And for the record, correct attribution does indeed matter.
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| View the image full size if there are legibility issues. |
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
50 Rules
As Facebook lacks a good way of viewing images at their original size, I am posting this here. That way I can permalink the image to a readable size.
And for the record, correct attribution does indeed matter.
And for the record, correct attribution does indeed matter.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Sacrilege
What better way to start a Monday.
I came across this short film because I watched "Memphis Belle" over the weekend. The stars of that film included Eric Stoltz and Tate Donavan. "Jesus" and "Hutch" respectively.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Voter Fraud: Blue On Blue Edition
Had this been properly investigated at the time, Hillary Clinton would have won Indiana in the Democrat primary. How that might have altered the 2008 election is anyone's guess.
But make no mistake about it, voter fraud is real and it does affect our current elections.
But make no mistake about it, voter fraud is real and it does affect our current elections.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Proper Method For Beating Your Wife...Explained!
So how many times have you ever wanted to beat your wife, but just didn't know how to go about such a task? Courtesy of this fine individual from 2010 comes all the proper rules of etiquette that go with the responsibility of disciplining your wife!
Links to the video...and the transcript, in case your eyes want to make sure that your ears were not lying.
Similar....stuff....can be found here as well.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Dear Death, From An Admirer
There is a perception in the popular culture that those serving in the military are little more than unimaginative and uninformed automatons. For [those] that know us best, they know that we can be some of the most engaged, engaging, and creative people around.
My example for today was discovered a couple months ago.
Offered to you as a reminder of the day, and of those that shielded us and continue to shield us from feeling the premature chill of Death's cold grip. In liberty, there is life.
My example for today was discovered a couple months ago.
Written by Jerry Collins, a fellow No-LOAD Marine.
Dear Death
Dread not the one conceived to come for you
But I, and the forefathers of the wings upon which I stand.
I too shall cast with my brothers
That beautiful and far-reaching shadow of freedom across the lands
So that the young, the old, and the innocent may escape your burning clinch,
Your wretched breath, and your sickening belch.
You will, fall to your demise.
And from one humongo-ginormous deafening echo of thunder
Across the blue skies of our great nation,
I will have rudely intruded, eaten the scraps from your table, slept in your bed,
And hand delivered the confiscation of your last breath.
…Your secret admirer,
United States Marine.
Offered to you as a reminder of the day, and of those that shielded us and continue to shield us from feeling the premature chill of Death's cold grip. In liberty, there is life.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Can You Pick One Please?
I had a little media frustration the other day.
As some will recall, Congress decided to get the U.S. Federal government out of the helium business back in the late 1990s. We got into the helium business during WWI when helium filled dirigibles were considered pivotal to our national defenses.
We stayed in the helium business after the rise of the aircraft carrier and other airborne platforms because national defense policy has a lot of inertia. Also businesses liked having cheap helium.
During the early 1990s, most media outlets were complaining that our national strategic helium reserve was no longer required for military preparedness. They claimed that the program was nothing more than a grand subsidy to private businesses. There were lots of stories about places that sold helium filled balloons with the context of "why should the taxpayer subsidize this?"
A couple days ago, I heard a report on NPR about the imminent closure of the reserve. Here we are over 15 years later and the market has yet to spool up the production capacity to meet current demand.
So businesses are running out of helium. The story began with the ubiquitous balloon store owner talking about how she cannot get enough helium to run her business. It moved on from there to detail how helium is used in a lot of different industrial processes. It included a report from an electronics manufacturer in the U.S. that had opted to use other inert gasses where it could, and to turn off the helium when it was not in use for production.
The context of the story was to promote a bill currently before Congress that would extend the federal government's involvement in helium production until the free market can catch up.
The frustration isn't so much about the media pushing for the end to this program and then pushing to extend it when the logical results of that policy come to fruition.
The frustration is with a media, in this specific instance NPR, that simply has no real understanding of free market economics. Our existing helium supply is quite large. Even though the market price for helium is increasing, it hasn't gotten to the point where private business owners can justify the expense of building new production facilities to compete with the helium that still is in the reserve.
