The Internet is a great format for computer-generated art. This is further enhanced by the mathematics behind the art, resulting in amazing visuals that can be appreciated on multiple levels.

 
Here is an interesting map that shows the distribution of the many ways that soda is called. Color-coded counties show where some parts of the U.S. say soda, others say pop, while others say coke. The various trends cross state borders and some counties differ from their surrounding areas.

 
Last week's inaugeration was significant in that there was a visible show of anti-war protestors that was even covered by the mainstream media. These demonstrations were the explicit expression of those who have been opposing Bush since the last inaugeration. Despite the simple majority that Bush received to win the election, there is still a growing dissatisfaction with the war, the Patriot Act, and corporate control of culture and economics.

 
The philosopher Gilles Deleuze postulated the idea of the nomadic war machine that is the opposite of a state structure. It is the force that is constantly heterogeneous and fluid as compared to an organized society or government. The war machine can be appropriated by the state machine, where it becomes a military force and loses its adaptive qualities.

 
The rise and increasing influence of popular consumer culture has many critics, but there is still an increase in consumpiton.
This article discusses this occurrence and makes a distinction between mass culture and consumer culture and shows how revolt has a tendency to be commodified.

 
With online stores one is made aware of the phenomenon of the niche markets.

 
Along with the various writings of Gilles Deleuze, there are also many commentaries on his philosophy. Here is an elaboration and explanation of his book Difference and Repetition, which discusses the immanence of being and its various actualizations. For Spinoza and Deleuze, being has no transcendental aspect and all existence is an acting out of being.

 
With the rise of the creative commons, copyleft, and open source software there is an emerging movement to preserve and expand the public domain. This is vital especially in terms of cultural works such as text, music, and other works. It is a movement inspired by the efforts of Larry Lessig and various college students that fear the encroaching ownership of corporations and the destruction of public and fair use.

 
Here is an interesting article that deals with the effect of narrative on public fact. It is relevant in that opinions of president Bush before his first election helped create a fictional story that in a way predicted his actions in office.

 
Here is an interesting perspective on cartoon reality. This artist has attempted to depict the skeletal structure that would exist for various cartoon characters. These skeletons would be based on the physical shape of bodies and the resulting supposed biology. They are not only accurate but offer a new dimension to these characters.

 
During the presidential election there was the extensive use of rhetoric about strict father figures and nurturing mother figures in the persona of Bush and Kerry. Here is an article that proposes that there should be an emphasis on community for progressives to appeal to voters in upcoming elections. It argues that the parent analogy assumes that people are subservient to authority and allow others to make decisions for them. Since progressives offer a new vision, they must use a new language to frame their proposals and outlook.