The Divinity of Human Imperfection

News Round-Up: Friday, November 6, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:43:00 +0000

U.S. jobless rate tops 10 percent for first time since 1983

House Democrats make final push for support ahead of health vote

Boston Globe

Credit card firms hurry to raise rates

Afghanistan's forgotten class An editorial on the declining role and subjugation of Afghan women

CS Monitor

Mohamed ElBaradei looks to US to fix nuclear system 'in tatters'

LA Times

Trying to rebuild after 40 frozen years A 1966 ban on development in a disputed tribal area left many Navajo living in third-world conditions -- or forced them out entirely. When the freeze ended, many residents didn't know where to begin.

NY Times

Grand Plans for Rail in Denver Hit a Wall of Fiscal Realities

Wash Post

Democrats wary of health-bill defections Immigration and abortion issues could cost party crucial votes

Slowed funding threatens AIDS fight, group says Recession, other factors causing international donors to pull back

The Divinity of Human Imperfection 4.0: Winter's Tale

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:19:00 +0000

The following exerpt from Mark Helprin's Winter's Tale--though I do not claim to understand it--will now define the blog:

"'You see this painting?' Jackson Mead asked, gesturing toward The Ascension of St. Stephen.

'Yes. Of course,' Praeger answered.

'Do you believe that St. Stephen rose, actually?'

'No.'

'Then why did the artist paint it, and why do people venerate it and St. Stephen himself, if they did not and do not think that he rose? After all, if he didn't rise, then who the hell was he?'

'They do think he rose,' said Praeger, 'That's why they venerate the painting, and St. Stephen himself, however mistakenly.'

'No,' Jackson Mead insisted. 'They don't think anything of the kind. Oh, maybe some do, the ones who believe in spells and amulets. But the painter, and I, and most people who have come to venerate St. Stephen, do not think that he actually rose, as if he were attached by wires to stage machinery... They think, to the contrary, that he is rising, that he rises. The act is not complete. Even the painting feezes him in midair. It is, rather, in progress. To debate its actuality is useless, as it will not be confirmed--until we are able to see everything at once...

'What I am saying is that, until the canvas is set, actualities are no more than intentions, and intentions are as much as actualities. You see, it has all happened before, and it has not happened yet. And, whereas it is true that I have failed, and failed miserably, I have also succeeded--gloriously. The memory of that glory, in what you would call the future, is what I am intent upon retrieving, just as St. Stephen knew that he would rise, and was rising, though he was not. It has to do with time, you see. There is no such thing: only the suggestion of it, only a series of actions that we, because of our imperfection, must run together to comprehend. Look at the painting. You do see motion in it, don't you? And yet, no one moves. How is that?

'I will tell you. The painting is close to the true state of things. Just as, in a film, there are only stills arranged in an illusion of motion, so in life and time. It is all locked hard within a matrix, breathtakingly complicated, as if an infinite number of miniaturists have been employed forever in its startling depictions. But I assure you, there is no anarchy, everthing happened/happens at once, and it does not move...

'The spirit is far more intelligent than the intellect. But though the spirit often moves less cautiously, it is far slower than the intellect to grasp a point, which is why I need time, and why I will not tell you the exact nature of my intentions.'"

"Best-of-the-Best" Weekly Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:50:00 +0000

60 Minutes - "The John Gotti of Japan" A look at how Japan's top mob boss and a few other Yakuza cronies were granted a special visas to the United States to jump in line for liver transplants at UCLA ($400,000 a pop, paid in cash)...

Chronicle of Higher Education - Demand for Online Classes in the United States Not Keeping Up with Supply As more students take classes online, new classes and expansions in online learning are lagging behind.

The Economist - Cooling Relations for India and China at the Beginning of the Asian Century Two potential future superpowers are closely-linked geographically, but, culturally, are still worlds apart.

Leonard Pitts - Obama and Fox News, a Ploy to Marginalize the Right? Recent polls have only 20% Americans identifying themselves as Republicans and 33% as Democrats. What does this say about the state of political affairs and the media?

Learn How Austin is Run?

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:50:00 +0000

Here in Austin, Texas, our local government is trying something with the best of intentions: to provide its citizens with an up-close look at how the city's local government operates. The Austin-American Statesman reported on the city's attempt to form a class of 31 students--selected via application, not affiliated with The University of Texas or any other educational institution--who will get hands-on training and exposure to how everything from public power plants operate to witnessing mock municipal courtroom trials. The Statesmen reports some 500 neighborhood associations here in Austin received letters from City Manager Mark Ott stating, "The program's goals are to make City Hall more transparent and inclusive, to create an 'enduring culture of partnership' between residents and city officials and to grow lasting community leaders." Classes will begin in the fall and run for ten weeks, and, this being only a one-time deal as of now, will include only those chosen 31 students.

