Posts
Yeah, yeah, I'm late.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
YouTube
I would have liked including a window for watching videos from YouTube with content related to my blog, but their smallest window is 400 pixels wide and more than that tall. I just don't have the time to figure out how to constrain the size of embedded script. If they get one smaller that will fit my page without dominating the content of it, I'll put it back up.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Excuse me, but your language is slipping.
It's no wonder the rest of the world can't figure us out. Look at our idiomatic expressions, most of which have nothing to do with anything grammatical.
I'm not going to list them out, but here are a couple of pet peeves of mine. The use of any of these in my presence is likely to get you at least a glare. If they are used in my direction, the conversation is over. If it's by a politician, you've just lost my vote forever (and I don't care if that means I need to vote the Perot ticket again or not). If it's in a book, I do not put the book aside lightly, I do, in fact, throw it away from me with great force (unless I'm supposed to review it because then i haven't a choice, do I?).
"Taken cared of" - The only person I have allowed to use this in my presence is my wife, for obvious reasons. If you mean something completed in the past say, "It has been taken care of." Yes, jerk, there is a 'be' verb in there. Anyone claiming, "It ends in a preposition!" can keep their Latin grammar to themselves. If you don't know what I mean, then you don't know the history of your own language.
"a myriad of" or "myriads of" - That is so CRAPTASTIC! No one should be allowed to get away with this and live. It's an adjective, which means:
This next one, my friends, is the one that set me off tonight.
"horribly underfunded" - did this politician want top say, "underfunded," "greatly underfunded," or did she really mean that the people funding this project failed to underfund it adequately?
Loose lips may sink ships, but sloppy language destroys the means by which we convey ideas to one another. Screw with it, and it'll screw you.
I'm not going to list them out, but here are a couple of pet peeves of mine. The use of any of these in my presence is likely to get you at least a glare. If they are used in my direction, the conversation is over. If it's by a politician, you've just lost my vote forever (and I don't care if that means I need to vote the Perot ticket again or not). If it's in a book, I do not put the book aside lightly, I do, in fact, throw it away from me with great force (unless I'm supposed to review it because then i haven't a choice, do I?).
"Taken cared of" - The only person I have allowed to use this in my presence is my wife, for obvious reasons. If you mean something completed in the past say, "It has been taken care of." Yes, jerk, there is a 'be' verb in there. Anyone claiming, "It ends in a preposition!" can keep their Latin grammar to themselves. If you don't know what I mean, then you don't know the history of your own language.
"a myriad of" or "myriads of" - That is so CRAPTASTIC! No one should be allowed to get away with this and live. It's an adjective, which means:
- It does not take a plural or possessive because it ain't a noun
- It cannot be used in a preposition in primary position because it is an adjective of numbers and can therefore only modify other adjectives or nouns to indicate how much of those exist
This next one, my friends, is the one that set me off tonight.
"horribly underfunded" - did this politician want top say, "underfunded," "greatly underfunded," or did she really mean that the people funding this project failed to underfund it adequately?
Loose lips may sink ships, but sloppy language destroys the means by which we convey ideas to one another. Screw with it, and it'll screw you.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Business and Faith
I posted this in answer to a question posed on how faith might affect actions in business situations. The person asking added that there should be a personal aspect to how it might affect the answerer.
---------------
I've not yet encountered a business situation where faith has ever been an overt consideration. However, I can see where the psychology of faith (and belief) can play into negotiations and inter-office social networks.
Consider the propensity for individuals to congregate and make distinctions of belonging based on certain aspects of personal behavior. These aspects could be favorite singer, favorite food, nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, or (to the point of the question), faith.
I have made a distinction between faith and religion. A further distinction could be made between faith and belief. the distinctions are analogous to the distinction between ethics and morality. These distinctions are difficult for most people to discern and quantify, so that most do not try.
Given this inability to unconsciously separate faith from belief, as apposed to the conscious act of thinking about the distinction, most who ascribe to a particular religion are more likely to favor dealings with those of the same religion. As an example, I would point out the website you provide in clarification.
People will trend toward dealing more with those within their perceived group. While people may deal with those outside these groups, they will be more likely to impose greater restrictions during negotiations with those others. It is an unconscious, not easily controlled compulsion usually ingrained from early development in childhood in what some might call, "indoctrination." I, however, see this more as, "tribal education." Each faith group is a subculture requiring its members to be educated in proper action toward others in that subculture. Humans are social creatures and must feel that they belong to a group. Religion is a fast and easy way to belong.
Although I was not raised under any particular faith, I was surrounded more by those who were Christian than those of any other religion. While I do not subscribe to their tenets of faith, because of my early development I do understand them and their actions toward one another more than I do any other religious group.
While these group interactions will be subverted under he daily activity of the business as a whole, I would be able to enjoy a normal working relationship with most people, personality clashes not-withstanding. I think that if there ever were an overt display of religion, or even an implied requirement to be of that religion in order to enjoy a normal working relationship with the majority of people in the office, I would be packing up quickly and going away. I do not include Christmas or Hanuka displays as there really is no way to avoid either in most nations and especially in the USA. I also do not include charity drives even when run by a religious group, as I do not believe that morality or ethics live within any religion - they are just a good place to start - so the act of charity belongs to all.
