Me and the boys hangin' at Moe's. (h/t to Waveflux via Shakespeare's Sister) Well, sorta me. You'd think they'd have glasses for the avatars since Smithers wears them, but nooo!
29 June 2007
Phydeaux in Simpson Land!
Me and the boys hangin' at Moe's. (h/t to Waveflux via Shakespeare's Sister) Well, sorta me. You'd think they'd have glasses for the avatars since Smithers wears them, but nooo!
For Those Suffering in the Lone Star State
Hey Kona, glad you're posting again. I was worried 'bout you guys.
28 June 2007
But What Did They Say?
In a 900+ word AP write up about tonight's Democratic debate on PBS - which made it a point to allow all candidates equal time to speak - this is all the mention two of the eight "contestants" received:
Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel also debated.
Let's hear it for fair coverage!
Can you guess which two candidates were mentioned the most?
Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel also debated.
Let's hear it for fair coverage!
Can you guess which two candidates were mentioned the most?
27 June 2007
Purdy Pitcher
One of the most beautiful sights I've seen in a while! QCoFM RULZ!
The part you can't read is a link to Shakespeare's Sister, in case you weren't sure.
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In Which the Herd Follows Blithely
In a recent post, which contained a reprint of an opinion piece I wrote several years ago, I talked about the fact that our prisons are filled to overflowing with non-violent drug offenders - to such an extent that violent offenders (especially rapists) are being released early to make room for the newest inmates.
Reader Shaun commented in part:
To which I said:
And so the thoughts began churning in my (over-crowded) mind. The more I thought about it, the more the dichotomy troubled me. Why are there adverts that decry drug use? Surely the fact that it's illegal is enough to dissuade people from travelling down that path. No, wait. Robbery, murder, and rape are all illegal - and yet those things happen all the time. And so, too, does drug use happen on a constant basis. So why spend taxpayers' money to attempt to dissuade people from one and not the other?
It seems to me that there are two paths to take. Either produce advertisements with anti -murder, -robbery, and -rape themes to air alongside the anti-drug ads, or stop airing the anti-drug ads. At this point, Shaun graced me with another visit and said, "The depths that our government is willing to dive down to are quite illogical to say the least. If the commercials worked,..."
Oh, that's right, the anti-drug ads have been proven to not only not dissuade people from using drugs, but also to desensitize them to the perils of drug use.
Shaun then continued,
Well. Leaving aside the fact that Shaun either is, in fact, a patently intelligent person, or, at the very least, knows his way around a thesaurus (and I do believe it is the former, not the latter), we can see that he is also very correct. He also exhibits Libertarian beliefs, with which (in this instance) I have no argument. The mere fact that the gummint doesn't use ad campaigns to "fight" other crimes just goes to show, in my opinion, that they know the ads don't work.
Or is the government being - hold on tight, now - hypocritical? I know, you need to go lay down on the fainting couch for a moment. Go ahead, I’ll wait....
You’re back? Okay, where was I? Oh, yes, the rank hypocrisy of the Government of the US of A. It truly knows no bounds, does it? Lobbyists in positions of authority in the very Departments they lobbied in, draft dodgers in charge of war planning, brainless do nothings in charge of Justice - oh, that last isn’t hypocrisy, just stupidity.
What the War on Drugs(tm) and its useless ad campaign boils down to is (gasp) political theater. “Let’s show the sheeple - I mean, people - that we’re Doing Something About Drugs(c)!”
Never mind that those incarcerated are disproportionately men of color.
Never mind that sentencing mandates are skewed to more adversely effect that same demographic.
Never mind that nonagenarians are being killed in drug raids - at the wrong address.
Never mind that people go along with it.
Never mind that murderers, rapists, etc. are being released to make more room for “druggies”.
Just. Never. Mind.
Reader Shaun commented in part:
Where are all the commercials trying to dissuade people from raping other people? I have watched more television than I'm sure is appropriate or healthy and I have never seen one commercial against the ghastly crime of rape. I see plenty of commercials where people are warned of the evils of MJ.
To which I said:
I'd never thought about the fact that while there are anti-drug ads, there aren't anti-rape or anti-robbery or -murder ads.... I may have to delve into that a bit more.
And so the thoughts began churning in my (over-crowded) mind. The more I thought about it, the more the dichotomy troubled me. Why are there adverts that decry drug use? Surely the fact that it's illegal is enough to dissuade people from travelling down that path. No, wait. Robbery, murder, and rape are all illegal - and yet those things happen all the time. And so, too, does drug use happen on a constant basis. So why spend taxpayers' money to attempt to dissuade people from one and not the other?
It seems to me that there are two paths to take. Either produce advertisements with anti -murder, -robbery, and -rape themes to air alongside the anti-drug ads, or stop airing the anti-drug ads. At this point, Shaun graced me with another visit and said, "The depths that our government is willing to dive down to are quite illogical to say the least. If the commercials worked,..."
Oh, that's right, the anti-drug ads have been proven to not only not dissuade people from using drugs, but also to desensitize them to the perils of drug use.
