Life Kills: September 2007 Archives

Why is it that the good guys are always 'the rebels', the nonconformists, the outsiders, and the bad guys are always 'the empire', the institution, the establishment?  I see this theme over and over again - the only exception being the typical cops-and-robbers scenario.  Even in this traditional 'law vs the lawless' situation, the law tends to be a loose cannon type, a rebel even within The Establishment, so the theme is continued even then.  The lawless form their own establishments - some mafioso-style institutionalized evil organization.  Maybe it's just me.

So why exactly are we socialized so completely to accept this archetype?  Why do we consider the rule-breaker as a positive role, and the disciplined as the negative role?  Isn't this contrary to the higher-level socialization that helps us differentiate right from wrong?  The law makers, the social leaders, and on a lower level the police all strive (in their ways) to show us the path of righteousness.  The last time FHP stopped me for speeding, however, I don't remember him saying "Son, you were only going 80mph.  Next time you'd better be doubling the speed limit, or I'm going to have to write you a ticket." 

Then again, if that were the case and the rule was to break the rules, then would we be compelled not to break the rules? Are we inherently inclined to break rules, to act independently and undisciplined?  I don't think so.  I think there's no small amount of cultural socialization that trains each culture to their own particular brand of discipline (or lack thereof.)  I also believe that may be the underlying problem and the answer to the question "what's wrong with kids today" that we hear so often from them ol' folks. 

What's wrong with positive roles?  Whatever happened to Superman?

Frisky Dingo qualifies as one of the strangest, unusual, and frankly uninteresting shows on Cartoon Network.  It's just dumb, and not in a good way.  Aqua Teen Hunger Force is silly and dumb in a good way, and I admit that it's an acquired taste, but there is definite genius behind the sarcastic and mostly insane humor. Frisky Dingo exists merely to make people stupider.

Metalocalypse, on the other hand, is pure freakin' genius. The first season comes out like... tomorrow or something.  If anyone feels some wild compulsive need to buy me something, buying me that first season of The Greatest Show Cartoon Network Has Ever Aired should be at the top of the list.  Oh yes, the most metal of metal shows has just started a new season, and it is simply the most retardedly metal experience freakin' evah!  But seriously, it's another one of those 'acquired tastes', like so many shows on that sweet, sweet Network. Hey, you'll never know if you like it if you never try it.

Oh, and there's more.  I've been watching lots of movies recently, since Shaunna's running amok in Scotland.  There's a movie, "Vacancy", that is so horrible I can't believe it exists.  Luke Wilson and Kate Beckinsale (whose name I thought was "Beckinsdale" until this movie, and whom I can't believe is in this movie - she must be hard up for money or something) are travelers who take a road trip (of course), get lost because they 'got off the interstate' (of course), end up in the middle of nowhere (of course), where their car breaks down for unknown reasons (of course) and they end up staying at a mysterious motel in the middle of nowhere.  Needless to say, the motel's owners have murderous intent (don't they all?) and a rollicking adventure of survival ensues.  Unfortunately (for the people watching the movie) it seems that the screenwriter decided that the twist to the movie would be that there would be no twist.  Clever, right?

Sometimes you run into stuff that makes you giggle, sometimes it makes you shake your head, and sometimes you just don't know how to react.  This case is definitely one of those.  I recently ran into this.

Holy crap.  How freakin' hilarious is a lawsuit against God?  It's 5 pages, but make sure to take the time to read each item.  Apparently it was written as a statement against frivolous lawsuits (which we in the fine State of Florida have more than our fair share of!) by Senator Ernie Chambers.  The more I read about Senators and have involvement with them, the more I think I need to be one.  Then again, maybe not.

Anyway, that'll keep you busy for a bit.  Shaunna's having herself a great time in Edinburgh, just got back from Dublin, and told me all about the Guinness Factory, the home of that sweet, sweet (or should I say bitter?) nectar.  I can't wait to see the pics.

