This is a wonderful way of visually representing how the presidential candidates measure in terms of political belief. It uses the political compass and online quiz that is common but applies it to the candidates.

 
Along with the conflict between Israel and Palestine, there is the strife between Pakistan and India. However, despite perceptions that Islam and Hinduism are so disparate, there is evidence that there was accommodation between the two faiths before colonialism.

 
Peer-to-peer filesharing is a method of decentralized communication that goes beyond sharing music files. However, it must be stressed that this will help music production in the long term, and stimulate new forms of selling music. It must move beyond the petty accusations of piracy that paint an inaccurate picture of what is really transpiring.

 
In light of the close election for mayor of San Francisco earlier this month, we see that the values of the Green Party has a resonance with voters. There seems to be a discontent with the status quo that shows a window of opportunity for populists and progressives. There is a rising reform movement that could have a large impact on the future presidential election.

 
For the holiday season, here is a take on the classic Christmas Carol that deals with a critique of the illegalization of marijuana. It looks at the history and inconsistencies of the War on Drugs and how it fails to treat addiction and criminalizes a victimless act.

 
The conflict in the Middle East can appear to be completely foreign to the United States. However, as in this case, one can see how the restriction of basic rights and the militarization of a people in Israel and Palestine can only result in violence, revenge, and long term instability.

 
Space exploration ignites the imagination of all humans. As an effect of the space race which stimulated great leaps in technological advancement, there were plans for space habitats. The L5 Society was an organization that lobbied and speculated on ways to live in outer space. It demonstrated the drive of the human spirit and was combined with the ability to use technology in new ways.

 
In the last 20 years there has been the rise of edge cities. They are defined as the growth of business districts outside of the urban core and near suburban areas, which results in a new type of living environment. These are an evolution of the suburbs that may have new applications as businesses drift away in future scenarios.

 
Here is a retrospective of film history beginning with the 1890's and ending with the early 2000's, touching on themes and film movements in each decade. It is a good introduction to film theory.

 
In order to understand the current political situation it is important to be aware of neoliberalism as well as neoconservatism. The former is domestic and economic in nature while the latter is practiced in foreign policy. They are the guiding philosophies of the past ten years and is fully implemented in the Bush administration to such a large degree with the war in Iraq and the full support of NAFTA, FTAA, WTO, and the World Bank.

 
There are numerous surveys on the Internet, including ones to test one's political orientation. Here is one example that goes beyond the simple left/right spectrum.

 
This is an inspiring story about resisting forced patriotism. It demonstrates that true loyalty to one's country means being critical of wrongful actions and realizing that there are imperfections both in the present and the past. Dissent against extreme conformity is a valuable trait to teach to the youth of America.

 
The recent discovery of four bars of music written by Ludwig Wittgenstein further elaborates the depth of this philosopher's genius. Even though it lasts less than 30 seconds when played, it can be a great starting point for learning about how this man was able to deal with great ideas through an artistic and intellectual way.

 
Of the Democratic presidential candidates, the most progressive is Dennis Kucinich, while the most flamboyant is Al Sharpton. Both have certain credentials, the former one of standing up to power and the latter one of great populism in New York City. They may not have a great chance of winning the nomination, but they are more unique than those who are in the lead such as Howard Dean, Dick Gephardt, and John Kerry.

 
Here is an article as part of a forward-looking blog that puts forth the idea that diversity in software and formats for telecommunication protects against viruses. The system becomes more resilient the more it is diverse.

 
The anthropological roots of religion shows that psychedelic drugs played an important part. This demonstrates that many religions developed from an ancient Mesopotamian beliefs that are based on the use of mushrooms for religious experience.

 
Here is a great gallery of interactive flash art. Much of the exhibit deals with emergent behavior and self-organization and displays these principles with art.

 
The great expanse of the Internet allows for large amounts of information to be available to users. Here is the complete novel The Difference Engine written by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. It is a great example of the genre of steampunk as well as touching upon alternate history.

 
Movies arose as its own art form in the twentieth century. Each year new and interesting films come out and it is important to be aware of them in order to enrich ourselves. Here is one site that discusses movies, and here is another.

 
It is vital to investigate such music as that of the 1960's and 1970's that gained cult status and appreciation without selling gold records. Here is an interesting site that reviews such music. It has a wonderful format and a new perspective on the psychedelic music of that era that still exists.

 
Here is an example of the many wonders of the universe. It appears that radio waves are generated by the interation between Jupiter and its moons. This is just one more way to measure the phenomenon of outer space and increase the knowledge of mankind.

 
During a nostalgia show on VH1 that discussed the trends and events of the 1980's, there was mention of a clothing line called Ocean Pacific. It seems that their clothes are coming back, especially their line of shirts. They have a retro style that can still be considered contemporary.

 
In a recent show on VH1 that discussed the trends and events of the 1980's, there was mention of a clothing line called Ocean Pacific. It appears that their products are coming back, especially their line of shirts. Overall they have a nice retro style that can easily be contemporary at the same time.

 
Ever since the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, there has been a lack of a grand strategy. Now the United States finds itself in a position of unilateral aggression that really is fabricated on a falsification. If we had a new strategy then the likelihood of the War in Iraq and the War on Terrorism would not be possible.

 
Sometimes one comes across an interesting analysis of history that offers a new perspective. This is a hypothesis that states that Abraham, as the founder of the Jewish people, originally came from the area that is now India. This creates an anthropological connection that offers insight into what can characterize a culture and its origins.

 
The retro style is an appropriation of past imagery in order to ornament the present. This is a site that provides information specifically about the 1960's as well as the mod scene. It is a very useful source for getting a sensibility of that era.

 
The retro style looks into the past in order to appropriate imagery for the present day. This is a site that looks at the 1960's and especially the mod scene. It is a great resource for books and information about that era.

 
There are multiple applications of the open source method. Any program can be open source and able to innovate in a cooperative manner. Here is an open source blog software that facilitates the ability of individuals to post news and be a grassroots media movement.

 
Much has been said about filesharing and the restrictions of excessive copyright. Here is a viewpoint that demonstrates that copyright should not be an end in itself. The ability to use public goods goes beyond the privatization of restrictive copyright.

 
Viral activity is the way most cultural imagery moves through societies. This is an example of a viral message that is done on purpose. It is also a good way to propagate productive social interaction.

