9.30.2002
Oh... and something else I was pondering a few moments ago. There was one comment on the video that kept sticking in my head, where the woman was saying that all the media outlets were blitzing the innaguration (or coronation as per the sentiment of some of the protesters), and only gave 10 minutes or so to the protesters, and never gave any depth to the issues they were protesting; portraying them almost in caricature. I think that it is a common and long-lived misconception that the media should be fair and unbiased. This is certainly not the case. Major media outlets are nothing more than the video news equivalent of Top 40 radio. Replete with its roster of pin-up starlets and poster boys, driven by ratings and the bottom line. It should be looked at as nothing more. To do so is to mislead yourself.
At the lower levels of field reporters and anchor-people (a topic for further discussion) there is a noticable liberal slant to the topics covered and the manner in which they are covered. At the upper echelons of the network top brass there is just as large a conservative slant. This doesn't get the same volume of press that the lower level gets, because it is less noticable, but it is there more in a behind the scenes way. News stories are chosen and the delivery is fine tuned toward a target audience that has all the demographics of the more familiar music industry. You can see the sterotypical slots that are filled...
There is the serious, experienced alpha-male anchorman who is in his 50's or early 60's. Dark hair with lightening roots (they're hoping he'll silver, no doubt), dark suit with a dark or bold colored power tie. Sybolizes and implies steadiness and sincerity. Induces trust.
Then there is the Red-suited Beta-female. Intelligent, or at least written that way. Asks tough questions, yet touches interviewees reassuringly at moments. Counterpoint to the Alpha-male. Panders to the female demographic. Strong, a little overbearing, but that is what propelled her to this place.
There is the boisterous, bouncy, good-looking female. Surgically enhanced to attract the 16-25 male demographic and make otherwise boring subjects more palatable. No real depth or meaning to any of her stories, but that is not what she is designed to do. Tries to compete with the Beta-female, but doesn't quite pull it off. Not as confident, alternately much too overbearing and not nearly strong enough. Perhaps a Beta-female in training.
This lower level female can be replaced interchangeable with a similarly-suited male, with a few changes. The stories and content do not change, however.
The low ranks consist of a host of bottom feeders, picking up any story they can and trying to make it look interesting. There are comedian reporters (with varying levels of success), "Ensign Expendable" reporters sent to battlefields to catch the news (and shrapnel) "as it happens" and no-namers that are just happy to have their stage names blasted across the nation.
"for CNN at the White House, this is Rock Hudson reporting"
Anyhow, this serves to restrict the flow of "truth" from any particular event. Other outlets try to pick things up, but without the funding or the resources of the larger networks, there is a gap. There is also serious slant to the stories. Much worse than from the "mainstream" media. Many of these outlets are nothing more than political platforms for a disenfranchised few. They have their say, but tend to discredit themselves in the process. It is really a buyer beware market.
So, in conclusion. There is no way to really know what EXACTLY is happening, in regard to news. It comes down to which version of truth you personally subscribe to, and beyond that it matters little because they are all false.
Just something to think about.
"From the impenetrable fortress of logic and sanity, Jeff Green, reporting"
At the lower levels of field reporters and anchor-people (a topic for further discussion) there is a noticable liberal slant to the topics covered and the manner in which they are covered. At the upper echelons of the network top brass there is just as large a conservative slant. This doesn't get the same volume of press that the lower level gets, because it is less noticable, but it is there more in a behind the scenes way. News stories are chosen and the delivery is fine tuned toward a target audience that has all the demographics of the more familiar music industry. You can see the sterotypical slots that are filled...
There is the serious, experienced alpha-male anchorman who is in his 50's or early 60's. Dark hair with lightening roots (they're hoping he'll silver, no doubt), dark suit with a dark or bold colored power tie. Sybolizes and implies steadiness and sincerity. Induces trust.
Then there is the Red-suited Beta-female. Intelligent, or at least written that way. Asks tough questions, yet touches interviewees reassuringly at moments. Counterpoint to the Alpha-male. Panders to the female demographic. Strong, a little overbearing, but that is what propelled her to this place.
There is the boisterous, bouncy, good-looking female. Surgically enhanced to attract the 16-25 male demographic and make otherwise boring subjects more palatable. No real depth or meaning to any of her stories, but that is not what she is designed to do. Tries to compete with the Beta-female, but doesn't quite pull it off. Not as confident, alternately much too overbearing and not nearly strong enough. Perhaps a Beta-female in training.
This lower level female can be replaced interchangeable with a similarly-suited male, with a few changes. The stories and content do not change, however.
The low ranks consist of a host of bottom feeders, picking up any story they can and trying to make it look interesting. There are comedian reporters (with varying levels of success), "Ensign Expendable" reporters sent to battlefields to catch the news (and shrapnel) "as it happens" and no-namers that are just happy to have their stage names blasted across the nation.
"for CNN at the White House, this is Rock Hudson reporting"
Anyhow, this serves to restrict the flow of "truth" from any particular event. Other outlets try to pick things up, but without the funding or the resources of the larger networks, there is a gap. There is also serious slant to the stories. Much worse than from the "mainstream" media. Many of these outlets are nothing more than political platforms for a disenfranchised few. They have their say, but tend to discredit themselves in the process. It is really a buyer beware market.
So, in conclusion. There is no way to really know what EXACTLY is happening, in regard to news. It comes down to which version of truth you personally subscribe to, and beyond that it matters little because they are all false.
Just something to think about.
"From the impenetrable fortress of logic and sanity, Jeff Green, reporting"
Well.... I finally had a chance to at least peruse the volumes of data that was linked by Chad. I suppose it is a sign of my increasing addiction to technology, but my attention span was only just barely long enough to finish them. I guess I just don't understand the anger. Maybe my isolationist tendencies have insulated me from the anger of the outside world. I guess in the end, that that was the point.