No, seriously, it's true.  Today is September 19th, which is (apparently) "Talk like a pirate" day.  What's that?  You don't know how to talk like a pirate?  I hardly believe you, but don't worry - there's help: talklikeapirateday.com and (of course) talklikeapirate.com.

Oh my, but there's so much more.  Today's been extremely productive.  I've gone and found a site that goes into (sometimes excruciating) detail about the props from all the old movies and TV series!  Not gonna lie, it's pretty freakin' sweet.  There's photos of all the original props from such series as Lost In Space, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica... and the coolest part is that there's also photos of the props in their current condition/location.  Okay, well, that's not really 'cool' as much as 'sad', as the props are in pretty crappy condition after 30 years... but it's still interesting to see these iconic movie props out of context (like, sitting in a parking area surrounded by old RV's.)  Real weird stuff in some cases, I kid you not. Definitely take a minute (or ten) to surf through it.  It's pretty fascinating.

Arrrrgh, me mateys.  I'm off to actually get some work done.  I wonder if there's a national "kick like a ninja" day?

NASA is apparently looking for a new tag-line/slogan with which to woo Americans back into loving them.  In case you didn't already know it (and I sure didn't) their current one is: "Explore, Discover, Understand."  Right, exactly, it's lameness.  However, you are talking about a 50-year-old institution of science and exploration - stuffy retro slogans fit in with their oddly shaped 70's architecture.  Anyway, NASA is taking submissions now from the populace at large and I can only imagine how much money it's costing taxpayers to have NASA administrative staff sift through what I can only imagine to be hundreds of thousands of submissions to pull out what they will arbitrarily consider 'the best', and then process those into a short-list that will be decided on in the next 15 years.

Phew.  It's not that I think NASA is a colossal waste of time and money - on the contrary, I think it's very important to study space and all that.  Plus I really think there's something fascinating about exploring The Great Unknown.  More power to 'em.

The first idea that popped into my head was "All your space are belong to U.S.".  Apparently it was also the first thought in several other people's minds, but there's a whole list of very, very amusing slogans.  They'll never be used - or even get past the initial screen - but man, some of them are seriously funny.  Take a look.  You can vote on people's witticisms.  Heck, submit an entry, just for giggles.  You never know... "NASA: The Final Frontier" might actually become their new slogan.  Oooh, or maybe "NASA: Because apes can't fly on their own."  Warning, though: there's a few tasteless ones in there, so those of you with delicate sensibilities should probably skip this one and go back to watching The Lifestyle Channel.

Now, everybody knows that nobody loves random, useless information more than I do. From The San Diego Times:

In the movie "Jurassic Park," an enraged (or maybe just hungry) Tyrannosaurus rex gallops after a speeding car filled with screaming morsels of, uh, people.

The scene was contrived. Outside of Hollywood, nobody believed T. rexes could actually run that fast. However, a new University of Manchester (in England) study suggests that while the big dinosaurs weren't exactly speedsters, they could still run at a pretty good clip.

Using a supercomputer to calculate the running speeds of five carnivorous dinosaurs, based upon biomechanical data specific to each species, scientists estimate a 6-ton adult T. rex could sprint at speeds of up to 18 miles per hour, slightly quicker than a professional soccer player.

Faster still, though, was the 10-pound Compsognathus, which was able to dash along at almost 40 mph - 5 mph faster than the computer's estimate for the fastest living animal on two legs, the ostrich.

Said paleontologist Phil Manning, "Our research, which used the minimum leg-muscle mass T. rex required for movement, suggests that while not incredibly fast, this carnivore was certainly capable of running and would have little difficulty in chasing down footballer David Beckham, for instance."

That's pretty cool to know.  In case, you know, you're being chased by a T. Rex.  Or in case you really don't like Beckham and you have a pet Tyrannosaur rolling around.  Beckham's old, though - I doubt he could run anywhere near 15mph.  Based on his performance with Real Madrid, I'd say he's about ready for a walker.