Shaun then continued,
it seems to me other federal agencies would be desirous to actually try to dissuade people from committing crimes that actually have a victim. By not producing commercials of that nature they refute the supposed efficacy of the ads they themselves unctuously hail as being effective. I am not an intellectually ponderous man, but IF a government is necessary I wish that the constituents of said government would at the very least match my pedestrian level of intelligence.
Well. Leaving aside the fact that Shaun either is, in fact, a patently intelligent person, or, at the very least, knows his way around a thesaurus (and I do believe it is the former, not the latter), we can see that he is also very correct. He also exhibits Libertarian beliefs, with which (in this instance) I have no argument. The mere fact that the gummint doesn't use ad campaigns to "fight" other crimes just goes to show, in my opinion, that they know the ads don't work.
Or is the government being - hold on tight, now - hypocritical? I know, you need to go lay down on the fainting couch for a moment. Go ahead, I’ll wait....
You’re back? Okay, where was I? Oh, yes, the rank hypocrisy of the Government of the US of A. It truly knows no bounds, does it? Lobbyists in positions of authority in the very Departments they lobbied in, draft dodgers in charge of war planning, brainless do nothings in charge of Justice - oh, that last isn’t hypocrisy, just stupidity.
What the War on Drugs(tm) and its useless ad campaign boils down to is (gasp) political theater. “Let’s show the sheeple - I mean, people - that we’re Doing Something About Drugs(c)!”
Never mind that those incarcerated are disproportionately men of color.
Never mind that sentencing mandates are skewed to more adversely effect that same demographic.
Never mind that nonagenarians are being killed in drug raids - at the wrong address.
Never mind that people go along with it.
Never mind that murderers, rapists, etc. are being released to make more room for “druggies”.
Just. Never. Mind.
26 June 2007
Time to Exercise Your "Rats"
So, it's time for the first Phydeaux Poll (tm)!
Just one question this time: If you had to step into that booth right now and punch that card, pull that lever, or (QCoFM forbid) touch that screen, for whom would you cast your vote? (For the purposes of this exercise we will assume that it is a primary)
Okay, I lied. Two questions: Why did you pick that person?
Be sure to pick up your sticker on the way out!
Just one question this time: If you had to step into that booth right now and punch that card, pull that lever, or (QCoFM forbid) touch that screen, for whom would you cast your vote? (For the purposes of this exercise we will assume that it is a primary)
Okay, I lied. Two questions: Why did you pick that person?
Be sure to pick up your sticker on the way out!
This Blog Needs More Pics!
This is what the Secret Lair (aka '73 Winnebago) looks like. Sorta. It actually has four walls and a roof, not to mention it's not smaller than the '70s era model lady that is unfortunately cropped in the picture.
But, the layout is indeed the same. Feast your eyes and imagine living in the space and loving it!!!
Update: Since I'm getting a lot of new traffic (thanks, C&L) I wanted to reference this post that explains the whole Secret Lair thing. Kinda. As much as anything in my life can be explained, anyway.
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Please Do Feed the Animals
I've been meaning to put this up for a few days, but... well, you know how it goes.
Anyway, The Animal Rescue Site has a beautiful purple button that everyone needs to go click on. Every click helps provide food for animals in shelters and sanctuaries around the country. Swing by there and help out the cute and fuzzies.
Bookmark the page and go there every day.
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Anyway, The Animal Rescue Site has a beautiful purple button that everyone needs to go click on. Every click helps provide food for animals in shelters and sanctuaries around the country. Swing by there and help out the cute and fuzzies.
Bookmark the page and go there every day.
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25 June 2007
I Guess I'm It!
Brian, over at Incertus, tagged me with this, and, in all humility, I cannot say no. Also, Teh Portly Dyke issued an open invite to play, so I'm burning two stones at both ends - or something like that.
1. All right, here are the rules.
2. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
3. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
4. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
5. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
So, without further ado, here are Eight Random Factabits about Phydeaux!
1) I find it very difficult to come up with lists about me.
2) By most people's standards, I probably live a very boring life.
3) I'm happy with my life (almost all of the time).
4) I really do live in a 24' 1973 Winnebago.
5) I make Oscar Madison look neat - most of the time.
6) There is no rule # six.
7) Seriously, if Felix Unger showed up, he'd keel over dead.
8) I make references to old TV shows (and plays) all the time.
Well, now, that wasn't so hard, was it! As far as tagging others, I've been seeing this float around for a while... so anyone who stops by and hasn't been tagged (or wants a do-over), have at it!
1. All right, here are the rules.
2. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
3. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
4. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
5. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
So, without further ado, here are Eight Random Factabits about Phydeaux!
1) I find it very difficult to come up with lists about me.
2) By most people's standards, I probably live a very boring life.
3) I'm happy with my life (almost all of the time).
4) I really do live in a 24' 1973 Winnebago.
5) I make Oscar Madison look neat - most of the time.
6) There is no rule # six.
7) Seriously, if Felix Unger showed up, he'd keel over dead.
8) I make references to old TV shows (and plays) all the time.
Well, now, that wasn't so hard, was it! As far as tagging others, I've been seeing this float around for a while... so anyone who stops by and hasn't been tagged (or wants a do-over), have at it!