At the time of the election, it was just one more sign to me that politics was a pointless endeavour. America had no ability to decide anything. It still doesn't. You can see that with every 50/50 election that is barely won today (RE: latest florida election scandal). The thing that I thought was ironic about the video stream was a point where one of the protest speakers got up and talked about how all the votes should be counted. I know it was before the fact, but an extensive study was underway at that point, and it ended up concluding that Bush won Florida by a larger margin than previously thought. I realize that it still was below the popular numbers, but that is the way our system of government works. Should we change the system? I think so. Will it happen? Most likely not.
I suppose I am in the decided minority here, but I think that Bush has done as good a job as could have been done in the situations he has faced. I think that the US has handled the much-derided "war on terrorism" in a good way. If anything, I think we have been a little too laid back about it. I think we should remove Hussein from power. I think that should have been done before, but we were too laid back about it then, too.
I would challenge all who complain about our nation to come up with something that we SHOULD be doing, instead, or perhaps more correctly, in addition to. Cohesive, coherent foreign policy. Achievable environmental plans. Social movement that is actually fair (I don't think that is possible, by definition, but we have been over that before). I think it is more difficult than we think.
Maybe Canada is the place to go. There are others, too. Maybe go to Saudi Arabia and see if they really are our allies. Go to Israel and see if the Palestinians are peace-loving freedom fighters or cowards who send little girls out to blow themselves up and kill other little girls. Go to Cuba or post-Soviet Russia (or better yet, post-Soviet Siberia. THAT is an eye opener) and see if Communism was really all it was cracked up to be. Maybe go to your local college and become friends with the international students. My best friends here at school are from Bangladesh. Really interesting people, they are. Maybe run for office. Maybe just sit and throw rocks in a pond and think about stuff.
with, without
and who'll deny its what the fightings all about?
At any rate, these are some thoughts of mine. I know they aren't popular, but no ones are. That is why they are personal opinion.
easy on the flames, kids.
jeff
"and I think my spaceship knows which way to go"
At the time of the election, it was just one more sign to me that politics was a pointless endeavour. America had no ability to decide anything. It still doesn't. You can see that with every 50/50 election that is barely won today (RE: latest florida election scandal). The thing that I thought was ironic about the video stream was a point where one of the protest speakers got up and talked about how all the votes should be counted. I know it was before the fact, but an extensive study was underway at that point, and it ended up concluding that Bush won Florida by a larger margin than previously thought. I realize that it still was below the popular numbers, but that is the way our system of government works. Should we change the system? I think so. Will it happen? Most likely not.
I suppose I am in the decided minority here, but I think that Bush has done as good a job as could have been done in the situations he has faced. I think that the US has handled the much-derided "war on terrorism" in a good way. If anything, I think we have been a little too laid back about it. I think we should remove Hussein from power. I think that should have been done before, but we were too laid back about it then, too.
I would challenge all who complain about our nation to come up with something that we SHOULD be doing, instead, or perhaps more correctly, in addition to. Cohesive, coherent foreign policy. Achievable environmental plans. Social movement that is actually fair (I don't think that is possible, by definition, but we have been over that before). I think it is more difficult than we think.
Maybe Canada is the place to go. There are others, too. Maybe go to Saudi Arabia and see if they really are our allies. Go to Israel and see if the Palestinians are peace-loving freedom fighters or cowards who send little girls out to blow themselves up and kill other little girls. Go to Cuba or post-Soviet Russia (or better yet, post-Soviet Siberia. THAT is an eye opener) and see if Communism was really all it was cracked up to be. Maybe go to your local college and become friends with the international students. My best friends here at school are from Bangladesh. Really interesting people, they are. Maybe run for office. Maybe just sit and throw rocks in a pond and think about stuff.
with, without
and who'll deny its what the fightings all about?
At any rate, these are some thoughts of mine. I know they aren't popular, but no ones are. That is why they are personal opinion.
easy on the flames, kids.
jeff
"and I think my spaceship knows which way to go"
and we hold these truths to be self evident:
#1 george w. bush is not president
#2 america is not a true democracy
#3 the media is not fooling me
self evident
#1 george w. bush is not president
#2 america is not a true democracy
#3 the media is not fooling me
self evident
Tonite I expirienced Mr Show "HOORAY FOR AMERICA"
i must admit i expected more from bob and david. Not so much more comedy, but a stronger political statement. A couple of the skits were classic (shampoo@customs, Hail Satan church). All of these were a blast for people who had never seen the show. But i've seen every episode a multitude of times, and it was just boring to me... when a song is played exactly like the album version, it bores me too. bob was stumbling on his lines... (i thought this was a tour)... i wonder why. david was a natural... completely comfortable on stage and with the audience.
I was seated next to a large gentlemen from Iowa. I asked him if he liked mr show, and he said that he was kinda there by default because someone skipped out on a ticket and his female companion didn't want to sit alone. He brought with him a peculiar scent. Almost like feces, but mixed with cheap deodorant.
i must admit i expected more from bob and david. Not so much more comedy, but a stronger political statement. A couple of the skits were classic (shampoo@customs, Hail Satan church). All of these were a blast for people who had never seen the show. But i've seen every episode a multitude of times, and it was just boring to me... when a song is played exactly like the album version, it bores me too. bob was stumbling on his lines... (i thought this was a tour)... i wonder why. david was a natural... completely comfortable on stage and with the audience.
I was seated next to a large gentlemen from Iowa. I asked him if he liked mr show, and he said that he was kinda there by default because someone skipped out on a ticket and his female companion didn't want to sit alone. He brought with him a peculiar scent. Almost like feces, but mixed with cheap deodorant.
