30 December 2010
Convictions
And the title is not in the deep kind of way. I just thought these were two interesting, long-standing cases that deserved your attention today. After all, if you're reading my blog today, you've got nothing better to do anyway. So check out the Sisters in Mississippi, or the Auschwitz theft convictions. You'll also find another interesting news link in these articles as well, but I won't include it here for semi-obvious reasons. Enjoy!
Busy Holidays
I hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas and/or whatever other holidays you are enjoying right now. Wishing you all the best, and I will catch up on here soon but with the holidays and start of school I have been relatively too busy to blog. For now, check out this creative approach to the skydiving experience. Courtesy once again of our ever faithful Google.
21 December 2010
Steakhouses, Part III
And now for the finale, the reason that I even conceived this blog in the first place. Last night we went out to dinner with another couple who are pretty good friends with us. Amanda and I were trying to figure out a good Christmas gift idea for them and dinner seemed to be the most logical. It's fun to dress up a bit and go out as couples, enjoying the fact that we're young and occasionally enthusiastic about life.
We tried out a new Japanese steakhouse last night called Ichiban Steakhouse. I couldn't really confirm that name for you, but I know it was just South of Worthington, set in a quieter part of town. It was really nice being able to go in there with people who also enjoyed the food and to sit down for a couple of hours, enjoying the show and glorying in the food. It's not something I want to do all the time like the addicting taste of Olive Garden, but it's a really fun sit-down date and the location was perfect. They also did gift certificates with a discounted price so that we were able to save a little that way as well.
We planned ahead for a reservation and it never hurts, but once we got there the place was nearly empty. That meant that the waiters and chefs were also much more casual and jovial, as well as the noise level being down and at a good conversational level. Top that off with a good glass of scotch, and I thought we found finally the steakhouse I want to return too. Of course, the company was pretty good too. ;) That's all for today, folks, I've gotta work on some finer details in my lit reviews.
We tried out a new Japanese steakhouse last night called Ichiban Steakhouse. I couldn't really confirm that name for you, but I know it was just South of Worthington, set in a quieter part of town. It was really nice being able to go in there with people who also enjoyed the food and to sit down for a couple of hours, enjoying the show and glorying in the food. It's not something I want to do all the time like the addicting taste of Olive Garden, but it's a really fun sit-down date and the location was perfect. They also did gift certificates with a discounted price so that we were able to save a little that way as well.
We planned ahead for a reservation and it never hurts, but once we got there the place was nearly empty. That meant that the waiters and chefs were also much more casual and jovial, as well as the noise level being down and at a good conversational level. Top that off with a good glass of scotch, and I thought we found finally the steakhouse I want to return too. Of course, the company was pretty good too. ;) That's all for today, folks, I've gotta work on some finer details in my lit reviews.
Steakhouses, Part II
It was 3 years before my next adventure into a Japanese steakhouse. Long cast from those high stress situations which used to literally ruin my days, and into a healthy relationship with the woman who became my wife, it might've been the concussion or the newfound social comfort that led me to be comfortable to once again set foot into a place that always swallows your cash no matter how much you bring. This became increasingly true after I turned 21 and could enjoy adult beverages as well.
Accompanying Michelle on her team formal was one of the most casual and easy-going stand-ins I ever did. Since she was single without a date, she was looking for a friend to go with that would get along easily with her and not be awkwardified by lack of previous interactions with anyone else at dinner. I can't remember what I did the night before, but I do remember her visiting that day to finalize details and freaking out because I was wearing marker all over. "Nothing a scratchpad couldn't remove", I assured her. Since I also hadn't recently shaved and she wanted it reduced to stubble, we can confidently say that between scraping off marking and clipping off 2 weeks of facial growth, I was sufficiently raw in the face by the end of it.
We carpooled to Ukai Japanese Steakhouse on the West side of Lansing and met up with a huge group. Alcohol always eases people into large groups and this was no exception. After a bottle of red wine, the food was on its way through the tradition of onion volcanoes and egg tricks that leave you convinced the chicken ate so much calcium it must've had kidney stones. And this is where I learned my second lesson. Red wine is not a Japanese steakhouse friendly drink. It's not that it makes you sick, but rather it masks some of the wonderful tastes present at the table. They serve their own cultural wines for a reason; take them up on it rather than imposing your own drink upon a foreign food.
