Redistricting Game

So, have you always wanted to Gerrymander?

The Redistricting Game is a pretty darn well made game that lets you recalibrate several different "states" into new congressional districts. Craft a new Republican majority! Balance by population without taking party into account! Violate multiple Supreme Court rulings!

I really enjoyed this game, especially how hard it is. It's difficult at the higher levels to even make your own party happy, much less find a solution that makes everyone happy. (Not that making any of the political parties happy is the best goal for redistricting.)

In real life, I think incumbents have too much power, and we should find an independent system that slaughters safe districts and makes over 500 seats in Congress competitive. Obviously, Wyoming is going to be Republican until the end of time. And Vermont will be a liberal. But there are a lot of places where we could have contests between 2 moderates instead of locking in the most insane extremist from one side or another. I love Portland's congressman, and I believe in what he believes in. But our democracy is sick and dying because congressmen like him are guaranteed reelection until they retire. Competitive elections also encourage corruption, but safe seats mean extremists who don't represent the actual views or interests of the country as a whole.

Food Videos

I like Store Wars. Yes, it's a piece of corporate propaganda. I happen to favor the environmental ideas, but more importantly I favor the bad puns.

The Meatrix involves a very clever metaphor, but feels a little more... HAM handed. haha.

Given all these food videos, I want to shoot my own grocer's parody. Store Trek 2: The Wrath of Corn. The adventures of James Clerk and Mr. Stockboy. Is it about biodiesel, pesticides, genetic engineering? Or just bad comedy on a sci-fi theme? I'll have to actually make it. Katy thinks I should play Jim Clerk.

There are other grocery sci-fi videos. And other mashups of style with Star Wars.

Making Stuff Up

The Washington Post ran an interesting piece on Father's Day. In museums, Dads often make stuff up.

I remember learning that "I don't know" is an ok answer in 10th grade. It's a hard lesson to learn. There are even examples of teachers doing a good job of saying they don't know, and students taking that to mean the answer isn't known.

Makes me think that "Google it, slacker" or "I'm not your damn search engine" might be more relevant phrases. Although perhaps something is needed that indicates an eagerness to learn alongside rather than automatic contempt. But there is value in implying that my lack of knowing doesn't mean it's not known anywhere.

Steam Trek

A silent film version of a classic.

Lego Alien

Behold a pretty awesome lego construction. Well, gruesome lego replica of the alien from Alien.

Chinese Rights

People in China have it hard. Not only is there plenty of internet censorship (and lots of other oppression described in that good overview article), but there are other issues bubbling into the news.

A blind man was beaten in prison for refusing to shave his head. Just the latest in a long, long string of people oppressed.

Best. Machine. Ever.

I just discovered what I want for Christmas. Of course, if I got this machine, I would just sit at the end of it, eating its glorious output. And die of a heart attack in a month. But I covet Donut Robot 42.

Mmmm.... donuts.