I just finished reading Steven Johnson's Emergence. The subtitle on the jacket reads, "The connected lives of ants, brains, cities, and software." The book was excellent, mostly because it presented very complex, perspective-shifting concepts in simple language (without ever being condescending).

Johnson discusses the ways in which complex, orderly systems can develop despite remarkably narrow, ignorant individuals. Examples include cities that develop neighborhoods and industrial districts without any central scheme, slime mold that gathers and changes though no cell leads the way, and media that is delivered without traditional broadcast planning.

The book may sound nerdy and scientific, but it is surprisingly accessible. Johnson writes to be understood, and that's important, since emergence is naturally pervasive. (I got the tip from Kottke back in the day.)

I signed up UKAZU as an Amazon Associate. Items linked to Amazon.com from UKAZU will now contain an associate number. If any of you UKAZU warriors purchase an Amazon item after following a link from this site, a small portion of the money from the sale will be returned to me. I'll use this money to pay for hosting bills. If we get gobs of cash (hell: frozen) then I'll throw a huge party with lots of hot girls, debonaire dudes, and a couple of ice sculptures (think flashy!). It's all about the community, baby.

It's not a big deal, but it is a pretty simple, unobtrusive way to start offsetting the costs of keeping this little baddy on the network. So, if you have some shopping to do, do it at Amazon.

Democrat and Congressman Dick Gephardt:

"When I'm president, we'll do executive orders to overcome any wrong thing the Supreme Court does tomorrow or any other day."

Note to self: Gephardt is either a blowhard or a maniac. Or both.

Nine out of 10 banknotes (euros) show clearly measurable amounts of cocaine.

Holy crap.

The Oath of Hippocrates reads:

I swear by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others. I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion. With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. I will not cut persons laboring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves. Whatever, in connection with my professional practice or not, in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret. While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the art, respected by all men, in all times! But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot!

Do you think the scumbag medics from this article have ever given this Oath? Granted certain notions in the Oath are up for debate, when did American military medics stop being human? And do any PR agents have a soul? Or conscience?

• If you liked the piece about Pabst in the Post, check out the five-page article that ran in the Times yesterday. It's good, and it explains quite a bit more.
• The Times also ran an interesting piece this weekend about Metrosexuals: "straight urban men willing, even eager, to embrace their feminine sides". There's also some good editorial backlash against the sissy men by a woman who says enough about exfoliaters, already, dude. The LA Times just ran a story about men wearing womens' designer jeans. Whaddya think?
  [special thanks to George]
• Lastly, there's an in-depth write-up about Australian scientists using electromagnetic waves from machines originally used for brain surgeries to manipulate brainwaves on an individual basis to trigger savant intelligence. Scary, but kinda cool.