9.29.2002
blogger is being nice to me again...
i'm sitting here wondering what i'll be doing in a month, or where i'll be.
i'm sitting here listening to music that most people dont appreciate or even know about.
i'm sitting here wondering what what i'll find out there, if i just tried a little more.
i'm sitting here wondering why people do the things that they do.
i'm sitting here observing and finding nothing.
i'm sitting here wanting more.
i'm sitting here longing for an intelligent conversation with another person,
i'm sitting here wondering if there are many others out there with the capacity for intelligence at all...
i'm sitting here wondering what i'll be doing in a month, or where i'll be.
i'm sitting here listening to music that most people dont appreciate or even know about.
i'm sitting here wondering what what i'll find out there, if i just tried a little more.
i'm sitting here wondering why people do the things that they do.
i'm sitting here observing and finding nothing.
i'm sitting here wanting more.
i'm sitting here longing for an intelligent conversation with another person,
i'm sitting here wondering if there are many others out there with the capacity for intelligence at all...
9.26.2002
Blogger.com doesn't love me anymore, but blogbuddy does :)
I've been reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy again, it's a very insightful set of books. You wouldn't expect such a random and odd story to actually contain anything useful in it, but it's a rather refreshing look on everything, a highly recommended read...
Don't Panic :)
I've been reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy again, it's a very insightful set of books. You wouldn't expect such a random and odd story to actually contain anything useful in it, but it's a rather refreshing look on everything, a highly recommended read...
Don't Panic :)
"cold, cake-frosting slathered hands about your throat"
(chad lets out a worf-like laugh)
grocery store cakes.. why do they have SOOO much frosting on them. the mass of frosting to cake is always something like 5:1...its as if they want you to feel sugared and sick after one piece... so one piece will satisfy you and the whole office and get one.
"now milton, don't be greedy JUST PASS"
well, i must run off to my cubicle as well... but i leave you with a song that has been with me for a while... a simple beatle like creation that just won't leave my head.
Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
oh yeh, and if you want to see democracy in action... complete with american secret police (nazi style) check this (set aside 28minutes for this stream)
remember
Freedom is Slavery
(chad lets out a worf-like laugh)
grocery store cakes.. why do they have SOOO much frosting on them. the mass of frosting to cake is always something like 5:1...its as if they want you to feel sugared and sick after one piece... so one piece will satisfy you and the whole office and get one.
"now milton, don't be greedy JUST PASS"
well, i must run off to my cubicle as well... but i leave you with a song that has been with me for a while... a simple beatle like creation that just won't leave my head.
Phantom Planet - Lonely Day
oh yeh, and if you want to see democracy in action... complete with american secret police (nazi style) check this (set aside 28minutes for this stream)
remember
Freedom is Slavery
AHHH... there it is. Just needed a little purging action or something.
hello??? I can read my last post, but it doesn't show up on chads web page....
testing.... testing
testing.... testing
9.25.2002
The funny thing about calculators is that the teachers use computational aids for their work all the time, and think nothing of it. None of them are scratching away on a blackboard in the stereotypical manner associated with mathematicians. They are writing computer programs and watching their IM client for quick flirts from the professor down the hall.
Applekid.... Dilbert cartoons are going to take on a whole new meaning to you now that you are entering cubicle land. I had a cubicle back in the day when I worked for the State of Alaska. I didn't expect the whole business structure to adhere so closely to Dilbert, but it does. I didn't really like cubicles, though. Here is a tip that I wish I had done when I first started. Arrange your space so that you are facing out into whatever passage or cavern that runs past you. Turn your computer monitor so it is facing you. I got certifiably paranoid (seriously) about the way I had mine set up. I always felt like I was being crept up on. I was afraid to check my email because it would look like I wasn't working and was just playing on my computer. In reality, I WAS working, just that I was afraid of appearances. I finally spent more time looking over my shoulder at every noise in the room than looking at my monitor. So, take my advice and turn so you can see everyone before they sneak up on you.
It may give you the jump on the disgruntled co-worker who brings a sawed off shotgun to work to teach everyone a lesson. You could have your own taped under the center drawer of your desk, just in case. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. REMEMBER THAT.
In all actuality you will probably die from a sugar overdose from all the cubicle land office parties before any violence. A slow, miserable death-reaper that creeps upon you from behind and wraps its cold, cake-frosting slathered hands about your throat. Welcome him. Embrace him.
Birthdays, goings-away, births, deaths, bad hair days, good hair days, promotions, pet deaths, pet births, getting the paper jammed in the copy machine again, and even just random I-need-a-party excuses will fill your day to the point where you will wish to scream at everyone to get back to work just for something else to think about. But you will find yourself drawn irresistably to the thin, oversweet and brightly decorated Messenger of Doom. Resistance truly IS futile.
Maybe I ran into it more because I worked in a government facility (the DOT). We should have gotten hazard pay, I swear. :)
nighty night all
jeff
Applekid.... Dilbert cartoons are going to take on a whole new meaning to you now that you are entering cubicle land. I had a cubicle back in the day when I worked for the State of Alaska. I didn't expect the whole business structure to adhere so closely to Dilbert, but it does. I didn't really like cubicles, though. Here is a tip that I wish I had done when I first started. Arrange your space so that you are facing out into whatever passage or cavern that runs past you. Turn your computer monitor so it is facing you. I got certifiably paranoid (seriously) about the way I had mine set up. I always felt like I was being crept up on. I was afraid to check my email because it would look like I wasn't working and was just playing on my computer. In reality, I WAS working, just that I was afraid of appearances. I finally spent more time looking over my shoulder at every noise in the room than looking at my monitor. So, take my advice and turn so you can see everyone before they sneak up on you.
It may give you the jump on the disgruntled co-worker who brings a sawed off shotgun to work to teach everyone a lesson. You could have your own taped under the center drawer of your desk, just in case. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. REMEMBER THAT.
In all actuality you will probably die from a sugar overdose from all the cubicle land office parties before any violence. A slow, miserable death-reaper that creeps upon you from behind and wraps its cold, cake-frosting slathered hands about your throat. Welcome him. Embrace him.
