I am retiring this blog. Eight posts in twenty months, and not many more pageviews than that.
I am in the process of listening to several courses by the Teaching Company that are out of print. Since they do not appear on TTC's website, I have nowhere to note my observations about them. But I have this blog, so there ya go. The first course is Science Fiction by Eric Rabkin, which consists of eight 45-minute lectures:
Lecture 1: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the Emergence of Science Fiction
Lecture 2: Jules Verne and the Popular Passion for Science
Lecture 3: H.G. Wells and Science Fiction Parables of Social Criticism
Lecture 4: Pulp Culture, World War II, and the Ascendancy of American Science Fiction
Lecture 5: And the Winner Is…Robert A. Heinlein
Lecture 6: Ray Bradbury, Ursula K. LeGuin, and the Expansion of Science Fiction
Lecture 7: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Modern Science Fiction Film
Lecture 8: New Wave, Cyberpunk, and Our Science Fiction World
I was very impressed that even after completing the Drout course, I still learned quite a few things, even about the very same topics that Drout had covered (Frankenstein, pulp fiction, the "golden age", Heinlein, Bradbury, LeGuin). Nevertheless, he seems to cover a lot less ground. Drout's course is only marginally longer (1 more hour), yet covers much more. Two big gaps in Rabkin's course are Frank Herbert (Rabkin doesn't cover him because he think LeGuin is better, whatever dude) and Cordwainer Smith.
One serious complaint I have about the course is the bizarre interpretations that Rabkin has about many stories. On occasion, he provides a genuinely interesting comment or truly original insight. But most of the time it's the banal "critical theory" silliness that makes up so much of literary analysis these days. Dracula is an allegory for the upper class "literally" sucking the blood out of the working class. Them (the 1954 B-movie) isn't really about giant ants; it's about communists and the McCarthy persecution. Rinse Blather Repeat.
Most annoying of all is his repeated insertion of Oedipal conflict into stories where no such subplot exists or was ever intended. He inserts in into Wells, he inserts it into Heinlein, he even inserts it into Godzilla. Then he lectures on how you see this plot device again and again and again. Well, sure you do ... if you keep inserting it into everything you read or see.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Asimov
I recently listened to a Modern Scholar audiobook on science fiction literature (From Here to Infinity by Michael Drout, which I HIGHLY recommend), which prompted me to think about or even re-read a lot of authors I read years ago. Among these was Asimov, of whose later works I was not really a big fan for reasons I couldn't elucidate well. This morning I ran across a review by J. Hunter Johnson that expresses my general impression quite insightfully.
Foundation's Edge is the first step in his disowning the Foundation trilogy. The entire basis of the character of the Mule is destroyed. The Seldon plan is disowned as being ultimately worthless, and a cheap-jack psionic mysticism is offered in its place.
Having returned to the worlds of his youth, Asimov determined to unite his two grand universes. There are no robots in the Foundation universe so it was necessary to eliminate them. He did this in The Robots of Dawn and Empire and Robots, in which he disowns the thesis of the human/robot cooperative culture. The Spacers are discounted as not being viable; Daneel, on the other hand, is promoted into a mind-controlling demi-god. He followed these two with Foundation and Earth, in which it is ultimately revealed that Daneel is the master mind behind human history. This was the capstone of his of his campaign to disown the work of his youth by rewriting the juice out of it. The value of the Seldon plan had been discounted; the Mule had been emasculated; and Daneel had been destroyed by deification. He wasn't done.
Prelude to Foundation and Forward the Foundation are farragos of implausible melodrama. Concealed within them however is the final discounting - the revelation that the Seldon plan was never feasible in the first place.
Mr Johnson mentions the authorized trilogy by Benford, Bear and Brin, but I will not discuss those books. They are to Asimov's work as the Herbert/Anderson books are to Frank Herbert's Dune.
Foundation's Edge is the first step in his disowning the Foundation trilogy. The entire basis of the character of the Mule is destroyed. The Seldon plan is disowned as being ultimately worthless, and a cheap-jack psionic mysticism is offered in its place.
Having returned to the worlds of his youth, Asimov determined to unite his two grand universes. There are no robots in the Foundation universe so it was necessary to eliminate them. He did this in The Robots of Dawn and Empire and Robots, in which he disowns the thesis of the human/robot cooperative culture. The Spacers are discounted as not being viable; Daneel, on the other hand, is promoted into a mind-controlling demi-god. He followed these two with Foundation and Earth, in which it is ultimately revealed that Daneel is the master mind behind human history. This was the capstone of his of his campaign to disown the work of his youth by rewriting the juice out of it. The value of the Seldon plan had been discounted; the Mule had been emasculated; and Daneel had been destroyed by deification. He wasn't done.
Prelude to Foundation and Forward the Foundation are farragos of implausible melodrama. Concealed within them however is the final discounting - the revelation that the Seldon plan was never feasible in the first place.
Mr Johnson mentions the authorized trilogy by Benford, Bear and Brin, but I will not discuss those books. They are to Asimov's work as the Herbert/Anderson books are to Frank Herbert's Dune.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Sunday, December 13, 2009
A History of Rome - Mike Duncan
I am listening to a series of podcasts on the History of Rome; I strongly encourage you to listen as well. Today's episode brings the story to the assassination of Domitian in 96 AD. The fact that it has taken Mike Duncan a year and a half to get to this point should give you an idea of how detailed the lectures are. I consider myself very knowledgeable on Roman history, but these lectures still contain something (several somethings) of interest every week.
