Well, it's looking good.
Dec. 19th, 2006 01:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silveradeptTwo grades in of four - the important one is that I got my six credits for the internship. The other one’s the positive vowel. Just two more grades to have a look at. Hopefully, they’ll all be in by the weekend, and I’ll know whether I brought my GPA up or not.
Meindpowerz! Using brainwaves, researchers give orders and control a humanoid robot. It’s crude right now, but it works. We’ll see how long it takes to refine this control into something akin to directing your Roomba to clean the floors while you go play Quake. Or maybe to get the computer to play Quake for you while you go clean the floors. You never know what uses people might put this idea to.
Designer hearing aids. Well, there was that whole “Sexy Specs” thing - maybe this is the next movement on the list? Then we’ll have blingtastic dentures next. You could really do a lot for your self-image if this trend continues.
Those still glowing over the upcoming transfer of power in the Congress may want to keep the party focused and realistic. Neoconservatism isn't dead, just hibernating, according to The American Conservative, and that once George W. Bush isn’t seen as the face of the neocons and Iraq becomes less of a debacle, if such a thing can happen, the neocons will once again be guiding the policy of the populace. I’m inclined to agree, but that’s because I see the fundamental character of the American populace as being neoconservative.
Then again, with Bill O’Reilly as a spokesperson for the ideology, maybe it should die and stay dead for a very long time. According to the latest in O’R(ei)L(l)Y logic, if gay parents are equally competent at raising kids, then why doesn't eating a cupcake get a woman pregnant? Bill decides that he’s going to believe that heterosexual households are always superior to homosexual ones when it comes to parenting, despite several studies that say homosexual parents don’t raise psychosocially defective children. He then dares his detractor to say that he’s a bigot for throwing his lot in with heterosexuals and saying that nature says a mom and a dad is optimum. If this is the voice of conservatism, someone change the channel. I’d like to hear someone reasonable, please. And, if you don’t mind, could you skip past the people who are mobilizing to "take back the rainbow" because gays are using it to promote "perversion". At the same time, they say, “No, we don’t hate homosexuals. We love them like God says we should.” Insert your own cutting remark about how that “love” is traditionally expressed. Is there some other reason other than “The gays use it as a pride symbol! Nobody should be proud of being homosexual and a sinner, in our not-very-humble opinion. We have to stop them!” that’s involved here? If this goes through, then let the pagans take back the Christmas tree, the Yule log, the rebirth or a dead god, Easter eggs, and all the symbols that got borrowed from various religions as Christianity expanded. Then we can talk about any symbols that Christianity wants to lay claim to. First dibs on anything in Torah, thought, to the Jews. So if they pass on the rainbow, then maybe you can claim it.
Speaking of sex and sexuality, The Junior Anti-Sex League claims victory as a 17-year old boy is sentenced to 10 years in prison and mandatory sex offender registration for having consensual oral sex with his 15-year old girlfriend. Yep. They didn’t even go all the way, and he’s still getting hammered with a ten-year prison sentence as a convicted child molester. I don’t know if the court decided to make an example of the kid in denying his appeal or what, but this kid probably just had his life ruined, because he and his girlfriend consented to oral sex. Then again, this is the country that impeached a President because of oral sex...
The power of the Internet: solidifying caste groupings and groupthink. The medium designed to be ultra-mobile, where anyone could contribute, rise in stature, or be mocked endlessly seems to be more and more about the solidification of the divisions already cemented in the off-line world. Instead of joining together and co-operating to build a bright and beautiful new digital world, we’re taking our squabbles and grudges and vengeance on-line with us. I’m probably not helping to bringing the world closer to harmony myself. Maybe we should have expected this, because of the anonymity the Internet is supposed to afford.
The Clapper now has a remote. Which sort of gets rid of the novelty of the product. But if that’s what it takes to get the people to buy it, then that’s what it takes. Still, somewhere along the line, I cant help but think that the person who invented the Clapper should make a voice-recognition box, so that someone can say “Computer, lights off.” and it happens. Or maybe that’s just my sci-fi self coming through. Ah, well. Anyway, Computer, lights off. Enter sleep mode.