All told, Ukai was a great, busy, happy and loud place where I had the opportunity to watch other people struggle through their utensils and food while enjoying every second of the evening. The noise and atmosphere really made the trip feel like a party and since we alone brought about 30 people there, that was exactly the atmosphere we wanted. Nothing I would consider date material, but it really set the tone for the night. What a great time.
Accompanying Michelle on her team formal was one of the most casual and easy-going stand-ins I ever did. Since she was single without a date, she was looking for a friend to go with that would get along easily with her and not be awkwardified by lack of previous interactions with anyone else at dinner. I can't remember what I did the night before, but I do remember her visiting that day to finalize details and freaking out because I was wearing marker all over. "Nothing a scratchpad couldn't remove", I assured her. Since I also hadn't recently shaved and she wanted it reduced to stubble, we can confidently say that between scraping off marking and clipping off 2 weeks of facial growth, I was sufficiently raw in the face by the end of it.
We carpooled to Ukai Japanese Steakhouse on the West side of Lansing and met up with a huge group. Alcohol always eases people into large groups and this was no exception. After a bottle of red wine, the food was on its way through the tradition of onion volcanoes and egg tricks that leave you convinced the chicken ate so much calcium it must've had kidney stones. And this is where I learned my second lesson. Red wine is not a Japanese steakhouse friendly drink. It's not that it makes you sick, but rather it masks some of the wonderful tastes present at the table. They serve their own cultural wines for a reason; take them up on it rather than imposing your own drink upon a foreign food.
All told, Ukai was a great, busy, happy and loud place where I had the opportunity to watch other people struggle through their utensils and food while enjoying every second of the evening. The noise and atmosphere really made the trip feel like a party and since we alone brought about 30 people there, that was exactly the atmosphere we wanted. Nothing I would consider date material, but it really set the tone for the night. What a great time.
Steakhouses, Part I
More an art form and source of dinner entertainment than the old tradition of the man/grill team, Japanese steakhouses have become an elite in the casual foodservice industry. In light of my third visit to one of these, I just wanted to elaborate on things that I have learned and experienced in each of these tastey visits.
My first visit to a Japanese steakhouse was pretty nerve-racking. I'll grant this might also be because I had already had a hectic weekend, with an all-nighter at a conference in a Holiday Inn, a heart-to-heart with Ohio's head clover at the time, and a Spring OSU football game spiced with a traffic rush to change into my tux for a prom with someone who planned on breaking up with me every other week. Needless to say that as I almost totaled my car on the way there from not seeing a pick-up truck in my blind-spot, fighting all the way there and then going through the frustration of finding a down-town parking spot, I was a bit off my game when we got into Japanese Steakhouse in Columbus.
The place was hopping and I imagine that downtown, it almost always is. With a crowded lobby and flames shooting off randomly across the restaurant, I was overwhelmed from the start. Compounding this with my limited ingestion of Asian food at the time, I conceded that the best plan would be letting my date pick the food and save me the confusion of staring at a menu which might as well have been in Japanese. Beef is good, and so it began. I think once you have steak in a steakhouse (which you should, since it obviously makes or breaks the place by title), you will never go back. The combination of spices, tender beef and soy on a ginormous hotplate is a winning combination that I have never regretted.
I stumbled through not knocking over every single bowl whenever I reached for something because there was so much stuff on our table and it was so crowded and loud that my hands struggled to focus on what they needed to grasp. I literally felt like a bull in a China shop and didn't truly enjoy anything just in an effort to eat and get it out of the way before I was bombarded with the next item I didn't realize I'd ordered.
Leaving the place stuffed and contented, I got to the parking lot to have my brakes broken, but that is another story. It would take me a few years to realize that high-stress situations can scar your enjoyment of good food. Thus, never go to a great place to eat when you're not going to enjoy. A mistake I wouldn't make twice with steakhouse food. Keep posted for Part II.