Start with podcasts 1-35 and work your way through today's podcast #77.
Start with podcasts 1-35 and work your way through today's podcast #77.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Star Trek
Boy, was it ever BAD! Leaving aside the ludicrous handling of the time travel thing...
Kirk goes from suspended from the academy to being discovered as a stowaway and sent to the brig to being promoted to first officer? A cadet is put in charge of Star Fleet's flagship? There's no officers available? Also, Uhura is still a student, but she's also a lieutenant? It's clear that the writers know NOTHING about military protocol.
Then let's talk about the fact that Kirk is sent to a planet that happens to contain both Spock and Scotty? Seriously? It's clear the writers know NOTHING about plausible plotlines.
Kirk goes from suspended from the academy to being discovered as a stowaway and sent to the brig to being promoted to first officer? A cadet is put in charge of Star Fleet's flagship? There's no officers available? Also, Uhura is still a student, but she's also a lieutenant? It's clear that the writers know NOTHING about military protocol.
Then let's talk about the fact that Kirk is sent to a planet that happens to contain both Spock and Scotty? Seriously? It's clear the writers know NOTHING about plausible plotlines.
Monday, September 14, 2009
AJC Price Up Again!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution raised its price from 75 cents to a $1, after raising its price from 50 to 75 cents just around a year ago. Sales declined after that increase. Typical liberal thinking!
Friday, August 07, 2009
The Matrix
My wife and I were talking just a couple of days ago about how crappy Matrix II & III were (not just in relation to the original, but on their merits) when I ran across this comic.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Patty Lupone tells it like it is
Respect for the rights of others or for following the rules is at an all time low. Anybody who commutes to work can confirm this.
Well, Patty Lupone struck a blow for well-mannered people everywhere by stopping her broadway Gypsy performance in the middle of a song to tell off an audience member who repeatedly took flash photographs (depite multiple announcements forbidding this).
Too bad this idiot won't take away the right lesson from this. Instead of thinking, "Gee, I was an inconsiderate jerk; I'll be more considerate in the future," he probably left the theater (he was escorted out!) thinking that HE was the aggrieved party. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he is suing the theater and/or the producers and/or Ms. Lupone. But at least the folks in that particular theater got to enjoy their show.
Ms. Lupone ... BRAVO!
Well, Patty Lupone struck a blow for well-mannered people everywhere by stopping her broadway Gypsy performance in the middle of a song to tell off an audience member who repeatedly took flash photographs (depite multiple announcements forbidding this).
Too bad this idiot won't take away the right lesson from this. Instead of thinking, "Gee, I was an inconsiderate jerk; I'll be more considerate in the future," he probably left the theater (he was escorted out!) thinking that HE was the aggrieved party. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he is suing the theater and/or the producers and/or Ms. Lupone. But at least the folks in that particular theater got to enjoy their show.
Ms. Lupone ... BRAVO!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Downright scary!
You know what? If all we can get are criminals, then I'd rather not have the officers at all. I'll take my chances on my own with criminals rather than give the criminals badges. These are just not the kinds of people I want protecting and serving.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Sunday, May 04, 2008
I Scream for Ice Cream
It was one thing when the half gallon containers quietly became 1.75 quarts. But now, they're 1.5 gallons. One-fourth the product is gone! I'm only going to buy brands that still give me a full half gallon, like God intended.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
New Currency
For those of you who're planning a trip to Europe, new dollar bills are being printed for use abroad.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Spitzer Scandal
This just in -- Governor Eliot Spitzer (D-NY) has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month, according to a person briefed on the federal investigation.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. My friends at Mercer couldn't be happier.
ETA: Thomas Sowell, as usual, makes the best points...
What was he thinking of? That was the first question that came to mind when the story of New York governor Eliot Spitzer's involvement with a prostitution ring was reported in the media. Many in the media refer to Eliot Spitzer as some moral hero who fell from grace. Spitzer was never a moral hero. He was an unscrupulous prosecutor who threw his power around to ruin people, even when he didn't have any case with which to convict them of anything. What Eliot Spitzer did was not out of character. It was completely in character for someone with the hubris that comes with the ability to misuse his power to make or break innocent people. After John Whitehead, former head of Goldman Sachs, wrote an op-ed column in the Wall Street Journal, criticizing Attorney General Spitzer's handling of a case involving Maurice Greenberg, Spitzer was quoted by Whitehead as saying: "I will be coming after you. You will pay the price. This is only the beginning and you will pay dearly for what you have done." When you start thinking of yourself as a little tin god, able to throw your weight around to bully people into silence, it is a sign of a sense of being exempt from the laws and social rules that apply to other people.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. My friends at Mercer couldn't be happier.
ETA: Thomas Sowell, as usual, makes the best points...
