- 1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt: "Happy Days Are Here Again"
- 1960: John F. Kennedy: "High Hopes"
- 1964: Lyndon B. Johnson: "Hello Lyndon" (Jerry Herman), Barry Goldwater: "Go with Goldwater" (Tom McDonnell and Otis Clements)
- 1968: Richard Nixon: "Nixon's the One" (Moose Charlap and Alvin Cooperman)
- 1972: George McGovern: "Bridge over Troubled Water" (Paul Simon)
- 1976: Jimmy Carter: "Ode to The Georgia Farmer" (K.E. and Julia Marsh), Gerald Ford: "I'm Feeling Good about America" (Robert K. Gardner)
- 1980: Ronald Reagan "California Here We Come"
- 1984: Ronald Reagan "Born in the U.S.A." (Bruce Springsteen, who later asked Reagan to stop using the song) [1]
- 1988: George H. W. Bush: "This Land Is Your Land" (Woody Guthrie), Michael Dukakis: "Coming to America" ({Neil Diamond)
- 1992: Bill Clinton: Don't Stop (Fleetwood Mac), Ross Perot: Crazy (Patsy Cline)
- 1996: Bob Dole: "Dole Man" (Sam and Dave)
- 2000: George W. Bush: "I Won't Back Down" (Tom Petty), "We the People" (Billy Ray Cyrus), "Right Now" (Van Halen); Al Gore: "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" (Bachman-Turner Overdrive),"Let the Day Begin" (The Call)
- 2004: George W. Bush: "Only in America" (Brooks & Dunn) [2], John Kerry: "No Surrender" (Bruce Springsteen) [3]
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Presidential Campaign Songs
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
James Bond Themes
Some interesting notes about James Bond themes Full table and much info stolen
from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond_music
from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond_music
Apart from the first film, Dr. No, which introduced the James Bond Theme (and
was also the only film to use two songs during the opening sequence), only 3
films have had theme songs with titles differing from the title of the film:
"Nobody Does It Better" - Carly Simon - The Spy Who Loved Me "All Time High"
- Rita Coolidge - Octopussy "You Know My Name" - Chris Cornell - Casino Royale
Duran Duran and John Barry's "A View To A Kill" topped the singles charts in
America and was the only Bond theme to hit #1.
"Live and Let Die" reached #2 on the US Singles Chart
Sheena Easton's performance of Bill Conti's "For Your Eyes Only" received an
Academy Award nomination for Best Song Madonna's theme for "Die Another Day"
was nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song (2002) in
addition to a Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Only three films had instrumental
themes: Dr. No (excluding the second song used in the opening sequence), From
Russia with Love (a vocal version of the song was used in the closing credits),
and On Her Majesty's Secret Service
Shirley Bassey, who is Welsh, has performed the most Bond themes – Goldfinger,
Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker. Bassey also recorded her own version of
"Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" for Thunderball, but her version was replaced by Dionne
Warwick's rendition.
The unofficial main themes:
| Film | Year | Score composer | Title song | Performed by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casino Royale (unofficial film) | 1967 | Burt Bacharach | "Casino Royale" | Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass5 |
| Never Say Never Again (unofficial film) | 1983 | Michel Legrand | "Never Say Never Again" | Lani Hall |
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Lost (TV Show) Theory
These are my theories regarding the longer arc of Lost (rather than the next few episodes). I guess it contains spoilers in a sense, except that I am making the whole thing up, so I really have no idea if any of it is true.
The island is Atlantis (evidence: statue with four toes). At one point, the residents had nearly harnessed immortality, but an accident resulting from those experiments caused the island to sink (note: plot point stolen from Indiana Jones video game - Fate of Atlantis). The smoke cloud is the souls of the beings of Atlantis who were made immortal. In the video game, when the evil Nazi enemy leader guy tried the immortality device, he became a super-powerful smoke cloud demon thing. This is why we see faces in the cloud. Jacob leads the immortal cloud, but has the ability to sometimes appear?
The island re-emerged, possibly violently, creating strange magnetic abnormalities (evidence: Black Rock being in the middle of the island). This magnetic abnormality may result in healing, but also may result in difficulties in child bearing.
