Yes, he owns a flat-screen television, but he has modified it with a burlap frame. He uses an iPhone, but it is encased in burnished brass. Even his clothing — an unlikely fusion of current and neo-Edwardian pieces (polo shirt, gentleman’s waistcoat, paisley bow tie), not unlike those he plans to sell this summer at his own Manhattan haberdashery — is an expression of his keenly romantic worldview.

I think this steampunk movement has much more potential than goths did. I apologize in advance for how admittedly poor this article is. The fact that NYT covered it is more significant than the content of the coverage.

Steampunk Moves Between Two Worlds - New York Times

A total of 2,208 intercepts authorized by federal and state courts were completed in 2007, an increase of 20 percent compared to the number terminated in 2006. The number of applications for orders by federal authorities fell less than 1 percent to 457. The number of applications reported by state prosecuting officials grew 27 percent to 1,751, with 24 states providing reports, 1 more than in 2006. Installed wiretaps were in operation an average of 44 days per wiretap in 2007, compared to 40 days in 2006. The average number of persons whose communications were intercepted decreased from 122 per wiretap order in 2006 to 94 per wiretap order in 2007. The average percentage of intercepted communications that were incriminating was 30 percent in 2007, compared to 20 percent in 2006.

Full Report</>.

2007 Wiretap Report

I really like the TSA's new blog. Yes, it leaves a lot to be desired, but they are the first agency I can think of to engage in a direct dialog with citizens, and doing so knowing that most people are going to be angry with you is pretty bold. I invite the IRS to try :)

These images from a "backscatter" scanner were on the blog. I'm not really sure what to think of these. It's not quite as cool as Total Recall. TSA says that passengers given a choice of a typical pat-down or the backscatter choose the backscatter by 85%. I wonder, however, if passengers see these images first? Is there really "informed consent" here?

I guess what bugs me more than the whole nudity thing is the "put your hands in the air or I'll shoot" pose you are required to assume. I don't see how that is really necessary. I understand this is not "x-ray" and that they do need to scan under your arm, but the whole thing reminds me to The Fifth Element. Put your hands on the circles, or we'll shoot.

Your thoughts?

TSA Backscatter Sample Images

Francis Fukuyama:

The fiasco of the Olympic torch relay has focused attention on human rights in China. What is the source of human rights abuses in that country today?

China's powerful weakness

All the gas tax talk has stirred up a storm. Whatever you think about the candidates' proposals, however, their debate has illuminated an urgent reality: If the U.S. government continues with its current transportation policies, it will undermine the social and economic security of our workforce and accelerate global climate change. We must chart a new course, rebuilding America's overburdened and, in many cases, obsolete transportation infrastructure while addressing these two 21st-century imperatives.

A Transportation Crossroads

Description from Mtanga:

The video below is, in my view, a very funny, albeit scathing parody of the last days of the Clinton campaign. However, I urge you not to watch it if you are sensitive to foul language, as it is replete with filthy words. Also, it's worth mentioning that the footage used is from a truly superb 2005 film called Downfall, in which Bruno Ganz gives a sensational performance as Adolph Hitler. Highly recommended and well worth renting.

Zer Gut!

Nineteen sixty-eight was one exciting moment in a much larger movement. It spawned a whole range of movements. There wouldn't have been an international global solidarity movement, for instance, without the events of 1968. It was enormous, in terms of human rights, ethnic rights, a concern for the environment, too.nullnullnull

Noam Chomsky on 1968

In 17 of the nation’s 50 largest cities, less than half of the students who entered high school in 2003 ended up graduating. In Detroit, which has the lowest graduation rate of the top 50 cities, not even one in four students finished high school.

(Summary from the Chronicle)

Report Shows Stunning Failures in High-School Graduation Rates

A fantastic graphical breakdown of how people spend their money. I wish I could have this personalized.

All of Inflation’s Little Parts - The New York Times

Unable to afford a proper camera crew and equipment, The Get Out Clause, an unsigned band from the city, decided to make use of the cameras seen all over British streets.

With an estimated 13 million CCTV cameras in Britain, suitable locations were not hard to come by.

They set up their equipment, drum kit and all, in eighty locations around Manchester – including on a bus – and proceeded to play to the cameras.

Afterwards they wrote to the companies or organisations involved and asked for the footage under the Freedom of Information Act.

Neat idea... shame the music isnt any better than it is... Maybe they should do film instead.

The Get Out Clause, Manchester's stars of CCTV cameras - Telegraph