While it is difficult to argue with the goal of transparency and inclusion in local or, for that matter, any level of government, will this plan accomplish those goals when only 31 residents out of a metroplex of some 1.7 million* are exposed to the inner workings of Austin's city government? I think not, but I'd take a spot in the class anyway.

*Austin's population figure: http://www.austinchamber.com/DoBusiness/GreaterAustinProfile/population.html)

The Not So Anticipated Return of Embracing It All

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:25:00 +0000

After little to no deliberation, I've returned to the blogosphere with no expectations of this blog's function. It is what it is, a random assortment of media-related information striving to remove the extremes from the debate and focus on pertinent information supplanted by advertising, public whim, celebrity/sports obsession, and general over-saturation. Therefore, I promise nothing. Posts will continue--varying from profiles of people/events, article links, editorials, and general randomness so defined in our times. Look away!

More is and less, and, well, less is less

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Local newspapers throughout the U.S. are struggling with how to remain viable and profitable as more readers turn to the internet and digital media for their primary sources of information. Local papers are disparately attempting to salvage what can be maintained; in some cases, it is not enough. Here in Texas, The San Antonio Express laid off over a 100 staffroom and operation employees at the end of March in an effort to remain profitable. The Christian Science Monitor decided to eradicate it's print form and focus entirely on digital content. The least fortunate, The Rocky Mountain News in Denver ceased all operations and shut down at the end of February.

All of this now leads, for the purpose of this post, to Minnesota, where the former editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Joel Kramer, decided to break off and create Minnpost.com--a digital site focused covering all of the state without any reliance on the print medium. Of course all of these decisions by Kramer and the other papers mentioned come as a result of the need for advertising revenue. It appears for the time being the internet offers the brightest horizon for local newspapers and print media to remain profitable. While it might seem simple enough to suggest the imminent demise of local papers in the print form, if this were to happen what would be the intended and unintended consequences of such a profound action?

Far be it from me to soothsay on this senario, it is a reality for local papers throughout the country to address and there is only one consensus: unanimity in finding a solution will not occur. Therefore, it is always helpful to seek the advise of those who are on both sides of this profound transition. Last night's Newshour with Jim Lehrer examined the transitional issue, striking me with one seminal question underlying the most important function of the media in general, and, in this case, the local media's role as the fourth estate: "How are we going to come up with a business model that allows us as citizens in a democracy to get the kind of local, rich, extensive, diverse information that we need?" Well... here's to hoping we find out.

Here's the "Newshour" link: As Newspapers Cut Back, Online Reporters Step In

Oh, the excesses of golf!

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:59:00 +0000

Just a friendly reminder that great golf courses and golf holes remain a rich man's game:

Where do we go from here?

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:31:00 +0000

Oh boy, it doesn't take but a flashing glance at "Drudge Report" to become inundated with despair. A week or so ago, I came across this article linked on "Drudge Report" about the increase amount of time we Americans are spending in front of various digital media: "Americans spend eight hours a day on screens". On average, with regards to only television, Americans aged 18-24 spend over three hours a day in front of the tube; more shockingly, Americans aged 65 and older spend an average of seven hours a day in front of a television! Combined with computer, cell phone, and other digital usage (ex. video games) we average out at a staggering eight hours per day!

At this point, I'm speechless. One can only assume this number will grow exponentially as technology marches onward. What the hell kind of effect is this having on attention span and focus? It can't be good.

My advice is to summon the Luddite sentiment rooted somewhere in all of us and just walk away from the screen, if only for an hour a day. So, if you're reading this, STOP AND PULL THE PLUG IMMEDIATELY!

Stranger than Fiction: Meet Mr. Ayers

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:02:00 +0000

Last night's "60 Minutes" profiled the relationship of Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez and a homeless schizophrenic who happens to be a classically-trained musician. Enjoy!

Watch CBS Videos Online

HBO's Real Sports is Real Journalism

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:43:00 +0000

For what it's worth, journalism--and sports journalism in particular--does not get much better than HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumble. While each segment may not appeal to all, they routinely report profound sports stories, which just so happen to be much greater than just the field of competition or the individuals who compete.

Such was the case recently when a story on a former major league baseball player's son who was critically shot outside his home in Bellaire, Texas appeared on "Real Sports". The report entitled "Black in Bellaire" investigates the shooting of Robbie Tolan, a young African-American minor league baseball player who was driving home on New Year's Eve last year when police started to follow him home suspecting he was driving a stolen car. What ensued speaks to the continuing frailty of race relations throughout the United States, especially in regards to racial profiling by police.