My first visit to a Japanese steakhouse was pretty nerve-racking. I'll grant this might also be because I had already had a hectic weekend, with an all-nighter at a conference in a Holiday Inn, a heart-to-heart with Ohio's head clover at the time, and a Spring OSU football game spiced with a traffic rush to change into my tux for a prom with someone who planned on breaking up with me every other week. Needless to say that as I almost totaled my car on the way there from not seeing a pick-up truck in my blind-spot, fighting all the way there and then going through the frustration of finding a down-town parking spot, I was a bit off my game when we got into Japanese Steakhouse in Columbus.
The place was hopping and I imagine that downtown, it almost always is. With a crowded lobby and flames shooting off randomly across the restaurant, I was overwhelmed from the start. Compounding this with my limited ingestion of Asian food at the time, I conceded that the best plan would be letting my date pick the food and save me the confusion of staring at a menu which might as well have been in Japanese. Beef is good, and so it began. I think once you have steak in a steakhouse (which you should, since it obviously makes or breaks the place by title), you will never go back. The combination of spices, tender beef and soy on a ginormous hotplate is a winning combination that I have never regretted.
I stumbled through not knocking over every single bowl whenever I reached for something because there was so much stuff on our table and it was so crowded and loud that my hands struggled to focus on what they needed to grasp. I literally felt like a bull in a China shop and didn't truly enjoy anything just in an effort to eat and get it out of the way before I was bombarded with the next item I didn't realize I'd ordered.
Leaving the place stuffed and contented, I got to the parking lot to have my brakes broken, but that is another story. It would take me a few years to realize that high-stress situations can scar your enjoyment of good food. Thus, never go to a great place to eat when you're not going to enjoy. A mistake I wouldn't make twice with steakhouse food. Keep posted for Part II.
20 December 2010
Wasps in Christmas Trees!
Definitely not what I expected to read when I opened my latest ARS e-newsletter. In fact, it had never occurred to me before that Hawaiians (<-- crazy spelling) even wanted Christmas trees. Isn't it pretty contradictory to the warm weather culture there?
But regardless, I don't think I could get very excited about queen yellow jackets spending the holidays with me in the house. Probably more interesting is the claim at the bottom that even after they have found tree shaking to be ineffective, and yet it's still the industry regulation.
One final thought on this over-analyzed 1-pager: wasps are a threat to the local bird population? You mean those little things that I chased around with a bat are threatening the birds that I couldn't even get close to as a kid? Ecological balance is astonishingly fragile sometimes.
But regardless, I don't think I could get very excited about queen yellow jackets spending the holidays with me in the house. Probably more interesting is the claim at the bottom that even after they have found tree shaking to be ineffective, and yet it's still the industry regulation.
One final thought on this over-analyzed 1-pager: wasps are a threat to the local bird population? You mean those little things that I chased around with a bat are threatening the birds that I couldn't even get close to as a kid? Ecological balance is astonishingly fragile sometimes.
I'm still a skeptic... (duplicate post)
... but this is the best anyone's been able to make him sound yet. Maybe now that Kasich is governor he's just finally able to hire good PR staff.
All I really want to know is how he thinks that removing regulation will decrease the incidence of the "few bad apples". If they can't be stopped with regulation, then how do you expect to put them out of business and stop them from ruining it for the rest of us? And the better question (usually posed by the opposition) is if the good farmers are really the "good apples", then why is the regulation a problem in the first place? Maybe the "common sense" that Kasich intends to add back to Ohio government should include simple common sense in the administration of already existing good legislature.
All I really want to know is how he thinks that removing regulation will decrease the incidence of the "few bad apples". If they can't be stopped with regulation, then how do you expect to put them out of business and stop them from ruining it for the rest of us? And the better question (usually posed by the opposition) is if the good farmers are really the "good apples", then why is the regulation a problem in the first place? Maybe the "common sense" that Kasich intends to add back to Ohio government should include simple common sense in the administration of already existing good legislature.
