An update for Glen

OK, I’m back in America and should seriously start updating again now that I have nothing but time on my hands. I’ve decided to write the updates in an open Word document all day and then just copy and paste them into Blogger whenever I feel the posts are long enough. So here goes with today assorted internet stuff.

• Apparently, it’s a good thing that guys don’t do all that communicating. When chicks do it too much, it gets ‘em down. Grunting and muttering about sports is enough for us, thanks. Quote: “Getting people with issues together doesn't always make things better.” I’m looking at you, LiveJournal…

• While Conrad Black awaits his hearing on his flight risk, Chris Hitchens gloats about it here. It’s worth the read if only because there’s nothing more fun than reading Hitch tear someone to shreds.

• Steve Brodner explains Bush foreign policy in cartoon form. Explanation only slightly less convincing than Bush’s own National Intelligence Estimate. So, we’re supposed to believe that our strong offensive against terrorism is working, even though we’re also told that al-Qaeda is as strong if not stronger than ever?

• Speaking of Iraq, the Democrats are pulling their all-nighter Senate slumber party to kick-start the Iraq war debate, but I don’t think the GOP is biting. These guys drive me crazy. Like Arlen Specter on the Judiciary committee, these guys moan and groan about how shitty the Bush Administration policy is, then do nothing to change it. Not that the Democrats are any less worthless. Still, complaining that the event is a mere stunt has been soundly rebutted here by Dick Durbin. Watch the whole video if you can. The transcript is unreliable at best.

• Hah, American software firm punks Iran.

• So, while Drudge today trumpeted DOW 14K from its front page, David Leonhardt at the IHT reminds everybody that 14,000 ain’t quite what it seems like, thanks to inflation.

• I just attended the Pitchfork Music Festival this weekend, and it kicked eight kinds of ass. Despite minor quibbles about sound cut-outs and a tad bit of overcrowding (the Chicago Fire Department shut down Girl Talk’s set early), the music, atmosphere and price ($50 for 3 days?!) were just right. Good recaps here and here. Best sets of the weekend: Clipse, Battles, Of Montreal, Jamie Lidell, De La Soul, Menomena, and Sonic Youth performing Daydream Nation.

• Vote for the best sports mustache of all time. If you didn’t vote for Rollie Fingers (or write in Rod Beck) then you’re not a true American.

• Learning to like like. Like, totally. A linguist’s view at a linguistic quirk.

• When your ex-employer pisses you off, sometimes you have to destroy their property with a tank.

• The end of paper? Scripps closes down Cincinnati and Covinton, KY papers, while BusinessWeek wonders how long to keep the presses running. At some point, isn’t a major paper going to have to axe its print product? And if it doesn’t survive, will that spell the end of newspapers in general?

• Real men dig The Fifth Element. Oh, Ruby Rhod.

In honor of both the Clipse and the old-school Transformers movie, here's an amateur music video of Wamp Wamp with clips (pow!) from the movie. It's not particularly well done, but to see the chorus is worth it.