The (Apocalyptic) Future is … Now?

Science fiction writers have, historically, been very accurate seers into mankind’s future, both near and distant.  When Jules Verne penned “From the Earth to the Moon” in 1865, he envisioned an event so strikingly similar to the Apollo missions it’s uncanny, and he did it 92 years before Sputnik launched.  The following year (1958) saw the movie adaptation of Verne’s adventure and the creation of NASA, but it would take 11 more years before Neil Armstrong would walk on the moon, something Verne saw with crystal clarity 104 years earlier.

Another popular theme of science fiction evolves around a future, post-apocalyptic Earth, with movies like The Road Warrior, Mad Max, Escape from L.A., Terminator (pick one), and Solarbabies (there’s one from the B pile), to name a few.  Watch any of them and you’d see the same thing:  rusting hulks of old automobiles used like oversized cinder blocks in the creation of walls, barricades, and fortresses.  I enjoyed the movies, comforting myself that this was far from reality and could never happen, if for no other reason than where the heck would all the cars come from?

I’m such an idiot at times.

While Chrysler and GM are cutting dealerships left and right, Chrysler’s also not buying back the inventory off the lots.  So, we’re going to see dealerships dissolve … and vast lots of cars start to appear … and rust … hmmm.  Raw materials for future events?

Think I’m crazy?  You may be right … but I have to ask:  What does that say about the rash of “natural disaster films” (Day After Tomorrow, 10.5, Nuclear Twister, Earthquake, The Core, Armageddon, Space Cowboys, Outbreak, Volcano, Dante’s Peak, etc.) we’ve been “plagued” with lately?

He Who Dealt It Can Now Measure It

Here is yet more proof that, in spite of the current economic situation, there are people with too much free time.  The only thing odder is that it was a final project for a class at Cornell University.

On one hand, I applaud them, because they’ve provided an answer to an age old question:  How corrosive is my gas?

On the other hand … I’m afraid.

(Don't) Sleep on It!

A study conducted by the University of Minnesota suggests that if you don't have a consistent, regular sleep habit (i.e. same number of hours, same level of relaxation, same time of night, etc.) you're more likely to have "aging issues" (i.e. you'll die).

There's a part of me that went "duh!?!" when I heard this (it seems intuitively obvious), but then I had to take a step back and rethink things.  Is it really your screwed up sleeping habits that adversely affect your health (and, potentially, lead to your death) ...

OR ... is it the waking early and staying up late that affect your health ... or the driving while drunk (because you're out later) and driving hung over (because you were out later the night before) that kills you?

OR ... it that (according to another survey) too little sleep leads to snacking ... which leads to weight gain ... and fat gain, and cholesterol gain ... which leads to health issues?

OR ... is it because we're all getting fatter, and being overweight (which apparently ups the changes of shortened sleeping) has it's own mortality issues?

Bottom line:  You can't draw significant conclusions from a study unless the study addresses all possible variables and variations that may affect the outcome. 

Oh, and don't go thinking that all you have to do is get a lot of sleep.  Too much sleep can also lead to restless nights ... which puts you right back in the same leaking boat.

As for what this all really means, I'll have to get back to you ... after I take a nap.

Yep, I'm older ... like a fine wine

Today's birthday number 45. Well, if 50's the new 30, then I'm still in my 20's. I've got that going for me. I've received several eCards today from co-workers. Many of us are rigged up on Plaxo, making the process of remembering someone's birthday ridiculously easy:

1. You receive an email from Plaxo, reminding you of the upcoming event
2. You click on a link to send a card
3. You select the card to send, change the default text (if you really want to)
4. Hit a button and you're good to go

I love it, I use it, it works. Now ... I'm not certain what to make of this, but every eCard I got today was the same template (and I mean EVERY card):

Should I be concerned?

Parking Ramp Morons

Hmmm ... looks kinda tight:

And, it's not much better on the other side:

What to do? Simple ... climb out through the trunk.



I think SUVs should be banned from parking ramps.

A Moment to Reflect

The governor of Virginia's declared today a day of morning:

Virginia Tech -- 04.16.2007

I think we all need to stop ... reflect.  If you wish to lend assistance, check out the Virgina Tech Tribute Blog.

Don Imus Leaves the Airwaves ...

... and, I must say, I'm a bit ambivalent.  MSNBC dropped their simulcast, CBS fired him, the media's "analysts" can't stop talking about it, Al Sharpton claims a victory, Rutgers accepts his apology ... and I can't help but think:

"Are we going to consistently treat everyone who uses racially improper speech with an equal amount of vitriol and retribution?"

If so, then good.  If not, then how many of those loudly screaming now will be silent the next time?

I really hate jumping in on major public brawls like this.  Everybody who's anybody (and plenty of people who aren't) have already opened (and will continue to open) their mouths.  But there's another issue here that's being marginalized:  "What happens the next time?" 

Whether Imus went too far or not isn't the issue moving forward, consistency of response is.

If it walks like a duck ...

