Sound Beams

Here's an NYT article about the sound beam billboard.

Acceleration

As to our conversation about future things, try imagining "a world where there is no distinction between the biological and the mechanical." To that end, here's an interesting article. It may sound fantastical, but that doesn't mean it isn't so. Here's the page for the LongPen--there's video available on the site.

And more mundanely, here's the Daily Show explanation of net neutrality.

Century of the Self

"You [advertisers] have taken over the job of creating desire and have transformed people into constantly moving happiness machines, machines which have become the key to economic progress." Herbert Hoover, 1928.

"People are going about their daily lives, working and shopping." George W. Bush, Nov. 2001

"I encourage you all to go shopping more." George W. Bush, Oct. 2006

Here's the movie. And, in case you missed it, here's the NYT article.

Reminder: The Final Exam will be May 8.

Catapult The Propaganda

This video clip is from a "town hall meeting" (with some plain folks) about "reforming" social security. One thing we mentioned in the previous class was the importance of repetition, repetition, repetition. Why are the people clapping?

Propaganda

Before I lose track of it, here's a significant report from the NYT.

Webb Power Point

I uploaded the Gary Webb ppt to the course google page, for those of you who missed it.

Webb Links

In case you're curious, here is the original series of ariticles. And here is a really good story about the kerfuffle by CJR.