October 31, 2002
Jam Master Jay dead
Jam Master Jay was shot dead today. Jay was the DJ for the legendary group, Run-DMC, the first Rap group to earn a Platnum-selling album for Raising Hell in 1986. This is a huge loss, and a great music group is short one amazing DJ. I remember listening to Run- DMC when I was younger, and I cannot believe this happened.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
October 30, 2002
Images long gone
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Updated Problems
Here is an update of the Delivery Problems fiasco that I am in the middle of. It is now day 16 of this ordeal - I think the Pony Express was quicker than UPS.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
NYC Primer
How True - for those in NYC right now.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
October 29, 2002
The Color Index
Oh how I want the Color Index! What a great book that illustrates different color combinations and taking the guesswork [re: cheating] out of color selection. Great christmas gift [hint hint]» x « · comments (1) · trackBack (0)
Delivery problems
- 10.14 Depart Sharonville, OH
- 10.15 Arrive in Maumee, OH
- 10.15 Depart Maumee, OH
- 10.15 Arrive Hodgkins, IN
- 10.18 Arrive in Los Angeles, CA
- 10.18 Depart Los Angeles, CA
- 10.19 Arrive in Cerritos, CA
- 10.21 Depart Cerritos, CA
- 10.23 Las Vegas, NV
- 10.24 Arrive in Ontario, CA
- 10.25 Depart Victorville, CA
- 10.26 Arrive in Cerritos, CA
- UPDATE 2002.10.30
- 10.29 Arrive in Las Vegas, NV
- 10.30 Arrive in Ontario, CA
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October 27, 2002
Funkytown
Gotta make a move to a town that's right for meTown to keep me movin'
Keep me groovin' with some energy.
Won't you take me to
Funkytown.
Won't you take me to
Funkytown.
Won't you take me to
Funkytown.
Won't you take me to
Funkytown.
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B blending into a column
M: Why don't you go blend into a column.
A: Ok.
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October 26, 2002
Hit Saddam where it hurts...in the past
Mark Fiore asks us to Hit Saddam where it hurts...in the past - a look at how we [the US] helped create this monster.» x « · comments (1) · trackBack (0)
Sick as a dog
I am sick. I hate being sick when you have to get things done. When I am sick I think of only two things: being sick and sleeping in my bed. My already unfocused brain devolves further into a tunnel vision of sickness - with interruptions of pleas to get work done. For some reason I just cannot stay in bed and lounge around, I must get work done. So the end result is that I don't get better, and the work I do end up producing is crap. The sense of swimming in one's self is an acute feeling I cannot remove myself from.» x « · comments (1) · trackBack (0)
October 25, 2002
Lost Liberties Scorecard
Because Americans are, for the most part, lazy and hurried, the ACLU has a Scorecard of Liberties Lost for your perusal. 'Nuff said.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
To moon, or not to moon
Should they Moon the Whitehouse? These guys are trying to raise $10,000 to send them to Washington, D.C. in order to moon the Whitehouse. in good democratic fashion, they are also running a "don't moon the Whitehouse" campaign. Whichever campaign reaches $10,000 first, they will do the peoples bidding.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
Happy Birthday Earth
Tonight, at 10pm Greenwich Mean Time [5 pm EST] the Earth turns 6006 years old! According to Bishop Usher, the world was created on October 25, 4004 BC [or BCE] at 10pm - and being British - this meant 10 pm GMT. So everyone get out their party favors and thier beer, and lets party like its 6006!» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
October 24, 2002
New Directors, old issues
As a graduate student, I have been around academia for the last five or so years at the same institution. I have been around enough to know which camps certain professor's align themselves with, and which professor I should go to when I need advice or thoughts on issues. Yet, for the last five years the political and administrative organization of my school and college baffle me. Part of the bafflement is that for the first two or three years, I was just interested in having fun and passing all of my classes. As I translated from an underclassman to an upperclassman, and then to a graduate student, my proverbial eyes have been opened. It is too bad that I am planning to leave academia at the end of my year here, and I am in a bind of caring too much and not caring at all.Because I have not been to another institution, my views could be warped. However, I believe in the axiom that in the world there exists a minimum level off bullshit, with the variable level of bullshit changing from place to place. I tend to think our school is just like any other institution, full of "warring" camps, with all camps intent on improving education, and with the best of intentions. The beauty of academia is the communication of ideas, so that all views can be evaluated and set upon. Now this utopia never truly develops, and we go about our business learning. The communication at my school between different faculty members, students and the college varies from adequate to not so great. This has been repeated to those in charge but, alas, they have more important matter to deal with. I am not trying to be snarky here, there is a new degree program being implemented; new ways of going about our education are trying to occur, and that means many nights of work. All we ask is basic communication.
