Clearly you're new here (WillCharles.blogspot.com)

Able Bodied Seamen wanted!

2009-09-23T18:16:00.002-04:00

from ConocoPhillips careers:

'The Able Bodied Seaman (A.B.) may be responsible for:

Docking/undocking procedures (handling lines, securing ship, etc.) and assisting with taking and discharging of cargo.
Standing watch, either as lookout or on the bridge steering the vessel.
Performing deck related maintenance duties under supervision of the Boatswain.
Working aloft in certain situations
Working two 4 hour watches per 24 hour period with overtime occurring routinely. The A.B. can work no more than 15 hours per day, and cannot work more than 36 hours in any 72 hour period.

'All unlicensed employees earn paid leave on the basis of twenty-three (23) days paid leave for every thirty (30) days of sea service. Normal tours are seventy-five (75) onboard and fifty-seven (57) days of paid leave

Thought about it, but I would be depressed being on a ship for a month at a time and what would I do when I had time off? It still seems very manly though.

Octavia E. Butler and Writing Workshops

2009-05-13T18:53:00.003-04:00

Octavia E. Butler's Wikipedia article mentions that workshops helped her improve her writing significantly. More so than her college curriculum. I tried to find one of the workshops mentioned, it was for minority writers and sponsored by the Screenwriters' Guild of America. The best I could find was this list: http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=1042. Something of interest to people who may have already started exploring their writing capabilities extensively and want to take it to the next level.

The Next Sci-Fi Epic

2009-05-11T11:29:00.003-04:00

Dear Will Charles,

I LOVE your foray into creative writing. Please keep going with that! I like your style.

It is Monday morning and I feel sick. Swine Flu? Only time will tell.

Saw Star Trek this weekend. Thought it was excellent. I've decided, as I've 'decided' many times before, that I want to write America's next sci-fi/fantasy epic. I am a fan of the boy wizard, the vampires of Forks, Luke, Spock, LOST, Heroes...the list goes on. I realize that my real loves in this world have be not quite of this world. I'd like to be able to bounce ideas around. Will, will you be my sounding board?

Things to be inspired by:
Octavia Butler, fluid gender identity, rendering and surrendering the body...

Any thought?

Love,
Little Sister
(going to the bathroom to hurl...?)

People: Niki Gomez

2009-04-13T00:40:00.003-04:00

I'm very interested in how people make themselves. I have found myself reading resumes and bios of people who do things that I am interested in. Maybe something will come of this interest. For now, here is the webpage of someone I found interesting recently. Check it.

Niki Gomez - http://www.nikigomez.com/Niki_GOMEZ_CV.pdf

Who is he? Who is Jack?

2009-04-12T23:54:00.005-04:00

This weekend his mind abandoned his body. Heaped onto a twin sized mattress, his body laid heavily between winter sheets that were too warm for the spring weather. Hibernation manifested itself in human form as a result of heavy late night consumption of calories, fat, and sodium. The effects of this diet were apparent, the mechanical quality of breathing, the preservative inspired positioning of the limbs, and distant clicks emanating from the bowels were unnatural and slightly unnerving.

10 hours of bed rest. No movement. No interaction. A puzzle prevented the mind from returning to its normal state. A suit needed to be purchased. Needless to say, dress shoes needed to be worn in order to evaluate the aesthetic appeal of this acquisition. However, dress shoes would prevent the employment of simple kicks. The lack of kicks would reduce the feeling of hip and the feeling of hop. The reduction of energy would lead to a less fulfilling day and there certainly couldn't be any break dancing in dress shoes. Finally, shorts and a t-shirt for running should have started the day. Only 20 minutes are necessary to complete the circuit, to increase health, to feel great. To make the body feel alive. However, the mind resisted exercise. The mind resisted dress shoes and slacks. The body retreated to a hibernating state. 12 hours dissolved between the winter sheets of the mattress.

Zubar. Zubar. Greenville Ave. He walks to the bouncer. "I want to be a regular here. This is my favorite place. Hi, I'm Jack. What's your name?"

The bouncer replied , "Tibbits."

"Tid-bits?"

"Tibbits", he repeated. This time more slowly. It was clear from his expression that he did not enjoy repeating himself.

"Tibbits, its nice to meet you. I love your bar."

Tibbits looked blankly at the young man standing in front of him. He looked like a child, but his ID indicated that he was at least a few years older. With a slight twist of his neck, Tibbits motioned the young man to enter - and so he did without hesitation.

Zubar was one of many bars along the lower strip of Greenville Ave. It's facade was clearly hip, though its most basic elements could be found in a simple garden. A forest green wrought iron arch with ivy wrapping around it to give it an organic feeling. A small patio with cushioned wooden benches and tables were illuminated by warm friendly lights. The source of which remains unclear. The plush Hotel Capri and the more raw Garage .

Jack entered the bar from the patio. A DJ booth on the ground level was only a few feet to his left. There were people dancing in an open space in the front of the bar. Small U shaped booths lined the walls on the left and an unadorned bar was ready to take his order on the right.