Next Time, Not so Heavy with the Queso Before Bedtime
So, now that Deadeye Darth Cheney has declared himself an autonomous region, and has cast off the coils of law that have previously been holding him back from the Total Domination of the Universe(TM), I wonder what he's going to do next? Go to Disney World... and bite the heads off of all the cute and fuzzy Characters?
And I also wonder what his underling/superior, aka Dubya, is thinking. He must surely be quaking in his Tony Llamas - oh, I forgot, he wears Crocs with black socks now. Footwear (and non-fashion sense) aside, though, the Current Occupant must be frightened out of what little mind he has.
I mean, the only check and/or balance that Chimpy ever had over the Dick was his titular supremacy, and now that the president of vice is no longer in the Executive Branch, how can The Shrub hope to protect Barney, much less Pickles, as the Cheney MarkIV prowls the halls of the White House searching for tasty morsels with which to quell the hunger that his nation-destroying must certainly be engendering?
Let's face it, folks, once 43’s desiccated corpse falls to the once pristine carpet of the Oval Office, the ravenous beast that was once a Congressman from Wyoming will look through the thick, green tinted windows and see a whole nation of tasty, plump entrees with which to slake his insatiable hunger.
Furniture will begin to swirl around his Brobdingnagian body, as his mass increases and acquires a measurable gravity of its own. With a half smirk and guttural Burgess Meredith laugh, the former vice president will snatch the Presidential desk from its orbit around his head and hurl it through the windows. Using his Dark Force power, he’ll levitate himself out onto the South Lawn as the outside Secret Service detail stare in shock and awe at the twisted and bloated being that has finally cast off its human appearance. One by one, they will be devoured by the creature as it slowly moves across the Lawn and toward the fence, the dried up shells of their bodies swirling in macabre orbit around the now Cthulu-like abomination.
Marines stationed at the Naval Observatory will, by this time, be arriving - after frantic calls from the guards at the gates of the Presidential Compound - and will try valiantly to subdue the massive, alien looking behemoth. They go to their deaths not knowing that they are mere morsels of sustenance for what is now their commander in chief. Trees are ripped out of the ground, and even chunks of the White House itself begin to be sucked into the gargantuan gravity of the newly born Death Star as the mass of what was the holder of an office that was once compared to a “bucket of warm spit” begins to dwarf the buildings that line Pennsylvania Avenue.
In desperation, air strikes will be called in, only to be thwarted by the fully functional missile defense satellites drawn down from Earth orbit by the insatiable beast. The very ground of what was once a fetid malarial swamp is absorbed into the growing fiend, as its jaws open and an inhuman, ear shattering howl echoes up and down the East Coast.
(And we expect the Dems in Congress to stop him?)
And I also wonder what his underling/superior, aka Dubya, is thinking. He must surely be quaking in his Tony Llamas - oh, I forgot, he wears Crocs with black socks now. Footwear (and non-fashion sense) aside, though, the Current Occupant must be frightened out of what little mind he has.
I mean, the only check and/or balance that Chimpy ever had over the Dick was his titular supremacy, and now that the president of vice is no longer in the Executive Branch, how can The Shrub hope to protect Barney, much less Pickles, as the Cheney MarkIV prowls the halls of the White House searching for tasty morsels with which to quell the hunger that his nation-destroying must certainly be engendering?
Let's face it, folks, once 43’s desiccated corpse falls to the once pristine carpet of the Oval Office, the ravenous beast that was once a Congressman from Wyoming will look through the thick, green tinted windows and see a whole nation of tasty, plump entrees with which to slake his insatiable hunger.
Furniture will begin to swirl around his Brobdingnagian body, as his mass increases and acquires a measurable gravity of its own. With a half smirk and guttural Burgess Meredith laugh, the former vice president will snatch the Presidential desk from its orbit around his head and hurl it through the windows. Using his Dark Force power, he’ll levitate himself out onto the South Lawn as the outside Secret Service detail stare in shock and awe at the twisted and bloated being that has finally cast off its human appearance. One by one, they will be devoured by the creature as it slowly moves across the Lawn and toward the fence, the dried up shells of their bodies swirling in macabre orbit around the now Cthulu-like abomination.
Marines stationed at the Naval Observatory will, by this time, be arriving - after frantic calls from the guards at the gates of the Presidential Compound - and will try valiantly to subdue the massive, alien looking behemoth. They go to their deaths not knowing that they are mere morsels of sustenance for what is now their commander in chief. Trees are ripped out of the ground, and even chunks of the White House itself begin to be sucked into the gargantuan gravity of the newly born Death Star as the mass of what was the holder of an office that was once compared to a “bucket of warm spit” begins to dwarf the buildings that line Pennsylvania Avenue.
In desperation, air strikes will be called in, only to be thwarted by the fully functional missile defense satellites drawn down from Earth orbit by the insatiable beast. The very ground of what was once a fetid malarial swamp is absorbed into the growing fiend, as its jaws open and an inhuman, ear shattering howl echoes up and down the East Coast.
