship. (though I will say that the next person who says “Drill! Drill! Drill” to me just might get what they’re asking for)
The photo is starfish hill by the inhabitant (be sure to view bigger), who asks the philosophical question of the day: Is there such a thing as ‘clean’ energy? I’d say that in the sense of “Is that scene or any other with manmade windmills or solar panels pristine”, no. However, if you look at it as us being a part of creation like a turtle warming itself on a rock, then yes.
the inhabitant is also known as Richard Baxter, and he’s one heck of an artist with camera, computer or brush. Check out studiobaxter.
Be warned, however, for it appears that there is no richard baxter.
Just how many words long does your title have to be before people realize “Hey, he didn’t even have a title for that post”?
When it’s not dishing out lifehacks, Lifehacker sometimes has Other Things of Interest Which It Neatly Relates to Lifehacks. One of the most interesting of these I’ve seen in many a while is this interview titled How Dr. Horrible’s Felicia Day Gets Things Done.
Go, read it and be sure to watch Dr. Horrible.
The photo is titled with my freeze ray I will stop the world, it’s by *Karo* and it’s part of her The ones you like set. She has a ton of other cool photos and even has her own white whale.