The price of helium will eventually increase to that point as the volume in the reserve is slowly depleted. There will be some volatility in the price of helium as production, storage, and use reach new balance points. There will be some short term economic pain. But eventually, production will increase to meet demand, albeit with less storage capacity.
And if Congress acts to keep the feds in the helium business, that painful period will last for years and perhaps decades as private businesses discover that they cannot compete with a government subsidized product.
Could someone assign these folks to read a little more Thomas Sowell and a little less Paul Krugman?
As some will recall, Congress decided to get the U.S. Federal government out of the helium business back in the late 1990s. We got into the helium business during WWI when helium filled dirigibles were considered pivotal to our national defenses.
We stayed in the helium business after the rise of the aircraft carrier and other airborne platforms because national defense policy has a lot of inertia. Also businesses liked having cheap helium.
During the early 1990s, most media outlets were complaining that our national strategic helium reserve was no longer required for military preparedness. They claimed that the program was nothing more than a grand subsidy to private businesses. There were lots of stories about places that sold helium filled balloons with the context of "why should the taxpayer subsidize this?"
A couple days ago, I heard a report on NPR about the imminent closure of the reserve. Here we are over 15 years later and the market has yet to spool up the production capacity to meet current demand.
So businesses are running out of helium. The story began with the ubiquitous balloon store owner talking about how she cannot get enough helium to run her business. It moved on from there to detail how helium is used in a lot of different industrial processes. It included a report from an electronics manufacturer in the U.S. that had opted to use other inert gasses where it could, and to turn off the helium when it was not in use for production.
The context of the story was to promote a bill currently before Congress that would extend the federal government's involvement in helium production until the free market can catch up.
The frustration isn't so much about the media pushing for the end to this program and then pushing to extend it when the logical results of that policy come to fruition.
The frustration is with a media, in this specific instance NPR, that simply has no real understanding of free market economics. Our existing helium supply is quite large. Even though the market price for helium is increasing, it hasn't gotten to the point where private business owners can justify the expense of building new production facilities to compete with the helium that still is in the reserve.
The price of helium will eventually increase to that point as the volume in the reserve is slowly depleted. There will be some volatility in the price of helium as production, storage, and use reach new balance points. There will be some short term economic pain. But eventually, production will increase to meet demand, albeit with less storage capacity.
And if Congress acts to keep the feds in the helium business, that painful period will last for years and perhaps decades as private businesses discover that they cannot compete with a government subsidized product.
Could someone assign these folks to read a little more Thomas Sowell and a little less Paul Krugman?
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Gate Keeper
I hope to ride this new Cedar Point 'coaster very soon!
Wow. I can't believe that I forgot the f/u report.
The long and short of it was that this is an OK rollercoaster. The most frustrating thing is that it is nearly impossible to ride both sides if you do not pay for the premium park pass at Cedar Point. The non-premium guests all go to one side and the premium guests go to the other.
Quite frankly, the premium side gets a slightly better ride due to the beginning drop.
The speed aspect was OK. Not the fastest ride I have experienced. Lots of curves and swooping about. My all means, take a shot at this one if the line is under an hour (or if you pay for the premium pass).
But then you need to go ride the Raptor for a real kick ass ride.
The long and short of it was that this is an OK rollercoaster. The most frustrating thing is that it is nearly impossible to ride both sides if you do not pay for the premium park pass at Cedar Point. The non-premium guests all go to one side and the premium guests go to the other.
Quite frankly, the premium side gets a slightly better ride due to the beginning drop.
The speed aspect was OK. Not the fastest ride I have experienced. Lots of curves and swooping about. My all means, take a shot at this one if the line is under an hour (or if you pay for the premium pass).
But then you need to go ride the Raptor for a real kick ass ride.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
Look At Me Now!
I have a longer post...or an extensive series of shorter posts...in mind to talk about some recent health issues that I have been dealing with. I hope it turns out well.
In the meantime, this is me from the fall of 2010. A group of friends went camping. We also did a kayak run down the Muskegon River.
In the meantime, this is me from the fall of 2010. A group of friends went camping. We also did a kayak run down the Muskegon River.