What was he thinking of? That was the first question that came to mind when the story of New York governor Eliot Spitzer's involvement with a prostitution ring was reported in the media. Many in the media refer to Eliot Spitzer as some moral hero who fell from grace. Spitzer was never a moral hero. He was an unscrupulous prosecutor who threw his power around to ruin people, even when he didn't have any case with which to convict them of anything. What Eliot Spitzer did was not out of character. It was completely in character for someone with the hubris that comes with the ability to misuse his power to make or break innocent people. After John Whitehead, former head of Goldman Sachs, wrote an op-ed column in the Wall Street Journal, criticizing Attorney General Spitzer's handling of a case involving Maurice Greenberg, Spitzer was quoted by Whitehead as saying: "I will be coming after you. You will pay the price. This is only the beginning and you will pay dearly for what you have done." When you start thinking of yourself as a little tin god, able to throw your weight around to bully people into silence, it is a sign of a sense of being exempt from the laws and social rules that apply to other people.
Monday, February 25, 2008
How is this an "election"?
The news media has been widely reporting that Raul Castro "elected" to succeed his brother Fidel Castro as President of Cuba. However, that's not really what happened.
The ballot before the assembly was for 31 names for the top 31 positions in the country (not just President, but First Vice President, Assembly President, five Vice Presidents). The ballot contained only one name for each position. How is this an "election"?
Apparently, not only can the Cuban people not vote for their legislature (in the former Soviet Russia you were at least allowed to choose between two Communist Party members), but the supposed party leaders in that legislature can't vote either.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/24/america/cuba.php
The ballot before the assembly was for 31 names for the top 31 positions in the country (not just President, but First Vice President, Assembly President, five Vice Presidents). The ballot contained only one name for each position. How is this an "election"?
Apparently, not only can the Cuban people not vote for their legislature (in the former Soviet Russia you were at least allowed to choose between two Communist Party members), but the supposed party leaders in that legislature can't vote either.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/24/america/cuba.php
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The Dead Parrot - Monty Python
Mr. Praline : I wish to make a complaint!
Owner : (hurriedly) Sorry, we're closin' for lunch...!
Mr. Praline : Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot, what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.
Owner : Oh yes, the, ah, the Norwegian Blue... What's, ah... W-what's wrong with it?
Mr. Praline : I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. It's dead, that's what's wrong with it.
Owner : No, no, 'e's ah... he's resting.
Mr. Praline : Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.
Owner : No no, h-he's not dead, he's, he's restin'!
Mr. Praline : Restin'?
Owner : Y-yeah, restin.' Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, isn't it, eh? Beautiful plumage!
Mr. Praline : The plumage don't enter into it. It's stone dead!
Owner : Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!
Mr. Praline : All right then, if he's resting, I'll wake him up!(shouting at the cage) 'Ello, Polly! Mister Polly Parrot! I've got a lovely fresh cuttle fish for you if you wake up, Mr. Polly Parrot...
(owner hits the cage)
Owner : There, he moved!
Mr. Praline : No, he didn't, that was you pushing the cage!
Owner : I never!!
Mr. Praline : Yes, you did!
Owner : I never, never....
(Praline pulls the parrot out of the cage and screams into its ear.)
Mr. Praline : 'ELLO POLLAAAAAAAY! POLL-EE! POLLY PARROT! WAKE UP!(He bangs its head against the store counter, horribly hard.) TESTIIIING! TESTIIIING! THIS IS YOUR NINE-O' CLOCK ALARM CALL! (He does it again, harder.) POLL-EEEEEEE!(He tosses it up in the air and watches it plummet to the floor. Longish pause.) Now that's what I call a dead parrot.
Owner : No, no.... No, he's stunned.
Mr. Praline : STUNNED?
Owner : Yeah! You stunned him, just as he was wakin' up! Norwegian Blues stun easily, major.
Mr. Praline : Look my lad, I've had just about enough of this. That parrot is definitely deceased, and when I bought it not half an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it being tired and shagged out after a long squawk.
Owner : Well, he's... he's, ah... probably pining for the fjords.
(Praline looks angrily back and forth, stuttering.)
Mr. Praline : PININ' for the FJORDS? What kind of talk is that? Look, why did he fall flat on his back the moment I got 'im home?
Owner : The Norwegian Blue prefers kippin' on its back! Remarkable bird, isn't it, guv, eh? Lovely plumage!
Mr. Praline : (coldly) Look, I took the liberty of examining that parrot when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it had been sitting on its perch in the first place was that it had been NAILED there.
(pause)
Owner : Well, of course it was nailed there! If I hadn't nailed that bird down, it would have nuzzled up to those bars, bent 'em apart with its little pecker, and VOOM!
Mr. Praline : "VOOM?"(Praline puts the cage down and take the parrot into his hands.) Look matey, this parrot wouldn't "voom" if you put four thousand volts through it! It's bleedin' demised!
Owner : It's not! I-It's pining!
Mr. Praline : It's not pinin,' it's passed on! This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late parrot! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed him to the perch he would be pushing up the daisies! Its metabolical processes are of interest only to historians! It's hopped the twig! It's shuffled off this mortal coil! It's run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible! This.... is an EX-PARROT!
Owner : (hurriedly) Sorry, we're closin' for lunch...!
Mr. Praline : Never mind that, my lad. I wish to complain about this parrot, what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique.
Owner : Oh yes, the, ah, the Norwegian Blue... What's, ah... W-what's wrong with it?
Mr. Praline : I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. It's dead, that's what's wrong with it.
Owner : No, no, 'e's ah... he's resting.
Mr. Praline : Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.
Owner : No no, h-he's not dead, he's, he's restin'!
Mr. Praline : Restin'?
Owner : Y-yeah, restin.' Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue, isn't it, eh? Beautiful plumage!