There is a war between the factions who know that the secret to immortality lies on the island. Possibly, The Others (or hostiles) are descendents of Atlantis. Some may even be immortal: Richard, Jacob? (evidence: Richard doesn't age). (Soon, we'll see Richard remove his shoes and he will have four toes.) They are working to protect the secret so that humanity doesn't utilize it and destroy itself. In other words, The Others are the good guys.
The Hanso Foundation/Dharma Initiative was mostly a cover-up project to hide the fact that someone (Penny's father's corporation Widmore Labs?) was greedily seeking the secret to immortality. Perhaps some of those experiments caused the mysterious insanity/sickness that afflicted some prior island visitors. The big "surprise" down the road will be that The Others are really the good guys (evidence: Ben is always saying that they are the good guys!). The Losties and The Others will team up to protect the secret from the corporate interests (Dharma/Hanso/Widmore) who will otherwise exploit it. Naomi and her ship are Widmore people trying to locate the island. The Losties and Others will fight them.
I think the show may end with the destruction of the island via some catastrophic event and the rescue of the remaining losties/others. Ben will choose to go down with the island as protecting the island became his life purpose.
The show really needs to end with the Losties being rescued, but then it would only make sense if the island is also destroyed or impossible to find again (i.e., Sinks to the ocean floor again.)
Added: 5/25/07
The Others are currently off to "The Temple." I believe this is where some secret device rests. They are going to protect it from the impending intrusion of the boat people, who were indeed proven to not be affiliated with Penny in the finale.
In the Indiana Jones video game, there is also a rare metal found on Atlantis. I suspect this metal will be the source of the magnetic properties of the island.
(VIDEO GAME SPOILERS)
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Fate_of_Atlantis
Atlantis
Sophia is again kidnapped when they arrive Atlantis. After rescuing her from a prison and entering the second ring, it is revealed that Nur-Ab-Sal guided Sophia to Atlantis through the medallion, in order to reclaim his old kingdom. His ghost possesses Sophia completely. Indy takes the opportunity to snatch the necklace and hurl it into the lava.
In the Colossus - a huge machine in the centre of the capital, which gave the Atlanteans god-like powers, they are ambushed by Ubermann and Kerner. Kerner decides he is the most worthy one around to transform into a god. Based on Plato's tenfold error, Ubermann feeds the machine with 1 bead instead of 10, which turns Kerner into a grotesque dwarf. The Nazis then force Indy to stand in the machine as an experiment.
Jones manages to convince Ubermann to be overpowered by anger and his own lust for power. He then feeds the machine 100 beads and turns into a being of pure energy, but soon after explodes, activating the volcano that has been asleep for millennia. As the city is crumbling, Indy and Sophia make their way to the submarine and take it to the surface. The city collapses deeper under the water, while Indy and Sophia watch the sun set on the smoke. And then they kiss.
The island is Atlantis (evidence: statue with four toes). At one point, the residents had nearly harnessed immortality, but an accident resulting from those experiments caused the island to sink (note: plot point stolen from Indiana Jones video game - Fate of Atlantis). The smoke cloud is the souls of the beings of Atlantis who were made immortal. In the video game, when the evil Nazi enemy leader guy tried the immortality device, he became a super-powerful smoke cloud demon thing. This is why we see faces in the cloud. Jacob leads the immortal cloud, but has the ability to sometimes appear?
The island re-emerged, possibly violently, creating strange magnetic abnormalities (evidence: Black Rock being in the middle of the island). This magnetic abnormality may result in healing, but also may result in difficulties in child bearing.
There is a war between the factions who know that the secret to immortality lies on the island. Possibly, The Others (or hostiles) are descendents of Atlantis. Some may even be immortal: Richard, Jacob? (evidence: Richard doesn't age). (Soon, we'll see Richard remove his shoes and he will have four toes.) They are working to protect the secret so that humanity doesn't utilize it and destroy itself. In other words, The Others are the good guys.
The Hanso Foundation/Dharma Initiative was mostly a cover-up project to hide the fact that someone (Penny's father's corporation Widmore Labs?) was greedily seeking the secret to immortality. Perhaps some of those experiments caused the mysterious insanity/sickness that afflicted some prior island visitors. The big "surprise" down the road will be that The Others are really the good guys (evidence: Ben is always saying that they are the good guys!). The Losties and The Others will team up to protect the secret from the corporate interests (Dharma/Hanso/Widmore) who will otherwise exploit it. Naomi and her ship are Widmore people trying to locate the island. The Losties and Others will fight them.