You will notice the dapper manner in which I was wearing my life preserver. I usually have it cinched at all times, but I loosened it up for a few minutes on a calmer stretch of the river.
Now check me out from a paddle on my birthday this year. (4/20/2013) It was cold at the start; like 28 deg F cold. It didn't get much warmer by the time we finished. So I was wearing a few extra layers.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
In Laos
The United States government left our military members in southeast Asia after the Vietnam war.
The validity of that statement has been frequently debated, proven, debunked, held near and dear, and held in contempt. It has spawned an entire industry.
The POW/MIA bracelet I wear bears the name of one Marine that very well could have been alive at the end of the war. Although the odds of finding him alive today seem remote at best.
The Laotian government claimed to have had hundreds of US military members held as POWs at the end of the Vietnam war. The US government declined to include Laos in the talks that concluded that conflict. What happened to those men?
At least one of them remains alive today.
John Hartley Robertson is in his early 70s. He has a wife and four children. He no longer speaks English.
And he is the subject of a documentary by Michael Jorgensen.
Or at least those that still want to come home. Perhaps after being coldly abandoned to the whims of their captors, they, like John Hartley Robertson, are home. They and their remaining families deserve to have a choice.
-----
UPDATE:
I found a supplemental story that includes additional research into the individual who claimed to be John Hartley Robertson. A claim that was disproven by DNA analysis.
That we left good men behind in Laos is still beyond question. Where they, or their remains, might be is still an open question.
The validity of that statement has been frequently debated, proven, debunked, held near and dear, and held in contempt. It has spawned an entire industry.
The POW/MIA bracelet I wear bears the name of one Marine that very well could have been alive at the end of the war. Although the odds of finding him alive today seem remote at best.
The Laotian government claimed to have had hundreds of US military members held as POWs at the end of the Vietnam war. The US government declined to include Laos in the talks that concluded that conflict. What happened to those men?
At least one of them remains alive today.
John Hartley Robertson is in his early 70s. He has a wife and four children. He no longer speaks English.
And he is the subject of a documentary by Michael Jorgensen.
After Toronto, the documentary moves to Washington for a highly anticipated screening May 12 at the seventh annual GI Film Festival. Jorgensen acknowledges his film has many unanswered questions: Why didn’t the military contact Robertson’s family since it’s now known reports of his survival were circulating as early as 1982? And if Robertson was known to be alive in Vietnam, “Why did the Americans leave him there for all those years?” Are there other John Hartley Robertsons in Vietnam? (Jorgensen says “a highly placed source” has told him there are and it’s not because the Vietnamese won’t let them go; “it’s like [the U.S. military] doesn’t want them to come home.”) But there’s hope the Washington showcase can build some momentum for answers.Why indeed does the US government not want these surviving POWs to return home?
Or at least those that still want to come home. Perhaps after being coldly abandoned to the whims of their captors, they, like John Hartley Robertson, are home. They and their remaining families deserve to have a choice.
-----
UPDATE:
I found a supplemental story that includes additional research into the individual who claimed to be John Hartley Robertson. A claim that was disproven by DNA analysis.
That we left good men behind in Laos is still beyond question. Where they, or their remains, might be is still an open question.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Surely He Is Innocent!
The NYTimes predictably presents a fabulist interpretation of the detention of a terrorist at Gitmo.
Not quite. Via the NYTimes' own website comes this information:
There are elements of the media that are not simply striving to be independent. They are clearly on the other side. Far too frequently, the NYTimes editorial page staff strives to be included in that category.
No one thinks he is guilty! Why surely his interpretation of the events that led him to Gitmo must be 100% accurate.I’ve been detained at Guantánamo for 11 years and three months. I have never been charged with any crime. I have never received a trial.I could have been home years ago — no one seriously thinks I am a threat — but still I am here. Years ago the military said I was a “guard” for Osama bin Laden, but this was nonsense, like something out of the American movies I used to watch. They don’t even seem to believe it anymore. But they don’t seem to care how long I sit here, either.When I was at home in Yemen, in 2000, a childhood friend told me that in Afghanistan I could do better than the $50 a month I earned in a factory, and support my family. I’d never really traveled, and knew nothing about Afghanistan, but I gave it a try.I was wrong to trust him. There was no work. I wanted to leave, but had no money to fly home. After the American invasion in 2001, I fled to Pakistan like everyone else. The Pakistanis arrested me when I asked to see someone from the Yemeni Embassy. I was then sent to Kandahar, and put on the first plane to Gitmo.