---------------
I've not yet encountered a business situation where faith has ever been an overt consideration. However, I can see where the psychology of faith (and belief) can play into negotiations and inter-office social networks.
Consider the propensity for individuals to congregate and make distinctions of belonging based on certain aspects of personal behavior. These aspects could be favorite singer, favorite food, nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, or (to the point of the question), faith.
I have made a distinction between faith and religion. A further distinction could be made between faith and belief. the distinctions are analogous to the distinction between ethics and morality. These distinctions are difficult for most people to discern and quantify, so that most do not try.
Given this inability to unconsciously separate faith from belief, as apposed to the conscious act of thinking about the distinction, most who ascribe to a particular religion are more likely to favor dealings with those of the same religion. As an example, I would point out the website you provide in clarification.
People will trend toward dealing more with those within their perceived group. While people may deal with those outside these groups, they will be more likely to impose greater restrictions during negotiations with those others. It is an unconscious, not easily controlled compulsion usually ingrained from early development in childhood in what some might call, "indoctrination." I, however, see this more as, "tribal education." Each faith group is a subculture requiring its members to be educated in proper action toward others in that subculture. Humans are social creatures and must feel that they belong to a group. Religion is a fast and easy way to belong.
Although I was not raised under any particular faith, I was surrounded more by those who were Christian than those of any other religion. While I do not subscribe to their tenets of faith, because of my early development I do understand them and their actions toward one another more than I do any other religious group.
While these group interactions will be subverted under he daily activity of the business as a whole, I would be able to enjoy a normal working relationship with most people, personality clashes not-withstanding. I think that if there ever were an overt display of religion, or even an implied requirement to be of that religion in order to enjoy a normal working relationship with the majority of people in the office, I would be packing up quickly and going away. I do not include Christmas or Hanuka displays as there really is no way to avoid either in most nations and especially in the USA. I also do not include charity drives even when run by a religious group, as I do not believe that morality or ethics live within any religion - they are just a good place to start - so the act of charity belongs to all.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
MASSIVE Drool!
I have no conceivable use for this, but the "I wanna play with it" factor is incredibly high.
Added some stuff
Don't speak my language? Got something up top that'll do for ya. Mostly. Some languages make the translator gag. I didn't write it (don't think I could) and they don't claim it's 100% either. Also, it is a tad slow, so be patient.
Want to join with some nutballs? Wanna be on of the few, the proud, the truly underappreciated - and become a soccer referee? Well, then click on one of the two logos. Top one takes you to the National site, bottom one takes you to the Northern California site. From the National, I believe you can navigate to the International. Or just search on FIFA.
BTW, although I can,I don't like to code. The less HTML editing I need to do, for anything other than work, the better. I don't script for New Tab or New Window for the links on my blog. Two reasons (3 if you count the above statement):
[12/18/2007] Fine, you tarts! It's done. Click away.
Want to join with some nutballs? Wanna be on of the few, the proud, the truly underappreciated - and become a soccer referee? Well, then click on one of the two logos. Top one takes you to the National site, bottom one takes you to the Northern California site. From the National, I believe you can navigate to the International. Or just search on FIFA.
BTW, although I can,I don't like to code. The less HTML editing I need to do, for anything other than work, the better. I don't script for New Tab or New Window for the links on my blog. Two reasons (3 if you count the above statement):
- I hate it when some site keeps opening new tabs, new windows, or extra pop-ups. Pop-up blockers would prevent that.
- I want people to reach the links I take the time to put in. So I leave it up to the reader to choose how they get there.
To that end, I've put in a little note reminding some (and maybe educating others) that there is a way to open tabs or windows and see those thngs without having to leave my wonderful little slice of paradise.
[12/18/2007] Fine, you tarts! It's done. Click away.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
So, how long's it been? 20! holy....
Okay. So I'm not just now realizing that my 20th high school reunion thingy is coming up in 6 months, but that doesn't mean I can't be surprised by it anyway. Especially when you consider that I just finished up a BA.
Yeah, I procrastinate. In fact, I've procrastinated my procrastination. I'm good at that. It's hard work, procrastination. It's not laziness at all. It is an active decision not to do something that I probably should be doing, but no one will die if I don't, so I won't. See? Lot's of brain power there. Took 1.5 seconds to think it and 30 seconds to type it out without errors......
Anyway, back at the Ranch......
My high-school graduating class had one other reunion, the 11th. Seems that the class officers have fallen off the face of the earth (especially the pres [and we thought she'd be the first inna White House]) so other people, mostly the ROTC people, got it going. It's funny how that works out. It was the same people that a few years later organized an "Every Year" ROTC reunion to honor the instructors (which surprised the hell out of them). We all had fun.
So now I wait for someone to organize an "Every Year" reunion for the band so I can get my double geek goin'. Get Fanfare for the Common Man and Rhapsody in Blue goin'. Some of us wheezers might even be able to swing some Birdland. You can keep the marches, thank you.
So now I've plopped my 80 bucks down and wait, nearly patiently, for the day to arrive when I find out that practically no one (except the 4 VPs that I know about) are doing any better than me. If they remember me, and unless you count the fact they got their degrees first.....
