Sunday, August 24, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
LAX Security Incident
Welcome Facebookers.. I'm happy to have piqued your curiosity!
Short story long..
LAX is a crazy place, being as its huge, busy, and confusing, forcing me to be a little on edge constantly making sure I don't do anything unintentionally stupid. If you know me well you'll know sometimes stupid happens to me in crazy ways, even after attempting to mitigate all angles of it.
This story is no exception to that law which seems to plague me where ever I seem to go. I don't question it anymore, but rather revel in it's insolubility. It's not bad luck, it's entertainment.
I return my rental car, take a shuttle to terminal two of LAX and check in my bag with WestJet counter. They send me to another place where I have to leave my tagged bag into a special bag pre-screening xray, I am asked for my boarding pass there, I show it. I then leave with my carry on (laptop bag) and head for the gates.
Before arriving at security, I am pre-screened for boarding pass again at the elevators leading up to security. At the top of the elevators I am checked again for my boarding pass and told which line to stand in. While in line I pass a table where again I am checked AGAIN for my boarding pass and asked the "fluid" question, to which I reply no.. no fluids. Ok.. very good carry on. I am now putting my metals in the bin, laptop removed and shoes off. I leave my boarding pass IN MY BAG thinking.. there is no way they need to CHECK IT AGAIN.. IS THERE? Apparently I was incorrect in that line of thinking, as my bag was going through the guy asks me for my boarding pass, I mention that it was in my bag in the xray. He lets out a big sigh and shouts "ATTENTION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BOARDING PASSES READY FOR INSPECTION AND DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN YOUR BAGS" Then he mentions something about "NO BOARDING PASS ON LANE SIX.. CODE (blah blah blah)" Now I'm on edge. He tells me to wait behind the red line, so I do, but that's it no more instructions, so I wait while others behind me proceed. Nothing seems to be happening and my bag, shoes, laptop and boarding pass are still on the otherside of the warzone, piling up on the end with the others. What happens next happens very fast.. and I almost got shot.
A very friendly old man who was behind me had some sympathy for my case and decided to take it upon HIMSELF to mitigate the security checkpoint to RETRIEVE my boarding pass. He goes through security, goes back to collect his goods and then points to my bag and looks at me with a question on his face like to say 'Is this your bag?' I had no idea what he was about to do, but I thought that if I shook my head, he would just continue to point at bags, so I nod. Mistake. He grabs the bag and walks towards me. Now you have to understand, the security at LAX is like a fortress, nothing like what you find in Canada. If you don't exactly what your asked you go to jail. So enter slow motion. This old guy who already cleared security is reversing back and coming towards me with MY BAG in his hands. It was a miracle he made it as far as he did. He made it all the way to the six foot high plexiglass wall which separated unsecure zone (me) and secure zone (him) and then tried to PASS ME MY BAG OVER THE GLASS. I am holding up my hands in a NOOOOOOOOO expression, but I think he understood it as HURRY THROW ME THE BAG BEFORE THEY SEE.. Holy shit. Enter super slow motion. Someone somewhere hits a big red button (I didn't see the button, but i'm pretty sure it's big.. and bright red.) an alarm starts whooping, and an obviously well rehearsed sequence of events begins to unfold before my eyes. All eyes on me, my bag, and an old guy, The bag is exactly on the top of the glass and I am TRYING to push it back towards him in a DON'T GIVE ME THE BAG kind of way, but he is confused.. thinking, WHY DON'T YOU WANT YOUR BAG?? So now. it looks like that I am HANDING AN OLD GUY A BAG THAT HASN'T BEEN SECURED. Before I could say anything there was a guy on me, a guy on the old guy and two guys on my bag. All security belts stopped all people stopped. We are all stop. As I was waiting for the tazer to nail me in the back the old guy throws me under the bus.. "ITS NOT MY BAG!!!" He says in a freak out kind of way as he is being led to a secure room. I go to a little special place as well, and my bag comes in a few minutes later. I ask the guard to make sure my MacBook is still on the belt, he checks and retrieves it for me, and my shoes come as well. He mentions that the video was reviewed and I'm good to go, bu warning warning blah blah blah. I leave and walk past a room where old guy is being blasted by guards. I do not know what came of him. I waited a while for him to show up to thank him for his good intentions, but he never came out. I think it might be better that way. For all I know he's still there. He just wanted to give me my boarding pass. ;-) Kudos to the old guy, but holy hanna.. don't screw with LAX security. ;-)
That's my story.
AS.
Short story long..
LAX is a crazy place, being as its huge, busy, and confusing, forcing me to be a little on edge constantly making sure I don't do anything unintentionally stupid. If you know me well you'll know sometimes stupid happens to me in crazy ways, even after attempting to mitigate all angles of it.
This story is no exception to that law which seems to plague me where ever I seem to go. I don't question it anymore, but rather revel in it's insolubility. It's not bad luck, it's entertainment.
