Tea and High Scores

Game Change

2010-05-30T11:22:00.002-06:00

I often find that I lack things to write about when I have attempted a blog before. Something I don't lack, is time that I play video games. I have a decent sized collection, and enjoy playing them. People I know often say that I don't play games, I destroy them. That is due to my playing them over and over and getting/finding/collecting all there is to get/find/collect. This is partially true as even I have my limits and don't feel the need to do so in all games that I own. But I do with most of them.

However, many people I know are confused as to how I play the same games over and over and over again. This blog is to answer that. I don't intend to take a cynical approach to highlight everything that is wrong with the development side of gaming today. That market is rather well filled with more entertaining people than I. Instead, I intend to review every game that I have in my library. I will break down my review to technical aspects (as well as I know them), control, graphics, content, and fun. Fun, of course, is relative.

Also, as this is a review of games, they will require my playing through them again. This means that updates will not follow a set pattern, but will happen as I finish a game. Some will be quick, others will take longer.

And that being said, on to my first new post.

On racism, potty training, and "Dykes to Watch Out For"

2009-08-31T13:11:00.002-06:00

So, this has been on my mind for several weeks.
Recently, Sonia Sotomayor was finally allowed to be in the Supreme Court. And there was much rejoicing. The same can be said for when President Barack Obama was voted into office. And while many people had the right idea of their adulation, I still found myself hearing over and over again the phrases "first Hispanic Justice" and "first African-American President".
Um... okay... get over it? No, I'm not being racist saying that. You're being racist, not even knowing it, and undermining the true achievements these individuals obtained. You make it sound like this is some sort of equal opportunity position being filled, and boy aren't we so progressive to have a Latino in the Judicial branch and an African-American in the White House.
Please people! If your child came out of the bathroom to let you know they "used the potty" for the first time, you'd praise them. Unless your child was fourteen. That's what this is. Our "firsts", and all the praise that goes with it, should have been passed more than a century ago, and we, AMERICA, have been the fourteen year old that's been shitting his pants until now.
These people are people, American, who obtained their position not because of their ethnicity, but because of their MERIT. A crazy concept in America these days, I'm sure. Now, I'm all for people celebrating their heritage and ethnicity, it's who they are. But this bigotry, this subtle, surreptitious racism that has been instilled in us so slowly that we don't even realize we're being that way, is a cancer in Americans, one that can't be gently dealt with, but must be cut at it's core.
And while we're on the topic of bigotry, it was brought to my attention recently by some friends that there exists a test known as the "Bechdel Test". It is named after the creator of the comic "Dykes to Watch Out For", Alison Bechdel. In it, one of her characters creates a test for mainstream movies. So, let's have some fun and try this out, see which movies YOU like, pass.
#1) Think of a mainstream movie, or one of your favorite movies.
#2) Does this movie have TWO NAMED female characters? If yes, go on. If no, start over at #1, the movie failed.
#3) Do these women TALK to each other? If yes, go on. If no, start over at #1, the movie failed.
#4) When they talk, is it about something OTHER than a man? If yes, congratulations, your movie passes! If not, start back over at #1, your movie failed.

This is amazingly eye opening. I thank Genevieve who gave me this fun link that has a list of movies that have been tested and if they test, or where along the line they fail, as well as this fascinating article about a female film student who was being taught in school to specifically fail the Bechdel test.
As a fun side game, see if you can think of something in the mainstream media that FAILS the reversal of the Bechdel test, that is, doesn't have two named male characters, or they don't talk to each other, or they only talk about a woman. It's also fun to see if your favorite movie passes variations of the Bechdel test in which "women" is replaced with any minority group (for #4, they pass only if they are not talking about the white, male, lead character).

I think America crapped it's pants again. Who's gonna change it?

Eyes GREEN with rage

2009-08-20T12:28:00.004-06:00

So, eons ago in my past, I earned the nickname of "The Raging Cynical Bastard". It wasn't so bad when I was called this behind my back by my friends. It was when they were openly calling me it to my face that I felt I should perhaps tone things down a little. And I have. But now I want that back. And look, a healthy outlet. Blogs.

So, I start my first post in my attempt to reboot both an old persona and a dead blog.

Now I realize the normal phrase is "Eyes red with rage", but no. Today I see green.
As in green Twitter icons.
And I am just as guilty of this. So let me paint the picture.
Months ago, it was the in thing to do to give your Twitter icon a green over lay, to show your support of the women fighting for Democracy in Iran. This amazing and radical movement was all over Twitter. All over the news. Hell, I saw it in certain comic strips for a long time too.
But, one pop star pops out of the ranks of the breathing and BOOM! all's forgotten. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying said person was not hugely talented and love or that he shouldn't have been memorialized. My point is the popcorn ADD nature of our society. For quite sometimes the only trending topics you could find on Twitter was the Iran Women's movement. Today... Avatar the fucking movie.
It seems to me that "causes" are the new chic thing. But it's like a group of people running around an area covered in holes. Each hole has someone struggling to get out. The group of people run over to one person, start to pull them out, then just as quickly, someone yells "Hey! There's someone in THIS hole too!" and the first person is forgotten as the group runs over to start pulling out the new person.
I'm not arrogant enough to think that this movement will fail without twit-storms, but I had to actually dig a little to find any news. And I wonder how many people marching around with green twitter icons, and who get so loud and vehement about what was going on and how wrong these women were being treated, I wonder how many of them know right now what's going on. Or when was the last time they thought about those same women.

I have changed my Twitter picture to no longer be green. Not because I no longer think that what these women do is important. I wish them the best of luck. They are strong and brave, far more so than I am, and quite capable to champion their cause. But I am guilty. I don't care anymore. I don't read the news about them, I don't support their cause in anyway. I don't make others aware of it. I am a tag-a-long. I often times barely have time to care about issues directly related to me.

I commend those who want to champion a cause. But please, I beg you, pick a cause, or two, or however many you are TRULY able to commit your time and efforts to, and really champion it. Not just while it's trendy and cool, not with ADD like interaction, but until the end... its or yours. And while I am talking about sticking with a cause, perhaps I can encourage any reader I have to start close to home. Champion the cause of your family, of your friends, of your children, of your community... whatever it is around you that needs attention. And if you have time and ability to get behind something outside of that, stick to it.

Weasel Stomping Day

2009-02-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

For those of you who care about such things, the first of February's pointless "holidays" is upon us. That's right, the time of year when people from across the country look toward a groundhog to tell them if we'll have an 6 more weeks of winter based on whether or not the rotund rodent views its shadow. Not that, you know, the first day of spring is March 20th this year which happens to be 46 days from now, otherwise known as 6 and a half weeks. Hmmm, funny that.
But, for those of you who care what those pudgy prognosticators predicted for us this year... here you go.

The cold frigid heart of humanity

2009-01-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

Old man freezes to death when power is cut by power company.
This is infuriating to me. So, here's the quick and very dirty.
In Bay City, MI, neighbors entered the house of 93 year old WWII veteran Marvin Schur. Upon doing so they found the windows frosted over, icicles fromt he faucet, and him laying dead on his bedroom floor, dressed in a winter jacket over FOUR layers of clothing. What happened here?
So, it would appear that Mr. Schur was 4 months behind in his payments. The power company sent a notice to him (did not ever talk to him face to face) that they were putting a power regulator on his house. It works like an over glorified fuse, if a certain amount of power is used, it triggers and cuts the power, and the customer needs to go outside and switch it back on.
Now, Mr. Schur was an old customer to this company, and always paid his bills on time. Was he without money? No... his nephew and neighbors found cash paperclipped to bills on his table. Could it have been he was just old and getting senile and forgot?
The next problem came up that Mr. Schur, as neighbors will attest, did not come out doors very much, if at all, when it was cold out. Also, when mechanical intervention comes into the picture, especially for older people, it becomes daunting and overwhelming. So, flipping the switch on the regulator to turn his power back on might have been a very challenging prospect for Mr. Schur. And since the power company never spoke to him directly, he may not actually have ever known about it.
And so there he lay, putting on more and more layers of clothing, opening up his oven hoping for more warmth, and as the coroner stated, slowly and painfully dying.
And the city Manager had this to say, amoungst other things.
"I've said this before and some of my colleagues have said this: Neighbors need to keep an eye on neighbors. When they think there's something wrong, they should contact the appropriate agency or city department."
Almost as if it were the neighbors fault that Mr. Schur passed away... even though it were these very same neighbors that DID suspect something was wrong and enter his house, only to find they were too late.

It is dispicable! The money faucet turned off at the power company, and without so much courtesy as to have the technician who installed the limiter knock on the door and speak directly with the customer, they just turn off the power faucet. It sends a sick message about how such companies look at their customers.

Green Hornet movie

2009-01-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

On the one hand, yes it's a bit of a slow news week. Nothing really has caught my eye that I feel like covering.
On the other hand, this is about the FREAKIN' Green Hornet! And if you feel like nay-saying it, then take a pencil and place it right up against the crevice between your forefinger and middle finger, folding your other fingers back, and placeing your middle finger against a table, and using your free hand, press down quickly.

Otherwise, come look here.

Change

2009-01-22T13:54:00.001-07:00

Floating about the political banter for just a little longer, as long as I can stand it, I want to focus on the moto of the current president. Change. Change seems to be on every lip and every speech. Yes we can.
It is important to keep in mind that change does not happen over night, and that we should not be quick to blame he who promises change if doesn't happen in our time table. But most importantly we all must remember that change, true change, requires our help. You can not just sit around doing what you've always been doing and expect change. Well, you can... but it won't happen and it will be your fault. So, I would like to bring some things directly to your attention that I can get behind for change... in the "troubled" auto industry. And troubling it is.

According to the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows us average fuel consumption of vehicles since 1980. By going here you can check the numbers too, but will find that in 30 years we have seen the greatest increase of fuel efficiency of 47.5% in the "other 2-axle 4-wheel vehicle" class... which isn't saying much when we see that it went from 12.2 mpg to 18 mpg average. It's even more depressing when we see the highest average mpg is 32.1 mpg, belonging to imported light-duty vehicles, up from 29.6 mpg.
30 years to increase 2.5? 30 years.
In 30 years of computing, we observe Moore's law, that every two years computing power doubles. That means that in the past 30 years, computing has become 32768 times better/more powerful in that time... but all we can do in mechanics in a 40% increase? And still using oil/gas to run it? I find it very hard to believe that mankind can be so advanced in one direction and yet so primitive in another.
So, as we enter this time of "change", and we see our auto industry begging, in their $5000+ suits, that they need more money because they are struggling, we will stand up and press for change. There is no excuse for an industry that does such piss poor work to get any sort of help if they are not going to get their act together.

Political Banter

2009-01-20T12:18:00.000-07:00

While I'm not one to really get behind talking about politics, especially not on the internet of all places, I felt that today was of significant enough importance to say something.
I won't cover the inagural speech, you either heard it your you didn't. I won't give my opinion on it, you either liked it or you didn't. I won't break it down, disect it, analize it, or anything else. No, I'm going to talk to what has to potential to be the greatest tragedy, not only during President Obama's presidency, but truly in all of American history, and it comes down to four (or five for the very politically correct) small words. "The first Black President." (The first African-American President).

Now, before you get out your flamethrowers and burn me at the stake, finish reading. I was influenced to this idea by an article written just after President Obama secured the election, written by a Republican, and I truly wish I had kept the article so I could give proper acknowledgement to the author.
I am NOT, first and foremost, saying that we should not acknowledge the FACT and the historical significance (especially in this country) of President Barack Obama's heritage. It is truly remarkable, and also truly sad that it is as late as the year 2009 that we are celebrating such an achievement. But, better late than never.
No, what I am saying is this. Calling him the "First Black (African-American) President" is just as accurate, and inaccurate, as calling him the "44th White President". Do remember his mother. The moment we start equating President Obama with his race and his background we do a disservice to him, the entire African-American community, and our country. How long until people start pointing at him as "a terrific role-model for African-Americans everywhere" instead of what he truly is, "a terrific role-model for ALL Americans everywhere"?
Or, what if the undenyable truth of the matter is that America is so boned, that there is no person who could do anything to fix it, that we will inevitably spiral downward more no matter who is at the helm... how long after his presidency will people start to point fingers at his heritage, and the whole African-American community, spewing forth "I told you so"s?
It is right for us to make note of the progressive nature of this election, but for us to truly be progressive, I feel that as a nation we should as quickly as possible away from titles concerning race or heritage.
President Barack Obama... the 44th American President. It's time to move ahead as Americans, all of us, as a country. Do a Google search. You will be hard pressed to find any other country that breaks up its people like we do (do a search for "African French"... it's a dialect, not a people).
May the United States of America become fully united. Every man, woman, and child, irregardless of color, heritage, background.

I tip my hat to you, President Obama. May you do the best that you are capable of, and no less.