Birthdays, goings-away, births, deaths, bad hair days, good hair days, promotions, pet deaths, pet births, getting the paper jammed in the copy machine again, and even just random I-need-a-party excuses will fill your day to the point where you will wish to scream at everyone to get back to work just for something else to think about. But you will find yourself drawn irresistably to the thin, oversweet and brightly decorated Messenger of Doom. Resistance truly IS futile.
Maybe I ran into it more because I worked in a government facility (the DOT). We should have gotten hazard pay, I swear. :)
nighty night all
jeff
teachers obviously believe that people must learn to do math the old, hard way just in case armageddon comes soon and 99.9% of the human population dies and for some strange reason calculators cease to exist, and you're one of the only people left over... but if that were the case, advanced calc would probably be the least of your problems. I do think, however, that elementary/middle/junior high schools use the calculators WAY too much. damned kids need the math skillz to pay the billz... but figuring out the sine of 77.5 degrees is definitely not a practical, everyday problem that many people face when being wage-slaves, so CALCULATORS FOR EVERYONE! except the stupid little kids who struggle with adding 2 2-digit numbers, of course these are the same kids who dont realize that there is a difference between a formal essay and everyday internet slang. wh4t str4ng3 k1d5...
chad, you're lucky, you have female friends AND they tell you to have drunken sex, if you really want it, hang around the high school, the whores there will probably hop in bed with you for their job experience class.
in my training class of 42 people, there's maybe only 3 interesting people there. i hope to god there are cooler people working on "the floor" (the name for the main working area aka cubicle-land). if i go any longer without a decent conversation i'm gonna explode. although they aren't all interesting, many of them seem to have some form of intelligence. they know how to use a computer, and didn't really need to be told that a mouse works best when the cord is facing away from your body, as our computer training manual stated. the funny part was that this could only be accessed on the computer, much like wal-mart's computer CBL on using the mouse.
oh my, i'm rambling on again.
good bye.. for now...
chad, you're lucky, you have female friends AND they tell you to have drunken sex, if you really want it, hang around the high school, the whores there will probably hop in bed with you for their job experience class.
in my training class of 42 people, there's maybe only 3 interesting people there. i hope to god there are cooler people working on "the floor" (the name for the main working area aka cubicle-land). if i go any longer without a decent conversation i'm gonna explode. although they aren't all interesting, many of them seem to have some form of intelligence. they know how to use a computer, and didn't really need to be told that a mouse works best when the cord is facing away from your body, as our computer training manual stated. the funny part was that this could only be accessed on the computer, much like wal-mart's computer CBL on using the mouse.
oh my, i'm rambling on again.
good bye.. for now...
Hey hey hey.
I thought I was the only person on earth who cranked treble! My high-grade blue-light special speakers fuzz out when I have my volume about 1/2 way up. So I *crank* the treble to balance it out. It has a better tone, too.
In all reality, though, the bass you hear outside a vehicle is due in large part to the speaker being inside a closed environment. They could be playing Celtic harp music on 11 and it would still sound like rap.
Where do you work, Chad? I was not apprised of this new development.:)
I have spent a frustrating couple of days. My calculator that I just bought sucks in a big way. There is software for it that is supposed to do stuff (symbolic integration, if you care), but don't buy the lie. It doesn't. What is worse, it works some of the time on some of the things, and will randomly give errors. THAT makes me mad. And I can't use my good one for a class because it does too much. It is too good.
So I am limping by for what? That I might actually learn something?
oh well.
jeff
I thought I was the only person on earth who cranked treble! My high-grade blue-light special speakers fuzz out when I have my volume about 1/2 way up. So I *crank* the treble to balance it out. It has a better tone, too.
In all reality, though, the bass you hear outside a vehicle is due in large part to the speaker being inside a closed environment. They could be playing Celtic harp music on 11 and it would still sound like rap.
Where do you work, Chad? I was not apprised of this new development.:)
I have spent a frustrating couple of days. My calculator that I just bought sucks in a big way. There is software for it that is supposed to do stuff (symbolic integration, if you care), but don't buy the lie. It doesn't. What is worse, it works some of the time on some of the things, and will randomly give errors. THAT makes me mad. And I can't use my good one for a class because it does too much. It is too good.
So I am limping by for what? That I might actually learn something?
oh well.
jeff
um. true PLAYAs play it loud?
i'm not sure exactly...
my birthday was like any other. the only two female friends i have prescribed me drunken sex. however, i did not get it filled. i wonder if i could walk downtown and say "its my birthday, love me" ...
i met someone at work today that i automatically respect. she was telling me about old jobs and how she knows computers... i guess she wrote a program and leased it out to companies... shes also worked for a holistic clinic too. very interesting to talk too... reserved, and vulcan-like.
its too bad shes probably older than my mom.
work is work.
i've been kind of negative lately and i think its because i've been dwelling in the belly of the beast
marketing.mp3
i think i'm going to shoot some video for the blog soon. i'm also trying to figure out how i can get a button to play wav/mp3 clips from a randomized bank ... for the blog. maybe play one clip on load.
sorry for being an absent blog leader... i want to post everyday, but the blogbuddy is buggy buddy...
:)
*sigh*
i heard vancouver is nice this time of year...
ah well...
i'm not sure exactly...
my birthday was like any other. the only two female friends i have prescribed me drunken sex. however, i did not get it filled. i wonder if i could walk downtown and say "its my birthday, love me" ...
i met someone at work today that i automatically respect. she was telling me about old jobs and how she knows computers... i guess she wrote a program and leased it out to companies... shes also worked for a holistic clinic too. very interesting to talk too... reserved, and vulcan-like.
its too bad shes probably older than my mom.
work is work.
i've been kind of negative lately and i think its because i've been dwelling in the belly of the beast
marketing.mp3
i think i'm going to shoot some video for the blog soon. i'm also trying to figure out how i can get a button to play wav/mp3 clips from a randomized bank ... for the blog. maybe play one clip on load.
sorry for being an absent blog leader... i want to post everyday, but the blogbuddy is buggy buddy...