Yeah, I procrastinate. In fact, I've procrastinated my procrastination. I'm good at that. It's hard work, procrastination. It's not laziness at all. It is an active decision not to do something that I probably should be doing, but no one will die if I don't, so I won't. See? Lot's of brain power there. Took 1.5 seconds to think it and 30 seconds to type it out without errors......
Anyway, back at the Ranch......
My high-school graduating class had one other reunion, the 11th. Seems that the class officers have fallen off the face of the earth (especially the pres [and we thought she'd be the first inna White House]) so other people, mostly the ROTC people, got it going. It's funny how that works out. It was the same people that a few years later organized an "Every Year" ROTC reunion to honor the instructors (which surprised the hell out of them). We all had fun.
So now I wait for someone to organize an "Every Year" reunion for the band so I can get my double geek goin'. Get Fanfare for the Common Man and Rhapsody in Blue goin'. Some of us wheezers might even be able to swing some Birdland. You can keep the marches, thank you.
So now I've plopped my 80 bucks down and wait, nearly patiently, for the day to arrive when I find out that practically no one (except the 4 VPs that I know about) are doing any better than me. If they remember me, and unless you count the fact they got their degrees first.....
Friday, December 07, 2007
Rampant Stupidity
Not so recently, I bought tickets through TicketMaster. I had a whole rant that I was going to post, but I've decided that I'm just going to post the BBB process complaint and then post my thoughts and what I plan to do afterward and why.
"" = equals some modicum of privacy for me (although it ain't hard to figure out who I am) and the person from whom I received the company's boiler-plate response, or some dumb mistake which I feel would embarass the BBB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Complaint Description
IAC, doing bus as Ticketmaster, which operates www.ticketmaster.com, is not properly disclosing all costs associated with ticket purchases before such purchases are made. I had ordered 3 tickets. The Purchase page showed seat locations, the delivery options & costs of the tickets. There was no mention of any other fees associated with the purchase. Agreeing to the price & selecting the delivery method (Regular Mail) I clicked Purchase. The next page was for payment info. There was still no mention of the fees. I also didn't notice that my delivery method had changed from Regular Mail to TicketFast ($2.50 fee). After purchase, the price quoted on the Purchase Page for 3 tickets had increased by 26% of the $49.50 ticket price by the addition of delivery fee + a $10.50, 'Convenience Charge,' per ticket. There was also an order processing fee of $4.15 not previously mentioned or noticed. I've understood that they do have the right to charge these fess, but such fees must be disclosed & enumerated on the purchase order, before the trans is concluded or the service is performed. Attempted suits have been made, & lost, regarding their practice of charging such fees & the possibility of lowering them (Band Pearl Jam vs. Ticketmaster [or equiv).They should, be held accountable for disclosing them, openly & on the purchase price page, before the purchase is fait accompli. I'm waiving the processing fee, as service was provided. Had it been properly disclosed, I wouldn't have objected.
Company's Response
Tickets purchased on Ticketmaster.com are typically subject to a per ticket convenience charge and a non-refundable per order processing fee. In many cases, delivery prices will also be owed." [From their ToU policy]
There is no disclosure of the percentage or fixed amount charged. Whether agreed to or not, there is no way to determine the cost of those charges prior to purchase without the disclosure on the purchase page.
Complaint is directed at parent company (IAC), not TicketMaster.
Company's Final Response
Final Response - Posted
We are in receipt of your complaint. We understand that your complaint was directed to IAC, but the charges in question are set in place by Ticketmaster. As previously stated you are requesting that Ticketmaster refund a purchase that you placed on our website. During the Internet ordering process, all information is re-confirmed. By proceeding with your order, you acknowledged that you would abide by our terms. Since you agreed to those terms we respectfully decline to grant your request for a refund as we do not believe that Ticketmaster was at fault in this instance. We trust this explanation will be satisfactory to fully resolve this matter. Sincerely, "" -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was never interested in receiving the entire purchase price, just the price of the undisclosed amount.
Their practice is the equivalent of a moving company saying, "There will be a transportation fee of an amount that we cannot disclose because we don't know how much it will be." After you've already signed the work order saying that you'll pay it, they have your stuff. Then they charge you extortionist fees in order to get your stuff back.
That kind of practice has been determined in court (for moving companies, at least) to be tantamount to fraud because they did not disclose the fixed amount, percentage amount, or amount to be charged per mile on the contract before signing. TicketMaster also does not disclose a percentage amount or fixed rate for their fee.
I'm very close to pursuing a class action lawsuit not only for the amount of my fees, but for the total amount of fees charges by TicketMaster since the inception of their online ticket purchasing outlet for tickets purchased through that outlet. Why would I start there? Because, when buying a ticket through previous outlets (i.e. at the venue, licensed outlets like the Wherehouse, etc.) there was always a disclosure of the amount to the customer before the customer had payed for the tickets. Up until they made the purchase, the customer had the right to cancel the transaction due to knowing the amount of the fee. In the case of the online purchases, there is no monetary disclosure until after the purchase is complete.
How much is this likely to hurt them? Well, my fees were around $10.25 per ticket. Multiply that by millions of ticket since the inception of the online venue. The lawyer is likely to be happy with 3% of that as a fee, but against such a large company it might be as high as 10%. As first party, I'll be happy with 1.4%, but might get by with 2%.
Now think of the money they could have saved by giving me my 40 bucks.........
