Random Thoughts

[lefty_monster]

Originally Posted by cornflower

right underneath a shot of Harry and Ron running like mad, was this very enlightening caption: [RUNNING]

Good Lord.

How nice, they also captioned it for blind people.

[Timo]

I wonder what my parents would think if they discovered me here...

[Sword Hobbit]

Why is it called falling in love when it's more like flying then falling....then flying then falling.....me thinks they skipped a step.

[Timo]

I wonder what made sis so m(s)ad at love.

[erik_blank]

Once again I have been given proof that our society and possible the world as a whole has a poor view of people that educate themselves, or who are inherently smart. Take this (aprocraphal) example from a recent e-mail about US Congressional and Senatorial members and their aids:

10. A lady Senator called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola , Florida. Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?" I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola, Florida on a commuter plane. She said, "Yeah, whatever, smarty!"

Here is what I have come to recognize as a quintesential example of the derisive feelings or anyone else smarter than the common man. Look at the examples in our common media where most villians are those that are smarter than the rest of the people. Lex Luthor is a GREAT example. Here we have an "Evil" genius, whos only real wish seems to be the subsugation of the rest of the world, while the only person that can possible stand against his is the immensly powerfull, but not that bright, Superman. Might against brains, and in our media especially in the action adventure movies, the might always overcomes brains... because brains are bad. Our childeren are admonished not to be "Smart" with their parents. It is an insult to be a 'smart ass' or 'smarty pants' and NEVER get called Brainac. Nerds, the quintesential smart person in our schools are looked down on because they are smart and enjoy studying. Look at the president that we have now. I believe that he was elected BOTH times because he was able to tprve that he was NOT as smart as his opponents. In fact I remember clearly poeple saying that both Gore and Kery were "just too Smart" and that they coulden't trust them because of this.
WHY are we so against others being smart?
Why does our society believe that it is better to be strong than it is to be able to think correctly?
ARRRGHHHHHHHH!!!!

[Go? Fencing?]

Originally Posted by erik_blank

Perhaps these people should get together with the advertisers that constantly want to talk about how their product/service is a "Quality" product/service. Always good for a laugh. Take the Ford Motor Corp. Where Quality is job 1. Sure.. but just what KIND of quality? At that point most people that I talked with (a HUGH survey of my three or four closest friends) knew that the proper modifier was Cr*ppy quality.

In French, "quality" is a word with exclusively positive meaning. Something with bad qualities has defects.

[erik_blank]

Originally Posted by Go? Fencing?

In French, "quality" is a word with exclusively positive meaning. Something with bad qualities has defects.

As well as this is for the French speaking peoples in the world (and perhaps MOST romantic languages, I am not a linguist... I'd have to check with my certified translator mother one of these days...) unfortunately the examples I am thinking of are in English where (while it may be implied to be of a good or sound value) the word quality truly needs a modifier to tell what the speaker/writer is referring to.

[erik_blank]

Have you ever noticed that the host of Blues Clues never receives letters from his Enemies?

[erik_blank]

I heard Scott Simon on NPR Morning Edition today (Sat., March 15, 2008) say that "Freedom is an effervescent idea, it can't be bottled up forever." He was referring to the demonstrations and protests in Tibet and the Chinese governments repressive responses to them.
This statement has made me think about what is going on in the so called "free" nations,and what seems to me to be an abrogation of our responsibilities in preserving our individual freedoms: The right to assemble, the right to free speech, the right to bear arms (I personally believe that giving weapons to bears is unnecessary, but have at you), the right to privacy in our homes and persons, the right to not self incriminate, the right to be free from torture.
If this idea of freedom is indeed effervescent, then perhaps once it has been released, the bubbles will leave the national psyche and dissipate into the ether of ambivalence, self interest and ignorance. Perhaps without the oppression of an authoritative regime, there is no possibility for this bubbling "freedom" to reach the necessary pressure in the systems to keep our citizens mindful of preserving our freedoms.

[erik_blank]

My Daughters spelling list this week had the following words:
Jelly
Belly
Bunny
Funny
Hurry
Furry
Take
Came
World
Over

To Which I can only assume that the hidden message was:
"Come Jelly Belly, Hurry Funny Furry Bunny, Take World Over!"

[erik_blank]

Screen shot: Bottle of pills, gray, brown and red powders spilling from pill capsules, Green leaves on branches in background.