:)
*sigh*
i heard vancouver is nice this time of year...
ah well...
9.24.2002
why do people pump the bass to their crappy music? be it rock, pop, rap, country, the bass absolutely must be turned all the way up... i've never understood why or how having your heart stopped from loud pounding "enhances" the aural experience at all. I personally like the hearing all the music, not just the thud-thud-thud-thud. This bass phenomenon has gotten me to start listening to the bass guitar playing on various songs more closely and some of it's really cool, but not enough to want to listen to the bass guitar and the drums for an enitre cd. yes, they are a large part of the music, but good lord, i've been in some cars and i can seriously feel the bass in my chest, that's crazy, i see cars going down the street outside, the only audible noise from it is an incredibly loud THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD, and all i want to do is scream "WHY ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO MUSIC, JUST GO GET A FREAKING BASS DRUM AND RECORD YOURSELF PLAYING IT FOR AN HOUR!" Personally, I keep my treble maxed on my car, and the bass at about 1/4-1/2, where i can hear it, but it's not going to shatter my windows...
damned kids...
back in the day we pumped the treble, because that's all we had, and we LIKED it, damnit...
and i stick with my incorrect spelling of damnit, because that's the way it should be, damnit...
or Wil Riker's alternate spelling; "Damn it all to hell!"
damned kids...
back in the day we pumped the treble, because that's all we had, and we LIKED it, damnit...
and i stick with my incorrect spelling of damnit, because that's the way it should be, damnit...
or Wil Riker's alternate spelling; "Damn it all to hell!"
9.23.2002
first, I shall weigh in with a belated happy birthday to Chad, captain of this blog-ship.
And I shall register my disgust with the degradation of the English language that is so pervasive in our society. A few years back it was Ebonics. How dare we white folk look down our linguistic noses at people who are merely speaking a 'dialect' of English? Now it is the mangling of the written word. Both are equally stupid. At least Ebonics is amusing. Until you have to ask directions. Then it is confusing.
One of my pet peeves has been the commercialization of the *ight suffix. as in Nite, Brite, and Tite.
One gets used to the hacking of normal speech until one reads well written pieces from people (ppl?) like Shakespeare and Donne and others from that time, as well as people like Bradbury, Lewis and Orwell from more recent times. Bradbury, particularly, and Lewis to a lesser extent, had a cadence with their words that would put the best rappers to shame. Orwell could clearly abstract the pertinent details out of a social environment and apply them seamlessly to a seemingly unrelated story (ala Animal Farm).
Oh well. I must not complain too loudly, because my email communication has known some abbreviations and emoticons, but there should be a difference between what one IRC's (or IM's for those with more pedestrian tastes), and what one writes. I think there should, anyway.
Well. I am tired. Ergo, I sleep. Maybe I shall have more of the interesting and entertaining dreams that have been traipsing though my brain as of late. It seems to be the only interesting thing I have left.
jeff
"To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub:
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come?" -Shakespeare
And I shall register my disgust with the degradation of the English language that is so pervasive in our society. A few years back it was Ebonics. How dare we white folk look down our linguistic noses at people who are merely speaking a 'dialect' of English? Now it is the mangling of the written word. Both are equally stupid. At least Ebonics is amusing. Until you have to ask directions. Then it is confusing.
One of my pet peeves has been the commercialization of the *ight suffix. as in Nite, Brite, and Tite.
One gets used to the hacking of normal speech until one reads well written pieces from people (ppl?) like Shakespeare and Donne and others from that time, as well as people like Bradbury, Lewis and Orwell from more recent times. Bradbury, particularly, and Lewis to a lesser extent, had a cadence with their words that would put the best rappers to shame. Orwell could clearly abstract the pertinent details out of a social environment and apply them seamlessly to a seemingly unrelated story (ala Animal Farm).
Oh well. I must not complain too loudly, because my email communication has known some abbreviations and emoticons, but there should be a difference between what one IRC's (or IM's for those with more pedestrian tastes), and what one writes. I think there should, anyway.
Well. I am tired. Ergo, I sleep. Maybe I shall have more of the interesting and entertaining dreams that have been traipsing though my brain as of late. It seems to be the only interesting thing I have left.
jeff
"To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub:
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come?" -Shakespeare
happy birthday :P
I'm kinda late with this, aren't I?
I'm kinda late with this, aren't I?
9.22.2002
Happy Birthday, Chad!
I hope you get cookies and some hot lovin' for your birthday - what every growing boy needs.
Or you know, just some liquored-up romping and/or useful present action. :)
I hope you get cookies and some hot lovin' for your birthday - what every growing boy needs.
Or you know, just some liquored-up romping and/or useful present action. :)
9.19.2002
this is sad
Use User/Pass spamfree/spamfree
Someone on slashdot registered that account and gave the user/pass to everyone to use :)
yeah...
being alive is a good thing, dont die plz... thanks.
dont lose money in the crazy stock market jeff plz... thanks
dalnet loves you chad plz... thanks
everyone else that can post on here should plz... thanks
GAME OVER
Thank You For Playing!
Clear Time:22:19
Use User/Pass spamfree/spamfree
Someone on slashdot registered that account and gave the user/pass to everyone to use :)
yeah...
being alive is a good thing, dont die plz... thanks.
dont lose money in the crazy stock market jeff plz... thanks
dalnet loves you chad plz... thanks
everyone else that can post on here should plz... thanks
GAME OVER
Thank You For Playing!
Clear Time:22:19
So... very.... tired....
(...and then Jenny had a nervous breakdown.)
Anyway, hi.
Still alive if anyone cares. I think.
(...and then Jenny had a nervous breakdown.)
Anyway, hi.
Still alive if anyone cares. I think.
9.18.2002
dalnet's just being a pain in the ass, my mirc was sitting on reconnection try 100 when i got back from work...
either dalnet is down, or i have been banned for some reason.... for the past 12 hours i hae been getting (Connection Refused)... can anyone else get on dalnet?