Mr. Praline : The plumage don't enter into it. It's stone dead!
Owner : Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!
Mr. Praline : All right then, if he's resting, I'll wake him up!(shouting at the cage) 'Ello, Polly! Mister Polly Parrot! I've got a lovely fresh cuttle fish for you if you wake up, Mr. Polly Parrot...
Owner : There, he moved!
Mr. Praline : No, he didn't, that was you pushing the cage!
Owner : I never!!
Mr. Praline : Yes, you did!
Owner : I never, never....
Mr. Praline : 'ELLO POLLAAAAAAAY! POLL-EE! POLLY PARROT! WAKE UP!(He bangs its head against the store counter, horribly hard.) TESTIIIING! TESTIIIING! THIS IS YOUR NINE-O' CLOCK ALARM CALL! (He does it again, harder.) POLL-EEEEEEE!(He tosses it up in the air and watches it plummet to the floor. Longish pause.) Now that's what I call a dead parrot.
Owner : No, no.... No, he's stunned.
Mr. Praline : STUNNED?
Owner : Yeah! You stunned him, just as he was wakin' up! Norwegian Blues stun easily, major.
Mr. Praline : Look my lad, I've had just about enough of this. That parrot is definitely deceased, and when I bought it not half an hour ago, you assured me that its total lack of movement was due to it being tired and shagged out after a long squawk.
Owner : Well, he's... he's, ah... probably pining for the fjords.
Mr. Praline : PININ' for the FJORDS? What kind of talk is that? Look, why did he fall flat on his back the moment I got 'im home?
Owner : The Norwegian Blue prefers kippin' on its back! Remarkable bird, isn't it, guv, eh? Lovely plumage!
Mr. Praline : (coldly) Look, I took the liberty of examining that parrot when I got it home, and I discovered the only reason that it had been sitting on its perch in the first place was that it had been NAILED there.
Owner : Well, of course it was nailed there! If I hadn't nailed that bird down, it would have nuzzled up to those bars, bent 'em apart with its little pecker, and VOOM!
Mr. Praline : "VOOM?"(Praline puts the cage down and take the parrot into his hands.) Look matey, this parrot wouldn't "voom" if you put four thousand volts through it! It's bleedin' demised!
Owner : It's not! I-It's pining!
Mr. Praline : It's not pinin,' it's passed on! This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late parrot! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed him to the perch he would be pushing up the daisies! Its metabolical processes are of interest only to historians! It's hopped the twig! It's shuffled off this mortal coil! It's run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible! This.... is an EX-PARROT!
The Argument - Monty Python
(A man walks into an office.)
Man: (Michael Palin) Ah. I'd like to have an argument, please.
Receptionist: Certainly sir. Have you been here before?
Man: No, this is my first time.
Receptionist: I see. Well, do you want to have the full argument, or were you thinking of taking a course?
Man: Well, what would be the cost?
Receptionist: Well, It's one pound for a five minute argument, but only eight pounds for a course of ten.
Man: Well, I think it's probably best if I start with the one and then see how it goes from there, okay?
Receptionist: Fine. I'll see who's free at the moment. (Pause) Mr. DeBakey's free, but he's a little bit conciliatory. Ahh yes, Try Mr. Barnard; room 12.
Man: Thank you. (Walks down the hall. Opens door.)
Angry man: WHADDAYOU WANT?
Man: Well, Well, I was told outside that...
Angry man: DON'T GIVE ME THAT, YOU SNOTTY-FACED HEAP OF PARROT DROPPINGS!
Man: What?
Angry man: SHUT YOUR FESTERING GOB, YOU TIT! YOUR TYPE MAKES ME PUKE! YOU VACUOUS TOFFEE-NOSED MALODOROUS PERVERT!
Man: Yes, but I came here for an argument!!
Angry man: OH! Oh! I'm sorry! This is abuse!
Man: Oh! Oh I see!
Angry man: Aha! No, you want room 12A, next door.
M: Oh...Sorry...
Angry man: Not at all! (under his breath) stupid git.
(The man goes into room 12A. Another man is sitting behind a desk.)
Man: Is this the right room for an argument?
Other Man:(John Cleese) I've told you once.
Man: No you haven't!
Other Man: Yes I have.
Man: When?
Other Man: Just now.
Man: No you didn't!
Other Man: Yes I did!
Man: You didn't!
Other Man: I did!
Man: You didn't!
Other Man: I'm telling you, I did!
Man: You did not!
Other Man: Oh I'm sorry, is this a five minute argument, or the full half hour?
Man: Ah! (taking out his wallet and paying) Just the five minutes.
Other Man: Just the five minutes. Thank you. Anyway, I did.
Man: You most certainly did not!
Other Man: Now let's get one thing quite clear: I most definitely told you!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: No you DIDN'T!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: No you DIDN'T!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: No you DIDN'T!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh look, this isn't an argument!
(pause)
Other Man: Yes it is!
Man: No it isn't! (pause) It's just contradiction!
Other Man: No it isn't!
Man: It IS!
Other Man: It is NOT!
Man: You just contradicted me!
Other Man: No I didn't!
Man: You DID!
Other Man: No no no!
Man: You did just then!
Other Man: Nonsense!
Man: (exasperated) Oh, this is futile!!
(pause)
Other Man: No it isn't!
Man: Yes it is! (pause) I came here for a good argument!