(And we expect the Dems in Congress to stop him?)
23 June 2007
Ennui in the RV, update
I should have posted this days ago, but what with new branches of gummint springing up and good folk being e-ttacked and all, it slipped my mind that regular readers might be interested in an update.
My car is (finally) back on the road, and I have even managed to work a couple of days and make some money. Yay.
As I said, it will always "be all right. How will it? I don't know. It's a mystery."
(50 irredeemable points to the first to identify that quote)
My car is (finally) back on the road, and I have even managed to work a couple of days and make some money. Yay.
As I said, it will always "be all right. How will it? I don't know. It's a mystery."
(50 irredeemable points to the first to identify that quote)
I am Shakesvllle!
"In all my years I've never seen, heard, nor smelled an issue that was so dangerous it couldn't be talked about. Hell yes, I'm for debating anything!" - 'Stephen Hopkins', 1776 (the movie)
My most favoritest place in the whole interwebs tubes, Shakesville, has been the victim of a "Denial Of Service" (DOS) attack and has been offline for [as of this writing] a day and a half. Apparently some people just don't get the whole freedom of speech thing.
What I don't get is the point of the attack. I mean, I get that it originates in the small brained and small minded, but what, exactly, do these cretins hope to accomplish? It's not like Shakesville is the only place on teh internets that speaks to issues such as feminism. A Google search for "feminism" returns ~15,300,000 hits!
They might as well try to move a beach one grain of sand at a time!
And Shakesville is so much more than 'just' a feminist site. It is a place where dialog takes place. Those of us who frequent the place go there not merely to applaud the words that are posted (although we do) but to internalize the ideas and to learn to be better people. How does the search for knowledge - to better oneself - harm any one?
What I really don't get (and I have tried and tried) is how anyone can feel threatened by the thought of people - all people - being treated equally. I understand - in the clinical sense - that equal treatment would eviscerate the (false) power that these misogynists feel they have. I suppose (and this is the part that truly makes no sense to me) that without the power that patriarchy grants them, these people would feel as if they were worthless. As though their only value is as an oppressor.
And the fact that it is likely that these attackers are probably self-proclaimed 'Christians', just makes me wonder even more. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jesus say, "And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Mark 12:31, KJV)? 'Neighbour' doesn't just mean the people who live in the houses on either side of yours, people, it means everybody! And by the way, for all you 'Christians' out there who disavow everything that the Christ espoused in your desire to spread hatred... oh, never mind, you're not listening anyway. Obviously. How else could you have so perverted the words of the "Prince of Peace" into a litany of hatred and exclusion?
I honestly feel sorry for you. You have been so twisted by the perversion of the message that your 'elders' have taught you, that, when the day comes that you stand before the Ultimate Adjudicator, you will honestly not understand why you are to be denied access to the party.
Perhaps, though, I am falsely attributing the 'orientation' of the attackers. Perhaps the perpetrators are... are... ummm... you know, I can't think of another explanation for such behavior. We all live in an unfortunately patriarchal world, but those of us who aren't indoctrinated into feelings of hatred when our "beliefs" are threatened - well, we just don't get it. How can you behave so illogically?
Hmm, I think I just answered my own question.
I have digressed (I think). So let me try to get the train back on the track by saying to those who think they can silence the speech of the feminists, and teh gays, and all the open minded and inclusive people of the world... dream on! (Why is it, by the way, that we who don't claim to follow (or in many cases, even believe in the existence of) Jesus behave more in accordance with his teachings than many (most?) of those who do?)
Or better yet, just close the gates of your compound, unplug your computers and TV's, and pray to your twisted and false deity until he comes for you.
Oh, and make sure you have lots of canned goods at hand, cause you're going to be waiting for a looong time.
22 June 2007
What's For Breakfast... Phydeaux?
Via Cap'n Dyke:
I still say I'll end up as cat food....
Told ya!
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Phydeaux Speaks -- [noun]: A brand of soylent green breakfast cereal 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com |
I still say I'll end up as cat food....
 Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com |
Told ya!
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21 June 2007
A Minor Milestone
I know this is nothing to a lot of you out there, but I'm pleased! My sincere thanks to all of you for visiting (and please feel free to leave a comment whenever you do) my humble web abode!
Molto Grazi! ¡Muchas gracias! Merci très beaucoup! Danke sehr viel! Большое спасибо!
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19 June 2007
I R So... (wait, scratch that)... I NC-17 So Proud!
I am posting this due to peer pressure!
This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:
* rape (4x)
* shit (3x)
* dead (2x)
* hell (1x)
Fuck me running! I so wanted an "X"!
UPDATE: Sweet synchronous serendipity! This is post 69 at my humble blog. Heh
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This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:
* rape (4x)
* shit (3x)
* dead (2x)
* hell (1x)
Fuck me running! I so wanted an "X"!
UPDATE: Sweet synchronous serendipity! This is post 69 at my humble blog. Heh
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17 June 2007
13 June 2007
Ennui in The Secret Lair (aka '73 Winnebago)
Greetings, Faithful Readers (both of you)!
