Thursday, December 18, 2003
Fascinating piece of software called the Gender Genie. Feed it text, and it will guess the gender of the writer. Spookily accurate.
I've always felt that the gender of a writer was knowable from their text, though I didn't know what this feeling was based on. If you scroll down, though, the Genie lists the keywords that help flag a writer's gender.
Neat!
Joel M. (via Boingboing)
I've always felt that the gender of a writer was knowable from their text, though I didn't know what this feeling was based on. If you scroll down, though, the Genie lists the keywords that help flag a writer's gender.
Neat!
Joel M. (via Boingboing)
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Here's one for you, Quidge. The Monkey Shakespeare Simulator!
This little doozy simulates a growing population of monkeys eating bananas, typing randomly, and making more monkeys. The current record is eleven letters from Anthony and Cleopatra, and I, myself, am the proud owner of a lucky monkey who managed to accidentally type the first ten letters of Cymbeline!
Joel M. (via Duncan)
This little doozy simulates a growing population of monkeys eating bananas, typing randomly, and making more monkeys. The current record is eleven letters from Anthony and Cleopatra, and I, myself, am the proud owner of a lucky monkey who managed to accidentally type the first ten letters of Cymbeline!
Joel M. (via Duncan)
Sunday, December 14, 2003
A very sad letter written for American servicepeople currently in Iraq by a Vietnam veteran.
In particular, he homes in on the real causes of things like the war in Iraq, and the real beneficiaries. It isn't about the people of Iraq and it isn't about the American people. It is all about the men at the top raking in a few more bucks.
Joel M. (via Michael Moore.com)
In particular, he homes in on the real causes of things like the war in Iraq, and the real beneficiaries. It isn't about the people of Iraq and it isn't about the American people. It is all about the men at the top raking in a few more bucks.
Joel M. (via Michael Moore.com)
Friday, December 12, 2003
Whoa, man. Whoa!
I am a little, no, make that a lot worried about the situation between China and Taiwan. Here's a neat article that provides a quick refresher.
Here's my breakdown. Note that this is the grossest possible analysis, composed by a person with no actual experience, but then isn't that what blogging to a sub-microscopic audience is all about? Anyway, here goes:
Taiwan isn't a part of China, or at least they don't see themselves as such since the old Chinese government fled there when the communists took over. They want to make sure that it's all official and they've got the States roped into protecting them on the strength of anti-communist sentiments that predate their current obsession with selling crap to Chinese consumers.
Taiwan is a part of China, or at least that is how China sees it or wants others to think that they see it. More importantly, though, is that it is rich, rich, rich with a vibrant export economy. What's more, they came out of the deal smelling like roses and richer than ever when they picked up Hong Kong. Add to that the fact that nobody really raised a finger after China conquered Tibet, and you've got a country that is probably pretty sure that they can snag another Hong Kong for the price of a small invasion and some international saber-rattling.
Taiwan used to be a bulwark against Communism, and the States bound themselves to protect it on the basis of old-school domino theory. However, China looks like it is going to be the shit as far as making money in the future goes, and the States is all about making money. What to do? What to do? Well, one thing that they have been doing is running war games that involve Blue coming to the aid of Brown when it gets invaded by Red. Oh, and one of Bush's first acts as President was to sell Taiwan a destroyer with advanced anti-missile capabilities. But, then again, this was all before 9-11 and now the States are tied up fighting the War on Terror. But, back to that first hand, the States are running scared and the War on Terror could be easily expanded to the Pacific Theatre by a clever team of presidential puppet-masters. Oh, and top that off with a President who has a history of both ignoring laws and treaties signed by his country and unilaterally fighting preemptive overseas wars in situations where there is little actual threat.
Plus, as they say, the tripod is the least stable structure in politics.
So what will give? If there is a war, it'll be the first direct confrontation between nuclear armed Superpowers. Ever. Despite that, though, I kind of have a feeling it would be more Vietnam-ish rather than Nuclear Holocaust-ish. A military advisors, military service companies, and local grunts kind of thing.
But will there be a war? Or will someone blink before that happens? China and the States both have a lot to lose if relations between them sour. Despite that, though, I kind of suspect that the States would be the first to chicken out. China has way more of a stomach for bloodletting and, on top of all that, the news I read about them portrays a kind of hungry attitude: they seem to actually think that putting people in space in order to reap the wealth of the solar system is a pretty good idea.
It's all very troubling So much so, that I don't even have a clever punch-line.