Announcer: Tired of paying too much for those "little Blue Pills?" Want to find a Permanent solution for your ED? A NATURAL solution that does not need more than 3-4 of our pills that will allow you to NEVER WORRY AGAIN about your ED? Try our new ALL NATURAL solution! Our secret blend of all naturally occurring herbs, elements and compounds will cure you of any further worry! Guaranteed or your money back! Our special blend will not only permanently eliminate your worry over ED, but it will also relieve all these problems:
Arthritis pain
MS
Alzheimer's Memory loss
Parkinson Disease
Lou Gearings disease
Droopy finger
the plague
epilepsy
the creeping crotch rot
kleptomania
hermaphrodite-ism
flatulent intestinal distress
Republicanism
Co-Dependency
AND MUCH MORE!

Cut to screen of smiling 50 something woman in front of her house:

Woman: My husband used to suffer from ED, and was constantly taking those "little blue pills." Not only was he spending our retirement savings, but pretty much everything in the house was getting pretty sore. Then I saw an add for your miracle product, and my husbands ED has been cured, permanently! Thank you so MUCH!

pull out to show 18 year old male approach and wrap his arm around woman.

Cut back to scene of pills, powders and leaves

Voice over: Used in places like Guiana and California, Our special blend of Arsenic, Hemlock, Red Mercury, Chromium III and other natural elements has been used successfully by such noted luminaries as Bob Jones and the followers of the Hale-Bot comet, and is guaranteed to PERMANENTLY solve all your problems or your money back! ORDER NOW!

[D'Art]

Was that taken from some sort of comedy show per chance? A not very good one at that.

Some random thoughts of my own :-

Who was actually stupid enough to eat the yellow snow?

Has anyone ever failed a personality test?

If all men are the same, why the hell does no woman ever seem to want to choose me?

Why do the tube of superglue and the nasal spray which my mum bought me look so similar? Is she trying to tell me she's taken out a new policy on me?

[erik_blank]

Originally Posted by D'Art

Was that taken from some sort of comedy show per chance? A not very good one at that.

Unfortunately it was my own attempt at voicingm my annoyance over all the "natural" cures out there. Everytime I hear one of these radio adds spouting about an "All Natural" replacement for drug X I end up ranting to the radio about how there are LOTS of "Natural" things I don't want to have anywhere NEAR my body, let alone running around my internal organs.... *sigh* So much for my career as a comedy writer....

[IvorDarcy]

Originally Posted by erik_blank

Screen shot: Bottle of pills, gray, brown and red powders spilling from pill capsules, Green leaves on branches in background.

Announcer: Tired of paying too much for those "little Blue Pills?" Want to find a Permanent solution for your ED? A NATURAL solution that does not need more than 3-4 of our pills that will allow you to NEVER WORRY AGAIN about your ED? Try our new ALL NATURAL solution! Our secret blend of all naturally occurring herbs, elements and compounds will cure you of any further worry! Guaranteed or your money back! Our special blend will not only permanently eliminate your worry over ED, but it will also relieve all these problems:
Arthritis pain
MS
Alzheimer's Memory loss
Parkinson Disease
Lou Gearings disease
Droopy finger
the plague
epilepsy
the creeping crotch rot
kleptomania
hermaphrodite-ism
flatulent intestinal distress
Republicanism
Co-Dependency
AND MUCH MORE!

Cut to screen of smiling 50 something woman in front of her house:

Woman: My husband used to suffer from ED, and was constantly taking those "little blue pills." Not only was he spending our retirement savings, but pretty much everything in the house was getting pretty sore. Then I saw an add for your miracle product, and my husbands ED has been cured, permanently! Thank you so MUCH!

pull out to show 18 year old male approach and wrap his arm around woman.

Cut back to scene of pills, powders and leaves

Voice over: Used in places like Guiana and California, Our special blend of Arsenic, Hemlock, Red Mercury, Chromium III and other natural elements has been used successfully by such noted luminaries as Bob Jones and the followers of the Hale-Bot comet, and is guaranteed to PERMANENTLY solve all your problems or your money back! ORDER NOW!

Methinks the wheel is still spinning but the hamster is dead.

[erik_blank]

Originally Posted by IvorDarcy

Methinks the wheel is still spinning but the hamster is dead.

"Squeaky? Squeaky?!? Com'on little buddy!" *sob*

[Pescados666]

While at varsity practice today, I was watching a bout as I was very tired and all strips were full. The fencer to my right decided to flick the left fencer. His blade came right across my unmasked neck. It was scary since I could see the blade moving towards my neck. It didn't really hurt, just detered me away from that strip for a while...

[Slacker]

Owie.
BTW, as long as we're randomly speaking--
If you were a foilist good naturedly teased for dropping your point, why would your friends put a heavier weapon in your hand and encourage you to try epee??

[D'Art]

To make you more aware of what happens when you drop your point? ie, you won't be ready to deal with an attack properly when you drop your point.

[Go? Fencing?]

Or to encourage you to take up epee so you can do the leg/foot shots that you seem to be wanting to do. :P