I return my rental car, take a shuttle to terminal two of LAX and check in my bag with WestJet counter. They send me to another place where I have to leave my tagged bag into a special bag pre-screening xray, I am asked for my boarding pass there, I show it. I then leave with my carry on (laptop bag) and head for the gates.
Before arriving at security, I am pre-screened for boarding pass again at the elevators leading up to security. At the top of the elevators I am checked again for my boarding pass and told which line to stand in. While in line I pass a table where again I am checked AGAIN for my boarding pass and asked the "fluid" question, to which I reply no.. no fluids. Ok.. very good carry on. I am now putting my metals in the bin, laptop removed and shoes off. I leave my boarding pass IN MY BAG thinking.. there is no way they need to CHECK IT AGAIN.. IS THERE? Apparently I was incorrect in that line of thinking, as my bag was going through the guy asks me for my boarding pass, I mention that it was in my bag in the xray. He lets out a big sigh and shouts "ATTENTION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR BOARDING PASSES READY FOR INSPECTION AND DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT LEAVE THEM IN YOUR BAGS" Then he mentions something about "NO BOARDING PASS ON LANE SIX.. CODE (blah blah blah)" Now I'm on edge. He tells me to wait behind the red line, so I do, but that's it no more instructions, so I wait while others behind me proceed. Nothing seems to be happening and my bag, shoes, laptop and boarding pass are still on the otherside of the warzone, piling up on the end with the others. What happens next happens very fast.. and I almost got shot.
A very friendly old man who was behind me had some sympathy for my case and decided to take it upon HIMSELF to mitigate the security checkpoint to RETRIEVE my boarding pass. He goes through security, goes back to collect his goods and then points to my bag and looks at me with a question on his face like to say 'Is this your bag?' I had no idea what he was about to do, but I thought that if I shook my head, he would just continue to point at bags, so I nod. Mistake. He grabs the bag and walks towards me. Now you have to understand, the security at LAX is like a fortress, nothing like what you find in Canada. If you don't exactly what your asked you go to jail. So enter slow motion. This old guy who already cleared security is reversing back and coming towards me with MY BAG in his hands. It was a miracle he made it as far as he did. He made it all the way to the six foot high plexiglass wall which separated unsecure zone (me) and secure zone (him) and then tried to PASS ME MY BAG OVER THE GLASS. I am holding up my hands in a NOOOOOOOOO expression, but I think he understood it as HURRY THROW ME THE BAG BEFORE THEY SEE.. Holy shit. Enter super slow motion. Someone somewhere hits a big red button (I didn't see the button, but i'm pretty sure it's big.. and bright red.) an alarm starts whooping, and an obviously well rehearsed sequence of events begins to unfold before my eyes. All eyes on me, my bag, and an old guy, The bag is exactly on the top of the glass and I am TRYING to push it back towards him in a DON'T GIVE ME THE BAG kind of way, but he is confused.. thinking, WHY DON'T YOU WANT YOUR BAG?? So now. it looks like that I am HANDING AN OLD GUY A BAG THAT HASN'T BEEN SECURED. Before I could say anything there was a guy on me, a guy on the old guy and two guys on my bag. All security belts stopped all people stopped. We are all stop. As I was waiting for the tazer to nail me in the back the old guy throws me under the bus.. "ITS NOT MY BAG!!!" He says in a freak out kind of way as he is being led to a secure room. I go to a little special place as well, and my bag comes in a few minutes later. I ask the guard to make sure my MacBook is still on the belt, he checks and retrieves it for me, and my shoes come as well. He mentions that the video was reviewed and I'm good to go, bu warning warning blah blah blah. I leave and walk past a room where old guy is being blasted by guards. I do not know what came of him. I waited a while for him to show up to thank him for his good intentions, but he never came out. I think it might be better that way. For all I know he's still there. He just wanted to give me my boarding pass. ;-) Kudos to the old guy, but holy hanna.. don't screw with LAX security. ;-)
That's my story.
AS.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Expert Series - Introduction
Welcome all you fellow addicted netzians, welcome. This post is for you!
For the last couple of years I have always wanted to do a series of posts called "Expert Series". Each post would focus on an area of the Internet and how to use it effectively, bettering your Internet experience and delivering the 7th degree black belt training and certification you deserve on topics such as "Going a Googlin" or "Wiki is your Friend Indeed" or "How to Download Using Torrent Client" and a whole lot more.
Yes, I am the expert, self proclaimed and publicly acclaimed. I have been working with the Internet both professionally and personally since it's public availability back in 1989, most of which is credit to my dad who always seemed to be willing to upgrade our home computer system to allow for such study, and ever since seeing the "You are now connected" BBS message appear on my screen following the loud squawks of the 1200 baud modem, I knew I was hooked. Kudos to the Pops! Upon moving out in 1994, Leona always put up with the need to indulge with the latest and greatest when it came to computers and internet subscriptions, so she too.. helped me out in this regard. Kudos to her as well.
