Wednesday, March 21, 2007
So where have I been?
No real posts in the past two weeks. Just links to articles found off social networking sites. Where have I been?
I've been stewing.
First, for the better part of this silent period, I have been under the weather. Sick with an infection that has demonstrated its resistance to anti-biotic treatments. Even the best effort to suppress the symptoms have led to me just feel a giant sack of crap.
Second, I received a raise at work, and I have been enjoying it. That's all I have to say about the subject of compensation.
Third, I really, really hate Internet Explorer 7. With a passion that only people who write web software can truly hate the steam pile of putrid dogshit that passes for "The #1 Web Browser in America".
Fourth, I've finally hit the over 25 wall. Its the end. Your soul literally begins to shrivel. Or at least it feels like it. As any fan of Neal Stephenson knows, every guy thinks they have the potential to be the biggest bad ass the world's ever seen up until they're 25. They tell themselves, "If I went to a monastery and studied martial arts" or "If I was diagnosed with cancer and spent my last life eliminating street crime" or "If drug lords killed a loved one and I swore revenge".
But after 25, a much more "reality-based" assessment of their abilities sets in. Allow me to demonstrate the difference in thought process between a pre-25 year old and post-25 year old in certain situations:
IRS Refund: I'm getting some money back this year. Not as much as I have in previous years, but enough that it makes large purchases possible. (P.S. you're completely welcome for the interest free loan, uncle sam.)
Pre-25 thought process: Sweet. Now is the time to upgrade my car's stereo system so that its 400W. And get a head unit that it connects to my iPod. And now I can get an Xbox 360 and an HD TV. That'll be totally killer. And with whatever money I have left over, I can use that to get some mirrors installed in my bedroom to go with the waterbed. It's gonna be totally sweet.
Post-25 thought process: I'm spending $35/month renting a washer/dryer set from my development. That's $420/year. It makes sense, since I am going to be renting for the foreseeable future, to purchase a washer dryer. It doesn't even have to be anything fancy, just high on the Energy Star rating. It's literally a cost-savings that will pay for itself. And my left over money can be placed in my high-interest savings account at ING Direct.
So yeah, this is where I've been.
I've been stewing.
First, for the better part of this silent period, I have been under the weather. Sick with an infection that has demonstrated its resistance to anti-biotic treatments. Even the best effort to suppress the symptoms have led to me just feel a giant sack of crap.
Second, I received a raise at work, and I have been enjoying it. That's all I have to say about the subject of compensation.
Third, I really, really hate Internet Explorer 7. With a passion that only people who write web software can truly hate the steam pile of putrid dogshit that passes for "The #1 Web Browser in America".
Fourth, I've finally hit the over 25 wall. Its the end. Your soul literally begins to shrivel. Or at least it feels like it. As any fan of Neal Stephenson knows, every guy thinks they have the potential to be the biggest bad ass the world's ever seen up until they're 25. They tell themselves, "If I went to a monastery and studied martial arts" or "If I was diagnosed with cancer and spent my last life eliminating street crime" or "If drug lords killed a loved one and I swore revenge".
But after 25, a much more "reality-based" assessment of their abilities sets in. Allow me to demonstrate the difference in thought process between a pre-25 year old and post-25 year old in certain situations:
IRS Refund: I'm getting some money back this year. Not as much as I have in previous years, but enough that it makes large purchases possible. (P.S. you're completely welcome for the interest free loan, uncle sam.)
Pre-25 thought process: Sweet. Now is the time to upgrade my car's stereo system so that its 400W. And get a head unit that it connects to my iPod. And now I can get an Xbox 360 and an HD TV. That'll be totally killer. And with whatever money I have left over, I can use that to get some mirrors installed in my bedroom to go with the waterbed. It's gonna be totally sweet.
Post-25 thought process: I'm spending $35/month renting a washer/dryer set from my development. That's $420/year. It makes sense, since I am going to be renting for the foreseeable future, to purchase a washer dryer. It doesn't even have to be anything fancy, just high on the Energy Star rating. It's literally a cost-savings that will pay for itself. And my left over money can be placed in my high-interest savings account at ING Direct.