"One bud light please." The bartender fished the brew from a cooler behind the counter and opened the bottle with professional precision.

"$4.50 please"

That is too much Jack thought to himself, handing the bartender $10. He wanted to give a good tip, he took his change and left a $1. Under his breath, "I could have bought a pack before I came...."

WillCharles: E-Waste, 60 Minutes, Edward Burtynksy, and What We Can Do Now

2008-11-19T02:07:00.006-05:00

The article associated with the 60 minute episode on "e-waste" fails to mention one critical fact: where are these illegal electronics coming from? Are they obtained from landfills, recycling brokers or seemingly legitimate recycling plants? I doubt the latter. There are many legal electronic recycling plants that operate within the United States and around the world. Some corporations even ask their customers to send them their old products so they can be recycled. Apple Corporation is one example, they have a recycling facility in Cupertino, CA.

Nevertheless, illegal and even some legal recycling operations damage the environment and increase the incidence of miscarriage, cancer, and other health and health related problems in the surrounding population.

What can we do to prevent this from happening?

1. Gain the maximum utility from all electronics before upgrading them. When we upgrade our cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices less often it reduces the demand for electronics and the materials needed to produce them.
2. Donate used electronics to organizations that need them. There are several organizations that need computers, cell phones, printers, and other electronics to operate. One person’s donation can make a big difference at the right organization.
3. Recycle electronics like computer monitors, computers, televisions, and cell phones if they are not reused. Earth 911 has a tool on their website that allows users to locate an electronic recycling center near them. This page from Michigan has information and resources that are universally useful.
4. Self-pat on the back for being green-conscious and public-health conscious.
5. Stop the masturbatory self-congratulation and ego-inflation by sharing new recycling habits with friends, relatives, colleagues and organizations. The more people participating, the better for health and environment.

Want to know more?

I recently learned about the Canadian artist Edward Burtynsky. He has documented recycling practices in China through photography and his film (“Manufactured Landscapes”). A selection of his photographs can be found on his website http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/. On the left hand side of the screen under the label works is a link for China. Click this link and then click the picture that has the text “Recycling” over it. His work is very compelling. Images can also be found online by searching for his name in a photo search website.

People interested in this article may also be interested in learning mercury, child labor, and the gold economy.

WillCharles: Family Tree Maker - Famiva - Instant Site Creation. Free. No Risk.

2008-11-18T14:58:00.000-05:00

I was on facebook thinking, wouldn't it be great if there were a website that let you to create family trees with your current family members? It would make it a lot easier to plan family outings, reunions, etc. "Why don't I make one?" I thought to myself. I've never heard of a site like that before.

I needed to know if there were any sites like this before breaking out my programming skills (read: learning programming skills) and I ended up finding a site that does what I was interested in: Famiva. This site allows you to invite your family members to a custom website and enter relationships, pictures, family and personal information.

So much for coming up with an original idea.

Nevertheless, I could make my own website anyway or create a facebook application that allows you to create a family tree using the information contained in users profiles and additional user inputted data. Maybe I should check to see if an application like this already exist...

WillCharles: Obama makes headlines as President Elect

2008-11-08T14:48:00.003-05:00

Obama makes headlines across the country. Yes, this is a little bit late - but old news can be good news. Click the link, you know you are curious :)

Venture Capital for Low Income and Rural Communities

2008-11-05T09:31:00.001-05:00

Unsecured Venture Capital - Get more Free Tax Forms

Welcome Harvard Breakers!

2008-10-23T11:37:00.004-04:00

The Harvard Breakers Organization is a safe space for dancers. Everyone doesn't respect dance, but among Breakers dance is not only respected, but practiced and revered. I had a bad experience once while dancing outside of the organization. I was in the middle of a glide and body wave when a man abruptly told me to stop dancing. I explained to the man that I was expressing my freedom of speech. The man rudely retorted, "You're dancing in the middle of my class, now get out!". What an awful professor.

Breakers is great because professors never tell you to stop dancing. It's also great because you can be around other people who actually know what the terms 'popping', 'locking', 'breaking' refer to and enjoy performing all of these dances or some subset of them. The commercial below reminds me of the group every time I see it. If you are or have ever been a member of the Breakers, please leave a comment about a memorable experience you have had dancing inside or outside of the group and check out one of my other posts related to dance: So You Think You Can Dance Poppers Bboy music on imeem

SYTCYD Popping All-Stars

2008-10-13T06:39:00.003-04:00

Robert Muraine "Mr. Fantastic"

Michael "Onion" Kim

Philip "Pacman" Chbeeb

"Twitch"

Joshua Allen (SYTYCD 2008 Champion)

Bonus Features:

Mr. Fantastic vs. Mr. Wizard

Onion vs. Oba

Contemporary Style: Joshua Allen and Katee

Contemporary Style: William Wingfield

RE: NPR Steal Back Your Vote Guide is NOT free

2008-10-10T00:10:00.004-04:00

I heard about the Steal Back Your Vote Guide on NPR today. The purpose of the guide is to educate voters about their rights at the polls and is written in the form of a comic book. The person representing the guide indicated that it could be downloaded for free from the group's website. However, when I visited the website, I discovered that a donation was required to receive the voting guide. I felt mislead and found the requirement to donate counterintuitive to the passion the Steal Back Your Vote Guide has to educate voters. I expressed my disappointment and sentiments in more detail in a letter addressed to the Steal Back Your Vote Guide below.
--

Dear Steal Back Your Vote Guide:

I was surprised to find that the Steal Back Your Vote Guide was not free after gaining this impression from an NPR news broadcast. Perhaps this was a misunderstanding on my part, but I'm terribly disappointed. It seems that the information you wish to disseminate should be given away for free. To me there is a conflict of interest between being passionate about educating voters about their voting rights and charging them for this information. This information should be available freely. In addition, the guide is running in Rolling Stone Magazine. The income generated from selling the guide to Rolling Stone should be sufficient to make the content available freely to the general public.

Nevertheless, the biggest problem with the required 'donation' is that many registered voters do not own the credit card or checkbook needed to make one over the internet. These individuals are are automatically prevented from becoming privy to the information contained in the Steal Back Your Vote Guide. I expect that low-income voters are most likely to be effected by this. When voter ID laws requiring voters to present a form of state identification such as a driver's license or passport were passed in several states, the percentage of registered low-income and minority voters casting their ballots in following elections dropped. A significant portion of voters in this demographic do not have a need for driver's licenses or passports because they do not drive or travel internationally. Their inability to present these documents on election day, therefore, prevents them from voting.

Finally, people who rely on their public library's computers for internet access, free email, and free blogging may be reluctant to use these computers to make purchases even when they do have a credit card or checkbook. The rise of identity theft causes people to take additional measures to protect their identities online, particularly when working on public computers.

Ultimately, I don't see a problem to request a donation for the Steal Back Your Vote Guide; I just don't agree that the donation should be required because it prevents the guide from being read by people who may need it the most.

Sincerely,

WillCharles

I'm very curious to see how the website responds. I rewrote and sent a new version of the letter on 10.23.08. I had not heard back from website regarding the first message yet at that time.

No posts for October? What to do? Obama in NY.

2008-10-09T11:56:00.003-04:00

Create a simple solution. Reading Ann Coulter earlier there were references to his mysterious past in New York, NY. Found an article that sheds some light on the subject from a website Coulter probably doesn't approve of...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/us/politics/30obama.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2&oref=slogin

Burgers or Biofuel?

2008-09-30T15:48:00.001-04:00

Burgers or Biofuel?

Santogold in Concert: not the same as MIA

2008-09-30T12:04:00.006-04:00

I was invited to a Santogold concert recently and although I had not heard of "Santa Gold" before, I decided to check her out. The concert was a blast and left me wanting more. When I got home I searched for the artist on youtube. Unfortunately, I could not find any "Santa Gold" music videos. I consulted Google and found a posting on answers.yahoo.com that explained that there is no such thing as Santa (*tear*), but "Santogold" does exist.

The friend who invited me to the concert explained that Santogold has a sound similar to M.I.A.'s. Santogold explains how this is flattering and true to a certain extent, but how she and her peer fundamentally differ:

LES Artistes by Santogold:

Paper Planes by M.I.A. for comparison:

Hear the difference?

Random tidbit: according to a youtube comment, Santogold's LES Artistes video was inspired by Alejandro Jordowski's "El Topo" (The Mole), a mystical western movie. From what I have read about El Topo, I would describe it as funny, violent, satirical, sacreligious and likely worth watching with others - discussion will ensue. I wanted to watch the whole movie on youtube, but could not find it. I watched a 40 mintue program about Jordowski on youtube and clips from "El Topo" instead. I was not satisfied *sigh*, I still want to watch the movie. The interview managed to keep my attention, but it was not what I was looking for - nevertheless, I learned Jordowski is pretty crazy! (in a semi-good way).

urtak: collaborative public opinion

2008-09-30T11:47:00.003-04:00

urtak is a website devoted to gauging public opinion through the internet. Site users are asked to give their opinion to various issues by answering yes or no questions that are randomly given to them through the site's interface.

This polling site is somewhat unique because it forces users to answer questions in a random order and also because the users create the questions that are answered on the site.

Check out the site and tell me what you think about it. I find the information about the site's users particularly interesting. Who is urtak shows that 45% of respondents believe in God, another 45% have shot a gun, and 22% are racist as of post date.

Interesting... add your opinion to the mix.

I press the buzzer: What I learned from Dar Williams

2008-09-30T10:48:00.009-04:00

Listening to NPR's Weekend Edition, I caught an interview of singer/songwriter Dar Williams. She is a genius. I make this conclusion based on the songs introduced during the interview and her sources of inspiration which include museums and academic research.

I found the song "Buzzer" to be particularly powerful. The song is about a participant in Stanley Milgram's obedience experiments. The buzzer in the song refers to an electric shock participants in the Milgram experiments were asked to give students who answered questions administered to them incorrectly. Participants continued to shock students even after they pleaded with them to stop.