Nineteen years later, I have amassed an incredible amount of know-how, wisdoms and well I just know how to do a lot of cool stuff on the net while avoiding the bad* stuff. I'd love to share with you my experiences, so.. stick around, keep an eye out for the Expert Series, written in plain and simple english (the only kind I know) and guaranteed to add 8 points to your IQ. Seriously.
*"Bad" is subjective of course, what is "bad" to some is "good" to others. What I mean here is dangerous and damaging content.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Yo, Loud Truck Guy..
What is it about your anatomy is so under developed that you wish to compensate with your loud ass truck? Could please take your lack of respect attitude, roll it up and shove it up your pipe sideways? Please? And I don't mean your piece of crap exhaust pipe although it be great to see something stuck up there as well, the people that raised you.
You all know this guy. You see him in his big american truck, 24" lift kit, big knobby wheels, light bar, bush bar.. no freaking exhaust, nailing the gas pedal at every opportunity to show off how BIG he is, the louder the better, the more smoke the better, the more annoyed faces around him the better, seemingly being fueled by it. This guy is built to annoy, there is no there better explanation I can think of, and I'm pretty damn logical guy (who drives a civic with stock exhaust)
Mr Loud Truck Guy is also very stereotypical. He (being I have never seen a "she" exhibiting this behaviour) is most likely to be:
1. White
2. Short Shaved Hair (with or without a handkerchief on head)
3. Tattoo of some bad ass subject matter on his back extending from shoulder to shoulder
4. No shirt (or wifebeater with mustard stains)
5. Pants are Mandatory (being as they secure the endowment socks)
6. Facial Hair of some sort
7. No Smile
8. Left Arm resting on open window
You all know this guy. You see him in his big american truck, 24" lift kit, big knobby wheels, light bar, bush bar.. no freaking exhaust, nailing the gas pedal at every opportunity to show off how BIG he is, the louder the better, the more smoke the better, the more annoyed faces around him the better, seemingly being fueled by it. This guy is built to annoy, there is no there better explanation I can think of, and I'm pretty damn logical guy (who drives a civic with stock exhaust)
Mr Loud Truck Guy is also very stereotypical. He (being I have never seen a "she" exhibiting this behaviour) is most likely to be:
1. White
2. Short Shaved Hair (with or without a handkerchief on head)
3. Tattoo of some bad ass subject matter on his back extending from shoulder to shoulder
4. No shirt (or wifebeater with mustard stains)
5. Pants are Mandatory (being as they secure the endowment socks)
6. Facial Hair of some sort
7. No Smile
8. Left Arm resting on open window
I swear to you I found this video after writing the above description
I thought about it, I thought there MUST be an explanation for such behaviour, short of criminal, although I'm sure there is some aspect of criminality to it, so I went a googlin'.. a googlin' I went. (For all you who think I'm smart.. here's my secret, I'm an idiot that just knows how to google.)
First a little science on "Modified Mufflers" (taken from here)
Most of the vehicles on the road use combustion engines. Fuel explodes in cylinders 1000 times/min (for 4-stroke, 2-cylinder engines at 1,000 rpm) creating sound with 16.7 Hz fundamental frequency and many harmonics. Without an engine block/enclosure and muffler these explosions will be very noisy (194 dB at close distance) and deadly. No wonder that vehicles with modified mufflers or straight pipes can produce sound levels which are deafening (up to 120 dB at 15.2 m distance) and are up to 40 dB louder than vehicles equipped with stock mufflers, which meet Canadian Standards (about 80 dB at 15.2 m distance - Transport Canada Regulations, Standard # 1106) To illustrate this: a modified vehicle which produces a 10 dB louder sound is as loud as 10 standard vehicles , 20 dB louder => 100 vehicles, 30 dB louder => 1000 vehicles, 40 dB louder => 10,000 vehicles. As can be seen from this example these vehicles can significantly increase the noise levels in the city.
I thought about it, I thought there MUST be an explanation for such behaviour, short of criminal, although I'm sure there is some aspect of criminality to it, so I went a googlin'.. a googlin' I went. (For all you who think I'm smart.. here's my secret, I'm an idiot that just knows how to google.)
First a little science on "Modified Mufflers" (taken from here)
Most of the vehicles on the road use combustion engines. Fuel explodes in cylinders 1000 times/min (for 4-stroke, 2-cylinder engines at 1,000 rpm) creating sound with 16.7 Hz fundamental frequency and many harmonics. Without an engine block/enclosure and muffler these explosions will be very noisy (194 dB at close distance) and deadly. No wonder that vehicles with modified mufflers or straight pipes can produce sound levels which are deafening (up to 120 dB at 15.2 m distance) and are up to 40 dB louder than vehicles equipped with stock mufflers, which meet Canadian Standards (about 80 dB at 15.2 m distance - Transport Canada Regulations, Standard # 1106) To illustrate this: a modified vehicle which produces a 10 dB louder sound is as loud as 10 standard vehicles , 20 dB louder => 100 vehicles, 30 dB louder => 1000 vehicles, 40 dB louder => 10,000 vehicles. As can be seen from this example these vehicles can significantly increase the noise levels in the city.
