Well, it sure has been awhile since posting here. Mainly because nothing very exciting has happened lately worth sharing...until now!
The other day, I discovered a website called Last.fm (www.last.fm), and ever since then, I've been hooked. In a nutshell, it is facebook for music. You can sign up for free, create a profile on the site, and then you download a small program onto your computer (it's not adware or spyware or anything malicious like that), and it connects with the music software on your computer (iTunes, Winamp, Windows Media Player, etc.) and tracks all the music you listen to on your computer and any mp3 player you might have. From there, it "scrobbles" your listened-to music (publishes it onto your profile automatically), and automatically creates charts of your music based on how many times you've listened to it. Your profile shows various charts such as "most listened artists", "most listened songs", etc. Also, it gives you other band/artist recommendations based on what you listen to the most, and it lets you listen to songs online from any artist they have in their system so you can try out new music. You can "friend" people just like on facebook/myspace, you can search for people by similar music tastes, and your profile has a wall just like facebook. I encourage all of you to at least check it out, you don't have to join to look at my profile, and if you decide to give it a try, be sure to add me to your friends. Here's a link to my profile:
http://www.last.fm/user/cha0scypher
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Euthyphro's Dilemma
Here's a question for all you theists and religious folk out there: Is what is moral (or "good") commanded by god because it is moral, or is it moral because it is commanded by god?
This question is referred to as Euthyphro's Dilemma, and is named after Plato's dialogue Euthyphro, in which the inspiration for this question is presented.
If you pick the former (what is moral is commanded by god because it is moral), then you are admitting that god is not omnipotent, but is bound by an external force or factor ("good"), and is simply reduced to not much more than a passer-on of moral knowledge.
If you pick the latter (that which is moral is moral because it is commanded by god), then you are admitting to moral relativism, meaning that morals can change, they are simply based on god's whim, and there is no absolute "good" or "evil". If god wanted to, he could make things that are generally thought of as bad (i.e. murder, rape, etc.) "good". This, of course, goes against many Christian teachings.
So there it is. Stumped now, aren't ya? It's okay, you don't really have to answer the question, for we all know the real answer now....(or do we?)
This question is referred to as Euthyphro's Dilemma, and is named after Plato's dialogue Euthyphro, in which the inspiration for this question is presented.
If you pick the former (what is moral is commanded by god because it is moral), then you are admitting that god is not omnipotent, but is bound by an external force or factor ("good"), and is simply reduced to not much more than a passer-on of moral knowledge.
If you pick the latter (that which is moral is moral because it is commanded by god), then you are admitting to moral relativism, meaning that morals can change, they are simply based on god's whim, and there is no absolute "good" or "evil". If god wanted to, he could make things that are generally thought of as bad (i.e. murder, rape, etc.) "good". This, of course, goes against many Christian teachings.
So there it is. Stumped now, aren't ya? It's okay, you don't really have to answer the question, for we all know the real answer now....(or do we?)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Caught in the act
Well, it's been a little while since posting an entry here, but I found something that's definitely worth posting. While browsing YouTube for prank videos (one of my favorite internet pastimes), I discovered this one, which apparently is from Stuff.com (the website for Stuff Magazine). Some suspicious co-workers set up a camera in the office at night, and catch a guy jacking off. If you watch carefully, you'll notice that it's not just jerking that he's doing too! Oh, and don't worry, there aren't any visible private parts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSpxnPRp2m4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSpxnPRp2m4
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Teen dies from Batman ride
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,373341,00.html
"AUSTELL, Ga. — A teenager was decapitated by a roller coaster after he hopped a pair of fences and entered a restricted area Saturday at Six Flags Over Georgia, authorities said.
Six Flags officials are uncertain why 17-year-old Asia Leeshawn Ferguson of Springfield, South Carolina scaled two six-foot fences and passed signs that said the restricted area was both off-limits and dangerous to visitors, spokeswoman Hela Sheth said in a news release.
