Author Archive: Bill Black
I'm a baby boomer, lefty Democrat, Boston Irish Catholic, born in 1953. I work as a public affairs consultant in Washington.
Shatner as Palin
Bye bye Barcode
Researchers have come up with another replacement for the barcode, called “bokodes.” It’s the little circle at the center of the attached picture surrounded by the current suite of barcodes. It can be read by mobile phones, leading to a whole range of new ways to shop. By the coolest new thing is how it could be used with Google maps:
Dr Mohan said they could also be used to augment the information incorporated into Google Streetview, a service which allows users to browse a selection of pictures taken along city streets.
At the moment the images for Streetview – accessible through Google Maps – are collected by trucks and cars fitted with several cameras.
“Shop and restaurant owners can put these Bokodes outside their stores and as the Google truck is driving down the street it will capture the information in that.”
For example, a restaurant could put menu information inside the tag.
When the data is uploaded to Google Maps, it would automatically be displayed next to the image of the restaurant, said Dr Mohan.
Bill Gates Predicts the Future
Mr. Gates spoke of cellphones that would recognize people around them or be used to test for diseases, computers equipped with voice recognition and an Internet that was used for much more than Web pages.
Gates v. Crowley
Here’s my view of the incident in Cambridge. Whichever of the protagonists I was, I would respond the same way.
If I was Professor Gates, I’d be royally pissed that a cop was hassling me in my own home. If I was the cop, I’d be pissed that this elitist jerk was hassling me for doing my job.
I could play both parts and it would end up the same way. In fact, it probably would have been worse because there would have been violence.
Whaaa?
Here’s the headline on the afternoon notice I get from CQ everyday:
House Leaders Say They’ve Met Concerns of Dissident Democrats
My spirits lifted.
Here’s the headline you get when you click through:
House Dissidents Still Not Satisfied on Health Bill
It’s going to be a long, ugly debate.
In the Loop – Movie Review
I saw a screening last night of the movie, In the Loop, in advance of its U.S. opening on Friday. It has already opened in the UK. I loved it! It is smart, very funny, cynical and very, very profane.
Set in Washington and London, it’s a behind the scenes look that the bureaucratic machinations when two governments are scheming to go to war. It is clearly inspired by the run up to the war in Iraq and some of the incidents depicted will be very familiar to those paying attention to the maneuvers that were engaged to build the case for war in 2002 and 2003.
It is a dark comedy and the characters are larger than life. Peter Capaldi, apparently Scottish by his accent, is one of the great political characters I’ve ever seen in a movie. I’ve never heard of him before this movie, but I’ll never forget him now. He is belligerent and arrogant and utters the most colorful curses you will ever have heard. James Gandolfini makes you forget, to some degree, about Tony Soprano, playing a tough general trying to avoid war. And, finally, there is Tom Hollender, playing the wimpy, cowardly British minister at the center of the action.
The script is brilliant and look for collections of the best quotes from the movie. It reminded me a bit of Yes, Prime Minister on steroids. And it moves so fast, I’m already anxious to see it again to catch some of the lines I might have missed.
Sadly, I don’t expect the movie to be a massive hit. It doesn’t seem to have the ingredients for wide popular appeal. For instance, there are no heroes. Everyone is either clueless or corrupt or both. But I do expect it to become a cult classic, particularly among political junkies.
Next year, at this time, I imagine there will be packed midnight shows in London and Washington.
Jean Gaetjens on Sailing
My friend, Jean Gaetjens, talks about sailing on a Hobie Cat in Montego Bay, Jamaica, July 3rd, 2009.
Benny Goodman’s Centennial – May 30, 2009
I don’t remember what got me into big band music. I think it was seeing the movie The Glenn Miller Story as a kid. While the movie was full of fiction, the music was a revelation to me. I rediscovered it in my twenties listening to it on an eight track tape while delivering groceries for Roche Bros. supermarket in Boston.
I do remember, however, when I became obsessed with with this musical genre. I took a ride on the “Dream Boat,” which was a party boat that cruised in Boston Harbor in the evening with the Bo Winniker Swing Orchestra providing the entertainment. I went by myself, since I didn’t know anybody else who enjoyed this style of music.
It was a delightful night. The music was great. They played all the hits. In the Mood, Take the A Train, Begin the Beguine, etc., etc. But I have to say that one of the greatest musical experiences of my life was when the struck up Sing, Sing, Sing, a thrilling 8 minute song with a drum solo made famous by Gene Krupa. It was the last song of the night and they timed it perfectly as the cruise made its way to dock. The boat was rockin’ and I saw God.
Many years later, I saw Benny Goodman’s last performance at Wolftrap in June of 1986. He died a few days after the concert on June 13th. I remember thinking during a couple of the hot numbers that he was risking his health his playing was so vigorous for a 77 year old man. Apparently, he was a pretty grumpy guy in person, but he must have gone out happy that he was playing to the end.
He was an incredible musician and his music never, never gets old.