10 December 2010
Pink and other Music Videos
I thought when I saw Rosie the Riveter, that that was the oddest thing to put into a music video... but it goes haywire from there. So here you are with a classic Pink video (they all are pretty crazy), and then this one from her new song that just weirds me out too much. Frankly, she's crazy, but I think that's the only reason I like her music. If you make it through those, I've included Kesha's for a grand finale of what on earth is going on in these? Almost like we're chilling with Miley Cyrus on pot.
Pelotonia update
For those of you who remember, I did the unthinkable and raced in the Pelotonia 2010 cancer research fundraiser. This ride really tested my dedication and persistence as it was was easily one of the most difficult things I've done. It also resulted in the tragic death of one of the riders in a traffic accident.
Well, the hard work of so many people finally came to a tangible fruition a couple of weeks ago when the Pelotonia check was presented at the OSU/Michigan game. The total of nearly 8 million dollars just goes to show how important this issue is to the community and how deeply the cause has touched so many people.
It's never too late to start fundraising for next year, so stay tuned for updates on our plan to ride next year in our own Peleton. We're currently looking at about 5-6 riders and will be looking for both corporate and small dollar quantity donors. Please think about how important the cause of cancer research is, and look up how much the James has done for the cause of cancer research. Until then, I'll be losing weight, trying to sell my old bike and planning out my ride for next year.
09 December 2010
Equality
Is it just an idea; can people really be considered equally? And I'm not talking about money or possessions here, I'm talking about how we treat people.
For example, if you were in prison, would you think that maybe you're in prison because you deserved to be there? And if you deserved to be in prison for breaking the law, do you really have the right to sue over whether or not your food preferences were honored? I think it's ridiculous that there's a lawsuit over what kind of food a prisoner received, despite how gross that food looks in the picture. And even more ridiculous that there were settlements payed over the same lawsuit.
Or ridiculous that people think they are above the rules just because they are a foreign minister? I'm not fond of Obama bowing to foreign powers, but at least I know that he is careful to follow foreign customs and rules. And if you're here visiting America, you can probably expect that we're going to check you like anyone else for contraband before boarding a flight. That's just life, or at least it is here. No ordinary person would've got off complaining about the search - look at how it worked out for them recently. And no ordinary person would've gotten a VIP lounge while waiting to be searched. That doesn't mean we like being searched, and I definitely know I hate being profiled, but that's how it works. How can you expect to represent the people if you want to be treated better than them?
On a happier note, this was a fun video about the wire walker that traveled the world and walked famous places. A fun 5 minutes.
Finals Week Fun (duplicate post)
There's nothing quite like the life you get when you've been freed of the books and studying chaining you all quarter. Even getting up EARLY this week hasn't been able to put a damper on my mood although a severe cold is doing its best. So let me tell you about a couple of my days back in the research loop so you can understand what I do, and maybe also give you an idea of the efforts we put in to protect the food chain.
Yesterday I was up before dawn thought about the day. We met on campus and left in the truck around 5.30 to head North to a pig farm where we would be collecting samples starting at 7.00. This research is specifically for finding ways to better handle and treat pigs so that they are less stressed on a daily basis. Not only is stress reduction important to the consumer, but it is important to the farmers because they want to keep their animals as healthy as possible.
After sample collection, helping to save a pig from the abuse of its pen-mates and saying goodbye to the farmer, we were headed back to campus. I grabbed a quick shower and then hung out until I had a meeting in the afternoon. After the meeting I went downstairs to learn how to make the plug-ins for the thermometer we use in some experiments. This was frustrating work, but thankfully all I was doing was learning so in the time I made 1 successfully, Katie had made 5. At the end of a 12 hour day, I went home to Amanda and finally got to relax for the rest of the evening before an early bedtime in preparation for this morning.
This morning was pig slaughter/harvest. Because it's the end of the quarter, there were less students on the floor, but their vacancy was taken up by some researchers and their visiting colleagues from my alma mater who were collecting liver, jejunum and duodenum samples for a variety of research purposes. This just goes to further emphasize the critical value of animal by-products in the world around us.