I think the show may end with the destruction of the island via some catastrophic event and the rescue of the remaining losties/others. Ben will choose to go down with the island as protecting the island became his life purpose.
The show really needs to end with the Losties being rescued, but then it would only make sense if the island is also destroyed or impossible to find again (i.e., Sinks to the ocean floor again.)
Added: 5/25/07
The Others are currently off to "The Temple." I believe this is where some secret device rests. They are going to protect it from the impending intrusion of the boat people, who were indeed proven to not be affiliated with Penny in the finale.
In the Indiana Jones video game, there is also a rare metal found on Atlantis. I suspect this metal will be the source of the magnetic properties of the island.
(VIDEO GAME SPOILERS)
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_Jones_and_the_Fate_of_Atlantis
Atlantis
Sophia is again kidnapped when they arrive Atlantis. After rescuing her from a prison and entering the second ring, it is revealed that Nur-Ab-Sal guided Sophia to Atlantis through the medallion, in order to reclaim his old kingdom. His ghost possesses Sophia completely. Indy takes the opportunity to snatch the necklace and hurl it into the lava.
In the Colossus - a huge machine in the centre of the capital, which gave the Atlanteans god-like powers, they are ambushed by Ubermann and Kerner. Kerner decides he is the most worthy one around to transform into a god. Based on Plato's tenfold error, Ubermann feeds the machine with 1 bead instead of 10, which turns Kerner into a grotesque dwarf. The Nazis then force Indy to stand in the machine as an experiment.
Jones manages to convince Ubermann to be overpowered by anger and his own lust for power. He then feeds the machine 100 beads and turns into a being of pure energy, but soon after explodes, activating the volcano that has been asleep for millennia. As the city is crumbling, Indy and Sophia make their way to the submarine and take it to the surface. The city collapses deeper under the water, while Indy and Sophia watch the sun set on the smoke. And then they kiss.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Big Bottoms
According to the Washington Post, Spinal Tap is reuniting for the environment, a show, and a 15 minute short, which will detail where life has taken the members of the legendary rock group.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/25/AR2007042500338.html?nav=rss_artsandliving/entertainmentnews
Smell the Glove!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/25/AR2007042500338.html?nav=rss_artsandliving/entertainmentnews
Smell the Glove!
Monday, April 23, 2007
I Want My MTV
MTV debuted August 1, 1981 airing The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" followed by "You Better Run" by Pat Benatar. The first video to be banned by MTV was "Girls on Film" by Duran Duran in 1981. Notably missing from MTV during its first couple of years was any video by a black artist. MTV executives claimed that, "few black artists recorded the kind of Rock and Roll the channel played." Finally, after immense pressure, Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" became the first video by a black artist to be aired on the channel.
From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean#Impact_of_song_and_music_video): In 1983 Jackson and CBS Records President Walter Yetnikoff informed MTV's president that if the cable channel didn't play Jackson's video, CBS would not allow them to play all of their white artists who were getting exposure on the network.( most notably Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Joel.) With that ultimatum, MTV finally bowed to pressure and premiered Jackson's "Billie Jean" video on March 10, 1983.
After that, the wall came down and MTV agreed to include black artists in its rotation paving the way for Lionel Richie, Prince, and Janet Jackson.
Here is a college paper written on the topic: http://www.indiana.edu/~t311/timeline/1980aswart.html
From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Jean#Impact_of_song_and_music_video): In 1983 Jackson and CBS Records President Walter Yetnikoff informed MTV's president that if the cable channel didn't play Jackson's video, CBS would not allow them to play all of their white artists who were getting exposure on the network.( most notably Ozzy Osbourne and Billy Joel.) With that ultimatum, MTV finally bowed to pressure and premiered Jackson's "Billie Jean" video on March 10, 1983.
After that, the wall came down and MTV agreed to include black artists in its rotation paving the way for Lionel Richie, Prince, and Janet Jackson.