Of course, that's only if I go through with it. Maybe someone else will beat me to the punch. I wouldn't mind much as long as I got my 40 bucks.
"" = equals some modicum of privacy for me (although it ain't hard to figure out who I am) and the person from whom I received the company's boiler-plate response, or some dumb mistake which I feel would embarass the BBB.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Complaint Description
IAC, doing bus as Ticketmaster, which operates www.ticketmaster.com, is not properly disclosing all costs associated with ticket purchases before such purchases are made. I had ordered 3 tickets. The Purchase page showed seat locations, the delivery options & costs of the tickets. There was no mention of any other fees associated with the purchase. Agreeing to the price & selecting the delivery method (Regular Mail) I clicked Purchase. The next page was for payment info. There was still no mention of the fees. I also didn't notice that my delivery method had changed from Regular Mail to TicketFast ($2.50 fee). After purchase, the price quoted on the Purchase Page for 3 tickets had increased by 26% of the $49.50 ticket price by the addition of delivery fee + a $10.50, 'Convenience Charge,' per ticket. There was also an order processing fee of $4.15 not previously mentioned or noticed. I've understood that they do have the right to charge these fess, but such fees must be disclosed & enumerated on the purchase order, before the trans is concluded or the service is performed. Attempted suits have been made, & lost, regarding their practice of charging such fees & the possibility of lowering them (Band Pearl Jam vs. Ticketmaster [or equiv).They should, be held accountable for disclosing them, openly & on the purchase price page, before the purchase is fait accompli. I'm waiving the processing fee, as service was provided. Had it been properly disclosed, I wouldn't have objected.
Complaint Summary
IAC, doing bus as Ticketmaster, which operates www.ticketmaster.com, is not properly disclosing all costs associated with ticket purchases.
Resolution Sought
Refund of undisclosed fees.
| Additional Information | |
| Date Problem First Occurred: | 11-17-2007 |
| Product or Service: | computerized ticketing sales |
| Model Name or Number: | "" |
| Date Purchased: | 11-17-2007 |
| Order Number: | |
| Amount Paid: | |
Company's Response
Dear Mr. "":
We are in receipt of your request for a refund. Thank you for your patience while we researched the facts relevant to your transaction. As you may recall, you are requesting that Ticketmaster refund a purchase that you placed on our website. Ticketmaster strives to provide excellent customer service and sincerely regrets that an error apparently occurred in connection with your transaction. We welcome this opportunity to explain why your refund request is being denied. During the Internet ordering process, all information is re-confirmed. This confirmation includes venue, day, date, time, and number of tickets, itemized and total charges. Before a consumer can complete their transaction, the consumer must agree to our Terms of Use. By proceeding with your order, you acknowledged that you would abide by those terms. Further, under our Purchase Policy, subcategory Refunds and Exchanges, it clearly states that before purchasing tickets, carefully review your event and seat selection. Policies set forth by our clients, including venues, teams and theaters; prohibit Ticketmaster from issuing exchanges or refunds after a ticket has been purchased or for lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed tickets. I sincerely regret to learn that you were disappointed with your experience utilizing Ticketmaster. However, since you agreed to our Terms of Use prior to completion of the transaction, we respectfully decline to grant your request for a refund as we do not believe that Ticketmaster was at fault in this instance. Thank you for the opportunity to respond and formally address your concerns. We trust this explanation will be satisfactory to fully resolve this matter. Sincerely, "" Consumer Support Specialist
Initial Response Summary
Thank you for your patience while we researched the facts relevant to your transaction.
Rebuttal - Posted 11-28-2007
Tickets purchased on Ticketmaster.com are typically subject to a per ticket convenience charge and a non-refundable per order processing fee. In many cases, delivery prices will also be owed." [From their ToU policy]
There is no disclosure of the percentage or fixed amount charged. Whether agreed to or not, there is no way to determine the cost of those charges prior to purchase without the disclosure on the purchase page.
Complaint is directed at parent company (IAC), not TicketMaster.
Company's Final Response
Final Response - Posted
We are in receipt of your complaint. We understand that your complaint was directed to IAC, but the charges in question are set in place by Ticketmaster. As previously stated you are requesting that Ticketmaster refund a purchase that you placed on our website. During the Internet ordering process, all information is re-confirmed. By proceeding with your order, you acknowledged that you would abide by our terms. Since you agreed to those terms we respectfully decline to grant your request for a refund as we do not believe that Ticketmaster was at fault in this instance. We trust this explanation will be satisfactory to fully resolve this matter. Sincerely, "" -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was never interested in receiving the entire purchase price, just the price of the undisclosed amount.
Their practice is the equivalent of a moving company saying, "There will be a transportation fee of an amount that we cannot disclose because we don't know how much it will be." After you've already signed the work order saying that you'll pay it, they have your stuff. Then they charge you extortionist fees in order to get your stuff back.
That kind of practice has been determined in court (for moving companies, at least) to be tantamount to fraud because they did not disclose the fixed amount, percentage amount, or amount to be charged per mile on the contract before signing. TicketMaster also does not disclose a percentage amount or fixed rate for their fee.