Joel M. (via SpaceDaily)
I am a little, no, make that a lot worried about the situation between China and Taiwan. Here's a neat article that provides a quick refresher.
Here's my breakdown. Note that this is the grossest possible analysis, composed by a person with no actual experience, but then isn't that what blogging to a sub-microscopic audience is all about? Anyway, here goes:
Taiwan isn't a part of China, or at least they don't see themselves as such since the old Chinese government fled there when the communists took over. They want to make sure that it's all official and they've got the States roped into protecting them on the strength of anti-communist sentiments that predate their current obsession with selling crap to Chinese consumers.
Taiwan is a part of China, or at least that is how China sees it or wants others to think that they see it. More importantly, though, is that it is rich, rich, rich with a vibrant export economy. What's more, they came out of the deal smelling like roses and richer than ever when they picked up Hong Kong. Add to that the fact that nobody really raised a finger after China conquered Tibet, and you've got a country that is probably pretty sure that they can snag another Hong Kong for the price of a small invasion and some international saber-rattling.
Taiwan used to be a bulwark against Communism, and the States bound themselves to protect it on the basis of old-school domino theory. However, China looks like it is going to be the shit as far as making money in the future goes, and the States is all about making money. What to do? What to do? Well, one thing that they have been doing is running war games that involve Blue coming to the aid of Brown when it gets invaded by Red. Oh, and one of Bush's first acts as President was to sell Taiwan a destroyer with advanced anti-missile capabilities. But, then again, this was all before 9-11 and now the States are tied up fighting the War on Terror. But, back to that first hand, the States are running scared and the War on Terror could be easily expanded to the Pacific Theatre by a clever team of presidential puppet-masters. Oh, and top that off with a President who has a history of both ignoring laws and treaties signed by his country and unilaterally fighting preemptive overseas wars in situations where there is little actual threat.
Plus, as they say, the tripod is the least stable structure in politics.
So what will give? If there is a war, it'll be the first direct confrontation between nuclear armed Superpowers. Ever. Despite that, though, I kind of have a feeling it would be more Vietnam-ish rather than Nuclear Holocaust-ish. A military advisors, military service companies, and local grunts kind of thing.
But will there be a war? Or will someone blink before that happens? China and the States both have a lot to lose if relations between them sour. Despite that, though, I kind of suspect that the States would be the first to chicken out. China has way more of a stomach for bloodletting and, on top of all that, the news I read about them portrays a kind of hungry attitude: they seem to actually think that putting people in space in order to reap the wealth of the solar system is a pretty good idea.
It's all very troubling So much so, that I don't even have a clever punch-line.
Joel M. (via SpaceDaily)
Warning: light rambling, poor organization
My friend Mack sent along this little article in the Guardian about the rise of private sector military services firms as an integral component of modern armed forces.
It's really quite interesting, actually. I remember hearing about these sorts of guys back near the end of high school, and then again recently as the War on Iraq evolved.
I see them as a little like the Klein government's move to privatized the ownership of public buildings: economic shell games that make government activity look cheaper while actually bleeding it of more money in the long term. As far as Klein's moves go, it seems like everyone but the government knows that, if you can afford it, it is cheaper in the long run to own your own space. It seems like a no-brainer when you consider that when you rent from a third party, they not only have to pay for the space anyway, but they also have to clear a profit over and above that cost. The only possible savings I can see is to sidestep unionized maintenance people, but I don't see that swapping them for someone who is actively motivated to have the smallest possible number of maintenance people on hand is really a good idea.
In the case of these mercenary corporations and the American military, they've taken over most of the support roles in the military, up to and including operating remote weapons systems and acting as security in situations where they might become involved in combat. I see it as the same deal as above. You hire a company to provide trained guys and equipment in stead of buying the equipment and training the guys. Of course, in this case, you already paid to have the guys trained, then laid them off, then hired them back at contractor's rates... But I digress.
To read this, though, you might that that I am a big government booster. A friend to the bloated spending programs that boost deficits and taxes. Not so. I just don't subscribe to the myth that there is some magical property of private, for profit enterprise that makes everything that they touch somehow more efficient.
Certainly there are places where they are more efficient, such as a greater freedom to fire people out the door at the first sign of idleness. However, at the same time, there are a lot of ways in which private enterprise is less efficient, particularly when working for government. I think everyone knows that the common conception of government contracts is that they are licenses to print money. And the sorts of no-contest, cost-plus sweetheart deals that are going on in Iraq right now are simply ridiculous.
Anyway, I am getting distracted again. Back to the army guys!