 
Whether one is religious or not, there is always an importance on sacred texts. They are not only glimpses into faith, but also of culture and history of a group of people. Here is a good starting point for the texts of world religions.

 
Here is a new perspective on last week's recall election in California. It is provided by Michael Moore, and demonstrates that an elected official in that situation should fight for the issues and not try to pretend to be something he is not.

 
Fractals are not only mathematically interesting, but are amazing and complex patterns. A whole genre of computer art has formed that deals exclusively with fractals and the many ways that they can be made.

 
Self-referencing is a recurring aspect of the postmodern condition. This illustrates the phenomenon by having a story that references itself on a sentence-by-sentence basis. Self-referencing is vital in such structures as computer programming and logical systems.

 
Fractals are naturally occurring patterns within patterns. Here is an example of viewing all the possibilities in a game of tic-tac-toe as a fractal. This involves both probability and the use of a system of logic that can be displayed in a recursive setting.

 
New forms of levitation have been explored to find new and energy-efficient ways to transport things through the air. Here is one example, and here is another. These use principles that seem to run contrary to physics, but are still to able to rise in the air.

 
The power of the Internet is its connectivity of various databases that can be accessed by everyone. In a way, this is a first step to an artificial intelligence. Here is an attempt to create a computer intelligence using a distributed processing. This is not only similar to how the Internet operates, but the neurons in the brain as well.

 
The theory of an arcology can be a great forum for imaginative thinking about city spaces. It is a combination of ecological technology and using human standards to shape the environment. Here is an example of a proposal for a rural area in China.

 
The archival nature of history supersedes the establishment of tradition. Everything is up for grabs with the ability to manipulate imagery through advanced technology.

 
The two main games of strategy are that of chess and go. They both use a board that is divided up into squares, but there is basic differences between them in terms of the ability to move pieces. This is a synthesis of the two games and incorporates the best of both.

 
In light of the recent blackout there is an urgent need for a comprehensive energy plan that relies on new alternatives to our current fuels. This is a possibility and a good place to start.

 
The specific nature of Generation X is that it is very aware of its roots of popular culture that occurred when they were children. Therefore, one sees the recurrence of images and themes from the 1970's and 1980's. Unfortunately, this retroactive aspect has been used by those in advertising who are trying to build a market based on generational nostalgia.

 
It is important that urban spaces are reformed for a better type of sustainable living. One method is that of the arcology which seeks to integrate the living space as an ecological system. What is most vital in this study is that the environment is scaled to the human being and not vice versa.

 
There are many strange phenomena in the world. This is just one example that contributes to the great body of urban myths. Of course it makes life interesting if there is an unknown factor in rational reality.

 
Education, in light of what is going on with the world, needs critical thinking. Patriotism must not deter the independence of the human mind. There is a necessity for a progressive reform of the American educational system that can not be suppressed just because it stimulates political dissent.

 
Education, in light of what is going on with the world, needs critical thinking. Patriotism must not deter the independence of the human mind. There is a necessity for a progressive reform of the American ecucational system that can not be suppressed just because it stimulates political dissent.

 
It is always wonderful to find new applications of mathematical ideas. Here is the already interesting concept of the magic cube applied in terms of a hypercube, also known as a tesseract. When using multiple dimensions the simple aspects of geometry become much more complex and intriguing.

 
It is always interesting to find science fiction on the Internet. Here is two examples by Isaac Asimov. To find further short stories by authors it is wise to search by title on a search engine.

 
Here is an interesting study of time as a transition of past into present into future. It is a look into time that seeks to understand how moments can pass away and new moments emerge.

 
The use of p2p networks goes beyond filesharing for music. But in terms of music it is an act of open defiance against the corporate mentality of the music industry that is using a price gouging structure that limits profits to artists.

 
One of the most intriguing things that can be found on the Internet is this supposing of what might have been. Since it is absolutely impossible that the Beatles will reunite, now that George Harrison and John Lennon are both dead, this can only be a historical curiosity. But, above all, it is quite imaginative.

 
The more well known satire magazines of the later part of the 20th century all started with the Realist, created by Paul Krassner who became a personality of sorts in the 1960's. He contributed to the satirical viewpoint of American politics and culture that is essential to a critical stance on the status quo.

 
Even though Google is the most used search engine on the Internet, there are other interesting alternatives. Kartoo displays search results in a topographic manner, while Nutch is an open source search engine. In terms of web directories, that use categories along with a search function, there is of course Yahoo and also the Open Directory Project.

 
The open source movement continues to expand and explore in different directions. Opsound is an example, where music can be released on a record label based on open submisisons by artists. It uses a form of license called copyleft as promoted by the Creative Commons.

 
The continuing tension between state law and federal law concerning medical marijuana has reached the level of absurdity at times. But there are still those who work to supply valid medical relief to seriously ill people. In time the true harmless nature of marijuana can be realized with correct information and activism.

 
Here is an analysis of the movie The Matrix based on the theories of Jacques Lacan and Jacques Derrida. This is one of many philosophical interpretations of this film, whose success has gone beyond that of a great science fiction story to a mirror of critical theory. It seems to reflect the various studies of the postmodern era.

 
Here is a basic explanation of Bell's Theorem. This theorem states that two particles, once in contact with each other, continue to be affected by each other. This is a supplement to quantum theory that looks at the unusual characteristics of the sub-atomic world.

 
To explore the films of the New Hollywood, which lasted from 1967 to 1977, it is great to start off with the recommendations made by the directors of the documentary A Decade Under The Influence. Using this, one should then go to the Internet Movie Database and search for those that were not included in the film.

 
As the national economy is failing, there is a need to concentrate on local business empowerment. The most democratic from of economic activity is on the local level, and there is a need to stimulate growth while sustaining the needs of people. A local currency is one way of doing this. It is through economic centralization and the encroaching power of corporations that creates wealth disparity and the inability of a national economic system to provide for its citizens.

 
Starting today, and continuing tomorrow and Friday, is the premiere of A Decade Under The Influence on The Independent Film Channel. After each part they will show Mean Streets, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, and The Conversation. If anyone misses the three episodes they will repeat starting at 8:00 P.M. on Saturday.

 
The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest that our world came to nuclear war. However, there is a unique way of interpreting the facts to show that things were not what they seem in regards to the missile sites in Cuba. This might have relevance to today and the premise of the Iraq war on unreal weapons of mass destruction. Appearance is not always reality.