... and talks like the RIAA, it probably is extortion.  It's about time that word got associated with the recording industry's latest tactic.  Wikipedia's entry is most interesting, including such tidbits as:

• "the simple four words "pay up or else" are sufficient ..."
• "...may also be committed as a federal crime across a computer system ..."
• "the message only has to be sent ... to commit the crime ..."

Sounds interestingly familiar, doesn't it?  Even more interesting is it appears to be completely legal for the RIAA, which is a private entity (not a wing of the government).

Just one more day

Man, these mid-term, mid-stream, mid-section, mid-whatever elections are almost over, and it couldn't come fast enough.  Hang on, everybody, we've got one more day of candidates berating each other before we can lapse back into the coma called "politics as usual".

I don't hear much about what a candidate stands for anymore, just about what their competition is either against (in case it's a "good thing") or for (if it's a "bad thing").  That may seem odd at first, but remember this:  if politicians never say exactly where they stand, they never have to be accused of lying when they change their minds:

"I never said I was (for/against) that ... I just said that my opponent was (against/for) it."

Makes perfect sense when you think about it.

It's not healthy, so don't use it ... DUH!

Kentuky Fried Chicken's latest press release has pushed the company's visibility to new heights throughout the media, with BusinessWeek, the LA Times, and the Toronto Star (to name a few) blathering on about this earth-shattering news. I've even been hearing it on BBC Radio all night ... and yet, I wonder whether the decision to eliminate partially hydrogenated soybean oil from their restaurants was driven by a true concern for the "American Obesity Epidemic" or a desire for massive (and, when you factor the blogosphere in, free in many cases) publicity. When it comes right down to it, if it ain't healthy either don't use it or don't use so much of it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know: it won't taste the same. That's the primary reason/excuse the major food franchises have given for not moving faster on this whole issue (and others): the product won't have the same taste customers are familiar with, and they'll sell less product until customers either accept the change in flavor or they gain new customers. That isn't rocket surgery either: any cook worth half his salt ... err ... sodium substitute ... knows that if you change an ingredient in a recipe you will alter the flavor in the final product. This applies not only to the ingredients you put in the food you're making and the things the food comes in contact with during the cooking process, like the oil you're frying in. While it may be a "bold move", I suspect the move was more political than "conscientious citizenship" (there's a move in New York to ban the use of trans fats in restaurants).  But, what does all this really mean? Good question. I've no clue, but here are a couple observations:

• Fear of falling profits may have (um, I hear a duh on the wind) factored into the decision not to move faster ... but the irony of the whole thing is that you can bet that the very same stock holders who demand their stock perform (and would sell if it didn't) will probably be the first people to complain about the change in the taste of the food and stop buying the food (which would reduce sales ... which would reduce profits ... which would reduce stock performance ... which ... you see where I'm going with this).
• KFC is just one of the properties owned by Yum!, with Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Long John Silvers being sister franchises (this is why you're seeing "combo stores" with two of these franchises in a single location sharing a common inside counter and drive through window). Wonder if any of those brands still use trans fats ... and, if so, are they planning on changing things anytime soon? Remember that trans fats are commonly used in things like dough and oils to prolong shelf life.

If peanuts could fly ...

I know it's happened to you before. You hear something and it sticks in your head, hard. You find yourself humming some inane theme or jingle until you're about ready to gouge out your eardrums with a corkscrew. Lewis Black on his White Album ranted about this phenomenon, though in the context of "the dumbest thing you've ever heard". Maybe things stick because they're dumb ... inane ... I don't know. All I know is I'm there right now, with that idiotic Snickers jingle in my head:

"Happy peanuts soar, over chocolate covered mountaintops and waterfalls of caramel. Dancing nougat in the meadows, sings a song of satisfaction to the world ..."

I need therapy.

Gambling? That's ALL You Can Think of Fixing?

So ... while:

• In a Colorado school, a man shoots and kills a 16 year old girl before taking his own life, THEN ...
• In a Wisconsin school, a student fatally shoots his principal for reprimanding him for tobacco, THEN ...
• In Pennsylvania, a man shoots and kills 5 children in an Amish schoolhouse

All in less than a week. And, right smack-dab in the middle of this spree of school shootings, our ever-vigilant federal government passes legislation in an attempt to shut down internet gambling. In the midst of all the back-slapping and jockeying for sound bite coverage proclaiming their support of this "important" legislation ... you don't hear one word from these chuckle heads about anything else. I guess children being murdered in school isn't a pre-election priority (like it's any more a post-election priority ... yeah, right). Way to go, Congress! Woo Woo ... you're really going after the critical issues of our time! Society as we know it would cease to exist if it weren't for you.

A Clear and Present Danger ... ???

The government wants carte blanche to arrest, detain, and torture suspected terrorists (in the name of National Security and protecting Americans and the American Way of Life ... naturally) ... yet, we seem completely incapable of protecting Americans from clear and obvious threats from other Americans.

Yeah, yeah, yeah ... "We did what we could."  Bullshit ... though I'm sure that line makes the Sheriff in that county sleep better at night, as it absolves him (and the rest of his staff) of responsibility.

My point is this:  We're so afriad of being attacked from without ... we're ignoring the fact that we're being destroyed from within ...

... and noone wants to own up to it.