I think that the issue of involving mercenaries in modern conflict is going to be a big one in the future. What happens when some Iraq provisional big wig's security goons get busted swapping fifteen year old sex slaves like Pokemon cards? Too bad that their parent company had one of those 'we cannot be held responsible for anything, ever" clauses in their contract. Or what about when these companies diversify into the militaries of smaller companies. What happens if MiliGoon IG personnel are on both sides of the conflict heating up between Whocaresistan and Whereislovakia? Will they sell one side out? Will they ditch both customers to avoid a conflict of interests? And what about when they actually get into the fighting? They say they don't, and that they aren't really mercenaries, but we all know what military advisors are really about. What about when they start violating the Geneva Convention? And, as the States has recently discovered, what happens when they find out that their insurance has shot through the roof and they start bailing on you when the shooting starts?
Don't get me wrong though. I'm not against this sort of thing. But, then again, I've always been a big fan of dark, crumbling futures where the rights and freedoms of the cow-like populace aren't so much under siege by brutal mega-corporations as they are owned, lock stock and barrel.
Joel M.
My friend Mack sent along this little article in the Guardian about the rise of private sector military services firms as an integral component of modern armed forces.
It's really quite interesting, actually. I remember hearing about these sorts of guys back near the end of high school, and then again recently as the War on Iraq evolved.
I see them as a little like the Klein government's move to privatized the ownership of public buildings: economic shell games that make government activity look cheaper while actually bleeding it of more money in the long term. As far as Klein's moves go, it seems like everyone but the government knows that, if you can afford it, it is cheaper in the long run to own your own space. It seems like a no-brainer when you consider that when you rent from a third party, they not only have to pay for the space anyway, but they also have to clear a profit over and above that cost. The only possible savings I can see is to sidestep unionized maintenance people, but I don't see that swapping them for someone who is actively motivated to have the smallest possible number of maintenance people on hand is really a good idea.
In the case of these mercenary corporations and the American military, they've taken over most of the support roles in the military, up to and including operating remote weapons systems and acting as security in situations where they might become involved in combat. I see it as the same deal as above. You hire a company to provide trained guys and equipment in stead of buying the equipment and training the guys. Of course, in this case, you already paid to have the guys trained, then laid them off, then hired them back at contractor's rates... But I digress.
To read this, though, you might that that I am a big government booster. A friend to the bloated spending programs that boost deficits and taxes. Not so. I just don't subscribe to the myth that there is some magical property of private, for profit enterprise that makes everything that they touch somehow more efficient.
Certainly there are places where they are more efficient, such as a greater freedom to fire people out the door at the first sign of idleness. However, at the same time, there are a lot of ways in which private enterprise is less efficient, particularly when working for government. I think everyone knows that the common conception of government contracts is that they are licenses to print money. And the sorts of no-contest, cost-plus sweetheart deals that are going on in Iraq right now are simply ridiculous.
Anyway, I am getting distracted again. Back to the army guys!
I think that the issue of involving mercenaries in modern conflict is going to be a big one in the future. What happens when some Iraq provisional big wig's security goons get busted swapping fifteen year old sex slaves like Pokemon cards? Too bad that their parent company had one of those 'we cannot be held responsible for anything, ever" clauses in their contract. Or what about when these companies diversify into the militaries of smaller companies. What happens if MiliGoon IG personnel are on both sides of the conflict heating up between Whocaresistan and Whereislovakia? Will they sell one side out? Will they ditch both customers to avoid a conflict of interests? And what about when they actually get into the fighting? They say they don't, and that they aren't really mercenaries, but we all know what military advisors are really about. What about when they start violating the Geneva Convention? And, as the States has recently discovered, what happens when they find out that their insurance has shot through the roof and they start bailing on you when the shooting starts?
Don't get me wrong though. I'm not against this sort of thing. But, then again, I've always been a big fan of dark, crumbling futures where the rights and freedoms of the cow-like populace aren't so much under siege by brutal mega-corporations as they are owned, lock stock and barrel.
Joel M.
Ah. Here's something that could maybe help me with my Inter-ignorance. Too bad I don't live in the centre of the universe, er, I mean California.
Joel M. (via boingboing)
Joel M. (via boingboing)
Interesting article about the possibility of a move to control the Internet via trusted computing schemes. The punch-line is a pretty grim take on the state of apathy prevalent among Internet users.
It totally makes me wish I knew enough about computers and the internet to have an impact, which totally makes me wish I had the motivation to learn about it. Chalk up another win for apathy, I guess.