Not quite. Via the NYTimes' own website comes this information:
b. (S//NF) Recruitment and Travel: In the summer of 2000, Marwan Jawan (detainee's associate since the age of 8 or 10) 3 recruited detainee to travel to Afghanistan. Jawan prepared detainee for Afghanistan by providing him with training on the AK-47 assault rifle in al-Dahna, located approximately 30 minutes outside of Taiz. Based on these lessons, which occurred every Friday for four weeks preceding his travel to Afghanistan, detainee felt fully competent to go to the front-lines in Afghanistan. In late-2000, detainee traveled to Afghanistan via Dubai, United Arab Emirates (AE), and Karachi, Pakistan (PK). 4 The Pakistani travel visa in detainee's passport was obtained by Marwan. 5 c. (S//NF) Training and Activities: Detainee traveled to Afghanistan, and stayed at a house in the Wazir Akbar Khan District of Kabul. Detainee left his passport at the house in Kabul before going to the frontlines to fight the Northern Alliance. He fought at the front lines north of Kabul as a fighter in the Sadiq Combat Unit, which consisted of approximately 15 or 16 fighters. Detainee received some pay as a fighter which enabled him to purchase needed items such as food and clothing. Detainee denied knowing UBL. 6 After the US and Coalition bombing campaign initiated in Afghanistan, detainee believed it was too dangerous to be an Arab in Afghanistan; therefore he fled the front-lines in December 2001 and stopped in Kabul. Detainee continued on to Khowst, AF, where he stayed for two weeks while he attempted to flee from Afghanistan.The phenomenon of the NYTimes editorial page staff not reading their own newspaper [is not exactly new]. Clearly this individual is not what his "editorial" suggests he is.
...
Capture Information: a. (S//NF) Detainee was captured by Pakistani forces on 15 December while attempting to cross the Afghanistan-Pakistan border near Parachinar, PK, after fleeing to the Tora Bora Mountains of Afghanistan. Detainee was captured with a group of 31 other Arab al-Qaida fighters referred to by US intelligence reporting as the Dirty 30, most of whom are assessed to be UBL bodyguards and other members of UBL's security detail. 8 Pakistani authorities transferred the group to a prison facility in Peshawar, PK, where they were held for 15 days. 9 On 26 December 2001, Pakistani authorities transferred detainee from Peshawar to US custody at the Kandahar Detention Facility.
....
Detainee Threat: a. (S) Assessment: Detainee is assessed to be a HIGH risk, as he is likely to pose a threat to the US, its interests, and allies. b. (S//NF) Reasons for Continued Detention: Detainee is a member of al-Qaida. Detainee served as a security guard for UBL and is listed on al-Qaida affiliated documents. Detainee is assessed to have participated in hostilities against US and Coalition forces in Tora Bora and was a fighter in UBL's 55th Arab Brigade. Detainee was captured with a group referred to as the Dirty 30, which included known UBL bodyguards. Detainee received basic and advanced militant training at the al-Qaida al-Faruq Training Camp, and was an al-Qaida guesthouse staff member. Detainee was recruited by known al-Qaida recruiter Marwan Jawan, who also facilitated detainee's travel to Afghanistan. o (S//NF) Detainee is a member of al-Qaida and a former UBL security guard. Detainee's name and alias were found on al-Qaida affiliated documents.
There are elements of the media that are not simply striving to be independent. They are clearly on the other side. Far too frequently, the NYTimes editorial page staff strives to be included in that category.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Explosions
As of this moment (not when this entry is published) we have had a number of explosions in downtown Boston. People are dead. People are injured.
Speculation and prurient fascination are running amok.
Someone is supposedly being held in connection with this tragedy.
I have two immediate responses:
1) Wait for a while before assessing who is responsible for this attack. It probably will not be the subject of immediate speculation. We will probably hear an unfounded rumor or two before this is done.