I'm very close to pursuing a class action lawsuit not only for the amount of my fees, but for the total amount of fees charges by TicketMaster since the inception of their online ticket purchasing outlet for tickets purchased through that outlet. Why would I start there? Because, when buying a ticket through previous outlets (i.e. at the venue, licensed outlets like the Wherehouse, etc.) there was always a disclosure of the amount to the customer before the customer had payed for the tickets. Up until they made the purchase, the customer had the right to cancel the transaction due to knowing the amount of the fee. In the case of the online purchases, there is no monetary disclosure until after the purchase is complete.
How much is this likely to hurt them? Well, my fees were around $10.25 per ticket. Multiply that by millions of ticket since the inception of the online venue. The lawyer is likely to be happy with 3% of that as a fee, but against such a large company it might be as high as 10%. As first party, I'll be happy with 1.4%, but might get by with 2%.
Now think of the money they could have saved by giving me my 40 bucks.........
Of course, that's only if I go through with it. Maybe someone else will beat me to the punch. I wouldn't mind much as long as I got my 40 bucks.
Monday, December 03, 2007
By way of clarification
For those of you thinking that the previous two post contradict each other: They don't.
The article from 11-29-07 deals with intolerant behavior toward another for perceived inequality.
The article from 12-03-07 deals with ... well it's about ... and they were dumb and ...
Okay, so I'm intolerant of stupid acts by otherwise intelligent people. So I'm addressing the outward actions of the people and not making judgments about their inherent inferiority at all.
- - -
Aw, hell! Yeah, you're right they do contradict each other. A little. I did say I was guilty of it, didn't I?
The article from 11-29-07 deals with intolerant behavior toward another for perceived inequality.
The article from 12-03-07 deals with ... well it's about ... and they were dumb and ...
Okay, so I'm intolerant of stupid acts by otherwise intelligent people. So I'm addressing the outward actions of the people and not making judgments about their inherent inferiority at all.
- - -
Aw, hell! Yeah, you're right they do contradict each other. A little. I did say I was guilty of it, didn't I?
A year inna Tree? Holy CARP!
It's been an entire year now that some U.C. Berkeley students(?) decided to save some trees by climbing into them and refusing to come down. The trees are happy, I'm sure, with all that free fertilizer - coming out of both ends.
"I like this tree, so to save it I'm gonna nail some boards to it." Um.....DUH!
This article is about a year old now as well, but it speaks plainly of the soft-headedness that pervades supposed "right thinking" people. Not the religious right, not the Republican right, heck, not even the right coast. Just, "I'm right and you're wrong. Nyah!"
These children weren't allowed to fall down enough onto concrete from high enough places when they were children. If they had been, maybe we wouldn't be wasting even the minimal amount of pixilated bits I'm producing right now. These are the kind of people that also advocate replacing sand with rubberized flooring in exterior parks. Anyone ever tell them what that material is made from?
Okay, I understand why they want to save the trees. I also understand why Berkeley wants to build a new stadium. Both sides are stump dumb, though. The kids for thinking their opinions mean much, and Berkeley for making such a big deal out of building a structure that has absolutely nothing to do with education, but has everything to do with how many "donations" the school can obtain.
The trees in question are, in fact protected. That's fine. However, one of the responders to the linked article states, "The current oak grove is a complex functioning ecosystem." Really? I don't think the odd squirrel, nesting bird, creeping crud, or a few lichen constitute much of an ecosystem. Especially now that for a year the apes in the trees have scared them all off. I have a couple of questions:
Current building codes of California are extremely strict about the redesign, refit, or rebuilding of any structure that lies directly on, or is sectioned in any way by an inherently active fault. At the time the building they are trying to "fix" was originally built, these codes were not as strict. They can build it, but it's going to cost a whole lot of money. Last figure I can recall was somewhere in the order of half a billion dollars (for those using British measurements, think 10x10^12 not 10x10^9) for studies, permits, consultants and (maybe) some construction. Heck, these are the guys who, in 1995, spent $1.5 million just to put real grass back into the stadium. Just grass. Which gets painted, trudged on, burnt with petroleum products, hammered, ground into mud, and ripped up, for all of which reasons it must be replanted every season. Probably at the same cost.
Hey, Dean, how many books could you buy for $1.5 million? How many students' educations could you completely pay for with $1.5 million?
Both of these groups should never be allowed near money. Heck, neither of these groups can think past their own ideologies enough to see what money is. And these are supposed to be the best and brightest. If they are, we are doomed.
I would have solved this thing in about a week. I'd give them that long to get the heck outta the tree. If they didn't, I wouldn't wait for the courts. Why? Well, ya see, we have this wonderful thing called a, "tranquilizer dart." We also have these things called, "foam mats." (Don't worry, Dean, the kinesthetics department can help you out with the mats. I know it's complicated for you.)
What? Too Violent for you? Think about that the next time you applaud the killing of a mountain lion simply because it's in someone's neighborhood. Or maybe the next time someone vilifies that same mountain lion when it attacks after being cornered by Joe red-neck and his beer-swillin' ape buddies building fires where they shouldn't and wondering what that rustlin' is inna bushes...
"I like this tree, so to save it I'm gonna nail some boards to it." Um.....DUH!
This article is about a year old now as well, but it speaks plainly of the soft-headedness that pervades supposed "right thinking" people. Not the religious right, not the Republican right, heck, not even the right coast. Just, "I'm right and you're wrong. Nyah!"