That is why it does not surprise me that we hear about this second handed. It is not like a new Director is a small ordeal. Add this [un] announcement, to the fact that the chair of the search committee is from outside the school. Again, I wonder if this is standard operating procedure. If the chair of the search committee is usually from outside the school, we are not told otherwise. Again, all we ask for is basic communication.
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October 23, 2002
Irony is not Dead
eBay Barbie...can irony not be dead afterall?» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
Politically Incorrect Joke
This is making the rounds in studioA woman is shopping in the local supermarket. She selects a quart of milk, 1/2 dozen eggs, a carton of juice, and a package of bacon. As she unloads her items at the cash register to pay, a drunk tanding behind her in line watches her place the four items on the belt and states with assurance, "You must be single." The woman looks at the four items on the belt, and not seeing anything unusual about her selection says, "That's right. How on earth did you know?" He replies, "Because you're ugly."
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Bullshit
"In the world there exists a minimum level off bullshit, with the variable level of bullshit changing from place to place"-The Grubbykid
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October 22, 2002
The Great American Ball Park
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October 20, 2002
Lots of ass in San Francisco in trade for Tickets
Peoepl have the wrong idea on how to get World Series tickets in San Francisco. Everything from getting kicked in the ass:You can rain blows down on me for 15 minutes straight if you'll give me a good deal on purchasing some World Series Tickets. I can take a beating like no other. If you want me to scream in pain, I will scream in pain. If you want me to take it like a man, you won't hear a peep. Either way, I'll take the whoopin of a lifetime if it means I get to see the Giants
Go Giants
to kicking your ass:
That's right! You will receive one ferocious beating (and your desired sum of cash) for 4 (four, F-O-R if you're Dave Stewart) tickets to any World Series game at Pacific Bell Park. The tickets don't have to be together -- they can be 2 and 2. After you have been mercilessly annihilated, I will place the money I owe you in your unconcious hands and flee the scene before you wake up and beofre I get arrested. WARNING: This will hurt! Both your face and my wallet will take substantial blows, but hey, this is the American Way! Don't be shy -- any seats are acceptable. Do you want a piece? Contact Mike at the listed e-mail address.
I love Craigs List!
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October 19, 2002
Too many books
Friend: Why does she have so many books?Me: I think she is trying to reorganize the Dewey Decimal System.
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North v. South
Play on, boys. "It's greenies vs. growth, strip malls vs. Swan Lake, Space Mountain vs. Russian Hill."» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
Unskilled and Unaware of It
Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology discusses ow and why we think of oursleves more than we should. The bastract sums the paper up better than I could.Abstract
People tend to hold overly favorable views of their abilities in many social and
intellectual domains. The authors suggest that this overestimation occurs, in
part, because people who are unskilled in these domains suffer a dual burden:
Not only do these people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate
choices, but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to
realize it. Across 4 studies, the authors found that participants scoring in the
bottom quartile on tests of humor, grammar, and logic grossly overestimated
their test performance and ability. Although their test scores put them in the
12th percentile, they estimated themselves to be in the 62nd. Several analyses
linked this miscalibration to deficits in metacognitive skill, or the capacity
to distinguish accuracy from error. Paradoxically, improving the skills of
participants, and thus increasing their metacognitive competence, helped them
recognize the limitations of their abilities.
bibliography
Dunning, David and Justin Kruger. "Unskilled and Unaware of It: How Difficulties in Recognizing One's Own Incompetence Lead to Inflated Self-Assessments." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Vol. 77 (1999): 1121-1134.
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The Boondocks
"Do you think Mexicans who go to Taco Bell are considered sellouts?"-Boondocks
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Nietzsche [it has an 's' in it]
"When marrying, one should ask oneself this question: Do you believe that you will be able to converse well with this woman into your old age? Everything else in marriage is transitory, but the most time during the association belongs to conversation."-Nietzsche
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We needed this at work
Dr. Lunch can take the guesswork and arguments out of choosing where to eat lunch. Thank you, Dr. Lunch.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
October 17, 2002
City and Film
Waferbaby has an excellent photo expose in the same vein as The Mirror Project entitled the city project. In addition, Waferbaby has many other porjects that are equally interesting.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
October 16, 2002
Thesis sounds
Me: You are critically annoying Parker!Bodie: That's profound as hell!
