Ants in My Pants
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Not so random associations
So today's/last night's news contained 3 separate stories: 1) a 9 year old stabbed and killed her 11 year old friend, over a Spaldeen ball 2) a 12 year old strangled her mother to death and 3) a teenager shot and killed 5 family members, and then himself.
It does make you wonder, doesn't it?
There's an argument to said for the theory that we're just too damn overpopulated. Not that overpopulation makes any specific crime like these happen. Just that we're losing our sense of personal space, and with that going somewhat psychotic as a species.
Interesting that in this ecology/biology book I'm reading, "The Forest and the Sea" by Marston Bates, he writes (and this was published in 1960), that "...the usual ecological controls on population growth are gone, and the human species has started on a dizzy spree of multiplication that, if not checked, may in the long run be disastrous both for man and the rest of the world. We have embarked on the enterprise of suspending 'natural' controls on one side of the population equation; we must, it seems to me, give corresponding attention to the other, the birth, side."
Hmph, tell that to the Pope.
The other non-fiction book I've just started reading is "The Ancestor's Tale", by Richard Dawkins. (I never read "The Selfish Gene" that he wrote, apparently a good read.) This one is a backwards journey through time, as homo sapiens meets up with other species as they've branched off, going backwards until meeting the common ancestor of all life on earth. He crafts it as a Canterbury Tales style of meeting fellow travellers on a road and hearing their stories. Some of the science is a little bit of a head-spin for me (not having taken a science class in 15 years), but as someone with a strong layman's interest in the subject, I do find it very interesting so far. So far we've only gotten 7 million years or so back, to meeting the gorilla, but I am looking forward to grinding my way through the rest of it.
Two Community-Minded Things You Can Do, Even if You Faint at the Sight of Blood
1 - Recycle - Paper, Plastic, Glass, etc.
2 - Compost - a better way to get rid of kitchen/yard scraps, than adding it to a landfill.
Do I need to google and find some links for why this is good for all of us? Maybe later...
Friday, May 27, 2005
Sunshine
Woke up this morning and the sun was shining! It's been so long since I woke up to a blue sky, made me think of that great Ray Bradbury story, All Summer in a Day, which is such a good story I decided to link to it. The link also has The Veldt, which is also pretty good, though not as memorable to me as Summer. If you've never read any Bradbury before, I'd highly recommend it.
No Shit?
Environmental improvement to pig farms...sounds good.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
New Rules
I like that New Rules section of Real Time with Bill Maher. So here's my latest new rule:
Anyone who uses any kind of religious argument as their basis for opposition to birth control, stem cell research etc., should not be allowed to use any form of artificial insemination to conceive. After all, maybe it's god's will that they aren't supposed to have children. They also should not be allowed any organ transplants from organ donors; a brain-dead donor certainly is more qualified to have been considered "living" than a frozen embryo that's just going to get thrown out in the trash.
See Parley's comment to my May 18th post, re hypocrisy of Bush: not spend lives to save lives, in re his opposition to stem cell research, and yet he's pro-death penalty and unjust wars.
Another New Rule: 3 day weekends in late May should be at least 80F (24C) and sunny...sigh.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Reading
Just about finished with the Umberto Eco book Baudolino.
Without going to detail on the book, one thing I found interesting: one of the notions a character puts forth is that if you talk about something, then it becomes real. Not a new idea of his, I remember it being something I thought about when reading Foucault's Pendulum. Also when reading Pynchon's V. An object, facts, a conspiracy, whatever.
Almost helps explain the current US Administration's policy, they've as much as admitted that they ignore the facts and make up their own reality. Fine when you're a character in a novel...but maybe not so fine when it leads to people's deaths?
See Ben's comment from yesterday, makes me wonder: is on-line dating a reality because it was first a speculative fiction?
A Couple of Favorite Websites of Late
I find Refdesk to have some very cool and varied links, good for research, or goofing around, or looking at a volcano (believe it or not, it's almost suspenseful on a clear day)
I also like the Lonely Planet website, though for myself I usually just use it to check out the Thorn Tree (message boards) and occasionally post a (hopefully) helpful reply to a traveller question.
Monday, May 23, 2005
Something tells me that Johnson & Johnson could make loads of money with this new product
It's wouldn't be hard to pun continually on the subject, but I'll hold off on doing so.