These children weren't allowed to fall down enough onto concrete from high enough places when they were children. If they had been, maybe we wouldn't be wasting even the minimal amount of pixilated bits I'm producing right now. These are the kind of people that also advocate replacing sand with rubberized flooring in exterior parks. Anyone ever tell them what that material is made from?
Okay, I understand why they want to save the trees. I also understand why Berkeley wants to build a new stadium. Both sides are stump dumb, though. The kids for thinking their opinions mean much, and Berkeley for making such a big deal out of building a structure that has absolutely nothing to do with education, but has everything to do with how many "donations" the school can obtain.
The trees in question are, in fact protected. That's fine. However, one of the responders to the linked article states, "The current oak grove is a complex functioning ecosystem." Really? I don't think the odd squirrel, nesting bird, creeping crud, or a few lichen constitute much of an ecosystem. Especially now that for a year the apes in the trees have scared them all off. I have a couple of questions:
- The law that prohibits the cutting down of live oaks: it applies to the city or the county?
- If either, is the campus properly within either?
Current building codes of California are extremely strict about the redesign, refit, or rebuilding of any structure that lies directly on, or is sectioned in any way by an inherently active fault. At the time the building they are trying to "fix" was originally built, these codes were not as strict. They can build it, but it's going to cost a whole lot of money. Last figure I can recall was somewhere in the order of half a billion dollars (for those using British measurements, think 10x10^12 not 10x10^9) for studies, permits, consultants and (maybe) some construction. Heck, these are the guys who, in 1995, spent $1.5 million just to put real grass back into the stadium. Just grass. Which gets painted, trudged on, burnt with petroleum products, hammered, ground into mud, and ripped up, for all of which reasons it must be replanted every season. Probably at the same cost.
Hey, Dean, how many books could you buy for $1.5 million? How many students' educations could you completely pay for with $1.5 million?
Both of these groups should never be allowed near money. Heck, neither of these groups can think past their own ideologies enough to see what money is. And these are supposed to be the best and brightest. If they are, we are doomed.
I would have solved this thing in about a week. I'd give them that long to get the heck outta the tree. If they didn't, I wouldn't wait for the courts. Why? Well, ya see, we have this wonderful thing called a, "tranquilizer dart." We also have these things called, "foam mats." (Don't worry, Dean, the kinesthetics department can help you out with the mats. I know it's complicated for you.)
- Put foam mats under trees
- Use either a blowgun or a tranquiler rifle (both of which the Department of Fish and Wildlife can loan you) to pick 'em off
- They fall onto mats
- Anyone trying to get in the way gets a dart, too
- You arrest them
- Problem solved.
What? Too Violent for you? Think about that the next time you applaud the killing of a mountain lion simply because it's in someone's neighborhood. Or maybe the next time someone vilifies that same mountain lion when it attacks after being cornered by Joe red-neck and his beer-swillin' ape buddies building fires where they shouldn't and wondering what that rustlin' is inna bushes...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Ineffective Management - Not overcoming intolerant behavior
This is what I wanted to post on the forum of a very popular family history site. It was in response to a poster who wrote a letter to the CEO of this company and had gone unanswered for more than a month. However, the only thing I was able to post was the last line. Gosh, I wonder what I said.........
For those offended easily: this is not a religion bash, so don't read it that way. It is simply a reminder of mindset and psychological action/inaction.
In the letter did you mention that you were or were not a [church deleted] member? I'm thinking the actual owners [corporate identity of church deleted] of these sites don't really care much about their customers because most are not members. It's the same kind of head-patting "toleration" that was practiced by slave owners and is now getting the Muslim world in trouble.
When a person sets out believing that their religion is the only right and true religion, and that all Others that do not believe as they do are inferior, that person begins treating Others as such.
It can't be helped. It is in the biology of humans to act for the good of the social group to which they belong. Even if there is cooperation among differing social groups, humans easily ignore most complaints made by Others because of their obviously (because they are not of that social group) inferior moral, social, and mental status. Everything that you do for those Others, by ignoring or acting on a complaint or request, is for their benefit. Any complaints about not being heard or understood is therefore due to that Others' inferiority.
The striving of the world for toleration is in direct violation of biology. We are an inherently intolerant species, and we can only overcome that biology by a conscious act of will and only in individual situations. Everyone is guilty of intolerant behavior. I am guilty of it. Everyone I have ever personally known is guilty of it. Anyone who denies ever having done it is also guilty of lying.
The fact that this CEO is refusing to react, in any meaningful way, to people who have, until now, supported him and his company's products through 16 iterations, just highlights the fact that he is doing it.
It's time for the executives and directors of this corporation to overcome biology and answer this man's questions.
Friday, July 27, 2007
New Stuff - a review of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
This review was originally published by me on LibraryThing.com. There's a link under the books on the left. Yeah, down there somewhere. Keep looking...
This book, like so many recent books, has fallen prey to some sloppy copy-editing: wrong words, incorrect articles, misplaced modifiers, and one glaring error of consistency (in Bagshot's house when she speaks from the parlor). While this book is by no means rife with such errors, the fact they exist becomes distracting. One would think that with such an anticipated book the publishers would pay stricter attention to such details.