 
Here is an interesting article that discusses quantum information processing. It specifically describes the nature of quantum reality and how it pertains to the uses of units of information. As reality on the quantum level exists in multiple states, it changes the specific duality of binary code that is a traditional representation of information.

 
In regards to flash mobs, an extension of the concept of smart mobs, there is the possibility for an application to direct action and civil disobediance. This becomes an important issue in light of the strict recent crackdown on civil liberties and the rights of groups to gather to petition their government for grievances. Unfortunately we are in a situation where we must find new ways to rebel against this government that is edging more towards fascism and taking advantage of a state of emergency.

 
Areas of mathematics that go beyond the basics can be quite interesting even though it is hard to understand the abstract principles and equations. Hyperbolic geometry is an example. Here is a site that clearly explains it while supplying an interactive Java applet.

 
The importance of the thought of Buckminster Fuller was its comprehensive nature that extended into areas of economics, engineering, architecture, and international politics. This article applies the geometric synergetics of Fuller to the ancient study of the Kabbalah. It becomes a unique synthesis of knowledge.

 
Almost three years ago, on the Sundance Channel, I saw a documentary on the artist Robert Crumb. I just recently saw this movie again. He can best be described as a graphic artist attempting to demonstrate surrealism within the medium of the comic. This results in a gigantic body of work that stretches in many aesthetic directions.

 
The current culture that has developed around coffee houses, since the early 1990's, is based on a false consciousness. It is actually the commodification of a lifestyle that presents itself as a place to engage in social and intellectual interaction. This is of course an illusion. This article explains how the coffee house developed, but not as the natural successor to the coffee houses of today.

 
Theoretical physics often delves into the extraordinary. Here is an article that talks about dimensions other than the conventional three of length, width, and height. Of course, this is almost impossible to visualize but possible to explain. Overall it requires an open and active imagination.

 
Theoretical physics often delves into the extraordinary. Here is an article that talks about dimensions other than the conventional three of length, width, and height. Of course, this is almost impossible to visualize but possible to explain. Overall it requires an open and active imagination.

 
When wanting to get regular news updates, it is important to be able to sift through all the available news sources. Here is an example of a news aggregator that can make that process easier. This is also a site that can list world news, on a pop cultural level, for one quick reference. And finally, here is a newsfeed that concerns major news stories.

 
The linguistic application of power is demonstrated using the book 1984 by George Orwell, specifically in the form of Newspeak. This sites explores that aspect, though coming to some differing and incorrect conclusions about how it applies to the politics of today. It is insightful in terms of the repercussions of the Patriot Act and the infringement of civil liberties, but is misguided in terms of how progressive movements affect civil liberties.

 
For the past two days the Trio Channel has shown the complete miniseries I, Claudius. It is a very well done BBC production from 1976 and has a fluid cinematography, fine acting, and opens up the interesting aspects of history. Probably the biggest hurdle is attempting to keep all the relations of the imperial family in order since they intermarried over generations and all 13 episodes cover a time period of 75 years.

 
This is probably the most most expansive look into the open source movement, especially as it can apply to non-computer areas. Most specifically, it discusses how the open source model can be used to organize a mass amount of people for social action. It offers a new look into political organization that can put forth change from a new perspective.

 
Before the destruction of the Taliban and the American attacks, Afghanistan was truly one of the most intriguing places in the Far East and Middle East. It was the end point of the vast miltary expansion of Alexander the Great, as well as a destination for hippies traveling around the world during the 1960's and early 1970's.

 
This is one of the many articles that discusses the philosophical implications of The Matrix. Not only has this movie been a milestone in special effects and science fiction narrative, but it opens up numerous theoretical analysis unlike any other science fiction film before.

 
The inherent problem with the United States' War on Terror and the War on Iraq is that it disregards any sensibility of international law. Here is an example where the U.S. arrogance will actually cause more acts of terrorism than Islamic fundamentalism by itself. What is needed is an enforceable system of international law that preserves a sense of justice and civil liberties as part of human rights.

 
In this time of rising discontent, there is a need for new and inventive ways to protest against the current status quo. New technology can be applied in the act of spreading messages of civil disobediance, while the Internet can supply disinformaiton to those who increase surveillance against peaceful citizens. These are not only acts of protest, but acts of performance art in thier own unique way.

 
A recent discovery was a line of videos that are movie adaptations of famous plays. This was the American Film Theatre, which lasted briefly between about 1973 to 1975. It starred the top actors of that time performing in plays by O'Neil, Genet, and Ionesco. In tandem with this is a larger line of filmed plays called the Broadway Theatre Archive. Both are available to order, and would supply any theatre or movie enthusiast with an added delight.

 
There are many critics of globalization as a hegemony of corporations. Though the critiques are valid and very insightful, there are few alternatives that have been presented to replace corporate globalization with democratic globalization. Here is a possibility. It attempts to propose a world democratic spirit that can be a bulwark against acts of hegemony and control by specific interests.

 
I have just recently seen Dancer In The Dark directed by Lars Von Trier. Once I have seen this movie, I am surprised that it only got a best song nomination at that year's Academy Awards. It should have at least been nominated for best picture or best director, and maybe should have won instead of Gladiator. It just shows how big business has overcrowded how films are made.

 
The interaction of complexity, entropy, and social structures is explored in this article. It deals specifically with the element of change and those who support or oppose change. This can have wider consequences in terms of international hegemony and the ability to prosper in a more complex world..

 
In the spirit of a previous posting that explained the Banach-Tarski paradox is this attempt to properly define infinity. It employs terms that are non-mathematical in order to fully explore what mathematical infinity really is for the layman. It is also the first part of a larger work which may appear here in the future.

 
Within science fiction there is the opportunity to create artificial languages. These new languages must be based on some sort of internal logic in order to convey meaning. One example is the slang of Nadsat from A Clockwork Orange. Another example comes from an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Both show an ingenuity that is part of the play of imagination within the entire genre of science fiction.

 
This is a review of a different kind of science fiction. Super Flat Times by Matthew Derby is a story of a future that tries to deal with its past. It is written in a style that draws attention to itself, and is probably the type of literary science fiction that is usually in the fiction section of bookstores instead of the sci-fi section.

