Archive for the ‘Society’ Category

The Americanization of Mental Illness

Monday, January 11th, 2010

Fascinating piece in the NY Times.

Defend New Orleans

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Defend New Orleans is a fantastic blog devoted to New Orleans. Even though I’m not the hugest fan of the city, DNO’s passion for the city is infectious and gives a young, vital perspective on the city, one not rooted in Ante Bellum hokum. Check it out.

Makes Sense

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

nrc.nl – International – Features – Insecurity not education determines church attendance

“Humanitarian to a Nation”

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

Saudi Aramco World : Humanitarian to a Nation

For more than half a century, Abdul Sattar Edhi, now 76 years old, has been living proof that a determined individual can mobilize others to alleviate misery and, in so doing, knit together the social fabric of a nation. Firmly refusing financial support from both government and formal religious organizations, this self-effacing man with a primary-school education has almost single-handedly created one of the largest and most successful health and welfare networks in Asia. Whether he is counseling a battered wife, rescuing an accident victim, feeding a poor child, sheltering a homeless family or washing an unidentified and unclaimed corpse before burial, Edhi and Bilquis, his wife of 38 years, help thousands of Pakistanis each day.

What a great story. Make sure to check out the photo essay.

Are you fucking kidding me?

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

Secure Flight Comes to Southwest Airlines, Six Years Later | Threat Level | Wired.com

Passengers who have no identification, lost it or prefer not to show it may still be able to fly after getting extra screening, but they have to be nice to airport screeners or else they won’t be allowed through the metal detectors, according to TSA policy.

This is how we determine security screening, whether you stroke some TSA drone’s ego or not?

Delte Meninger

Friday, September 18th, 2009

This photograph I took in Helsinki last November during Slush can be found on page 200 of the Norwegian book Delte Meninger. I understand that it’s a book about participatory culture on the web. It’s all in Norwegian but regardless I’m tickled pink that they sent me a copy. Go Norway!

New Liberal Arts

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

An interesting question, what are the new liberal arts. Of course, given my background, I strongly believe they needn’t come at the expense of the ‘old’ liberal arts.

A nice problem to have

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

nrc.nl: “Netherlands to close prisons for lack of criminals”

Pakistani Fetsh Wear

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

The NY Times has a fascinating video profile of two Pakistani brothers that have a successful business exporting fetsh clothes to the US.

Post-War Nostaglia

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

Is there just me, or has there been a growing nostalgia for the post-war period over the last year? Maybe it’s just been the various style blogs I’ve been perusing recently, but 40s and 50s suits seem to be in and I feel like I’m seeing more and more (positive) references to the culture of that era. The Obama clan’s youth reminds many of the Kennedys, who you could argue represented the end of the 50s. And, admit it, the man looks pretty darn good in a suit.

They say that in depressions that classic, conservative styles come back in fashion and my sense is that’s the case here. And, of course, there’s also the desire to return to at time again when (it seemed) Americans could do no wrong.

PS The lovely blog 1001 rules for my unborn son prompted this post.