July 29, 2004
No comment
Unfortunately, I've had to block everyone from commenting on this site because I've been getting whacked by porn comment spammers. Until I figure out how to the prevent this, there will be no more commenting. If you desparately need to get a hold of me, my email still works :)
We've gone too far
I see things like skin hand bangs and I really start to believe we, as a society, have gone too far. I realize these bags use artificial skin but it just seems wrong. What's next, human skin lamp shades?
(via Engaget)
July 26, 2004
Run D.N.C
The accredidation of various bloggers for the Democratic National Convention was supposed to provide us with a new perspective on the happenings, but so far all I've seen is best described as S.O.S. - same old shit. You want a different angle on things? How about blogging about how this convention has driven Bostonians from their own city and made life extremely difficult for those who have no choice but to stay.
Truth be told, I've been fortunate so far - I live and work in parts of the Boston metro area that have been minimally affected by the various draconian security measures put in place around town. Imagine, all those billions of dollars sunk into the Big Dig only to have it shut down as a security risk. So large is the risk, that they need to shut down the interstates miles away from the convention. This map should give the uninitiated some idea of the scope of the shutdowns.
Of course, they don't mention everything that's going on, like the security check put in place north of the junction of I-93 and I-95 which, according to a co-worker of mine, had already backed up traffic at 5:45 am. One can only imagine what a mess it was later in the day.
In short, all of this trouble so that we can listen to the Democratic elite tell us what we already know: they're not the evil Republicons (more than meets the eye!) and that Kerry & Edwards will be the presidential ticket.
July 22, 2004
Why move to Israel
On behalf of Ariel Sharon's recent call for French Jews to move to Israel, I present the following:
The top 10 reasons why French Jews should move to Israel:
10. Feels just like home, part I: Israelis like to go on strike almost as much as the French do.
8. Feels like home, part II: Israelis can make buildings just as crappy as the French!
7. No more language police.
6. It’s easier to run the United States government from Israel.
5. Mmm….Bamba.
4. Feels just like home, part III: Israel has lots of Arabs that will hate you too!
3. Holidays are shorter in Israel.
2. People will actually respect your nation’s military.
1. Feels just like home, part IV: Israelis are just as rude as the French.
July 21, 2004
Moore is less
It's funny how this passage from Michael Moore's "Dude, Where's my country" is just now getting noticed:
."Of course many Israeli children have died too, at the hands of the Palestinians. You would think that would make every Israeli want to wipe out the Arab world, but the average Israeli does not have that response. Why? Because in their hearts, they know they are wrong, and they know they would be doing just what the Palestinians are doing if the sandal were on the other foot."
The is what, over a year old? I guess the merry band of Moore despisers don't read what he writes. In a sense, I can't blame them - I too wouldn't want give Moore any money to read his tripe. However, I was above leafing through his book at the MIT Coop when the opportunity presented itself a long time ago. Upon coming across that passage, I made a mental note never to forget it; something that became quite useful when I needed to rhetorically slap around someone recently enthralled with Fahrenheit 911.
I generally don't like overanalyzing people's writing, because, as Tim Blair's mistaken interpretation shows, it is done at great peril. However, this particular passange (especially the last sentence is particular) is interesting because it exemplifies both the moral relativism and the paternalism so prevalent among...Moore-ons. Specifically, 1) every group (cultural, religious, ethnic, etc.) of people is the same (i.e. the Israelis would act just as the Palestinians do if their situations were reversed) and 2) the Palestinians (and the Israelis) are a bunch of poor, uncivilized, folk who can only wear sandals instead of shoes.
Another one bites the dust
As another example of how blogging isn't all that compatible with a full time job, Haggai has at least temporarily given up blogging. I, for one, am sad to see him go seeing as how he was one of the few remaining reasonable bloggers remaining
Good luck with the new job, Haggai, and don't be stranger.
July 15, 2004
Turning Green
I spent of all my childhood living in a land replete with NY Giants fans. Normally this wouldn’t problem, except that I was a devoted Washington Redskins fan. While watching Super Bowl XVII, I decided to root for the ‘Skins and have continued to do so ever since. This, of course, meant living through the heyday of the Giants - during the time of a slimmer Bill Parcells, a perpetually smiling Phil Simms, the Sylvester Stallone doppelganger, Mark Bavaro, the ever annoying Phil McConkey, and of course, the coked up Lawerence Taylor. Yes, the same Lawrence Taylor who broke Redskins’ quarterback Joe Theisman’s leg on national TV. Difficult times indeed.
Fortunately, the ‘80s Redskins teams were chock full of great players – Dexter Manley, Charles Mann, Dave Butz, Russ Grim, Jeff Bostic, Gary Clark, Art Monk, and my favorite, Darrell Green. A perpetually all-pro cornerback, Green was the kind of player everyone should aspire to. He never talked the talk but always walked the walk, and when the chips were down, you knew that Darrell Green would come through in the clutch. This was exemplified by his punt return for a touchdown against the Bears in the 1988 divisional championship game. The arctic Chicago weather must have frozen the Skins’ offense; they were down 10-0 and going nowhere fast. Being the key to the Redskins’ secondary, Green almost never ran back punts but when called upon to do so, he came through with flying colors, sparking the team to victory, but injuring his ribs in the process. As great as he was, Green wasn’t too good to run back punts.
Green was a fine role model off the field too. He was never in trouble, was always active in the community, and was devoted to charity work. Thus, you can imagine my disappointment when I read that Darrell Green would be speaking at a press conference in favor of the now rejected Federal Marriage Amendment. It’s a shame that someone who has lent his name to so many good things in life, has now lent his name to supporting what is nothing less than an abuse of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution is supposed to guarantee the rights of American citizens, not take them away from certain groups.
Darrell Green will remain my favorite NFL player of all time, but my opinion of him has definitely dropped.
July 13, 2004
So much to discuss
Perhaps it was always like this, but lately I feel like there's an overwhelming amount of things to blog about. And when I feel overwhelmed I generally accomplish next to nothing - hence my dearth of output.
But let me just say that this flash movie is truly one of the funniest I've ever seen.
(via Damian Penny)