Updates

2009-01-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

So, I'm sure you noticed I didn't update yesterday, and this is hardly an update today. I would like to do a daily update, but that is not always possible to do. So, I will try to at least let you good readers know when I will not be able to keep my schedule in the future. Hopefully that will take away any sort of guessing game as to when you should read my blog or not. Have a good weekend.

A case of Good Steve, Bad Steve

2009-01-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

So, I've heard that Windows 7, whenever you get online with it, will open an unavoidable, perminant port between your computer and Microsoft, sending off all sorts of information about where you're going and what you're doing. Bad, horrible Microsoft! Why can't you be more like Apple... shining becon of hope that it is?! Goodness, look! Apple now offers us DRM FREE iTunes downloads! See Microsoft?! Apple loves us and respects our privacy. Why, they'd never, say, make it so that every song you download imbeds your account information and private information ONTO itself so that if you ever share it, whoever gets hold of that file will also have your personal information... would they?

Oops.

IDK, my bff hurk!

2009-01-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

Texting is a touchy subject for me. On the one hand, it is so handy and useful as a form of communication that I highly advocate the use of it. On the other hand, it has been destroying the spoken and written word for years. As displayed in the title of this post, a commercial I am extremely annoyed by is the cell phone commercial with the mother scolding her daughter for her crazy high phone bill due to texting.

That girl, clearly, has nothing on this one.

This girl sent 14,528 texts in one month... let me break that down for you. That's about 484 texts a day. This means that she was sending about 20 texts an hour, or one every 3 minutes. But that's only if you assume a full 24 hours a day texting. Under the far more likely scenario of 16 hours a day available for texting, and 8 hours sleeping, then you get it closer to 30 texts an hour, or one ever other minute. My god! Did her parents or teachers just do nothing? Ever? This sort of blatent techno-stupidty makes me furious that we are blowing devolpment money on specialized ring tones for phones, and not, say, cures for cancer, solving world hunger, etc.

Fly cars are NOW!

2009-01-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Step by step, the future is coming closer. All those concerned about your flying cars, I got them for you, right here. For those of you I know who don't usually follow my links, please please please follow this one. The video that is hosted here is fantastic! Sure, it's all CGI, but this item is sceduled for its first flight test next month. AND should it survive, it is slated to start hitting showroom floors in 18 months. 18 months people! At $200,000, that's a hefty price tag, but for an airplane car, totally worth it, especially if it runs off of unleaded fuel and fits in your garage. One step closer to the Jetson's puter-pod. I so can't wait to wait in line for one of these!

Picking the old bike back up

2009-01-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

Okay... so it's been awhile. A very long while since I've done regular updates. But, it's a new year, and time to take another crack at it. Hopefully life will be more accomidating to me.
So, there will be updates coming, as I know there are a few of you out in the aether still checking this thing, though I'm not 100% sure why. So, this is for you.

Keep a watch out this week for new updates, and some old stories coming back, just because I want to make sure they stay in peoples minds.

So, welcome, sit down, have some tea.

An update for anyone wondering

2008-08-20T11:29:00.001-06:00

So, for anyone still checking this, I appreciate it. However, I've put my blog on hold. I have been looking for work for quite some time now and finding nothing. It has been causing a lot of stress and unfortunately no money. So, until I have a steady source of income again, the blog, unfortunately, is not at the top of my priority list. Sorry everyone.

Double Duchie!

2008-07-26T13:41:00.000-06:00

Big news in New York this week as Double Dutch becomes an officially sanctioned sport in the NYC sports curriculum. Described in the article as a pastime "in which competitors jump between two ropes twirled eggbeater-style", they officials in charge of this decision look at it as a new way to encourage more kids to get active in aerobic activities... and don't forget a good way to funnel more money into sports programs in schools. But really... it makes you ponder. Inter-school competitions? Scoring? Cheerleaders?
And what's next? DDR as an official sport? Guitar Hero and Rock Band as an official music program?

Return of Dr. Horrible

2008-07-26T13:24:00.000-06:00

For those of you who somehow missed the internet web-levision show by Joss Whedon about a somewhat hapless not-so-evil genius, Dr. Horrible and his musical blog about life, a girl, his nemesis Captain Hammer, and his attempts to make it into the Evil League of Evil, well you really missed out. Look for it on iTunes or the DVD version.
For those of you who have seen it, you'll be pleased to know that at his Comic Con panel, good ol' Joss stated that there is more in store for the good Doctor. Oh Joss, you so crazy! Always know how to keep us hanging on for more!

Idiot of the Week XI

2008-07-21T07:45:00.000-06:00

Been awhile since I did this, and I know it's not Friday, but this is just too good to pass up.

A word of advice to all would be crooks. Make sure you accurately know who you are dealing with before attempting to rob a store. Case and point. The scene is early morning Somerset, England. A gang of robbers break into a Premier News shop brandishing claw hammers. They assault the owner, demanding money. Insert Anne Withers, age 55. Opening the store with her boss, she bursts forth from the aisle brandishing a broom. Mightiest of weapons, the humble broom, she begins to beat the youths who she eventually sends fleeing in terror from the store, tails tucked soundly between their legs. Way to go guys, that's one heck of a story to bring back to the boys.

Afro Samurai

2008-07-17T19:39:00.001-06:00

If the title of this post didn't immediately catch your attention, this post my be directed to someone else. But that's okay, you're always welcome to read.
Afro Samurai. The video game. Go watch the vids. That's all you need to know.

You only THOUGHT you wanted to see Batman

2008-07-17T19:26:00.000-06:00

Nope, you were wrong. You aren't going to the movies super late tonight, or sometime tomorrow, to watch Batman. I mean, not ONLY to watch Batman. No, you are going because they are releasing the preview for The Watchmen prior to the movie. And I, with the help of the internet, am bringing it to you prior to even that. I know you love me.

Walmake-over

2008-07-09T19:12:00.000-06:00

Wal-mart will be getting a new face soon. But why do we care? Most of us don't. So why am I writing about it? Because it's interesting to look at how Wal-mart is trying to change it's appearance. Read the article. A "renewed sense of purpose of helping people save money so they can live better" and "its environmentally focused practices and efforts to make health care more affordable for customers through a discounted prescription drug program"? Wow, has our society really become such consumeristic sheep that anyone buys into this? Yes. We have. It's sad that Wal-mart isn't changing it's face with a renewed sense of purpose to helping the communities that they move into, enriching them so people can live better and have (how are discount drugs environmentally focused?) humanitarily focused practices and efforts to make their health care plans for their employees affordable and effective? It makes me sick.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go grab myself some discounted Pepto from Wal-mart to calm my sickened stomach due to Wal-marts ass-hattery. Wait... man, that's a pretty good racket they got going there.

Okay, so this is awesome

2008-07-02T00:31:00.000-06:00

Alright, for awhile there I was down on the poor Spiegel, my trusty German newspaper, for having some pretty lame articles. But this? This redeems them all. They have started doing a piece about how STRANGE Europe is. Now, we already knew they were strange, but no, these guys went and highlighted the specifics. You gotta see this. I figure it's oh-so-appropriate for the 4th of July weekend.

Lekeitio, Spain. In September they have a festival where they string a goose out across the river and grease it. Then a contestant is rowed out on a boat, leaps out to it, and grabs tight to it's neck. Then the rope it's bound to is tightened and loosened, bobbing the goose and grabber into the water. And what is the point? To decapitate the fowl. Don't worry, it's already dead before it is strung up. However, these guys would get along just great in my home state. Colorado is proud home to the town of Fruita where in May they celebrate "Mike the Headless Chicken." Okay, if you don't know what this is, you have to check it out. I can not do it justice.

What to do if you find yourself in North Scotland, lying roughly on the same latitude as Alaska, in January? Why not set fire to a gally? That's exactly what they do during the festival of Up-Helly-Aa. Viking dress up, drunken story telling, and a long boat burning are all part of the fun. While over in Nederland, Colorado, they have their own way to celebrate some old Frozen Dead Guys. Not vikings, but rather a man who was found, in a make shift cryo-stasis chamber, in someones basement. Yep, apparently that's all you need to do to get your very own holiday in some parts of the world.

What would you do for a scrumptious 4 kilo wheel of Double Gloucester cheese? Well, if you live near Glouchester, England the answer is simply put in the Cooper Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake. What you do? Find the biggest, steepest hill you can. Release the cheese down the hill. Then release the Havarti hopefuls. Now, this hill is so steep that the cheese reaches speeds of 70 miles per hour. What do you think happens to a human, running down a hill after said cheese? Physics students anywhere? They trip, and fall, and roll uncontrollably down the hill. The winner is the first one down and gets the cheese. And most likely a free trip to the hospital in one of the waiting ambulances. You can't make this shit up people. Check it out.

Speaking of things that I couldn't make up if I wanted too... have you ever been to a party, looked around and thought, "Man, what a sausage fest"? Well, you've NEVER been to a penis party like this. In Tyrnavos, Greece, on the first Monday of lent they have a very special "members only" party where the package takes center stage.

Democracy at it's finest

2008-06-30T18:04:00.000-06:00

With America's one elections coming up, it is interesting to look at another country that has recently had an election. Quiz time. Do you know who won the presidency of Zimbabwe this week? I'll give you hint. He's been president the last 5 terms, too. If you said Robert Mugabe, you're right. Have a cookie.
The world is in a rightful huff over this turn of events. Mugabe, for his part, is currently en route to an African Union summit where he plans to seek recognition for his "overwhelming" victory. Funny thing about that. He was the only candidate. No, really. He was playing in his sand box with his ball, kicked sand in the face of any kid who came near, and is now bragging about winning his ball game. That he played. Alone. Playing with one's balls by one's self, isn't that called...
Moving on.
But is he really such a bad guy? I mean, come on, he's on his sixth term, he must be doing something right, right? Wrong. Mugabe has been the cause of racial targeting, hyperinflation, political harassment, and voter violence. This is not a man that this country needs in power.
Makes you glad we live in America... where polls are closely watched, voter fraud never occurs, and no single political party can get enough of a hold to rig things...

In case there was any question

2008-06-30T17:28:00.000-06:00

So, did you wonder exactly what George Lucas' thoughts were about the most recent Indiana Jones movie? Think maybe he was just phoning it in? Well... he was. "There was no point to it" he says. Check it out.

Oil rage from the past

2008-06-29T19:41:00.000-06:00

How the hell did this happen? Ignorance, apathy, and (the greatest weapon) time, that's how. Let me recap for those who have bad short term history memories. 19 years ago there was an oil spill in the Prince William Sound area when a drunken captain of the Exxon Valdez tanker ship ran it aground, spilling 11 MILLION gallons of crude oil into the surrounding wilderness. 5 years later, in 1984, a jury awarded the Sound area (landowners, business owners, etc.) a sum of $5 billion dollars in damages, to be paid out by ExxonMobil, a move many thought would send a striking message to oil companies that they were not untouchable and were accountable for their actions. And most people left it at that. Content that justice had been served. But not ExxonMobil. They took the case back to court. To the top. And what did Americas Highest Court decide? The entity that is supposed to reflect Americas highest ideal of law and justice? They changed the amount needed to be paid to these people whose lives were forever changed. The amount now is $507.5 million. Calculators out people. You know what that is? That's 10.15% of the original amount. Count in inflation for the past 14 years, and it is even less. That is also, approximately, the equivalent of 24 hours worth of petroleum sales.
Oh... a striking message has been made. To the oil companines, your actions may cost you no more than what you take in for a day. To the rest of us, look out. Your land, the land around you, wild life, and your livelihood have a price. One easily added into the oil companies expense books, and forgotten about.

Car crunchers

2008-06-29T19:19:00.000-06:00

This article really speaks for itself and says anything I would ever need to say on the subject. However I know that a good majority of my readership only likes to read the title of the article, if even that, and hear my thoughts on it. So here we go.

Ford and GM are crapping themselves more than a senile old man on a diet of prunes, coffee, and apple sauce. Why? According to this article, when the market for a single type of vehicle changes by as much as half a percent in a FULL YEAR, it is considered considerable. The market share for the pick up segment has shifted four point in two and a half months (partly due to the increase in gas prices by an average 74 cent-per-gallon in as much time). Now watch as these two giant ships try to steer away from the rocks they are about to smash into, despite bright lighthouse like warnings that they have seen for years. They are already starting to scrape rock.

For has been unspecific as to how many jobs or factories will have to be cut to shift their productions to more fuel efficient vehicles, GM has announced 8,000 jobs cut and working on a super compact car that they will be working on in Mexico to sell in the U.S. With the current economy this is terrible. I should know. I have a fairly marketable skill set, and I have found myself without work for 2 months now. Plus, even with their shift to better gas mileage cars, specialist say they will not be able to even have anything on showroom floors for 2 years yet. Keep your eyes on these crumpets, my guests. Things are bound to get crumbier before they get better.

