Are politÂiÂcal attack ads such a bad thing? John G. Geer, author of In Defense of NegÂaÂtivÂiÂty: Attack Ads in PresÂiÂdenÂtial CamÂpaigns, doesn’t necÂesÂsarÂiÂly think so. He mainÂtains that they often enrich, rather than corÂrode, the politÂiÂcal process. And now his pubÂlishÂer has assemÂbled The Attack Ad Hall of Fame. IncludÂed on the list is the most famous/controversial one — the “Daisy ad” from the 1964 JohnÂson-GoldÂwaÂter camÂpaign. JohnÂson’s ad, which was only aired once, nevÂer menÂtioned GoldÂwaÂter by name, but it raised fears about whether GoldÂwaÂter might bring us to the nuclear brink. For more ads, see the MuseÂum of the MovÂing Image, and watch Geer himÂself get swift-boatÂed on YouTube.
The Future of Tibet: Does It Have One?
In response to ChiÂna’s vigÂorÂous crackÂdown on Tibet (see this phoÂtoÂjourÂnalÂism account), a group of experts were conÂvened to disÂcuss Tibet and its future. The panÂelists includÂed Robert ThurÂman (famed BudÂdhism scholÂar at ColumÂbia UniÂverÂsiÂty), John KenÂneth Knaus (HarÂvard UniÂverÂsiÂty), John Tkacik (Senior Research FelÂlow at The HerÂitage FounÂdaÂtion), and Amit A. Pandya (HenÂry L. StimÂson CenÂter). You can lisÂten in on the disÂcusÂsion here — MP3 — iTunes — Web Site.
On a relatÂed note, ChiÂna shut down YouTube durÂing its Tibetan crackÂdown, offerÂing proof of a simÂple point made in MIT’s TechÂnolÂoÂgy Review: “Web 2.0 tools can seem at times like vehiÂcles for the self-absorbed, but the fear that they inspire in oppresÂsive govÂernÂments is a powÂerÂful demonÂstraÂtion of how useÂful and vital they can be.”
Web 2.0 and Culture: A Debate
This week, UC BerkeÂley proÂfesÂsor Paul Duguid squared off in a debate with provoÂcaÂteur Andrew Keen (author of the flimÂsy bestÂseller, The Cult of AmaÂteur). At issue here is the quesÂtion: “Is the Web 2.0 a Threat to Our CulÂture?” How did the well-attendÂed debate go? Have a lisÂten here and see phoÂtos here.
The Pre-Fab Four
Below we have an outÂtake from one of the earÂliÂest rock mockÂuÂmenÂtaries, which paved the way for the venÂerÂaÂble This is Spinal Tap. Co-proÂduced by Eric Idle (MonÂty Python) and Lorne Michaels (SatÂurÂday Night Live), “All You Need is Cash” traced the career of “The RutÂles,” whose resemÂblance to The BeaÂtÂles was “pureÂly – and satirÂiÂcalÂly – intenÂtionÂal.” The show aired in 1978 and scored low ratÂings, though some fans still defend it.
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
- The BeaÂtÂles: PodÂcasts From YesÂterÂday
- What New YorkÂers Heard on the Radio the Night John Lennon was Shot
- The Grey Video: MixÂing The BeaÂtÂles with Jay‑Z
- The ComÂplete BeaÂtÂles in One Hour (and The SopraÂnos in SevÂen MinÂutes)
Arthur C. Clarke Retrospective
Sir Arthur C. Clarke, the futurÂist and sciÂence ficÂtion writer most well known for his novÂel 2001: A Space Odyssey, has passed away. (You can read his obit here.) Below, we have postÂed a video recordÂed last DecemÂber for his 90th birthÂday. TouchÂing in many ways, the video offers a good reminder of how much our world changed durÂing his 90 years.
Demystifying the Credit Crisis & the Fed (Serious and Not So Serious)
This bit of audio (MP3 — Feed — Web Site) lucidÂly explains what hapÂpened at Bear Stearns, and why the Fed actÂed as it did. It’s worth a good lisÂten if you’ve been tryÂing to piece togethÂer the logÂic. The audio comes from the News Hour with Jim Lehrer.
[Update: I’d also recÂomÂmend this piece from the New York Times. It does a good job of explainÂing the bigÂger picÂture.]
On a less seriÂous note, we also have a video that explains the credÂit criÂsis with the help of a counÂtry music jinÂgle. More astute viewÂers will note the name of the singer, MerÂle HazÂard, is an alluÂsion to the conÂcept of “moral hazÂard” that’s menÂtioned in the audio above.
Google Sky, Moon and Mars
Here’s what you get when Google engiÂneers put their heads togethÂer with astronomers from large obserÂvaÂtoÂries: With Google Sky, “you can search for planÂets, lisÂten to Earth & Sky podÂcasts, watch some beauÂtiÂful HubÂble teleÂscope images, or explore hisÂtorÂiÂcal maps of the sky from the comÂfort of your browsÂer.” The prodÂuct was rolled out just last week, and you can get more info on the new release from Google’s offiÂcial blog.
The new Sky prodÂuct sits comÂfortÂably alongÂside Google Moon and Google Mars, which have been around since 2005–2006. CreÂatÂed in conÂjuncÂtion with sciÂenÂtists at the NASA Ames Research CenÂter, Google Moon offers a colÂlecÂtion of lunar maps and charts and delves into the ApolÂlo misÂsions. The Mars prodÂuct, meanÂwhile, offers some of the most detailed existÂing maps of the red planÂet.
For more good sciÂence, see our SciÂence PodÂcast ColÂlecÂtion here.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
A merÂry, musiÂcal St. Pat’s greetÂing to you from your Irish-AmerÂiÂcan corÂreÂsponÂdent, preÂsentÂed by his three favorite mupÂpets:
via BoingÂBoÂing
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