Links for August 12th through August 13th

This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on August 13, 2009). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.

Sometime between August 12th and August 13th, I thought this stuff was interesting. You might think so too!

  • I’m a Photographer, Not a Terrorist: "Photography is under attack. Across the country it that seems anyone with a camera is being targeted as a potential terrorist, whether amateur or professional, whether landscape, architectural or street photographer. Not only is it corrosive of press freedom but creation of the collective visual history of our country is extinguished by anti-terrorist legislation designed to protect the heritage it prevents us recording. This campaign is for everyone who values visual imagery, not only photographers. We must work together now to stop this before photography becomes a part of history rather than a way of recording it." This website and campaign is UK-based, but we could really use a sister site or expansion of some form that covers policies in the USA, too.
  • Ten Things We Don’t Understand About Humans: "We belong to a remarkably quirky species. Despite our best efforts, some of our strangest foibles still defy explanation. But as science probes deeper into these eccentricities, it is becoming clear that behaviours and attributes that seem frivolous at first glance often go to the heart of what it means to be human."
  • The 5 Best Films Made by John Hughes: "John Hughes was an incredible talent who left behind a vast and varied body of work riddled with absolute classics that redefined how films were made. But while he did direct films, he did so for a scant seven years of his 20-plus-year career as an active screenwriter and producer. However, as it turns out, some of his best material he kept for himself. Here's a list of the five very best films written, produced, and — more often than not — directed by the late, great John Hughes."
  • Children’s Hospital May Have to Leave Seattle: "A small band of Laurelhurst neighbors appears to be winning a crusade to stop the expansion of Children's Hopsital. A city hearing examiner issued a 37-page report today that recommends, in response to claims made by the Laurelhurst Community Club (LCC), that the city council should deny plans to expand the hospital. Hospital officials say they may be forced to relocate."
  • Meet the Generations: An "alternate generational periodization scheme," in which, rather than being "Generation X," I'm part of "the PC generation," right on the cusp of being in "the Net generation." Sounds about right.
  • Shorty: A self-hosted URL shortening service, so that if and when external URL shorteners break (such as almost happened with popular shortening service tr.im), I won't have worries about my shortened URLs breaking. Just installed this on my server, and it seems to be working fine!