Again

2008-06-29T19:08:00.000-06:00

I apologize to all my followers disappointed by my drop off. I will attempt to be more diligent. I have reset my news posts to zero as of 7:0pm, Sunday June 29th. I hope to have some new posts for you coming shortly. I will make no promises. But I am back, and I'm at it again. And please, give me feed back. Your encouragement keeps me percolating.

Uncited sensationalism

2008-04-15T22:07:00.000-06:00

So there is this video floating around youtube that a friend of mine showed me that showed truly spectacular uncited sensationalism. In it, it focuses on Fox News' coverage on Sen. Obama in the presidential race. And then it shows as other news organizations fall into line and continue to ignore the citation of the issues.

Yesterday I ran a test. I posted a truly sensational story. Cited an article about what sounded like artistic apocalypse. There was some good discussion. But there was something missing. Did anyone catch it? All this talk about a bill, act, whatever... but did anyone ever link to it? I hoped someone would catch me on my lack of citation. Well, that's okay. Want to read the exact wording yourself? You can find it right here. Now, here is what I read here.
The bad news is yes, SOME of the ass-hattery that the writer in the article I linked yesterday IS possible by this bill. However, the good news is this. The way I read it, there is actually far more protection for the artist than was being previously noted. Also, this was simply a matter in the congressional sub-committees. Just like thousands of other items every year.
However, if one were to follow the links to find "all congressional actions", or just follow the link here, we will see that this item is by no means "dead". It was, in fact, voted from sub-committee to full committee. That just means it is waiting for it's turn again. Now, I'm not sure that this will ever make it to bill, or if it does that it will become as horrible a visage as all the hype can sometimes make it sound. But I do know that this is a democracy. It is our responsibility to watch those items that effect us most and take a stand.

I'm not an artist, but...

2008-04-14T10:23:00.000-06:00

So I really want to thank a good friend of mine for bringing todays article to my attention. Thanks Rachel, you're always a good source of information for me.

So, as the title says, I don't feel that I'm an artist, but I have a lot of artist friends. They even get together on Friday nights to have "Art Night", a time to hang out, but also to encourage each other to continue to work on their art. So, reading this article did hit close to home. This is for them, this is for you. This is for everyone who doesn't think they are an artist, but are. This is for anyone who posts pictures of family vacations, posts on Deviant Art, or even doodles on a sketch book.

There is a law currently being attempted to be pushed through Congress. This bill would make it so that any piece of art that was not copyrighted would be considered "orphaned" and open to public domain. "But Hatter", you say, "That's how it already is. Good thing all my work is copyrighted as soon as I make it." Ah, my good friend, that brings us to the meat of the bill. This bill would require you to copyright with a registered agency ANY work of art that you have. If it isn't, if you didn't PAY for that copyright, you could easily see that picture of your family standing in front of the Grand Canyon show up in Wal-mart picture frames, used without your permission or payment to you in anyway, and no legal recourse. That art piece you threw up on Deviant Art to get an opinion on? Stolen as a cover for Time Magazine, and nothing you can do about it.

So, you might then say to me, "Okay, so what's the big deal, Hatter... that's the way of America, everything gets capitalized on sooner or later." Let me break down some of the more interesting points of the article. Let's say that you, as the average person, take 300 photos a year and upload it to Flickr. Let's say that you have to pay $5 per work to copyright it to a single agency. $1500 to keep those memories SAFE and YOURS. But what if there are three agencies set up? Or ten? Or a hundred. What if someone gets a hold of a piece of your work and files for copyright BEFORE you do... and your own work becomes illegal for you to use?

I know that some of you don't follow any of my links, but I implore, follow this one. Read the whole thing. Protect your rights and your art. If you aren't furious, you should be.

Idiot of the Week VIII

2008-04-11T12:09:00.000-06:00

Wow. Today's Idiot of the Week is kind of hard to top. This comes directly from my place of business. It is actually our Corporate Marketing Director. She sent us out a notice about how well we are doing, according to the Nilson report. It would appear that our company is now #11 in the industry, up from #13 last year. She was so proud to tell us that we continue to be within the top 10 processors in the nation.

Yeah... I'll let that one just sink in.

I am disgusted

2008-04-09T20:29:00.000-06:00

This! This right here! This disgusts me. If you haven't heard about it yet, now you have. If this does not infuriate you, it should. I really don't feel like I need to make any more comments on this article other than this.

2008-04-03T23:30:00.000-06:00

So I wasn't initially sure as to what I was gonna post today, at first. It was a big day for science as several articles on black holes popped up, and then there was the dig at Stonehenge to finally try to figure it out.

But in the end, I had to go another direction. Back to technology. I love it. I love watching the direction our society is moving in with regards to advanced technology. This next beauty is from the Boys and Girls from MIT. Her name is GLaDOS and she would love to share some cake with you. Just kidding! Her name is Nexi. Nexi is the latest plaything from those wacky MIT guys. This one is hoped to be able to sit and interact with humans to figure out how best to integrate. She is Mobile, Dexterous and Social. I'll tell you what, I really wouldn't mind being in the test group for this project. I can sit the Nexi right next to my Apuripoko. But I digress. This is truly one of the most expressive robots I've ever seen. It makes me wonder though. Ever read I, Robot? The original, not the book based on the movie based on the book. Whatever happened to the square headed, clearly not human, robots that were supposed to come first? Looks like we are wanting to hope straight to human-like, right out the gate, when we get a real working humanoid. However... I'm still waiting for Synthetic rights. It's coming and you all know it.

Thoughts! Go!

As a passing thought, if anyone out there wants to get their favorite, hatted blogger a gift, this little cutie will do the trick. Or this convenient solar paneled recliner, I mean generator.

The Michelin man is watching

2008-04-03T00:01:00.000-06:00

So, as I'm sure most of the people who read my blog have to read most of the web sites that I do, so I'm sure you've heard about the writer for the Times that wrote a flaming article about games. After all EVERYONE WROTE ABOUT TODAY, so I won't.

So this is a fun thought. With all the new and fun ways that the government has to poke in on our business, I just discovered a new one today. Phones, cameras, wire tape, internet, and car tires. That's right, the next new insidious tactic for monitoring the average American sounds like a device from 1984 and slips snuggly into the very innocent looking car tire. According to the article if you've bought a car since 2005 you most likely are the host of a TPMS, like the unwitting host of a bot fly that hasn't yet made it's presence immediately obvious.
Am I being over dramatic? Perhaps, perhaps not. Each TPMS device is paired electronically with a special receiver in your car. With this, those who might wish to, could monitor every moment of your vehicular adventures, whether moving or stationary, they can track every movement of every day. No I don't think I'm being over dramatic.
But what of things like OnPublish PostStar, you may say to me. Dear reader... for one, not all vehicles are mandated to have OnStar. And those that do CAN have this device disabled. How do you disable a TPMS? You take your tire off. But how could you possibly know if you were getting a new tire without one? Especially since every new car, starting in 2007, was been required to have TPMS installed. Next we'll have to hide beside our TV's so as to avoid Big Brother's view.

Prop-ped up

2008-04-01T19:52:00.000-06:00

So, I'm new to this blog thing, relatively. Two months now or something like that. It's fun and interesting. I try to not judge anyone in what they decide to do with theirs. Whether news, rants, or personal journal, it's a very creative way to be caught up with the 21st century. However, while I should have seen it coming a mile a way, I guess part of me just hoped that it wouldn't ever get to this. It would appear that the military has been looking to recruit bloggers for propaganda.
Whoa.... that's crazy.
Dictionary.com defines propaganda thusly...
1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

I've never really had an easy time looking at propaganda as anything other than a fairly bad act. Definitely not one I'd personally want to be associated with.

Palate Cleansing

2008-04-01T00:48:00.000-06:00

So, I almost forgot that I needed to update this thing. Oh how scattered my brain is when I take a sick day off.
Okay, so I have a few things I have to share to clear my palate of a few things that have been hanging around during my quiet period last month. I know that link dumps are not a favorite of my readership, but it's what I need to look at everything with fresh eyes tomorrow. Oh, and I won't be posting any sort of weird April Fool's joke tomorrow either. Just so you know.

First off I want to delve into the realms of robotics. I found two specimens last week, each invoking different responses. First off, one that for some reason scared me. Here we have Big Dog. Military pack/utility robot. Nothing about the function of this device is inherently scary, but watch the movie, what the movements of this beast... pay specific attention to when it walks down hill and slips on ice. It's too... natural, I think. It's an awesome device, but something about it is just unsettling for me.
In stark contrast to this is ApuriPoko. This little device that talks to you, ask questions, remembers infrared signals and the voice commands connected to them as well as the ability to do them for you, is just too adorably cute, and useful, and frankly, I want one now.

The next few links I have are from scientists. There really isn't a whole lot that I can add beyond their general description. These videos must be seen to be believed and speak for themselves.
First, we find that the world is in fact flat and that the sun circles us. Wait... this all sounds familiar for some reason.
Next we find out where our next threat to our society is REALLY coming from. Those insidious Polar Bears.
This last one is actually a favorite of mine. Doomsday scenarios. This stuff sounds like it belongs in a B-rate science fiction novel... I may just have to write these down for later use. Strangelets... awesome!

My final bit of cranial catharsis is in the form of the Quantum Sleeper. This is freaking hilarious. For those that simply have to have the bullet/water/poison gas/fire/kidnap/nuclear winter proof bed.

Over worked and such

2008-03-24T16:27:00.000-06:00

Hello my readership. Terribly sorry about the past few days. Or, Friday, rather, as I'm making a habit out of not posting on weekends. We've had several key people missing from work the past few days and this keeps me to busy to read, and usually without energy to do so when I get home. So, I anticipate being down all week until these people get back in. If I get something up, good for me, but don't expect me to be back in full swing until the 31st. But ON the 31st, I plan to get back to our regularly scheduled posting!

See you all then.

Dead Hatter day

2008-03-20T22:00:00.001-06:00

No real post to speak of today blogger buddies. Coworkers vacations and corporate bureaucracy kept me too busy today to really read anything and bot bashing and defraging have tied up my computer for the night. More tomorrow.

Money matters

2008-03-19T21:20:00.000-06:00

So I have a trio of money related articles to pull up today. I found these rather relevant. First, let's look at America. Now, we all know that the economy is taking a down turn, we're close to a recession, the dollar is slumping in the market, etc. Don't be fooled people, oh no. We are not close to a recession. We are IN one. But, why is that such a taboo word? All economies have down turns, even ones that are doing really well. However, not all economies that are going down necessarily have to have an upturn. That's important to think about. "That's just doomsday rhetoric you're feeding us, Hatter" you may say to me. Oh really? Then let's look at the world. Amsterdam. Commonly known as the center for carnality and debauchery, where they are happy to take your money and let you loose yourself, right? Apparently not if you are running along with old Washington in your wallet. Amsterdam currency changers are actually refusing to change the American Dollar to Euros because they are afraid of losing big money. Wow. Ouch.

On the other side of the money issue, while our money is flying away, British money is being given away! Well, if you are in the military, anyway. That's right, Uncle Brown (for those of you who maybe never pay attention to British news, Blair is out, Brown is in) REALLY wants you... to stay in Iraq. A 15,000 pound loyalty bonus is being introduced to try to encourage a slowing to the military exodus that England is seeing due to the Iraq war. Bullets where they don't belong for 15,000 pound... hmm. Not sure I like the trade off.

Finally I really wish I had a blog back when RFID credit cards first came out. Then I could point you all back to where I FUCKING CALLED IT! That's right, easy as pie. If you have one of these, I would go to your bank and DEMAND one without any RFID. They are as far from safe as you can get, and they will only get worse.

Did you read that wrong?

2008-03-18T16:21:00.000-06:00

Ah, good afternoon my readers. This post is for my American readership who, if they are anything like me, don't care about domestic spying at all. *cough* Dot dot dot? What did I just say?
Well, according to an article in Time Magazine, that's exactly what is being claimed. And if you read it, it seems to be saying that only a very few people, mostly civil libertarians, actually feel there is anything wrong with it. However, read the article closely and you'll find a slight problem. There is no citation. Of anything. Ever. Where are these polls? Where do they get their numbers from. I'd like to see what cross section of people they were speaking with, because I know I really care about being spied on.

Well, I'm not the only one, it would seem, to feel this way. Here we have a fine article by Glen Greenwald. He disects the article, picking it apart bit by bit, and showing real, actual citations to the "facts" that Time is trying to back. This article is smart, precise, and exemplary of true journalism. One that checks the facts. Careful, Americans, become too complacent and this sort of 1984 propaganda will become overwhelming before it can be stopped by real and honest journalism.