I've been slack on posting for... well, ever since I started this thing - but especially in the past few days. It's not because there's nothing to bitch about. Goodness knows, it's not that. We have a useless Congress, an embarrassment of an Executive Branch, the drumbeat for war against Iran seems to be swelling, Americans of all political stripe don't believe in evolution, etc., etc., etc..
All topics worthy of raging against and/or about - but, as you can see from the links above, well covered (or at least covered) across the internets and beyond.
But none of that is the cause of the title of this post. No, my friends - I call you "my friends" - what's got me in this state of rampant lethargy is the fact that my bloody car is all wonky.
Those of you who have read my "introductory" posts have probably figured out by now that I am an anti-capitalist. It is my belief that money is a bad, bad thing. (It's either the worst, or the second worst, thing to ever happen to the planet - I can't decide) I am, however, enough of a realist to know that possessing a certain amount of "filthy lucre" is necessary for survival in today's world. It's a catch-22, you see. In order to be in a position to not have to have money, one must have money.
Specifically, if I had the money to purchase a large tract of land, then I could establish a self-sustaining farm. I could then stop having to concern myself with the accretion of money. I could plant and work my (heirloom only) garden, raise chickens (for the eggs) and some beef (for the dairy and the meat - yeah, I'm an omnivore), and exercise my writing and woodworking skills to my heart's content. (Of course, I would exist at the mercy of nature, but I'm fine with that.)
Problem is, I just can't make myself commit to earning the money. I've tried. In the past I've written out a five year plan, I've made attempts to "succeed in business", I've done lots of things to try to gain the necessary nest egg. I don't seem to be able to sustain these attempts. Holding a "real" job is, as a dear friend has put it, "soul sucking". The only fields of employment I've ever been happy in are music and theatre. I have only a modicum of musical talent, so there's no earning a living there. And, as a committed country dweller, there's absolutely no chance of making money in the field of theatre.
So, you ask, what does all this have to do with a wonky car? Well, living out in the boonies means that to work, I must have a car. And right now, the car needs work for which I do not have the money to pay. In point of fact, I have only enough money to purchase food for another week or two and then I shall be out.
I don't mean that my checking account will be low (I don't even have a checking account). I don't mean that my credit cards will be maxed - don't have any of those either. I mean I will have nothing but a jar full of pennies.
This situation does not depress me, as you might imagine it would. As I have said, I don't like money. It simply makes me not... care. When the situation resolves (which it always has in the past), I'll continue with my life. Make a few bucks here and there, buy food for myself and my kitties, whatever.
And if it shouldn't... whatever. Now, I'm gonna go enjoy me some nature!
NOTE: This post is not a cry for help. There is no crying involved. (There's no crying in baseball, either - but that's neither here nor there) Not in the writing - and not, I repeat not!, in the reading. It's just a rambling account of the musings of an old dog. :)
I've been slack on posting for... well, ever since I started this thing - but especially in the past few days. It's not because there's nothing to bitch about. Goodness knows, it's not that. We have a useless Congress, an embarrassment of an Executive Branch, the drumbeat for war against Iran seems to be swelling, Americans of all political stripe don't believe in evolution, etc., etc., etc..
All topics worthy of raging against and/or about - but, as you can see from the links above, well covered (or at least covered) across the internets and beyond.
But none of that is the cause of the title of this post. No, my friends - I call you "my friends" - what's got me in this state of rampant lethargy is the fact that my bloody car is all wonky.
Those of you who have read my "introductory" posts have probably figured out by now that I am an anti-capitalist. It is my belief that money is a bad, bad thing. (It's either the worst, or the second worst, thing to ever happen to the planet - I can't decide) I am, however, enough of a realist to know that possessing a certain amount of "filthy lucre" is necessary for survival in today's world. It's a catch-22, you see. In order to be in a position to not have to have money, one must have money.
Specifically, if I had the money to purchase a large tract of land, then I could establish a self-sustaining farm. I could then stop having to concern myself with the accretion of money. I could plant and work my (heirloom only) garden, raise chickens (for the eggs) and some beef (for the dairy and the meat - yeah, I'm an omnivore), and exercise my writing and woodworking skills to my heart's content. (Of course, I would exist at the mercy of nature, but I'm fine with that.)
Problem is, I just can't make myself commit to earning the money. I've tried. In the past I've written out a five year plan, I've made attempts to "succeed in business", I've done lots of things to try to gain the necessary nest egg. I don't seem to be able to sustain these attempts. Holding a "real" job is, as a dear friend has put it, "soul sucking". The only fields of employment I've ever been happy in are music and theatre. I have only a modicum of musical talent, so there's no earning a living there. And, as a committed country dweller, there's absolutely no chance of making money in the field of theatre.
So, you ask, what does all this have to do with a wonky car? Well, living out in the boonies means that to work, I must have a car. And right now, the car needs work for which I do not have the money to pay. In point of fact, I have only enough money to purchase food for another week or two and then I shall be out.
I don't mean that my checking account will be low (I don't even have a checking account). I don't mean that my credit cards will be maxed - don't have any of those either. I mean I will have nothing but a jar full of pennies.
