Stunning Digitization Project

This is so awesome. The following link will take you to a website that shows a digital image of DaVinci's Last Supper that was done at 16 billion megapixels. Zoom in on the detail - it's quite the treat.

http://www.haltadefinizione.com/en/cenacolo/look.asp

Google's Evil Eye

This was a very excellent article about Google and their complete disdain for privacy. After hearing this (I heard it on my iPod), I considered, for like a second, trying to cut Google out of my life. Clearly, that's too much effort and I do consider myself a Google minion, but it's still good information.

Read the article at http://slate.com/id/2175651/

Book Review: Devil in the White City

Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson
Generally, I am of the opinion that fact is always better than fiction. It is more scary. It is more believable. Sometimes more unbelievable. This book pretty much supports my opinion.

Larson takes a page out of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood (no pun intended) and weaves together two intricate histories of two fascinating men: one an ambitious architect, the other a cold-blooded killer.

The story of the 1893 World's Fair is stunning. The situation that the city found itself in before and after makes one wonder how any city could have managed.

Although all fact and no fiction, the book reads like a novel. There are many quotes from many letters and memoirs. One gets a good feel for the personalities of the folks involved. Lots of fun foreshadowing.

One thing that really gripped me about this book is the rich, rich history involved. I especially enjoyed the snippets of corporate history - the engineering marvels, advances in electricity, Wrigley's gum, Cracker Jacks, the unnamed beer that named itself Pabst Blue Ribbon after it won the 1st place at the fair.

The ending was more of a fade-to-black thing, but, hey, fact can't always be wrapped up in the most exciting way. I was told by some buddies that they thought the murderer's story was a bit too much, but I loved it.

Congratulations Al Gore!

From the Washington Post:

Gore, U.N. Body Win Nobel Peace Prize

Former Vice President Al Gore Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today, along with a United Nations panel that monitors climate change, for their work educating the world about global warming and advocating for political action to control it.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee characterized Gore as "the single individual who has done most" to convince world governments and leaders that climate change is real, is caused by human activity, and poses a grave threat.

Read MORE.

Picture ID's required for voting in Michigan

Ripped completely from an email by T-Bone, my homie. Great, great information:

Many cities and townships that we live in will be holding elections this November 6. I encourage you all to vote in every election you can, even the ones you might consider to be inconsequential. You can find information about the candidates for local offices from the League of Women Voters. Those of you in Oakland County can find Voter Guides at www.lwvoa.org. In addition, the League holds Candidate Forums, where you can see the candidates in person and hear their answers to your questions. Information about Candidate Forums can also be found on our web site. These are the people who are making decisions that effect the place in which you live.

When you show up to the polls this November 6, make sure you bring your driver's license or other picture ID. "Due to a recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling, every Michigan voter who wants to vote at the polls must show a picture identification or sign an affidavit that he or she is not in possession of picture identification. This statute was originally passed by the Legislature in 1996 but never took effect because the Attorney General declared the provision unconstitutional. Due to recent US Supreme Court decisions, the Legislature enacted the provision again and requested that the Supreme Court issue an advisory opinion on its constitutionality. That July 18, 2007, ruling is the reason photo ID will be requested of voters beginning with this November election. People who do not have a picture ID will still be able to vote by signing a statement that they do not have one, and they will then be able to vote as usual. This includes people who have aphoto ID but do not bring it with them to the polls. However, a person who has an ID and refuses to show it will not be able to vote. Similarly, someone who does not have an ID, and refuses to sign the affidavit indicating that they do not, will not be given a ballot." (from the Oakland Voter, the LWVOA's newsletter).

Some groups, including the League of Women Voters, are opposed to this rule and are working to end it, but that is unlikely to happen before November 2008. Spread the word to bring picture ID to the polls.

Conflicts Of Interest: Why Do Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo, Red Hat And Others Support The National ID Card?

This is just great. Read the whole article. It's miserable.

The REAL ID Act of 2005 is a $17 billion privacy and civil rights nightmare that requires all fifty states to issue standardized ID and drivers license cards. Luckily, it has been stuck in bureaucratic limbo. Congress mandated the cards, passed off the strategy to Homeland Security and stuck the states with the tab for actually paying for all of this.

Read MORE.