 
The current legal struggle between the federal and some state governments over medical marijuana has continued even after the arrest and one day symbolic prison sentence of Ed Rosenthal. The legality of voter approved referendums are slowly gaining the upper hand proving that democracy still has precedent over a federal War on Drugs. But it shoould be noted that beside the medical and recreational purpose of marijuana is that of enhancement of art, music, sex, and food. This demonstrates that marijuana has more positive aspects than any conceived negative qualities.

 
The application of the open source movement to areas outside of software can be considered as the use of open source intelligence. This would mean the use of the open source model in organizing groups in terms of social and political action. What would distinguish these organizations of people would be a lack of hierarchy and the direct connection of subgroups to all other groups. The result would be a high amount of adaptability.

 
The model of reality that is implied by Buddhism has a certain resonance with the model of the Internet. This is an article that explores reality as set forth by Indra's Net and how the Internet as virtual reality works on the same principles.

 
The Banach-Tarski Paradox is a mathematical puzzle that is explained and solved in this article. What is also great is that it is explained in terms of a physical model for those who are unable to understand it in terms of abstract mathematics. It is an interesting example of a mental problem that can help keep the mind fit and durable even if it is not in your area of expertise.

 
There are various collections of science fiction on the Net. This is one that has been organized like the periodic table of elements. Each element is a story that has that respective element as its theme. Here is a sample of a collection of short stories that are historical in setting. They are related to the genre of steampunk in certain ways.

 
Every once in a while, one comes across Java applets or Flash animations that are interesting or fun. Here is an example of the former and here is the latter.

 
Here is a concise description of the ideas of Georges Bataille. He was a man who wrote interesting fiction and multidisciplinary nonfiction. He contributed to the Surrealist movement as well as expanding upon the philosophy of Nietzsche. He even proposed an economic theory based on sacrifice rather than production and consumption.

 
Hunter S Thompson has just finished a new book. His life and his words have been truly illustrative of the later part of the 20th century in America. By his free-wheeling mood of paranoia and strangeness, he described the eccentric nature of our country. Change has increased incredibly, and that is what one feels in Thompson's works.

 
It demonstrates the condition of our civil liberties when police officers go under cover at a fast food restaurant to observe if people are breaking the law, with no pre-existing evidence of any crimes. Under the gaze of the authorities, no one is innocent. This is only a few steps away from total martial law. However, there are some times when the first amendment wins despite police pressure. These victories are the pathways for making the police more accountable to the people, and not to the repressive Patriot Act.

 
One thing that has developed and lasted from the growth of the Internet is the potential for a participatory democracy. It not only allows for people to form communities that can empower themselves, but that can subvert established systems of power. This is the inherent potential within the type of connectiveness that the Internet provides.

 
There used to be a television show in the late 1950's and early 1960's called Playhouse 90. It was a 90 minute show that put play productions on television. Many productions eventually inspired movie adaptations such as Marty and Requiem For A Heavyweight. This is the type of show that should have a revival in today's programming. The benefit would be to allow the television audience to be exposed to award-winning plays on a regular basis that have not been made into movies.

 
The most recent edition of Orwell's 1984 has an introduction written by Thomas Pynchon. It discusses the repercussions of the book, both as a parable of the Soviet Union under Stalin and a warning of the totalitarian tendency of the present. Now more than ever this cautionary tale is vital to understanding the oppressive political atmosphere undertaken by president Bush with the promise of a fraudulent War on Terrorism that lasts forever.

 
The Cannes Film Festival ended today. Four films were given seven awards. Elephant directed by Gus Van Sant won Best Director and the Golden Palm. Other movies that looked interesting were Dogville, Mystic River, and Brown Bunny. Even though Brown Bunny was considered the worst movie, it can still be many times better than the average mainsteam blockbuster from Hollywood. These movies will be released this upcoming year, and some may be nominated for the next Oscars.

 
The Open Source Reader is a compilation of various texts that help explain the philosophy behind the open source movement. The document is itself open source in that others can add to and modify its contents to further describe this new method of software development. What is most interesting is if these principles can be applied to social situations and political systems.

 
Another great writer is Jorge Luis Borges, who may not be as well known as English language authors because he is from Argentina. Here is a sample of his work, which can be called magic realism. This style uses speculation in much the same way as science fiction, to explore various ideas, but concentrates more on literary aspects than fantastic plot devices. It is always important to expand one's horizons by reading authors from other cultures.

 
Thomas Pynchon is one of the greatest novelists in the later part of the twentieth century. He is also a vital part of the artistic movement that emerged in the 1960's. It is wonderful to have a memoir that is about living within that decade as well as about Pynchon the man. It shows how the two can intermingle.

 
Despite the turmoil that Iraq is now in, there are still moments where resistance to the occupation can be inspiring. When a U.S. soldiers defies an order to censor Al-Jazeera in Iraq it is a sign that not everyone believes that this war was fought for the right reasons. It also demonstrates that there is a necessity for multiple media sources reporting on the situation in Iraq, even media sources that are considered bias in one respect if they offer a different view from the prevailing Western media bias.

 
What has been one of the most reprehensible aspects of the War on Drugs is the misleading ad campaigns saying that marijuana is responsile for violence, terrorism, and other social problems. It makes one want to collect money to run their own ads showing how nonthreatening marijuana is in comparison to tobacco and alcohol.

 
This is one of those commercials that sticks in the imagination and eventually becomes a part of pop culture. It should be noted that this required no trick photography, editing, or computer animation. It is also important to realize that it took 605 attempts before they got the right shot.

 
Ever since the turn of the millenium, there has been a returning attention to ideas of civilization. There is the concern of what great ideas exist to shape how people can sustain themselves. David Brin has an interesting article discussing such a thing, and how our current age is different in that it emphasizes the future rather than the past.

 
The convention is a prime gathering place for those deemed by society as geeks. It is a humorous diversion to look at the social setting of these highly intelligent people who just happen to like science fiction. Of course an alien perspective helps with the flavor of the observations.

 
It is always interesting to look at best lists, especially concerning movies, music, and books. There is always the debate over what is included or excluded. This list is a selection of science fiction authors, and this is a selection of mind-expanding books in general. Overall, a great place to inspire one to enlarge their base of knowledge.

 
One of the most important aspects of the War in Iraq is how it has affected the civilians of that country. They have been placed in the way of the fighting armies, many killed or seriously maimed, and their relations in America have been subjected to suspicion and racial profiling. Compared to the false reasons behind the war, we see that it is a waste of humanity. It is important that their perspective, both in Iraq and this country, be kept in the forefront.