My job this morning was to singe the hair and scrape any remaining hair from the skin of the pig. Hair can harbor bacteria which can later infect people, and even though we don't eat the skin, the skin comes into the meat lab where food products will be fabricated, so it's crucial to make sure we keep the area as sterile as possible. The removal of hair is so important and time-consuming that half of the crew today was dedicated solely to this purpose, with me at the end of the line, singing what hadn't already been spun off the skin or shaved by 4 people with knives. Following the end of harvest, we then proceeded to scrub down every inch of the facility, sterilizing and sanitizing the living daylights out of it to prevent any bacterial growth before the next time we use it.
For the rest of today, I'll be reading journal articles on subjects that potentially could be in my field of research next summer. All just a couple of days in my life... And yet, somewhere in the mix I also found time to find all of the gifts I needed for Christmas for Amanda, too. She's been so good about not spying or prying to find out what she's getting, I just hope she's pleasantly surprised in the end.
Yesterday I was up before dawn thought about the day. We met on campus and left in the truck around 5.30 to head North to a pig farm where we would be collecting samples starting at 7.00. This research is specifically for finding ways to better handle and treat pigs so that they are less stressed on a daily basis. Not only is stress reduction important to the consumer, but it is important to the farmers because they want to keep their animals as healthy as possible.
After sample collection, helping to save a pig from the abuse of its pen-mates and saying goodbye to the farmer, we were headed back to campus. I grabbed a quick shower and then hung out until I had a meeting in the afternoon. After the meeting I went downstairs to learn how to make the plug-ins for the thermometer we use in some experiments. This was frustrating work, but thankfully all I was doing was learning so in the time I made 1 successfully, Katie had made 5. At the end of a 12 hour day, I went home to Amanda and finally got to relax for the rest of the evening before an early bedtime in preparation for this morning.
This morning was pig slaughter/harvest. Because it's the end of the quarter, there were less students on the floor, but their vacancy was taken up by some researchers and their visiting colleagues from my alma mater who were collecting liver, jejunum and duodenum samples for a variety of research purposes. This just goes to further emphasize the critical value of animal by-products in the world around us.
My job this morning was to singe the hair and scrape any remaining hair from the skin of the pig. Hair can harbor bacteria which can later infect people, and even though we don't eat the skin, the skin comes into the meat lab where food products will be fabricated, so it's crucial to make sure we keep the area as sterile as possible. The removal of hair is so important and time-consuming that half of the crew today was dedicated solely to this purpose, with me at the end of the line, singing what hadn't already been spun off the skin or shaved by 4 people with knives. Following the end of harvest, we then proceeded to scrub down every inch of the facility, sterilizing and sanitizing the living daylights out of it to prevent any bacterial growth before the next time we use it.
For the rest of today, I'll be reading journal articles on subjects that potentially could be in my field of research next summer. All just a couple of days in my life... And yet, somewhere in the mix I also found time to find all of the gifts I needed for Christmas for Amanda, too. She's been so good about not spying or prying to find out what she's getting, I just hope she's pleasantly surprised in the end.
08 December 2010
Nonsuch
For starters today, I'm totally jealous of this girl, I think. After all, sleeping for over a week on a regular basis could have its downfalls, I suppose. It's definitely intriguing.
And then there was the video on self-weighing luggage and glow in the dark toilet paper. I'm not sure I want to know...
And finally there is the case of NASA selling computers with their data still on there... oops?
And then there was the video on self-weighing luggage and glow in the dark toilet paper. I'm not sure I want to know...
And finally there is the case of NASA selling computers with their data still on there... oops?
06 December 2010
Cry...
... because you're human ... because you've felt this kind of pain ... because you can't imagine feeling this kind of pain ... because you are powerless to fix this broken life ... because there are so many more of them. They call out for help, broken, lost in this world of pain and suffering. I think one thing that made the 9/11 tragedy so terrible for so many people is because it bridged the gaps.
Every day bad things happen - all around the world. But this attack was on a symbol of hope, this was an emblem of international cooperation. And it was a symbol of the wealthy as well as representative of the land of promise for those less fortunate. This bridged the gap between politics, religion, ethnicity, country of origin, age, sex, race - and it dumped us all into a feeling of vulnerability.
