Graham English

Opinion

Brian Eno On The End Of An Era

“There is no reason why anyone should have made so much money from selling records except that everything was right for this period of time. I always knew it would run out sooner or later.”

All Songs Considered: The Decade’s 50 Most Important Recordings

NPR has compiled a list of the 50 most important recordings of the past 10 years.

Google Something Better

This is just a little challenge. John Battelle wrote about the “database of intentions” in his book, The Search. If you look at our search history, it tells us who we are and what we value. Our Google searches are the artifacts of our culture. Really, it’s just a small challenge. Google something better.

We’re In A Culture War

Peter Kirn is shaking it up and inspiring me to think about what actions I need to take in response to the diminishing importance of the arts in our culture.

This Victory Alone Is Not The Change We Seek

I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

Hope Takes The Lead

In Boulder, I used to the ride the bus every morning to my job with an older gentlemen named Charles. I tell you this because I was happy to see his story go viral in a video yesterday.

Keep Your Optimism, But Be Very Concerned

Some people will tell you the world is coming to an end. Some people will say you create reality so turn off the news and think nothing but good thoughts. I’m here to tell you to be optimistic, but be very concerned.

The Story Of Japanese Apprentice Matajura

A pupil in such a hurry learns slowly.

On Legacy

This is the true joy in life, the being recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

Information = Energy

Information takes energy to create. It takes energy to consume. And it takes energy to manage. Information is energy. I see great opportunity and challenge in this.
The challenge on a personal level is that you need a sustainable source of personal energy. No, I don’t mean a refrigerator stocked with Red Bull. But because information [...]

God, Darwin clash again in Kansas

Here we go again.
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas (Reuters) – For the fourth time in eight years, the Kansas Board of Education is preparing to take up the issue of evolution and what to teach — or not teach — public school students about the origins of life.
I hope they’re not planning to take The Spaghetti Monster [...]

Boston Trading Freedoms For Safety

An assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Bridgewater State College (MA), Dion Dennis, has a detailed and interesting analysis of the Boston/Mooninite panic attack.
Link: Fear and Loathing in the Bay State
Here’s a hilarious take on the fiasco.

Power and Perspectives

Not good news for our current political climate. A recent study appearing in the December 2006 issue of Psychological Science reports that people with power are often unable to take other people’s perspective.
Study Gives Us A New Perspective On The Powerful
To study the link between power and perspective taking, Galinsky and colleagues used a unique [...]

Has Justice Been Served?

I feel sad and, well, unsatisfied with the death of Saddam Hussein. We went to war with Al Qaeda in response to 9/11. Yet Bin Laden still lives. Then we went to war with Iraq and declared mission accomplished over two years ago. We have now lost more Americans in that war than those who [...]

John Edwards Is Running For The White House… 2.0 Style

John Edwards launched a bid for the White House in New Orleans today. Seth Godin is calling him “The YouTube President” because he also announced his candidacy on YouTube. Scoble is blogging his campaign.
This is going to be fun to watch!

The Power of Nightmares Part 3

The precautionary principle: Not having the evidence that something might not become a problem is not a reason for not taking action as if it were a problem. It is a powerful triple-negative. Action without evidence is justified.

The Power of Nightmares Part 2

At one time, Moscow was seen as the “evil enemy.” Back in the 1980s, the neoconservatives and the Islamic extremists were allies. Washington gave money and weapons to the Islamic Mujahideen. Most notable among these “freedom fighters” was Osama Bin Laden.

The Power of Nightmares Part 1

It turns out that the roots of today’s Islamic fundamentalism and modern perceptions of concepts such as jihad can be traced back to Sayyid Qutb’s stay in Greeley, Colorado of all places.

Our Leaders Are Out Of Touch

Republicans Want You To Forget…

Here’s a list of 19 things Republicans want you to forget. Print it out and remind your friends on election day.