Oh yeah, Star Wars
Saw Revenge of the Sith the other day. Pretty good actually. Lots of parallels with the early movies, both visually and story-wise.
Online dating?
So I was bored one day at work last week, and decided to post a profile on one of these on-line dating sites. I didn't join the site, that is, pay money so I could write and receive emails from other posters, I just put on a profile and can look at other peoples' profiles.
Now, it's not that I don't think people can meet the love of their life on-line, but...the whole idea of on-line dating is something I find terribly depressing. We've become such an individualized culture that no one meets face to face anymore.... OK, you do see a person's picture in an on-line profile...but pictures are static, not a true indicator for someone you've never met before.
I think the thing I find most shocking is: I was looking on it yesterday, for people geographically close to me, and I read one post from a woman 2 years younger than me, who went to the same high school. Looking at the picture closely, and using clues from what she wrote about her family, siblings, ethnicity, etc., I was able to figure out who she is... Now, granted, I haven't known the girl for something like 18 years, but all I could think was "jeez, this girl was one of the cutest and sweetest girls in her grade, I remember her as kind, smart, popular, maybe a little ditzy but not in a bad way, why is it that she needs to use an on-line dating site??"
So I guess basically I'm just wondering why is it that more and more people are turning to this mode of meeting people. Is it that people work too much and have no time for activities where they could meet someone in person? Have we become so used to interfacing on a computer that we cannot do so live? Do we now need to quantify all of our attributes to find someone who's a match percentage-wise? Is there a thrill of anonymity?
I dunno, I guess I'm just throwing this out there, to see if anyone has a comment. (You can now make comments on my blog, thanks Parl!)
Meanwhile, maybe I better go check out J-Date? :)
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Hypocritical statements of the week:
Courtesy of AP stories on the Newsweek "flushing the Koran" article:
"People lost their lives. People are dead. People need to be very careful about what they say, just as they need to be careful about what they do." - US Sec'y of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. (Right. And who called Germany and France the "old Europe"? And how many Americans and Iraqis have died in a war justified by weapons of mass destruction?)
"We would encourage them to help undo the damage that has been done. Some of it's not going to be able to be undone, some of it is lasting." - Presidential Spokesman Scott McClellan, who also said "One of the concerns is that some media organizations have used anonymous sources that are hiding behind that anonymity in order to generate negative attacks." (Right...because the Bush administration never does that?)
...When this story broke, I kept thinking "but this isn't new news is it, hasn't it already been mentioned?" Sure enough, it has, see this Washington Post article Desecration of Koran reported before
Monday, May 16, 2005
Huh?
My brother turned me on to this news item, mentioned it last night over beers. We both tend to be left-leaning politically, and while we're both often incensed by the same ideas, we do have different interpretations of what they mean. But this little item does somewhat tend towards his "the current administration are a bunch of traitors deliberately undermining this country" theory.
This first link is to an item, from Arab News, on the Saudi-U.S. Relations Information Service website. The article is about the fact that the U.S. is easing up on visa restrictions for Saudi businessmen or tourists.
Huh? We're making it EASIER for Saudis to get in to the U.S.?? Now don't get me wrong, it's not like I have a personal problem with all Saudi citizens, I'm sure there are plenty of decent people there. But - wait a second, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't almost all of the 9/11 hijackers Saudi citizens? We're making it harder in general to get into the US, but easier for the one target group from which we were attacked? I'm sorry, but that shit is wacked.
Here's a second link to an interesting article, I've found a few versions but this one is, I believe, the author's own website. It's not just about this issue, but deals with it as a piece of the larger problem of Bush's misguided and dangerous decision-making.
High School Ain't No Fun No More
Apparently, 14 year olds can't hug in school.
And just to prove that I consider Democrats fair game for mocking when they're idiots, check out this article wherein a Texas state representative argues that sexy cheerleading can lead to pregnancy, AIDS and herpes. I dunno, I always watched the cheerleaders when I was high school, and seeing their short skirts and green underwear never got ME knocked up.
Kinky
Kinky Friedman quote of the day, from The Prisoner of Vandam Street, "Cats sometimes seem to forget their friends. But they never forget their enemies. And they just might be on to something there."