Tomorrow will be 69 years from the date of the last attack on American soil before 9/11. 69 years to ease the pain and yet there are still people scarred forever by the impact of this attack. It's been over 9 years since 9/11, and these scars still scream fresh pain in many families. And many similar incidents occur all of the time around the world.
That is why those serving our country overseas are such heroes to me - both those on forgotten bases and training camps, and those on the front lines. The supply managers and those with the responsibility to rebuild following devastating events. These heroes risk their lives every day because they don't want anyone to have to suffer in the way in which so many people have. It makes me so angry inside every time I hear this song that I can't even cry, despite the fact that to not cry when exposed to that much sorrow in the form of another human is unreasonable and against human nature. Angry that there is no way to fix the fact that this and other tragedies have happened. Angry that there is no compassion for fellow man to prevent these atrocities in the first place. Angry that there are Americans more concerned about whether their dog can sue someone in court than they are about the suffering of their own; they are unwilling to even recognize the cry of desperation every day.
Hockey Fights
There's nothing quite like getting your butt kicked on the news or TV. I got started with a Florida trailer park fight they mentioned on WNCI this morning. And then it just carried on from there. I don't think I've seen many hockey players get clobbered that badly, especially if they instigated the altercation. Oh wait, yes I have...
And just in case you haven't gathered from football and basketball that my alma mater really hates Michigan, here's just a taste of the most important sport rivalry of all...
And just in case you haven't gathered from football and basketball that my alma mater really hates Michigan, here's just a taste of the most important sport rivalry of all...
Finals
Hmm... where to begin? Let me just say that we had a pretty busy weekend this past weekend. Saturday alone included helping Amanda's parents host a Christmas party and then attending 2 other holiday parties that evening as well. Combined with a long Friday night, a long week prior and then a hurried hodge-podge Sunday with Christmas tree shopping just west of Zanesville and the Columbus Holiday pops concert, we've been everywhere and done near everything. And somehow I managed to fit some serious studying in there as well.
I credit Amanda with driving most of the time, thus allowing me to do my studying, and then God for somehow helping me remember stuff that I've been forgetting all quarter. The exam this morning went great and I didn't expect it to. I have been so worried about it ever since a month ago when I took my last midterm and I feel enormously relieved to get it off my chest now.
So before I delve into the next bout of studying with my statistics notes (non-existent) and my 2 pages of permitted cheat sheets, I wanted to get some ideas out of my head and onto the screen for your perusal.
Starting with some outstanding BBC news from last night, there was a fun little article about some people stranded in England enjoying the cold weather in style. We've had our own bit of snow starting last night, but nothing compared to this.
Russia probably would've been better off just sharing our GPS system, because crashing the launched satellites into the ocean doesn't quite seem productive to me. I love how they casually announce that it probably landed somewhere near Hawaii. No biggie, right?
No laughing matter, considering some tourists were injured in the attacks and a German died, but "alternative food"? That's putting it pretty plain, eh?
I credit Amanda with driving most of the time, thus allowing me to do my studying, and then God for somehow helping me remember stuff that I've been forgetting all quarter. The exam this morning went great and I didn't expect it to. I have been so worried about it ever since a month ago when I took my last midterm and I feel enormously relieved to get it off my chest now.
So before I delve into the next bout of studying with my statistics notes (non-existent) and my 2 pages of permitted cheat sheets, I wanted to get some ideas out of my head and onto the screen for your perusal.
Starting with some outstanding BBC news from last night, there was a fun little article about some people stranded in England enjoying the cold weather in style. We've had our own bit of snow starting last night, but nothing compared to this.
Russia probably would've been better off just sharing our GPS system, because crashing the launched satellites into the ocean doesn't quite seem productive to me. I love how they casually announce that it probably landed somewhere near Hawaii. No biggie, right?
No laughing matter, considering some tourists were injured in the attacks and a German died, but "alternative food"? That's putting it pretty plain, eh?
03 December 2010
Catchy Titles
In an effort to capture a larger readership, I have been trying to work on my ability to attract attention with just the blog title. Mind you, that still means I need to retain attention within the blog, but that will come next. First, I just want to trick you into reading my ramblings. So I've been roaming the web looking for catchy titles so that I will learn how to better attract attention to my own blog.