Authorities were investigating reports from witnesses who said the Ferguson jumped the fences to retrieve a hat he lost while riding the Batman roller coaster, said Cobb County police Sgt. Dana Pierce. Police have declined to release the teenager's name until an autopsy is completed.
Six Flags said it closed the roller coaster after the Saturday afternoon accident out of respect for the Ferguson's family.
Police said the ride was going full-speed when the Ferguson was struck. The ride's top speed is 50 mph, according to the park's Web site.
No one riding on the roller coaster was injured, Sheth said. The teen was with another boy who also entered the restricted area but was not injured, Pierce said.
Ferguson and his parents were at the park with a group from the Oakey Spring Baptist Church near Springfield, S.C., police said.
In May 2002, 58-year-old groundskeeper Samuel Milton Guyton of Atlanta was killed after he wandered in a restricted area under the Batman roller coaster's path and was struck in the head by the dangling leg of one of the ride's passengers. The ride was closed for a day to allow the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to inspect the ride. It was deemed safe for passengers."
What a fucking moron. This might be a dick thing to say, but he totally deserved it. I think I smell a Darwin Award...and for those of you who don't know what the Darwin Awards are, they are a joke recognition for people who have died because of their own stupidity, named after Charles Darwin for his natural selection, "survival of the fittest" ideas. Basically, these "award-winners" are doing humanity a favor by removing themselves (and therefore, their stupidity) from the gene-pool.
"AUSTELL, Ga. — A teenager was decapitated by a roller coaster after he hopped a pair of fences and entered a restricted area Saturday at Six Flags Over Georgia, authorities said.
Six Flags officials are uncertain why 17-year-old Asia Leeshawn Ferguson of Springfield, South Carolina scaled two six-foot fences and passed signs that said the restricted area was both off-limits and dangerous to visitors, spokeswoman Hela Sheth said in a news release.
Authorities were investigating reports from witnesses who said the Ferguson jumped the fences to retrieve a hat he lost while riding the Batman roller coaster, said Cobb County police Sgt. Dana Pierce. Police have declined to release the teenager's name until an autopsy is completed.
Six Flags said it closed the roller coaster after the Saturday afternoon accident out of respect for the Ferguson's family.
Police said the ride was going full-speed when the Ferguson was struck. The ride's top speed is 50 mph, according to the park's Web site.
No one riding on the roller coaster was injured, Sheth said. The teen was with another boy who also entered the restricted area but was not injured, Pierce said.
Ferguson and his parents were at the park with a group from the Oakey Spring Baptist Church near Springfield, S.C., police said.
In May 2002, 58-year-old groundskeeper Samuel Milton Guyton of Atlanta was killed after he wandered in a restricted area under the Batman roller coaster's path and was struck in the head by the dangling leg of one of the ride's passengers. The ride was closed for a day to allow the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to inspect the ride. It was deemed safe for passengers."
What a fucking moron. This might be a dick thing to say, but he totally deserved it. I think I smell a Darwin Award...and for those of you who don't know what the Darwin Awards are, they are a joke recognition for people who have died because of their own stupidity, named after Charles Darwin for his natural selection, "survival of the fittest" ideas. Basically, these "award-winners" are doing humanity a favor by removing themselves (and therefore, their stupidity) from the gene-pool.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Pets are fun
For those of you who didn't already know, Heather and I are staying at her father's and stepmother's house for the summer. It's fun, and as an added bonus, they have 5 pets (2 dogs and 3 cats) that have been keeping us company. I've decided to make this entry about them, including pictures taken by yours truly.
Sadie:
Sadie is a lab, and she's the bigger and older of the 2 dogs here, but if you're outside and she sees you grab a stick, she becomes as playful as a puppy. She has some issues with her hips so she can't run too too fast, and when she is laying down, she likes to lift her feet in the air, apparently it makes her hips feel better, and I think it's funny because she looks like she's playing dead:
Scooby:
Scooby is a Jack Russel Terrier, and although he's small, he's got boundless amounts of energy. He's also the loudest thing in this household, because he'll bark at nearly anything he sees or hears. It's the worst when another dog is walking by the house, or if a diesel truck (UPS or otherwise) is within earshot. He's a good dog though, and we all love him.