Lets try and find a few psychological reasons for this behaviour. Yes, lets.
For Attention. (National Youth Network)
"It has been found in a number of youth and those older, a certain need for attention is necessary in order for them to feel loved, this born from a lack for love and attention in the earlier years of life from the parents, siblings and/or guardians. Unfortunately, this attention seeking will usually manifest itself in misbehaviors ranging from misdemeanors to crimes of a more serious nature. If this lack of attention is combined with a small penis, cheap beer and a wifebeater, the result is a unabated desire to remove the shirt from your back, the muffler from your truck, the logic from logical, and for the love of everything sacred.. remove the respect for your fellow man. The result is none other than Loud Truck Guy."
My Pledge:
I will find out where you live LTG, and when I do I will figure out some way (and I will too.. I'll figure it out, most likely by going a googlin') to pound your house with the sound of 10,000 ravens/crows/magpies at oh.. I dunno.. around 4:30 in the morning. (ok I just googled 10,000 crows.. this came up) Then you'll come a runnin, you'll come a runnin' out of your mobile home with the look of murder upon your unattentioned ass, but you'll be good and drunk at about this time of the morning, and won't get past your plastic fence.
Need I say more? Need I? I think not. Loud Truck Guy, at a small town near you.
Please comment if you are willing to help me out with the pledge.
Yours so very truly.
AS
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Why I Hope Obama Wins
It's not really characteristic of myself to post about american politics, or anything political, or american for that matter, so.. this is rare. I thought I would whip up a quick post on why I hope Obama wins the big erection.
1. McCain is a double talking puppet with no spine.
2. Obama as president would make for some good TV, not that I watch much, but a guy that is smart enough to write his own speeches might actually be smart enough to fix a few problems.
3. Don't you think the old war dudes are becoming cliche? OOOooo I spent time in a PoW camp, vote for me vote for me.. I'm a survivor.
Also.. while we're on the topic, let's talk about Iraq. At first, way back in the day, I was sold on the invasion of Iraq, but then after really thinking about it, I think I just liked watching things blow up on TV in green nightvision.. that was kind of cool. Now I just see it as a pointless war fueled by fuel and justified by religion..meh, I'm happy canadians chose not to go, actually no.. I'm damn happy and proud of it.
And a note to all those (and I'm always surprised by actually HOW MANY americans say this, and mean it) who say, "Well how can you vote someone who's name sounds like Osama and who's middle name is Hussien"?? Whaaaaat? This is true.. people actually think this. I can't even imagine why, I simply can't understand the mentality of this.. it's like saying "McCain is like frozen pizza.. I cannot think of anything else but frozen pizza when I say McCain. How can I vote for a frozen pizza? This is crazy!! AAAHHHHGG I can't VOTE FOR A PIZZA!! WHAT AM I GONNA DO??" I am completely at a loss of understanding.
sigh.
1. McCain is a double talking puppet with no spine.
2. Obama as president would make for some good TV, not that I watch much, but a guy that is smart enough to write his own speeches might actually be smart enough to fix a few problems.
3. Don't you think the old war dudes are becoming cliche? OOOooo I spent time in a PoW camp, vote for me vote for me.. I'm a survivor.
Also.. while we're on the topic, let's talk about Iraq. At first, way back in the day, I was sold on the invasion of Iraq, but then after really thinking about it, I think I just liked watching things blow up on TV in green nightvision.. that was kind of cool. Now I just see it as a pointless war fueled by fuel and justified by religion..meh, I'm happy canadians chose not to go, actually no.. I'm damn happy and proud of it.
And a note to all those (and I'm always surprised by actually HOW MANY americans say this, and mean it) who say, "Well how can you vote someone who's name sounds like Osama and who's middle name is Hussien"?? Whaaaaat? This is true.. people actually think this. I can't even imagine why, I simply can't understand the mentality of this.. it's like saying "McCain is like frozen pizza.. I cannot think of anything else but frozen pizza when I say McCain. How can I vote for a frozen pizza? This is crazy!! AAAHHHHGG I can't VOTE FOR A PIZZA!! WHAT AM I GONNA DO??" I am completely at a loss of understanding.
sigh.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Allez Cuisine!!
To all those Food TV watchers out there, you all know the show "Iron Chef America". It's one of my favorite shows for a few reasons; first of all you have the manipulation of some of the best ingredients in the world conjured into edible delights by some of the best chefs in the world. You have host Alton Brown and Kevin Brauch the floor reporter, and of course the back flipping apple eating Japanese chairman mixing up the verbal ingredients. Alton is by far one of the best TV hosts using his seemingly endless knowledge of the ingredients being tossed around Kitchen Stadium in a very informative and entertaining way.