2008-03-17T21:42:00.000-06:00

So, I'm really not inspired to write today, but as a writer I must continue to write. Much like a runner running or musician playing and composing. So I write on.

So I have to admit that it's getting harder for me to keep up with all the information I try to absorb all day. With 66 feeds and more than 1000 news posts a day it's hard to keep with all. And the world can be rather depressing to be honest. Take this little number I ran across.

So what we got here is a wheat killing fungus. If it weren't bad enough that the parts of the world that this has been cropping up in already have shortages in food for the populations they have more to worry about. Ug99, and hugely virulent strain of fungus that more than 80 percent of Asian and African varieties of wheat are vulnerable to, has been found in Iraq.

Okay... that's all I got for tonight. Sorry all my readers. I'll write more tomorrow.

Idiot of the Week VII

2008-03-14T14:16:00.000-06:00

It's that time of the week again. I know I said I wouldn't post again unless my last post had 6 comments, but I got close enough, and I really don't like passing up this article.

First on our list we have the Israeli people. Not much I have to put on this one. Just that they are suing their government for laser cannons. Man... why isn't MY government providing ME with laser cannons?

Next on the list, we have several merchants that I have had contact with in California. These merchants called in all confused about getting into trouble for these gift cards that they took from cardholders. I mean, the cardboard credit cards are good, right? Okay people, let me clear this up right now. THERE ARE NO SUCH THING AS CARDBOARD CREDIT CARDS! Really. I do wonder how any of these people stay in business at all.

And finally this week, our winner, coming to us from Springdale, U.S.A., Jarrod Hankins. He's a bailiff for the Washington County court district. And what did our good bailiff do to attract my attention? Well, picture this. You are a defendant in a case of selling pirated CDs. You're pleading innocent. The judge dictates to put you into custody for violating the conditions of your bail. So the bailff takes you away. Having no other place to hold you until he can clean up a cell, he places you in an 8 and a half foot by 9 and a half foot room. Solitary. And then he leaves. He leaves and forgets you there for four days. Alone. No food, no water, no bed. Yeah... it's one thing when your stupidity hurts yourself. It's another when it hurts someone else. Way to go Jarrod. You are this weeks idiot of the week!

Potter movies. COMMENTS WANTED!

2008-03-13T10:23:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, time to break the pattern some.
So, I'm a fan of the Harry Potter books. Good stuff, them. And the movies, while fun, we all know have suffered plot compression, and have had be viewed as stories unto themselves. But some interesting news has developed in regards to making the final movie. It appears they will be splitting it into two movies so they can have the full story in movie form.
So, I want your thoughts! Good idea? Bad idea? Doesn't really matter because the movies suck anyway? I want to know! Also, I won't post any more until I have at least 6 comments. I generally get 6 hits a day, so that should be easy.

I'll start it. Personally, I love the idea. Yeah, I'll have to wait 6 months to get the full thing, but who cares? There will be no need to cringe as you enter, trying to predict what vastly important activity or character they will be cutting, you can enter, relatively certain you will betting the full story. I, for one, am stoked.

Eye know eye want one

2008-03-13T08:30:00.000-06:00

I know, I know. I am late posting for yesterday. Life things happen sometimes. However, if things go right, I should be able to have multiple posts today.

First on todays agenda, though, time to go back to the future! No, they aren't making another movie in the wake of all the other movies from the 80's trying to make a profit off a sudden, late, 4th installment. Nope, the future, my friends, is now.
There are two items I discovered yesterday in my march through massive information intake that caught my attention for this post. Kevin Warwick, a cybernetics professor at the University of Reading, has wired the nerves from his forearm into a computer and was able to make a cybernetic arm across the country respond in the the same manner as he moved his arm. Now granted, this news is somewhat old in that it was 2002 when this experiment took place, but read the article. Warwick is nothing if not dedicated to his idea to march us right into the cybernetic age. I don't know what sort of advancements this man has made, but I know I'll be keeping my eyes open for his next upgrade.

And speaking of upgrades, this is what I'm talking about! An eye. A freaking cybernetic eye! Where does the line start?

Mistakes, mecha, and machine guns

2008-03-11T18:56:00.000-06:00

Whoops is all that can be said by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer can say this week. Long time opponent of games like Grand Theft Auto, and no doubt Mass Effect, for their blatant rewards of sex to children, was linked to a prostitution ring. Way to go there buddy. But a two faced politician? Surely not. At least the good governor is not a complete freak... like someone who would steal 1,300 pieces of women's underwear. Moving on.

So, two pieces of big news today for anyone looking skyward. In our first bit of news, we find that Canada has sent up their addition to the international space station, giant robotic arms! Ooookay. You see, this is something I would have expected from the masters of giant robos. But no, Japan has something else in mind to contribute to the international space station. Kibo was launched into space this week proving once again that the Japanese can do it bigger and better than the rest of us.

And finally, in today's news, I have a great big WTF. What you see here is someone who made a concept piece. It is a flash light that with a flick unfolds into a semi-auto mini rifle. Okay, now I completely remember when I was a kid I could look at ANYTHING and tell you how you would turn it into a James Bond-esque hidden weapon, but THIS just goes above and beyond. After all, that phase of my life ended when I was 9. Oh, sure, they SAY that they won't be making this for production... for now anyway. However, with just a brief look at this video, I'll bet you I could recreate this little number, given the right time and parts. I love advances in the future, but I'm sorry, THAT shit is scary. Walk away from the toy box, kiddies, daddy's been hiding his mini uzi in with the building blocks.

High flyers and high feelings

2008-03-10T15:51:00.001-06:00

Oook ook. Those trained monkey's working for the TSA strike again. Nothing as horrific as contaminating medical supplies needed by a kid, but one again technology has got the better of them. How do these guys even run the scanning equipment they use? Why are they not jumping up and down on the magic display moving table and beating the evil display box with sticks? Anyway, this time around a Mac book Air baffles these baboons (I mean buffoons). Surely a computer can't be that small. It must be actually be a giant blade used for hacking a plane in half. Good call there, boys. Keeping the unfriendly skies just a little safer.

Will Superman ever cease to amaze? Each year it seems the boy in blue is a little cooler than the year before. Today I find out that he is so advanced that his staple power of x-rays... they are just t-rays... only cooler!

Okay, for the main body of my blog today. There is a blog that I pick up courtesy of the BBC. In it, a person of disability rants and raves. First off, kudos to them for finding a constructive outlet. However, I must say, that I am often incredibly put off by this person's outlook on life. Now, not sharing their disability, I could not possibly understand what they go through on a daily basis. This I understand and accept. Which is why I will not try to imply that this person is wrong in any of their views or beliefs. However, today I read an article by them that had me rather distressed. The article, focusing on how to be content since we can't really be happy, made me think about myself and those around me. To me, the notion that we can't truly be happy because life conspires against us, so we might as well be content, is a crock. To be more specific, and graffic, a crock of shit that has been steeping and boiling all week long. It is as repugant to me as that.
After all, why shouldn't we be happy? Is there some unwritten law that says only a small percentage of humans can be happy? So what if we only have rights and not privilages? Can we not still be happy in those rights?
Now I don't mean to sound either shallow or dilusioned. I'm not saying that we should all lower our standards so that we can be completely happy where we are. I'm also not saying that everyone in the world, so long as they go with a positive attitude, will be overnight millionares without a care in the world and all their dreams come true. Here is what I am saying.
Why should you be content with being content? That is static. Press on, press forward. Change and evolve. WORK for what makes you happy. Find the things that make you happy and keep them close. When you find yourself becoming just content, find something else that makes you happy and work for it. If you like learning, go get another degree. Yeah, it's hard and will cost money, but if it makes you happy, work for it. Enjoy writing? Write a book. So it isn't published the first time and it took you a year to slog through it. Big deal. Get back up, refine it, try to publish through someone else. Does being outside make you happy? Find a job that puts you out there. It might not make enough money to give you a bunch of luxuries, but that's why it's something you work for. But why ever just be content?
I see no reason to. I want to be happy, and I plan to work for it.

Idiot of the Week VI

2008-03-07T14:59:00.000-07:00

No no. Oh god no. Please tell me it isn't so!
Hoooooooooboy. Alright, Party guests... this week we have quite the crowning achievement for Idiot of the week. First a few runners up, but then... a scathing review on one of my biggest peeves.

First off, a few from work, mine and a friend's. No links to follow, you just have to take my word. First, from a friend who was moonlighting at Jamba Juice for awhile. A man comes stomping in, business suit, looking important. He marches right up to the counter and states that he wants a Strawberry-banana Smoothie. Okay people, back up in time with me to about 1999, which was about the last time in this country that you could walk into a coffee store, order a "coffee" and get a cup of steaming hot black liquid within 30 seconds. Now, bear with me folks, I know it's ONLY been almost a decade since then, but what tree do you have to live up to know, you can't walk into Starbuck's and just get a coffee, and you can't walk into Jamba Juice and get JUST a strawberry-banana smootie? So, back to my friend, who responds back to the man, "Which one?" And she may as well have punched him in the stomach. He opens his mouth, astounded, stumbles, and finally looks up at the board, for the first time, amazed at this wonder of modern science called writing. Fast forward about 20 minutes, (and let's not even go on about the free boost), and the man has ordered his smoothie. Brilliant.
Speaking of brilliant, let me give you a quick run down of what I do at work in case you haven't read all my posts. I work the chargeback department of a merchant processing center. In easier language, when you the creditcard holder find a charge on your bill that you don't like, and you go to your bank, they take it off. I'm the guy who has to help the merchant find his documentation to fight back to take your money back away. So this lady calls in. She got a chargeback. Fairly large dollar amount. Now, on the notice we send, in BIG BOLD LETTERS it says: ATTENTION, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CREDIT THIS CUSTOMER. Why, you ask? The chargeback already did credit the customer. Anything more is a double credit. So the merchant calls in, we explain all this to her. What does she tell us? Just yesterday she cut this customer a check. Not only did she just ignore the big letters, she sends, quite possibly, the worst form of credit ever! And then what does she say when we inform her that the cardholder now has the merchandise and two full credits? That she doesn't really care. Wow... I know now where I need to do all my future shopping.

Ah, welcome back to the age of the caveman, when disputes were settled with brute force and thick skulls instead of laws and intellegence. So, a couple local to my area took possession of part of their neighbor's land due to an obscure law that states that a person my lay claim to any land that they have been using, uncontested, for 18 years. First off, that's a long time to sit in one place that someone else claims to be theirs when that person doesn't actually come and tell you to shoo. However, what cave did these people crawl out of who sent a letter to this couple that had a rifle cartridge and a shotgun shell in it, posing the question of which would the couple like to face.

What moron hired this TSA employee? So you see a KID, 14, coming aboard a plane. He has a feeding tube INTO HIS FREAKING STOMACH. And your security check point monkey looks at this and his skull pops open that the little red "terrorist" light pops up. So he waddles over to the boy and, dispite protests and any level of better judgement, opens up sterile medical equipment, contaminating it. And it gets better. When the airport is forced to look at it, all they do is say "oops, sorry" and say they are looking into the incident to see what corrective steps need to be taken. What steps? You fire the gorrilla who thought a 14 year old boy with a tube shoved into his stomach was a terrorist, then you fire the monkey who hired the gorrilla. THEN you stop thinking every person who sets foot into an airport is a terrorist. Seriously. What is a terrorist? One who inspires terror. And who is doing that better? Why, every government power that is making us all afraid of ourselves and each other. Congradulations... we're terrified.

And finally, the winner this week. Anyone who knows me at all knows there is one big thing that urks me beyond any reasonable human endurance. Text speak. It really doesn't take but a few seconds to write a full word out. Now, don't get me wrong. Chatting with friends I'll use words like "lol" and "brb". But really... wen u hav a msg that loks lik ths, especially with additions like "u2" "b4" "4get". I go ballistic. The worst I have ever gotten before today was when my 30 year old, older sister, sent me a text like that. It was like some 10 year old valley girl got ahold of her phone. It was embarrasing. But then today happened! I've got not one, but TWO equal winners. First, in older news, apparently New Zealand is allowing students to fill out exams IN TEXT SPEAK! No! No people! Stop it. This does not promote higher education.
But as bad as that is, this is worse! If you hate your offspring so much, please just tie off your reproductive organs, or just stop having sex altogether! This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! Have some dignity people!
I can't even think anymore, I'm so incensed. So, there you have it people. The idiot of the week this week... every twit who speaks like this.

What's with all the stupid?

2008-03-06T17:37:00.000-07:00

What is our obsession with stupid? I mean as a race. Humans are mean spirited creatures that thrive at the next showing of stupidity, whether it be others or their own. What the hell is up with that? Can anyone fill me in? I'm as guilty as anyone else, but I can't figure it out. Shouldn't the stupid have been killed off a long time ago, according to Darwin? I mean, like, walking-into-a-lamp-post-repeatedly-while-texting stupid.
Someone, anyone, if you have some information, please fill me in.

