Our Man In… » entertainment

Dune

Daniel — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 05:36:08 +0000

Some points on the 1984 film adaptation of Dune.

Critical to enjoying this film is to remember that it is a David Lynch film after all. If you accept that you’re going to be completely lost, you’ll enjoy it a lot more.
Captain Picard running with a pug yelling “Long live the Duke” is perhaps one of the more absurd parts of his career. I couldn’t find a clip of this on youtube, so enjoy another absurd moment in Patrick Stewart’s career:
The scene where Paul unites the Arab tribes to drive out the Turks out of Aqaba wasn’t in the book, but was good none-the-less.
Kyle MacLachlan play’s Paul Atreides and has perfect hair the entire film.
The soundtrack is by Toto. Remember this when the guitars kick in.
Try to visualize Patrick Swayze in the background of every scene (via @tomselleck69)
Did I mention the Pugs?

Jeremy Rifkin and The Empathic Civilization

Daniel — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:00:49 +0000

My previous post on the RSA Animate Series lead me to a lecture by economist and author Jeremy Rifkin on the role of empathy in human civilization. He examines the biological basis for empathy in humankind and presents it as a primary motivator in how we interact with and identify with others. He also presents a narrative of human history based upon this notion, one which fits well within the notion of globalization being an accelerating process of interconnectedness (and all the subsequent ideas about Westphalian sovereignty falling to the wayside.)

It is a fascinating piece and Rifkin’s book of the same title is now on my summer reading list.

RSA Animate – The Empathic Civilisation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AWnfFRc7g

RSA Animate

Daniel — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 21:20:32 +0000

The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) has, in tandem with Cognitive Media, been producing a series of short lectures complimented by high-speed whiteboard animations. The result is reminiscent of the TED talks, and is very compelling and engaging. (Hat-tip: Boing Boing.)

Dan Pink – Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

Philip Zimbardo – The Secret Powers of Time

David Harvey – Crises of Capitalism

Adorable

Daniel — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:21:04 +0000

AT-AT day afternoon from Patrick Boivin on Vimeo.

What if the sky falls again?

Daniel — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:01:17 +0000

A Softer World:

Click image for full comic

And XKCD hits home:

Click image for full comic

We have an awful tendency to delude ourselves into thinking that there will be some perfect time in the future when everything will fall into place and our life will be without struggle. Maybe we’re eternally optimistic. Maybe it’s just an excuse to avoid risk and confronting our fears. To quote Mos Def, “Life is a beautiful struggle.”

How Is That Going For You?

Daniel — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:03:36 +0000

Pictures for Sad Children also makes me laugh:

Click image to see full comic

Funny, perhaps, because it is probably true.

He actually made a large comic and hung it on the side of a building. This really needs to be a billboard on the side of a highway:

Large Format Comic

“Close Your Eyes and Then It’s Past”

Daniel — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:20:27 +0000

Sometimes there’s nothing like a little music about missed chances, misplaced hopes, and broken dreams. The Gaslight Anthem has a new album coming out in June and NPR is previewing the whole thing (hat tip Jonny Swagger.)

I’m giving this album its first listen now, but like the article says, this sort of music really needs to be heard in the car on some hot summer’s evening.

When I wrote “Sometimes there’s nothing like a little music about missed chances, misplaced hopes, and broken dreams,” WordPress’ contextual tagging plugin came back with “Religion/Belief” as its sole offering. That sounds about right.

“First Rate Men”

Daniel — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 06:23:07 +0000

Cat and Girl makes me laugh:

Click image for full comic

With Apologies to Generalissimo Franco

Daniel — Thu, 06 May 2010 05:36:23 +0000

This breaking news just in, Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua is still dead.

(reference)

Too Late To Apologize: A Declaration

Daniel — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:13:25 +0000

Hat tip: Cybertheorist

Take another look at “Fear The Boom and Bust“, the Keynes and Hayek rap, while you’re at it.