The video and telecom-addled civilization that bustles outside [the secular monastery in Neal Stephenson’s Anathem] is full of shallow and incorrect knowledge. People who’ve never taken time to study anything feel they know everything. Constantly distracted by their jangling electronic gizmos, they can’t comprehend the powerful ideas and complex systems wrought by thousands of years of civilization. Their smart machines make them dumb. Inevitably, they look to the cloistered nerds to save them.— Neal Stephenson’s new novel makes me want to kill the Internet
styling: nick douglas
sometimes bloggers lose sight of the importance of appropriate dress, as most times, they can work from home in their underwear. nick asked me to style him (in caps lock, no less). i assumed he was joking, but did it all the same. i had a look in mind, and it’s come to fruition.
the look is a little “silicon valley lumberjack”, combining a blue flannel with dark-washed skinny jeans to fit his slight frame. add a pair of high-top converse in a neutral color, a thick knit scarf for colder temperatures, and a bright windbreaker for a layering effect.
the entire outfit cost around $250, which was about $100 over his initial budget. but don’t panic, each piece can easily be found in similar colors and styles at a local thriftstore.
jakeandamir: Jake’s Birthday
Impressive! They kept up the joke that Jake is becoming like Amir, without letting it get stale. I’m starting to treat this like a dramatic serial, hoping that they have a plan that will get them to the end of a long character arc. Reminds me of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books (a fantasy satire series), which started as romps, fell into a comfortable but eventually cloying pattern, then broke out as honest-to-god realistic-character novels.
- Jamison: i can't support any expansion of oil drilling and what does she mean about strict environmental oversight? After nearly 8 years of the Bush EPA, aren't oil companies are allowed to hunt humans for sport now?
- Mike: jamison, can i point out that you're arguing about Paris Hilton's proposed energy policy?
- Nick: BE PART OF A MOVEMENT
- Jay: THE ONLY MOVEMENT I AM PART OF IS THE PENDULAR MOVEMENT OF MY DONG
- Nick: the only pendular movement there is quantum string vibration
- Nick: ZING
- Jay: Hey- ... oh. :(
Blogging is different when there are famous people around.— Jonathan Grubb: 8 things I’ve learned about the Internet in Los Angeles
This is probably the main reason I haven’t been blogging. Most of my friends here are in the entertainment business, so any social gathering is attended by a variety of producers, writers, actors, musicians, artists, and the occasional startup CEO. So how do you write a blog post about a typical night out and avoid having it read like a bad tabloid? Saying “I hung out with [actor name]” will pretty much always sound like bragging. Plus nobody else has a website, so if you want to make it clear who you’re talking about you have to link to their IMDB page, which also looks a lot like bragging to everyone outside Los Angeles. I mean, I feel like a douchebag just talking about it.
Then some people actually are famous enough to be watched by tabloids, so anything you say about them or any photo you post of them has the potential to become gossip fodder. All the starlets love having their photo taken, but if hanging out with you feels like work I’m guessing you won’t be invited to the next party.