Other Man: AH, no you didn't, you came here for an argument!
Man: An argument isn't just contradiction.
Other Man: Well! it CAN be!
Man: No it can't!
Man: An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.
Other Man: No it isn't!
Man: Yes it is! 'tisn't just contradiction.
Other Man: Look, if I "argue" with you, I must take up a contrary position!
Man: Yes but it isn't just saying 'no it isn't'.
Other Man: Yes it is!
Man: No it isn't!
Other Man: Yes it is!
Man: No it isn't!
Other Man: Yes it is!
Man: No it ISN'T! Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says.
Other Man: It is NOT!
Man: It is!
Other Man: Not at all!
Man: It is!
(The Arguer hits a bell on his desk and stops.)
Other Man: Thank you, that's it.
Man: (stunned) What?
Other Man: That's it. Good morning.
Man: But I was just getting interested!
Other Man: I'm sorry, the five minutes is up.
Man: That was never five minutes just now!!
Other Man: I'm afraid it was.
Man: (leading on) No it wasn't.....
Other Man: I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to argue any more.
Man: WHAT??
Other Man: If you want me to go on arguing, you'll have to pay for another five minutes.
Man: But that was never five minutes just now! Oh Come on! Oh this is... This is ridiculous!
Other Man: I told you... I told you, I'm not allowed to argue unless you PAY!
Man: Oh all right. (takes out his wallet and pays again.) There you are.
Other Man: Thank you.
Man: (clears throat) Well...
Other Man: Well WHAT?
Man: That was never five minutes just now.
Other Man: I told you, I'm not allowed to argue unless you've paid!
Man: Well I just paid!
Other Man: No you didn't!
Man: I DID!!!
Other Man: YOU didn't!
Man: I DID!!!
Other Man: YOU didn't!
Man: I DID!!!
Other Man: YOU didn't!
Man: I DID!!!
Other Man: YOU didn't!
Man: I don't want to argue about it!
Other Man: Well I'm very sorry but you didn't pay!
Man: Ah hah! Well if I didn't pay, why are you arguing??? Ah HAAAAAAHHH! Gotcha!
Other Man: No you haven't!
Man: Yes I have! If you're arguing, I must have paid.
Other Man: Not necessarily. I could be arguing in my spare time.
Man: I've had enough of this!
Other Man: No you haven't.
Man: Oh shut up! (Leaves the office and enters office next door)
Man: (Michael Palin) Ah. I'd like to have an argument, please.
Receptionist: Certainly sir. Have you been here before?
Man: No, this is my first time.
Receptionist: I see. Well, do you want to have the full argument, or were you thinking of taking a course?
Man: Well, what would be the cost?
Receptionist: Well, It's one pound for a five minute argument, but only eight pounds for a course of ten.
Man: Well, I think it's probably best if I start with the one and then see how it goes from there, okay?
Receptionist: Fine. I'll see who's free at the moment. (Pause) Mr. DeBakey's free, but he's a little bit conciliatory. Ahh yes, Try Mr. Barnard; room 12.
Man: Thank you. (Walks down the hall. Opens door.)
Angry man: WHADDAYOU WANT?
Man: Well, Well, I was told outside that...
Angry man: DON'T GIVE ME THAT, YOU SNOTTY-FACED HEAP OF PARROT DROPPINGS!
Man: What?
Angry man: SHUT YOUR FESTERING GOB, YOU TIT! YOUR TYPE MAKES ME PUKE! YOU VACUOUS TOFFEE-NOSED MALODOROUS PERVERT!
Man: Yes, but I came here for an argument!!
Angry man: OH! Oh! I'm sorry! This is abuse!
Man: Oh! Oh I see!
Angry man: Aha! No, you want room 12A, next door.
M: Oh...Sorry...
Angry man: Not at all! (under his breath) stupid git.
(The man goes into room 12A. Another man is sitting behind a desk.)
Man: Is this the right room for an argument?
Other Man:(John Cleese) I've told you once.
Man: No you haven't!
Other Man: Yes I have.
Man: When?
Other Man: Just now.
Man: No you didn't!
Other Man: Yes I did!
Man: You didn't!
Other Man: I did!
Man: You didn't!
Other Man: I'm telling you, I did!
Man: You did not!
Other Man: Oh I'm sorry, is this a five minute argument, or the full half hour?
Man: Ah! (taking out his wallet and paying) Just the five minutes.
Other Man: Just the five minutes. Thank you. Anyway, I did.
Man: You most certainly did not!
Other Man: Now let's get one thing quite clear: I most definitely told you!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh no you didn't!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: No you DIDN'T!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: No you DIDN'T!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: No you DIDN'T!
Other Man: Oh yes I did!
Man: Oh look, this isn't an argument!
(pause)
Other Man: Yes it is!
Man: No it isn't! (pause) It's just contradiction!
Other Man: No it isn't!
Man: It IS!
Other Man: It is NOT!
Man: You just contradicted me!
Other Man: No I didn't!
Man: You DID!
Other Man: No no no!
Man: You did just then!
Other Man: Nonsense!
Man: (exasperated) Oh, this is futile!!
(pause)
Other Man: No it isn't!
Man: Yes it is! (pause) I came here for a good argument!
Other Man: AH, no you didn't, you came here for an argument!
Man: An argument isn't just contradiction.
Other Man: Well! it CAN be!
Man: No it can't!