Proving once again that anything you tell us will eventually be redirected right back at you, or at our peers, but in joke format.
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October 15, 2002
Welcome to my life
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Wallace and Gromit - More cheese, Gromit?
New Wallace and Gromit shorts are on the BBC. How can plasticine characters not make you laugh? Direct link here [high quality - quicktime]. Nick Park, we're not worthy.
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October 14, 2002
Archaeologists want weblogs?
There is a good question posed at Scytale Rant Central, that of weblog staleness and whether or not future archaeologists will search for blogs or not. I tend to think no, since we already have Internet Archive, and the usefulness of blogs, and the actual usable data that can be extracted is quite low. That is not to discredit some wonderful writing and thought that is going on in the web community, and in blogs, but lets face it, the signal to noise ratio of the overall Blogsphere is [to be kind] low to medium.That is not to say that at some point blogs and other personal sites could be used as a sort of Babylonian Pottery that can shed some light on what those at the dawn of the 21st century were thinking. But unfortunately most of the data recovered would be massive inside jokes concerning pancakes, some Ellen commercial and something to do with Set us up the Bomb. Very 12 Monkeys indeed. But for every Rebecca Blood, Lisa Whiteman and Zeldman [just to name a very few], there are too many blogs where the basic discourse is who Patty Sue is dating, or what is on my Amazon.com Wishlist, or who should we bomb, or why Bush is Shrub.
The din of the Blogsphere is deafening. However, I smile every time I find a new blog, a new voice - it means that one more person is expressing themselves, and sharing their great knowledge with the world - all they ask is you say hi. Isn't that great? This is my continued hope, and joy, of blogs - not that they will become some record of my life [mine is - to an extent] - but that so many people are producing work that influences those around them. When those around them are sometimes hundreds of miles apart. Let's bring some of that 1990's optimism back into our web life, and let it spread. We have earned it.
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Book & Idea Triage
At this moment I have over 25 books checked out of the University library, I have purchased over ten books, I have brought in over 10 books I already have. Ranging from Anti-Oedipus by Deleuze and Guattari's to Diagram Diaries by Peter Eisenman to Bergson: Key Writings edited by Pearson and Mullarky.Most of the books only have one or two articles that I require, others such as Einstein's Moon by Peat have overviews or veer in other directions that I am interested in. What this means, besides a desk full of books, is that I have had to start the process of book triage and idea triage: I have to rate which books lead to which ideas, based on information I have at the moment. This also means that there is a good chance that I will miss some ideas that would enrich my thesis or move me in other directions. The serendipity is long gone, I must focus - a hard task for someone who likes to cast the net and see what the catch of the day is.
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October 12, 2002
The doctors need builders
I have recently been thinking about volunteering with Médecins Sans Frontičres after I graduate. They need logisticians, builders, and general handy-people to support the work done by the doctors and nurses. I will have to think about this.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
The Babel fish
Lost in Translation is a site which will translate text back and forth through the romance languages ten times to illustrate what gets, well, lost in the translation. I wanted to have some fun, so I combined lost in translation with the Prior- Art-O-Matic seen here:
lost in translation is a pair of sunglasses that
can play Mornington Crescent! It can only be operated by a trained professional.
which becomes
in the translation of sun glasses, this that know to play halbmond of Mornington, lost a connection! It can be only worked of connoisseur characterized.
Fore example it takes fuck you and does this to it:
which becomes
in the translation of sun glasses, this that know to play halbmond of Mornington, lost a connection! It can be only worked of connoisseur characterized.
Original English Text:
Fuck you
Translated to French:
Va te faire foutre
Translated back to English:
Get stuffed
Translated to German:
Erhalten Sie angefüllt
Translated back to English:
Keep filled
Translated to Italian:
Conservazione riempita
Translated back to English:
Filled up conservation
Translated to Portuguese:
Conservation acima enchido
Translated back to English:
Conservation above fulled
Translated to Spanish:
La conservación arriba fulled
Translated back to English:
The conservation arrives fulled
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October 9, 2002
SpongeBob SquarePants
Update: More foolishness about Spongebob being Gay.
SpongeBob SquarePants Gay? Again, who cares!