Here is a college paper written on the topic: http://www.indiana.edu/~t311/timeline/1980aswart.html
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Jimmy Stewart put the hand of a Yeti in his wife's underwear
Photograph taken by John Angelo Jackson, "Snowman Expedition" (1954), scanned from his book "Adventure Travels in the Himalaya". Lowres version provided here by his family, since his death in July 2nd 2005. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:1954-lowres-JAJ-daily-mail-pangboche-scalp-%2Bhand.jpg)
That is not some euphemism of unknown origin, but rather a statement of the rumor that Jimmy Stewart allegedly smuggled a Yeti hand from India to London in his wife's underwear in 1959.
The Pangboche Hand, an artifact stolen from Nepal (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangboche_Hand), was sought by wealthy businessman and adventurer, Tom Slick. He allegedly sought to analyse the hand to determine its origin and hired thieves to remove pieces of the hand from a Buddhist monastery in Pangboche, Nepal. The stolen pieces were replaced with human bones. After transport of the hand to India, Jimmy Stewart agreed to receive it and bring it back to London.
(the text below is stolen right from the wikipedia article)
Cryptozoologist Loren Coleman rediscovered this story while writing Tom Slick's biography in the 1980s. Coleman confirmed details of the incidents with written materials in the Slick archives, interviews with Byrne, and correspondence with Stewart. Byrne later confirmed the Pangboche hand story via a letter from Stewart that Byrne published in a general book on Nepalese wildlife.
Loren Coleman chronicled his research into the unknown history of the "Pangboche Hand" in two of his books, Tom Slick and the Search for Yeti (Boston/London: Faber and Faber, 1989) and most recently in his Tom Slick: True Life Encounters in Cryptozoology (Fresno, CA: Linden Press, 2002).
London University primatologist W. C. Osman Hill conducted a physical examination of the pieces that Byrne supplied. His first findings were that it was hominid, but then later in 1960 he decided that the Pangboche hand was more in line with what he would find from a Neandertal.
During the high-publicity 1960 World Book expedition, which had many goals including gathering intelligence on Chinese rocket launchings, controversy regarding the hand was inspired by Sir Edmund Hillary and Marlin Perkins who took a sidetrip in Nepal to investigate and debunk the Yeti. What was unknown to Hillary when he examined the Pangboche hand was that he was looking at a combination of original and human bones placed there by Byrne. Naturally, Hillary determined the artifact was a hoax.
In 1991, in conjunction with Coleman's research, it was discovered that the Slick expedition consultant, an American anthropologist by the name of George Agogino, had retained samples of the Yeti hand. The NBC program "Unsolved Mysteries" obtained samples and determined they were similar to human tissue, but not human, and could only verify they were "near human." After the broadcast of the program, the entire hand was stolen from the Pangboche monastery, and reportedly disappeared into a private collection via the illegal underground in the sale of antiquities. George Agogino, before his death on September 11, 2000, transferred his important files on the Pangboche Yeti hand to Loren Coleman.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Marathon
Today is the Boston marathon.
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Košice_Peace_Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event of 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km).
The name, "marathon", comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, who was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been miraculously defeated in the Battle of Marathon.
The world record time for men over the distance is 2 hours 4 minutes and 55 seconds, set in the Berlin Marathon by Paul Tergat of Kenya on September 28, 2003.
The world record for women was set by Paula Radcliffe of United Kingdom in the London Marathon on 13 April 2003, in 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds.
The Boston Marathon began in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon.
The Košice Peace Marathon is the oldest marathon in Europe and the second oldest in the world, beginning in 1924. The course is flat and comprises of two laps through the city center of Košice, Slovakia.
The first cash prize for winning the Boston marathon was awarded in 1986.
Women were not allowed to enter the Boston Marathon officially until 1972.
Heartbreak Hill, a well-known difficult stretch near the end of the race (between 20 and 21 miles) rises only 80 vertical feet.
Recent Winners:
† = Course Record
Men
2007 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Kenya 2:14:13 (3rd win)
2006 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Kenya 2:07:14 (2nd) †
2005 Hailu Negussie Ethiopia 2:11:44
2004 Timothy Cherigat Kenya 2:10:37
2003 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Kenya 2:10:11
2002 Rodgers Rop Kenya 2:09:02
2001 Lee Bong-Ju Republic of Korea 2:09:43
2000 Elijah Lagat Kenya 2:09:47
Women
2007 Lidiya Grigoryeva Russia 2:29:18
2006 Rita Jeptoo Kenya 2:23:38
2005 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:25:12 (4th)
2004 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:24:27 (3rd)
2003 Svetlana Zakharova Russia 2:25:19
2002 Margaret Okayo Kenya 2:20:43 †
2001 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:23:53 (2nd)
2000 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:26:11
see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Košice_Peace_Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event of 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km).