Joel M. (via boingboing)
It totally makes me wish I knew enough about computers and the internet to have an impact, which totally makes me wish I had the motivation to learn about it. Chalk up another win for apathy, I guess.
Joel M. (via boingboing)
Well, they've managed to freeze a pulse of light, photons and all. So much for old Einstein.
Well, not really, but it's still pretty cool. However, I'm still waiting for the one scientific blasphemy of nature that finally results in the crust of the Earth tearing open to reveal a hunched, demonic figure instead of a nickle iron core.
Joel M. (via Die Puny Humans)
Well, not really, but it's still pretty cool. However, I'm still waiting for the one scientific blasphemy of nature that finally results in the crust of the Earth tearing open to reveal a hunched, demonic figure instead of a nickle iron core.
Joel M. (via Die Puny Humans)
If you're not a rebel at twenty, you've got no soul, but if you're not establishment by forty, you've got no brain. But what if you can't admit that you're not a rebel? Or not still twenty?
Check out Peter Bagge and 35 years of boomer tyranny, over at Reason.
It's a little silly, but I totally dig it.
Joel M.
Check out Peter Bagge and 35 years of boomer tyranny, over at Reason.
It's a little silly, but I totally dig it.
Joel M.
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Thursday, December 04, 2003
Got a chain letter from my Mom. I've had this one hit my inbox a few times over the last couple of years and, while I appreciate the attempt to pass on a nice warm feeling to friends and loved ones, I just get sick of these things.
Let's look closer...
1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
Really? Are you sure? Did you ASK them? Anyway, there are tons of people who wouldn't die for ten people, so there must be some who are willing to die for just about anyone. Either way, I'm not feeling more loved.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you, in some way.
I was thinking about Stalin a little, but I decided that there maybe are fifteen people who still love him despite his monstrous crimes. But does the love of these fifteen make up for the hatred of so many others?
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you, is because they want to be just like you.
Just like me? That's the only reason? I guess after I stab a homeless man in the eye he might wish it had been he who stabbed me. But I don't buy it. My problem with W, for example, isn't that I envy his life of fantastic wealth and insulation from responsibility. It's all that stuff he did. You know, with the dead people and all the money?
4. A smile from you, can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
Er. Unless you're smiling about something that you just did. To them. With a stick.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
Yeah, but I'm not sure that planning how to fuck you up in court counts. Also, I'm not sure how fuzzy it really is when you realize that it is just as likely that they are thinking that they are thinking about you because they love you when, in reality, they are thinking about you because they lust after you, because they are using you to stave off feelings of loneliness and worthlessness, or because they are concerned about how you are going to make them look to their bridge club.
6. You mean the world to someone.
So (the World = the World) if and only if (the World = You)? I can see all sorts of problems coming out of that kind of mind-set. In fact, I don't even want to get into it.
7. Without you, someone may not be living.
True. It takes a lot of cows to feed a person.
8. You are special and unique, in your own way.
Special and unique, just like everybody else.
9. Someone that you don't know even exists, loves you.
Where I'm from, we call those "stalkers".
10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
While some people would define a black hole orbiting the sun at the precise location of the former planet Earth as good, I hardly think that it is a universal definition.
11. When you think the world has turned it's back on you, take a look, you most likely turned your back on the world.
Starving kids. Jews in the Holocaust. Abuse victims. The inhabitants of Love Canal. If only all of these poor souls had realized that it was they who turned their backs on the world. It would have saved a lot of problems.
12. When you think you have no chance at getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, you probably sooner or later will get it.
Is it just me, or are there a lot of really confident people out there who really shouldn't be getting the things that they want?
13. Always remember complements you received, forget about the rude remarks.
Wouldn't this lead to a bloated, monstrous ego that is incapable of realizing the extent of the agony that it is inflicting upon the world at large? Just asking.
14. Always tell someone how you feel about them, you will feel much better when they know.
"I was reading this e-mail that says that at least five people love you. Do you love me?"
"Yes!"
"Oh. Good. Because it also tells me that I should tell you that I think you are a wretched ass-hat and that it would make you feel better. Well? Did it?"
Maybe in the long run.
15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they're great.
What if you have no great friends? Just angry co-workers or a cellmate? Or no friends at all? I guess you could skip this step.
Whew. That's it. It was actually pretty hard to get through this with only one minor Hitler reference. I sometimes think that if there wasn't a real Hitler we would have to invent him.
Actually, you know what? I do feel that warm fuzzy coming on.
