Adventures in My Mind
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Aug 30, 2002
Tomorrow I am no longer young. (Not really, but it sounded dramatic.) That's right. It's my birthday. Thirty-three years ago tomorrow I was ushered into this world at the former New Brighton Hospital in New Brighton, PA.
Some of you have already sent me lovely cards and presents. Others, and you know who you are, have not. And you can bet that your lack of participation in my big day will not go unnoticed. Just like Santa, I keep a list. Yessiree, Bob!
So far the best gift has to be from the In-Laws. They gave me 2 DVDs: Patton and the collector's edition of Citizen Kane, my two favorite movies of all time! Wundebar! Tres bien! Mucho gusto! Eccellentissimo!
Anyway, have a great holiday. It is the last big fling of summer after all!
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 11:04 AM
Aug 28, 2002
I did it! I sold my first item on eBay. It was an HP Desk Jet 600C printer that I've had laying around the house since I upgraded my PC earlier this year. I posted with an initial bid of $10 and it sold for $13.50. A pittance I realize, but from the smallest acorn a mighty oak may grow!
eBay really is quite a fun little hobby for me. Who knows maybe one day I'll have my own infomercial on "How to Become an eBay Millionaire."
I really hate being outbid, though. It happened twice last night. I bid on two movie cameras--one 16mm and the other Super-8--and was out bid on both. I realize that I could've kept on going until I was king, but both were getting a bit too high. Being a sucker for vintage movie cameras, I'll be at it again, to be sure.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 4:41 PM
Aug 27, 2002
OK, we all see signs of our own mortality all of the time, but I just saw something that kinda freaks me out: Def Leppard on VH-1.
That's right. The one-time poster boys for the MTV generation have gone the way of Sting. Yesterday's cutting edge of rebellion and youthful anarchy is today's adult contemporary marketing demographic. ARGH! And only four days until I turn 33!
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 9:47 AM
Aug 26, 2002
I watched a little bit of a show on NBC last night called "Sand Storm." It was a look at life in Saudia Arabia, including all things from fondness for Bin Laden to it's dissafected youth to it's shrinking middle class to, of course, religion. It also talked about the highly authoritarian rule of the al Saud family (Saudi Arabia literally means Saud's Land.). All media is controlled by the government. Freedom of speech does not exist. Beheading is a common punishment for everything from drug trafficing to speaking out against the government. There are no elections. One member of the royal family went so far as to say "Casting a vote is not a form of voicing your opinion."
Even with all of that, one fact really struck me: the Koran is Saudi Arabia's constitution. I'll let that sink in ... The Koran is Saudi Arabia's constitution.
Imagine that. I never really thought of it before I heard of it. I just thought the Saudis used the Koran as a general rulebook, a rule of thumb, if you will. But no, they used it as the basis, the blueprint, for their government. No one gets any rights or privilages that aren't spelled out in the Koran. No one but the super wealthy members of the royal family that is.
Oligarchic. Nepotistic. Authoritarian. Theocratic. These 4 words describe Saudi Arabia, our partner in the war against high oil prices. Er, um ... the war against terrorism.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 3:23 PM
Aug 23, 2002
She Wants P2P for the People (from Wired)
A young North Carolina woman is running against a 9 term incumbent because she is tired of having her "individual rights sacrificed for big corporate politics." She doesn't like that her opponent supports legislation that would allow copyright holders to legally and maliciously hack the computers of those they suspect of illegal file sharing. An incongruous, at best, position for someone who is supposedly in support of protecting intellectual property.
Her libertarian party members give her very little chance at actually defeating Republican Howard Coble, but they give her many kudos for trying.
Coble is a vocal supporter the above mentioned legislation and a signer of a letter to Attorney General John Ashcroft asking for action to be taken against P2P networks. He is also the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, even though as one of his aides says, the congressmen "wouldn't even know how to turn on the computer." Be that as it may, Coble has a lot of Hollywood money locked away in his coffers in the green hills of North Carolina.
Enter Ms. Tara Sue Grub. ' "I wouldn't call myself a one-issue candidate," Grubb said from her home in High Point, North Carolina. "But I'm tired of watching the government come in and throw their weight around." ' Here here!
If you want more information about this David of a cyber rights supporter against the Goliath of Congress backed by the Copyright Cartel, see Ms. Grub's blog Tara Grubb For Congress Radio Weblog.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 3:13 PM
Aug 22, 2002
These are wonderful words from Dan Gillmor's Sunday Mercury News column:
CUSTOMERS AWAKEN: Everyday people are starting to realize that they are not just ``consumers'' but customers -- that is, they are becoming serious participants in the marketplace of goods and services. This is a crucial distinction.
A consumer's role is limited to ordering what's on the menu and paying for it. A customer wonders what's not on the menu, asks for something he or she actually wants and then negotiates the terms.
This awakening takes many forms, but a common one is the customer's empowerment. Technology is the catalyst.