This situation does not depress me, as you might imagine it would. As I have said, I don't like money. It simply makes me not... care. When the situation resolves (which it always has in the past), I'll continue with my life. Make a few bucks here and there, buy food for myself and my kitties, whatever.
And if it shouldn't... whatever. Now, I'm gonna go enjoy me some nature!
NOTE: This post is not a cry for help. There is no crying involved. (There's no crying in baseball, either - but that's neither here nor there) Not in the writing - and not, I repeat not!, in the reading. It's just a rambling account of the musings of an old dog. :)
09 June 2007
On Rape (and Prison Reform)
I am posting the following (which is a reprint of an opinion piece I wrote for the Rapid River Literary Magazine several years ago) not as another in my series "Hey, to introduce myself...", but as a response (in part) to this post at Shakesville. I realize that a good deal of it is not relevant to that discussion, but since it does express my opinion on the various subjects I didn't want to edit it.
(To give you a bit of background on the above, not only had a friend been raped only days before I wrote it, but the attacker of another had just been paroled - after serving less than ten percent of his sentence. Hence my veering into a screed about the state of prisons. I also admit that my words did nothing to address the underlying problem. That is a failing on my part.)
Let me expand on the part of the above that is pertinent to this discussion. In the seven years since I wrote that editorial, many more of my friends have experienced rape - and it doesn't appear that any gains have been made towards stopping this offense against women (and indeed, all of humanity). In fact, it seems at times like the problem is getting worse. I don't know whether it is because civilization is becoming more polarized and violent or that we (or at least, I) are simply more aware of what has always been.
I have to believe, however, that strides (however small and insignificant they may seem) are being made to eradicate the underlying problems that promote acts such as rape - because to believe otherwise would be to believe that there is no hope for the future of our race. And if that is true, then all of us might just as well unplug our computers, lie down and drift off into that endless sleep that inevitably awaits.
I have tried, and shall continue to try, to have a positive effect by my actions and words. I suggest that we all do the same.
June 2000
I just received word that (yet another) friend of mine has been raped. Quite unfortunately, this is not an uncommon experience. I just have one question. What the fuck is wrong with this civilization?!?!?! Why have we allowed the situation to become so intricately screwed up? Why has the quest to be the one with the most money been allowed to dominate this supposedly enlightened world we live in?
I know exactly what's going to happen with regards to the attack on my friend. Essentially the same thing that has happened in the cases of the other women that I know that have been raped. In the extremely small likelihood that anyone is ever brought to trial, even a conviction will probably not cause the rapist to spend any appreciable time behind bars. It can't, you see, because this violent, slime-encrusted, less worthy of respect than Hitler... entity... will be paroled to make more room in prison for non-violent drug offenders.
I want all of you pro-Drug War people reading this to listen closely. An increasingly larger majority of prison inmates are serving time for non-violent offenses. Due to the high cost of housing prisoners, not to mention the even higher cost of building new prisons to hold these perpetrators of crimes that have no victims, more and more violent offenders are being paroled.
Here's a shock; these violent offenders know this. What kind of detriment is this for them? They get to spend a couple of years on the public dole, and then they're released to attack someone else.
So we have two classes of people that we're talking about here. One group shoots, stabs, beats, rapes, robs, and generally makes their victim feel either unworthy of life or dead. The other group smokes up and either listens to Grateful Dead music, watches old Monty Python or similar humorous programs, or goes for a hike in the woods. And our society, our great experiment in democracy, our nation that was founded on individual rights and personal freedoms - has deemed it appropriate to release group one and hold group two - to protect society. Yeah right.
I don't really want to sound totally cynical, and I'm not a big believer in conspiracy theories, but let me just throw this out. How many millions of dollars a year in profits do pharmaceutical companies reap from prescriptions written by MD's and psychologists to treat the victims of violent crimes? How many contributions to society are delayed or lost forever by these same victims? Maybe you'll understand this one - How much are job productivity, profits, and health care costs affected by the employers of these victims? How much longer are we going to allow the people, as in "We the people", to be propagandized, prodded and frightened into not asserting their constitutionally guaranteed rights?
Now, I don't want you to think that I believe there should be no regulations regarding drugs. I think that cocaine and heroin should be more difficult to procure than winning lottery tickets, and I personally believe that whoever invented crack should be extradited to Saudi Arabia and punished according to the harshest possible interpretation of Sharia law. And I think that anyone who "turns on" children, other than their parents, should be treated just as harshly. But don't you see that placing a stigma on something just makes it more attractive to children and adolescents? Do you not remember being a teenager and rebelling (or at least wanting to) just because you could? Not to mention the fact that it would also piss off your parents.
Marijuana is called weed because it is one. Weeds grow anywhere and are impossible to eradicate. The effect of smoking it is very calming, so naturally smokers tend to be more pacifist than average. People with violent tendencies don't like the effect of pot on their systems, it takes away their rage. Maybe we should prescribe it for the violent offenders. They would be much less likely to commit the crimes in the first place, and if we arrested them for possession, at least we could keep them off the streets longer, thereby further reducing the risk to society at large.