Last night Leo and I were watching "Battle Apple", and they finally decided to mix things up with the judges, inviting rapper "Bone Crusher" to sit in the middle position. This was one of the most entertaining judging ever, breaking the otherwise lame part of the show with the serious judging and condescending comments by the regular line up. Bone Crusher actually finished his plates, drank his drinks and had throughly good time. When the soup wasn't good, he would just say "The soup just isn't doing it for me".
After watching Bone Crusher's judging I thought to myself.. I could be a judge, and I pondered, if I were a judge, if I could pick my secret ingredient, and if I could pick the chefs what would it be? I asked Leo what ingredient she would choose and without hesitation she said "Cheese". It wasn't that easy for me. I couldn't sleep.. then it came to me, the one thing I enjoy the most when I eat food is the spice. Here is my Fantasy Iron Chef Line up:
Battle: Chilli Habenero
Iron Chef: Bobby Flay (He's the best griller out there..)
Challenger Chef: Darren Clark (Cause seeing a Clark vs Flay battle would be AWESOME)
Feature: Mixologists making drinks - Spicy? perhaps.. Cool down? even better..
Judges: Myself, Rachel Ray (Peppers make you sweat) and Ricky Gervais
My Challenge is for you comment with your own Fantasy Chef Line up!!
AS
Last night Leo and I were watching "Battle Apple", and they finally decided to mix things up with the judges, inviting rapper "Bone Crusher" to sit in the middle position. This was one of the most entertaining judging ever, breaking the otherwise lame part of the show with the serious judging and condescending comments by the regular line up. Bone Crusher actually finished his plates, drank his drinks and had throughly good time. When the soup wasn't good, he would just say "The soup just isn't doing it for me".
After watching Bone Crusher's judging I thought to myself.. I could be a judge, and I pondered, if I were a judge, if I could pick my secret ingredient, and if I could pick the chefs what would it be? I asked Leo what ingredient she would choose and without hesitation she said "Cheese". It wasn't that easy for me. I couldn't sleep.. then it came to me, the one thing I enjoy the most when I eat food is the spice. Here is my Fantasy Iron Chef Line up:
Battle: Chilli Habenero
Iron Chef: Bobby Flay (He's the best griller out there..)
Challenger Chef: Darren Clark (Cause seeing a Clark vs Flay battle would be AWESOME)
Feature: Mixologists making drinks - Spicy? perhaps.. Cool down? even better..
Judges: Myself, Rachel Ray (Peppers make you sweat) and Ricky Gervais
My Challenge is for you comment with your own Fantasy Chef Line up!!
AS
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tabula Rasa
I think a five week break should do it.
During these last five weeks I did a lot thinking about things, profound things, very deep stuff.. and I got to thinking, I should kick the blog back into gear, wind 'er back up, kick start this piece of crap, use it as an avenue for venting, a place for the graffiti of my mind, the spray bomb of my brain. I invite you to stick around, read what I've got to say and if it so moves you to comment if you like.
Epiphany has been my best friend lately, and has made me re-aware of the blog. I love blogging. I love just having a place to write some crap down, and know it will be read by someone like you. I love walking down the cracked sidewalks of life realizing that I see things differently than most, realizing that through the expression of oneself we can learn, learn what makes us tick, what makes us tock, and what makes us wonder if the faded pink gum stuck on the sidewalk still has some flavour left in it. Epiphany has been my best friend lately, arriving at an interesting time of my life.
Experiments Gone Wrong:
The may experiment of 31in31 posts wore me out, and won’t be attempting that again. Some posts just need top screen priority for more than one day I found, and it sucked to knock a meaningful post down a notch just for a youtube video post or something of the sort. I now think having a post up for a week is not such a bad thing.
The whole religious debate.. Experiment? Yes.. gone wrong? Ah.. Yea. I’ve learned something from Epiphany, she tells me, “Alex, You can’t argue religion.”
The “yea but I’m right cause I *know* I’m right” stuff.. kind of done with it. I’m not saying I won’t make a post here and there, I just won’t be debating.
I had another experiment in the background that went way wrong.. way way wrong. I don’t even want to get into it, but it was like crack cocaine wrong, feeling right at the time and tumbling into a dark hole of unrecoverable death, down down down.. really.. it was bad, and I’m glad it never made it for public viewing. All those out there trying to imagine what it was? Good luck.. it’s dead now, over.. not even Stephen King could unstill that coffin.
Other Experiments:
The Alphabet gig.. that’s still going.. only four more letters. V, W, X, Y and Z. Yea I’ll finish this, kind of enjoyed it actually.
Stay tuned.. I’ll give your brain some candy it so needs. A lot of salty brains out there.. need to sweeten em up a pinch.
AS
During these last five weeks I did a lot thinking about things, profound things, very deep stuff.. and I got to thinking, I should kick the blog back into gear, wind 'er back up, kick start this piece of crap, use it as an avenue for venting, a place for the graffiti of my mind, the spray bomb of my brain. I invite you to stick around, read what I've got to say and if it so moves you to comment if you like.
