Hey everybody!
Recently I have kicked the job hunt up to an 11 so I haven't had much time to post anything on here. Its actually really helpful although tragic having my ps3 die. Without the distractions, I find myself getting a lot more done. So without further ado here are some random thoughts and a quote to be used in an academic paper should anyone choose to do so.
- Jurrasic Park 2 is seriously underrated
- Watch the new series Grimm and fuck Once Upon a Time
- Occupy Wall Street is interesting because it is one of the first social rights movements of the disenfrachised in this countries history to be a majority group rather than a minority.
- Hermit Crabs kinda suck as pets... Sorry, Spiderman
- I really wish they wouldn't make one click ordering avaliable through amazon on your phone. Its scarily addictive
- Fuck Kroger and everything about that job. Its served me well for 6 years but I am ready to move upwards on onwards with my life
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
#OWS and conspiracy theories
I've decided to make a return to blogging with a new 'micro-post' every day or so. Check back often as i hope to keep updating pretty regularly now.
People who believe that the US government faked the moon landing in a secret base in Nevada and through bribes, threats, and violence have managed to keep it under wraps for 50 plus years are stupid. Same goes for the 9/11 'truthers', shadow government believers, secret CIA operations, and don't even get me started with the Illuminati folks.
In order to think that the government has this amount of control and degree of precision with anything it does is ludicrous. Bureaucracy, by its nature, is inefficient and frustrating as anyone who has ever been to a staff meeting can vouch. It seems like a lot of people today, have this view of THE GOVERNMENT as some large and all powerful force over our lives. We view government as an 'Other', an outside force over us that we can complain about but are powerless to really change. This is the part where I tie in the occupy wall street movement.
The protesters like to throw around a lot of facts and statistics like these:
People who believe that the US government faked the moon landing in a secret base in Nevada and through bribes, threats, and violence have managed to keep it under wraps for 50 plus years are stupid. Same goes for the 9/11 'truthers', shadow government believers, secret CIA operations, and don't even get me started with the Illuminati folks.
In order to think that the government has this amount of control and degree of precision with anything it does is ludicrous. Bureaucracy, by its nature, is inefficient and frustrating as anyone who has ever been to a staff meeting can vouch. It seems like a lot of people today, have this view of THE GOVERNMENT as some large and all powerful force over our lives. We view government as an 'Other', an outside force over us that we can complain about but are powerless to really change. This is the part where I tie in the occupy wall street movement.
The protesters like to throw around a lot of facts and statistics like these:
A lot of people however have been criticizing the movement for having a lack of unified grievances they want addressed or not really having solutions. All valid points. I like to think of this movement, if nothing else, as a reminder that "We the people" ARE the government. The government has no power without the consent of the governed and we may not know exactly what we want the country to look like in the future, but we know we don't want corporation's interests over the people and we want to know that we have the power to speak and demand change.
This is definitely a step in the right direction. How do you view the government and what would you like to see change? Sound off in the comments
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
These thoughts for lease
I plan on keeping this post shorter than the usual, I just wanted to share what I think is a growing concern about how we receive the news now a days. With access to 24/7 live news updates and a million different blogs and opinions on every subject imaginable, an amazing feat, I fear most people have begun to lease there opinions out to certain pundits and talking heads that they happen to listen to a lot. Be it politics, policy, or pop culture I feel like instead of looking at the issue subjectively, we start with a pre-conceived notion --> find a site/news/podcast that agrees with us --> begin exclusively using that source to reinforce our opinions. Its a feedback system which makes us feel good about ourselves and solidifies that we are right in all of our views which can lead to entrenched positions and an unwillingness to compromise.
I do it too mind you. We are all guilty of it, but to be aware of it and remember to shake things up and research an issue independently every now and then isn't a bad idea. Until the hypnotoad comes to make us all obey, lets try to remember to keep an open mind and develop opinions for yourself instead of just parroting what you have heard from your favorite talking head.
I do it too mind you. We are all guilty of it, but to be aware of it and remember to shake things up and research an issue independently every now and then isn't a bad idea. Until the hypnotoad comes to make us all obey, lets try to remember to keep an open mind and develop opinions for yourself instead of just parroting what you have heard from your favorite talking head.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Heeeerrresssss Jeremy
Hey everyone! I know I haven't wrote on this for awhile but I'm going to try to get back into the habit of writing on here probably tri-weekly. Its been a really eventful past couple months with a new potential job and all the stresses of moving into a new apartment. The apartment has proved pretty amazing so far. We have a fireplace, a patio, and 24/7 hot tub access. I am a happy man. We are hoping to have everything unpacked by monday, and hopefully we can invite some people over soon to see the place and have a housewarming party.
My beautiful girlfriend and roomie, Jennifer Miller, has started her own blog where she is trying to do one green thing a week! Check it out (here)
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Weeekly Recap
THE APT HUNT IS OVER!
