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I think one of the things that discouraged me during the Bush administration was the lack of Laurie Anderson’s voice commenting obliquely on it all. 
”[‘Homeland’ is] not a word that Americans use,” Anderson says. “No one would say ‘my homeland’ — it’s just so sentimental. This record was started in the Bush era and went over the cusp into Obama, and I appreciated how story-savvy the Bush administration was to put a sentimental, gooey, homey word like ‘homeland’ next to ‘bureau’ and ‘security.’ “
Anderson recently held a concert for dogs at the Sydney Opera House. ”I thought a couple hundred dogs would show up. Thousands of dogs showed up,” she says. “It was one of the most purely joyful things I’ve ever done in my life.”

July 1, 2010

It was a cell phone marketed to kids so they could hook up with strangers, with a data plan priced like a normal adult smartphone. Not even a 50% pricedrop on the two devices to $29 and $49 could spur sluggish sales. So, Microsoft terminated the product after only a few weeks on the shelves, even though it was years and millions of dollars in the making.
Kin launched six weeks ago. I’d say, at this point, that Microsoft should simply stop trying to sell anything that you can hold in your hand.

June 30, 2010

Say goodbye to the old San Jose International Airport… it closes today, to be replaced tomorrow by a brand-spanking-new state-of-the-art terminal. Still, I liked the old terminal “C”, with it’s short distances and lobby mural depicting the history of San Jose. When I stepped off the plane after picking up roots and moving here, I instantly recognized that mural (despite being hidden behind a makeshift food court), from visiting my grandparents here as a kid.  The mural can’t be saved, and the building will soon be demolished. The new airport is light, airy and modern. But it’s gonna take a long time before it has memories and character.

June 29, 2010