 
The structure of games can be used as models for behavior in social situations. They can also be examples of logic at work. Chess is one type of game that personifies this, along with its interesting variations. Game theory is the method of applying the logic of games such as chess to economics and political science and is a way to understand how humans can exist with each other.

 
Even though it appears to have failed, the network economy offered a new model of economic relations that can still be applicable. This is especially true in regards to the infrastructure that still remains from the acclerating information economy. The so-called "dot.com" bubble may have burst, but the increase in Internet connectivity has created a new type of medium that is egalitarian and empowering.

 
The explanation of the reality of quantum physics is very complex. This essay tries to list the various ways reality in terms of space and time can be viewed or interpreted. All of them have in common the importance of perspective on material things, and how that affects the things themselves. This in turn provides a contribution to critical thought since any critique must deal with the inherent truth of the subject.

 
This demonstrates that the Middle East is not a uniform set of customs that is alien to any Western sensibility. Iran in particular is not as backward as it has been portrayed by the media or estimated by its history. The cross-cultural dialogue is an invaluable tool to promoting not only international standards of rights and liberties, but helps common understanding which can initiate sharing of culture. Besides all that, this is also an unbiased view on opium smoking, of all things.

 
One of the powers of the Internet is its ability to transfer information that can be suppressed in other communications media. Alternative news sources have found a home where a critical stance can be taken on the powers-that-be. This is a continuation by electronic means of the samizdat tradition. On the Web, listservs, blogs, and BBS's, all sorts of new discussions can be allowed to flow freely. It is truly a democratic media and a starting point for real world activism.

 
The more that the world becomes interconnected, the more relevant discussions of a world government becomes. There are competing sides for and against, and they usually deal with the automony of nations and the ability for individuals to have political freedom. At its most abstract, it is an interesting thought experiment.

 
The phenomenon of blogs has created a distribution of a few vital hubs and many blogs with only a few connections, the opposite of the bell curve. This is at first unequal, but is a sign of which blogs are reliable sources of information. What must be considered is that interconnectiveness compensates for this inequality. At a certain point all blogs are linked to each other.

 
What distinguishes the protest movement today, whether it is for peace or anti-globalization, is that it attempts to be based on consensus and decentralized affinity groups. These ideas were first discussed in the 1960's, but came into fruition in the 1990's that was coupled with a pragmatic attitude that has no connection to a psychedelic idealism. The counterculture exists, but does not intrude into the planning and strategy of the activist movement. Therefore more results can be expected, and ideological burnout can be avoided.

 
Sometimes one can run across a niece piece of fiction on the Web. This is a good example, a concise blending that can be considered a close cousin to steampunk science fiction. The depth of both history and speculation on technology are combined in this case to provide social commentary. That is the mark of any good fiction.

 
In terms of science fiction, the future is the canvas upon which the imagination plays itself out. The imagery of the future, and the mode of living in it, has preoccupied people, especially in the 1930's as "streamlined" modern. This article looks at how movies look at the future, and how we are reflected in our conceptions.

 
The 1960's was one of the most unique decades of the 20th century. But the hindsight of that era tends to mythologize or villify a specific part of it. This demonstrates that the time period was more expansive than what was originally remembered. One thing agreed upon by all perspectives was that the 1960's was a time of great momentous change.

 
This article looks at the situation of sprawl from a design perspective. It particularly examines the type of buildings that exist on the periphery. Of course, the topic of sustainability is what should be looked into more as a solution to the destructive qualities of sprawl. More self-contained communities that recycle and reuse resources allows for a better relationship between urban and nature settings.

 
Last night I saw The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg. Made in the 1960's, it is a French musical where every line of dialogue is sung, made way before Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was a good movie, though I do not consider it a musical since I read the dialogue in subtitles. Clearly an unspoken character in the film was the wallpaper. In almost every scene, the walls have a mind of its own.

 
In the spirit of alternate history science fiction, here is a very interesting site. It also delves into the possibility of parallel worlds, and science fiction is the best medium for this subject since it was originally called speculative fiction. It is a very rich and imaginative subject, for lovers of the genre and for those who wonder about history and its consequences.

 
The current search for weapons of mass destruction in occupied Iraq will prove that the reason for the war was nothing but a lie perpetrated by the Bush regime. The relative quickness of the war itself also proves the non-existence of any nuclear or chemical weapons since none were ever deployed. Now the blame is drifting toward Syria, and the dreams of a new imperialism promoted by the Project for a New American Century is still going strong. The only hope is the slowly rising tide of dissent that sees through this illusion. The six months occupation of Iraq by a military government will only fuel that dissent.

 
An upcoming movie called Bulletproof Monk seems to be a complete waste of money. Coupled with the premier of a Titanic documentary directed by James Cameron, one begins to wonder what could have been done with the money that went into bad movies. The movie adaptation of Gravity's Rainbow could have been made with the money that went into the fictional Titanic, while a smaller budget adaptation of Camus' The Stranger could have been made instead of Bulletproof Monk.

 
Now that Iraq is plunged into civil unrest characterized by looting and possible warlordism, we are beginning to threaten Syria. That will probably be the next battlefield, and the current chaos will be made worse with Jay Garner, a former general picked by the president to be Iraq's interim leader. Joy at liberation will turn to resentment of an occupation, much like the Soviet liberation of Poland from the Nazis. Suicide bombings will increase, and guerilla warfare against the American soldiers will ensue. Things will only get worse, and we as citizens will be commanded to support the troops and be silent about everything else.

 
This demonstrates that history is a valuable tool in trying to understand what is going on in current events. Total Information Awareness is a program whereby information about all U.S. citizens will be put into a database in order to engage in constant surveillance of them. For the sake of equal time for differing opinions, there is also some positive side effects to this type of Orwellian strategy.

 
I just recently came upon a revelation. It suddenly dawned on me why Adrien Brody won the Best Actor Oscar at the Academy Awards. This is not to say his performance was not of good quality, but there is another reason why he was chosen despite the stiff competiton of his fellow nominees. Of all five nominees, he was the one who had never won an Oscar before. Jack Nicholson won three, Michael Caine won two, Daniel Day-Lewis won one, and Nicholas Cage won one. The Academy probably thought that it was his time to win an award. Overall, the awards were distributed evenly across many movies, avoiding a Chicago sweep.