2) Will we next be subjected to months of emotional appeals to ban bombs? Or will we correctly focus on the individuals (and perhaps the inspiration if one exists) behind this awful attack?
Speculation and prurient fascination are running amok.
Someone is supposedly being held in connection with this tragedy.
I have two immediate responses:
1) Wait for a while before assessing who is responsible for this attack. It probably will not be the subject of immediate speculation. We will probably hear an unfounded rumor or two before this is done.
2) Will we next be subjected to months of emotional appeals to ban bombs? Or will we correctly focus on the individuals (and perhaps the inspiration if one exists) behind this awful attack?
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Government Picking Losers
One local downtown eatery closed recently. The owner had not been paying all of the taxes that he should have paid. But there was more to the story.
Darryl Hoskins is an Army veteran that refined his culinary skills to the point that he was running one of the best restaurants in a nearby town. So he decided to take a shot at owning and running his own restaurant. Until this recent demise, I considered Darryl's Downtown to be one of the two best places to eat in the county.
Not that we are a center for culinary excellence, but that ain't exactly a bad rating given the competition.
Darryl prepared a selection of tasty dishes and presented them in a tasteful environment. I had a chance to meet him a couple times. He is a genuinely nice guy and a talented chef. I hope he comes back from this setback with further culinary success.
But there is more to the story.
As a part of setting up shop, he took out a loan to by the building. He didn't have enough money to cover the rest of the purchase, so the guy that owned the building gave him a small-ish loan to cover the gap. Then the city of Jackson gave him an US$80,000 loan for renovations.
They have decided to forgive that loan. The justification for that action is two fold. First, the money actually came from the US government as part of a HUD block grant. So the city didn't lose anything. HUD has indicated that they do not care if the money is ever recovered. If HUD ever recovered the money, they would simply recycle it back to Jackson as part of a future grant anyways. The second reason is that the city is third in line to be repaid and thus it is highly unlikely that they will ever see a dime. So why should they spend money on lawyers when they never expect to see any money back?
The loan from the city was contingent upon a couple of conditions. One was that it be used for renovations. Darryl was required to spend US$600,000 of his own money with the HUD funding covering the gap. We have no idea if that condition was met, but a lot of renovation work was done with someone's money. Also, he was supposed to create 16 low-to-medium income positions. At the peak, he had 14 such positions.
He never re-paid a single dime of the money.
So the city of Jackson ended up spending money that was collected from other area restaurants (and other taxpayers) to subsidize their competition. It is precisely this sort of government created market distortion that we really need to avoid. But it is the sort of distortion that government excels at creating precisely because government agents are not impacted by the success or failure of their decisions.
They will not have their pay cut as a result of their poor decision. They will not lose their jobs. They will go on blithely moving other people's money around.
Just one more area where we could cut spending and improve our economy by not burdening successful businesses with the responsibility of subsidizing their competitors.
Darryl Hoskins is an Army veteran that refined his culinary skills to the point that he was running one of the best restaurants in a nearby town. So he decided to take a shot at owning and running his own restaurant. Until this recent demise, I considered Darryl's Downtown to be one of the two best places to eat in the county.
Not that we are a center for culinary excellence, but that ain't exactly a bad rating given the competition.
Darryl prepared a selection of tasty dishes and presented them in a tasteful environment. I had a chance to meet him a couple times. He is a genuinely nice guy and a talented chef. I hope he comes back from this setback with further culinary success.
But there is more to the story.
As a part of setting up shop, he took out a loan to by the building. He didn't have enough money to cover the rest of the purchase, so the guy that owned the building gave him a small-ish loan to cover the gap. Then the city of Jackson gave him an US$80,000 loan for renovations.
They have decided to forgive that loan. The justification for that action is two fold. First, the money actually came from the US government as part of a HUD block grant. So the city didn't lose anything. HUD has indicated that they do not care if the money is ever recovered. If HUD ever recovered the money, they would simply recycle it back to Jackson as part of a future grant anyways. The second reason is that the city is third in line to be repaid and thus it is highly unlikely that they will ever see a dime. So why should they spend money on lawyers when they never expect to see any money back?