9.17.2002
here is my blow by blow account for the day.
last night my check finally cashed, so my datek account is ready to go. Plan to trade today. got to school at 9:45 and looked around for the best looking stuff and picked apple, which appeared (and still does) to be heading up. I bought in and watched the price inch from 14.88 to 15.02. I briefly pondered selling at that point, but thought it would keep going up. I would have ended up quitting with no profit(because of commisions), only breaking even, so I stuck with it. In a few moments the price went to 14.86 and I bailed. The price immediate rose back to 15.
GRRRRR.
that one cost me 20 bucks.
I did the same thing AGAIN with Conexant. Thought it would go up. It did, then went down. Sold out. But this time the price stayed there. In all I lost 50 bucks for the day. I need to rethink my strategy. I read the news and it seems EVERYONE lost today. The whole Iraq thing is playing with everyones head.
oh well. I am restrategizing.
hopefully tomorrow will be better.
jeff
last night my check finally cashed, so my datek account is ready to go. Plan to trade today. got to school at 9:45 and looked around for the best looking stuff and picked apple, which appeared (and still does) to be heading up. I bought in and watched the price inch from 14.88 to 15.02. I briefly pondered selling at that point, but thought it would keep going up. I would have ended up quitting with no profit(because of commisions), only breaking even, so I stuck with it. In a few moments the price went to 14.86 and I bailed. The price immediate rose back to 15.
GRRRRR.
that one cost me 20 bucks.
I did the same thing AGAIN with Conexant. Thought it would go up. It did, then went down. Sold out. But this time the price stayed there. In all I lost 50 bucks for the day. I need to rethink my strategy. I read the news and it seems EVERYONE lost today. The whole Iraq thing is playing with everyones head.
oh well. I am restrategizing.
hopefully tomorrow will be better.
jeff
9.16.2002
they probably got hit with the slapper linux worm that infects apache :)
9.15.2002
Well, I am attempting to avaid anything that resembles school work.
and spending way too much time doing it.
Sounds like a cool concert. I went to their page, and got the basic apache start page, meaning they have a server running the site, but there is nothing there yet. I love it...:)
off I go again...
and spending way too much time doing it.
Sounds like a cool concert. I went to their page, and got the basic apache start page, meaning they have a server running the site, but there is nothing there yet. I love it...:)
off I go again...
3 days ago I saw Bright Eyes at First Ave. Definitely not what I expected...Connor played bass for the opening band, but they structured their songs really weird... and the next opener tried too hard when he sang... but his playing was very good. I think its an illusion that there are 3 different acts... because they all ended up back on stage for most of the BE songs... approx 13 people, obo, french horn, xylophone, steel guitar, 3 drummers (one kit and 2 half kits)... The only complaint I have is that after guns and roses blew those house speakers in the FUCKING 80s, they should have replaced them.... first avenue works alot better for power rock trios like ben folds, or local H... where they don't rely on the house to amp stuff. I mean with robert sledge, he just sets up his bass and rocks... and if you're in the first 10 feet of the stage you can't even here the house speakers because rob is bassing you to death. anyways back to the show... so BE has all the instruments on pickups that are being muffled by the house speakers... but besides that... the show was VERY GOOD. our group watched calmly about 6-9 bodies from the stage.... there was hardly any pushing... even less then the bff show. sometimes i would look around and see tears, both on stage and off...
extremely emotional time.
the best performence of the night for me was
"don't know when but a days gonna come" off the new album....
connor began the song by saying (paraphrased to the best of my memory) "I think that the world is going to end soon, especially if the powers that be get their way"
in the middle of the song he added some alt lyrics that went something like this....
"we fight on foreign soil
...them with the oil
..............infedels
GOD SAVE GAS PRICES!!!"
it was at this point that i realized that my emotional and political state was very much in line with his.... and i let out the loudest scream that i could.... and i wasn't alone... most of First Avenue just erupted... there was so much communion and love it was amazing... it was a very healing concert....
quote of the day
"there is no truth
there is only you
and what you make the truth"- be
extremely emotional time.
the best performence of the night for me was
"don't know when but a days gonna come" off the new album....
connor began the song by saying (paraphrased to the best of my memory) "I think that the world is going to end soon, especially if the powers that be get their way"
in the middle of the song he added some alt lyrics that went something like this....
"we fight on foreign soil
...them with the oil
..............infedels
GOD SAVE GAS PRICES!!!"
it was at this point that i realized that my emotional and political state was very much in line with his.... and i let out the loudest scream that i could.... and i wasn't alone... most of First Avenue just erupted... there was so much communion and love it was amazing... it was a very healing concert....
quote of the day
"there is no truth
there is only you
and what you make the truth"- be
9.13.2002
plz dont die, jeff
jeff + dying = :(
jeff + dying = :(
9.12.2002
and now the sanguine link is magically back.
I should just go shoot myself now
I should just go shoot myself now
the blogger is behaving strangely today... I posted, but nothing appeared on the page, and then I accidentally deleted my post with the sanguine link thing, but that was my fault.
Did anyone see my post or have I completely lost my mind?
jeff 'leaning towards the latter' green
Did anyone see my post or have I completely lost my mind?
jeff 'leaning towards the latter' green
the sanguine link is dead... I don't get it
a little help?
jeff "?" green
a little help?
jeff "?" green
i took a screenshot of the dead yahoo in case anyone missed it.
Can someone explain to me how draining the color out of their portal signifies reverence?
I prefer the klingon method of a funeral myself.
So what level of alertness is YOUR country?
Well mine is Sanguine right now... I am inclined to bet Kittyfire feels Puce....
Apples that sounds like a HORRIBLE way to spend your 9/11 supra-righteousAnger-killEvilDoers-godIsAnAmerican holiday.... not that Kittyfires was any better....
today to show my patriotism, I mowed my lawn... then I went and visited with my dying mother... then i got really torn and had wormsex with some close friends...