I had a post recently on MLK Day stating that while blacks and minorities have progressed greatly in our society, work remains in resolving the racial prejudice and profiling that has insidiously weaved itself into the fabric of American culture over time. The feat of journalism accomplished in segements such as these by "Real Sports" shines lights on society's most egregious transgressions. Rather than break any copyrights, I've attached a link to both the "Real Sports" website and the full segment on YouTube:

Real Sports website: "Black in Bellaire"

YouTube segment Part 1

YouTube segment Part 2

Let's Get Technological!

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:04:00 +0000

Reduced attention spans, desire for instant gratification, and an "infantilising" of the brain are now all possible effects of this younger generations reliance on digital technologies and social networking sites, so claims British neuroscientist Susan Greenfield. While studies can be geared and hypotheisized toward just about any cause and effect imaginable, I for one instinctively agree with her hypothesis. The rapid pace, one-click-away technologies now universally available promote little to no intellectual stimulation in the course of completing a task or action. For instance, the article references how some of these techonologies dissuade us from using our minds: "Psychologists have also argued that digital technology is changing the way we think. They point out that students no longer need to plan essays before starting to write - thanks to word processors they can edit as they go along. Satellite navigation systems have negated the need to decipher maps. " I'm not saying we should go back to the stone age of telephones with cords and typewriters, we should just remember that all the augmenting technological power surrounding us may come at a higher cost than just the price tag. Here's the article:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1153583/Social-websites-harm-childrens-brains-Chilling-warning-parents-neuroscientist.html

Simon Schama on Bill Moyers Journal

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:11:00 +0000

A modern de Tocqueville in Simon Schama sits down with Bill Moyers to discuss his new book and BBC documentary, "The American Future: A History". Schama's documentary focuses on central themes in America's history such as religion, immigration, prosperity, and politics with a look to the past, present, and future. Being a huge fan of both Moyers and Schama (I've discussed his documentary "Power of Art" in previous posts) it was a pleasure to listen to a well-crafted interviewer prod Schama into divulging his outsider perspective on what America looks like to a British historian and art historian, who was raised in a Jewish household by refugee parents. Schama says to Moyers at the end of the interview, his fascination with our country arises from America being this "poetic place... about innocent ebullience followed by tragic illumination." While Schama's assessment may sound denigrative, the innocent ebullience and tragic illumination of our nation witnessed in both our boundless optimism (see pre-economic crisis) and nation's history cannot be denied--a truly poetic setting for complexity, innovation, progress, and, yes, imperfection.

Part 1:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01162009/watch2.html

Part 2:

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01162009/watch2.html

Searching for the Stimulus Text

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:53:00 +0000

I read that the bill has grown to over 1,000 pages, but I've not found a link that has the updated text, yet. I found this site, and it may be one of the first to post the revised text once it's obtained:

http://www.readthestimulus.org/

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: The Story Behind Fallingwater

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:16:00 +0000

From PBS's "Frank Lloyd Wright" by Ken Burns... Genius

Best of the Best

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:03:00 +0000

I'm adding a new link hub on the right side of the page entitled: "Best of the Best". These links will profile sites I've found to be informative, interesting, engaging, substantial, and thought-provoking. I've included their location in the larger link listing, as well. Check 'em out if you've never heard of 'em!

Boggling the Mind: Stimulus Package Text

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:53:00 +0000

US Government websites (Senate, House, Executive) certainly did not make it readily apparent if the text of the stimulus package now going back to the House is available. Thankfully, however, there is Google's search engine. Here's the PDF form of the bill linked from the Huffington Post; brace yourself for nearly 800 pages of legal jargon:

http://big.assets.huffingtonpost.com/senatestimamendment.pdf

TV in the Eye? Lord, no!

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Norman Mailer once said something along the lines of, "The purpose of human beings here on Earth is not to obtain more and more technological power, but to refine our souls." Well... so much for that notion, coming from a story out of the UK Telegraph, as televisions are projected "to be fitted in contact lenses in the next ten years." Now, we have cell phones and IPods constantly pressed to our ears; do we really need invisible televisions in our eyes, too? Can anyone say information overload?

Televisions 'to be fitted in contact lenses within ten years'

Can Evolution Ever Explain Morality and Consciousness?

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:44:00 +0000

Here's a link to a great article from the Economist about Charles Darwin's continued influence in the realm of science, and, yes, economics. His theory of evolution has remained remarkably constant in the 150 years since his publication of "On the Origin of Species"; yet, many, especially, in the United States--outside the scientific community--continue to doubt the veracity of evolution. While most would agree Darwin's theory does not explain everything involving the understanding of species' behaviors, the article posits, "For people do, now, have a united evolutionary common purpose: to halt that natural selection in its tracks. The species has evolved to the point where it understands itself, and can seek to escape the brutal handcuffs of nature and end the struggle for existence."

