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.
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