Also... hexapus. Go.

Popping bubbles and headaches

2008-03-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

Hey bloggers, it's been a long week so far and I'm not really feeling the newsy bits flowing from me. But I do have a little to keep you all interested until I'm feeling better.

Okay, I realize that my country is in the election stage. And I realize it's a big deal this year. However, with all my news reading every day, there is a little bit of news that has somehow totally slipped by me. I found it the MOMENT I added my first foreign newspaper feed. And it upsets me. We spend way too much of our times forming our little knowledge bubble around ourselves and are content to believe that the world doesn't exist outside election coverage and what we hear on E!
So, let's look south for a bit, shall we? No, not the Texas primaries, further. No, not Mexico, further still. Keep going... keep going... there! Colombia. Ah, coffee, cartels, and Colombians (sorry, I needed another C). But what's this, if we zoom in. Vicious stand offs on TWO borders? What the hell is going on down there. How come the American people seem to be the only ones ignorant of the fact that major war is about to break out between Colombia and Venezuela and Ecuador? I feel silly as an American. Our arrogance makes us for the most part ignore anything south of Mexico (and Mexico itself when we aren't going there for cheap booze and labor), yet when there is civil unrest with our neighbors, regardless of what is going on in our country we should take note. No, I'm not saying jump in there and play police, I'm saying simply pay attention! Look, know! The world moves on around us, but we are not islands as much as we would like to think.
If there is one thing this new experience has shown me with all my intake of information, it is this. I have been made aware just how ignorant and selfish I have been in the past, thinking just like everyone else and closing off my eyes to anything past my day to day life and the tiny information bubble I allowed to exist around me. Ignoring the world doesn't make it go away, it makes it worse.

Anomalous

2008-03-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

Got three news posts to throw around, all of them center around strange anomalies.

First on the list, you ever wonder how rush hour always turns into a parking lot, even though there are all these people trying to get home fast? Japanese scientist have done an experiment that shows this strange automotive reaction on tape. Things start fine, but then a "shockwave" of back up can quickly and easily be seen, traveling at about 20 KPH backwards.

Guys, ever wonder how this wanker got the good looking girl? Apparently the women love the toxic dump. Don't believe me. Well, mother nature seems to be backing me up. It seems that a certain chemical has been finding it's way into worms, that have been finding their way into Starlings. These toxic starlings, in turn, have been mutating to having better, longer songs. In starling terms, that means "Hey babe, come get some." I always knew I should have let myself fall into that vat in the Chemical plant. Read on.

And finally, space anomalies. There is something out there in space that is slowing down space craft enough to get people to pay attention. Can't say I really followed all of this one, but it was a fun read.

Hats off, and a moment of silence

2008-03-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. In case you haven't heard, Gary Gygax passed away today. If you don't know who he is, he is one of the co-creators of D&D. He will be missed sorely, and remembered forever.

So, a gnomeling walks into a bar...

2008-03-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, so this is sort of a cop out post. I'll admit it when it happens. But I'll also give my reasons.
First of all, I've recently added new content that I read everyday. I'm expanding my global view. This is pushing my daily news post count up into the mid to high 400's. Second, for some reason this weekend either my computer or my internet connection (or both) was moving at a snail's pace and I was not able to keep up with the 2000+ news articles that came in over this weekend while I was busy with a LAN and D&D.
So, I have a quick few items to pass along, but for the most part, my news went unread. So, I issue a challenge to any of you who actually read my blog. What did I miss this weekend? Fill me in on some news. Go to the comments section and fill a guy in on what went on in the world while he had his head buried in different ones.

As for what I have to pass on. First off, some presidential candidates show their mental prowess in the field of science this week. McCain passes on the gem of wisdom that injections cause autism. Obama, alternately, takes loftier subjects and aims for the stars, impressing a knowledge of the benefits of encouraging a space program, instead of suffocating it.

And finally, in exciting news, I'll get my glasses soon!

Someone froze Noah's Nuts

2008-02-29T15:14:00.001-07:00

Well, technically, they are seeds.
Here is an article that has come to my attention several times this week. I hadn't been ignoring it so much as not really putting much stock in what it was about. Yet, when I am bombarded by the same thing over and over for a full week, well even I will stand up and take note. So, here is the quick and dirty on what we have going on. The location is the Norwegian Island of Svalbard. Don't know where that is? Get a globe, find the northern regions of Greenland, head east. That large island sitting about 75 north, almost on 15 east... see it? That's Svalbard, sitting a mere 600 miles from the North Pole. The what is a giant vault that serves just one purpose. Find, collect, and store as much of the plant life data, in the form of seeds, that we can gather from around the world for the purpose of protecting int for the future.
A veritable stationary Noah's ark or vegetation has been constructed in this sub-arctic island. The structure sits 500 feet below the permafrost, designed to weather all weather, earthquakes and bomb blasts, with a security system on par with most missle silos. Aptly named the Global Seed Vault, hopes to stop the growing shortage of bio-diversity. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reports that three quarters of the worlds bio-diversity has been lost in the last century. A staggering number. This undertaking is hoping to protect the knowledge stored in other, more vulnerable seed banks, as those in countries like Iraq have been destroyed due to conflict in the nation. All in all, I find this a bold undertaking that I whole-heartedly believe in.
But what's your opinion, dear readers? One single seed bank? Is this a good idea? Are they going overkill here? I'd love to hear your feedback.

Idiot of the Week V

2008-02-29T12:29:00.000-07:00

Today's idiot of the week feature has two groups of, as Weird Al called them, the "young, dumb, and ugly".

First, we have a pair of Aussie blokes who thought they saw an easy target to rob in a sporting and community club. Their was one small detail the overlooked. The 50 large bikers that were having their monthly meeting in the next room over. Sure, the two would be robbers had machetes. But the bikers, part of the Southern Cross Cruisers, had chairs, tables, and anything not nailed down. I'd say these guys got off lucky with as few injuries as they substained.

The next group found out first hand that sometimes movies leave out the important detail. Specifically, the practice. Sure, anyone who watches a movie like "The Fast and the Furious" might see all those street racers and think that it looks relatively easy. But they don't show all those racers as they learn their skills, constantly ending up in the ditch. Had these three teens in question actually watched Disney's Cars, they would have foreseen their inevitable fate yesterday. At roughly 3 p.m., three teenagers driving down Colorado State Hwy 36 decided to attempt to perform a manuever called a drift... and found themselves in a ditch. Once again, lucky they made it out with as few injuries as they did.

Food in review

2008-02-28T23:12:00.000-07:00

Tonight there will be something different. A food review. Tonight I tried several new recipes for the house and they came out pretty good, so I'll share.

The first part of the meal was Rice with Cheese. Very simply named, very easy to figure out what it was. The brown rice went well with the soft cheeses to have a not very over powering taste to it. A good start.

The second part of the meal was the Broiled Feta with Roasted Peppers and Olives salad. Let me preface this part of the meal by stating, I really don't like peppers, olives, onions, anchovies... most of this dish. However, the way it is put together, the flavors and the spices, it is very unique. I enjoyed it quite a lot, as did the rest of those eating. A slight difference that I did, completely on accident, I forgot the onion, and added a crushed, dried red pepper to it for flavor. Not bad, but I will have to make it again, this time with the onion.

The final part of the meal, the desert, was quite an undertaking. The Pomegranate-Rose Cream Meringues. Time consuming, more than anything, these treats come out a little on the dry side (making sure to keep the whipped cream and adding some milk clears that right up), but had a light and crisp flavor that was an appropriate evening to a night of unique foods.

As you can see, all of these have come from one of my favorite feeds, the New York Times food section. I'll be posting more recipes as I try them.

Do you have a favorite recipe? Let me know about it.

Electolysis Elitests

2008-02-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

So, trying a new format today. One I'll probably be sticking to from now on. Especially since I had considered it myself, and received confirmation from several readers that they would prefer it this way. One blog, per topic, in detail. So here is the first.

I'm going to be keeping my eye on this. I see this and I see hope for humanity. The only thing I can pray is that this technology doesn't become prey to those that would profit from seeing it go away. I'm going to go ahead and place the link here and at the end of my little rant. So what exactly do we have here.
For those of you who don't know about the Hydrogen economy, let me break it down a little. Basically it is the idea of using water and the act of electrolysis, or breaking water down to its basic components of Hydrogen and Oxygen, as a means of creating power. However, with current technologies it remains a technology that is too expensive for the benefits that it bestows. Or at least it used to be. Southern California based QuantumSphere Inc. has some interesting new technology that blows the competition out of the water.
Current electrolysis technology consists of using high dollar Platinum metal to aid in the separation of water to its base elements. This makes using this method as a form of power becomes very costly. Platinum is used as the conductor of the electricity other metals run the risk of not releasing the Oxygen, but instead bonding and reacting to it. Enter QuantumSphere, who has created a nanoparticle coating that can be applied to less expensive and more reactive metals, making the act of electrolysis much simpler. They also state that, because it is a simple coating, they can easily and quickly use it to retrofit current electrolysis machines. They boast an increase of 85% efficiency and project that with some more time and effort, they can push the 96% efficiency mark. These numbers are astonishing and phenomenal. And the best part... you could make your own hydrogen right at home to power your nice, new, clean, Hydrogen-cell battery powered car. Or home generator. Are you seeing where this is going? And how far away is this technology to you and me? Closer than you may believe. To quote directly from the article, "The first commercial product inspired by QuantumSphere's technology will debut later this year: a battery using a cathode coated with the startup's nanoparticles, thereby increasing its energy density 5x over alkaline cells and boosting power by 320 percent. The first commercial nonrechargeable batteries with this increased capacity will be announced by an as-yet-unnamed major U.S. battery maker in the second half of 2008." Please, God, let it be true.
Please read the article. Don't let the technical jargon get you down, push on, read what you can. This is fascinating and NEEDS people to get behind it before it is scooped up and swept under the rug.

2008-02-26T22:39:00.000-07:00

So, got lots to go over today. I'll try not to leave it as just a link dump, but that's basically what we have here.
First of all, we look into the world of schooling. Things are much different in school than I remember. First of all, we find that one school set up a Teenage toilet cam. And the kicker? The principal says he knows who set it up, but they won't punish them, even though they acted completely out of line. I'm sorry, but I think any teacher should be fired for pulling this crap.
Also, you all may remember how they down graded Pluto and did a bunch of other crap concerning our solar system, no containing 11 planets and dwarf planets. So that means that a new planet mnemonic is in order.
And finally it just seems that some people watch way too many movies and anime when a 39 year old man thinks he can infiltrate a school dressed like a school girl. To him I say High School is not a cosplay competition.
You may remember that a few days earlier I reported on the ruins in Peru turning out to be just a sandstone formation. Well now it seems that there are more Peruvian ruins that have popped up. Good for them for staying active in finding lost stuff. I wonder if they can next excavate my old house keys.
So... there was going to be more, but after staring at the screen for an hour... I figured this is enough. I'm off to bed. More tomorrow.

Prophetic pictures and plumber parties

2008-02-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

So, I just could wait to get this information out to you, my tea party guests.

First off, continuing to prove that Warren Ellis is a prophet, I bring you this picture. Read the comic. It should look familiar.

Second, this has to be the coolest cocktail party idea ever. Mario is my drinking buddy!

2008-02-25T22:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I know this post is going up a little late. I'm afraid that my work place is starting to actually expect me to do work stuff. Can you believe it? Anyway, what do we have for the Tea Party Guests tonight?
First we have what has to be a typo. I pray it's a typo anyway. A screen shot of a most unusual online college course. I can't explain this one, you just must see.

With all of the crazy scientific advances going on in the world, I'm glad to see that there are some people who are still looking at the practical and necessary. Here we have a straw, basically. But this straw is different. This straw will allow a person to drink water contaminated with E. Coli, typhoid, and other nasties you don't want to touch, and completely kills all contaminates to safe, drinkable levels. This is an invention that truly touches my heart and makes me still maintain hope for the race of man.
Then again, there are the ever vain, or ever lazy, who would see it fit to make self cleaning clothing. Exciting, yes, but hardly what I'd consider practical and necessary.

Real quick I have two number related posts. One is an excellent explanation of the increments that we have come to accept as "time". This comes as Daylight Savings time approaches. And second, a post from "The Numbers Guy" from the Wall Street Journal. I tell you, I love this guy. He has such great blogs. In this one, he discusses the absurdity that is cliche in the realm of effort and certainty about giving "one-hundred and ten (or more... much more) percent" to something. Read on.

To Peru, we'd like to give a pat on the back in consolation as they found out that their newly discovered "Lost City" turns out to be little more than a sandstone formation. Tough break guys. Better luck next time.

