March 30, 2006
That's Funny
"That's funny."
That's a term I use once in awhile. Most of the time it means, "that's interesting." Sometimes, it means, "that's humorous."
A couple of times somebody takes it literal and calls me on it. That happened today. I was speaking to a client who was in need of a photographer for an event. She had already scheduled a photographer, but he was called away to take pictures of some migrating animal or something. I thought it was interesting, so naturally I said, "that's funny."
Very matter-of-factly, she said, "actually, it's not funny at all. It's rather inconveniencing."
Sorry, lady. I guess I'd better speak more literally next time.
February 04, 2005
A Leaf Blowing On The Wind
"We consider the animals to be lower, and to me, that makes no sense at all. If you look at a tree or a mushroom or a squirrel, it's perfectly in tune with itself. It has no problem being exactly what it is, and it does what it's meant to do without any complaints or problems. Because we create all these problems in being, we think we're somehow higher than the animals. But it's we humans who have a difficult time even caring for our children, or anything."
Jeff Mangum said that in an interview more than a couple of years ago. I agree wholeheartedly. Jeff Mangum, in case you didn't know, was the lead singer and spiritual leader of a now defunct band called Neutral Milk Hotel. If you haven't heard of them, I'm not surprised. I first heard of them a couple of years ago. They're strange, different, and odd ... but in a good way. Very good stuff. Pick up their last CD "In the Aeroplane over the Sea" and give it a listen.
He also said:
"I think the reason I love Eastern thought so much, and mysticism in general-- but especially Buddhism-- is because it seems to me an attempt to look life squarely in the face, as it is. And to try to deal with the brute facts of the suffering in life, and the joy in life. I'm trying to find peace in the world, as it is. I'm feeling this sort of slow stripping of my mind, like the layers of an onion. I'm starting to see through all these little structures that have been imposed on me by my society that tell me how I'm supposed to view my life and the world. What I'm supposed to find to be important and what is not. Sometimes you see through so much of it that you feel like you're just a leaf blowing on the wind."
Sort of a modern-day hippie. And I like it.
October 19, 2004
Michael Moore
Guess what I'm going to be doing at noon tomorrow? I'm seeing Michael Moore at UVSC.
I'm really excited.
First of all, he's a great speaker. He's entertaining. He's informative. He's motivating. I understand he has some very strong opinions. I understand that many consider him a liar. But I consider him to be equivalent to Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh They all take the facts and "spin" them to support their opinions and agendas.
I believe it is up to each individual to then do research, verify the facts, evaluate one's morals and beliefs and then decide which side you feel more comfortable with.
I tend to gravitate more toward the "left" or liberal side. I feel that things like abortion and homosexuality are each individual's rights as defined by the Constitution. I don't necessarily agree with them, in fact, maybe I should say outright that I don't agree with them. But I also don't agree that in our country, which was started on the foundation of being free for all to lead the life of their choice, we shouldn't create legislation based on morals and beliefs.
Second of all, I love to "rock the boat." His speech is going to be in one of the most conservative cities in the country. There will no doubt be several hundred protesters yelling and jeering the attendees. Because I have grown up in the minority here in Utah, I love to see the ruckus that is caused by breaking out from the norm. People here, tend to get vehemently angry when anyone questions the system. I have my theories on why this is so, but that is another post that I don't know if I'll ever write.
Third, I'm going because I know (okay maybe not know, but feel) that Michael Moore will never again return to Utah to speak. For this reason alone, I wanted to make sure I am going.
I'll let you all know what I think later.
Here's a link to the live internet feed if you'd like to catch it. It starts at noon, don't be late!
Also, here's an intersting article justifying Micheal Moore coming to speak.
March 24, 2004
Hummers & the People Who Drive Them
A couple of months ago, I read Eric Meyer's opinion of people who drive Hummer's. While I definitely agreed with him that these people are huge jerks, I definitely didn't feel quite as strongly as he did about the matter. In fact, I was never really noticing very many H2's before he wrote that. But in the last couple of months, I have begun to notice several of these behemoth's that practically taking up two lanes of the road.
In the last month or so my level of annoyance with them has doubled with H2 drivers. I don't get it, but I have been stuck in front of several of them and the phenomena is the same: every single one of them gets as close as they possibly can to my rear bumper. Its almost like they're trying to intimidate other drivers or something. In fact, I mentioned this to a friend and he said that he's noticed the same thing. It wouldn't be such a big deal, but as you all know, I have a new car and I'm paranoid about it getting dinged or dented.
So Hummer drivers, you're already a massive waste of space in this world, not to mention all the resources you waste on a daily basis, but don't become bigger jerks than you already are. GET OFF MY ASS at red lights!
Sidenote
Hummer has a commercial out that I have mixed feelings on. Go to the Hummer site and check it out. I think its a fairly memorable commercial with a cute little story line that shows the boy getting creative and "thinking outside the box". However, my mixed feelings come in because I think this commercial characterizes Hummer drivers very well. They make their own rules. Sure, he wasn't cheating, but he certainly was pushing the envelope and walking the line. The kid also almost decapitates another racer in his attempt to win the race. Also, look at the resources this kid used. He left a dog homeless. He swiped the tires off of the family lawnmower. His monstrosity of a vehicle is at least twice as big as every other car, using twice as much lumber. And in the end, in a very unsportsmanlike manner, cuts off the boy in the first place car and won't let him by. In fact, I'm quite bothered by the blatent taunts of the Hummer community in that they aren't even hiding these things. They seem to flaunt their lack of responsibility to the global community.
One bright side of the commercial, is The Who's "Happy Jack." Great job of art direction in this aspect.
December 16, 2003
Trino
There's an old man who is a janitor at my work. My guess is that he's circa 60 years young. He works harder than anybody in the building. He's here when I arrive. He's here when I leave. He has eight kids. The oldest of which is 34. The youngest is 17. All but the youngest have children. He doesn't hear very well. I would say more than half of my words fall on deaf ears.
I don't know how long he has worked for the school district, but I would imagine at least fifteen years. He empties my garbage and vacuums my crumbs everyday. At the top of his payscale, he makes two-thirds what I make in my first year.
Something is wrong with this.
October 15, 2003
Stupidity
I may write about this subject so often it may require its own category.
I believe 60% of all people are stupid. I don't mean in comparison to myself. I'm saying in general. I would say that at least 70% of the people you see and interact with everyday have a less than adequate intelligence.
I work for a school district and I think that this number jumps to at least 80% for teachers. This means that 80% of your children are being taught by stupid people. In theory, wouldn't this mean that your children are going to be stupid, if they aren't already? I think, then, factoring the naturally stupid ones in with the ones who have been taught by stupid teachers, this figure has got to raise to 90%.
What's going to happen to the next generation? These figures will undoubtedly rise because our intelligent and our stupid teachers will have retired and have been replaced by more stupid teachers. Our children's children are doomed.
Furthermore, I was taught in the public school system, what if I'm stupid? In fact, maybe these figures are wrong. If I'm stupid, then 60-80% is in actuality, much too low because the baseline for these figures are based upon an idiot.
There's a couple of possibilities here. First, if you believe what I'm saying and I'm an idiot, then you must be an idiot. Second, if you believe this and I'm not an idiot, there's still a possibility that you're an idiot. Finally, if you don't believe this, then you are definitely an idiot and you're in denile.
At this point, I think I've made myself more stupid and I don't think I can write anymore. If I just ruined your day, I'm sorry. If you're stupid, I'm sorry, as well. I just feel that its time somebody did their part and spoke up.