This is a frightening commentary, not just on Internet literacy specifically, but the complete failure of our educational system to teach critical thinking. Because thinking is hard.
Category Archives: Popular Culture
The Deer Hunter
I saw the movie for the first time last night. I know, I know.
My impressions, which will probably not be found in any other review.
1) Wow, what a young Meryl Streep. What’s amazing is that she’s actually improved with age in many ways. A truly beautiful woman.
2) Wow, what a young Christopher Walken.
3) A young DeNiro is no big deal — I saw Taxi Driver.
4) There’s no way those mountain scenes were filmed in Pennsylvania — many of them were above the tree line. So I went and looked it up, and found out that they filmed in the Olympics. I would have guessed the Sierras, because they would have been closer to Hollywood. But why not just show what the Appalachians looked like? They were already there to film a lot of other scenes in town. To get points for cinematography? To me it detracted from the movie.
That is all.
Is SF Becoming More Conservative?
An interesting discussion. I agree with the commenters, like Eric Raymond, that there seems to be a confusion between conservative and libertarian.
DIY Robots
…and memories of my youth. Let’s see if we can top the comments over there.
The Battle For The Moon
Joe Pappalardo target=”_ “deflates Mark Whittington’s favorite space fantasy. Over the past half century, the Pentagon has never found any compelling use for military man in space commensurate with the cost. That could change if the cost comes down dramatically, but there was nothing in NASA’s Constellation plans to make that happen. The new programs offer much more hope in that regard, if they can survive the coming budget tsunami.
Do You Have To Be Mad To Be A Scientist?
No, but it helps.
The Problem With Gun Control
There are lots of them, actually, but right up there is the fact that the ignorami who promote it know nothing about guns. Or rather, they know lots about them that is wrong.
A Much-Discussed Paula Deen Recipe
It’s not for beginners, though. Don’t try it unless you know how to use a can opener.
[Update a couple minutes later]
Be sure to read the comments, which overfloweth with snark.
I Don’t Love Lucy
And I’m gratified to see that Lileks shares my opinion:
It’s not funny. I’m sorry to Lucy fans, but it’s not. When Lucy and Ethel start to wail, when Reeky gets an idea and decides to foool Loocy, and Fred pitches in – gawd, it’s contrived and strained.
I laughed at it when I was a kid, but I got over it by the time I was eight or so. One can only watch shallow, star-worshipping empty-head ditzes so much. She made me embarrassed for womankind.
A Use For All Those Old Ties
Finally. Sartorially eldritch.