 
Lawrence Lessig is one of the main proponents of the open source attitude. In other words he believes that the public domain is a social benefit. This means fighting against overtly restrictive forms of copyright. He has written much about the subject, and speaks across the country and in other nations. He is considered an expert in this area that includes p2p file-sharing as well as open source.

 
For the past couple of weeks, as soon as the war began, some alternative websites that were anti-war were shut down or experienced technical problems. Al-Jazeera online was one example. But new sites, especially blogs, have sprung up to speak out against the war. The style of connecting information that is intrinsic to blogs allows a subversive way to bypass the mainstream media. It also is a form of media that is homegrown.

 
In this time of war, and dissenting against the war, there is a need to believe in the human being who is able to make his own decisions and be able to speak out against injustice. This includes other subjects beside the war. Civil liberties is the home front in this world at war.

 
One aspect of the open source movement is the question of copyright. Corporations are in the position to enforce the illusion that copyright is eternal. However that was not always true. In fact the British law inherited by the newly formed United States stipulated a copyright of only 14 years. What is vital for a thriving open source movement is the flexibility of the public domain as a common good that can benefit more than a restricted copyright interpretation.

 
An interesting subgroup of the science fiction genre is that of the alternate history. Its basic premise is a change in a historic event that changes the subsequent series of events and consequences. One common "what if" question is what would happen if the North lost the Civil War, and so forth. Another subgroup is that of steampunk, which like cyberpunk extrapolates on a current technology and how it affects the society. The difference is in the fact that this occurs in the Victorian and Edwardian era rather than the current time period of computers. This site is a wonderful hybrid of both in a very imaginative way.

 
It appears that the escalation of terrorism has begun as an automatic consequence of the Iraq war. The suicide bombing In Najaf seems to be the tip of the iceberg, now that people are crossing the border from Syria. This will of course be seen as reason to expand the war by the Bush regime to include Syria and possibly Iran. This expansion will further a fortress Arabia that will become a hotbed of a perpetual war. It is going to be a self-fulfilling prophecy that embedded journalism will maintain and convey to Americans as pre-packaged war propaganda. If our nation is doing something wrong, that can be identified as a form of self-abuse, then the true loyalty is to act with dissent.

 
The open source movement needs to have the ability to apply itself to a broad context of society. Therefore, there is a need for manifestos. It must be able to look at the behavior of people in regards to technology, and then view social technology in the same way. What is most vital is the adaptability and distribution of power. There is much that can be learned from the open source philosophy for the sake of human relations.

 
The changes in culture that occurred in the 1960's was expressed primarily through music, movies, fashion, and graphic arts. The medium that at first seems neglected in the counterculture is literature. Many inspiring books were from another era, such as The Lord Of The Rings and Steppenwolf, and the contemporary works appeared limited to Ken Kesey and Tom Wolfe. But there was a growing crop of literature that can now be fully appreciated.

 
Now with the Oscars over, and being saddened that tastes have degenerated so that Chicago would win best picture, I have Turner Classic Movies and The Independent Film Channel to console me. I have also turned my interest to the era known as "The New Hollywood" which is the period of the 1960's and the 1970's. The apex was 1967 (Bonnie And Clyde) to 1977 (Star Wars: A New Hope), and was the point where the counterculture seeped into the movie business. It was the time of original plots and original film technique, of Robert Evans and Robert Altman. There should be a special showing of the films of 1971 alone on TCM.

 
Last night Chicago unfortunately won best picture, and also won for Catherine Zeta-Jones the best supporting actress Oscar. With the disappointment that an undeserving musical won such a high award, there were the pleasant surprises that Frida won for best makeup and other nominations, and The Pianist also did quite well. It is actually very sad that Gangs of New York did not win one Oscar. Overall, out of my eight predictions I was correct for four of them. Special appreciation to Michael Moore for being so brave as to denounce the war and the Bush regime in his acceptance speech. It was real moxie, and had more directness to it than other wishes for peace made by other winners such as Adrien Brody and Chris Cooper.

 
The official rally and march in New York City drew about 200,000 people, while spontaneous rallies and marches were formed in such places as Washington D.C. that had hundreds of thousands attending. This is in spite of the mainstream media's 24 hour coverage of the war that helps the government give the impression of a speedy war. A quick war implies a victory, but denies the fact that a "shock and awe" tactic means increased bombings and more civilian deaths. "Shock and awe" and "surgical strikes" is a contradiction in terms.

On another note, the Oscars are tomorrow. If any war news preempts the ceremony, it just shows that only an idiot son of the American elite as president can ruin the Oscars. Either that, or Chicago winning all its nominations. I will literally hit my head against the wall if Chicago wins.

 
Spontaneous anti-war rallies are forming across the nation, and around the globe. One way to get the argument for peace across is to use the addresses of multiple newspapers and send them the same editorial. It is a chance to reach a wider audience, and propose that a real support of U.S. troops is to bring them back home.

 
As of this posting, the war with Iraq has officially begun. Now is the time to further local protests in collaboration with nationwide action this upcoming weekend. If one really supported the troops, then they would demand their elected officials end this travesty and send them home. One needs to look at the alternative new sites for any real insight, as the corporate controlled media will now go into the business of manipulaitng emotion under the banner of patriotism.

 
There has been the question of what one could immediately do after the beginning of an attack on Iraq. In my community, there is a plan to march down our main street at 5:00 P.M. on the day of the attack, or the day after if the attack happens at night. Anyone who is in doubt about what to do should consider this. At the very least, go down to a busy street corner with a sign for a couple of hours. There needs to be an immedaite reaction to demonstrate to the administration and people in your community that the peace movement still is alive and strong. As of this writing, there is a 48 hour deadline for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq. The countdown has officially begun.

 
This past weekend could be the last weekend of peace. In response to a looming war, there have been rallies, marches, and candlelight vigils. The mainstream media tend to downplay the attendence to these protests, so it is good to look to an alternative view in these cases. But with time, the sheer numbers of dissent can break through the blockade of underplaying the news in corporate controlled media. It is just a matter of keeping up the direct action while keeping the peace dialogue going with others in the community.

 
The current situation in the U.N. is that a vote on a second resolution may happen after the March 17th deadline. With China, Russia, and France on the Security Council ready to veto an attack on Iraq, it is going to be a unilateral action if it happens next week. Therefore, a strategic victory for the peace movement is assured, as the credibility for this war plummets. Coupled with the historical precedent of this being the only time that a war has been largely protested against before it even happens, and it can be stated without exaggeration that George W. Bush may start this war, bu the anti-war movement will end it.