Tiny:
Tiny is a Siamese cat who is very shy with people and animals. It took us a week of living here before he would even come out of his hiding place underneath the recliner. I'm actually surprised I was able to get this many shots of him. Tiny is funny because when he meows, it's much louder than your average cat, and it's kind of a double-meow (Meeeooowwww-oooooowwwwww). Lemme tell ya, his loud double-meow has a tendency to scare the crap out of me when I'm not expecting it, for example, if it's the middle of the night and pitch dark and I've gotta get up to take a leak. I didn't really like cats too much before, simply because they made me sneeze like crazy, but ever since getting on a daily regimen of Clairitin, I haven't had to blow my nose more than once a day, which I can take.
Snickers/Deedle:
Don't ask why this cat has 2 names, it's too long of a story. We all call her both names, just about equally too, so there really is no preference. Snickers (or Deedle) is a long-hair cat (again, thank god for Claritin), and she acts like the Princess of the house. As you can see from the photos, she couldn't be bothered to come out from behind the couch to take a couple pictures. This cat is the reason we always have to keep the door to our bedroom closed, because if it's open, even a crack, she'll prance right in there and do as she pleases. Among her favorite things to do in our room: claw at anything made of cloth, and plop herself down on our bed and not move for hours. Don't get me wrong, she's a pretty nice cat when she's not acting like a bitch.
Sam:
I don't have any pictures of Sam becuase he's an outside cat, and I really only see him around once or twice a week, for maybe 2 minutes at a time. All I can tell you about Sam is that he's black, and this time of year his fur is usually covered in the oil from the ever-popular poison ivy plant, so we try to avoid touching Sam.
Sadie:
Sadie is a lab, and she's the bigger and older of the 2 dogs here, but if you're outside and she sees you grab a stick, she becomes as playful as a puppy. She has some issues with her hips so she can't run too too fast, and when she is laying down, she likes to lift her feet in the air, apparently it makes her hips feel better, and I think it's funny because she looks like she's playing dead:
Scooby:
Scooby is a Jack Russel Terrier, and although he's small, he's got boundless amounts of energy. He's also the loudest thing in this household, because he'll bark at nearly anything he sees or hears. It's the worst when another dog is walking by the house, or if a diesel truck (UPS or otherwise) is within earshot. He's a good dog though, and we all love him.
Tiny:
Tiny is a Siamese cat who is very shy with people and animals. It took us a week of living here before he would even come out of his hiding place underneath the recliner. I'm actually surprised I was able to get this many shots of him. Tiny is funny because when he meows, it's much louder than your average cat, and it's kind of a double-meow (Meeeooowwww-oooooowwwwww). Lemme tell ya, his loud double-meow has a tendency to scare the crap out of me when I'm not expecting it, for example, if it's the middle of the night and pitch dark and I've gotta get up to take a leak. I didn't really like cats too much before, simply because they made me sneeze like crazy, but ever since getting on a daily regimen of Clairitin, I haven't had to blow my nose more than once a day, which I can take.
Snickers/Deedle:
Don't ask why this cat has 2 names, it's too long of a story. We all call her both names, just about equally too, so there really is no preference. Snickers (or Deedle) is a long-hair cat (again, thank god for Claritin), and she acts like the Princess of the house. As you can see from the photos, she couldn't be bothered to come out from behind the couch to take a couple pictures. This cat is the reason we always have to keep the door to our bedroom closed, because if it's open, even a crack, she'll prance right in there and do as she pleases. Among her favorite things to do in our room: claw at anything made of cloth, and plop herself down on our bed and not move for hours. Don't get me wrong, she's a pretty nice cat when she's not acting like a bitch.