Williams forces the listener to consider how people acquiesce in systems of power. The buzzer is a metaphor for complicity. If I don't agree with unfair working conditions, cruelty to animals, energy waste, etc. what does it mean if I continue to buy clothes manufactured in eastern lands under unknown conditions, consume dairy products produced by animals in filthy, cramped and otherwise unsavory environments, and drive my personal vehicle when I could use public transportation?

I think I have pressed the buzzer too. We all do.

The link to Dar's interview includes a written synopsis, three songs you can listen to including "Buzzer", and of course her full interview. The lyrics to buzzer can be found here.

$7000/year

2008-09-30T10:33:00.004-04:00

The average world income in 2005. The median income was $1,700 i.e. half of the people in the world make less than $1,700/year. How does your income compare?

I just noticed the image has stacks of $1 bills. I suppose that would make $1,700 look bigger than if it was in a larger denomination.

Check out globalist.com to learn more (I haven't been to this site, but it's the reference of the article linked above).

I will give you $1000 if you quit right now

2008-09-17T10:11:00.004-04:00

That is the offer the internet shoe giant Zappos gives its customer service representatives after their first week of training according to Bill Taylor's blog on the Harvard Business Publishing website. Zappos believes that anyone who would accept this offer really isn't committed to the Zappos mission. 10% take the deal.

Is it ethical to take the job with the goal of earning the severance pay and leaving? A 'vacation' week worth $1000? Of course it is unethical, but you are welcome to disagree...

Washington Post: Study Links Gene Variant in Men to Marital Discord

2008-09-02T01:31:00.004-04:00

article

Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University who studies romantic love [posits] "Knowing there are biological weak links can help you overcome them."

A man who knows he has this allele, she added, might be able to use the knowledge to ignore tugs of restlessness he might feel in his marriage: "You can say, 'Oh, it is just my DNA, and I am going to ignore it.' "

I ignore my DNA all the time. DNA, I'm not talking to you!

Janelle Monae

2008-08-20T19:40:00.002-04:00

I read about this girl recently in a local publication. She has a super-cool fashion style and was signed by Diddy. I thought I would like her music based on her appearance, but I do not. She is described as having a sound that is like a mix between Gnarles Barkley and Outkast. Neither of these vocalist are women, not that that matters. I just wanted to make this observation.

Child Labor is not inherently bad

2008-08-13T01:28:00.004-04:00

Someone sent out an article about child labor in West African gold mines today and it captured my attention and thought:

Child Labor Rife in African Gold Mines
Gold Mined by African Children Finds its Way Into Luxury Goods
By RUKMINI CALLIMACHI
The Associated Press

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/WireStory?id=5551166&page=1

Summary and analysis of child labor:
Where gold can be found using non-industrialized 'primitive' techniques, children can be found working. This is often the case in West Africa where gold can be found by digging small, but deep wells into the earth. The children in the article are responsible for beating and grinding earth that has been dug from these wells into a fine powder. They work outdoors and are sore after their work is complete, self medicating with painkillers available in the marketplace when their work is complete. In addition to the toll the physical toll their labor takes on their bodies, these children also handle mercury on a daily basis which can lead to brain damage and failure of some vital organs. I found this all to be quite sad and then I realized I had to get back to work...

Whenever I see or hear the words 'child labor' I automatically think, that is awful! - and - How could people put children to work? -and finally- That is a bad thing to do; children need an education and fun enjoying their childhood. Upon further contemplation, however, I realized that this is a purely ethnocentric reaction. In the U.S. child labor has been branded as an evil thing (I wonder how many of our goods are manufactured by children though...).

However, people living in poverty need all the money they can get and if their children want to work to help their families and to help themselves then they should have the opportunity to do so. In the United States, child labor laws prevent children under the age of 12 from working in most jobs. When children can work, employers must follow strict guidelines that often make hiring children less palatable than simply hiring adult workers. In America, the overwhelming majority of families survive without sending their children to work. However, in countries all around the world children have to work to survive. They work on their family's farms, bring their family's goods to market, and work for others to earn cash so their families can purchase basic necessities. I don't see this as a bad thing.

The problem with child labor begins with abusive child labor practices. Children are young and be taken advantage of easily by unscrupulous parties. Children who do work should be able to do so without being exposed to harsh chemicals like mercury or placed into dangerous jobs that adults themselves do not even perform. There should also be limits on the total number of hours children must work during the day. Communities with large child labor populations could fund night education for children. Families could pay a small amount to instructors or the business that employ children could do so to invest in their region's future. Children could help their families financially and also . I am sure this occurs in some cities or regions of the world and would be interested in learning about it - please leave a comment if you have a good resource.

Child labor produces a churning and ugly gut reaction in American, however, the practice aids in economic development and helps children help themselves and their families. Children should be protected from abuse, but not prevented from working at all. Ted Koppel offers valuable insight on Charlie Rose when speaking about China. He points out that the country is only now in the midst of its industrial revolution, to compare environmental industry practices in the United States to those in China shows the US coming out on top. However, comparing the US during its industrial build up to China today shows a very different picture. China is does better than the states relative to industrial build up timelines.