Oh, but wait!  There's more:

Start with a five-letter word meaning "a bunch of birds." Change one letter in that word to create a new word describing the second phrase below. Change that second word by one letter to form a third word describing the third phrase, and so on.

1. a bunch of birds
2. a device for measuring time
3. what you can do with a mouse
   
4. a baby chicken
5. a device to prevent wheels from moving
6. a surprise
7. a small house
8. a pile of cards
9. a small piece of wood
10. unable to move

Enjoy.

Oh, good golly.  This bedside table is the pinnacle of interior design.  And home security.  Sort of.  It's probably also pretty useful on those mornings when you just want her... gone.

Here's another cool recycled project I just ran into: airplane drink trolleys.  Pretty cool stuff, there... check out the pictures.  I suddenly found a desire to own one... until I saw the price tag; at 979€ (that's like, $1300USD), I'll just go ahead and shop at IKEA for excellently styled furniture at a fraction of the price.  Or even Target (that's Targ-ay for the uninitiated.)

Apple just announced more iPod stuff for the August 2007 Keynote speech.  Good one, Steve.  How much you wanna bet there's gonna be an iPod that's just like the iPhone, but without the phone?  Yup, there it is.  iPod 'touch'.  Oooh, and a few other little surprises.  Neat.  It's really no wonder Apple owns this market - the rest of the world is just following along in their wake, and consumers can't help but recognize.

Color me impressed, but today I received an email, a response, from my Representative in Congress, one Robert Wexler (D).  I truly did not expect to hear back from the guy (or, more realistically, his office).  I wrote to him about a week ago and I asked him, quite simply, why he didn't support HR25, the FairTax Act.  I wanted an opinion from one of the honchos rolling around as to why you wouldn't be in favor of such a seemingly amazing tax reform bill.  I expect that Representatives should be pretty up-to-date on issues and that they do no small amount of research when their constituency perks up their ears and says "WTF?"  In this case I'm not disappointed.  Here's Rep. Wexler's response to my query:

Dear Mr. Sierra:

Thank you for taking the time to write regarding the Fair Tax Act of 2007 (H.R. 25).  If passed, H.R. 25 would replace the income tax with a national sales tax.  I appreciate your request for my opinion on this issue and I welcome the opportunity to respond. 

Although the revision and simplification of our convoluted Federal tax code merits important consideration, our national economy would likely be more volatile if it were to become more dependent on consumer spending habits of non-necessities.  A less stable economy breeds a larger unwillingness for individuals to invest in the stock market, thereby leading to less capital available for businesses to grow.  In addition, a significant increase in sales taxes would likely cause consumers to turn to underground markets for goods and deplete more funds out of the economy.

We must attempt to simplify the existing tax code, maintain a proper balance of progressivity among taxpayers, and close loopholes that have allowed some individuals and corporations to avoid their responsibilities.  Focusing on these goals will lead us to a truly fair tax system. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on January 4, 2007, but has yet to reach the Full House for a vote.

Thank you again for taking the time to write.  I sincerely appreciate your input and hope that you will feel free to contact me anytime I may be of assistance to you.  In addition, I hope you find my website (http://wexler.house.gov) a valuable resource in keeping up with events in Washington and in South Florida.

                                             With warm regards,

                                             Robert Wexler
                                             Member of Congress

Very cool response, Rep. Wexler - just the kind of response I was looking for.  I wanted different perspectives, particularly educated perspectives, to work with.  Half the kooks out there are either rabidly in favor and simply quote the book like it's some kind of tax-reform bible, and the other half are so ready to shoot down the idea they don't care what kind of insane babble they spew.  Rep. Wexler's perspective is appreciated, as it brings up something I hadn't thought of:

our national economy would likely be more volatile if it were to become more dependent on consumer spending habits of non-necessities.