And finally tonight, two stories that just beg to be a plot point in a Film Noir mystery, straight to DVD, B-list bonanza. First at 6:30 CST, everyone's favorite (not mine) red monster from puppet driven kids show reveals a killer on the loose as the learning toy begins spouting apparent death threats at the child who owns it. And the, at 9 CST, a schnauzer jealous of his lover's (read: owner's) lover (read: exotic bird) kills in a crime of passion, framing two young girls. I'm sorry, I really can't keep a straight face through all this.

That's all for tonight folks. I'll try to get tomorrows up earlier.

Also, talk back to a fellow once in a while. I value your input. And for now, I'd love to know your take on some ideas I've been throwing around.

Would you like to see graphics in the posts?

Also, do you like the green background, or would you like to see some variation?

Idiot of the Week IV

2008-02-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not sure why I have harder times posting a blog on certain days, but I'm working on it. Also, watch for changes in layout to the page as I try to make it more user friendly.

So today we start our installment of Idiot of the Week with the runners up. From mysterious changing numbers to technological mishaps.

First of all, we have the illustrious journalists from the Rocky Mountain News. The Associated Press released a story about a cat that was scared, by a house fire, and found 240 miles away from its Albuquerque, NM home, to Pueblo, CO. And while their competitor, the Denver Post, was able to accurately copy the article and the land distance, it seems the ever illustrious Rocky Mountain News knows better than to think a cat would travel over land, why it must stick to the road ways only. At least, that's the only way I can figure their idea that the cat traveled 340 miles, instead. Check Google maps. You'll see what I mean. I suppose it makes sense. After all, cat is only one letter away from car.

Next, an honorable meantion goes to Microsoft, how saw fit to really embody the reality of gaming by debuting at GDC with an Xbox 360 with the Red Ring of Death.

Our next story shows stupidity on both ends of the story. A man was accidentally given $5 million dollars in their account when the bank mistook him for a customer of the same name. The man, excited by his new windfall, withdrew $2 million and did what anyone would. Spent it. Unfortunately now he is paying for it. Let this be a lesson to you all. If you happen to find a lot of money in your bank that shouldn't be there, either by bank error, or your employer errs on your check, DO NOT USE IT. You are liable to return that money and it will be considered theft or fraud if you take advantage of it.

For our first runner up, showing outstanding integrity of investigative journalism, I bring you piece from Cosmic Variance about a recent news article by the National Review Online. It would appear that the fine journalist writing the piece calls memory to her childhood in New York City in the late 50's and early 60's and how the mixed families their were often made up of Jewish women who had been hoodwinked by Communist Black men. And due to this fact, Hawaiian born political candidate Barack Obama must also, surely, be Communist. Didn't the Red Scare die with Flock of Sea Gulls hair cuts and sweat band? Please, read the article. By the end we see that through other sources, the good Senator has been accused, by association, of being a Commie/Nazi/Muslim revolutionary. Thank you Cosmic Variance for this satire on the sad state of journalism.

And now for our big winner. I was really trying not to include this man. But when one person shows up 4 seperate times, well you can only ignore it so much. Jack Thompson, you are our Idiot of the week. Now, if you don't know who Jack Thompson is, you live under a rock, go look him up. I'm not about to send all the various news articles about his rampages on this article. No, I'll stick just with what has gone down this week and this week alone.
We start with a little tete-a-tete that Thompson started with a fellow gamer at the beginning of the week. See, Thompson read a blog by Samuel L. Jackson in regards to Thompson's statements about video games and school shootings in Illinois. Thompson reacted by challenging the "bad-ass" actor to a golf game, and a public debate about the issue, complimented him on his acting in "Black Snake Moan", and then left him a phone number and email address to contact him back. Only problem is, Thompson seemed to have missed the large print on the blog that stated that this was FAKE Samuel L. Jackson and that "These Blogs Are Not Real". And then Jackson shoved all this over to Kotaku... as a press release. Brilliant. Put your phone number and email up on the internet on a site challenging a celebrity to a debate on a website that has nothing to do with that celebrity. I sometimes wonder if Thompson Googles himself daily to see who talks about him. We'll find out if I get served any papers by the good lawyer this coming week or not.
Speaking of serving papers, the lawyer has gone sue happy this week, as he threatens MSNBC with civil action in the Florida court on charges of libel for a piece they ran in regards to his quick reaction and blame-throwing in regards to these same shootings. However, look at the piece, and you have to wonder what libel Thompson is seeing. The American Heritage dictionary describes libel as "A false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, that damages a person's reputation." (ref.)
Shortly after this, we find out that Thompson was challenged BACK by Fake Samuel L. Jackson to a public debate, spent all day planning it out, and then backs out.
Okay... so those three in and of themselves, I was going to ignore, leave alone, walk away from JT... but then we get the kicker. Not content with the Hat Trick, Thompson goes for four in a week when Florida State Supreme Court served Thompson with a "show cause" order. This basically means that he has to show good cause for all of the fillings he has been submitting to the court system, that the court it self states seems to be "frivolous and inappropriate". They also tell him that if they find him guilty of abusing the legal system he will not be allowed to submit any other requests to the court unless another Barred Florida attorney also signs off on it. And how does the illustrious Jack Thompson, attorney, respond? By thanking them. By stating he had just been given "the weapon" he needed. Careful Thompson. Running around with a weapon of such magnitude may push you to some strange school shooting. He also goes on to state that the court is trying to repel his first amendment rights, calling himself a whisleblower who is gaining retribution for bowing his whistle (ever heard a 4 year old who has for the first time found a whistle to blow and thinks its a great toy?), speaks in third person about how he does not threaten, and then calls himself Briar Rabbit. I can't think of more this man could have done to better earn this award this week. Congradulations to all our contestants, good show, but ultimately, there can be only ONE, Idiot of the Week.

2008-02-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

I release a general sigh of discontent, my readers, as this has been an abundant week for submissions to the Idiot of the week. A veritable smorgasborg of stupidity. Be on the look out for that on Friday as it will be a rather difficult decision this week. There will be runners up posted.

A blast from the past as archeologists discover pyrimidal structures in Peru. I'm constantly amazed by these people as I thought that by now they surely have run out of history to find and that anything else lost can only be found by the ilk of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft. Happily I am wrong and look forward to finding out what new information this dig can shed on the highly unknown Vicus culture.

China has created strange bed fellows this week as a new law in place to help stimulate its own fledgling animation industry will create outlaws of two rodents of particular influence, among other cartoons. Yes, all these beloved characters will be banned from airing in China, at least during prime time.

On a far more grander scale, it appears that a new number has risen above the rabble to show its mighty head as the new universal number, greater than even the mighty 42. Yes, folks, due to several numeric manipulations, scientists have found a new large number constant popping up, and swear that this isn't numeralogy at work. Seen the movie Pi? Yeah... I have my doubts on that one, but, we'll see how this pans out.

2008-02-18T15:42:00.000-07:00

In celestial news this week, it appears that there will be a nice lunar eclipse to view on Wednesday. Really a fun event if there is anyone who has not witnessed one before, and it will be the last time we get to see one until 2010.

La LA la la la laa, la lala la laa. That, for those of you who cannot hear music from words written on a screen, is the theme to that classic childhood cartoon, The Smurfs. Now, regardless of your views on the origin of this cartoon, this preview for the upcoming movie looks promising. I know I'll be lining up to watch. However, the idea was passed around at how funny a live action attempt would be at this. Discussed was how David Cross would make an excellent Gargamel, and how Vin Diesel should be Handy Smurf.

And finally today, in keeping with my past rants about the future, I bring you two different articles concerning artificial intelligence. From the BBC network comes the bold claim that Artificial intelligence should be able to reach human level by 2029. A bold claim indeed. They go so far as to imply that this simulated intellegence will be able to also imitate our emotional intelligence. Just imagine chatting with someone online and not being sure if you are speaking with a person, or a machine...
Which leads me in to the second article brought from Scientific America in which David Levy discusses the, not just possibility, but probability of sex, love and even marriage to robots by mid-century. Intruiging. Reading the article, I find that David follows a wholly pragmatic view of the whole situation. I will grant him that many humans to react positively to any sort of attention, I fear that his love for technology has blinded him to the unpleasentries of humanity. What we would have is entities that have all the capability of a human, being used (and I don't use that word lightly) in any number of ways, simply by minor adjustment to programming. And then the question of robot rights comes up. Are they just machines? They will have the intelligence and emotional capabilities of humans, so do we give them rights like humans? How far do we go? While I applaude science and what it can achieve, I'm afraid that in this little chunk of the future brought closer and closer to us, I will watch with a cynical eye.

Even though I started the last paragraph with "finally", I will have the real finality here. Giant, bowling-ball sized, prehistoric frog with fangs and armor. Beelzebufo... Devil Frog.

Idiot of the Week 3

2008-02-16T11:32:00.001-07:00

This week's Idiot of the Week is brought to you by dirty old men. It seems that in Colorado Springs, CO. a 73 year old man was arrested for offering a high school student money in exchange for having sex with him. I guess the old guy just got in his new supply of Viagra and had to try it out.
This week's runner up goes to several people. Twenty-three to be exact. That is the number of people with outstanding warrants for their arrests who were picked up Valentine's day by police officers masquerading as flower delivery people.

Catching up

2008-02-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Tea Party goers. Thought you had me figured out out with a Monday-Friday schedule with the weekends off. But oh-ho no! I switched things up on you.
Actually, no, I was just lazy the last two days as I took it off work and had to spend some time with my new Xbox 360.
So, to make up for the lack of posts, there will be posts today and tomorrow instead. Look for last weeks Idiot of the week to follow today.
The first thing that I want to talk about has a slant more toward an old flame of mine. The theater. This week in the New York Times there was a review on "The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island." It truly makes me sad that I am not in New York to be able to witness this. This beautiful work of stage incorporates a backdrop of hand-drawn sets projected onto a white screen. I really can't do it justice. Check it out for yourself.
In the realm of performance arts, I'm sure that you have all heard of the unfortunate passage of Heath Ledger. What you may not have heard is the outcome of a movie that he had been working on before his passing. It's called "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus". It appears that three top actors will be paying a tribute to the actor in this movie. It seems that Ledger's character falls through magical mirrors, and they have adapted the movie to have these actor's portray Ledger's character in these different worlds. And they did get quite the talent.
Also, if you like Batman at all, you have to follow this link. Just trust me, go and watch the video. It's gorgeous.
On a more technical note, all hail BitTorrent who has taken another step toward keeping the ability to transmit information freely something we can all have. It appears they have created a new form of encryption that would allow it to bypass the blocks that have recently been placed by Comcast and other ISP's that hinder Torrent.
And finally for today, a bit of a funny. We all remember Calvin's amazing idea to draw eyeballs on ping pong balls to place over your eyes so you can sleep in class? Looks like someone decided they had to perfect his idea.

On a lighter note

2008-02-12T22:28:00.000-07:00

So tonight I decided to have a much more upbeat blog. Surfing around I found that one of the best military comedies is having a remarkable rebirth.
On an unrelated note, looks like the question of what age one becomes senile could possibly be answered by the news this week. Well... perhaps some people could actually figure out how many fingers they were holding up. Oops... forgot to carry that one.

Today's post is short for a number of reasons. I really didn't feel like harping on anyone or anything... and I just got a pretty new white monolithic gaming device that I had to pay some attention to. More tomorrow.

The creepy, the crazy, and the clandestine

2008-02-11T18:53:00.000-07:00

So, first off, I'd like to ask, am I the only one who feels like Microsoft has turned into the creepy stalker man? Applause to Engadget, who hit this one square on the head and drive it all the way in, picture and all. In high school I had the unfortunate experience of being dubbed a "stalker" due to holding open doors, as a courtesy. I can't imagine if I had taken this route.
Let me paraphrase for Microsoft. Ehem. "I love you babe. I really do. You don't really mean that you don't want me. But don't worry. I KNOW that "no" means "maybe". And I will just keep on hounding you until you break down." *shudder* And "consummate"... really?
Con-sum-mate -- Adjective: to complete (the union of a marriage) by the first marital sexual intercourse.
And now I quote Yakko Warner. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... Good night folks."

Okay, next topic, I would like to do a giant "what the fuck" to the country. What is this? Okay, it wasn't a real gun, granted, but still... how did the parents let this get TO the school. "What you got there Billy?" "Oh, it's for show and tell mommy." Whatever, that aside, I remember being in middle school when the outlawed us from having Pogs! Milk bottle tops. Worth nothing. But kids were losing them to one another and the administration decided it just wasn't going to happen. A gun?! A GUN! I'm sorry I'm having trouble getting over this one or actually articulating just how much more this makes me hate the general S.Q. of the country. And in case my sarcasm wasn't obvious, that would be Stupidity Quotient.