Epiphany has been my best friend lately, and has made me re-aware of the blog. I love blogging. I love just having a place to write some crap down, and know it will be read by someone like you. I love walking down the cracked sidewalks of life realizing that I see things differently than most, realizing that through the expression of oneself we can learn, learn what makes us tick, what makes us tock, and what makes us wonder if the faded pink gum stuck on the sidewalk still has some flavour left in it. Epiphany has been my best friend lately, arriving at an interesting time of my life.
Experiments Gone Wrong:
The may experiment of 31in31 posts wore me out, and won’t be attempting that again. Some posts just need top screen priority for more than one day I found, and it sucked to knock a meaningful post down a notch just for a youtube video post or something of the sort. I now think having a post up for a week is not such a bad thing.
The whole religious debate.. Experiment? Yes.. gone wrong? Ah.. Yea. I’ve learned something from Epiphany, she tells me, “Alex, You can’t argue religion.”
The “yea but I’m right cause I *know* I’m right” stuff.. kind of done with it. I’m not saying I won’t make a post here and there, I just won’t be debating.
I had another experiment in the background that went way wrong.. way way wrong. I don’t even want to get into it, but it was like crack cocaine wrong, feeling right at the time and tumbling into a dark hole of unrecoverable death, down down down.. really.. it was bad, and I’m glad it never made it for public viewing. All those out there trying to imagine what it was? Good luck.. it’s dead now, over.. not even Stephen King could unstill that coffin.
Other Experiments:
The Alphabet gig.. that’s still going.. only four more letters. V, W, X, Y and Z. Yea I’ll finish this, kind of enjoyed it actually.
Stay tuned.. I’ll give your brain some candy it so needs. A lot of salty brains out there.. need to sweeten em up a pinch.
AS
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
31in31 - May 19th - "Nothing To Say"
Today, I have nothing to say, so instead, here's a video that I thought was pretty funny.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
31in31 - May 18th - "Fear God"
Ecclesiastes 12:13
"13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man."
As I was reading this book, I came across this verse, which happens to be the second to last verse of the book. After looking up a few references, I checked the dictionary for the word "Fear" this is what I found:
1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights.
3. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety.
4. reverential awe, esp. toward God.
5. that which causes a feeling of being afraid; that of which a person is afraid: Cancer is a common fear. –verb (used with object)
6. to regard with fear; be afraid of.
7. to have reverential awe of.
8. Archaic. to experience fear in (oneself). –verb (used without object)
9. to have fear; be afraid.
According to the Dictionary, Fear means Fear unless it means Awe. Here's the definition of Awe:
1. an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like: in awe of God; in awe of great political figures.
2. Archaic. power to inspire fear or reverence.
3. Obsolete. fear or dread.
2. Archaic. power to inspire fear or reverence.
3. Obsolete. fear or dread.
A definition of "Fear of God" from a site
Many have the tendency of minimizing the fear of God for believers to “respecting” Him. While respect is definitely included in the concept of fearing God, there is more to it than that. A Biblical fear of God, for the believer, includes understanding how much God hates sin, and fearing His judgment on sin – even in the life of a believer. Hebrews 12:5-11 describes God’s discipline of the believer. While it is done in love (Hebrews 12:6), it is still a fearful thing. As children, the fear of discipline from our parents prevented, hopefully, some evil actions. The same should be true in our relationship with God. We should fear His discipline, and therefore, seek to live our lives in such a way that pleases Him.
What was Ecclesiastes about then? To me it says this: Without God, life has no meaning, With God, life has meaning, but we better live a life that pleases God, and live in fear of this discipline.
Live a life with no meaning, or live a life of fear. Pick one.
AS
Live a life with no meaning, or live a life of fear. Pick one.
AS
Saturday, May 17, 2008
31in31 - May 17th "The Teapot Take 2"
I must have hit a note there with a few people on my last post, first of all quoting an "idiot and a fool" apparently makes an argument moot. (Ad Hominem..). My point of it was to see "agnosticism" from a different view. It's been mentioned on this blog via the comments, that one should choose to believe or choose not to believe, but don't choose not to choose, which, as this story shows to be the better option.
Friday, May 16, 2008
31in31 - May 16th -"Parable of the Celestial Teapot"
Quoting Bertrand Russell..
"Many orthodox people speak as though it were the
business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather
than of dogmatists to prove them. This is, of course, a
mistake. If I were to suggest that between the Earth and
Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an
elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my
assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is
too small to be revealed even by our most powerful
telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my
assertion cannot be disproved, it is intolerable presumption
on the part of human reason to doubt it, I
should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however,
the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in
ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday,
and instilled into the minds of children at school,
hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark
of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of
the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor
in an earlier time."
Thoughts?
"Many orthodox people speak as though it were the
business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather
than of dogmatists to prove them. This is, of course, a
mistake. If I were to suggest that between the Earth and
Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an
elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my
assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is
too small to be revealed even by our most powerful
telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my
assertion cannot be disproved, it is intolerable presumption
on the part of human reason to doubt it, I
should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however,
the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in
ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday,
and instilled into the minds of children at school,
hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark
of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of
the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor
in an earlier time."