 
When, or if, the war starts, there is going to be a dramatic change in the pitch of the anti-war movement. It is not going to be crushed, but rather employ nonviolent civil disobediance tactics along with intensified rallies and marches. When the proverbial fit has hit the shan, a place to look to is Not In Our Name. There is also going to be global peace vigils on Sunday March 16th. Things are definitely coming to a head as the deadline of March 17th nears.

 
In this month of March, there are two national anti-war protests going on. On March 15th, there is a convergence on the White House in Washington D.C.. On the 22nd of March is a massive rally and march in New York City, this time with a permit for both. Ideally, one should attend both, but at least go to one of them and make your voice heard. And if the war should start at the end of this month, then the next step is for the anti-war movement to perform direct action by way of nonviolent civil disobedience.

 
If you feel that the right movies were not mentioned for nomination by the Academy Awards, there is a chance to vote your own opinion. The alternative news website Alternet has a page where they have their own movie awards nominations, and give people a chance to cast votes. The categories are thematic rather than strict aspects of a film. They even employ the more progressive Instant Runoff Voting system (IRV) which allows voters to make a first, second, and third choice. Vote early and feel aesthetically empowered.

 
The current and growing anti-war movement is unique from the protests against the Vietnam war in that this protest movement is separated from a counterculture as in that of the 1960's. Though there is nothing wrong with a counterculture, especially the revolution in music, fashion, and art in the 1960's, this current peace action is more practical. In the 1960's, there was a utopian idealism that permeated the attempt to stop the war. It clouded purposeful strategy, and when those ideals were not readily realized there was a lot of disillusionment among people as the 1970's began. Today, the anti-war mobilization is a broad collection of people from all walks of life. And there is still a counterculture, though infused with irony and aware of its limits and boundaries.

 
I am starting to get a little paranoid. The nothingness.org site seems to be down since last Thursday. The site is a repository of anarchist and situationist literature, while being an inspiration to the current dissent against the current staus quo. With the New York City police purposely preventing protestors from exercising their right to peacefully assemble on February 15th, it would not be too bizarre to have the authorities pressure website hosts from discontinuing so-called subversive information. They have already done enough persecution of online headshops to warrant some sense of caution.

 
In competition with Turner Classic Movies airing nothing but Oscar awarded and nominated movies this month, The Trio Channel is showing classics from the "New Hollywood". The term refers to the generation from the 1960's to the 1970's who redefined Hollywood with a more director-driven iconoclastic film style. These include Dennis Hopper (The Last Movie and Easy Rider), Martin Scorsese (Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore), and George Lucas (THX-1138). The specific flavor of that time, where social change was reflected on screen, is attributed to this group of people fresh out of film school who made their own movies before the age of the blockbuster. Independent films are their spiritual children.

 
The Oscars are coming up toward the end of this month. And so, Turner Classic Movies is showing nothing but Oscar nominated or awarded movies all this month of March. For a real appreciator of movies, Turner Classic Movies and the Independent Film Channel (with the Sundance Channel if you get that station) are the centerpiece of television. If the Academy payed more attention to these stations to get an idea of what is a great movie, then we would not have this horrendous Chicago debacle this year.

 
It is very fortunate that one can find a large collection of text from an author on the Internet in one place. One ususally has to look through multiple websites. H.P. Lovecraft is one of the great mythologists of the modern era. His collected works deal with unimagined worlds, and is therefore good for those who need a little legal mind expansion. An interest in ancient religious anthropology also helps for those who are experiencing Lovecraft for the first time.

 
Tomorrow is the Virtual March on Washington. I view it as a complement to the physical peace protests that have occurred on the 26th of October, the 18th of January, and the 15th of February. The specific nature of this form of direct action is to coordinate repeated calls and faxes to Senators and Congressmen to such a degree that it is continuous all day on the 26th. Beyond this is the leafleting campaign that is encouraged by MoveOn.org. But this should be an encouragement for those who have not yet to go to the physical gatherings and be counted as part of the large numbers of people dissenting a war agenda.

 
Consumer products from Japan not only illustrate how their cultural past is expressed through commodities, but also their present with its distinct traits that are ingrained with issues of capitalism and technology. It is both similar to and very different from United States commercial products. Bright colors and catchy slogans predominate, but the grammer is hard to directly translate into something comparable in English. And on top of that, their snack food looks interesting.

 
The connection between peer to peer filesharing and the open source movement is the ability of individuals to engage in direct associations that create works for the public domain. The witchhunt against Napster believed that total control of music was required in order for there to be the use of that music by the public. But the sharing of music files to later be burned on CD's created new compilations that was possible for an original purpose, much like mix tapes. At a certain point, the music becomes public domain and the only compensation left to the artists is a reputation as the creative origin. This does not mean the creator is the total master, however.

 
Last night I saw again the early Stanley Kubrick film Paths of Glory. It stars Kirk Douglas and is about three soldiers in World War I tried for cowardice during a fruitless and dangerous military manuever. In these times with an impending war in Iraq, the anti-war sentiment of the movie became much more clear. Of course, any good war movie is ultimately an anti-war movie, and this is one of the great ones.

 
After a week of pondering, I have finally made my predictions for who will win the Oscars. It is already known my disappointment that many movies were ignored in the nominating process, and Chicago ended up having so many nominations it does not deserve. Hopefully my friends are willing to put money down on a couple of bets.

Best Picture: Gangs of New York

Best Director: Roman Polanski

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis

Best Actress: Nicole Kidman

Best Supporting Actor: Chris Cooper

Best Supporting Actress: Julianne Moore

Best Foreign Film: The Man Without a Past

Best Documentary: Bowling For Columbine

 
Peer to peer file sharing is a part of the overall open source philosophy. It is connected by way of individuals creating their own flexible structures of relationships. It is nonhierarchial, allows pluralism, and sponsors democratic attitudes. The profit motive has nothing to do with this new paradigm that seems so natural to the Internet. Rather reputation, personal reward, and bonds of affiliation that is seen in gift economies is the driving force behind open source actions.