Child labor made sense for the United States before the country's industrial revolution and throughout. Is it any surprise that less developed countries often rely on the practice to develop their goods? Could the United States even become more lenient in its own child labor laws so children in the poorest of families could contribute positively to their family's bottom line?

PS: maybe Harvard can make a mercury replacement once they finish developing 'dirt powered' lights for sub-Sahara Africa.

The History of the Black Church In America

2008-08-13T01:17:00.002-04:00

I was impressed by Reverend Wright's speech to the National Press Club about the history and significance of the black church in America he gave in April. I got into a conversation with a friend about the black church's role in starting university's in the past and how it continues to offer services to the communities they are in, largely a result of the lack of services offered by institutions in the community.

In any case, the transcript and video is here. The video is also on youtube in separate segments. If you want to be entertained and educated about Jeremiah Wright, please watch part of the Q&A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM6-K1MicZU it's incredibly insightful and it is also hilarious.

Bboy Music

2008-07-26T08:49:00.002-04:00

imeem mix I found online has some classic break beats. however, the list also has some random songs. for example, idk how Japanese pop artist Utada Hikaru's Final Distance made the cut. The song is fun and upbeat, but its no break beat, ha ha.

I added the playlist to the blog. It should be on the bottom of the right hand side panel. I wanted to add it to this post, but I guess it's a page element. I will probably remove it eventually though, therefore I include a link.

Meat Science: What's really in your pet's food?

2008-07-16T23:10:00.006-04:00

Veterinarian explains the process used to process meat for pet food:

It seems dairy cows, cats, dogs, roadkill, garbage, and tuberculosis lungs are the main ingredients. Sound inhumane? In the United States it is illegal for these items to be served to humans. Fortunately, pets aren't human. From an energy efficiency point of view, this is actually a great system. Using items such as roadkill and euthanized pets to meet demand for pet food reduces the number of cows that are raised and slaughtered to make pet food. The 'inhumane' items are dead anyway - why kill more? I wonder what PETa's stance is on this issue... Regardless, the following should be noted:

Owning animals is probably more unethical than feeding them commonly available commercial pet food.
Eating any form of meat as a human, whether it is steer, roadkill, or otherwise, is barbaric.

Will Charles

Hijacking URLs is supposed to be fun...

2008-07-15T11:35:00.004-04:00

In my last post I wrote about how I changed the url of my blog to meanbuttrue after I found one incorrectly spelled meanbutture (which kind of looks like mean butter or mean butt u r). Anyway, after one day without complaints and the URL of their site being changed to meanbuttruth I have decided to relinquish the URL and return to the self-reflective name WillCharles. There is no fun in hijacking if the hijacked party shows no signs of anguish, frustration, disgust or disappointment at their lost. I will I have to find something or someone else to hijack things from that will show one or all of these emotions.

New URL's story is mean but true...

2008-07-14T11:50:00.004-04:00

I was recently reading a post on a blog with a heading "MEAN BUT TRUE." on blogspot. I liked the title and the latest post at the time. I thought to myself, I wish I had a clever URL like "meanbuttrue.blogspot", but all I have is WillCharles. However, when I examined the URL address closely, I realized it was spelled incorrectly. The address was spelled meanbutture. I read the address as "mean butt u r" "e" and said, "Wait! That's not 'mean but true'!" That is when the wheels in my head started to turn, hmm... I like the name mean but true, why not keep it for myself? I re-registered my blog as meanbuttrue.blogspot.com and the rest is history :)

This story is mean, but true. Here is the link to the other blog which may be arguably better than this one, even if spelled incorrectly :)

with Love,
Will Charles

Chinese Cheerleaders is Hotness

2008-07-09T14:51:00.005-04:00

I was very excited to read about the hundreds of thousands of Chinese cheerleaders that will be cheering on athletes at the Olympic Games next month in Beijing. The Chinese young women in the video below have bright smiles, small bodies, and cute faces. Their dancing abilities and enthusiasm are also impressive.

Seeing all of these Chinese women, I realized some people attending the Olympics might be looking for Chinese massages with a "special ending". However, when I saw a video titled "Female Traffic Police ready for Beijing Games" I decided people looking for this special service might find themselves disappointed as police cracked down on prostitution. I decided to watch the video from the link above to learn what steps police were taking to prevent sex trafficking at the games. However, I quickly realized that the video was not about preventing sex trafficking, but about training women traffic police officers. I clearly interpreted the title of the video incorrectly. Perhaps those attending the Olympics will be able to find a special ending to the games after all...

Something to see in NYC

2008-07-07T11:30:00.002-04:00

Much attention is being given to the recently installed 'Waterfalls' -- the work of Olafur Eliasson -- in New York City.

Who is Squeekicleen?