One last thing, as you think about this article, think how you would feel if the next victim of my friend's attacker is your friend or sister or wife or mother.
I welcome any reasoned responses to, whether what I wrote agrees with you or pisses you off.
(To give you a bit of background on the above, not only had a friend been raped only days before I wrote it, but the attacker of another had just been paroled - after serving less than ten percent of his sentence. Hence my veering into a screed about the state of prisons. I also admit that my words did nothing to address the underlying problem. That is a failing on my part.)
Let me expand on the part of the above that is pertinent to this discussion. In the seven years since I wrote that editorial, many more of my friends have experienced rape - and it doesn't appear that any gains have been made towards stopping this offense against women (and indeed, all of humanity). In fact, it seems at times like the problem is getting worse. I don't know whether it is because civilization is becoming more polarized and violent or that we (or at least, I) are simply more aware of what has always been.
I have to believe, however, that strides (however small and insignificant they may seem) are being made to eradicate the underlying problems that promote acts such as rape - because to believe otherwise would be to believe that there is no hope for the future of our race. And if that is true, then all of us might just as well unplug our computers, lie down and drift off into that endless sleep that inevitably awaits.
I have tried, and shall continue to try, to have a positive effect by my actions and words. I suggest that we all do the same.
A Political Test
Okay, so this test is a bit more... serious?... relevant?... important? Anyway, it's one that I think everyone should take. As with all online 'tests' (not to mention polls), one has to keep in mind the wording of the questions and the answer options. So, without further ado, here are
My Results:
Hmmm. I wonder if my ballot will have "Theoretical Ideal Candidate" as one of the options? Face it, friends, a "Theoretical" President would be an improvement over the Current Occupant, doncha agree?
And, just so you'll know... I have yet to make a decision as to whom I shall vote for next year, but I will say that the person I'm leaning towards is in the top eleven on that list.
(h/t to MeInAction)
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My Results:
1. Theoretical Ideal Candidate (100%)
2. Barack Obama (83%)
3. Dennis Kucinich (82%)
4. Joseph Biden (74%)
5. Christopher Dodd (73%)
6. Hillary Clinton (73%)
7. Wesley Clark (72%)
8. John Edwards (70%)
9. Al Gore (68%)
10. Bill Richardson (61%)
11. Mike Gravel (61%)
12. Elaine Brown (48%)
13. Ron Paul (43%)
14. Kent McManigal (36%)
15. Rudolph Giuliani (30%)
16. Mike Huckabee (27%)
17. John McCain (23%)
18. Tommy Thompson (21%)
19. Mitt Romney (20%)
20. Chuck Hagel (18%)
21. Newt Gingrich (14%)
22. Sam Brownback (14%)
23. Tom Tancredo (12%)
24. Fred Thompson (11%)
25. Duncan Hunter (10%)
26. Jim Gilmore (8%)
Hmmm. I wonder if my ballot will have "Theoretical Ideal Candidate" as one of the options? Face it, friends, a "Theoretical" President would be an improvement over the Current Occupant, doncha agree?
And, just so you'll know... I have yet to make a decision as to whom I shall vote for next year, but I will say that the person I'm leaning towards is in the top eleven on that list.
(h/t to MeInAction)
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08 June 2007
07 June 2007
Nikola Tesla Redux
Over 100 years later, scientists at MIT have caught up with Nicola Tesla and developed a system of wireless electricity. I poke fun, but this is tres cool!
Money quote:
Funny quote:
This has enormous potential. I foresee coils built into the ceilings of homes and offices, powered by solar panels and other renewable sources - or even receiver coils that capture wireless electricity transmitted from distant generation centers, that in turn power lights and computers and all manner of things!
No more power lines cluttering up the scenery!!!!
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Money quote:
Realizing their recent theoretical prediction, they were able to light a 60W light bulb from a power source seven feet (more than two meters) away; there was no physical connection between the source and the appliance. The MIT team refers to its concept as "WiTricity" (as in wireless electricity). The work will be reported in the June 7 issue of Science Express, the advance online publication of the journal Science..
Funny quote:
"It was probably the sixth time that month that I was awakened by my cell phone beeping to let me know that I had forgotten to charge it. It occurred to me that it would be so great if the thing took care of its own charging." [Prof. Marin Soljacic, leader of the team]
This has enormous potential. I foresee coils built into the ceilings of homes and offices, powered by solar panels and other renewable sources - or even receiver coils that capture wireless electricity transmitted from distant generation centers, that in turn power lights and computers and all manner of things!
No more power lines cluttering up the scenery!!!!
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Let's Hear it for Bidness!
I haven't done a “Hey, to introduce myself to the Internets I’ll reprint some old magazine articles I wrote” in a while, so I thought I'd post this article from the April 2000 issue of Rapid River Literary Magazine. Enjoy....
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"Thank you for calling MegaLo, your one stop customer first shopping center."
"Yes, hello, I would -"
"No one can get to the phone right now, but your call is very important to us. If you would like to connect with sales, press one. If you would like to connect with marketing, press two. If you need to correct an order, press four. If you need to place an order, press five. If the second letter of your mother's maiden name is not a vowel, press six. If you prefer dogs to cats, press seven. If you need to hear this menu again, press star."
