Going Green

A letter by Margaret Atwood about the wayward ways of the states. http://www.iht.com/articles/92026.htm

Tired of all the hype about the war?

Sidestep the issue by developing alternatives to oil. That’s what the Viridian Design movement is doing, run by benevolent Pope-Emperor Bruce Sterling.

Here’s a small project I’ve done on solar cars. (Solar racing, sport of the future!) Why use oil when there’s so much other sources of energy?

http://www.qdcomic.com/viridian/solar.html

The Pope-Emperor’s latest “architectural fiction”: The Growthing

http://www.metropolismag.com/html/content_0103/str/

In his blog Bruce recommends “The unheimlich Australian artwork of Patricia Piccinini. This stuff is beyond the biopunk beyond.”

Wonder what will happen when today’s script kiddies (hackers) get their hands on biotech? SARS might pale in comparison.

Next up: Uzbekistan

Watching:

“City of God”

http://cinemaminima.com/categories/brazil/2003/01/12.html

a fun and frenetic social history of one of Rio de Janeiro’s most notorious favelas.

And”Satree Lek” (“The Iron Ladies”)

about a Thai transvestive volleyball team. Naturally it was one of the biggest box office hits in Thailand, and the sequel is now co-branding with Pizza Hut. (Try doing that in the States!)

Both films feature real life footage during the end credits, adding a level of visceral veracity, showing the story was based on reality. But what they don’t show is what was left out. Not to haggle over technique, though – they’re good fun, check them both out.

Reading:

Waiting for the next chapter of Justine Shaw’s Nowhere Girl and Patrick Farley’s The Spiders. A provocative thought from the latter: if we really are at war against terror, why not go to war with Uzbekistan instead? Known ties to Al-Quaeda, and weapons of mass destruction (nukes, no less). http://www.e-sheep.com

Also checking out http://www.readcomicsinpublic.net. You know you should.