So yeah, this is where I've been.
Labels: me trying to be funny, personal
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Comedians Over the Hill
Cracked.com features an article about 5 comedians who were comedy gold, and later turned into family-friendly douchebags that aren't funny at all. Stevie Martin, Robin Williams, and Eddie Murphy, I'm looking in your direction.
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
Labels: me trying to be funny, Reddit
Sunday, March 18, 2007
No post in almost 2 weeks? What's up with that?
I've gone deep, and gone silent. I'm as horrible a blogger as I am a human being :).
Anyway, to entertain everyone while I cook up a post (fresh and hot, just how you like it) I thought I'd post a link to a hilarious clip from youtube: Pinky the cat. Its an old internet classic, and it just blows me away with laughter every time I see it.
Pinky The Cat.
Enjoy! (And yes, I got this link from soapbox -- thanks Alan)
Anyway, to entertain everyone while I cook up a post (fresh and hot, just how you like it) I thought I'd post a link to a hilarious clip from youtube: Pinky the cat. Its an old internet classic, and it just blows me away with laughter every time I see it.
Pinky The Cat.
Enjoy! (And yes, I got this link from soapbox -- thanks Alan)
Labels: cat, Reddit, soapbox, video, youtube
Monday, March 05, 2007
On Rotten College Students -- Part 2
I'd like to respond to a comment left by RainDog:
In a recent playboy interview by Simon Cowell, the "Asshole we love to hate" of American Idol fame, he points that brutal honesty is a rare commodity for teens, and when he tell a 17 year old singer at their first audition that they will never have a career in singing, some of them actually say, "Thanks for being upfront. You've saved me a lifetime of embarrassment and humiliation."
Anyway, for the sake of argument, since I have a feeling that if I do a good job of arguing my point, RainDog, with his poker face wisdom and succinct writing will promptly skewer me in a way that's both entertaining and education for all.
I don't think American Idol is narcissistic, unless of course, democracy and soap operas are by nature narcissistic. American Idol is basically a soap opera meets talent competition. There are some competitors you hate from the get go. Some you root for because you identify them as the underdog. Others are the clean cut, all American musician. Their character, or their persona, if you will, strikes a chord in us by resembling an archetype we easily identify with either positively or negatively.
And towards the end of the show, the text messaging/dialing in votes for a nominal fee is the way the finalists "win" American Idol.
How is this narcissistic compared to the old days where they only way a musical group could get any traction in the mainstream was endless self promotion that resulted in selling out to whatever recording representative decided to make you offer?
If anything, American Idol teaches us what's wrong with democracy, not kids these days. People should be charged for the right to vote (and no, I don't mean taxes, I mean a simple, "To vote in today's presidential election, it will cost $1.99" surcharge. When you consider how many people will vote over and over for their favorite artist, spending in excess of $10 on text messaging the show, it seems that a little bit of marketing and commercialism could perhaps raise our pathetic voter turn out. Maybe Simon should be moderating our next presidential debate.
The other "big two" people point their fingers at when denouncing this modern generation are the social networking sites that target the young. Namely, Facebook and MySpace.com.
However, these arguments are basically groundless and here's why: Its just a website. Where people share news and photos. Do you think that the college republicans of previous generations didn't have a scrapbook of photos and a historian? Do you think the fraternities and sororities of the last generation didn't assemble their photos into albums or make copies of photo prints for their friends?
They did. Its just that now the process has gone digital. And more and more people are being a little bit more open about -- the barrier of entry to one of your peer's social group has been lowered. If just slightly. Can a complete stranger find embarrassing pictures of someone they know on Facebook? Sure. Could this damage someone's career? Maybe, but I'm going to say doubtful.
I find the whole "these pictures of drinking and smoking will make it harder for you to get a job" argument to be essentially groundless. Lost opportunities? Is it an opportunity to work for an employer that's going to turn around a month after hiring me and say, "Who is this person? They're not at all like the person I interviewed a month ago...". I think not.
