Some background on the Chrysler/Eminem ad that kinda stole the show for the Super Bowl ads.
Author Archives: John Wallenfeldt
How to Take Good Care of Your Power Tools
Take care of your power tools and they’ll take care of you.
Make: Online » Why Are Fewer Students in Science Fairs?
Fi we want to actually compete with the world, we need to encourage kids that math and science are not only valued and interesting, but also useful. Our ed system, as structured, is to produce workers for our economy.
Right now, it’s only chucking out – in the main – kids who can take tests and run a McDonald’s drive thru window.
Our canary in the coal mine in this instance ar science fairs. Make does a good overview of the issue and provides some good followup articles.
Meanwhile, a week late to the party, NPR covers the reporting on how so many biology teachers are not teaching evolution.
Look, if we can’t hire people to teach our children facts, we’re already screwed.
Medicine: Private or Social Good?
Oh if only every doctor went into practice to help people (like this doctor here) instead of just as a way to learn stuff so they can make piles of cash and bang pharmaceutical salespeople.
Wallace Shawn: Why I Call Myself a Socialist: Is the World Really a Stage?
It is probably more my fault than anything that I was surprised at the depth of thinking in this selection from actor Wallace Shawn’s Essays.
Look like I’ll be adding that to my reading list soon.
Eight Hand Tools You Should Own
Sometimes, simplest is best when it comes to tools.
Besides, my basement doesn’t have room for all the really cool toys.
BBC News – Free diabetes and blood pressure drugs for Brazilians
Perspective and values.
The United States gives billions to oil companies in tax abatements and just reaffirmed our selling out status to billionaires by giving them more tax breaks.
Brazil just gave it’s citizens free diabetes and blood pressure meds, hoping to reduce the 34% of deaths in their nation from these illnesses.
“Land of the free”, huh?
BBC News – BBC offers apology for Top Gear comments on Mexico
The BBC offers an apology for it’s Top Gear talent being racist pricks.
It offers an apology but a good reading of the press release shows that it doesn’t actually deliver an apology.
When did our society turn into one where mumbling words that sound like you recognize someone was offended by something you did, but don’t care to find yourself at fault pass as an actual apology?
I plan to raise my kid better than that. I hope the rest of you do too.
Background checks are latest gun rights battleground | Minnesota Public Radio News
To date, the Republican takeover of the legislature here in Minnesota has resulted in two trends.
One, they want to enforce ID checks before people can cast a ballot. This, of course, ties in with a long-standing conservative tradition of making it harder for students, the poor, elderly, and minorities – especially recent immigrants – to vote. In short, it is anti-democratic. Which is fine, because Republicans do not believe America is a democracy. Seriously, just ask them.
The other trend since the election has been to take away any regulations that might save lives. The latest move is to do away with background checks prior to purchasing a firearm.
Voting? ID checks similar to an East German border crossing are the model for the GOP.
Buying a shopping cart full of guns? No ID required.
Priorities. Pay attention to what the politicians are telling you.
10 Tools Every Homeowner Should Have
Essential tools you must have.
Pretty basic stuff but it’s a solid list.