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Thoughts of the day
See, I found this thought of the day link, and some of the quotes are pretty good, like the one I posted the other day. But I was looking at their quotes for this month, and I can't help but think of Bush when I read some of them. And his monumental failings as a leader. For example:
Us vs Them mentality "The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." - H.L. Mencken
Mission Accomplished "There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning." - Louis L'Amou
Gosh, no, I can't think of any policy mistakes I've made "Only a mediocre person is always at his best." - W. Somerset Maugham
I wrote yesterday that I was feeling cynical this week. I suppose that's not exactly true. I am in a bad mood this week (though I'll get over it), but in general I feel cynical when I'm here in the US and read about all the failures of this current government.
Paul Vitello writes a column in Newsday and, while I don't always agree with him, a lot of times he'll address issues that are important and should be addressed. See this link about Pat Buchanan's recent comments on WWII: Buchanan's view ignores the victims Another interesting article about WWII and Yalta: What's Yalta Got to Do With It?
What else do I want to point out today...oh, an article I read yesterday, from Newsweek, about an eco-architect. His arguments that industry that doesn't harm the environment can be efficient and productive and good for the economy are an interesting read.... Designing the Future
Stuff about the "war" in Iraq: A Deadly Guessing Game. And Body Counts
My own side comment: on issues with this administration, I end up thinking like the character Andy Dufresne in Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, when confronted with the warden's refusal to acknowledge new evidence of his innocence: "How can you be so OBTUSE?!"
On the lighter side:
Fiction report: I just finished reading 7th and final book in Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. JoeBob says, check it out. Well, I would say first read the other 6.
Now I'm reading Philip Roth's The Plot Against America, which actually ties in with those idiotic comments of Buchanan: it's a story of a Jewish boy in America whose life is changed when, instead of electing FDR to a 3rd term, the US elects an isolationist, pro-Nazi, Charles Lindbergh.
And recently I read Michener's The Source, must be 30 years old, pretty interesting fiction tracing the history of what's now Israel. Seems to me it points out some of the pros, and cons, of paganism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all.
I'm looking forward to reading the new Kinky Friedman mystery I got out, and Eco's Baudolino.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
In a cynical mood this week, therefore will be posting a couple of
No Duh! links
This article on msnbc: Army, Marines miss recruiting goals again was posted around the same time as this: Marines recall thousands of combat vests. And of course at the same time there's still the ongoing concern about the inadequately armored Humvees. I mean, is it any wonder? And can you blame someone for refusing to return to Iraq?
Here's my favorite no duh! of the week: Girls Are Mean
The EPA wants to ease up on rules for lead clean-up, so is it a surprise that kids are being exposed to lead poisoning?
Is this a No Shit! link?
Court: Forced Laxative Violated Rights
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
I like this quote:
"To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." - Bessie Stanley
Friday, May 06, 2005
From The Lorax
I meant no harm. I most truly did not.
But I had to grow bigger. So bigger I got.
I biggered my factory. I biggered my roads.
I biggered my wagons. I biggered the loads...
You´re glumping the pond where the Humming-Fish hummed!
No more can they hum, for their gills are all gummed.
So I´m sending them off. Oh, their future is dreary.
They´ll walk on their fins and get woefully weary
in search of some water that isn´t so smeary...
But now, says the Once-ler,
Now that you´re here,
the word of the Lorax seems perfectly clear.
UNLESS someone like you
cares a whole awful lot,
nothing is going to get better.
It´s not.
SO...Catch! calls the Once-ler.
He lets something fall.
It´s a Truffula Seed.
It´s the last one of all!
You´re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.
And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.
Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.
Give it clean water. And feed it fresh air.
Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.
Then the Lorax
and all of his friends
may come back.
Thursday, May 05, 2005
Various Snide Comments
Abu Ghraib Scandal
To quote the AP newstory in this morning's MetroNY paper "Under military law, the judge, Col. James Pohl, could formally accept her guilty plea only if he was convinced that Pfc. Lynndie England knew at the time that what she was doing was illegal. By rejecting the plea, the judge canceled the entire plea agreement."
Well, if she didn't know that what she was doing was illegal, that seems to strengthen an argument that abuse was condoned, if not ordered, at a higher level of command.