Our generation is living in a time when openness is revealed as the idea. 50 years ago, psychologists would been busy committing anyone who admitted they were a homosexual. Society tried to brush it under the rug as a mental disease. Now, if you're on a college campus, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't have a gay friend. And while ignorance, intolerance, and bad jokes are still prevalent, the tolerance displayed today is a bit more than a baby step from electro-shock therapy.
What is one of the most unifying rallying cry of both left and right with respect to U.S. politics? Transparency. Its another word for openness. Release the notes and attendance log of the energy policy meetings. Release the intelligence behind Iran's "meddling" in Iraq (or at least cite a source).
The argument has been made before, and will be made again, that the leaders of past cultural movements -- the Dylans and Doles, played their part during the times both because of their ideals and their profit motive. So while previous generations look down for our narcissism, we look back in hindsight and do the same.
Why is it narcissism when a teen rails against having a curfew in his blog, but altruism when Eric Meyer or Jeffery Zeldman rail against the poor Cascading Style Sheets support in IE7? Is Eric or Jeff being altruistic, even when conferences all across the country are offering them moneybags to come speak at keynotes and teach workshops on web standards and and clean layout design? Or can we concede there might be a bit of narcissism in their profit/reputation oriented blogging as well?
In all seriousness though, I think the problem of young people being too narcissistic is very real, and all it takes is looking at American Idol to see the sort of self-delusion people get themselves into. There is value in finding the right balance between modesty and self-confidence. None of that gets inherently gets in the way of having a good time in your youth.
In a recent playboy interview by Simon Cowell, the "Asshole we love to hate" of American Idol fame, he points that brutal honesty is a rare commodity for teens, and when he tell a 17 year old singer at their first audition that they will never have a career in singing, some of them actually say, "Thanks for being upfront. You've saved me a lifetime of embarrassment and humiliation."
Anyway, for the sake of argument, since I have a feeling that if I do a good job of arguing my point, RainDog, with his poker face wisdom and succinct writing will promptly skewer me in a way that's both entertaining and education for all.
I don't think American Idol is narcissistic, unless of course, democracy and soap operas are by nature narcissistic. American Idol is basically a soap opera meets talent competition. There are some competitors you hate from the get go. Some you root for because you identify them as the underdog. Others are the clean cut, all American musician. Their character, or their persona, if you will, strikes a chord in us by resembling an archetype we easily identify with either positively or negatively.
And towards the end of the show, the text messaging/dialing in votes for a nominal fee is the way the finalists "win" American Idol.
How is this narcissistic compared to the old days where they only way a musical group could get any traction in the mainstream was endless self promotion that resulted in selling out to whatever recording representative decided to make you offer?
If anything, American Idol teaches us what's wrong with democracy, not kids these days. People should be charged for the right to vote (and no, I don't mean taxes, I mean a simple, "To vote in today's presidential election, it will cost $1.99" surcharge. When you consider how many people will vote over and over for their favorite artist, spending in excess of $10 on text messaging the show, it seems that a little bit of marketing and commercialism could perhaps raise our pathetic voter turn out. Maybe Simon should be moderating our next presidential debate.
The other "big two" people point their fingers at when denouncing this modern generation are the social networking sites that target the young. Namely, Facebook and MySpace.com.
However, these arguments are basically groundless and here's why: Its just a website. Where people share news and photos. Do you think that the college republicans of previous generations didn't have a scrapbook of photos and a historian? Do you think the fraternities and sororities of the last generation didn't assemble their photos into albums or make copies of photo prints for their friends?
They did. Its just that now the process has gone digital. And more and more people are being a little bit more open about -- the barrier of entry to one of your peer's social group has been lowered. If just slightly. Can a complete stranger find embarrassing pictures of someone they know on Facebook? Sure. Could this damage someone's career? Maybe, but I'm going to say doubtful.
I find the whole "these pictures of drinking and smoking will make it harder for you to get a job" argument to be essentially groundless. Lost opportunities? Is it an opportunity to work for an employer that's going to turn around a month after hiring me and say, "Who is this person? They're not at all like the person I interviewed a month ago...". I think not.
Our generation is living in a time when openness is revealed as the idea. 50 years ago, psychologists would been busy committing anyone who admitted they were a homosexual. Society tried to brush it under the rug as a mental disease. Now, if you're on a college campus, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't have a gay friend. And while ignorance, intolerance, and bad jokes are still prevalent, the tolerance displayed today is a bit more than a baby step from electro-shock therapy.