Prospective customers ignore press releases and product pitches. Instead, they are heading to Web sites where they can research the reality and see what current customers have to say.
Journalism organizations watch, mostly dumbfounded, as weblogs and other multidirectional media bring new voices to the conversation. They offer new choices to what I call the ``former audience,'' the people who are now becoming part of the journalism process itself -- to the ultimate benefit of everyone.
Even the all-powerful ``intellectual property'' regime is feeling the heat of customer-ism as opposed to consumerism. Customers are starting to understand that copyright owners are stealing customers' rights -- legal and traditional -- with laws and software designed to capture absolute control over distribution of music, movies and, I fear, even words.
But they keep overreaching. They're stifling speech, threatening research and scholarship in addition to curbing customers' ability to make personal use of what they've bought. And in the process they're poking what I believe -- I hope -- is a slumbering giant.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 3:53 PM
Watch This is Prelinger Archives (Real Media player is necessary to view) to learn about the Prelinger Archive donations to the Internet Moving Images Archive.
This incredible collection of non-theatrical moving images presents an up close look at the America that we were supposed to be throughout the 20th century. It has everything from war-time hygeine films to the jumpy how-to-be-a-better-citizen movies that those of us over the age of 30 used to watch in elementary school.
I'm completely addicted to this thing and tickled pink that the entirety of the Prelinger Archive is now be presevered by the Library of Congress.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 3:00 PM
Aug 21, 2002
For Mr. Green.
Two women are standing in the Oxford Center food court.
Woman 1: What are you going to get?
Woman 2: I don't know. What is there?
Woman 1: Well, you get pizza here, or go into Dingbats.
Woman 2: No.
Woman 1: There's pasta over there. You can get French right there (pointing to the sign for Au Bon Pain)
Woman 2: Oh, okay.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 2:07 PM
A snippet of a conversation:
Man 1: Yeah, well I couldn't find it on a map.
Man 2: Fuck it.
Not an unusual conversation, but for the fact of their black suits and white collars. It's a good thing that profanity is not one of the seven deadly sins.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 8:47 AM
Aug 19, 2002
I've been fascinated by eBay for six years. It started out as something really cool and out of the ordinary. It was one of those things that made me think that it was really cool working in the Internet industry. Several layoffs later, however, the jury is out on how cool working in the Internet industry is. But eBBay is still something really cool and out of the ordinary about the Internet. Even though it has spawned countless imitators in the online auction arena, it is still the biggest and the best. And it's status as the biggest success story of the dot com years makes it even cooler.
Over the years, I've been a casual buyer, buying only two items: a bodhrain (a Celtic drum) and a set of wooden spoons--the musical and not salad variety. I have, however, spent many hours just searching through the endless items up for bid. But now, I'm embarking on the grand adventure of an eBay seller.
I've set up a seller's account and PayPal account to process the money exchange. I've got the battery fully charged on my digital camera, because as everyone knows, items with pictures get higher bids. Sami and I have a few ideas on some things we'd like to get rid of: some never used china, some old collectibles, baby clothes--you know, the usual.
What I'm wondering though is if I'll ever get creative enough to sell something really out of the ordinary, like the guy who sold his soul or the guy who sold everything he owned through eBay.
I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. Stay tuned. I'll make occaisional posts about my adventures with eBay.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 9:36 PM
Aug 16, 2002
There's a song playing in my head, but it's out of key. Can you believe it?!!
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 4:59 PM
Alright, all you Fred Thompson fans out there, gather round:
Sen. Thompson May Join 'Law & Order'
You loved him as Knox Pooley on Wiseguy. And you loved him as Adm. Joshua Painter in The Hunt for Red October. Now you can love him on Law & Order. That's right! After a 9 year career as the honarable senator from Tennessee, Fred is going back to acting. Sources say that he has plans to join the cast as head D.A. on the show when he ends his term in January.
I've always loved Fred Thompson. In fact, I once had high hopes for him becoming president someday. But alas, I'll have to satisfied with his acting. Which, I might add, is really not bad for guy who started his career by playing himself in Marie, based on a true story about the former head of the Tennessee Parole Board. Although many would say that he actually began his acting career with his performance as chief minority counsel during the Watergate hearings.
Either way, Fred is a cool guy.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 3:13 PM
Aug 15, 2002
Got a paycheck today. First one in 4 months. First one other than the pittance doled out by unemployment semi-monthly. It feels good to be a contributor again. Of course like everyone else, regardless of quality of workplace, I long for the elysian fields of self-employment. But, right now, being back on the job feels great.
The receipt of my "fake" automatic deposit check gave me a smile. Of corse, in a couple of weeks I'll be bitching about too much work, but right now, I'm smiling.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 1:14 PM
Aug 13, 2002
Do you think that the Bush administration's Operation TIPS (Terrorist Information and Prevention System) where untrained civilians are asked to alert law enforcement about suspicious activity is one of the biggest invasions of privacy since the House Unamerican Activities Committee? If so, it may be time for you to cozy up to the ACLU for some assistance in protecting your civil liberties.