The name, "marathon", comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, who was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been miraculously defeated in the Battle of Marathon.
The world record time for men over the distance is 2 hours 4 minutes and 55 seconds, set in the Berlin Marathon by Paul Tergat of Kenya on September 28, 2003.
The world record for women was set by Paula Radcliffe of United Kingdom in the London Marathon on 13 April 2003, in 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds.
The Boston Marathon began in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon.
The Košice Peace Marathon is the oldest marathon in Europe and the second oldest in the world, beginning in 1924. The course is flat and comprises of two laps through the city center of Košice, Slovakia.
The first cash prize for winning the Boston marathon was awarded in 1986.
Women were not allowed to enter the Boston Marathon officially until 1972.
Heartbreak Hill, a well-known difficult stretch near the end of the race (between 20 and 21 miles) rises only 80 vertical feet.
Recent Winners:
† = Course Record
Men
2007 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Kenya 2:14:13 (3rd win)
2006 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Kenya 2:07:14 (2nd) †
2005 Hailu Negussie Ethiopia 2:11:44
2004 Timothy Cherigat Kenya 2:10:37
2003 Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot Kenya 2:10:11
2002 Rodgers Rop Kenya 2:09:02
2001 Lee Bong-Ju Republic of Korea 2:09:43
2000 Elijah Lagat Kenya 2:09:47
Women
2007 Lidiya Grigoryeva Russia 2:29:18
2006 Rita Jeptoo Kenya 2:23:38
2005 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:25:12 (4th)
2004 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:24:27 (3rd)
2003 Svetlana Zakharova Russia 2:25:19
2002 Margaret Okayo Kenya 2:20:43 †
2001 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:23:53 (2nd)
2000 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 2:26:11
Song of the Moment
I don't know anything about Dan Le Sac or his competition, Scroobius Pip, but I do know that this is awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-MYVv4tgQc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-MYVv4tgQc
Friday, April 13, 2007
Slow Food
I hadn't previously heard of Slow Food, apart from moments where friends have eschewed another visit to Taco Bell or the like...
Well, The Slow Food movement seems to be centered on maintaining good quality, diverse food (e.g., not having everyone grow the same genetically modified crops).
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_Food
The Slow Food movement was created to combat fast food and claims to preserve the cultural cuisine and the associated food plants and seeds, domestic animals, and farming within an ecoregion. It was the first established part of the broader Slow movement.
The Slow Food movement was begun by Carlo Petrini in Italy as a resistance movement to fast food. It has since expanded globally to 100 countries and now has 83,000 members. It humorously describes itself as an "eco-gastronomy faction" within the ecology movement, and some refer to the movement as the "culinary wing" of the anti-globalization movement.
The Slow Food website lists various objectives and aims of the movement, which include:
-Seed banks to preserve native varieties, usually in cooperation with more local movements
-An "ark of taste" for each ecoregion whose foods and flavors are preserved
-Preserving and promoting local and traditional food product know-how
-Organizing small-scale processing, e.g., slaughtering, of short run products
-Organizing celebrations of local cuisine within the region of production, e.g., the Feast of Fields held in some cities in Canada
-Taste Education
-Educating consumers about the hidden risks of fast food
-Educating citizens about the hidden risks of agribusiness and factory farms
-Educating citizens about the risks of monoculture and reliance on too few genomes or varieties
-Various political programs to preserve family farms
-Lobbying for agricultural policy changes to support organic farms
-Lobbying against genetic modification of foodstuffs
-Lobbying against the use of pesticides
-Teaching gardening, especially to students and prisoners
-Moral purchasing of foodstuffs produced by locals using methods that are morally acceptable to the consumer
Well, The Slow Food movement seems to be centered on maintaining good quality, diverse food (e.g., not having everyone grow the same genetically modified crops).
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_Food
The Slow Food movement was created to combat fast food and claims to preserve the cultural cuisine and the associated food plants and seeds, domestic animals, and farming within an ecoregion. It was the first established part of the broader Slow movement.