Man: An argument is a connected series of statements intended to establish a proposition.
Other Man: No it isn't!
Man: Yes it is! 'tisn't just contradiction.
Other Man: Look, if I "argue" with you, I must take up a contrary position!
Man: Yes but it isn't just saying 'no it isn't'.
Other Man: Yes it is!
Man: No it isn't!
Other Man: Yes it is!
Man: No it isn't!
Other Man: Yes it is!
Man: No it ISN'T! Argument is an intellectual process. Contradiction is just the automatic gainsaying of anything the other person says.
Other Man: It is NOT!
Man: It is!
Other Man: Not at all!
Man: It is!
(The Arguer hits a bell on his desk and stops.)
Other Man: Thank you, that's it.
Man: (stunned) What?
Other Man: That's it. Good morning.
Man: But I was just getting interested!
Other Man: I'm sorry, the five minutes is up.
Man: That was never five minutes just now!!
Other Man: I'm afraid it was.
Man: (leading on) No it wasn't.....
Other Man: I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to argue any more.
Man: WHAT??
Other Man: If you want me to go on arguing, you'll have to pay for another five minutes.
Man: But that was never five minutes just now! Oh Come on! Oh this is... This is ridiculous!
Other Man: I told you... I told you, I'm not allowed to argue unless you PAY!
Man: Oh all right. (takes out his wallet and pays again.) There you are.
Other Man: Thank you.
Man: (clears throat) Well...
Other Man: Well WHAT?
Man: That was never five minutes just now.
Other Man: I told you, I'm not allowed to argue unless you've paid!
Man: Well I just paid!
Other Man: No you didn't!
Man: I DID!!!
Other Man: YOU didn't!
Man: I DID!!!
Other Man: YOU didn't!
Man: I DID!!!
Other Man: YOU didn't!
Man: I DID!!!
Other Man: YOU didn't!
Man: I don't want to argue about it!
Other Man: Well I'm very sorry but you didn't pay!
Man: Ah hah! Well if I didn't pay, why are you arguing??? Ah HAAAAAAHHH! Gotcha!
Other Man: No you haven't!
Man: Yes I have! If you're arguing, I must have paid.
Other Man: Not necessarily. I could be arguing in my spare time.
Man: I've had enough of this!
Other Man: No you haven't.
Man: Oh shut up! (Leaves the office and enters office next door)
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Political Game
http://markets.rasmussenreports.com/
You start with $10,000 and buy options on assorted political events. Going to try my hand, see how much I end up with by Election Day. Should be fun.
You start with $10,000 and buy options on assorted political events. Going to try my hand, see how much I end up with by Election Day. Should be fun.
Monday, December 31, 2007
New computer
Just bought a new computer - dual 1.6 GHz processors, 1 Gig memory, 160 Gig hard drive, with one of those sweet 19" flat monitors ... all for $449. Incredible ... when I think about my first PC, a 7.16 MHz machine with 640K memory and a 10 Meg hard drive (might have been a 20 Meg) that I paid over $1000 for.
Of course, the downside is that Windows Vista sucks. It crashed within a couple of hours of me booting it up b/c I tried to format a CD-RW to store pictures on. After a couple of more attempts, I still have not been able to format a CD-RW correctly on it; I'm using my old PC for that. I would gladly trade in Vista for the reliability of the DOS 3.0 that came on that first machine.
Of course, the downside is that Windows Vista sucks. It crashed within a couple of hours of me booting it up b/c I tried to format a CD-RW to store pictures on. After a couple of more attempts, I still have not been able to format a CD-RW correctly on it; I'm using my old PC for that. I would gladly trade in Vista for the reliability of the DOS 3.0 that came on that first machine.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
What's with dry cleaners?
I had just dropped off some dry cleaning, including some shirts to be laundered when I noticed that my claim ticket was for $9 or so too much. I went back in, and the dry cleaner tells me that the last three shirts needed to be dry cleaned (something he did not mention when he took the shirts). The first shirt in fact did NOT need to be dry-cleaned although I can see why somebody might have made the mistake (although of course checking the label before deciding to do this w/o informing me might have been a good idea). The other two shirts could not have been mistaken as needing dry cleaning by anybody. I hope his attempt to steal $9 was worth losing my business because I will never be back (I had just picked up $48 worth of cleaning and was dropping off another $44). Bad move on his part, I think.
If I had a dollar for every dry cleaner who has tried this particular con on me, I would not be rich but I would definitely have enough for my wife and me to have a nice dinner at Ruth's Chris.
If I had a dollar for every dry cleaner who has tried this particular con on me, I would not be rich but I would definitely have enough for my wife and me to have a nice dinner at Ruth's Chris.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
From the "No S--t Sherlock" Files
CNN just reported that in Iran, blogs critical of the government are censored.
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Visual Studio Express
Microsoft recently released Visual Studio Express 2008, which consists of downscaled freeware versions of Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual C#, Visual Web Developer and SQL Server.
http://www.microsoft.com/express/product/default.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/express/product/default.aspx
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Visual Studio is a shell of its former self
Back in 1995, when I bought my first copy of Microsoft Visual Developer Studio, it contained Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual J++, Fortran PowerStation and Visual FoxPro (although this last one wasn't fully integrated yet). Soon after, Visual InterDev was added to the product line.