Joel M.
Let's look closer...
1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
Really? Are you sure? Did you ASK them? Anyway, there are tons of people who wouldn't die for ten people, so there must be some who are willing to die for just about anyone. Either way, I'm not feeling more loved.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you, in some way.
I was thinking about Stalin a little, but I decided that there maybe are fifteen people who still love him despite his monstrous crimes. But does the love of these fifteen make up for the hatred of so many others?
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you, is because they want to be just like you.
Just like me? That's the only reason? I guess after I stab a homeless man in the eye he might wish it had been he who stabbed me. But I don't buy it. My problem with W, for example, isn't that I envy his life of fantastic wealth and insulation from responsibility. It's all that stuff he did. You know, with the dead people and all the money?
4. A smile from you, can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
Er. Unless you're smiling about something that you just did. To them. With a stick.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
Yeah, but I'm not sure that planning how to fuck you up in court counts. Also, I'm not sure how fuzzy it really is when you realize that it is just as likely that they are thinking that they are thinking about you because they love you when, in reality, they are thinking about you because they lust after you, because they are using you to stave off feelings of loneliness and worthlessness, or because they are concerned about how you are going to make them look to their bridge club.
6. You mean the world to someone.
So (the World = the World) if and only if (the World = You)? I can see all sorts of problems coming out of that kind of mind-set. In fact, I don't even want to get into it.
7. Without you, someone may not be living.
True. It takes a lot of cows to feed a person.
8. You are special and unique, in your own way.
Special and unique, just like everybody else.
9. Someone that you don't know even exists, loves you.
Where I'm from, we call those "stalkers".
10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
While some people would define a black hole orbiting the sun at the precise location of the former planet Earth as good, I hardly think that it is a universal definition.
11. When you think the world has turned it's back on you, take a look, you most likely turned your back on the world.
Starving kids. Jews in the Holocaust. Abuse victims. The inhabitants of Love Canal. If only all of these poor souls had realized that it was they who turned their backs on the world. It would have saved a lot of problems.
12. When you think you have no chance at getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, you probably sooner or later will get it.
Is it just me, or are there a lot of really confident people out there who really shouldn't be getting the things that they want?
13. Always remember complements you received, forget about the rude remarks.
Wouldn't this lead to a bloated, monstrous ego that is incapable of realizing the extent of the agony that it is inflicting upon the world at large? Just asking.
14. Always tell someone how you feel about them, you will feel much better when they know.
"I was reading this e-mail that says that at least five people love you. Do you love me?"
"Yes!"
"Oh. Good. Because it also tells me that I should tell you that I think you are a wretched ass-hat and that it would make you feel better. Well? Did it?"
Maybe in the long run.
15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they're great.
What if you have no great friends? Just angry co-workers or a cellmate? Or no friends at all? I guess you could skip this step.
Whew. That's it. It was actually pretty hard to get through this with only one minor Hitler reference. I sometimes think that if there wasn't a real Hitler we would have to invent him.
Actually, you know what? I do feel that warm fuzzy coming on.
Joel M.
Check out the cost of the War on Iraq.
I've been trying to say something intelligent about this, but I keep contradicting myself, so I will leave it for now. Instead, let me just say that I sincerely hope that George Bush and his Project for a New American Century puppet-masters all spend the rest of their lives suffering from recurring dreams about me gouging out their eyeballs and pooping into the filthy, gaping sockets.
Joel M.
I've been trying to say something intelligent about this, but I keep contradicting myself, so I will leave it for now. Instead, let me just say that I sincerely hope that George Bush and his Project for a New American Century puppet-masters all spend the rest of their lives suffering from recurring dreams about me gouging out their eyeballs and pooping into the filthy, gaping sockets.
Joel M.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
This guy makes some good points on the use of historical analogy for space exploration.
I was always more of an Old West man, myself. Open space up to the hungry, ruthless, entrepreneurial frontiersman and see what he can do outside of stifling taxation and regulation. Of course, the mortality and failure rates would be awesome. You would have to put warning labels on the space-ships. "Use of this ship to attempt to create a new way of living and a new source of wealth may backfire and leave your cold, charred corpse orbiting the sun forever."
Joel M.
I was always more of an Old West man, myself. Open space up to the hungry, ruthless, entrepreneurial frontiersman and see what he can do outside of stifling taxation and regulation. Of course, the mortality and failure rates would be awesome. You would have to put warning labels on the space-ships. "Use of this ship to attempt to create a new way of living and a new source of wealth may backfire and leave your cold, charred corpse orbiting the sun forever."
