Can you hear me now?

I've been sick with some sort of cold bug for the last five days, which "forced" me to disconnect with computers, gadgets, and all manners of shiny things that go "ping", as one might imagine.

On that note of technological skepticism, may I present to you a few observations on cell phones. Consider this:


Here we see a piece of performance art done by Nick Rodrigues on the perils of becoming one with the phone. Basically, it's a commentary about how we shut out interactions with other human life forms and goings on in our vicinity because we choose to walk around with the phone attached to our ears, tuning in instead to someone somewhere else.

Okay...information phone calls aside: do we really need to be on these danged things as much as is observed on the streets, in cafes, etc.?

Now consider this (as experienced by myself these past few days):
1) A teenager on her phone, talking loudly, yet casually to a friend about something while simultaneously walking up to a man on a boardwalk who is trying to play Mozart on an elaborate set of water-filled glasses and the gathered crowd who have come to listen to him.
2) Me, pretending to be on my phone to avoid having to say as much as "good morning" to someone in front of my building because it's early in the morning and I don't much feel like talking.

Now, as bad as that second thing makes me sound, what do we see here? In number one, a girl is not only bothering others around her who are trying to listen (mainly me, who turned around and gave her a direct look), but she is also losing out on a chance to enjoy some well-played musical glasses. I mean, it's life -- interesting, beautiful, serene -- happening right in front of you! Your friend, wherever she is, can wait. Or, if it's really that important, you could move out of earshot of the rest of us. Just saying. And then we take a look at yours truly in the second scenario, where I am using the phone to blatantly avoid real life (i.e. people with whom I could potentially be interacting). I may have known exactly what I was doing in this instance, but it still doesn't make my misuse of a portable phone any better than that of Loud Cell Phone Girl.

With all the things our phones can do nowadays (and heck, they can pretty much tuck you into bed and sing you the lullaby Momma used to sing), are we also using them as our own personal phone booths/escape pods? Does it really take a good cold to pry us from our beloved devices and launch us back into real time?

Laying down The Law

If you believe that the United States government (keeping in mind that it was set up as an organization by and for its people, whose sole purpose is supposed to be ensuring us all that we may live, be free, and have the ability to attain happiness in our lives) is overstepping its bounds with the latest in "bail outs" for America -- or are at least keen on/open to the idea -- then this treatise is for you:


Read the work itself in one form or another here or here (yes, it is that important that I gave you two locations to choose from). And for those of you even further intrigued, here's the gentleman's website. Pretty good for a guy who died in 1850.

Aside from the free trade that Bastiat was arguing for in his native France, this work -- written alllllllll the way back in the 19th century -- remains relevant today not only in regard to the economy and trade, but in the way we choose (or seemingly choose) to govern ourselves. Do we protect our citizens from oppression, pillage, and the deprivation of our freedoms as human beings in a civilized society in earnest, or do we allow our government to oppress, pillage, and deprive our citizens because we have made such actions just in the name of "I know what's best for you" laws and practices? If you've ever noticed an unnecessarily large hole in your paycheck or have watched your elected official (local or otherwise) screw you over big time while in office, I believe you know to just what I'm referring.

Seriously, this treatise knows no political party. If you are planning on voting in an election -- or, you know, thinking of becoming part of a democracy at any point in your life -- is it so vital to read up. I'm not just saying this because I'm studying to become a librarian. If we find ourselves sick of repeating history, we must look beyond the colors and the fray of the bodies that govern us to the ideas and concepts that our systems stand for and the great minds who have argued for their preservation and even in some instances for their destruction. Chances are these men and women had something to say. Think about it... if what those we regard as great philosophers argue for and caution is applicable still, we must have not yet listened and/or learned.

Browse this!

I knew there was a preference for Firefox over Internet Explorer these days, but sheesh.

And on that note, ever notice how your HTML varies based on the browser you're using? It's kind of annoying when doing projects, but at the same time shows you how screwed up your code can look to someone who might not have access to the browser you do. I would hope, however, that it also serves as an impetus for developers to synchronize. Then again, there still exists the whole Mac vs. PC dynamic, so maybe it's a little too much to hope for.

WAR. HUH. Good god, ya'll. What is it good for? Absolutely nothin'! (Say it again!)
Nah, but seriously... there's got to be a slew of products out there because, when combined with various personal preferences, the market will inevitably decide. Anyone remember paying for America Online? I do. But just barely.