The loan from the city was contingent upon a couple of conditions. One was that it be used for renovations. Darryl was required to spend US$600,000 of his own money with the HUD funding covering the gap. We have no idea if that condition was met, but a lot of renovation work was done with someone's money. Also, he was supposed to create 16 low-to-medium income positions. At the peak, he had 14 such positions.
He never re-paid a single dime of the money.
So the city of Jackson ended up spending money that was collected from other area restaurants (and other taxpayers) to subsidize their competition. It is precisely this sort of government created market distortion that we really need to avoid. But it is the sort of distortion that government excels at creating precisely because government agents are not impacted by the success or failure of their decisions.
They will not have their pay cut as a result of their poor decision. They will not lose their jobs. They will go on blithely moving other people's money around.
Just one more area where we could cut spending and improve our economy by not burdening successful businesses with the responsibility of subsidizing their competitors.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The Throne
Comcast hosted their "Watchathon" last week where viewers could stream almost their entire catalog of TV shows for free. The general idea is that customers would get hooked on those shows and pay to continue their viewing experience.
Not a bad idea unless you run into a cheapskate like me. Their price per episode ($3 to $6 per) is way too high. Particularly when I can use my Netflix account to get the DVDs.
However, it was a great opportunity to start watching the HBO series "A Game Of Thrones". I made it through season 1 and had a couple of thoughts to offer.
One of the current trends in fiction is for authors to create some sort of mega-world where they can create a series of books. While this is not exactly a new phenomenon, it does seem to be a bit more in favor these days.
Unfortunately, many of those series do not produce the level of narrative and character development to justify a multi-part story. It appears from this consumer's perspective that many of these series exist only because the first one or two books were sufficiently promoted to create a sort of reader inertia that carries sales down the line.
Thankfully, George R.R. Martin's "The Game of Thrones" series does not fall into this category. I have read the first four books. I will read the fifth after I place an order for the physical paperback or the Kindle version price comes back to earth.
If find it particularly galling to pay more for an e-book than I would pay for a physical paperback.
In watching the HBO series, I was reminded of how much I have missed these characters. In particular, I am curious about Arya as well as about John Snow dealing with the coming winter. Well written characters and plots create an almost effortless invitation to return to the next installment of a series.
As I have previously observed, Hollywood has undergone a significant change over the last 40 years. This change was immediately apparent in the HBO series. Each episode included at least one or two images of full frontal nudity. Sometimes it was to depict sexual liaisons. At other times it was associated with some sort of punishment. Almost every time, I was struck by the fact that recent films shown in a real theater almost never contain that level of nudity.
Blood? Sure.
Gore? Of course.
Explosions, bullets, rockets? By the traincar load.
Deaths? They stack up the bodies like firewood!
Cursing? Hell yeah.
Nudity? By comparison, it is a sidelight at best.
Far more eloquent observers have pointed out the apparent hypocrisy of Hollywood showing people killing one another with reckless abandon while simultaneously being unwilling to show people loving one another.
Not a bad idea unless you run into a cheapskate like me. Their price per episode ($3 to $6 per) is way too high. Particularly when I can use my Netflix account to get the DVDs.
However, it was a great opportunity to start watching the HBO series "A Game Of Thrones". I made it through season 1 and had a couple of thoughts to offer.
One of the current trends in fiction is for authors to create some sort of mega-world where they can create a series of books. While this is not exactly a new phenomenon, it does seem to be a bit more in favor these days.
Unfortunately, many of those series do not produce the level of narrative and character development to justify a multi-part story. It appears from this consumer's perspective that many of these series exist only because the first one or two books were sufficiently promoted to create a sort of reader inertia that carries sales down the line.
Thankfully, George R.R. Martin's "The Game of Thrones" series does not fall into this category. I have read the first four books. I will read the fifth after I place an order for the physical paperback or the Kindle version price comes back to earth.
If find it particularly galling to pay more for an e-book than I would pay for a physical paperback.
In watching the HBO series, I was reminded of how much I have missed these characters. In particular, I am curious about Arya as well as about John Snow dealing with the coming winter. Well written characters and plots create an almost effortless invitation to return to the next installment of a series.