Thoughts?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
31in31 - May 15th - "ET OK"
It would seem the Vatican has just come out saying, "It's OK believe in Aliens"
Right on the coat tails of the UK releasing hundreds of pages pertaining UFO investigations..
Just though it'd be interesting.
Alex.
Right on the coat tails of the UK releasing hundreds of pages pertaining UFO investigations..
Just though it'd be interesting.
Alex.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
31in31 - May 14th - "In Response to Darren's Post"
This post is in response to Darren's post found here.
Darren,
First of all, the premise of not believing in something due to lack of credible evidence was not mine, it was yours.
Allow me to quote you from the previous post:
"I don't believe in UFO's. It has nothing to do with the Bible or that I see them as some kind of threat to my Christian perspective. I simply don't believe that we have any credible evidence that they exist. Yet."
And then you say this in the current post:
"And if that is the case, then I reject your premise that I only believe in something with credible evidence."
I have to ask you.. which one is it?
Second of all you make these claims:
“Looking at it as empirically as possible, just comparing the sheer number of believers, the historical accuracy of many events in the Bible, the number of people who claim to have had 'close encounters' with UFO's vs 'close encounters' with god. Add to this the physical evidence all around us that, even many atheists admit, points to an intelligent designer, or cohesive force holding everything together.”
A whole lot of things in here, I’ll break it down.
Historical Accuracy of Many Events in the Bible
Are you talking about the Moabite Stone? The Jehu Obelisk? The Babylonian Chronicle?
I think a well researched discussion on what exactly the accuracies are purported to be might be a good one indeed. It will also give us a chance to discuss the inaccuracies.
Sheer Numbers of Believers
Believing anything based on a “sheer number” is known as the “Ad Populum” fallacy. A belief in a claim should never be based on the number of people that approve of the claim.
Physical Evidence All Around Us [Pointing to Intelligent Design]
This would be another great discussion to have, showcasing the physical evidence of intelligent design! Of course, physical evidence would imply just that.. which should be in abundance as it is “all around us” I mean the smoking gun, right here.. all around us. Let’s discuss. It should be assumed though, although apparently unnecessarily, that the lack of science able to prove something does not and should not point to physical evidence of “intelligent design”. But I’m sure you already know that.
Also, an Atheist would never believe in what they believe if they agreed to what you are talking of here, or they can’t call themselves “Atheists”.
A Cohesive Force Holding Everything Together
This is an interesting one. I am sure you have heard of string theory, tiny little stings, vibrating around, slipping in and out of dimensions.. anyway, this theory, could be proven as early as this summer in large particle accelerators across seas, may just be the beginning to understanding everything, the force which holds everything together, or “Unification”, the theory of everything, the brain child of Einstein.
Darren,
First of all, the premise of not believing in something due to lack of credible evidence was not mine, it was yours.
Allow me to quote you from the previous post:
"I don't believe in UFO's. It has nothing to do with the Bible or that I see them as some kind of threat to my Christian perspective. I simply don't believe that we have any credible evidence that they exist. Yet."
And then you say this in the current post:
"And if that is the case, then I reject your premise that I only believe in something with credible evidence."
I have to ask you.. which one is it?
Second of all you make these claims:
“Looking at it as empirically as possible, just comparing the sheer number of believers, the historical accuracy of many events in the Bible, the number of people who claim to have had 'close encounters' with UFO's vs 'close encounters' with god. Add to this the physical evidence all around us that, even many atheists admit, points to an intelligent designer, or cohesive force holding everything together.”
A whole lot of things in here, I’ll break it down.
Historical Accuracy of Many Events in the Bible
Are you talking about the Moabite Stone? The Jehu Obelisk? The Babylonian Chronicle?
I think a well researched discussion on what exactly the accuracies are purported to be might be a good one indeed. It will also give us a chance to discuss the inaccuracies.
Sheer Numbers of Believers
Believing anything based on a “sheer number” is known as the “Ad Populum” fallacy. A belief in a claim should never be based on the number of people that approve of the claim.
Physical Evidence All Around Us [Pointing to Intelligent Design]
This would be another great discussion to have, showcasing the physical evidence of intelligent design! Of course, physical evidence would imply just that.. which should be in abundance as it is “all around us” I mean the smoking gun, right here.. all around us. Let’s discuss. It should be assumed though, although apparently unnecessarily, that the lack of science able to prove something does not and should not point to physical evidence of “intelligent design”. But I’m sure you already know that.
Also, an Atheist would never believe in what they believe if they agreed to what you are talking of here, or they can’t call themselves “Atheists”.