Finally, I have been trying so very hard to ignore this... I really have, but it fills me with more rage than anything I've seen so far. I almost weep for this country. But not quite. So... instead I spew venom. So, here goes.
First off, to anyone who thinks that "Anonymous" is against the Freedom of Speech or religion due to their recent protests really needs to re-read your Constitution. What they do and ARE is the First amendment to its fullest!
Well, moving on. I really need to speak to all you so called journalists out there covering this story. You, right there, with the pen and the keyboard. Walk away. Put it down. You are failing. Fox in particular. If you haven't already showed us that you do NOT participate in what is commonly called "investigative journalism", this just furthers your blunders. You see, all you media monkeys banging away at your keyboards, you are, not the butt, the huge ASS of a really bad joke. Had you done just a tiny little research you would have realized. It would take 10 minutes of looking to find that "Anonymous" always looks for targets. And they are good. Ever heard of Hal Turner? A pet project of "Anonymous", and the more he fought back, the more he gave them notice, the more they attacked. Like a cat playing with a moth or a mouse. "Over nine thousand" members of Anonymous? Yeah... that's exactly what you walked into. Don't you feel like and assagore now? And what sickens me the most? Not ONE person who should be reading this rant will be.

I'm going to go play something violent. Video game review to come.

When do I get the glasses

2008-02-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned that I love Transmetropolitan? 'Cause if I haven't, I need to say that I love Transmetropolitan.
In any event, there is a class of citizens that is frequently seen in this gripping story, known as The Listeners. What does a Listener do? Simply. They put on their surveillance vests and walk around The City, watching... listening. Letting their suits get a live feed from the people and things going around the world and dumping it right into the media feed. This is awesome. A brilliant idea... if done correctly. And once again, we are one step closer to that future, thanks to these little numbers. Screw covert ops, get these things on field reporters, junior columnists, high school students, anyone who'll take one. Get them OUT there, seeing, hearing, feeding. I wonder how the world would cope with an available network that just shows you the REAL real life every second, of everyday.
Microphone and camera. And GPS. It's like Christmas. Imagine. It's 2 am in the morning. Your falling low on your Mountain Dew fuel and you're getting ready to actually sleep. Suddenly, you want to know exactly what is happening in Tunisia right now. You go to The Listener's web site, put in the coordinates you want, and *POP*, up jumps a list of 13 Listeners in Tunisia. You decide you want to see what akz1-255 is up to. You click. Instant, streaming video and sound of the live streets. If you think you might also find this intriguing and would like to see this possibility become real, contact me. I'll let you know what I've found.

In other, unrelated news, I just found the confirmation of a conversation I had a few months back. A few years ago, we got all excited in the car industry over alternative fuel sources. Hoorah, suddenly an option to not have to rely on crude oil and the Oil Companies. However, and interesting point was brought up to me. These fuels are really new. We don't know much about them. Sure the vehicle industry is accepting them so quickly. Just picture, 10 years from now they release a study that says ethanol fumes kill migratory birds, or something like that. Suddenly, the oil and car companies are coming back saying "Look at that! Just look how great gas and oil are! We MUST go back to the old ways. They were already so environmentally friendly!" Well, it's no eulogy to Woodstock, but lo and behold...
Hmmm. Didn't see that one coming, now did we?

Next we'll be told that Electric cars are the cause to Global warming and hunger.

Idiot of the Week 2

2008-02-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

This week findind my idiot was not hard. I didn't have to look for him, he came right to me. Once again, my source comes from work.
It started like any other call. I was returning a voice mail from a merchant who had some questions concerning a request for a credit card receipt he had recieved. He was on his next to last day to respond, had been out of town for awhile, and was trying to get more information on the request.
Again, like any other call, I explained to the merchant that we do not have access to the cardholder's name or personal data as we do not actually work for the cardholder or their bank. I was, however, able to give more transaction information and payment information. So I sat there, for the next 15-20 minutes, as the man goes looking for the transaction. Now, at this point it is important to note, the man has told me that he is at his home, not his office, and as such does not have all his documents with him. But he's looking anyway. Okay, did you commit that to memory? Let me highlight that in bold. He was not at his office and did not have all his information. Okay, moving on.
Anyway, at the end of this little scavanger hunt, he tells me he just has no information on this transaction and that we, as his advocates, need to go back to the cardholder's bank and get the cardholder's name because, "let me tell you, sometimes there are idiots on that side that don't know what they are doing." I explain to him that we can not do that. Well, we can, physically, call the bank and ask. And the bank, can and will, physically tell us to sit on it and rotate. I also informed him that the information that the bank sent us matches what we show coming from his terminal. And this is where apparently I went wrong.

Suddenly, from kind, quiet, understanding old man, to howler monkey. He starts screeming at me about how dare I be so arrogant. At this point I'm quite confused. When had I been arrogant? How dare I be so arrogant to say that I absolutely could not be wrong. I'm sorry sir, I did not actually say that. Well, yes I did, I said that I absolutely could not be wrong. At this point, he finds it necessary to inform me that he is 62 years old and that while usually in a situation like this he is wrong 99% of the time, that still leaves 1% of the time that he is right and how dare I be so arrogant as to say that that chance didn't exist.
Then he goes on to talk about how he almost had left our company (by now I was wishing he HAD) due to technical problems, and that he finally had to call the VP of operations (who I would like to point out is a VP in nothing more than paper... to SOUND important) who thanked him so much for helping find this problem that she sent him one of our companies logo'ed duffle bags. And if I'm ever in Virginia I have to swing by and see his duffle bag. And he was so damned proud of his duffle bag... that anyone could buy for less than $30.
Well, for 15 minutes I listen to this guy talk about his duffle bag, and how arrogant I am. This whole time he is screaming like Bullet Ant on the war path, and I was speaking in a very calm, collected tone. Finally, after explaining that I couldn't email the proof of what we show due to security reasons but I could fax, he gives me a fax number. Then he tells me that he wants me to call him back the next day, and WHEN he is right he wants me to apologize to him for my arrogance. Do remember that all this time he is not at his office and doesn't have all his information.
Oh, but it gets better. Remember that fax number he gave? I read it back and confirmed it. It doesn't work. Screw it, I don't want to deal with this guy any more, so I give it to a manager to call back. And she does. And the number I have, and the number he gave her... off by one number. An 8 and a 6. And as soon as he hears this, he explodes on her about this just shows how arrogant we are and proves that we can make mistakes, and that she should be on her knees thanking him profusely when her next paycheck came in, because if it weren't for merchants like him, she wouldn't have a job.

However, there is just a little bit more. The next day, I get a call in from this nice, soft spoken old fellow who is calling in to get some things figured out and to explain the situation. And then I get to look at his account. It's the same guy. He conspicuously spends the next ten minutes talking to me and not mentioning the day before at all, trying to act like he had never called in at all. I was repressing laughing so hard. I really wanted to ask him for an apology, but figured that would just show how "arrogant" I was and just escalate things again. So I handled the phone call correctly. And what did the issue turn out to be? One of his employees had put information in incorrectly back in June, and then re-ran everything that didn't go through at the end of the year.
All this came clear... once he got to his office, and had all his information.

So, for this week, Steve of Virginia. You sir, are an idiot.

He's got the look

2008-02-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

So, on the tail end of super Tuesday, I felt it was time to talk about a very important man. A man who has influenced many lives. A simple, italian plumber. This is a seriously awesome article.
I mean think about it. We gamers do expect a certain level of believability in our games. Not "could that really happen", more like "does that look right." Would Mario have grown to be quite so popular of a character if he were the littl italian plumber from Brooklyn with a Fu Manchu? No, we wouldn't have bought into the premise. What about some of those others they show? Frank Zappa? Magnum P.I.? Hector Poirot? Chaplin? Staline? George Michael? PRINCE? No. He had to have that bushy, fluffy, italian esque mustache for use to buy into that loveable character. And speaking of loveable, I doubt he would have been able to fit with all his awesome costumes with any other facial hair combination.

So, I just want everyone to think during this tumultous election... think, REMEMBER those who have always been their for the people! Remember the man who will always save you, and never burn you in the end.

2008-02-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a little behind after my initial Blog boom. The weekend I can allow. Got to have time to just do "me" things. But Monday, I was just busy. But I still could have posted something.

Anyway, today we'll be experimenting with a different format requested by a reader. Somthing a tad more linear than my ADD brain likes to be. So, we're gonna just focus on one article.

So, this continues in my now several post long rants about the future being now. In this particular article, we find about removing bad/poor/tainted DNA and replacing it with good ones. Now, for those of you who had a highschool english teacher like I did, you surely read "A Brave New World". Everyone remember that? The "Utopia" build by genetically built from scratch people who really have sucky lives, and the "Savages" on the other side of the fence that actually do things like... mate. And hunt food. Yeah, good book, check it out sometime, or go revisit it.

Now this begs the question. Is this really a good idea?
Well, the pros definitely look up. Fewer genetic diseases, allergies, a generally healthier, stronger race.
However, that begs the question. Are those defects there for a reason? Whether you believe in intelligent design or in evolution or in something else, this is a question that needs to be looked into. Is there a reason that the flaws that exist... exist? Thanks to our tinkering with the world around us, we have already seen the rise of a Flu strain that resists treatment. Bacteria that have far developed past any current antibiotics. What other monsters from Pandoras box of genetic restructuring do we have lurking?

Now, for my part, I'm all for it. Press on, man, press on. Reach for the stars, make new DNA, cybernetics, reconstruct, and grow.
However, like far too many things about mankind an our advancements, don't go to fast. Take it easy. Check it out. See what happens.

Okay... so sorry to everyone who feels this post is lacking. Again, I'm working on not just pouring out everything. Focusing on one thing can be hard with such a high intake of information.

Had the Hat trick, going once more

2008-02-01T14:33:00.001-07:00

So, I've already scored a hat trick for the day, except that one of the posts should have been yesterdays, so here is the real thing.

So, I've been feeling that my previous posts have been leaning in a very caustic direction, and not wanting this to be some pseudo-sarcastic emo panty-rant blog, I decided to add something a little on the lighter side.

First off, I have last minute runners up to the "Idiot of the Week" contest. Let's give a big hand to these guys for coming in just under the wire, but just a bit short. First off we have a man in Connecticut who thought he had a great idea for sharing his love of herbatology. "Honest! I was just at McDonald's to get my diploma, I mean, eat!"

The second runner up is a local man here in Colorado who assaulted a hiker this weekend with a club after running screaming at them. The assalant somehow managed to fall and lose his weapon at which point the wife of the victim picked up the weapon, and showed the attacker how to use it. I wonder if he ran off screaming too. I'm currently not sure who to feel more sorry for.

With all the competitions to be the first whatever in space, good news for some old friends. That's right, Lucy's in the Sky with Diamonds!

I love it what people can come up with when they have nothing better to do with their time. We humans are so relevant to the world around us. LOL

And finally, in keeping with my news that the future is now, I bring you this little jewel of information. I'm just waiting for the first story the hyperspace, warp, or some other form of efficient interstellar travel, I'm quitting my job, waiting for the lightsabers to come out, and then it is SO on!

Something needs to be said.

2008-02-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

For those that know me, you know that as much as I try to hide it, I'm a sentimental man. When my best friend got married last May, I cried when I watched the father of the bride cry. When another good friend of mine got married the beginning of this year, I cried. And like everyone else in the world, I cried about the dog. No, the other one. So, when I felt the warm lacrimation as I read this article, I knew something had to be said.

Before I go on, I have a very interest analogy I must put into place. You see, I suppose that I support the War. Why? Well, as I once heard, saying that you support the troups but that you don't support the war is asanine. Would you ever say that you supported a sports team but you wanted them to lose? It's like saying you support the Red Sox, but you are furious that their manager has sent them to play the Yankees, and so you don't support the game. So, if by supporting the troups I support the war. So be it. They need all the support they can get. Because other people aren't giving it to them. Did you read the article? No? STOP! Go back, READ IT!

What the hell has happened to this country? Where we can have legislation in line that will allow our soldiers to be misdiagnosed to the point of death, and their family has no recourse? Why was this allowed?

Once again I blame you, America. Not the politicians. They were just doing what was natural for a politician to do. Like sharks hunting fresh blood. No, I blame the people, for not doing their job. This one falls to our grandparents for not getting incensed by this sort of treatment, but the rest of us do not miss the bullet on it, and I'm just as guilty for not paying attention to what goes on in the government above me.

I hope you support your troups. I do. If you do, DO SOMETHING about it. I think it's time I did.

Late Link Dump for 01/31/08

2008-02-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone. Lots of ground to cover today and not a lot of time. I apologize for the lack of update yesterday as my actual job kept me rather busy. So, here's the best for January 1st.