Fortran was the first to go; through a truly Byzantine series of corporate transactions that product is owned by Intel now. At least it still integrates with Visual Studio 2008.
Then InterDev was dropped. Good riddance; that was a truly crappy product.
Then on January 10, 2007, Microsoft announced it was retiring the Visual J# product (Visual J++'s new face after the Sun lawsuit). Not much of a loss. Since it was not actually an implementation of Java (or even close), I never really saw any reason for it to exist at all.
But today ... HORROR (gasp) !! ... Microsoft announced that they were not going to release another version of FoxPro!!
So that leaves Visual Studio with just Visual Basic, Visual C++ and the new (I guess not so new anymore) Visual C#.
Fortran was the first to go; through a truly Byzantine series of corporate transactions that product is owned by Intel now. At least it still integrates with Visual Studio 2008.
Then InterDev was dropped. Good riddance; that was a truly crappy product.
Then on January 10, 2007, Microsoft announced it was retiring the Visual J# product (Visual J++'s new face after the Sun lawsuit). Not much of a loss. Since it was not actually an implementation of Java (or even close), I never really saw any reason for it to exist at all.
But today ... HORROR (gasp) !! ... Microsoft announced that they were not going to release another version of FoxPro!!
So that leaves Visual Studio with just Visual Basic, Visual C++ and the new (I guess not so new anymore) Visual C#.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
North Korea
A disarmament pact that the US and four other nations struck with North Korea requires the communist nation to halt its nuclear programs in exchange for oil.
Why does everybody think this is such a great deal? Didn't we already have a deal like this, brokered by President Clinton? Didn't NK ignore that one? What makes anybody think they will pay any more attention to this one? What am I missing here?
Why does everybody think this is such a great deal? Didn't we already have a deal like this, brokered by President Clinton? Didn't NK ignore that one? What makes anybody think they will pay any more attention to this one? What am I missing here?
Monday, October 23, 2006
Long Weekend in LA
Had a business trip to LA. Took the wife with me for a weekend getaway before the trip. We visited Santa Monica, Pasadena (CalTech is there; we've already established my wife and I are nerds), Malibu, Beverly Hills. Ate at Spago's. Met Wolfgang Puck.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Dune 7 Sucks (we knew it would)
I won't expand on what others have already stated so well - the insipid writing, the assumption that the readers are idiots who need to be beat over the head with backstory and foreshadowing, the 1-dimensional cartoonish characters, the ridiculous idea of bringing all the characters from the original series and the prequels back, etc.
It's bad enough that the enemy that the Honoured Matres are running away from is Omnius (that's not a spoiler, anybody who read either the House series or the Legends series would know that). But the old couple from the end of Chapterhouse are ... Omnius and Erasmus?! Are they kidding.
We are constantly reminded that BH and KJA have access to Frank Herbert's notes. Well, that may be true, but I am 100% certain that those notes have nothing to do with this book. There is no way on Earth that Frank Herbert's notes indicated that Omnius was the unknown enemy because in Frank Herbert's universe there was no Omnius. When he was talking about domination by thinking machines he clearly had something more subtle in mind that the simplistic interpretation of BH and KJA. And he certainly didn't intend the old couple (who represented him and his wife) to be machines.
It's bad enough that the enemy that the Honoured Matres are running away from is Omnius (that's not a spoiler, anybody who read either the House series or the Legends series would know that). But the old couple from the end of Chapterhouse are ... Omnius and Erasmus?! Are they kidding.
We are constantly reminded that BH and KJA have access to Frank Herbert's notes. Well, that may be true, but I am 100% certain that those notes have nothing to do with this book. There is no way on Earth that Frank Herbert's notes indicated that Omnius was the unknown enemy because in Frank Herbert's universe there was no Omnius. When he was talking about domination by thinking machines he clearly had something more subtle in mind that the simplistic interpretation of BH and KJA. And he certainly didn't intend the old couple (who represented him and his wife) to be machines.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Nothing but Noodles
Tonight my wife and I had dinner at Nothing but Noodles. What a great place!
First, there's the price ... how many places can one get a good meal for $7 a person?
Second, there's the food ... my wife and I both ordered the salad & noodles combo. My wife's was the Pear & Balsamic Spinach Salad with Southwest Chipotle Noodles. I had Oriental Salad with Pad Thai Noodles. It's really cool that they could do an equally good job on four such different dishes.
Third, there's the service ... very attentive. Not what you'd expect from a fast food place, but rather what you'd get from a high end restaurant.
Highly recommended.
First, there's the price ... how many places can one get a good meal for $7 a person?
Second, there's the food ... my wife and I both ordered the salad & noodles combo. My wife's was the Pear & Balsamic Spinach Salad with Southwest Chipotle Noodles. I had Oriental Salad with Pad Thai Noodles. It's really cool that they could do an equally good job on four such different dishes.
Third, there's the service ... very attentive. Not what you'd expect from a fast food place, but rather what you'd get from a high end restaurant.
Highly recommended.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Trip to San Francisco Day 8
Had breakfast at The Buena Vista Restaurant, where Irish Coffee was first introduced to the United States (my wife had one). The place is really small and tables are shared; we shared our table with a couple from Las Vegas. We briefly peeked into the Musee Mechanique. Then it was on to Alcatraz.