Joel M.
Kind of sad that Wal-Mart managed to sell so damn much crap on Buy Nothing Day.
We can only hope that the people who were determined to Buy Nothing at least managed to hurt the local coffee shops and organic food stores that they would normally patronize. We can at least teach them a lesson!
In all seriousness, I don't really think that a "Buy Nothing Day" is really the answer.
I mean, symbolically, it's a fine idea: Pick the (second) most insane day of consumerism of the year and then try to get a significant amount of people to hold off on their purchases. Presumably, since this started off as a Media Foundation gig, this is to send a message to the businesses that spend scads of money on advertising to convince people that their lives are meaningless unless they are buying some sort of crap or other.
In reality, though, it's a case of trying to talk water into flowing uphill. Businesses will never, ever stop trying to convince people to spend money in every possible situation or combination of situations. It's just the way that they are wired. Squirrels forget where they hide stashes of nuts, politicians lie, plants grow, and businesses would really rather if you paid them to do it, whatever "it" might be.
To me this whole exercise smacks of attacking television networks because so many people watch too much TV, or suing a tobacco company because you got sick using products that are clearly marked as designed to do nothing but. Yeah, it sucks that there are people who are making good money pushing death-sticks, offering the opportunity to become pasty and flabby and easily amused, and sucking the blood out of small towns and local businesses, but each and every one of these 'fat cats' needs us customers to decide that we will give them our money. If Wal-mart opens up on the edge of a small town and nobody goes, then they will pack up and go away. I shit you not.
But what about the tides of consumerism that are sweeping away whatever it is that they are sweeping away? Well, there are a few things that can be done if dramatic, hopeless gestures aren't for you: You could "Be a Responsible Consumer Whenever You Make a Purchasing Decision," for example. Also, if you are incurably worried about what other people are up to, you could "Present Your Concerns About, and Arguments Against, Consumerism to the People Close to You In The Hope That They Will Choose to Modify Their Behaviour."
Eh. Those don't look so good in quotes, and I shudder to see the poster for the last one in particular. How about just being unemployed like me? Then every day is "Buy Nothing Day!"
Joel M.
We can only hope that the people who were determined to Buy Nothing at least managed to hurt the local coffee shops and organic food stores that they would normally patronize. We can at least teach them a lesson!
In all seriousness, I don't really think that a "Buy Nothing Day" is really the answer.
I mean, symbolically, it's a fine idea: Pick the (second) most insane day of consumerism of the year and then try to get a significant amount of people to hold off on their purchases. Presumably, since this started off as a Media Foundation gig, this is to send a message to the businesses that spend scads of money on advertising to convince people that their lives are meaningless unless they are buying some sort of crap or other.
In reality, though, it's a case of trying to talk water into flowing uphill. Businesses will never, ever stop trying to convince people to spend money in every possible situation or combination of situations. It's just the way that they are wired. Squirrels forget where they hide stashes of nuts, politicians lie, plants grow, and businesses would really rather if you paid them to do it, whatever "it" might be.
To me this whole exercise smacks of attacking television networks because so many people watch too much TV, or suing a tobacco company because you got sick using products that are clearly marked as designed to do nothing but. Yeah, it sucks that there are people who are making good money pushing death-sticks, offering the opportunity to become pasty and flabby and easily amused, and sucking the blood out of small towns and local businesses, but each and every one of these 'fat cats' needs us customers to decide that we will give them our money. If Wal-mart opens up on the edge of a small town and nobody goes, then they will pack up and go away. I shit you not.
But what about the tides of consumerism that are sweeping away whatever it is that they are sweeping away? Well, there are a few things that can be done if dramatic, hopeless gestures aren't for you: You could "Be a Responsible Consumer Whenever You Make a Purchasing Decision," for example. Also, if you are incurably worried about what other people are up to, you could "Present Your Concerns About, and Arguments Against, Consumerism to the People Close to You In The Hope That They Will Choose to Modify Their Behaviour."
Eh. Those don't look so good in quotes, and I shudder to see the poster for the last one in particular. How about just being unemployed like me? Then every day is "Buy Nothing Day!"
Joel M.
Monday, December 01, 2003
Whew. Finally had to break down and learn to use FTP and the free webspace that comes with my Shaw account. It was worth it, though. This'll break your noodle:
.
Count the people, then wait until the change, then count them again.
Joel M.
.
Count the people, then wait until the change, then count them again.
Joel M.
