Don't Vote & The Terrorist Win!

As is often the case in the days leading up to an election We The People find ourselves illuminated by the cold electric smiles of various candidates who are now asking for our support. We have more than enough reason to doubt the sincerity behind those smiles, and to wonder to what good our votes will be put. We wonder if it's worth the effort.

Perhaps it is the political system itself that corrupts good men, and women seeking office, or perhaps there is something corrupt in the very nature of those seeking political power? We may never agree as to the origin of the failings, and success, of our political system, but do not let this confusion act as a justification for non-participation. We may be confused, but we must act in our own best interest.

Despite the fact that we have every reason to reject participation in such a corrupt political system we must participate. For most of us this means voting for the lessor of two evils - perhaps while holding our nose between thumb, and index finger. For others participation means writing a check, or helping a candidate's campaign as a volunteer.

Where you draw the line is entirely your choice, but remember this, we have seen in recent years an increasing trend toward non-participation in the political process, and therefore your vote holds more power today than it would have in the past. In recent years we have witnessed several close elections decided by a few hundred votes. A few hundred votes either way shaped the fate of the nation, and the world.

Not one of us can continue to rant about the state of the nation, and still be taken seriously, without taking the time to vote.

And so I implore all of my readers to please locate your polling place, schedule some time, and vote in this upcoming election.

Garbage Is Garbage

Video: Garbage: I Think I'm Paranoid

Shirley is so good. Then again Garbage was more than just Shirley Manson. The song lyrics, and the complex layering of sound that exist within each song has always impressed me. Every album was like a jewel. The live performance videos are great, but to appreciate Garbage you'll need to put the headphones on, and listen to some of the studio versions of their songs. As Dave of The11thhour once said, each time you listen you come away with more. I don't listen to Garbage very often, but each time I revisit Garbage I find it time well spent.


Video: Garbage: I'm Only Happy When It Rains

While I had watched Garbage's Queer video on MTV many times when it first came out, and found myself interested in Garbage I never did indulge my curiosity about them. It was only after I recorded an episode of X-Files which ended with I'm Only Happy When It Rains that I became interested enough to purchase my first Garbage CD. I soon bought them all.

Garbage Is Beautiful

Video: Garbage = You Look So Fine (Recorded Live)

It's been over a year since Garbage released Bleed Like Me. Garbage lead singer Shirley Manson has taken a "break" from Garbage, and is working on a solo album due for release in 2007.


Video: Garbage - The Trick Is To Keep Breathing

The creative flame that set Garbage apart from so many 90s alternative groups is hard to create, and even harder to rekindle. I'm hoping that egos are calmed, and Garbage once again reunites, and produces more great music.

Invisible Aircraft Overhead? .... Very Soon!

Video: A Quick Look At Invisibility

It seems that the next phase of stealth technologies has begun. Imagine looking up into the sky with total confidence that you're looking at a cloud, but instead it turns out that you're actually looking right through a large hovering aircraft covered in metamaterials.

That day may not be so far off. Many of our assumptions about what is possible, and what is not must now be revised.

Brace yourself for the dawn of a new era.

Welcome to a world of invisibility devices, Very High Resolution Ultrasound, and Sonar devices small enough to fit in your pocket, imaging devices that can see objects in optical frequencies which resolve smaller than the wavelength of the light source, and this is to name only a few of the applications to which metamaterials will be applied.

Get ready for the Metamaterials Revolution!

Invisibility Via Metamaterials - Read here.

What are Metamaterials - Read here on Wikipedia.

Professor David Smith's and Professor David Schurig's Duke University website.

DARPA's Metamaterials Website.

Metamaterial Research at University of Illinois' Beckman Institute

Godfather of Metamaterials Physicist John Pendry of Imperial College in London.

I found the following from an exchange on a forum, and just had to throw it in:

Once this thing is perfected, let's cloak THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, thus hiding it from our external enemies and rendering the United States safe forever from foreign attack!! We would have to, though, slightly change The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag: "...one nation, under God, invisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Earmarks

Some interesting non-partisan links for those interested in knowing what Congress is doing with our tax dollars. Read that "Who owns your local congressman enough to get the money"?

Here's an interesting link about Earmarks courtesy of The Sunlight Foundation. Just click on the link, and it brings up an interactive map into which you can plug your favorite zipcode. The map will show you little projects funded by earmarks (special projects which are paid for by your tax dollars, but are never actually voted on by Congress).