What is one of the most unifying rallying cry of both left and right with respect to U.S. politics? Transparency. Its another word for openness. Release the notes and attendance log of the energy policy meetings. Release the intelligence behind Iran's "meddling" in Iraq (or at least cite a source).
The argument has been made before, and will be made again, that the leaders of past cultural movements -- the Dylans and Doles, played their part during the times both because of their ideals and their profit motive. So while previous generations look down for our narcissism, we look back in hindsight and do the same.
Why is it narcissism when a teen rails against having a curfew in his blog, but altruism when Eric Meyer or Jeffery Zeldman rail against the poor Cascading Style Sheets support in IE7? Is Eric or Jeff being altruistic, even when conferences all across the country are offering them moneybags to come speak at keynotes and teach workshops on web standards and and clean layout design? Or can we concede there might be a bit of narcissism in their profit/reputation oriented blogging as well?
Labels: blogging, narcissim, personal, ramblings, thoughts, today's generation
Thursday, March 01, 2007
College Students Rotten?
This is a great article over at ye old SomethingAwful.com about how psychologists have reported that college students are more narcissistic than ever. That we are a generation of spoiled people who will never be happy with what we've got.
I found it amusing for this paragraph:
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that college is seen as the place for you to experience life on you own, and you're entitled to "your college experience" -- be that mean hooking up with as many people as you want, partying every night of the week, writing for your student paper, or just posting a lot of random crap on YouTube. Or playing video games all the time.
And we're told by our parents, our media, and well, basically all authorities over the young that its the last hurrah. That the working world, the world of grown up and responsibility, the one where you ditch the piercings, cover up the tattoos, get a haircut and get a job, is no fun at all. So enjoy the years you've got to play -- they will be your last. Then you're limited to a two weeks of freedom a year.
Simpleminded? Yeah, but tell me someone you know hasn't basically said those same words in their justification as to why a "Malt Liquor Monday" party makes sense when everyone has a tuesday morning class?
I think two of the most important life lessons people need to learn is 1) to make their own fun and 2) never stop laughing. The happiest times of late have been one where I've been laughing. Even if its stupid stuff, I don't think my life's over. It really feels like its only starting to take off.
So if there's anything you take away from this post besides the hilarious article I've linked to, its that all it takes to be happy is the ability to laugh.
I found it amusing for this paragraph:
This news doesn't really seem all that depressing until you factor in the other harrowing epidemic plaguing America: obesity. I can't quite tell yet, but this country is either divided into two warring camps of narcissists and fat people, or we're all just a bunch of fat assholes. Either way, I would say that our future is looking pretty grim. Maybe we should do what a lot of fat people with bad personalities do and appear on the Dr. Phil show. He'll yell at us in that incomprehensible and condescending language of his, and we'll cry our fat little eyes out and agree to stop eating so many pot roasts and open our hearts to love.
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that college is seen as the place for you to experience life on you own, and you're entitled to "your college experience" -- be that mean hooking up with as many people as you want, partying every night of the week, writing for your student paper, or just posting a lot of random crap on YouTube. Or playing video games all the time.
And we're told by our parents, our media, and well, basically all authorities over the young that its the last hurrah. That the working world, the world of grown up and responsibility, the one where you ditch the piercings, cover up the tattoos, get a haircut and get a job, is no fun at all. So enjoy the years you've got to play -- they will be your last. Then you're limited to a two weeks of freedom a year.
Simpleminded? Yeah, but tell me someone you know hasn't basically said those same words in their justification as to why a "Malt Liquor Monday" party makes sense when everyone has a tuesday morning class?
I think two of the most important life lessons people need to learn is 1) to make their own fun and 2) never stop laughing. The happiest times of late have been one where I've been laughing. Even if its stupid stuff, I don't think my life's over. It really feels like its only starting to take off.
So if there's anything you take away from this post besides the hilarious article I've linked to, its that all it takes to be happy is the ability to laugh.
Labels: me trying to be funny, nsfw