The Slow Food movement was begun by Carlo Petrini in Italy as a resistance movement to fast food. It has since expanded globally to 100 countries and now has 83,000 members. It humorously describes itself as an "eco-gastronomy faction" within the ecology movement, and some refer to the movement as the "culinary wing" of the anti-globalization movement.
The Slow Food website lists various objectives and aims of the movement, which include:
-Seed banks to preserve native varieties, usually in cooperation with more local movements
-An "ark of taste" for each ecoregion whose foods and flavors are preserved
-Preserving and promoting local and traditional food product know-how
-Organizing small-scale processing, e.g., slaughtering, of short run products
-Organizing celebrations of local cuisine within the region of production, e.g., the Feast of Fields held in some cities in Canada
-Taste Education
-Educating consumers about the hidden risks of fast food
-Educating citizens about the hidden risks of agribusiness and factory farms
-Educating citizens about the risks of monoculture and reliance on too few genomes or varieties
-Various political programs to preserve family farms
-Lobbying for agricultural policy changes to support organic farms
-Lobbying against genetic modification of foodstuffs
-Lobbying against the use of pesticides
-Teaching gardening, especially to students and prisoners
-Moral purchasing of foodstuffs produced by locals using methods that are morally acceptable to the consumer
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Uncanny
Stolen from: http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2007/04/the_uncanny_val.html
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_Valley
"...as a robot is made more humanlike in its appearance and motion, the emotional response from a human being to the robot will become increasingly positive and empathic, until a point is reached beyond which the response quickly becomes strongly repulsive. However, as the appearance and motion continue to become less distinguishable from a human being's, the emotional response becomes positive once more and approaches human-human empathy levels."
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_Valley
"...as a robot is made more humanlike in its appearance and motion, the emotional response from a human being to the robot will become increasingly positive and empathic, until a point is reached beyond which the response quickly becomes strongly repulsive. However, as the appearance and motion continue to become less distinguishable from a human being's, the emotional response becomes positive once more and approaches human-human empathy levels."
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Plagues
We've never been asked, but I figured it would be good to memorize the ten plagues of Egypt. On first go, we got them all except 'lice' and 'hail fire.'
Here's a nice visual set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17025280@N00/sets/72157600038845249/detail/
More details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Plagues
Here's a breakdown of how I've known them and what Wikipedia says:
Blood - (Exodus 7:14-25) rivers and other water sources turned to blood ('Dam')
Frogs - (Exodus 7:26-8:11) amphibians (commonly believed to be frogs) ('Tsfardeia')
Lice - (Exodus 8:12-15) Gnats ('Kinim') -Gnats seem like a pretty lame plague, especially when flies arrives next.
Flies - (Exodus 8:16-28) Flies, ('Arov')
Cattle Disease - (Exodus 9:1-7) disease on livestock ('Dever') - Maybe I totally remember this wrong and it's livestock disease. I thought maybe it was Pestilence, but I think that might be one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse - (pestilence, war, famine, and death - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse)
Boils - (Exodus 9:8-12) unhealable boils ('Shkhin') - We left out the word "unhealable" at the Passover Seders...though the truth is, the word "boils" is plenty disgusting.
Hail - (Exodus 9:13-35) hail mixed with fire ('Barad') - I didn't remember the fire part. I think it might have been cool to split these two and ditch gnats.
Locusts - (Exodus 10:1-20) locusts ('Arbeh')
Darkness - (Exodus 10:21-29) darkness ('Choshech')
Slaying of the First Born (Exodus 11:1-12:36) death of the firstborn ('Makat Bechorot') - This is of course where the term "Passover" comes from (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover).
Here's a nice visual set:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17025280@N00/sets/72157600038845249/detail/
More details:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Plagues
Here's a breakdown of how I've known them and what Wikipedia says:
Blood - (Exodus 7:14-25) rivers and other water sources turned to blood ('Dam')
Frogs - (Exodus 7:26-8:11) amphibians (commonly believed to be frogs) ('Tsfardeia')
Lice - (Exodus 8:12-15) Gnats ('Kinim') -Gnats seem like a pretty lame plague, especially when flies arrives next.