In this final installment of the series, Rowling delves into the darkness further than she has in the previous six. There is death and dying and war and rumors of war on almost every page, and in the midst of it all is Harry, who is finally using his brain. There are those moments, almost obligatory in light of the heaviness of the story itself, where there is happiness and homecoming. These small bits of light do indicate that there is life still happening out there.
I found that in this book, as in the previous books in this series, there is much detail in the moment with long interludes passed over with little mentioned except the passage of, "a few weeks," or some similar placeholder. While this does, indeed, mirror real life, I can't perceive of the long intervals of time where these particular characters are just hiding out doing nothing and not getting caught while doing it. Sure, it is a lot like war, long intervals of doing absolutely nothing punctuated by instances of extreme brutality, but I can't believe with all the resources brought to bear on them that they could elude capture. (Osama is doing it, but we don't have magic.)
Hermione and Ron really take a back seat to Harry in this one. Harry calls all the shots and the other two are riding as support. While this may have been strictly true for the entirety of the series, I would have thought that it would have been more of a blending of talents in this final book. There doesn't seem to be the cohesion or melding that I felt should happen in order for the three to complete their task - namely to defeat Voldemort.
The whole of the story deals with death and is quite reminiscent of the strictures of mythology as set forth by Joseph Campbell. It is the quintessential Hero's Journey with the highs, lows, love, hate, birth, death and the aftermath of death that our three must deal with. It is this archetypal journey that Harry takes in this book.
The final chapter is quite disappointing. I would have expected a chapter before it describing the colossal clean-up after the war. The cost on lives is not the only cost of war; the society itself is often changed. Questions are left unanswered. While we can surmise some things from what we are given, such as the continuing schism within the wizarding world, what of the other magical creatures with which they deal? Since this is the last book, we may never know. ( 4 stars )
This book, like so many recent books, has fallen prey to some sloppy copy-editing: wrong words, incorrect articles, misplaced modifiers, and one glaring error of consistency (in Bagshot's house when she speaks from the parlor). While this book is by no means rife with such errors, the fact they exist becomes distracting. One would think that with such an anticipated book the publishers would pay stricter attention to such details.
In this final installment of the series, Rowling delves into the darkness further than she has in the previous six. There is death and dying and war and rumors of war on almost every page, and in the midst of it all is Harry, who is finally using his brain. There are those moments, almost obligatory in light of the heaviness of the story itself, where there is happiness and homecoming. These small bits of light do indicate that there is life still happening out there.
I found that in this book, as in the previous books in this series, there is much detail in the moment with long interludes passed over with little mentioned except the passage of, "a few weeks," or some similar placeholder. While this does, indeed, mirror real life, I can't perceive of the long intervals of time where these particular characters are just hiding out doing nothing and not getting caught while doing it. Sure, it is a lot like war, long intervals of doing absolutely nothing punctuated by instances of extreme brutality, but I can't believe with all the resources brought to bear on them that they could elude capture. (Osama is doing it, but we don't have magic.)
Hermione and Ron really take a back seat to Harry in this one. Harry calls all the shots and the other two are riding as support. While this may have been strictly true for the entirety of the series, I would have thought that it would have been more of a blending of talents in this final book. There doesn't seem to be the cohesion or melding that I felt should happen in order for the three to complete their task - namely to defeat Voldemort.
The whole of the story deals with death and is quite reminiscent of the strictures of mythology as set forth by Joseph Campbell. It is the quintessential Hero's Journey with the highs, lows, love, hate, birth, death and the aftermath of death that our three must deal with. It is this archetypal journey that Harry takes in this book.
The final chapter is quite disappointing. I would have expected a chapter before it describing the colossal clean-up after the war. The cost on lives is not the only cost of war; the society itself is often changed. Questions are left unanswered. While we can surmise some things from what we are given, such as the continuing schism within the wizarding world, what of the other magical creatures with which they deal? Since this is the last book, we may never know. ( 4 stars )
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
You Have a Job? - Americans Prove to the World They are the Dumbest
Okay, I admit it: I watch American Idol. I appreciate good singing. Although they don't always show the best singers at the beginning, they always have the better singers making it to the finals. Last year I picked Paris and Hicks as the finalists right from the beginning. Although Paris showed some personality problems later on and showed that she had some broadening of her talent to do, Hicks proved through that he had the talent and a unique voice and brought the prize home.
I hate what the producer did to Taylor and his voice on his first album. The tone and phrasing on it, for every single song, was just plain wrong. Instead of allowing Taylor to sing the songs as they should be, with the full emotion that Hicks can convey with his voice, the producer, apparently, felt it necessary to prove that he [the producer] knew almost nothing about music except where all the knobs, dials, and slides were located. Of course, that's my beef and not pertinent to why America is the dumbest country on the planet.
This year America proved to the world that, collectively, they couldn't think themselves out a the proverbial wet paper sack.
Melinda Dolittle, the most talented singer American Idol has ever had on its stage was voted out by the same people who actually think Britney Spears has talent. These are the same people that think Rolling Stone magazine and MTV still know music. The same people, in fact, that can't seem to rise to the challenge of voting in political elections. 60 million votes cast is more than in any political election for president that I can think of. I'm not going to delve into the records - I might be wrong.
The whole point of the show is to award the best singer of the competition a singing contract. America hasn't got a single clue what music is let alone be able to judge a singing competition. To oust Dolittle is like saying, "Um...Aretha Franklin wasn't any good either."
