Thoughts + a Song

* Can anyone tell me why Google Reader doesn’t have a search/filter function?

— considering the nature of The Google, I suspect that either a) I’m missing something or; b) this will be resolved by the end of the weekend.

cartoon by RJ Matson.

* The new Secretary of Defense is both demanding and accepting resignations. I wouldn’t call this refreshing — the last SecDef would deny any wrongdoings to the grave, but the Walter Reed scandal could have been handled months ago and only know that it’s been uncovered is action being taken. You go to war with the hospitals you have…, right?

So, Robert Gates, or Bob, as the case may be — I dare you to take preemptive measures and have Halliburton/KBR etc pay us back some money so we can have welfare and education in the States. And democrats, support the troops — but don’t support the contractors!!! Even the troops can’t stand them (not the individuals, but the contracting corps w/ non-bid, cost-plus arrangements). Ok, so I did just watch Greenwald’s Iraq For Sale.

Exhale.

And now, some music, from the new Arcade Fire release, Neon Bible

Open Source Gets a MacArthur Grant

Congrats to Chris Lydon’s Open Source Radio for winning a $250,000 MacArthur Fellowship!

This grant not only recognizes Open Source for its top-notch, hourlong, nightly public radio show (and internationally popular podcast, but, also “‘in support of the innovative use of internet-based tools in the production of a daily public radio program.'” Brandon of Open Source said:

[T]hey’re developing tools at Open Source that are going to be useful in the future to a lot of people. People in public radio, people in public television, people tiptoeing toward that fantastic beast we’re beginning to call “public media.”

Congrats and keep up the good work. Hopefully soon we’ll hear you not only via podcast but also on Southern California Public Radio.