Dirty Jobs creator/host Mike Rowe testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation recently on the widening skilled labor gap in the United States.

A few months ago in Atlanta I ran into Tom Vilsack, our Secretary of Agriculture. Tom told me about a governor who was unable to move forward on the construction of a power plant. The reason was telling. It wasn’t a lack of funds. It wasn’t a lack of support. It was a lack of qualified welders.

In general, we’re surprised that high unemployment can exist at the same time as a skilled labor shortage. We shouldn’t be. We’ve pretty much guaranteed it.

In high schools, the vocational arts have all but vanished. We’ve elevated the importance of "higher education" to such a lofty perch that all other forms of knowledge are now labeled "alternative." Millions of parents and kids see apprenticeships and on-the-job-training opportunities as "vocational consolation prizes," best suited for those not cut out for a four-year degree. And still, we talk about millions of "shovel ready" jobs for a society that doesn’t encourage people to pick up a shovel.

In a hundred different ways, we have slowly marginalized an entire category of critical professions, reshaping our expectations of a "good job" into something that no longer looks like work. A few years from now, an hour with a good plumber — if you can find one — is going to cost more than an hour with a good psychiatrist. At which point we’ll all be in need of both.

I came here today because guys like my grandfather are no less important to civilized life than they were 50 years ago. Maybe they’re in short supply because we don’t acknowledge them they way we used to. We leave our check on the kitchen counter, and hope the work gets done. That needs to change.

When Rowe spoke of his grandfather, I couldn’t help but think of my own dad and his preternatural ability to figure out all things mechanical. I do agree with Rowe’s point that we, as a society, have greatly undervalued skilled labor.

I can imagine that in a few generations, all we’ll have in the U.S. is middle management. It’ll be like a large rowboat with 10 guys w/bullhorns shouting at the 1 guy doing the actual rowing.

via Discovery Channel via BoingBoing

Awesome.

Related: Seadragon, Photosynth

Technorati Tags: inauguration, photosynth, seadragon

Here are my previous posts on the 2007 (inaugural) competition, and the photos I took. Go Philippines!

I was so overwhelmed by everything I didn’t take as many photos as I thought I would. Also, it got so packed I couldn’t even stop to take a photo. Most of these photos were taken “in passing” and as such, came out fairly blurry.

Oh well, I’ll know what to expect next year.

I took the time to annotate most of the photos, so enjoy!

Highly entertaining, but not a joke. I think we need more guys like Sean running for office.

via @smittyhalibut via Twitter

Judging by recent events in Turkey, this could get ugly real quick.

Update:

This does not bode well for the Olympic Torch in San Francisco

Can someone chime in and give us tips on the best viewing conditions and how to photograph the event.

No Persuading

Research & Just Do It

Cuz if you don’t vote

Don’t complain

Yeah, I know…

Huh?!?

Is it just me or is our nomination/election process dated?

To give you an idea of how far video game music has come, a CD recording of the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra performing selections from the “Distant Worlds” concert will be available to order this December.

From Kotaku:

AWR Music Productions, LLC announces that Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY will make its U.S. premiere on March 1, 2008 at 8 pm at The Rosemont Theatre, performed by the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra and the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra Festival Choir. The 2-hour program produced by composer Nobuo Uematsu and AWR Music Productions will be conducted by Arnie Roth. The exhilarating concert will feature a special guest appearance by Nobuo Uematsu.

Tickets can be purchased online, through the box office, Ticketmaster locations and by credit card at 312-559-1212.

When you purchase a $150.00 ticket, it comes with a after concert meet and greet session with Nobuo Uematsu, a copy of the new Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy CD, and a special tour program book. This can be redeemed at the venue on day of show.

Concert program (not in performance order, subject to change):

FINAL FANTASY series: Main Theme, Swing de Chocobo
FINAL FANTASY I-III: Medley
FINAL FANTASY III DS: Opening
FINAL FANTASY IV: Theme of Love
FINAL FANTASY V: Dear Friends
FINAL FANTASY VI: Opera “Maria and Draco”
FINAL FANTASY VII: One-Winged Angel, Opening – Bombing Mission, Aerith’s Theme
FINAL FANTASY VIII: Liberi Fatali, Fisherman’s Horizon, Love Grows, Don’t be Afraid
FINAL FANTASY IX: Vamo’ alla Flamenco
FINAL FANTASY X: To Zanarkand
FINAL FANTASY XI: Memoro de la Stono – Distant Worlds