As I have previously observed, Hollywood has undergone a significant change over the last 40 years. This change was immediately apparent in the HBO series. Each episode included at least one or two images of full frontal nudity. Sometimes it was to depict sexual liaisons. At other times it was associated with some sort of punishment. Almost every time, I was struck by the fact that recent films shown in a real theater almost never contain that level of nudity.
Blood? Sure.
Gore? Of course.
Explosions, bullets, rockets? By the traincar load.
Deaths? They stack up the bodies like firewood!
Cursing? Hell yeah.
Nudity? By comparison, it is a sidelight at best.
Far more eloquent observers have pointed out the apparent hypocrisy of Hollywood showing people killing one another with reckless abandon while simultaneously being unwilling to show people loving one another.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Skirting The Comments
I found this the other day over on the XKCD forum and thought it to be most apropos. Not that I every followed such sage advice, but I do think the analogy is most apt.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Sublime
Being oriented more towards the science end the world, I am more familiar with the use of the term "sublimation" than with the term "sublime".
Sublimation is the process of a material transitioning from being a solid to being a gas. Gasses are considered to be a higher state relative to solids. Liquids fall in between.
The descriptive use of sublime later became associated with a peak condition or experience. The pretentious will routinely use the term "sublime" thus rendering it less than sublime. The redundant will use the term "most sublime".
As with many superlatives, we may be better served by reserving the descriptive use of "sublime" for those occasions that more accurately reflect its meaning. From a non-scientific perspective, such occasions might be those where an event transends from the base process or elements to become something truly unique.
Consider for a moment the lowly comic strip. In particular, consider strip number 1190 from Randall Munroe of XKCD fame.
The strip began in the wee hours of March 26th using the alternate (mouse over) text "Wait for it". The image changed ever so slightly every half hour or so. Over the course of the day (now 12 hours in as of this writing), the image has changed so that it appears as a sort of stop action film when viewed sequentially. I have no idea how the images will unfold or when they will cease. Randall's history suggests that this could be a massive undertaking that may last for days. It might also be a huge April Fool's Day joke for all we know.
Only time will tell.
The art of XKCD is almost uniformly simplistic. Yet it is through these simple images that Randall communicates thoughts ranging from base puns and geeky legerdermain to observations that come dazzlingly close to sublime.
As the successive images have unfolded thus far, a couple has been seen sitting on a beach. They give the impression of being together, talking, walking a short distance, and building a sand castle. One of the couple left the scene at one point and seemingly returned later on. The other person continued to work on the castle throughout the elapsed time.
The reaction to this strip suggests that it is transcending the initial impression of simple stick figures in motion into being a larger commentary on human perceptions. Within twelve brief hours, XKCD forum posts on this cartoon had jumped up to near 800. Those comments ranged from very technical discussions regarding the computer code required to pull off this digital feat to broader discussions about perceptions of time and the relevance of this piece of art.
One comment that I enjoyed a great deal was by Clavuluza:
Whether or not these images are intended to have Deep Philosophic Significance, they have inspired a great deal of introspection. Obviously, these images invite recursive analysis regarding the comments they inspire.
There are times in life when one should exist within the moment rather than being focused on deconstructing and analyzing the world around them. In such times, it is as important to see and experience as it is to process and comment. These are rare occasions. And in this case, it is sublime.
Enjoy.
Sublimation is the process of a material transitioning from being a solid to being a gas. Gasses are considered to be a higher state relative to solids. Liquids fall in between.
The descriptive use of sublime later became associated with a peak condition or experience. The pretentious will routinely use the term "sublime" thus rendering it less than sublime. The redundant will use the term "most sublime".
As with many superlatives, we may be better served by reserving the descriptive use of "sublime" for those occasions that more accurately reflect its meaning. From a non-scientific perspective, such occasions might be those where an event transends from the base process or elements to become something truly unique.
Consider for a moment the lowly comic strip. In particular, consider strip number 1190 from Randall Munroe of XKCD fame.