I think I've found my new apartment. My and my girlfriend are moving into a one bedroom apartment over on Appian way and I'm really excited about it. They have a hot tub and our apartment has a fireplace! Not looking forward to moving though, i'm in the 'mass gathering of cardboard' phase now.
CALLING ALL PC GAMERS!
To any pc gamers out there, I bought the valve complete pack for $50 and just got access to portal 2, both left4deads, counter strike (which I never could get into), and day of defeat as well as all of half life 1 and 2 so if anyone wants to play. My steam name is sexypenguin6969...don't ask.
EXCEED YOUR LEVEL
This morning I was exercising on my bike and I had my head to the ground, watching the cracked gray cement below me and all of a sudden they changed. They became these perfectly manicured brick tiles with a diamond pattern in the middle. I looked up and there was a house that you could tell the owners were very ocd about keeping it up. Not a blade of grass was out of place. Then it was gone and the street continued on, and at first I laughed thinking how strange you would have to be to be that obsessed about getting every detail right.
Then I thought back to this great Bruce Lee quote about the desire to exceed your level. I'm trying to get back into shape and I know its never going to be perfect but constantly striving for that goal and pushing past your own limitations is what makes life what it is. The better man is always striving for some higher goal rather than wallowing in it. Everyone has different things in life that they focus on. For some its our minds, some our bodies, some that platinum trophy (cheevos for you xbox peeps), or some its making their house a better place than the ones around it. Just a reminder that no matter what you do every day, find some way to push yourself and challenge yourself every day.
I think I've found my new apartment. My and my girlfriend are moving into a one bedroom apartment over on Appian way and I'm really excited about it. They have a hot tub and our apartment has a fireplace! Not looking forward to moving though, i'm in the 'mass gathering of cardboard' phase now.
CALLING ALL PC GAMERS!
To any pc gamers out there, I bought the valve complete pack for $50 and just got access to portal 2, both left4deads, counter strike (which I never could get into), and day of defeat as well as all of half life 1 and 2 so if anyone wants to play. My steam name is sexypenguin6969...don't ask.
EXCEED YOUR LEVEL
This morning I was exercising on my bike and I had my head to the ground, watching the cracked gray cement below me and all of a sudden they changed. They became these perfectly manicured brick tiles with a diamond pattern in the middle. I looked up and there was a house that you could tell the owners were very ocd about keeping it up. Not a blade of grass was out of place. Then it was gone and the street continued on, and at first I laughed thinking how strange you would have to be to be that obsessed about getting every detail right.
Then I thought back to this great Bruce Lee quote about the desire to exceed your level. I'm trying to get back into shape and I know its never going to be perfect but constantly striving for that goal and pushing past your own limitations is what makes life what it is. The better man is always striving for some higher goal rather than wallowing in it. Everyone has different things in life that they focus on. For some its our minds, some our bodies, some that platinum trophy (cheevos for you xbox peeps), or some its making their house a better place than the ones around it. Just a reminder that no matter what you do every day, find some way to push yourself and challenge yourself every day.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Bookageddon Is Nigh!!
Reading has changed. Major bookstore chains such as Borders and Joseph Beth are closing down stores and filing for bankruptcy, newspaper and magazine sales are dropping faster than a priest's pants at a choir boy convention, kindle and nook online stores are selling record numbers of books, and book traditionalists have started claiming that the end of the printed book is upon us!! I'm not sure that I'm drinking that kool aid just yet.
I recently bought an e-book reader, the Nook Color, for school use and have been enjoying it ever since (although recently plants vs zombies has been taking more of my time). Recently I went on vacation, the best time for book nerds to read, and I noticed some interesting habits about how I choose to read now.
In the morning we would wake and ride our bikes to one of the local coffee places for breakfast and I would download the paper almost every morning onto my nook before we left. I loved the variety of papers I could get and it becomes much simpler to read the articles and find the sections you want rather than having to flip to the back to finish an article; then flip back to the front again to keep looking, all the while covering up your entire coffee table with the clutter that comes with digging out a specific section of the paper. I think that the time of the newspaper is at an end as people become more eco-conscious of the amount of paper wasted, the rise of internet journalism, and the technology becomes cheaper and more widespread. The bigger papers (NYT, Wall Street, even The Onion) have already started making the change as its time to adapt or die.
Books are an entirely different story. If you have ever seen my bookshelf you would know that I have always been a reader. For the past few years though, I haven't really had much time for pleasure reading. School kinda took the fun out of it honestly, but I still try to read a new book or two a year. I look at my bookshelf and I see some copies that are old and worn from the numerous reads and can smell the age on the paper. Some look almost new. Some are paperbacks, and some are textbooks. Each one is different however, and for me the tactile sensations of reading a book are something invaluable that a computer screen can't compare with. I don't know why it is that books are so important to have in their physical form compared to say dvds, which I recently sold most of my collection of after backing up their digital copies, but I think that it is something worth never losing.