Flies - (Exodus 8:16-28) Flies, ('Arov')
Cattle Disease - (Exodus 9:1-7) disease on livestock ('Dever') - Maybe I totally remember this wrong and it's livestock disease. I thought maybe it was Pestilence, but I think that might be one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse - (pestilence, war, famine, and death - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse)
Boils - (Exodus 9:8-12) unhealable boils ('Shkhin') - We left out the word "unhealable" at the Passover Seders...though the truth is, the word "boils" is plenty disgusting.
Hail - (Exodus 9:13-35) hail mixed with fire ('Barad') - I didn't remember the fire part. I think it might have been cool to split these two and ditch gnats.
Locusts - (Exodus 10:1-20) locusts ('Arbeh')
Darkness - (Exodus 10:21-29) darkness ('Choshech')
Slaying of the First Born (Exodus 11:1-12:36) death of the firstborn ('Makat Bechorot') - This is of course where the term "Passover" comes from (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover).
Worldwide Roman Catholic Populations
Roman Catholics
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/4243727.stm
BRAZIL
Total population: 176.9m
Number of Catholics: 151.2m (85%)
MEXICO
Total population: 104.7m
Number of Catholics: 93.6m (89%)
PHILIPPINES
Total population: 81.1m
Number of Catholics: 66.4m (81%)
UNITED STATES
Total population: 292m
Number of Catholics: 66.3m (22%)
ITALY
Total population: 57.6m
Number of Catholics: 55.8m (96%)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/4243727.stm
BRAZIL
Total population: 176.9m
Number of Catholics: 151.2m (85%)
MEXICO
Total population: 104.7m
Number of Catholics: 93.6m (89%)
PHILIPPINES
Total population: 81.1m
Number of Catholics: 66.4m (81%)
UNITED STATES
Total population: 292m
Number of Catholics: 66.3m (22%)
ITALY
Total population: 57.6m
Number of Catholics: 55.8m (96%)
Homo/Hetero/Phone/Nym
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homonym
Homography. A homograph is a homonym in which two or more meanings share the same spelling. Homographs may or may not share the same pronunciation. Such words include homophones like bark (the sound of a dog or the skin of a tree), and heteronyms like Berkeley (the name of the university, which is pronounced differently from the name of the school's namesake bishop.)
Homophony. A homophone is a homonym in which two or more meanings share the same pronunciation. Homophones may or may not share the same spelling. Such words include to, too, and two and there, their, and they’re, but also bow (a type of knot) and bow (a weapon used to propel an arrow).
Heteronymy. A heteronym is a homonym with a single spelling but different meanings and pronunciations. Such words include desert (abandon) and desert (arid region), because they are pronounced differently. These are also sometimes called heterophones. They are homographs which differ in pronunciation or, technically, homographs which are not homophones.
Polysemy. A polyseme is a single word with two distinct but related meanings. The distinction between polysemy and homonymy is often subtle and subjective, and not all sources consider polysemous words to be homonyms. Words such as "mouth", meaning either the orifice on one's face, or the opening of a cave or river, are polysemous and may or may not be considered homonyms.
Capitonymy. Capitonyms are homonyms that share spelling but have different meanings when capitalized (and may or may not have different pronunciations). Such words include polish (to make shiny) and Polish (from Poland).
Heterologues. A heterologue is a homonym comprised of words from different languages that have same spelling, but different meanings.
In derivation, homograph means "same writing", homophone means "same sound", heteronym (somewhat confusingly) means "different name", and heterophone means "different sound".
Homography. A homograph is a homonym in which two or more meanings share the same spelling. Homographs may or may not share the same pronunciation. Such words include homophones like bark (the sound of a dog or the skin of a tree), and heteronyms like Berkeley (the name of the university, which is pronounced differently from the name of the school's namesake bishop.)
Homophony. A homophone is a homonym in which two or more meanings share the same pronunciation. Homophones may or may not share the same spelling. Such words include to, too, and two and there, their, and they’re, but also bow (a type of knot) and bow (a weapon used to propel an arrow).
Heteronymy. A heteronym is a homonym with a single spelling but different meanings and pronunciations. Such words include desert (abandon) and desert (arid region), because they are pronounced differently. These are also sometimes called heterophones. They are homographs which differ in pronunciation or, technically, homographs which are not homophones.