I really felt for those that died.
But my anger and greaving has passed. I mean how many people have we ALREADY shipped to iraq? When this war starts, we're going to loose so many loyal, USA worshiping brainwashed, killing machines. People forget that war costs lives...
We lost 3000 people.
And now we're on the brink of a war that could cost us many more lives... in military personnel ALONE....
not to mention potential US civilian deaths...
I am afraid for this country.
?I came to America because of the great, great freedom which I heard existed in this country. I made a mistake in selecting America as a land of freedom, a mistake I cannot repair in the balance of my lifetime.? - Albert Einstein, 1947
our grief is not a cry for war
damn....
Canada is looking better and better everyday....
Can someone explain to me how draining the color out of their portal signifies reverence?
I prefer the klingon method of a funeral myself.
So what level of alertness is YOUR country?
Well mine is Sanguine right now... I am inclined to bet Kittyfire feels Puce....
Apples that sounds like a HORRIBLE way to spend your 9/11 supra-righteousAnger-killEvilDoers-godIsAnAmerican holiday.... not that Kittyfires was any better....
today to show my patriotism, I mowed my lawn... then I went and visited with my dying mother... then i got really torn and had wormsex with some close friends...
I really felt for those that died.
But my anger and greaving has passed. I mean how many people have we ALREADY shipped to iraq? When this war starts, we're going to loose so many loyal, USA worshiping brainwashed, killing machines. People forget that war costs lives...
We lost 3000 people.
And now we're on the brink of a war that could cost us many more lives... in military personnel ALONE....
not to mention potential US civilian deaths...
I am afraid for this country.
?I came to America because of the great, great freedom which I heard existed in this country. I made a mistake in selecting America as a land of freedom, a mistake I cannot repair in the balance of my lifetime.? - Albert Einstein, 1947
our grief is not a cry for war
damn....
Canada is looking better and better everyday....
ewww... pop country music *shudders*
I had to listen to its country music equivalent today at work, Applekid, so you're not alone. It was horrible. Clips of people crying, "And I just saw the plane go in.... and oh my god..." in the gaps between Shania Twain's voice. I couldn't decide exactly which part of that disturbing equation to take umbrage with first....
I'll probably have nightmares about it tonight.
I'll probably have nightmares about it tonight.
*points to the left* over there... :)
I saw yahoo a few days ago, the only thing in color was a banner saying something to the effect of "we will never forget" ---- it was eerie and haunting
our local cut-and-paste pop radio station (dont laugh, i had to listen to it at work, they blast it, it sucked) was playing 9/11 remixes of bad songs. you know, where they mix in audio clips from 9/11/01. that and playing the national anthem and god bless america all day. it was sickening. if they really were patriotic, they'd do that crap everyday.
I saw yahoo a few days ago, the only thing in color was a banner saying something to the effect of "we will never forget" ---- it was eerie and haunting
our local cut-and-paste pop radio station (dont laugh, i had to listen to it at work, they blast it, it sucked) was playing 9/11 remixes of bad songs. you know, where they mix in audio clips from 9/11/01. that and playing the national anthem and god bless america all day. it was sickening. if they really were patriotic, they'd do that crap everyday.
9.11.2002
New links? No new links I see. Looking in the wrong place I am?
Yahoo.com is a freaky new gray for 9/11. That is perhaps the creepiest thing I have seen in a long time. It should be colorful and lively, but instead it looks like an inverse-munchkinland nightmare.
I am starving, ergo, I shall eat now.
Yahoo.com is a freaky new gray for 9/11. That is perhaps the creepiest thing I have seen in a long time. It should be colorful and lively, but instead it looks like an inverse-munchkinland nightmare.
I am starving, ergo, I shall eat now.
9.10.2002
new links :)
back again.
I just had my first guitar lesson for the year. It is good in a way. I end up doing rather stupid stuff, going back to basics because I glossed over the simple things when I started and didn't adequately learn them. I am working on rythmn stuff now. Simple rock and funk rythmns like "one and a two and a three and a..." and crap like that. It surprises me how much I rely on other players. When I have to do it myself, I fall apart, but as soon as the teacher does it and I have someone to follow, I can mimic it perfectly. He said that the whole point is to take away your style and make it so you can play simply what is on the page. Sounds like a horrible, dehumanizing approach to music, but to make technical progress, that is what is necessary. I end up incorporating it back into my playing style later.
anyhow, I basically have the day free. That 1/2 hour lesson was the only thing I had today. What shall I do now? I might go get something to eat. Wander up to Barnes and Noble and look at some books.
or do nothing.
I just had my first guitar lesson for the year. It is good in a way. I end up doing rather stupid stuff, going back to basics because I glossed over the simple things when I started and didn't adequately learn them. I am working on rythmn stuff now. Simple rock and funk rythmns like "one and a two and a three and a..." and crap like that. It surprises me how much I rely on other players. When I have to do it myself, I fall apart, but as soon as the teacher does it and I have someone to follow, I can mimic it perfectly. He said that the whole point is to take away your style and make it so you can play simply what is on the page. Sounds like a horrible, dehumanizing approach to music, but to make technical progress, that is what is necessary. I end up incorporating it back into my playing style later.
anyhow, I basically have the day free. That 1/2 hour lesson was the only thing I had today. What shall I do now? I might go get something to eat. Wander up to Barnes and Noble and look at some books.
or do nothing.
9.09.2002
Post it boy.
reaction in any form is good. Even bad reaction. I guess I have a hard time seeing how a post on the fallacy of sexism would elicit a bad reaction unless it was like "all men are pigs. Kill them all and spread their cooling entrails beneath the watchful glare of the noonday sun" or something like that.
As for me, I have no views to post other than I do not like hot weather, and appear to be stuck in it for the moment.