Jordin, while good, does still have some vocal stretching to accomplish before she's as good as Melinda. In 2 to 5 years she will likely be where Melinda is now, so let's wait for that to happen before giving her a contract. Blake, while an interesting talent, has a single octave to his range and can't emote to save his life while singing. At best he is a novelty act and is definitely not unique enough to warrant a full contract.
Why am I so adamant about this? It's another notch on the dumb-o-meter for America as a whole. We can't do Math - tick. America's engineers aren't good enough so workers from other countries must be hired - tick. America's collective ignorance of geography leaves much to be desired - tick. Most Americans don't know the difference between Monet and Manet - tick. The books we cleave to most wholeheartedly are formulaic and most wouldn't know how to determine if that was so - tick. Americans don't actually vote in elections because they feel that the vote will not count - tick. Americans that go to college would rather party and get easy grades than actually learn anything - tick. Americans don't really believe anything a politician says, but will believe anything from the party office to which they belong - tick. Americans, as a whole, don't know what a war is - tick. Americans wouldn't know real talent if it walked up to them and hit them, hard, between the eyes because almost none of them have any that they can lay claim to - tick.
It's bad enough that our President is a dumbass, but the voting that occurred on this years' installment of American Idol proves to the world that we are a nation of dumbasses, so it is only fitting that we be led by one.
It is highly unlikely that I will watch any further episodes of American Idol. It makes Americans look too stupid.
I hate what the producer did to Taylor and his voice on his first album. The tone and phrasing on it, for every single song, was just plain wrong. Instead of allowing Taylor to sing the songs as they should be, with the full emotion that Hicks can convey with his voice, the producer, apparently, felt it necessary to prove that he [the producer] knew almost nothing about music except where all the knobs, dials, and slides were located. Of course, that's my beef and not pertinent to why America is the dumbest country on the planet.
This year America proved to the world that, collectively, they couldn't think themselves out a the proverbial wet paper sack.
Melinda Dolittle, the most talented singer American Idol has ever had on its stage was voted out by the same people who actually think Britney Spears has talent. These are the same people that think Rolling Stone magazine and MTV still know music. The same people, in fact, that can't seem to rise to the challenge of voting in political elections. 60 million votes cast is more than in any political election for president that I can think of. I'm not going to delve into the records - I might be wrong.
The whole point of the show is to award the best singer of the competition a singing contract. America hasn't got a single clue what music is let alone be able to judge a singing competition. To oust Dolittle is like saying, "Um...Aretha Franklin wasn't any good either."
Jordin, while good, does still have some vocal stretching to accomplish before she's as good as Melinda. In 2 to 5 years she will likely be where Melinda is now, so let's wait for that to happen before giving her a contract. Blake, while an interesting talent, has a single octave to his range and can't emote to save his life while singing. At best he is a novelty act and is definitely not unique enough to warrant a full contract.
Why am I so adamant about this? It's another notch on the dumb-o-meter for America as a whole. We can't do Math - tick. America's engineers aren't good enough so workers from other countries must be hired - tick. America's collective ignorance of geography leaves much to be desired - tick. Most Americans don't know the difference between Monet and Manet - tick. The books we cleave to most wholeheartedly are formulaic and most wouldn't know how to determine if that was so - tick. Americans don't actually vote in elections because they feel that the vote will not count - tick. Americans that go to college would rather party and get easy grades than actually learn anything - tick. Americans don't really believe anything a politician says, but will believe anything from the party office to which they belong - tick. Americans, as a whole, don't know what a war is - tick. Americans wouldn't know real talent if it walked up to them and hit them, hard, between the eyes because almost none of them have any that they can lay claim to - tick.
It's bad enough that our President is a dumbass, but the voting that occurred on this years' installment of American Idol proves to the world that we are a nation of dumbasses, so it is only fitting that we be led by one.
It is highly unlikely that I will watch any further episodes of American Idol. It makes Americans look too stupid.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Returning after much time away
I know I've been gone and you miss me.
What? You never noticed? I'm crushed.
After 2 years of non-activity, I return to add something to my sidebar. Just under all that advertisement (which I might put above it, but then again it ain't that far to scroll) I've added some random books from my cataloged collection at LibraryThing. The link is below the books, so I won't put it in here. Sometimes ya just hafta make tha reader work for it!
This may be the beginning of a full return. Then again, most of the comments I got 2 years ago were advertisements. Not something I'm looking forward to. It was very disappointing. Back then, I was thinking of posting the offenders IP addresses, but thought that I'd let it slide since they just move and do the same dumb crap anyway. Who knows what I might do now.
What? You never noticed? I'm crushed.
After 2 years of non-activity, I return to add something to my sidebar. Just under all that advertisement (which I might put above it, but then again it ain't that far to scroll) I've added some random books from my cataloged collection at LibraryThing. The link is below the books, so I won't put it in here. Sometimes ya just hafta make tha reader work for it!
This may be the beginning of a full return. Then again, most of the comments I got 2 years ago were advertisements. Not something I'm looking forward to. It was very disappointing. Back then, I was thinking of posting the offenders IP addresses, but thought that I'd let it slide since they just move and do the same dumb crap anyway. Who knows what I might do now.
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