Sam:
I don't have any pictures of Sam becuase he's an outside cat, and I really only see him around once or twice a week, for maybe 2 minutes at a time. All I can tell you about Sam is that he's black, and this time of year his fur is usually covered in the oil from the ever-popular poison ivy plant, so we try to avoid touching Sam.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Very interesting article on Climate Change
The other day I was browsing the magazines at my local Rite Aid while Heather (my girlfriend) and I were waiting for her prescription to be filled (Heather was looking at makeup and other stuff that I wanted nothing to do with), and I noticed a flashy cover on this month's edition of WIRED. It stated:
"Attention Environmentalists: Keep your SUV, Forget organics, Go nuclear, Screw the spotted owl. If you're serious about global warming, only one thing matters: Cutting carbon."
Interested in what they had to say, I picked up the magazine and began looking over the article. I ended up buying the magazine, and now that I've finally read the whole article, I figure I'd share it with all of you. Here's a link to the complete article online (wish I knew of this before shelling out 5 bucks for the magazine), courtesy of wired.com:
Inconvenient Truths: Get Ready to Rethink What It Means to Be Green
And here's my summary of the article for those too lazy to read it. Basically, it discusses 10 specific aspects of our way of life that may have originally been thought of as "bad" by environmentalists and other green folk. In a nutshell, they are:
1. Live in cities-not only does it require less energy to heat/cool large apartment buildings, but urban dwellers are much more likely to rely on public transportation instead of buying a car. An average household can reduce it's carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions by 30% if one member takes public transit to work instead of driving.
2. A/C is OK-it requires much less energy to keep a house cool in hot weather than it does to keep it warm in cold weather. How much? A factor of 8. Meaning, the CO2 emissions from heating one house in cold weather is equal to cooling 8 houses in hot weather. Fuck New England, I wanna move out West now.
3. Organics are not the answer-hear that hippies? Seriously though, the article gives several examples, here's one of them: an organic chicken's lifetime greenhouse gas emissions exceed a non-organic chicken by 45%.
4. Farm the Forests-For real. While it's true that trees do soak up a lot of the CO2 in the atmosphere, the fact of the matter is, after a certain amount of time, trees give off more carbon than they take in. The solution is to have a continuous flow going where we plant trees, then after they've soaked up their peak amount of CO2, chop them down, and so on.
5. China is the solution-mainly from all their manufacturing. Many of us know how huge manufacturing is in China, and this can be used to everybody's advantage. For example, 35% of the world's solar cells are manufactured in China.
6. Accept Genetic Engineering-50 million tons of CO2 can be saved annually if we use genetically engineered rice.
7. Carbon Trading doesn't work-the idea of "instead of reducing our own carbon emissions, we can pay other people to reduce theirs" is completely bogus. The Kyoto Protocol, a series of projects that were designed to keep 175 million tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere by 2012, will slow the rise of carbon emissions by...6.5 days. What a difference.
8. Embrace Nuclear power-honestly, nuclear power is the most climate-friendly industrial-scale energy source. Let me take this opportunity to squash a common misconception about nuclear power plants. Look at this photograph:
See those scary looking "smokestacks" that are associated with nuclear power plants? Those are actually called Cooling Towers. And the "smoke" coming out of them? Steam. That's right, it's just evaporated water!
9. Buy used cars, NOT Hybrids-pound for pound, making a Toyota Prius contributes more carbon to the atmosphere than making a Hummer, mainly because of the nickel in the Prius' battery. Also, Prius would have to drive 100,000 miles just to catch up to the carbon savings that come from driving, say, a '98 Tercel.
10. Prepare for the Worst-last but not least. The bottom line is, we all have to accept that some climate change is going to happen in the near future, and there's nothing we can do to stop it. Our job is to do whatever we can to slow down the change, thereby reducing how badly it will affect us, while at the same time, start thinking about adapting to a warmer Earth. Al Gore says adapting is, "a kind of laziness, an arrogant faith in our ability to react in time to save our own skin." I say, fuck him. Change is inevitable at this point, we might as well prepare for it.