Here's the article:

Charles Darwin's revolution is unfinished

Go East, Young Man

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:11:00 +0000

Well, I guess I can link this Foreign Affairs article since it's up for free on the website. (If you do not subscribe to Foreign Affairs do start!) It's an examination of the global implications for the west resulting from the economic tailspin we're in now. A great piece, I'll let you read it for yourself:

The Great Crash, 2008: A Geopolitical Setback for the West

PICTURE OF THE WEEK: Too Much Frank Lloyd Wright is Never a Bad Thing

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:07:00 +0000

Wright's work with Mayan-inspired stone during a series of houses he designed in California during the 1920's did not go well. The houses were fraught with leaks, cracks, and cost overruns. Yet, his experimentation is to be admired.

As I wait for the cold to remove itself from Austin, I conjure up another image of warmth and sunshine: The Ennis House, built in 1924 is located in Los Angeles. Enjoy!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK: Robot Warriors

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:58:00 +0000

PackBots created by the iRobot Corporation in Boston are changing the way the United States wages war. These unmanned robots, about the size of a lawn mower, are used to disarm improvised explosive devices in Iraq. According to the iRobot website, more than 2,000 have been delivered worldwide at about $150,000 a pop. To learn more, a great article published in the Wilson Quarterly discusses in depth the profound impact corporations like iRobot are having with innovative robotic products designed specifically for combat. In March 2003, when the Iraqi invasion occurred, there were zero robotic units in usage, and, according to the Wilson article, a projected 12,000 were used in Iraq during the last year! To read more about these fascinatingly horrific machines, follow this link:

Robots at War: The New Battlefield

LIVE CHAT: Leonard Pitts every Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:47:00 +0000

Yes, he's the man. Arguably the most influential op-ed writer in our country: Leonard Pitts. And now, you can pick his brain LIVE! He answers submitted questions every Wednesday at 1:00 pm EST/12:00 pm CST. You can even check the archive and see questions I submitted and he dutifully answered! Here's the link:

http://www.miamiherald.com/qna/forum/ask_leonard/index.html

PICTURE & AUDIO OF THE WEEK: Still Scaling the Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:07:00 +0000

One the eve of America appointing its first African-American President, it's a good time to reflect on the central figure in the Civil Rights Movement: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Without Dr. King this moment may not have been possible.

I would imagine, however, he would say the mountain top has yet to be reached despite this monumental achievement. Economic and social injustice continues to insidiously embed itself in African-American communities throughout the United States. Look at Baltimore, Cincinatti, Detroit, Los Angeles, Houston, Tulia, and on and on where urban and rural blight pockmarks our landscape. While we should rejoice when collective prejudices are buried, we must remember too that progress must roll on.

Please reflect on and enjoy Dr. King's last speech given on the eve of his assassination, April 3, 1968. The haunting speech is a revelation of a man's conciousness exposed, with the prophetic knowledge of his numbered days: "Free at last!"

Part 1

Part 2

Revised Mission Statement

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:35:00 +0000

See for yourself....

The Divinity of Human Imperfection 2.0

noreply@blogger.com (William Sharpe) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:30:00 +0000

I've decided to summon the ghost of Howard Beale once again; although, not to proclaim the need not to be mad as hell. Rather, we need to be mad as hell, I implore you! Yes, good information and news sources exist, but as I've realized over the past months trying to convey it in the "HEADLINES" and "WEEKLY-ROUND UP" posts, it's not enough to simply provide links or point in a general direction when citing various mediums. The reason this is so is because the vast majority of us rely on the mainstream media--local papers, cable news, google/yahoo news, and such--to get a quick dose of what's transpiring in the world around us.

Superfluously stated, we want information and news without having to try too hard to find it. A reflection of this desire is encompassed in the core traits of the so-called mainstream media itself--unsubstantial, celebrity-driven, scandalous, 'bleeds it leads', image-based fantasy drivel fit for a gossipy middle-schooler.

As you may tell by this point, I'm mad as hell and not going to take it anymore! Thus, I give you The Divinity of Human Imperfection 2.0: a blog committed to the avoidance of the sound-bite, 'look at me ma, I'm on TV!', we're telling you about [INSERT SUBJECT HERE] even though you (much less ourselves) do not understand it style of journalism.

So brace yourself, it'll be a bumpy and awkward transition, for we're imperfect and our behaviors and actions far from seamless.