Darwin Coon, one of the last 29 convicts to leave Alcatraz, was there selling his (not particularly good, if Amazon reviews are an indication) book. The time on the island was definitely interesting. We did the audio tour and spent some time wandering the facility. A little more time would have allowed us to the exhibits discussing things like the occupation of the island by Native American activists in the late 60s.
Back on the mainland, we ate cioppino at Cioppino's on the Wharf, and followed this up with a sundae at Ghirardelli's. For some reason the sundae was all melted; the one we had at the Downtown Disney store in Orlando last year was much better.
The slow meandering walk back to our hotel from the Wharf was possibly the best part of the trip, probably because we knew the city pretty well at this point. Lombard Street (the "crookedest street in the world" but not really) offerred some spectacular views. Columbus Avenue, with the best view of the Transamerica building anywhere in the city. We made a brief stop at the Fairmont Hotel, where the UN charter was drafted in 1945.
Eventually, relucatanty we got ourselves to the airport and took the redeye home. This was an excellent vacation. My wife and I have resolved not to let 2 years pass before the next one.
Darwin Coon, one of the last 29 convicts to leave Alcatraz, was there selling his (not particularly good, if Amazon reviews are an indication) book. The time on the island was definitely interesting. We did the audio tour and spent some time wandering the facility. A little more time would have allowed us to the exhibits discussing things like the occupation of the island by Native American activists in the late 60s.
Back on the mainland, we ate cioppino at Cioppino's on the Wharf, and followed this up with a sundae at Ghirardelli's. For some reason the sundae was all melted; the one we had at the Downtown Disney store in Orlando last year was much better.
The slow meandering walk back to our hotel from the Wharf was possibly the best part of the trip, probably because we knew the city pretty well at this point. Lombard Street (the "crookedest street in the world" but not really) offerred some spectacular views. Columbus Avenue, with the best view of the Transamerica building anywhere in the city. We made a brief stop at the Fairmont Hotel, where the UN charter was drafted in 1945.
Eventually, relucatanty we got ourselves to the airport and took the redeye home. This was an excellent vacation. My wife and I have resolved not to let 2 years pass before the next one.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Trip to San Francisco Day 7
Took the last of the three cable car lines today, the California Line to the Embarcadero. Saw the lobby of the Hyatt hotel, which the tour guides recommended. Eh.
We had breakfast at Noah's, a local bagel chain. Took the ferry to Sausalito. Had lunch at Caffe Trieste, a local Italian chain. Trekked out to the piers with the house boats. They were very pictureque and definitely an interesting lifestyle. When we got back to the Ferry building in San Francisco we ate at Ferry Plaza Seafood, which was one of few bad meals we had on this trip.
That night we had drinks at the Top of the Mark. The view from there is very nice, or rather WOULD BE very nice except for all the fog. We really couldn't see much. I can see why the big things there are breakfast and lunch. Breakfast and a nice view for $25 seems like a much better deal than a drink and a crappy view for $10. At least my wife and I got to dance.
We had breakfast at Noah's, a local bagel chain. Took the ferry to Sausalito. Had lunch at Caffe Trieste, a local Italian chain. Trekked out to the piers with the house boats. They were very pictureque and definitely an interesting lifestyle. When we got back to the Ferry building in San Francisco we ate at Ferry Plaza Seafood, which was one of few bad meals we had on this trip.
That night we had drinks at the Top of the Mark. The view from there is very nice, or rather WOULD BE very nice except for all the fog. We really couldn't see much. I can see why the big things there are breakfast and lunch. Breakfast and a nice view for $25 seems like a much better deal than a drink and a crappy view for $10. At least my wife and I got to dance.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Trip to San Francisco Day 6
Stopped at the Westfield Shopping Mall on Market Street, then took a bus through Chinatown to Fishermans Wharf. We did one of the many bay cruises and took the trip's best pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge.
We had lunch at Boudin's, the sourdough bakery and restaurant. The clam chowder in a bread bowl was awesome, at least as good as any we had in Boston. After lunch, we did the trolley hop tour of town, which among other things included a tour of Pacific Heights, which we had not previously seen.
Later that day, we visited the Wax Museum on Fishermans Wharf, which we would normally not pay $13 to see but it was included with the Go San Francisco cards that my wife and I had obtained prior to our trip. We were really glad we didn't pay afterwards as the wax figures were not particularly good - it was definitely no Madame Tussaud's.
We did another cable car trip, this time on the Powell Hyde Line, which is considered to be the best of the three lines. We did not do it from one end to the other, but our trip did cover the awesome scenic part of the ride. We got back to our neck of the woods in Nob Hill and had dinner at Roxanne's Cafe.
We had lunch at Boudin's, the sourdough bakery and restaurant. The clam chowder in a bread bowl was awesome, at least as good as any we had in Boston. After lunch, we did the trolley hop tour of town, which among other things included a tour of Pacific Heights, which we had not previously seen.
Later that day, we visited the Wax Museum on Fishermans Wharf, which we would normally not pay $13 to see but it was included with the Go San Francisco cards that my wife and I had obtained prior to our trip. We were really glad we didn't pay afterwards as the wax figures were not particularly good - it was definitely no Madame Tussaud's.
We did another cable car trip, this time on the Powell Hyde Line, which is considered to be the best of the three lines. We did not do it from one end to the other, but our trip did cover the awesome scenic part of the ride. We got back to our neck of the woods in Nob Hill and had dinner at Roxanne's Cafe.
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