Polysemy. A polyseme is a single word with two distinct but related meanings. The distinction between polysemy and homonymy is often subtle and subjective, and not all sources consider polysemous words to be homonyms. Words such as "mouth", meaning either the orifice on one's face, or the opening of a cave or river, are polysemous and may or may not be considered homonyms.
Capitonymy. Capitonyms are homonyms that share spelling but have different meanings when capitalized (and may or may not have different pronunciations). Such words include polish (to make shiny) and Polish (from Poland).
Heterologues. A heterologue is a homonym comprised of words from different languages that have same spelling, but different meanings.
In derivation, homograph means "same writing", homophone means "same sound", heteronym (somewhat confusingly) means "different name", and heterophone means "different sound".
Infinity, Freedom, and Justice
What is the name of the ongoing operation in Afghanistan?
I was sure that it was "Infinite Justice." The answer: "Enduring Freedom"
I know what they mean by "Enduring Freedom," but literally, the first definitions of the word endure (see http://m-w.com/dictionary/enduring)
1 : to undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in : SUFFER
2 : to regard with acceptance or tolerance
...essentially we expect the Afghanis to suffer through the "freedom" we've forced upon them.
Despite the mockery of my trivia teammates, I was not just confusing some codename from a Rambo movie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom
It was previously planned to have been called "Operation Infinite Justice," but this phrase had previously been restricted to the description of God (among followers of several faiths), and it is believed to have been changed to avoid offense to Muslims.[1]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1563722.stm
The US has changed the code name of its military build-up to respond to suicide attacks in New York and Washington two weeks ago - to sidestep objections in the Muslim world.
What had been dubbed "Operation Infinite Justice" is now to be known by the less controversial name "Operation Enduring Freedom".
I was sure that it was "Infinite Justice." The answer: "Enduring Freedom"
I know what they mean by "Enduring Freedom," but literally, the first definitions of the word endure (see http://m-w.com/dictionary/enduring)
1 : to undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in : SUFFER
2 : to regard with acceptance or tolerance
...essentially we expect the Afghanis to suffer through the "freedom" we've forced upon them.
Despite the mockery of my trivia teammates, I was not just confusing some codename from a Rambo movie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Enduring_Freedom
It was previously planned to have been called "Operation Infinite Justice," but this phrase had previously been restricted to the description of God (among followers of several faiths), and it is believed to have been changed to avoid offense to Muslims.[1]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1563722.stm
The US has changed the code name of its military build-up to respond to suicide attacks in New York and Washington two weeks ago - to sidestep objections in the Muslim world.
What had been dubbed "Operation Infinite Justice" is now to be known by the less controversial name "Operation Enduring Freedom".
Most Moons
At trivia, the question, "Which planet in our solar system has the most moons?" arose. As a young boy, I had memorized all of the known moons in the solar system (totalling less than 15, if I recall correctly). In the meantime, about 7000 new ones have been discovered. When I was young, the answer was Saturn. We guessed Jupiter. Saturn was "correct."
The truth is however, I think it depends on how you classify moons. I believe that Saturn has more substantial moons and Jupiter has more tiny crap moons.
"Jupiter has more moons than any other planet."
http://www.spacetoday.org/SolSys/Moons/MoonsSolSys.html
"Jupiter has at least 63 natural satellites."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter#Moons
"Saturn has a large number of moons...As of 2006, a total of 56 individual moons have been identified, along with 3 unconfirmed moons that could be small dust clumps in the rings."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn
http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question30900.html
The truth is however, I think it depends on how you classify moons. I believe that Saturn has more substantial moons and Jupiter has more tiny crap moons.
"Jupiter has more moons than any other planet."
http://www.spacetoday.org/SolSys/Moons/MoonsSolSys.html
"Jupiter has at least 63 natural satellites."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter#Moons
"Saturn has a large number of moons...As of 2006, a total of 56 individual moons have been identified, along with 3 unconfirmed moons that could be small dust clumps in the rings."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn
http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question30900.html
Trivia: Immaculate Conception
Despite arguments to the contrary, The Immaculate Conception, a Roman Catholic concept, refers to the conception of Mary. The premise is that she was conceived, born, and lived without sin, original or otherwise, so that she could be suitable for carrying Jesus. Most people seem to confuse the Virgin birth with The Immaculate Conception.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Conception
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Conception
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