mth - timshel!

shake itlike a polaroid picture

New Homeland Security Story on NJTD
I have a story in today'sNational Journal Technology Daily on the new Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA, not to be confused with DARPA, the agency that got a little unwanted press this past week). This is the second Department of Homeland Security technology story I've covered for NJTD. It's a new area for me (as well as everyone else, obviously), and one that I'm really digging.

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Two LA Shows You Should See:
Rob writes:

We've been pretty busy this summer over here on Cole ave. and finally have some stuff for you nice folks - two shows, a website and an upcoming EP of some sort.

The skinny on the shows:
Back to Back Nights: This Sunday August 3 and Monday August 4.

Sunday's Show - The Hoorays and Rob's other band Star Atehna have combined forces and will play The Derby August 3 as part of a Kinks Tribute Night. Someone has to lead off - and we've "decided" to take the opening slot.
Doors - 8
We Start - 8:20 !!
Get There Early.
Tickets are like $9. Other bands on the bill include The 88, Kennedy and Elliot Smith.
INFO / TICKETS

SHOW 2 - Monday August 4 at The Garage - Back to Back! The Hoorays and Star Athena.
The Hoorays start at 8:20. Star Athena is at 9. Short sets, Lots of fun. Good Music.
We Really Need folks to come out to this show. You can see both bands for
$1 - just print out the attached flyer.
The Garage (show's so hip it's not even listed!)

Finally - We Have A Website! Wahoo! Artwork by Darren Ragle and put up for the world to see by Jackson Murphy. Check it Out! mp3's to be posted shortly.
http://www.thehoorays.com/

Thanks for your time and support everyone - it's MUCH appreciated!

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Jeff Saunders: Human Being Extraordinaire
There is not a cooler human being on the planet than Jeff Saunders.

Unless it's Jack Strang:

Am I wrong?

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A close encounter with the planet Mars
Go outside about 2 hours after sunset and look toward the East. That brilliant red star you see just above the horizon is Mars, and it's headed our way.
(thanks mom!)

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Stories -- 3 of Them
West Wing Pipe Dream
The now-famous "sixteen words" in President Bush's State of the Union address have received more ink than a tattoo parlour over the last few weeks. However Mother Jones points out that the 19 words that followed were equally questionable. The article focuses on claims made by the Bush administration that aluminum tubes purchased by Iraq were compelling evidence that Saddam Hussein was pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities. It presents a time-line of events clearly demonstrating many analysts--including those from the State Department, the Department of Energy, and the International Atomic Energy Association--felt the claim was spurious for months before it showed up in the SOTU.

The Web Rewires the Movement
During the 2000 presidential election cycle, we heard a lot about the role of the Internet, with new political Websites like voter.com, grassroots.com (and the abysmal OneDemocracy.com where I had the misfortune to work for a few months). Yet the impact of the Web on that election was at best marginal, doing nothing to affect the outcome of the race. Today it's a different story, thanks to sites such as MoveOn, Meetup, and UFPJ hundreds of thousands of peoiple have hit the streets and millions of dollars are pouring in through the Internet. Why have MoveOn and company caught on? Maybe it's because they "feed the chaos," rather than trying to control it.

Climate of Fear
University of Massachusetts professor Tony Van Der Meer is in trouble with the law. In a confrontation with campus police, Van Der Meer lost his temper and shoved a police officer. Or did he? Van Der Meer, a self-professed follower of Martin Luther King Jr., claims the recruiters said both he and his student should be "shot in the head" like Dr. King, and when he blew his top over this statement, he was effectively bum-rushed by campus police. A dozen witnesses to the confrontation--some of whom did not know any of the parties involved--also claim that the cop attacked Van Der Meer, not vice-versa. What is clear is that Van Der Meer went to the aid of one of his students who was being harassed by military recruiters and the campus police for handing out anti-war flyers. Tempers flared, Van Der Meer got into an altercation with a cop, and was subsequently arrested and charged with assault and battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. This is a great story for several reasons, not the least of which because it's a gripping read. More importantly, however, it illustrates the pattern of how incidents such as this one are occurring all over the country, with local law enforcement stepping in to quash dissenting opinion.

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From the People Who Brought You Al Gore
I find the DLC carping to be a little disingenuous. In 1991 and 92, Bill Clinton's only take on foreign policy was that it didn't matter. Remember, "it's the economy, stupid?" Or George H.W. Bush mesmerized in a grocery checkout line? H.W. was all about foreign policy, and it killed him. It's a different world today, but either way the contention is beside the point. Clinton was elected the first time thanks to H. Ross. Not the DLC. Howard Dean very well may get slaughtered by Dubya if he wins the nomination. And then again so might Kerry or Leiberman or Al Sharpton. (Actually, we all know that Sharpton would annihilate Dubya).

But if the party itself goes down the tubes, it won't be due to Howard Dean's vision; it will be due to the Democratic party's lack of one.