This is a great show, and people with too much time on their hands are looking for symbols where there probably aren't any. The human mind has a great capacity to post-rationalize anything.
Nickelodeon says SpongeBob is aimed at kids two to 11, and isn't intended to appeal to homosexuals. But it says the show attracts more adults than any other show on its lineup. It's shown episodes as late as 11:30 at night, and Viacom's MTV has run it as late as 11:00, specifically to reach older viewers. According to Nielsen Media Research, about 22% of "SpongeBob's" regular audience is 18 to 49 years old. The show is creating a merchandising bonanza, with SpongeBob paper towels, macaroni-and-cheese dinners and more.
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Video Game or Death, I choose...
Man plays video game untill death» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
October 6, 2002
Pirates are really now pirates
It seems that so-called "software pirates" have come true. Asian crime syndicates have resorted to manufacturing copyrighted materials on board ships, anchored in international waters. Authorities have been on the lookout for these, um... pirate ships.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
Thesis or that novel?
Now, this would be a great thing to participate in, and waste all of my time, and consequently fail thesis.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
Hallelujah - 9/11, Jeff Buckley, and the power of music
Has anyone seen the PBS commercial for 9-11, or watched the season finale [2002] of West Wing - 'Posse Comitatus' when in the background plays haunting song sung by one man and featuring only a guitar singing the words "Hallelujah"? Well I googled some info, and the West Wing - Unofficial Continuity Guide says it is a song entitled "Hallelujah" written by Leonard Cohen [off the cd Various Positions - 1984] sung by Jeff Buckley and is on the cd entitled Grace. This is an excellent song - Buckley transformed Cohen's original song from a gospel spiritual to a funeral dredge. The image of a singer sitting alone and strumming his guitar and singing "Hallelujah" is bitter sweet. This song sums up much that is both great and sorrowful in my life the last year. From sheer emptiness to adulation of new things, it still amazes me the power of music.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
October 5, 2002
Internet Traffic Report - no, not about the Bay Bridge
Check out the Internet Traffic Report for your latest information on the status of the regional internet routers. Hmmm...just looking at the Friday 20021004 graph at 17:00 EST and the traffic index dropped to near 37% and the response time skyrocketed to 120 ms at the same time. No wonder I couldn't get online.» x « · comments (0) · trackBack (0)
Cake and binary reponse
I just had a revelation today: the two Cake songs "Short Skirt, long jacket" and "Rock and Roll Lifestyle" are binary opposites: "Short Skirt, long jacket" is the story of a woman at the end of her rocking days. Whereas "Rock and Roll Lifestyle" chronicals the life of hipster rockers. I like to think they are about the same person and Cake is creating the beginning and end of thier hipster ways. Or I could be full of shit. Either way, I like it.
From LyricsXP & Lyrics Style:
Rock And Roll Lifestyle - Cake
Now tickets to concerts and drinking at clubs,
Sometimes for music that you haven't even heard of.
And how much did you pay for your rock'n'roll t-shirt?
That proves you were there,
That you heard of them first
Short Skirt, Long Jacket
She wants a car with a cupholder armrest
She wants a car that will get her there
She's changing her name
From Kitty to Karen
She's trading her MG for a white Chrysler LeBaron
I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket
Rock And Roll Lifestyle - Cake
Now tickets to concerts and drinking at clubs,
Sometimes for music that you haven't even heard of.
And how much did you pay for your rock'n'roll t-shirt?
That proves you were there,
That you heard of them first
Short Skirt, Long Jacket
She wants a car with a cupholder armrest
She wants a car that will get her there
She's changing her name
From Kitty to Karen
She's trading her MG for a white Chrysler LeBaron
I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket
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October 2, 2002
Studio Banter
Friend 1: Here's a picture of a girl on a nude beach - nude.Friend 2: Dude, you're not allowed to have cameras on nude beaches.
Friend 1: Oh.
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Yip's big day
Yip can be found on the newly redesigned DAAP website.
October 1, 2002
When conversations collide
Matt: I took the ladies to the hosptial today.The grubbykid: The kitties?
Matt: Yeah.
On-looker: So I heard you have a crazy bunch?
The grubbykid: Oh yeah, one had a leaky anus for awhile.
Matt: The kids?
On-looker: Oh, wrong subject.
This is what happens when two people are talking to one person about two different things: one [me] talking about his friends' cat who had a leaky sphincter, and the other a class of freshmen he is TA'ing for. Comic hilarity ensures.
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