2008-07-07T00:23:00.003-04:00

Who is this mysterious contributor? Who is Will Charles? Perhaps more information about these 'people' will be revealed later. A mission statement for this blog also needs to be written. Once this is complete, perhaps the blog can be registered at sites such as:

Blog Catalog
Blogarama
Blogwise
Globe of Blogs
Bloggernity
Bloghop
Bloghub
Blog Universe

(list copied from here)

I will also have to see Hancock for myself after Squeekicleen's last post.

Will Smith is Hotness

2008-07-06T21:37:00.004-04:00

I saw Hancock this afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed myself. This summer Hancock joins fellow superheroes - The Hulk, Iron Man, and Batman as they attempt to repackage patriotism for a cynical, savvy generation; a generation at war and in recession, but nonetheless optimistic. A black president? How about a black superhero to test the waters? Hancock is a worthwhile addition to the summer blockbuster list because it is at once satirical, sincere, charming and action-packed. The original and artfully shot and staged narrative is punctuated by wham-bam special effects -- allowing the film to work on two levels. On one, it's about a disgruntled superhero (and what movie this summer isn't?). Will Smith, like The Incredibles of 2004, is living in a post-fantasy era where the superhero has grown old and fallen out of favor due --(no surprise)-- to the economic toll he takes, and the homeland security risk he poses as a vigilante who reports to something other than the law. That's a theme this summer -- the fine line between lawful and corrupt, good and evil, Us and Them. The second level on which Hancock works -- the level that distinguishes this movie from the others -- is as a haunting, somewhat underdeveloped but very compelling drama about love. The complexity and power of love, the almost supernatural way that it both weakens and strengthens humans (and superhumans), and the way it transcends time, race, power, and reality -- all are addressed here more than in Iron Man or The Hulk. The movie, in ways I can't quite put my finger on, reminds me of some off-beat hits like Eternal Sunshine, Crash, and 21 Grams. Weird, I know, but the characters teeter on the edge of great depth. Charlize Theron is the surprise star of this movie. Jason Bateman is wonderful as the 'real-life' but under-funded hero, and Will Smith's performance is a sweet blend of Ali-style angst and Men in Black charm. He pulls the movie together with his irreverent humor and sensitivity. The movie is short, but rewarding. It feels complete but maybe too heady for its time and place among the other summer hero movies. I hope people give it a chance -- and I hope you, Will Charles, will see it before you continue to bash it! On the topic of superheroes, if you're in the mood for more noir crime-fighters, check out Showtime's Dexter.

Weekend overdraw blues

2008-07-05T23:27:00.003-04:00

A close friend of mine called me about overdrawing from his or her bank account earlier today. Maybe said person should have called Louis CK; watch beginning at 3:40 for a segment about this subject:

Independence Day and Hancock

2008-07-04T05:09:00.003-04:00

Will Smith is in theaters across the country with [insert title of movie here] oh wait - it's "Hand Cock". Actually, the name is "Hancock", but apparently the movie is so rude that hand cock might be a good warning for anyone going to see it; plan to hear lots of rude language and profanity. The movie is rated PG-13, but the language really pushes the rating's boundaries. I personally don't like to hear lots of profanity so I'm disappointed with this development. I prefer comedy that relies on witty and creative dialogue and situations. It's great when someone can write something humorous without relying on terse language. Will Smith can certainly be funny without using much profanity - just think back to his roles in films like "Independence Day", "'Men in Black", and more recently in "Hitch". I guess I will just wait to see "Independence Day 2":

Oh wait, this isn't a real movie? *sigh*

Re: "Dress Code Politics"

2008-06-22T14:14:00.004-04:00

I'm intrigued by the last post about clothing regulation in the work place. I agree with your conclusion that women should feel free to wear whatever they want -- but I arrive at it through different reasoning.

People criticize the temerity of women's work clothing as a way to criticize the women themselves for their boldness, fearlessness, and confidence. Women are unfairly demonized for demonstrating the very things that employers look for -- self-confidence, courage, and creativity. Employers and those they employ need to accept that confidence, courage, and creativity have always been and are becoming more genderized. See the following article in Newsweek Magazine (http://www.newsweek.com/id/140457) about Nerd Girls ..."they're smart, they're techie and they're hot" reads the tag line. These young women are engineers, good at what they do, driven, and creative. They've manufactured themselves using more of the tools at their disposal than their predecessors. No longer are nebbish she-nerds the prototypical and peripheral players on the science scene.

In short, women are powerful because of their brains and their bodies, as are men.

In the News: WSJ "Dress-Code Politics: Who Wears the Pants?" Christina Binkley

2008-06-21T06:15:00.001-04:00

When a Man Regulates Attire At Work, Women Often See An Oppressor, Not a Mentor

Men have a one track mind, boobies. When men want to regulate the dress of women to be more conservative, they are ultimately saying they are unable to control wandering eyes and imaginations. Will a low top or a short skirt decrease a man's focus on the job? You bet! However, from a gender feminist perspective, perhaps increasing men's exposure to skin and cleavage in their daily experiences will decrease how much men as a group and as individual objectify women. This may seem counterintuitive, but by increasing men's exposure to visual stimuli of the woman's body perhaps their senses will be overloaded to the point that they are desensitized to their bodies or at least to the appearance of bare legs or cleavage. I endure the staring now in hopes of decreasing objectification of women in the future. Show some skin at work girls! If they can't focus we can and we will take any promotions for our superior performance, ha ha!