Meindpowerz! Using brainwaves, researchers give orders and control a humanoid robot. It’s crude right now, but it works. We’ll see how long it takes to refine this control into something akin to directing your Roomba to clean the floors while you go play Quake. Or maybe to get the computer to play Quake for you while you go clean the floors. You never know what uses people might put this idea to.
Designer hearing aids. Well, there was that whole “Sexy Specs” thing - maybe this is the next movement on the list? Then we’ll have blingtastic dentures next. You could really do a lot for your self-image if this trend continues.
Those still glowing over the upcoming transfer of power in the Congress may want to keep the party focused and realistic. Neoconservatism isn't dead, just hibernating, according to The American Conservative, and that once George W. Bush isn’t seen as the face of the neocons and Iraq becomes less of a debacle, if such a thing can happen, the neocons will once again be guiding the policy of the populace. I’m inclined to agree, but that’s because I see the fundamental character of the American populace as being neoconservative.
Then again, with Bill O’Reilly as a spokesperson for the ideology, maybe it should die and stay dead for a very long time. According to the latest in O’R(ei)L(l)Y logic, if gay parents are equally competent at raising kids, then why doesn't eating a cupcake get a woman pregnant? Bill decides that he’s going to believe that heterosexual households are always superior to homosexual ones when it comes to parenting, despite several studies that say homosexual parents don’t raise psychosocially defective children. He then dares his detractor to say that he’s a bigot for throwing his lot in with heterosexuals and saying that nature says a mom and a dad is optimum. If this is the voice of conservatism, someone change the channel. I’d like to hear someone reasonable, please. And, if you don’t mind, could you skip past the people who are mobilizing to "take back the rainbow" because gays are using it to promote "perversion". At the same time, they say, “No, we don’t hate homosexuals. We love them like God says we should.” Insert your own cutting remark about how that “love” is traditionally expressed. Is there some other reason other than “The gays use it as a pride symbol! Nobody should be proud of being homosexual and a sinner, in our not-very-humble opinion. We have to stop them!” that’s involved here? If this goes through, then let the pagans take back the Christmas tree, the Yule log, the rebirth or a dead god, Easter eggs, and all the symbols that got borrowed from various religions as Christianity expanded. Then we can talk about any symbols that Christianity wants to lay claim to. First dibs on anything in Torah, thought, to the Jews. So if they pass on the rainbow, then maybe you can claim it.
Speaking of sex and sexuality, The Junior Anti-Sex League claims victory as a 17-year old boy is sentenced to 10 years in prison and mandatory sex offender registration for having consensual oral sex with his 15-year old girlfriend. Yep. They didn’t even go all the way, and he’s still getting hammered with a ten-year prison sentence as a convicted child molester. I don’t know if the court decided to make an example of the kid in denying his appeal or what, but this kid probably just had his life ruined, because he and his girlfriend consented to oral sex. Then again, this is the country that impeached a President because of oral sex...
The power of the Internet: solidifying caste groupings and groupthink. The medium designed to be ultra-mobile, where anyone could contribute, rise in stature, or be mocked endlessly seems to be more and more about the solidification of the divisions already cemented in the off-line world. Instead of joining together and co-operating to build a bright and beautiful new digital world, we’re taking our squabbles and grudges and vengeance on-line with us. I’m probably not helping to bringing the world closer to harmony myself. Maybe we should have expected this, because of the anonymity the Internet is supposed to afford.
The Clapper now has a remote. Which sort of gets rid of the novelty of the product. But if that’s what it takes to get the people to buy it, then that’s what it takes. Still, somewhere along the line, I cant help but think that the person who invented the Clapper should make a voice-recognition box, so that someone can say “Computer, lights off.” and it happens. Or maybe that’s just my sci-fi self coming through. Ah, well. Anyway, Computer, lights off. Enter sleep mode.
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no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 06:49 am (UTC)And also
if gay parents are equally competent at raising kids, then why doesn't eating a cupcake get a woman pregnant?
a big wtfing hell to that.^
no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 07:03 am (UTC)As for O'RLY there, I guess he was just looking for something ridiculous to equate with the supposed against nature-ness of homosexual parents being just as good as heterosexual ones.
no subject
Date: 2017-03-02 07:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 07:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 07:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 09:20 am (UTC)The only reason I never had one was because they came out years ago, way back when DS9 running, and so voice recognition made them painfully expensive, particularly for an 11-year-old.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 05:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 12:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 04:36 pm (UTC)on one hand, I'm inclined to say that this is silly, and in line with the "Grillz" thing, but on the other hand...if it's something that will give people who need to have a hearing aid feel less like a "Stodgy old person" because they need a hearing aid in their early 30's, then I say go for it...though, I think the idea of diamonds on the hearing aid is a bit much.