This seems like it would be true.  Seems logical, I suppose.  But isn't the economy of the nation already tied into consumer spending habits?  Isn't the stock market also tied into not only investor habits, but also consumer spending habits?  It's an interesting point that I'm going to have to dedicate more brain cycles to, and I'll open another research branch just for that.

A less stable economy breeds a larger unwillingness for individuals to invest in the stock market, thereby leading to less capital available for businesses to grow. 

I can see this as well, if indeed the economy really were to become less stable. I might be wrong, but the stock market's fluctuations and an investor's willingness to purchase stock in a business is based on the success of that business, i.e. at the consumer level.  If a business isn't doing well at a consumer level, then investors are less likely to invest, true.  Maybe this will lead to better products, as businesses attempt to keep consumers happy?  That's a novel thought.

In addition, a significant increase in sales taxes would likely cause consumers to turn to underground markets for goods and deplete more funds out of the economy.

I've heard this one before, and I have to say that it's not a particularly good point.  Considering the quality of the previous two points, I'm going to give Rep. Wexler a pass on this one.  According to the research I've done on HR25, there's no significant increase in the cost of items, although there is an increase in sales tax.  Would underground markets exist?  Probably, just like they do now.  However, the majority of retail items aren't purchased on the underground level, and wouldn't be.  Plus, I think that any loss at this level would be more than offset by the increase in government funds brought about by the additional 'taxpayers' that would now be paying taxes every time they purchase something, instead of dodging the income tax (i.e. that same underground market.)  In other words, all the lost revenue from the current tax system would be recovered, and a percentage of that would be lost by this potential underground market.  It actually doesn't sound like a bad deal for the government (except, of course, that politicians would have to pay taxes!)

I appreciate Rep. Wexler's response very much, and to him I say "Thank you."  He may not support HR25, but I think he has some valid points that will require some research to properly assess.  Once I've given them their due diligence, I'll post up another response, one that more accurately assesses Rep. Wexler's position and (perhaps) may change his perspective.

I watched several movies this weekend:

Kickin' it Old School - skip it.  Jamie Kennedy does his usual semi-retarded shtick as a guy who has come out of a coma after 20 years and suddenly starts breakdancing.  It's not funny.  It's not even silly.  It's Jamie Kennedy.  I've already given this movie too much of my time.  Unworthy.

Blades of Glory.  If you haven't seen it yet, you must be living under a rock.  Go out to Blockbuster and take this one back to the DVD player you no doubt have ensconced with you under your rock (right next to your 42-inch LCD).  Watch it.  You'll laugh, you might cry.  You will definitely have watched the latest from Will Ferrel.  He's amusing, usually.  In this movie, yes.

The finest film I watched all weekend I actually watched this morning, and it's only 18 minutes long: Cashback.  G-$ (that's Gee-Money) pointed this one out to me about two months ago, and it's been in my queue on BB since then.  Apparently it's a popular film.  Anyway, according to G-$, the film was based on this 18 minute short (which has won some awards, and it's no wonder - every woman who shops at this supermarket is stupendously hot).  Watch it here.  Then try to find the full-length film and watch that.  It's a recent thing, released in 2006, and it's not real common, so be prepared to do some hunting.  But you will hunt for it.  It's that good.

In less interesting news, I got my Linux box to recognize my iPod shuffle.  In doing so, I discovered Amarok, a music player that claims to rival iTunes for sheer awesomeness.  No.  It does not.  But it does have some cool features that I can appreciate, and (after beating on it only mildly) it did manage to find my iPod, allowing me to re-up the ol' shuffle to some fresh tunes.  Other things I've discovered about Linux in recent history include: don't use Fedora, unless you have a strange graphics card (or an ATI card), in which case use Fedora.  If you use Fedora, be prepared for near limitless hassles.  They have this whole thing about only including license-free software, blah blah blah, GNU licensing, blah blah blah.  Sounds like lots of commie propaganda to me.