"Attention Environmentalists: Keep your SUV, Forget organics, Go nuclear, Screw the spotted owl. If you're serious about global warming, only one thing matters: Cutting carbon."
Interested in what they had to say, I picked up the magazine and began looking over the article. I ended up buying the magazine, and now that I've finally read the whole article, I figure I'd share it with all of you. Here's a link to the complete article online (wish I knew of this before shelling out 5 bucks for the magazine), courtesy of wired.com:
Inconvenient Truths: Get Ready to Rethink What It Means to Be Green
And here's my summary of the article for those too lazy to read it. Basically, it discusses 10 specific aspects of our way of life that may have originally been thought of as "bad" by environmentalists and other green folk. In a nutshell, they are:
1. Live in cities-not only does it require less energy to heat/cool large apartment buildings, but urban dwellers are much more likely to rely on public transportation instead of buying a car. An average household can reduce it's carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions by 30% if one member takes public transit to work instead of driving.
2. A/C is OK-it requires much less energy to keep a house cool in hot weather than it does to keep it warm in cold weather. How much? A factor of 8. Meaning, the CO2 emissions from heating one house in cold weather is equal to cooling 8 houses in hot weather. Fuck New England, I wanna move out West now.
3. Organics are not the answer-hear that hippies? Seriously though, the article gives several examples, here's one of them: an organic chicken's lifetime greenhouse gas emissions exceed a non-organic chicken by 45%.
4. Farm the Forests-For real. While it's true that trees do soak up a lot of the CO2 in the atmosphere, the fact of the matter is, after a certain amount of time, trees give off more carbon than they take in. The solution is to have a continuous flow going where we plant trees, then after they've soaked up their peak amount of CO2, chop them down, and so on.
5. China is the solution-mainly from all their manufacturing. Many of us know how huge manufacturing is in China, and this can be used to everybody's advantage. For example, 35% of the world's solar cells are manufactured in China.
6. Accept Genetic Engineering-50 million tons of CO2 can be saved annually if we use genetically engineered rice.
7. Carbon Trading doesn't work-the idea of "instead of reducing our own carbon emissions, we can pay other people to reduce theirs" is completely bogus. The Kyoto Protocol, a series of projects that were designed to keep 175 million tons of CO2 out of the atmosphere by 2012, will slow the rise of carbon emissions by...6.5 days. What a difference.
8. Embrace Nuclear power-honestly, nuclear power is the most climate-friendly industrial-scale energy source. Let me take this opportunity to squash a common misconception about nuclear power plants. Look at this photograph:
See those scary looking "smokestacks" that are associated with nuclear power plants? Those are actually called Cooling Towers. And the "smoke" coming out of them? Steam. That's right, it's just evaporated water!
9. Buy used cars, NOT Hybrids-pound for pound, making a Toyota Prius contributes more carbon to the atmosphere than making a Hummer, mainly because of the nickel in the Prius' battery. Also, Prius would have to drive 100,000 miles just to catch up to the carbon savings that come from driving, say, a '98 Tercel.
10. Prepare for the Worst-last but not least. The bottom line is, we all have to accept that some climate change is going to happen in the near future, and there's nothing we can do to stop it. Our job is to do whatever we can to slow down the change, thereby reducing how badly it will affect us, while at the same time, start thinking about adapting to a warmer Earth. Al Gore says adapting is, "a kind of laziness, an arrogant faith in our ability to react in time to save our own skin." I say, fuck him. Change is inevitable at this point, we might as well prepare for it.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
First Entry, R.I.P. George Carlin
So I figured I'd start off my blog with a tribute to one of the greatest stand-up comedians of our time, George Carlin. George just passed away the other day (June 22), and he will be missed by many.
Article on his death.
Here's one of my favorite George Carlin clips:
Airline Announcements
R.I.P.
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