Stem-Cell Research
Looks like Massachusetts lawmakers have enough votes to override the Governor's threatened veto. Good on 'em. On an almost related note, why is religious opposition to the morning-after pill even a factor in approving it? If you don't want to use it, don't, but don't force your religious morals on me, thank you.
Why did the Army withhold info on Tillman's death? Simple! How on earth do they expect to recruit football players (or anyone else for that matter) if the truth about about a "hero"s death is that he was killed by friendly fire?
Spitzer leads Pataki in polls for NY Governor
Well, at least he's managed to take on some of the things aggravating every-day man: corporate responsibility, spam, day-trading...
Reality TV
Really now, who actually CARES if Paula Abdul slept with some contestant on American Idol. I don't get it, what's so lame in people's own realities that they watch even lamer reality TV? And can the Donald please get back to his real job?
Some positive new from the war on terror
They caught Bin-Laden's #3 man Now these are the people we're supposed to be in a war with, not the Iraqis, right? On the negative side: the new spending bill, while increasing death benefits for soldiers, gave less to international relations than Bush requested. LESS than BUSH requested. Mr. Foreign Affairs himself. Isn't that bizarre? Isn't improving our awareness, our understanding, and our position in international affairs one of the most important weapons in this war on terror? The spending bill is huge, by the way, but think how much more money there would have been available if we weren't in Iraq. And how many less dead soldiers. And how much more prepared we'd be for any real threat to America.
And they say it can't happen!
And they wonder why Americans are so fat
I did find it interesting last week with the reports out that the rich are becoming more obese.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
A good thing this wasn't my friend Ben
He doesn't like snakes...
Americans think War wasn't worth it...
But what I don't get is...what didn't these people who now are opposed to the war realize back when they were in favor of it? That people die? That things take longer and cost more than the hawks say they will?
Never should have gone into Iraq with the plan, or lack of one, that we did. Hate being right about things like this...but knew I was right even before anything even started. "Mission Accomplished" my ass.
Monday, May 02, 2005
You know, there IS a reason they have safety railings on boats like that
And people wonder why I get antsy when people stand up on long-tail boats...
The proof is in the passport.
I feel somewhat vindicated. I had several people ask me this year "Why do only 5% of Americans have passports?" and, while I didn't know where they got that percentage, at least I did have some reasonable arguments for why we'd have a low percentage. Main reasons being a) distance from nearest border, and b) don't need passport for closest borders (Mexico, Canada) or other nearby vacation spots (Caribbean). Well, I did recently hear that the policy is now changing, and US citizens will now need passports for those places, which kinda does make sense. But I also read in the May 1, '05 New York Times travel section that 60 million Americans have passports; that's more like 20% really, not 5%. And the State Department estimates that up to 12 million people will apply for passports in the next year. ...So I guess the question is: who's telling these Germans that only 5% of Americans have passports?
Er? (Or "blert?" as my cat would say)
So I obviously haven't been paying TOO much attention to politics etc. while away. And now I'm trying to catch up on this whole debate over Social Security. I don't know the whole story, but one thing is already confusing me. Bush keeps touting "personal accounts" as an important aspect of rehauling Social Security. Keeps saying people should have the same opportunities to invest their money for retirement as everyone else. Same opportunities apparently meaning "able to invest in stock market" or more specifically (call me cynical) in big businesses owned by his cronies. But, and forgive me if you disagree, isn't the stock market almost the same as gambling? Seems like the risks involved in stock market investment aren't the wisest thing for the average American to deal with. Has Bush, of all people, forgotten Enron, WorldCom, etc. so soon? Again, I'm no expert on the matter, but sounds fishy to me.
Agreement
I do, actually, agree with Bush on one thing he stated recently...that the way forward on energy issues is science. He feels we should spend more on researching nuclear power. I probably have different ideas on where the focus of that research should be (Sam: research on nuclear fusion; Bush: research on nuclear bombs to blow up our enemies and steal their oil), but at least he's stating that science is the way forward. Of course, I'd also like to comment that the way forward in medicine is also science, and yet he's still using his faith-based beliefs to block things like stem-cell research.
I just don't get how he can't see that a sound environmental policy, science-based medical and energy research policy, etc., would actually be GOOD for the economy and the country as a whole. Unless he truly doesn't care about the country as a whole...hmmm....