Beggin Strips aren't Bacon? I'll be the judge of that!

2008-06-20T03:31:00.005-04:00

Have you ever heard of Beggin Strips? They are a doggy treat that looks, smells and tastes like bacon to dogs. My dog loves them. The treats are a great idea, right? WRONG!

This is a story all about how
my life got flipped turned upset down
and I'd like to take a minute just sitting right here
I'll tell you why I hate beggin strips -- I hope that it's clear

I found a bag of the treats in the garage and rewarded my dog with them when she obeyed commands during the day. In the evening, I generally ignore my dog so I stopped giving her commands and thus I stopped giving her the treats. Then out of no where my dog started sitting, laying down, and rolling over as if I were asking her to do these things (or even paying attention). I soon recognized that she was attempting to get a beggin strip in return for her behavior. I didn't even have any of the things with me at the time so I showed the dog my hands and pockets to show her that I did not have strips to give her. When she realized I didn't have any she looked at me with the evil eye only a dog can give. Then she started barking at me and scratching my legs for the rest of the night only pausing to scratch and lick herself.

The whole scene was a mess. My dog was acting as if I had given her crack, but it's been over a year since I've done that so I know that wasn't the problem. I decided there must be something extra 'special' in those bacon like strips to make my dog go ape bananas. I retrieved the package of the treat to examine its ingredients, but I was distracted the savory aroma of bacon eminating from the package. The beggin strips smelled so good and they smell just like bacon too... By the time I realized what I was doing, it was too late; the beggin strip was in my mouth. It smelled great, but its taste was disgusting! However, the resulting warm, effervescent, and relaxing feeling that overcame me a few minutes later was a pleasant surprise.

Despite the relatively satisfactory conclusion to this event, I was still disturbed by its occurrence. How could something like this happen? How could I allow myself to eat a dog treat? That's crazy! I would blame myself for this event, but that would cause me to take personal responsibility. Instead I blame the beggin strips company. Dogs really don't need a treat that looks and smells like bacon - dogs eat their own... well, dogs enjoy any snack that is not in their regular diet. Ultimately, beggin strips are designed to lure human people into buying them. People are enticed to the look and smell of bacon. Dogs don't care about what the treat looks like. If dogs could talk I'm confident they would say, "I can't believe you make me eat the same food everyday and pee outside. It's degrading. Just give me a shapeless but tasty doggy biscuit to ease my pain".

Although I don't like beggin' strips - it caused me to bite one somehow?! I do see an opportunity to for a new product in the snack food and dog treat industries. A food company needs to develop a treat that is safe for both humans and dogs to eat and tasty to them as well. Scooby and Shaggy ate the same snacks, don't you want to kick back and eat biscuits with your dog? Dogs are man's best friend, right? The follow up would be a lager safe for you and your lab - who wouldn't want to enjoy a cold brew with their bff?

Summary:
Beggin Strips: bad and addictive to humans and dogs.
Product Innovation Opportunity: snacks pet owners can share with their furry friends (please let me know if these products already exist or if you get this product developed, thanks)
Taste of Beggin Strips: Rubber-like and gritty after chewing. Taste like cardboard.

Do we need to separate music from the images of the artists that produce it?

2008-06-19T01:39:00.005-04:00

As a rule, proper breakdancers (bboys, poppers, and/or lockers) only perform to specific styles of music. Often funky rhythms and beats of the 1970s and '80s are heard at jams along with some other music styles. However, techno music is NOT acceptable. at all. When breakdancers listen to silly techno songs, there are consequences. This is clearly evident in this now classic video.

I blame the music, not the parents. (Does anyone know the name of the song in that Video btw?)

In any case, I searched for the song "Candy" by Cameo earlier today. This song has a danceable rhythm and is respectably old enough that I consider it a 'proper' song for popping and have used it in the past to perform. However, after watching the video on youtube, I became viscerally aware that I am not fond of seeing men in tight leather pants with even tighter red spandex crotch guards. The red crotch guard was was particularly disturbing. Everyone knows that green is the only acceptable color for this accessory.

Attempting to ignore the strong fashion identity of the band, the technology used to produce the video is most interesting. Green screens? 35. White women? Even more. Black women, .66. Red crotch guard, 1 - but it was on high power. What's up with the floaty women around 2:37? They look like fish, not like candy.

To make a long story shorter, this video was very strange and has forced me to consider a very important question: can I enjoy music even if I can't stand the image of the band? I would like to say yes, but unfortunately a bright red crotch guard flickers in my memory and smacks me in the face distracting me from the song I once enjoyed so much. Perhaps it is important for the image of the band to align with the expectations developed by the listener. Simultaneously, however, spandex crotch guards may add to the music and not detract from it. I will have to think carefully about this question. What do you think?