[BEEP] [RING] [RING]
"You have reached the sales department here at MegaLo, your one stop customer first shopping center. No one can get to the phone right now, but your call is very important to us. If you know your party's extension, you may dial it at any time. To place an order, press one. To check on an order, press two. To be placed on our e-mail list, press three. To repeat this menu, press star."
[BEEP] [RING] [RING]
"Thank you for calling the routing department here at MegaLo, your one stop customer first shopping center. We can't get to the phone right now, but your call is very important to us. To check the status of your order, press one. To verify shipment of your order, press two. For the latest stock quotes, press three. To repeat this menu, press star."
[BEEP] [RING] [RING]
"Hi, this is Ted Whisnant, head of the routing department at MegaLo, your one stop customer first shopping center. I can't get to the phone right now, but your call is very important to me. Please leave a brief message at the beep, or press one to speak with my office assistant."
[BEEP] [RING] [RING]
"Thank you for calling the office of Ted Whisnant, head of routing at MegaLo, your one stop customer first shopping center. No one can get to the phone right now, but your call is very important to us. At the sound of the beep, please leave a brief message, including your name and phone number and we will get back to you as soon as possible. BEEP."
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On This Date in Viniculture Testing
Blame Melissa over at Shakesville for me posting this one!
I would have thought Mad Dog 20/20, or Night Train, but oh well...
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| You Are Merlot |
 Smooth, confident, and popular - you're the type most likely to order wine for the whole group. You seem to breeze through life on your intuition and wit. And no one seems to mind! You're comfortable in any social situation you find yourself in, and you never feel outclassed. And while you live a charmed life, you never let it go to your head. You are truly down to earth and a great friend. Deep down you are: Balanced and mature Your partying style: Surprisingly wild... when you let loose, you really let loose Your company is enjoyed best with: Some greasy pizza |
I would have thought Mad Dog 20/20, or Night Train, but oh well...
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06 June 2007
01 June 2007
Michael Griffin is Full of Shit
In an interview yesterday on NPR's "Morning Edition", NASA Administrator Michael Griffin (text excerpts and audio here) stated: "I'm aware that global warming exists....Whether that is a long term concern or not, I can't say." He goes on to explain that
In taking a look at Griffin's bio, I see that he has multiple degrees in engineering and physics. He does not, however, list any credentials in climatology, anthropology, or history. And, in my mind, to make a statement like "...to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had..." without considering human anthropology and history is... disingenuous... at best.
The Earth's climate is in a constant state of flux. It swings from Ice Ages to warm periods. This has been shown via ice cores and dendrochronology (the study of growth rings in trees) and other ways, and has been going on for all of the history of the planet. However, it has remained relatively stable for the last ten to twelve thousand years - not coincidentally, the time in which human civilization has flourished.
Anthropologists will tell you that humans (physically) have remained basically unchanged for hundreds of thousands of years. But it is only in the mostly stable recent era that we have developed civilization - there is some argument over that (see Graham Hancock, et al), but the 'accepted' timeline shows that we went from hunter-gatherers in circa 10,000 BC to what we have today.
If the human body and brain have been the same for hundreds of thousands of years, what other explanation than the stable climate of the last 10k - 12k years can there be for the rise of civilization? It is this backdrop, this setting, under which we have flourished.
Griffin said
I say, You're full of shit, Mr. Griffin. It is only because of "the climate that we have right here today, right now" that we are even capable of having this discussion. If you could get your head out of the collective ass of BushCo, you would be able to see that.
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I have no doubt that … a trend of global warming exists. I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with. To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change.
In taking a look at Griffin's bio, I see that he has multiple degrees in engineering and physics. He does not, however, list any credentials in climatology, anthropology, or history. And, in my mind, to make a statement like "...to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had..." without considering human anthropology and history is... disingenuous... at best.
The Earth's climate is in a constant state of flux. It swings from Ice Ages to warm periods. This has been shown via ice cores and dendrochronology (the study of growth rings in trees) and other ways, and has been going on for all of the history of the planet. However, it has remained relatively stable for the last ten to twelve thousand years - not coincidentally, the time in which human civilization has flourished.
Anthropologists will tell you that humans (physically) have remained basically unchanged for hundreds of thousands of years. But it is only in the mostly stable recent era that we have developed civilization - there is some argument over that (see Graham Hancock, et al), but the 'accepted' timeline shows that we went from hunter-gatherers in circa 10,000 BC to what we have today.
If the human body and brain have been the same for hundreds of thousands of years, what other explanation than the stable climate of the last 10k - 12k years can there be for the rise of civilization? It is this backdrop, this setting, under which we have flourished.
Griffin said
I guess I would ask which human beings — where and when — are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the best climate for all other human beings. I think that's a rather arrogant position for people to take.
I say, You're full of shit, Mr. Griffin. It is only because of "the climate that we have right here today, right now" that we are even capable of having this discussion. If you could get your head out of the collective ass of BushCo, you would be able to see that.
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