Looks like life is pretty dull for Paleontologist these days. Not a lot left to be found to go around, I guess. Speaking of enough to go around, turns out Domino's Pizza has an interesting definition of the word "unlimited".
In the realm of things that are quite limited, recent news lets us know that Gas prices are on the rise again and the final Bush Budget might leave people feeling a little skim on the homelands. We may want to look for alternate power before too long. Someone might drown.

As a gamer, I felt it was time to vote on the issues at hand. Important news in the gaming world... I'll leave Halo and Smash Bros. to everyone else to cover. I'm talking about two old friends.

I have depressing news, and because I don't like to end with this crap, I'm putting it here in the middle.

So we'll follow that with a Random Stat. Again, I love the Brits.

In science and health news, a shot might not be enough, and someone needs to remember to turn the heater off when they leave for the day. Spider volcano Strange things are being sent back to us from the surface of Mercury.

Life is becoming interesting for school kids these days. Quickfire link line: Quiz show classroom, Rove routed, Green Eggs and Ham revival, awesome kid critic, and the great Mc-diploma idea in Britain.

In the realm of human rights, waterboarding has become a hot topic. And people, remember, there are easier ways to research what people are talking about.

Entertainment news raps us up for the day with a quick look at what is theater, and what shouldn't be.

And one last thing...
Isabella Rossellini freaks me out

Idiot of the Week 1

2008-02-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

Good morning people, it's Friday. That means time for the first installment of the Mad Hatter's Idiot of the week series.
Originally it had been my plan just to list the most mind-numbingly stupid person, or people, I had encountered in my day to day life. However, it seems this week we had enough stupidity to add a runner up. To quote The Tallest: "Gooooood for you."

First runner up belongs to the Denver police department and Colorado state mental institution. After all, who else could sit and listen to a man admit that he has previously feigned mental instability so as to shorten lengthy prison terms, and then later, put him into the Colorado state mental hospital who would then loss him, not just again, but for the fifth time. Congratulations to the runners up.

Our winner for today comes from a story from my work. My work deals with the business of chargebacks. Now, there are certain basic principles that drive how commerce should work, and certain rules and regulations that Visa/MC expect merchants to follow to protect a sale. One of those is getting a swipe or imprint of the card. The other is to get a valid authorization the first time. Another is to get a signature. Now, that second one is important to my story and important for any business owners out there reading this to focus on. You see, Visa/MC dictate that if a card ever registers a "decline" status, of any form, you stop right there, you do not try again, you do not pass go, and if you want to collect your 200 dollars, you collect it by a different means.
Enter a specific car dealership we happen to process for. A cardholder's bank did something very unique and very nice. They called up the dealership to inform them that a substantial chargeback would be coming in against them as the cardholder's card had been stolen and run at their establishment, have a nice day. That merchant then called us up to see what was up and if we could prevent it. My co-worker who handled the call later showed me the authorization log for this sale. The merchant got TWO declines when trying to run it, then forced the sale through. Way to go guys, you FAIL. However, that's not the worst part. The worst part is that the sale that this merchant is not only out the merchandise on, but will soon be out the money on too... it was for in excess of $34,700. Congratulations, sirs, you are this weeks IDIOT OF THE WEEK.

One step closer

2008-01-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

So, I've already referenced it once. I'll do it again.
Because we are one step closer.

I remember this great film from the late '90s called Gattaca. And such a clever name. Especially when held in context of the movie. It was all about DNA. And for those of you who know anything about DNA, there are 4 enzimes that make two pars, each designated by a letter: G, A, T, and C. As you can see, the name of the film employs only those letters.

Today, that name would no longer be possible. As of today, we may be able to write that list as: G, A, T, C, d5SICS, dMMO2. Go read.

I'm curious about reactions to this. Hopeful? Terrified? Already fantasizing about real Catgirl?

I'm already imagining a world where I can fly to work if I feel like it that day... on my own wings. A world where we can finally get rid of that stupid joke.

Link Dump 01/29/08

2008-01-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

I really don't want to be just another Blog in the sea of Blogs on the Blogosphere who is just a Blog of regurgitated Blogs. I do want to see how many times I can put the word Blog in a single sentance and have it still be 1) a real sentance, 2) accurate usage of the word, and 3) not overly annoying.

That having been said, there are quite a few things that I find in my daily readings, that are steadily growing every day, that while I may find interesting, have been discussed well enough by those who did it. Thus, link dumps to pass them along to you.

First we start the day off with a story of a little lost shooting star. That sort of incident makes one thing that perhaps New York should rethink some of their current policies. I'm just saying.

Potential good news for cronic pain sufferers. Thanks to the ugliest little rodent in the world. However, it's been my experiance that feeling pain is usually healthy. Feeling pain lets you know that, "Gee, I cut my foot on that rock and am now bleeding out. I should do something about it." But that's just me.

On the scientific front, we find that our design capability far surpasses our power limitations. Well, usually.

In movie news, a great new campy monster film has been bought up by Slamdance to be released. I'm excited.

Parents, rejoice! There is now less reason than ever to spend time with your kids. While your at it, don't forget to leave them a picture of you so they can remember what you looked like.

Random Stat.

A reminder to Big Brother. He has missed his time frame by 24 years. Give it up. Please. Either that or the human race will have to work on alternate forms of communication. Hey, I bet we'd cut the amount of Spam that way.

To close out the dump, one final "OOPS" for you science geeks to chuckle about and a heartwarming story about a super little guy who just wanted to see the world.

That's your link dump for Tuesday, January 29th, 2008

We're in the wrong country.

2008-01-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

Short post here.
What the crap!? This has to be the most AWESOME thing I've ever seen. Something tells me that they don't issue British Police guns. Their brains are dangerous enough as it is. We should consider this in our country. Then we wouldn't need something like a Police Watch.
Don't forget compensation! We here in America are stuck thinking that we are so productive with our 40-80 hour work weeks and our LUXURIOUS two weeks paid vacation. Pay attention to Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, the EU, Finland, Germany, Ireland, India, Russia, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K. Why the hell do we think that we have a good business system? Somehow I think we're slipping from The American Dream.

Oh, and for everybody, closing note. Eat real food!

Notes from the Bank Card industry I

2008-01-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

So, I figured I should add several helpful blogs to go along with my rants. The job that I work is in the banking card industry. In lay terms, credit cards.
Now, the actual way that the credit card industry works is far different than what the average person knows. I know I didn't know about it. So, I'll be sending out a few helpful notes here and there.

Now first, a little about the actual company that I work for. We are a "merchant processing center". That is to say, when you run your card through that credit card machine at your favorite clothing shop, SOMEONE has to collect that information, transmit it to your bank, initiate the debit to your account, and then transfer the money into your merchants bank account. This is why most credit card sales don't appear on your statement for a day or two. The SOMEONE I meantioned before, that would be the company that I work for. Well, I work for one of the many companies that perform this service.

Now, contrary to what you might be thinking, this is not a post just for the merchant, but also for the consumer. So I encourage people to pay attention. This first post will actually be focused for the cardholder.

You there, with the credit card IN YOUR HAND. Did you know that you have a lot more power, protection, and control than is commonly believed? Let me explain. There is an action that many people are not familiar with. It is called a "chargeback". A chargeback is when you go to your bank and tell them there is an unauthorized charge on your account, and your bank sends the charge back to the merchant. Clever naming convention. Anyway, here is the part that most cardholder's do not know.

By Visa and MasterCard's rules and regulations, a cardholder has the right to dispute any transaction that appears on their statement.

Read that line very carefully. Now, you might be saying "I went to my bank once with a problem and they told me that I could only file a dispute up to 7/15/30 days after the transaction." Yeah, I've heard all that before. My response to you is this. Your bank lied to you. This is a Visa/MC rule. The reason your bank tried to disuade you from placing a chargeback... because it costs them money. Your typical chargeback has a time frame between 60 and 120 days. There are some, albeit very rare, occasions where you can initiate a chargeback on your account up to 18 MONTHS from the time of the transaction.
Also, if a transaction appears that you just aren't sure of, if it is valid or not, you also always have the right, up to 18-24 months after a transaction, to go to your bank and ask that they procure the receipt for you. This is called a retrieval request, and is also your right by Visa/MC.

Now, here is where you have the power. The burden of proof, and do pay very close attention to that wording, is on the merchant. And the proof that Visa and MasterCard require, is always hard copy documentation. After saying that, I want to let you all know what I am not doing.

I am NOT (please read that word underscored, starred, highlighted, in bold 800 pt font in your brain) encouraging you to dispute every transaction, good or bad, on your account to get out of it. Yes, the merchant has to prove the transaction, and yes you technically could do that, and possibly get some valid transactions taken off your account. However, just because you won the chargeback, does not mean that the merchant cannot fight back, either through court or collections, to get their rightful compensation. And I guarentee you that the information they have is probably strong enough to stand up in a court of law, even if rejected by Visa.

What I am encouraging you is this. Know your rights. As a cardholder, if you think there are charges on your account that genuinely should not be there, know that you have the right by Visa and MasterCard to dispute it.

The state of the theater

2008-01-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

When the hell did politics become such a stage show? I mean REALLY PEOPLE! What the hell is this? I know, old news, but I have a lot of blogging to catch up with.
Now first off, I don't want anyone to think that I am targeting Hilary or any of the candidates specifically. This was just the easiest incident to focus on. First off, I'd like to say that I've been in theater since middle school... and I've seen middle schoolers with more convincing performances. And it doesn't stop there.
You want to know why so many people are apathetic when it comes to politics? Because it never matters. Now, I'm sure that someone is going to want to throw out some statistic about some election that was SO CLOSE. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the fact that no matter who we get in the office, it's all crap. Why do I say that? Everyone remember how grading worked in school? Let me give you a refresher course. An A was usually the 100-90 range. A B was between 89 and 80. C's, and let me stress here AVERAGE, was awarded to those who received a 79-70. Those needing improvement, garnering a D, fell between 69 and 60. And what was 59 and below. FAILURE. Now, a C was considered a passing grade, barely, in most schools. Some allowed to eek by with a D, but we'll ignore those for now, because they are the reason American is so poorly educated... and this is not an education blog. So, with that in mind, who was our LAST passing president? That statistic is popular opinion. That is, the number of people in the States that actually think the President is moving us in the right direction. Most of them are falling in the below average range and many fail miserably. Not sure you trust what your fellow Americans believe is the right direction for our country? Well how about checking the historical rankings? Using the same scale as school again, those who have a ranking of 70% would have to have an average ranking, on a scale of 1-42, of 12.6 or better. When was the last time we had one of those?
So, who do I blame? Not the politicians, the voters. Your apathy put the people into power in such away as to collectively bend the country over, grease our ass, and ask for more. Get off you lazy ass and do something about it! That is not just your right but your responsibility as an American. Or perhaps you have already reserved yourself to a different future? God I hope not. And if you have, let me be your Spider.

One last thing people, remember this, when our country was founded is was "For the people, by the people." The PEOPLE are supposed to have the power. So next time YOUR politician is getting a failing grade, let's not reward them by pushing them on through to the next level. Let's put someone in office who will really work for that A.

So this is new for me

2008-01-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is world. Finally stepping into the 21st century and joining the army of bloggers around the world, raising my one tiny voice in hopes that someone listens. Well, actually, to tell the truth, I don't care if anyone listens. I just want to write.
So, here is a little about me and what you can expect from this blog, should you actually find it worth browsing from time to time.
First off, as anyone who knows me knows, the reason behind the name of this blog is because I am slightly obsessed with Lewis Carroll, specifically the character of the Mad Hatter. Don't get me started on Lewis Carroll unless you have a few hours to listen to me. I myself am a strange sort of intellectual. What that means is, there are somethings I'm very smart about. And some things I'm absolutely clueless about. You'll probably learn where the fence between those two sides lie pretty quick if you read this. However, on the flip side I do still know just a little about most things that if you aren't careful, I'll fool you into thinking that I know more than I do. I'm tricky like that.
I'm also pretty cynical.

As for what to expect in this Blog, for anyone who has read Alice in Wonderland and remembers the Tea Party, you'll remember that the topics of conversation were all over the place. This is a dump for my brain. So expect it to be the same. I give much thanks to Zefrank for his wonderful discourse on ideas. If you do not know of or pay attention to this man, let me encourage you too.
I do plan to have at least one update a week, but I am shooting for more. On Fridays, watch for "Idiot of the week". This will be a running commentary on the unstoppable stupidity of the "dominate race" on this planet, and hopefully help you wonder how any of us managed to pull our opposable thumb out of our collective asses. It will focus on whomever catches my ire, be it someone public on the news or someone private who I work with or run into in my everyday life. Fear not readers, for I am not immune to this scathing report. Don't be surprised to see myself show up a few times as no one knows my own stupidity like myself.
As for any other posts, whatever moves me that day. Don't expect a pattern. So, with all that having been said, I raise my glass to whomever has sat at my table, let the party begin.