None does a better job of this than the video I embed below. The title got me interested immediately and then the picture (people dressed as polar bears) made me click and listen to the movie. In the end, I actually want to make some notes about this movie and my thoughts that surround it. I think this is characteristic of many activist groups - they are much better at capturing the attention of the public and blinding their reasoning with wittiness and emotions. This all starts with a title.
First off, congratulations to the group for capturing my attention and getting your point across. While your point lacks originality, the costumes are definitely a nice change from the nude protesters that frequent my own industry. But then I have to ask you, what exactly makes this a peaceful protest? You have trespassed private property, stormed control of the companies machinery and then locked yourself to the equipment. Does this really mean the protest was peaceful, just because you didn't assault the workers?
And then the locks. Nothing quite like a New York City bike lock to imply you mean to stay hitched for a while. I don't think there is a cause in the world for which I would lock my nice in a grip like that to anything. It's not that there aren't causes that I firmly believe in, it's that there is no way you'll catch me willingly placing myself into a position of such weakness. And as a final thought, I offer this video as a counter-point to why Polar Bears are going extinct. Thanks Gail!
None does a better job of this than the video I embed below. The title got me interested immediately and then the picture (people dressed as polar bears) made me click and listen to the movie. In the end, I actually want to make some notes about this movie and my thoughts that surround it. I think this is characteristic of many activist groups - they are much better at capturing the attention of the public and blinding their reasoning with wittiness and emotions. This all starts with a title.
First off, congratulations to the group for capturing my attention and getting your point across. While your point lacks originality, the costumes are definitely a nice change from the nude protesters that frequent my own industry. But then I have to ask you, what exactly makes this a peaceful protest? You have trespassed private property, stormed control of the companies machinery and then locked yourself to the equipment. Does this really mean the protest was peaceful, just because you didn't assault the workers?
And then the locks. Nothing quite like a New York City bike lock to imply you mean to stay hitched for a while. I don't think there is a cause in the world for which I would lock my nice in a grip like that to anything. It's not that there aren't causes that I firmly believe in, it's that there is no way you'll catch me willingly placing myself into a position of such weakness. And as a final thought, I offer this video as a counter-point to why Polar Bears are going extinct. Thanks Gail!
02 December 2010
Safety Dance
I had to, I hope you can understand. I just don't think my blog would be complete without the "Safety Dance". Personally, I would pass on the first one and watch the LSD version which comes second. It makes so much more sense, but it also would not be the PG version of the two, be fairly warned.
And as a final thought, please enjoy the daily mail song. You can't always believe what you read. ;)
And as a final thought, please enjoy the daily mail song. You can't always believe what you read. ;)
01 December 2010
Snow
Just in time for the 1st of December, the first real snow came down this morning on my way to class. Surprisingly the roads weren't nearly as hazardous as I anticipated and I still made it to my class on time. But man is it cold out there! I wore a long sleeved t-shirt this morning and it was definitely the difference maker for my walk to class. Now if I can just get out to the folks and grab the gloves, I'd be doing well. It's really pretty to get some snow in the air if I don't have to worry about it tormenting my commute.
Of interest in my randoms wanderings today...
Lee Harvey Oswald's coffin is up for sale. Yep, I said coffin. Good news is it's been vacant for about 29 years now.
Mercury makes Ibises stop mating... which apparently means they're gay. Who knew you had to reproduce to prove you were straight?
Finally, I saw this car on Top Gear last night and so it's on here today for being pretty crazy awesome. Not that I'll ever drive one or be good enough to appreciate it, but it was fun to watch.
Of interest in my randoms wanderings today...
Lee Harvey Oswald's coffin is up for sale. Yep, I said coffin. Good news is it's been vacant for about 29 years now.
Mercury makes Ibises stop mating... which apparently means they're gay. Who knew you had to reproduce to prove you were straight?
Finally, I saw this car on Top Gear last night and so it's on here today for being pretty crazy awesome. Not that I'll ever drive one or be good enough to appreciate it, but it was fun to watch.
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