History, Poetry, Security

The Rape of Europa

Leave a comment

I just saw this, on the recommendation of a friend, and I have to say it was an excellent film.

The Rape of Europa tells the epic story of the systematic theft, deliberate destruction and miraculous survival of Europe’s art treasures during the Third Reich and World War II.

On the one hand it’s a fascinating modern tale of tragedy. The movie does a fine job working within a narrow band of time. However, I couldn’t help but wonder on the other hand about the larger picture (pun not intended) of conquest throughout the ages. For example, many of the items in modern galleries around the world, such as the British archives, were looted from foreign lands during times of conquest and conflict. But I guess the point is that if we limit our scope to the 1930s and 1940s, the Germans (and maybe the Russians) turned out to be the undisputed bad guys of the (art) world.

Needless to say, the movie also focused in on physical objects of treasure but not the ideas of art or the intellectual capital. Countless brilliant poets and their poems were destroyed, but the film made no mention of their fate…

Poetry

A Poem Beginning With a Line by Pindar

Leave a comment

by Robert Duncan

[…]

      On the hill before the wind came
the grass moved toward the one sea,
      blade after blade dancing in waves.

[…]

      the information flows
         that is yearning. A line of Pindar
      moves from the area of my lamp
         toward morning.

      In the dawn that is nowhere
         I have seen the willful children

      clockwise and counter-clockwise turning.

Duncan has numerous interesting comments on political and historical themes in his poetry, but I especially liked these bits most relevant to information security.

Energy, Security

Carbon Footprint Calculator

Leave a comment

The World Resources Institute has put a calculator online that promises fun for all ages:

The average American is responsible for about 20 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, a far greater per capita number than that of any other industrialized country. In fact, the US accounts for more than 20% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. You can reduce your carbon footprint by driving a more efficient car, or driving less. You can also plant trees or help preserve forests to offset your emissions, since trees are a sink for carbon.

I guess it is targeted for Americans.

I have often wondered how people calculate their carbon footprint when they talk about offsetting it. I mean the political mudslinging lately seems to have been linked to who has the bigger footprint and what can be done individually to compensate. For example, what is President Bush’s carbon footprint? Is it higher or lower than prior Presidents? Is testing Bush on compliance going to end up down the same road as the “Click It or Ticket” campaign where he promised to support a crackdown on drivers who disobey the law, while he paraded around in disregard?

Bush did not violate Texas law. “On private property, you’re not required to wear your seat belt,” said Tela Mange, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Public Safety. She said “it’s fairly common” in the ranchlands of Texas.

Will Bush try to come up with a similar justification for carbon emissions exemptions? Should the calculator have an option “click here if you are a member of the Bush family”?

After all, isn’t the reason for the seatbelt law to prevent some people from causing harm to themselves that others ultimately have to pay for (through the externalities of the insurance and emergency response system)? Or perhaps the Department of Safety is simply saying they have no jurisdiction on private roads, which raises a whole other discussion (libertarians, start your engines) about the “corporal” right to pollute on personal property.

Anyway, it would be nice if politicians could publish their carbon footprint data as a matter of public record, including the impact from private spaces.

In case anyone is interested, the calculator says my footprint is apparently far less than the national average. I suppose that has something to do with driving a biodiesel car that gets almost 40mpg and walking to work on most days.

Seems to me that the calculator should end with “and this is what you can do to offset your footprint: plant x trees…”. And it should perhaps also offer a range, or some measure of certainty, since the calculations are really just estimates.

History, Security

What’s authentic in Vegas?

Leave a comment

I find this story highly amusing.

Nevada has become the latest US state to make it illegal for musicians to falsely claim they are connected to well-known groups.

Perhaps that’s to be expected, but here’s the funny part:

Maxine Porter, manager for original Drifter Bill Pinkney, said: “In a town like [Las Vegas], where you have a constant flow of tourists, this is a place where people expect to have authenticity.

Eh? Vegas is a place where people expect authenticity? Elvis, for example, is a complex case:

The darling of Vegas, the real Elvis himself, was arguably just a tribute act, if not an outright impostor. Prejudice helped facilitate denial of any connection to the well-known (black) groups and artists that he emulated, so it raises interesting questions of how we come to terms with authenticity of an act.

While Elvis rocketed to stardom, resentment grew among talented musicians whose similar-sounding records weren’t getting the same play. The hip swiveling that merely disgusted conservative whites amounted to theft for blacks. More than one player laid claim to Elvis’ gimmicks.

Blues shouter Wynonie ‘Mr. Blues’ Harris told Sepia: “I originated that style 10 years ago. The current crop of shouters are rank impostors. They have no right to call themselves the kings of rock and roll. I am the king of rock and roll.”

In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, guitarist Calvin New born said Elvis hung out in a black bar outside Memphis where he played. “He would sit there and watch me every Wednesday and Friday night,” he said. “I’d wiggle my legs and swivel my hips and make love to the guitar.”

In 1956, the Amsterdam News said Elvis had “copied Bo Diddley’s style to the letter.”

[…]

“The Elvis that died wasn’t the same Elvis that was coming up”, Chuck D said. “They said he was king. Based on who and what? Based on the quality of the people judging or the quality of his music? What does ‘King of Rock and Roll’ mean growing up in a black household? My Chuck Berry records are still in my house. Little Richard is still in the house. Otis Redding and James Brown. The King of what?”

Certainly not the King of authenticity, but perhaps the King of Vegas.