A Cohesive Force Holding Everything Together
This is an interesting one. I am sure you have heard of string theory, tiny little stings, vibrating around, slipping in and out of dimensions.. anyway, this theory, could be proven as early as this summer in large particle accelerators across seas, may just be the beginning to understanding everything, the force which holds everything together, or “Unification”, the theory of everything, the brain child of Einstein.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
31in31 - May 13th - "In Response to Dan #3"
Dan's Entry of May 12th entitled "What's the Question Again?" I made this comment:
You are locking yourself up in a fallacious argument here. Although it IS fair to say that your belief system is rational to you, it is completely unfair to say that something that is not rational to you must be irrational for everyone. In this context, rationality is a methodology one uses as a mechanism to form conclusion, based on his or her "reason". Due to the nature of varying reasons (subject of belief), it is completely possible for two people to have complete rational thoughts and arrive at completely different conclusions, and perhaps this means conclusions that fall out of YOUR three “rational” choices.I do appreciate what you are doing here, being as you are telling us why YOU believe what you do, but to say that someone who in your mind is irrational in their belief try to defend it “must do so without the benefit of reason or logic or standards or facts” is just ridiculous. What is irrational to you maybe rational to others, and their opinions are just as defendable using benefits of reason, logic, standards and facts.
You are locking yourself up in a fallacious argument here. Although it IS fair to say that your belief system is rational to you, it is completely unfair to say that something that is not rational to you must be irrational for everyone. In this context, rationality is a methodology one uses as a mechanism to form conclusion, based on his or her "reason". Due to the nature of varying reasons (subject of belief), it is completely possible for two people to have complete rational thoughts and arrive at completely different conclusions, and perhaps this means conclusions that fall out of YOUR three “rational” choices.I do appreciate what you are doing here, being as you are telling us why YOU believe what you do, but to say that someone who in your mind is irrational in their belief try to defend it “must do so without the benefit of reason or logic or standards or facts” is just ridiculous. What is irrational to you maybe rational to others, and their opinions are just as defendable using benefits of reason, logic, standards and facts.
Monday, May 12, 2008
31in31 - May 12th - "Response to The Beginning of the Beginning"
In response to Dan's "The Beginning of the Beginning" posted this morning.
I am glad to be able to get the philosophical juices flowing, as was my intent for anyone reading these posts and who show even a small bit of interest in these posts. Allowing the thought process to flow is what I feel to be not only important, but crucial to anyone with a conviction. Knowing exactly why you believe in something helps justify the belief's existence, helps justify the way you live your life, the reason you go to church, the reason you choose the method of raising your children, and the justification for judgements we put on non believers or people of different beliefs, just to name a few. Without this conviction, without having a solid answer to "why", you risk being considered a follower, a conformer, an inherited believer, or worse, you risk being challenged without having the answers. If you are a believer in God, or in Allah, or in a Benevolent One or a believer in any of the other many many gods, and are living your life in service to your chosen creator, I call you to task. I call you to put aside the fears you might have about approaching this, to roll up your sleeves, and to put down your books and your DVDs, to think past your years of schooling and your years of indoctrination. I call you to use your common sense, your intuition. I call you to really think outside the box, or the bubble if you will.
My First Thought Challenge: "The New Human"
You are a brand new human, just becoming into being. You are not a child though. You started out your human life as an adult, how you came to be is obviously NOT important here. You are standing on the ground somewhere on the earth, location not a factor, as a matter of fact, neither does your race, your sex, or the language you speak. You have no history, or at least none that you know of. The first item on your agenda (besides getting clothed) is figuring out why you exist. Where and how do you find your answer?
I understand this is not an easy thing to do, and I applaud Dan for being willing to take the challenge in a rather public forum, but of course anyone is welcome.
I am glad to be able to get the philosophical juices flowing, as was my intent for anyone reading these posts and who show even a small bit of interest in these posts. Allowing the thought process to flow is what I feel to be not only important, but crucial to anyone with a conviction. Knowing exactly why you believe in something helps justify the belief's existence, helps justify the way you live your life, the reason you go to church, the reason you choose the method of raising your children, and the justification for judgements we put on non believers or people of different beliefs, just to name a few. Without this conviction, without having a solid answer to "why", you risk being considered a follower, a conformer, an inherited believer, or worse, you risk being challenged without having the answers. If you are a believer in God, or in Allah, or in a Benevolent One or a believer in any of the other many many gods, and are living your life in service to your chosen creator, I call you to task. I call you to put aside the fears you might have about approaching this, to roll up your sleeves, and to put down your books and your DVDs, to think past your years of schooling and your years of indoctrination. I call you to use your common sense, your intuition. I call you to really think outside the box, or the bubble if you will.
My First Thought Challenge: "The New Human"
You are a brand new human, just becoming into being. You are not a child though. You started out your human life as an adult, how you came to be is obviously NOT important here. You are standing on the ground somewhere on the earth, location not a factor, as a matter of fact, neither does your race, your sex, or the language you speak. You have no history, or at least none that you know of. The first item on your agenda (besides getting clothed) is figuring out why you exist. Where and how do you find your answer?
I understand this is not an easy thing to do, and I applaud Dan for being willing to take the challenge in a rather public forum, but of course anyone is welcome.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)