{SIGH}
reaction in any form is good. Even bad reaction. I guess I have a hard time seeing how a post on the fallacy of sexism would elicit a bad reaction unless it was like "all men are pigs. Kill them all and spread their cooling entrails beneath the watchful glare of the noonday sun" or something like that.
As for me, I have no views to post other than I do not like hot weather, and appear to be stuck in it for the moment.
{SIGH}
9.08.2002
today i was thinking about the fallacy of sexism... but then i thought about reactions i would get if i posted it, and then i was sad.
any topics on anyones mind?
at all?
ahem
any topics on anyones mind?
at all?
ahem
9.07.2002
The few surviving samurai survey the battlefield, count the arms, the legs and heads, and then divide by 5...
9.05.2002
Real quick.
My TI-89 was outlawed from my (retaken) Calc III class, and seeing as how I cannot think without that thing, I decided to do a workaround.
HP calculators have more functionality, but are not as popular because they are harder to use. They are within the acceptable bounds of propriety for the class, so I just bought one. I now have a TI-89 that is for sale. It is bad to be that reliant on a piece of equipment, but in the end, I am not taking this class to understand the material more (I still think I got a good understanding of it the first time, and as usual, my grade was a poor reflection of my understanding), but to get a better grade and the math minor (missed it by 0.09 GPA). besides, we are reliant on computer equipment every moment of our lives at this point anyways, assuming we do not live in a cabin in the woods. one more piece wont hurt at this point.
I got most of my AK pictures back, and I have a recommendation. Take slide photos. Prints are for weenies. Slide film is amazing stuff, I must say.
I will have to find a slide scanner and post some of my faves.
Chad is on cable. Cool. I am looking at DSL so I can have a good connection at my apt. Run a Linux server from there so I can work on school stuff all the time.
oh yeah.
The Elegant Universe is a cool book. Tell me what you think of it when you are done.
must go now
jeff
My TI-89 was outlawed from my (retaken) Calc III class, and seeing as how I cannot think without that thing, I decided to do a workaround.
HP calculators have more functionality, but are not as popular because they are harder to use. They are within the acceptable bounds of propriety for the class, so I just bought one. I now have a TI-89 that is for sale. It is bad to be that reliant on a piece of equipment, but in the end, I am not taking this class to understand the material more (I still think I got a good understanding of it the first time, and as usual, my grade was a poor reflection of my understanding), but to get a better grade and the math minor (missed it by 0.09 GPA). besides, we are reliant on computer equipment every moment of our lives at this point anyways, assuming we do not live in a cabin in the woods. one more piece wont hurt at this point.
I got most of my AK pictures back, and I have a recommendation. Take slide photos. Prints are for weenies. Slide film is amazing stuff, I must say.
I will have to find a slide scanner and post some of my faves.
Chad is on cable. Cool. I am looking at DSL so I can have a good connection at my apt. Run a Linux server from there so I can work on school stuff all the time.
oh yeah.
The Elegant Universe is a cool book. Tell me what you think of it when you are done.
must go now
jeff
chad is now on cable....1.5Mbit as they say....
theoretically my max download would be something like 187k and upload seems to be capped around 13k...
but its broadband and i'm smiling.
chad is currently reading "The Elegant Universe"
mmmm string theory... thats right we're all one...
i've done the math....
chad still talks about himself in the 3rd person
chad still never 'gets any'
theoretically my max download would be something like 187k and upload seems to be capped around 13k...
but its broadband and i'm smiling.
chad is currently reading "The Elegant Universe"
mmmm string theory... thats right we're all one...
i've done the math....
chad still talks about himself in the 3rd person
chad still never 'gets any'
9.04.2002
chad, move out here, i dont have anyone to hang out with :(
9.03.2002
And here i am in the engineering lounge again. The registration system is down so I can't register for the classes I need. Oh well. I can register for them later this week, without any trouble.
What is it about driving that removes you from the linear flow of time? I noticed it on the drive here and in a larger way on the drive back from AK. It is as if the entire trip exists as a single moment in time, and yet has an internal length (or at least a sequence of events) that would defy that. Ah, the psychology of time...
"nobody knows where you are.... how near or how far"
What is it about driving that removes you from the linear flow of time? I noticed it on the drive here and in a larger way on the drive back from AK. It is as if the entire trip exists as a single moment in time, and yet has an internal length (or at least a sequence of events) that would defy that. Ah, the psychology of time...
"nobody knows where you are.... how near or how far"
9.02.2002
Hello all... back in MN.
The road seemed longer this time, but it always does.
I am currently shirking my responsibility, namely that of getting my stuff ready for school tomorrow. I don't actually have any classes, but I need to show up and register and find out what I need to take to actually graduate (!) this year.
Please don't ask what I am going to be doing after this, because I don't know.
oh well, just a quick jabbering to describe the moment.
I will write more when something happens, if it ever does.
later
jeff
"You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to
So that when they turn their backs on you
You'll get the chance to put the knife in." - Pink Floyd "Dogs"
The road seemed longer this time, but it always does.
I am currently shirking my responsibility, namely that of getting my stuff ready for school tomorrow. I don't actually have any classes, but I need to show up and register and find out what I need to take to actually graduate (!) this year.
Please don't ask what I am going to be doing after this, because I don't know.
oh well, just a quick jabbering to describe the moment.
I will write more when something happens, if it ever does.
later
jeff
"You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to
So that when they turn their backs on you
You'll get the chance to put the knife in." - Pink Floyd "Dogs"
9.01.2002
sorry, I was just making sure you all know the importance of fire safety, ITS SO IMPORTANT YOU NEED TO BE COOL ABOUT IT. dont die, ok?
I love the fact that this page comes up for a google search for "Be cool about fire safety song." That's priceless.
I had a referral from someone searching for "indecisive and unimportant." Now that's accuracy.
I had a referral from someone searching for "indecisive and unimportant." Now that's accuracy.