 
I am very excited to hear that Congressman Dennis Kucinich has started an exploratory committee for running for president in 2004. As a Green, I believed that the only time I would vote for a Democrat again would be a Paul Wellstone/Dennis Kucinich ticket. Add to this the 300th episode of the Simpsons and I have had a very pleasant day. It seems that we can have a progressive in the White House after all.

There has been only very little coverage of the peace protests of yesterday. Estimates for the New York City event are around 200,000 to 500,000. I was not able to attend this one, but will definitely commit myself to future protests, whether or not they are organized by International A.N.S.W.E.R. or United for Peace and Justice. It is not important who organized the event as to the direct action of a diverse group of people who do not want a continual state of war. It is about people and not the name-brand.

 
In relation to the subject of movies, I am very grateful to be able to get the Independent Film Channel on my cable service. It and the Sundance Channel, which I used to get, show the type of interesting and compelling movies that are pushed aside during the Oscar season by such gilttery monstrosities as Chicago. In fact i have often said that there should be an independent film category at the Oscars, allowing for more film diversity. Last year, the winner of such a category would proabaly have been Memento.

 
I am going to rant a bit more about the way the Academy is screwing up the Oscars. Instead of looking at and appreciating movies with a good plot and interesting characters like About Schmidt, Adapatation, and others we have this record breaking nominations for a musical that is nothing but flash. Over-the-top musical performances that break into a courtroom scene disrupt any good acting that could possibly exist in such a mess. I myself have only liked two movie adaptations of musicals: Fiddler on the Roof and Godspell. And on another category, Diane Lane is nominated for Best Actress for being in a lukewarm romantic suspense with no substance. The big business movie poison that affects most movies during the year really should not invade the Super Bowl of movie awards. Hopefully the final winners will be the real films as opposed to everyday movies.

 
I really do believe that the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is retarded. With Chicago being nominated a record 13 times, it must be a sign of the apocalypse. Adaptation, About Schmidt, Far from Heaven, and Punch Drunk Love were all ignored for the lion's share of nominations. Which just goes to show that the people doing the voting have absolutely no sense of taste in film. While Chicago is nothing but a flashy bunch of musical cliches, there was a bunch of films worth viewing and a couple of big epics that should have been the first ones considered.

 
One of my guilty pleasures in terms of television is a block of shows on the Cartoon Network late every Sunday night called Adult Swim. I am probably not the first one to know of these shows, but I find the original shows funny in a slightly twisted way, and the syndicated reruns a chance for short lived primetime animated shows to have a second try. The latter were usually set in competition with the Simpsons and inevitably failed after about a year. There is really nothing on late Sunday night anyway, so it is a great diversion.

 
Ever since college I have considered myself a postmodernist. I view postmodernism as an intellectual and psychological reaction to the mechanical modeling of modernism, and its emphasis on function and order. One example of an influential philosopher of this strain of thought is Jean Baudrillard. I am slowly working on writing a book about postmodernism, hoping to put it in its historical context. With a book of this subject, it is hard to determine at what point you have a completed project.

 
I just saw the movie Groove on the Independent Film Channel last night. Though I am not part of the rave scene, the movie was very entertaining and illustrative of that tribalistic culture. It is quite interesting to observe a subculture play itself out completely. You admire it even though you have never felt part of it.Think of it as anthropology of the information age.

 
Lawrence Lessig is one of the main proponents of P2P file sharing which is, I believe, a component of the open source movement. It is both about a decentralized system of individuals creating their own works, whether that is trading procedures or software programs.

 
This essay on Stanislaw Lem helps to reveal how the Soderbergh remake of Solaris was such a failure. I was glad it failed since you can not remake a classic such as Tarkovsky's. Anybody who did see the recent version should do themselves a favor and rent the original. They will be glad they did.

 
Here are my predictions for the nominees for the Academy Awards. I usually E-mail these to my friends and make an offer of a small wager. Only this year has one of them accepted, however. I absolutely refuse to acknowledge Chicago for best picture nomination, since it is not the same caliber as the others.

Best Picture:
Lord of the Rings, Gangs of New York, Far from Heaven, Punch Drunk Love, Adaptation

Best Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York), Robin Williams (One Hour Photo), Chris Cooper (Adaptation), Jack Nicholson (About Schmidt), Adrien Brody (The Pianist)

Best Actress:
Meryll Streep (The Hours), Nicole Kidman (The Hours), Julianne Moore (The Hours), Selma Hayek (Freida), Renee Zellwinger (Chicago)

Best Supporting Actor:
the man who supplied the voice and movements for Gollum

Best Director:
Spike Jonze (Adaptation), Martin Scorcese (Gangs of New York), Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings), Roman Polanski (The Pianist), Alexander Payne (About Schmidt)

Best Documentary:
Bowling for Columbine

Best Foreign Film:
Secret Ballot, Russian Ark

 
Even though I am not interested in sports, I have some thoughts on what might make an ideal Super Bowl game.

1. a veteran team that that has been to the Super Bowl many times and won at least a third of them
2. a newcomer team that has never been to the Super Bowl
3. the first half of the first quarter is a tie
4. the second half of the first quarter has the newcomers leading
5. the second quarter has the veterans leading
6. there is a need to review a play in the third quarter where the newcomers are leading
7. the veterans are leading in the first half of the last quarter
8. there is a tie in the second half of the last quarter
9. there are two overtimes to determine a winner

This could also apply to most footbal games in general, and can be extrapolated to other sports. It is a tried and true seesaw effect.

On another note, here is a foundng document on the open source movement.

 
On January 18th I attended the peace protests in Washington D.C., taking a bus with 53 other like-minded people from my area in New York State. I had known of other protests and had never had the time or resources to attend and make my voice heard. But I am truly glad I went and became part of a historical moment. I saw people from all backgrounds, and Green Party members from Vermont, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and even Mississippi. Forget what the mainstream media reported, there was at least 200,000 people there. If you have objections to International Answer's background, then you might be interested in the February 15th peace march in New York City. Also there is Not In Our Name.

 
Douglas Rushkoff, since he writes about technology, naturally will discuss open source ideas here and here.

 
This is a good place to start.

 
Welcome to THE PODIUM!

Unlike most blogs, that are daily, this one will be a weekly blog due to the fact that I am a very busy polymath. I will make sure there is a lot of content per posting.

I am currently interested in the open source movement. Hopefully there can be theories that can be expanded into other fields. An open source philosophy, if you will. In other words, how these principles can be expanded into society.