The strip began in the wee hours of March 26th using the alternate (mouse over) text "Wait for it". The image changed ever so slightly every half hour or so. Over the course of the day (now 12 hours in as of this writing), the image has changed so that it appears as a sort of stop action film when viewed sequentially. I have no idea how the images will unfold or when they will cease. Randall's history suggests that this could be a massive undertaking that may last for days. It might also be a huge April Fool's Day joke for all we know.
Only time will tell.
The art of XKCD is almost uniformly simplistic. Yet it is through these simple images that Randall communicates thoughts ranging from base puns and geeky legerdermain to observations that come dazzlingly close to sublime.
As the successive images have unfolded thus far, a couple has been seen sitting on a beach. They give the impression of being together, talking, walking a short distance, and building a sand castle. One of the couple left the scene at one point and seemingly returned later on. The other person continued to work on the castle throughout the elapsed time.
The reaction to this strip suggests that it is transcending the initial impression of simple stick figures in motion into being a larger commentary on human perceptions. Within twelve brief hours, XKCD forum posts on this cartoon had jumped up to near 800. Those comments ranged from very technical discussions regarding the computer code required to pull off this digital feat to broader discussions about perceptions of time and the relevance of this piece of art.
One comment that I enjoyed a great deal was by Clavuluza:
Is anyone else concerned at the fact that half-hours go by so quickly? I mean, I can measure my life in half-hours and they seem so ephimeral; reminds me of the Fight Club quote, "this is your life and it's ending one minute at a time". Also, this comic is making us wait to see developments, which is awfully close to real life interactions with stuff (which is kinda cool and very very meta). Furthermore, I am quite amazed at how everyone is trying to figure out some meaning behind it all when maybe, and quite possibly, it's just a pretty comic (much like real life, again), (though by being art it carries meaning just for existing).
Am I making any sense? Whatever, I'm really enjoying this experience.
(And to the people making unhappy predictions, if/when the comic ends and if/when it does it terribly, you can rightly say "I told you so" all you want; but for now, shut up! you're depressing everyone).
Whether or not these images are intended to have Deep Philosophic Significance, they have inspired a great deal of introspection. Obviously, these images invite recursive analysis regarding the comments they inspire.
There are times in life when one should exist within the moment rather than being focused on deconstructing and analyzing the world around them. In such times, it is as important to see and experience as it is to process and comment. These are rare occasions. And in this case, it is sublime.
Enjoy.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Can't Get No Respect
I got the following via email. Despite my professed religious skepticism, I thought it was pretty funny. The ending was a nice twist and represented some serious irony as well.
The above was as I received it. I did adjust the line spacing a bit. It had been forwarded several times.
Just in case you didn't catch the irony, check the capitalization for all of the options; Black, Jewish, Italian, Californian, Irish, woman.
Four of the five capitalized categories are properly capitalized. One is not. We do not refer to Caucasians. We refer to caucasions..or whites...or honkys...or crackers...or whatever. The same holds true....or should...for "blacks".
The only category not capitalized was "woman". So even in a joke where women are singled out as being God-like, or god-like as the case may be, then apparently can't get the same respect as the other categories with respect to capitalization.
There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:
1. He called everyone Brother.
2. He liked Gospel.
3. He couldn't get a fair trial.
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:
1. He went into His Fathers business.
2. He lived at home until he was 33.
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his mother was sure he was God.
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:
1. He talked with his hands.
2. He had wine with every meal.
3. He used olive oil.
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:
1. He never cut his hair.
2. He walked around barefoot all the time.
3. He started a new religion.
But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:
1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.
But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 proofs that Jesus was a woman:
1. He had to feed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was no food.
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it.
3. Even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was more work for Him to do.
Amen!!!
The above was as I received it. I did adjust the line spacing a bit. It had been forwarded several times.
Just in case you didn't catch the irony, check the capitalization for all of the options; Black, Jewish, Italian, Californian, Irish, woman.
Four of the five capitalized categories are properly capitalized. One is not. We do not refer to Caucasians. We refer to caucasions..or whites...or honkys...or crackers...or whatever. The same holds true....or should...for "blacks".
The only category not capitalized was "woman". So even in a joke where women are singled out as being God-like, or god-like as the case may be, then apparently can't get the same respect as the other categories with respect to capitalization.
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