WITNESSING HISTORY: Michelle Obama

So. When I began this blog, I had the gut feeling that this time in history was like no other.

Basically I wanted there to be some kind of record that some Americans were capable of seeing reality. That some of us were not fooled. That some thought clearly despite the bombardment of propaganda, spin, lies, media bias, and HELL that was the Bush II Administration.

I thought that in some later generation, when the archaic first-generation "blogs" are being analyzed by sociological anthropologists, this blog and my personal expression might be recognized as a part of some larger human movement.

So tonight is the first night of the Democratic National Convention. It occurred to me that again... this is an incredible time in history. Who would have thought that the day would arrive (and I am sitting here watching it live) when Americans might not care the concentration of cellular melanin of the Democratic Candidate for President of the United States of America?

I was watching Senator Ted Kennedy. Everyone on earth knows he has a brain tumor - now inoperable. He will never again be the figurehead-survivor of the Kennedy legacy's most celebrated generation. My God. This is likely it. And he spoke from his heart and soul. About the basic human right to health care. "It's a right, not a privilege."

When Michelle Obama spoke, I thought... "this woman will most likely be our next first lady." This is history.

This, is history.

--Shella

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P.S. All the spin about a "disunited" democratic party is bullshit. Bullshit and lies. Manufactured conflict for the purpose of faking "concern" to undermine progress. Don't believe it folks, break free.

The Intelligence of Crows: Fascinating

(as posted to Boing Boing by Mark Frauenfelder)

Joshua Klein's TED presentation about how he taught crows to drop coins into a peanut vending machine of his own design was my favorite talk at the conference.

Hacker and writer Joshua Klein is fascinated by crows. (Notice the gleam of intelligence in their little black eyes?) After a long amateur study of corvid behavior, he's come up with an elegant machine that may form a new bond between animal and human.

Joshua Klein will hack anything that moves -- his list includes "social systems, computer networks, institutions, consumer hardware and animal behavior." His latest project, though charmingly low-tech, has amazing implications for the human-animal interface.

Right now, Klein is working at Frog Design as a Principle Technologist, while developing mobile/social applications, health care-related systems and other tools that improve people’s lives. He's the author of the novel Roo'd, which was the first modern book (after Tarzan) to be ported to the iPhone.

"Klein envisions a new symbiotic relationship between these intelligent birds and the humans that encroach on their habitat. ... Why not turn a longstanding rivalry between man and crow into something that profits both species?"

Check out the video here: Joshua Klein Crow Video

Link: Thank you Boing Boing

Link: TED Web Site

Watch This Clip!!!

This is the kind of passion I want to see. Ted Kennedy, I've been disappointed in you in the past, but goddammit you've redeemed yourself with this righteous rant.

Click This Link: And Watch the entire thing, please.

(link fixed, sorry!)

--Shella