There's also the other flipside, where hearing aids aren't supposed to be seen so people don't know you are wearing one, and by having these aids with designs on them, it'll be a bit obvious.
I'd like to have seen the skull hearing aid actually in the guy's ear. I'm having a problem trying to visualize it to determine if it will look silly or not without seeing in IN the ear.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 03:09 pm (UTC)Your entries are always so mdan entertaining. How do you do it??
no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 05:53 pm (UTC)As for being so entertaining, well, I have no real life to speak of, and a few sources that I regularly visit for the material. The rest is just thinking up a lot of one-liners and half-insulting remarks.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 04:29 pm (UTC)We discussed the role that fathers play in the lives of children and what the lack of a dad might mean.
Okay...So, does that mean that I'm a "bad kid" because my dad died when I was 13? Or the kid who's dad walks out on their mom when they're three or four? Sorry, dude, but I don't think having a dad is that big of a factor, unless you think women will be wishy-washy parents and kids need a father for discipline, or something equally stupid.
And what does it matter if it's a no mommy situation because it's two daddies or a no daddy situation because it's two mommies? If kids can grow up with a single parent and be ok, why should it matter if you multiple that single parent by two of the same sex?
I know several homosexual parents, and I know heterosexual parents. Of the couples I know, there's an equal amount of "bad parents" -- Bad parenting is going to happen, and sexual orientation has nothing to do with it.
I think we're even past the point of kids getting made fun of for two mommies or two daddies. And what's the difference if you have two mommies in the same household, or you have mommy and step-mommy? That's still two mommies, just in separate households.
Where does nature dictate that raising offspring has to be a male and a female? How many species are there out there where the female eats the male, or the female goes off to hunt and leaves the male with the offspring, or it's an acceptable thing in that species that only one of the parents raises the offspring. And in nature, how many species actually adhere to the "man, woman, child" idea of a "family"? Don't many animals live in packs/herds/groups? Where theoretically, the child-animal might not even know which adults are their parents - they just get taken care of by whomever is around them.
Just because two men can't have a baby without a woman initially and vice versa doesn't mean they aren't able to raise and take care of the child.
--
In Jewish and Christian traditions, the rainbow is a symbol of God’s covenant with ‘all living creatures,’”
I'm pretty sure that the idea of the Rainbow signifying "god's covenant" is an Old Testament/Torah thing, so, you're right. If the christians REALLY want to start the whole "give us back our symbols", then they can't use a Rainbow either. And what about the stylized cross that used to be popular when I was in HS? That thing clearly was an Ankh. The whole concept that the christians can't use their rainbow because the gay population does is ridiculous! Just because you automatically think "gay" when you see a rainbow on something doesn't mean everyone does! If anything, when I see a rainbow on someone's car, I think it means they are tolerant/supportive. Also, if I'm recalling things correctly, the gay pride rainbow is a rectangular rainbow, whereas the christian version is an arc (sometimes with a dove holding an olive branch). Two very different types of rainbows here.
The red cross uses a Red plus sign/cross on their flags. So does Switzerland. But most people can tell the difference between the two.
--
A Remote clapper? Why not just market it for what it is? A remote to control your lights. It sort of ceases to be a "Clapper" if you don't have to clap! Are people really this lazy? (Ok, I do acknowledge that the Clapper is a good thing for people who are stuck in their bed all day).
no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 06:02 pm (UTC)Bill probably ranted and raged against single-parent households, too, for the same reason. He just might not have had a national audience to rave to, then. His insistence on the June Cleaver household can be a little anachronistic at times.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-19 06:08 pm (UTC)I'm sure he has ranted on single parents, but the thing is - there are some situations that are out of the single parent's control that causes them to be single parents.
The idea of a Leave it to Beaver household is...disturbing. The fact that that woman wore high heels while cleaning the toilet....ugh. However, I don't think I'd object too much to having a one-parent-stays-home kind of family. It would probably benefit the children at the very least.