Interesting Articles

Why you Shouldn't Be Afraid of Giant Spiders


In The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), the hero is exposed to radioactive toxic waste and finds himself growing smaller and smaller. He is lost to family and friends while fending off the household cat and must make his own way in a world grown monstrously large. He forages food from crumbs and drinks from puddles of condensation. In one famous scene, he defends himself against a house spider by using an abandoned sewing needle, which he has to struggle to lift.

Stop the projector! Time for a little analysis.

The Biology of B-Movie Monsters by Michael C. LaBarbera
uchicago.edu

The 48 Laws of Power


A successful friend of mine suggested I read this book.

I'd flipped through it at the bookstore but never gave it much attention. It seemed a bit Machiavellian/Gordon Gecko for my Type-B personality, and rather difficult to absorb given its list-form approach (I find most self-help books are easier to digest if written in a more narrative or anecdotal style), but, I must admit, it definitely seems an appealing read.

The 48 Laws of Power
by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

Law 1: Never Outshine the Master

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior.  In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity.  Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

bookoutlines

Top 25 Censored Stories for 2009


  • #1. Over One Million Iraqi Deaths Caused by US Occupation

    More than one million Iraqis have died as a result of the conflict in their country since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, according to research conducted by one of Britain's leading polling groups.

    The survey, conducted by Opinion Research Business (ORB) with 2,414 adults in face-to-face interviews, found that 20 percent of people had had at least one death in their household as a result of the conflict, rather than natural causes. The last complete census in Iraq conducted in 1997 found 4.05 million households in the country, a figure ORB used to calculate that approximately 1.03 million people had died as a result of the war, the researchers found. The margin of error in the survey, conducted in August and September 2007, was 1.7 percent, giving a range of deaths of 946,258 to 1.12 million. ORB originally found that 1.2 million people had died, but decided to go back and conduct more research in rural areas to make the survey as comprehensive as possible and then came up with the revised figure. The research covered 15 of Iraq's 18 provinces. Those that not covered included two of Iraq's more volatile regions -- Kerbala and Anbar -- and the northern province of Arbil, where local authorities refused them a permit to work.

    SOURCE: "Iraq conflict has killed a million, says survey", Reuters, Alternet

  • # 2 Security and Prosperity Partnership: Militarized NAFTA

    Known as "NAFTA on steroids" or "NAFTA plus Homeland Security," the SPP "calls for maximization of North American economic competitiveness in the face of growing exports from India and China; expedited means of resource (oil, natural gas, water, forest products) extraction; secure borders against 'organized crime, international terrorism, and illegal migration;' standardized regulatory regimes for health, food safety, and the environment; integrated energy supply through a comprehensive resource security pact (primarily about ensuring that the US receives guaranteed flows of the oil in light of 'Middle East insecurity and hostile Latin American regimes'); and coordination amongst defense forces."

    SOURCE: "Plan Mexico Passed", Narcosphere

  • # 3 InfraGard: The FBI Deputizes Business

    Today, more than 23,000 representatives of private industry are working quietly with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. The members of this rapidly growing group, called InfraGard, receive secret warnings of terrorist threats before the public does—and, at least on one occasion, before elected officials. In return, they provide information to the government, which alarms the ACLU. But there may be more to it than that. One business executive, who showed me his InfraGard card, told me they have permission to “shoot to kill” in the event of martial law.

    InfraGard is “a child of the FBI,” says Michael Hershman, the chairman of the advisory board of the InfraGard National Members Alliance and CEO of the Fairfax Group, an international consulting firm.

    SOURCE: "The FBI Deputizes Business", The Progressive

Wizards of Money


Back when I was an eager young college student, too stupid and too curious about the world to do my homework, I would listen to a radio program called Wizards of Money. I found it extremely well produced and extremely informative. If you have the desire to learn more about economics and how "the real world" works, then please turn off the talk radio and listen to these free, informative radio programs. You'll learn more about economics than most commentators on CNBC and you'll have fun doing it.

My best regards go to radio4all.net and antiscia.com for hosting these programs.

Antiscia.com - Wizards of Money

Smart Drugs: Viagra for Your Brain

Hey Everybody!

Wouldn't you like to sleep four hours a day and then wake up alert, productive, and full of energy?

Well, all you need is one dose of a drug called Modafinil (or Provigil)--an apparent "wonder drug" that allows users of the drug to work with extraordinary attentiveness and productivity even after the bare minimum of sleep. The most amazing thing is that, as long as it's taken in moderation, the drug has negligible short-term side effects and no apparent long-term side effects. Also, it's not chemically addictive.

The drugs have been around pretty much since the early 2000's but not much has been said about them. In 2003, David Plotz wrote a short piece for Slate (see link below) about Modafinil, but since then not much has been written. Which is wierd. As ubiquetous as the drug and its use has been--especially by students--it's strange you still have to look long and hard for much information about it. Although, what you do find is a bit shocking.

Over the last four years, first-generation "smart drugs" have been booming--especially on campuses. "Adderall sales are up 3,135.6 percent [and] Provigil is up 359.7 percent," says the Washington Post. Of course, this is all kindof expected, right? It boosts your energy, makes you more attentive, and even helps with weight loss--with no ill side-effects! What could be better?

Wake Up, Little Susie by David Plotz
Slate