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The Broadband Cometh
Guess who's got DSL again? Which means:
I'll be updating the site on a regular basis again. I have no plans in the immediate future to start posting multiple entries per day again, as I think there are plenty of places that do a great (better?) job of that kind of thing.
Emails sent my way--which formerly might have appeared to have been directed to a black hole--will once again be both read and answered. Perhaps.
More photography
Clowns! Scary clowns, happy clowns, sad clowns, even rodeo clowns.
Happy electronetting.
love,
mat
www.emptyage.com / www.honan.net

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(the) Hooray(s)! Great Dowd Today
The Hoorays have a new bass player. I can't wait to see what their copyright policy is going to be.

Thank you, my friend, for the falcon. It survived the trip on your Gulfstream. It is now eating small endangered woodland creatures at my Jackson Hole ranch.

I haven't read a column by Maureen Dowd that made me laugh out loud since she quit making jokes about Clinton's pumpkin. But today I was all rotfl and lol and mcomdn* and whatever. Peep it.

* What? You don't know that one? And here I thought you were 1337.

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Pictures, pictures, pictures!
We went backpacking in the Los Padres National Forest. I took pictures. I also uploaded pictures from Singapore and Malaysia, which means as soon as I get the pix from Ko Turatao and Ko Chang up, we're all done. L.

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Sixteen Words
My dad gave me a shortwave radio to take with me to Asia. We used to listen to it every morning in Muang Ngoi--Harper, Geoff, Nina, Nikki and myself. We would fire it up over strong cups of Laos coffee, and wait for the morning fog to lift on a platform overlooking the river, sipping and listening to the BBC and VOA news broadcasts.

I have a vivid memory of us huddled over the radio, Geoff in his grey flannel jacket from Kashmir, listening to the State of the Union address. Listening for rumors of war. And when we heard the address, we knew war was coming. That there was no avoiding it.

I remember being struck by his evidence of Iraq's WMD program--a program I had little doubt existed. The message that Hussein had a nuclear program currently in the works was particularly disturbing. Bush said:
The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production. Saddam Hussein has not credibly explained these activities. He clearly has much to hide.

I also remember being surprised by Geoff, a helicopter pilot from British Colombia, who thought we did need to go into Iraq. That Saddam Hussein posed an imminent threat to the West.

And there on the riverbanks we feared for our world.

But now we know better. We know that the aluminum tubes were bullshit. We know that in September, the CIA plead with the British government not to use the Niger data, because it was bogus and we knew it. We know that four days after the State of the Union Powell left it out of his speech to the UN, because it was bogus and we knew it. We know that Bush had to attribute the data to the British, because it was bogus and we knew it. We know that the CIA now says the reference never should have been in the speech, because it was bogus and we knew it.

And so now what I want to know is--on that cold January morning when we listened to a voice from thousands of miles across oceans and mountains--why were we deceived? Why did Bush, in the midst of his constitutionally mandated address to the nation, utter these Clintonian words; words which were at once factually correct and completely untrue.

(And if all this leaves you a bit confused, see this article in Time for an overview, and stay tuned to the Washington Post, which has had the best coverage to date of the scandal.)

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oops

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Housekeeping:
Where are all my Modest Mouse CDs? Have you seen them? I used to have them all, but now I can only find The Moon & Antarctica, Sad Sappy Sucker, and the case to Building Nothing Out of Something. But not the CD. Do you have them?

I've recommended "Our Band Could Be Your Life" to everyone from here to Hanoi, but I can't find it for the life of me. My book could be on your shelf. Would you check please? Our band is scientist rock, by the by. Phew!

Do you live in San Francisco? Do you know of a good dentist? Thanks. It's not for me. I had five cavities filled and my teeth cleaned in Bangkok for 3000 Baht, thank you. The interesting thing is, they didn't give me any anesthesia until I asked for it. You have to ask for it. Otherwise, they just drill away. At least, that was my experience. But hey, for $75, who's complaining? I'm not too particular. But if you do know of a good dentist, hook me? Thanks!

I've had lots of friends in bands over the years. Some you genuinely enjoy, others you just try to be polite about until you get out of earshot. Yeah, I'm talking about you. But The Hoorays are the real deal. Nevermind that I have two friends in the band, even if I didn't I'd be crazy about them. They play at The Rainbow Room in L.A. regularly, and they don't sound a thing like The Strokes.

Rob has really good teeth. And possibly my book.

update: My Beastie Boys DVD! Who has it? Where is it? Did you take it? Give it back.

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Disclaimer:
Simulation.

Heather wears plush velvet.

One year commitment required.

Consult your physician about non-alcoholic beer.

1999 Clairol Inc.

Elapsed time 40 minutes.

Breast milk is best.

Use only as directed.

Professional driver. Closed course.

Results not typical.

Based on a real story. Use as directed.

Energy from carbohydrates.

Do not attempt.

Prices may vary in Alaska and Hawaii. 10K-15K gold.

One candy bar per person while supplies last.

Not available with customer cash options.

Rate based on family of three.

For calls within the US and to Canada. Available in most areas.

Take care to spray only on weeds.

Simulated demo.

Don't use a laptop in the tub.

For free game pieces by mail, see rules at participating McDonalds

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