Friday, July 30, 2010

The Power of Simple Graphics

The Good Blog reminds me today of the power of simple graphics.
96% of our money for reconstruction in Iraq is not accounted for!
The words don't do it justice. But that red chart is very powerful.

The Department of Defense is unable to account for the use of $8.7 billion of the $9.1 billion it spent on reconstruction in Iraq.
Source: Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (PDF).

It is a tribute to the corruption in the system that graphics like this one do not grace the front page of all our news papers every day.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

TV Ninjas

The Ninjas of Glastonbury
Are here to claim your TVs
They know what you will see
But not how to be

The Knights of Osaka
Are here to wreck your cars
They know all your scars
But not how you are

The Alchemists of Hollywood
Are here to steal your fizz
They know all your biz
But not what really is

Plop, Plop
-----------------------
Echoes:
Doodle and poem by Jay Larsen
From the iPhone

Monday, July 26, 2010

Lonesome Grace


People there are
People I know
People I’ve invented
People I know I have invented
People who have invented me

Thus ends the inquisition
Step back into the blizzard
Of relational dissolution
Thus ends the confessional
Step back from the sticky
Turning of the insides out

People, step back—nothing to see here
Don’t you see the yellow tape?
Suffering means we are never alone
Despite the romantic appeal of lonesome grace

----------------------------

Echoes: I can type, so I guess I can make movies with Xtranormal.com.
Poetry just sounds better on a British subway car for some reason.
Links for those who can't see the video above:

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6838145

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us3uVYbMVAY

Thursday, July 22, 2010

I Miss These Guys




From 1996 to 2001, Suck.com was the first website I checked in the morning.
I liked the cartoons of Terry Colon, the wit and weirdness of Ana Marie Cox, Joey Anuff, and every Wednesday: Filler with Heather Havrilesky (or as she was known then Polly Esther). And the Fish. Don't forget the Fish....

They made me wish I was a slacker and capable of irony and sarcasm so sly and so sharp it could cut the high and the low while still accomplishing nothing of any lasting worth. They commented on pop culture, politics, whatever they damn well pleased. And it was more times than not, pleasing to read.
You can still roam their web archives at www.suck.com

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Database of Dr Who Villians, at last. Mwah-ha-ha-ha!

The Guardian UK has a spreadsheet of every Doctor Who villian since 1963.
The Daleks win (of course) with appearances in 32 stories (that's 102 seperate episodes).
But my favorite The Master has menaced the Doctor in 22 stories (84 episodes).
Including: Terror of the Autons,The Mind of Evil,The Claws of Axos,Colony in Space,The Dæmons,The Sea Devils,The Time Monster,Frontier in Space,The Deadly Assassin,The Keeper of Traken,Logopolis,Castrovalva,Time-Flight,The King's Demons,The Five Doctors,Planet of Fire,The Mark of the Rani,The Ultimate Foe,Survival,Doctor Who,Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords,The End of Time,The Caves of Androzani
OK, I'll stop now.
And yes, that is the Muppets in the picture above.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

You Can Count on Me

They don't need no sparkly vampires down on the street, Sesame Street that is.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

All Undone

Suddenly it strikes you
Rolling on a circuit so tight
When you come undone
When you come to
The conclusion
It’s all been done
To you

Wake me
When the cymbals crash
Shake me till the feelings pass
When you come undone
When you turn inside
Outside has been done
It’s you

Configuration unlikely
Head and feet of glass
Insides made of glue
Comes out of me
And sticks to you
So sue

It’s all undone
-----------------------------
Echoes: Collage and Poem by Jay Larsen
Underwater robotic distraction by BP
Recipients of the black goo: Nature, Me and You

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Dr Strange Doodle

Headed home to Arlington today.
It will be good to have humidity in the air again.

Chani says my doodle looks like me.

From the iPhone.

Friday, July 02, 2010

Snake Men of Zoominon XII Doodle

Sacramento is the land of fun.
Saw two guys smoking crack on the sidewalk today.
Oh well.
Visiting with family, swimming, reading comic books, drawing doodles.
It's all good.

From the iPhone.