Go to TIPS Watch. It is full of ways to help keep Big Brother W and his band of little brothers out of your home.
Operation TIPS is no joke. If it comes to pass, we will take a 50 year backward step to a time when the government encouraged it citizenry to spy and inform on their fellow citizens. Please take at look at TIPS Watch and take a stand against this incredible threat to your rights.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 8:50 AM
Aug 9, 2002
'Citizen Kane' Voted Best Film
International film critics and directors have named Orson Welles' Citizen Kane the best film in a recent Sight and Sound magazine poll. This marks the 40th year that Kane has put at #1. A position it rightly deserves. "Pushing all the resources of a Hollywood studio to its limits, the film is a dazzling formal experiment and compelling portrait of a great man's life," says Sight and Sound editor Nick James.
While the two groups agreed on number one, they had some differences in the rest of their top ten. Here are the lists:
CRITICS' TOP TEN FILMS
1. "Citizen Kane" (Welles) 1941
2. "Vertigo" (Hitchcock) 1958
3. "La Regle du Jeu" (Renoir) 1939
4. "The Godfather" and "The Godfather Part II" (Coppola) 1972, 1974
5. "Tokyo Story" (Ozu) 1953
6. "2001: A Space Odyssey" (Kubrick) 1968
7. "Sunrise" (Murnau) 1927
8. "Battleship Potemkin" (Eisenstein) 1925
9. "8-" (Fellini) 1963
10. "Singin' in the Rain" (Kelly, Donen) 1951
___
DIRECTORS' TOP TEN FILMS
1. "Citizen Kane" (Welles) 1941
2. "The Godfather" and "The Godfather Part II" (Coppola) 1972, 1974
3. "8-" (Fellini) 1963
4. "Lawrence of Arabia" (Lean) 1962
5. "Dr. Strangelove" (Kubrick) 1963
6. "Bicycle Thieves" (De Sica) 1948
7. "Raging Bull" (Scorsese) 1980
8. "Vertigo (Hitchcock)" 1958
9. (tie) "Rashomon" (Kurosawa) 1950; "La Regle du jeu" (Renoir) 1939; "Seven Samurai" (Kurosawa) 1954
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 8:50 AM
Aug 8, 2002
Get your facts right
Overheard:
Young Man: Yeah, but it's such a tragedy.
Young Woman: Sure it's a tragedy. But in a world of 3.2 billion people, do we really need to bring more life into it.
Okay, intellectuall banter about choices, population growth, and life and death. I can dig that. But intellectual banter becomes the realm of Cliff Claven if you don't know what the hell your talking about.
For those scratching heads and saying "Huh?" the earth's population is 6.2 billion. Not a big deal. I know. But when one attempts to philosophize about the value of human life and the quality of the world in which it must exist, correct facts will only bolster one's arguement.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 12:45 PM
Aug 7, 2002
Major League Baseball players are preparing to stage a walk out to protest unfair treatment at the hands of team owners and management. I'm one of the few who think that professional athletes should be very highly paid. After all, it is their name, their number, their sweat, and their talent that fill the seats day in and day out. But I really must wonder what unfair treatment have these millionaire ball players been a victim of.
Consider this: 25 years ago the average salary for a MLB player was slightly under $60,000 a year. That's nearly twice today's average per capita incomes, for those of you keeping tracking. This year, the average salary for a MLB player was just shy of $3,000,000. That's over $8,200 just to get out of bed every morning, in season or off. That is truly an icredible sum for guys who play a kids game for a living. Is it really fair that they should go out on strike?
I'm no big fan of unions or the labor movement, but they have a noble past and a strong tradition of fighting against ruthless and often corrupt corporate management. The idea of guy who makes 3 mills striking over unfair labor practices is parody of those traditions. The mere fact that they have the ability to consider themselves agreived while draped in gold jewelry, exotic cars, and palatial mansions is insulting to anyone who's ever had to work for a living.
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 4:41 PM
Aug 5, 2002
Jon Voight: Angelina Needs Help
Really, Jon? No one would've ever guessed. We've all thought that she was a very down to earth, centered individual. I mean, if you put aside the rush weddings, tongue kissing her brother on national TV, carrying around a vile of Billy Bobs blood, tattooing Billy's name on hidden parts, and adopting a Cambodian refugee, she's just as normal as can be.
Dylan Unplugs for Return to Newport
Thirty-seven years after turning the folk music scene on it's ear by playing an electric guitar, Dylan returns to Newport. He may be even better now than he's ever been. At 63, he's reached a new level of musicianship, exploring unique structures and phrasings and reinterpretting some old standards. The stodgy folk scene was literally torn apart by Dylan in '65, and he's rarely looked back.
'Freddy Vs. Jason' in Franchise Showdown
Need I say more?
0 Comments | Link to this post posted by Teddy 1:17 PM