The one area I think that could have the best improvement from a switch to electronic format are textbooks. Everyone that has been to college has had the experience of purchasing a 175 dollar textbook and being told that they can't sell it back at the end of the semester because a 'new edition' is coming out or else you'll get 20 bucks for it and they'll wrap it in plastic and sell if for 120. College textbook shops know they have you by the balls and they aren't afraid to twist. From what I understand, most textbook manufacturers are afraid to make the jump to digital right now as they don't understand the technology and are worried about how much profit they will lose from the re-buying cheap and selling high scheme they have going. The advantages of an electronic textbook are that other media (video, sound, games, etc.) could be integrated into the lesson plan and books could be leased out for a rental fee for a set period of time and automatically retrieved when the payment ends. I recently found out that my old high school will be getting rid of their textbook fee and switching to an ipad fee which students will be allowed to use to access their books. I think this is an interesting idea but that seems a little young for it to be of real use yet. Judging from how I used the school computers, there will probably be more pocket tanks being played than studying going on.
I'll still be downloading books, pdfs, and I'm especially excited to hear about DC comics new online strategy coming with the series' reboots this fall, but I'll take an old well read paper book in my hand any day.
Have a favorite book or story? What do you think about electronic vs paper debate? Do you think it could be more useful in some situations than others? Is it a stupid idea to give 16 years olds ipads and expect them to use them responsibly? Sound off in the comment like you got a pair!
I recently bought an e-book reader, the Nook Color, for school use and have been enjoying it ever since (although recently plants vs zombies has been taking more of my time). Recently I went on vacation, the best time for book nerds to read, and I noticed some interesting habits about how I choose to read now.
In the morning we would wake and ride our bikes to one of the local coffee places for breakfast and I would download the paper almost every morning onto my nook before we left. I loved the variety of papers I could get and it becomes much simpler to read the articles and find the sections you want rather than having to flip to the back to finish an article; then flip back to the front again to keep looking, all the while covering up your entire coffee table with the clutter that comes with digging out a specific section of the paper. I think that the time of the newspaper is at an end as people become more eco-conscious of the amount of paper wasted, the rise of internet journalism, and the technology becomes cheaper and more widespread. The bigger papers (NYT, Wall Street, even The Onion) have already started making the change as its time to adapt or die.
Books are an entirely different story. If you have ever seen my bookshelf you would know that I have always been a reader. For the past few years though, I haven't really had much time for pleasure reading. School kinda took the fun out of it honestly, but I still try to read a new book or two a year. I look at my bookshelf and I see some copies that are old and worn from the numerous reads and can smell the age on the paper. Some look almost new. Some are paperbacks, and some are textbooks. Each one is different however, and for me the tactile sensations of reading a book are something invaluable that a computer screen can't compare with. I don't know why it is that books are so important to have in their physical form compared to say dvds, which I recently sold most of my collection of after backing up their digital copies, but I think that it is something worth never losing.
The one area I think that could have the best improvement from a switch to electronic format are textbooks. Everyone that has been to college has had the experience of purchasing a 175 dollar textbook and being told that they can't sell it back at the end of the semester because a 'new edition' is coming out or else you'll get 20 bucks for it and they'll wrap it in plastic and sell if for 120. College textbook shops know they have you by the balls and they aren't afraid to twist. From what I understand, most textbook manufacturers are afraid to make the jump to digital right now as they don't understand the technology and are worried about how much profit they will lose from the re-buying cheap and selling high scheme they have going. The advantages of an electronic textbook are that other media (video, sound, games, etc.) could be integrated into the lesson plan and books could be leased out for a rental fee for a set period of time and automatically retrieved when the payment ends. I recently found out that my old high school will be getting rid of their textbook fee and switching to an ipad fee which students will be allowed to use to access their books. I think this is an interesting idea but that seems a little young for it to be of real use yet. Judging from how I used the school computers, there will probably be more pocket tanks being played than studying going on.
Cost: Your firstborn child
I did download an amazing book, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, to the kindle app on my nook over vacation and didn't complain a single time, often spending hours reading . Having an entire (and relatively cheap) library at your fingertips is an amazing achievement and technically the things is a marvel. A quick finger flick replaces stuck together pages. Autosave replaces the bookmark. I am able to search for additional information about anything I highlight at any time. When I finished Outliers, I immediately went to the island Barnes and Noble to get my hands on the weight of a book and eventually came away with a leather bound edition of the entire Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series. Added bonus, ribbon bookmark built in. 
I'll still be downloading books, pdfs, and I'm especially excited to hear about DC comics new online strategy coming with the series' reboots this fall, but I'll take an old well read paper book in my hand any day.
Have a favorite book or story? What do you think about electronic vs paper debate? Do you think it could be more useful in some situations than others? Is it a stupid idea to give 16 years olds ipads and expect them to use them responsibly? Sound off in the comment like you got a pair!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Japan scientist synthesizes meat from human feces - Yahoo! News
Japan scientist synthesizes meat from human feces - Yahoo! News
This was just too good to pass up. Would you try to be a turdburger?
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