Finally, is the guy wearing that crotch thing gay? It's okay for me to ask this question - I just need to understand the use of women in the video. I should also mention that I have gay friend(s) and am familiar with the television series "What Not to Wear", thank you!

commitment phobia

2008-06-18T04:34:00.002-04:00

so far i have written in this blog sporadically at best. however, i would like to recommit myself to writing in it at least once daily. i know many of you enjoy the blog just the way it is, but i hope that the increased quantity of posts allows you to check in more often to find more of what you like! in any case, you don't have a choice in the matter so your silence is appreciated.

HUDS does NOT put laxatives in their food!

2008-06-18T04:16:00.004-04:00

Several weeks ago I asked HUDS exec. director Ted Mayer if there were laxatives in the food served in the dining hall. He responded that this was absolutely false. Mayer also indicates this fact is published on snopes. The information is there, hidden in an article about Tim Horton's coffee. Unfortunately, one of my former Professors is going to have to explain his outrageous behavior after a student-faculty dinner... blaming it on the laxes in the food just isn't going to cut it anymore :)

lovely lady lumps

2008-05-23T00:33:00.003-04:00

don't take that out of context please

Both of my parents are Nobel Laureates, so what?

2008-05-22T14:24:00.002-04:00

Both of my parents aren't Nobel Laureates, but Jan Myrdal's parents are. Unbelievable. I can't imagine the pressure of having two Laureates as parents, how could you match that? According to the Wikipedia article, he dropped out of high school to become a writer. I would like to read about one of his autobiographies or 'i-books' as he calls them to learn more about his life. He seems to have accomplished a lot and made a name for himself even if he hasn't won a Nobel Peace Prize or received a GED.

Does Harvard put laxatives in my food?

2008-05-21T22:24:00.006-04:00

I am under the impression that Harvard places laxative in my food. I feel this may just be a rumor so I decided to ask the Executive Mayer of HUDS, Ted Director, about the situation by posing the question as a comment to his most recent post on the HUDS blog. Although Harvard students have been criticized for being politically apathetic recently, they were quick to protest price cuts in the dining hall that resulted in a reduction of food options and the replacement of key ingredients with cheap substitutes (for example, replacing white meat chicken with dark meat chicken and removing multi-grain pasta from the pasta bar). However, I feel HUDS has done a pretty good job of addressing student concerns and the blog Ted maintains is a great way for HUDS to continue to address student concerns and questions. Speaking of which, are there laxatives in my food? If so, well, they might not be powerful enough... Hopefully Ted will give me the real deal details and I can make an update soon. Happy times in naa na naa naa boo boo land until then!

Vagina Games I

2008-05-17T04:41:00.003-04:00

I played with my vagina today. I was on my computer working on an assignment when my clitoris just started feeling happy all of a sudden. Not like I was on the brink of sexual orgasm, but just happy as if I had been gently massaging it with lilac scented lube for a few minutes. I was pretty bored with work, so I took a break to check things out. I carry a little pocket mirror with me in my back pocket and I wanted to see what's going on.

Side note: one of the worst things about clitorises is that you can't see the stupid things. I just want to look at it sometimes, you know? Guys get to see their schlongs and balls all the time but I can't see my vag? That is whack. I can't wait until there is a surgery that allows you to remove and replace the vagina just so you can see it and play with it more.

So I took off my panties and my pants and held the mirror below my clitoris with one hand while I gently squeezed it, moving my fingers back and forth over and over until I started to get shivers down my spine and my body started to shake. Then I stopped what I was doing

How could you cheat on me? I'm Your Grandmother!

2008-04-30T19:42:00.002-04:00

Have you ever visited a nursing home to brighten the spirits of the elderly only to find out that one of the people you visited is a friend of your grandparents? How awkward! It wouldn't be a problem if you called or visited your grandparents, but you haven't seen, written, or called them for over a year. Now it just seems mean that you would visit total strangers but ignore your old grandma Eunice and grandpa Joseph. I mean, they're old! All their friends are dying and they can barely walk, the least you could do is call...

Well, if you would like to be more empathetic to the pain a grandparent feels when their grandchildren cheat on them by visiting other elderly people, you might want to watch the Crimson Dance Team's spring performance "CDTV" this weekend. According to the Crimson, the performance includes "an emotionally intense lyrical duet on the theme of cheating on a loved one". Maybe you can invite grandma too. I'm sure she would appreciate the gesture.

Response: Critical Review 3 AAAS 193x

2008-04-30T01:28:00.000-04:00

“Jakes is also a fat man that no one wants to touch in the private. This is a disadvantage for him in an economy where sexual promiscuity is highly valued and the need to have various partners touch the nether regions provides an invaluable social currency, a social currency that can be exchanged for bigger and better booty and increased access to elite social and professional networks. It is in Jakes' advantage that his profession shields him from some of the demand being touched in the private warrants in similar industries including entertainment and media.”