Chanukah Zombie

Fairly amusing

2004-07-09T22:45:17Z

erbeeble @ 2004-04-11T21:22:00

2004-04-12T04:22:03Z

Happy Easter Everyone!

erbeeble @ 2004-04-06T13:02:00

2004-04-06T20:02:33Z

Happy Passover Everyone!

That must sting!

2004-04-04T20:23:02Z

Man scaling first floor balcony falls 10 feet, gets impaled through groin by casino fence pole.

Ouch!

erbeeble @ 2004-03-28T15:22:00

2004-03-28T23:23:16Z

erbeeble @ 2004-03-27T22:54:00

2004-03-28T06:56:49Z

"My fear of a meaningless cosmos was no match for those two theologians known as meat and cheese."

Family Guy is back for 2005!!!

2004-03-26T03:45:59Z

So... beautiful... should have sent... a poet...

The M.A.W.O. is S.T.U.P.I.D.

2004-03-21T07:43:10Z

It is this sort of mindless activism that really pisses me off.

The complete lack of critical thought and understanding in this organization is mind boggling. It's people like THIS that are the real danger to the world. People who don't spend 3 seconds to think about what they're saying, but who have no problem shouting slogans, holding signs, and not sitting down for a rational conversation.

US OUT OF IRAQ!!

Regardless of whether you feel the war on Iraq was justified or not, if MAWO actually gave any THOUGHT to what they were saying (and actually gave a shit about the people living in Iraq), then they'd look at what the consequences of such an action would be. Removal of the military presence from Iraq AT THIS POINT would be the very worst thing the US could do. With Saddam out of power, the region is completely destabilized. If the US were simply to pack up and leave without some sort of government in place to stabilize the region, then whichever fringe group is most vicious and willing to do anything to seize power would gain control of the country. This would be inevitable since there is currently no process in place for the population to choose a leader or even a system of government (democratic or otherwise). This would bring about yet another oppressive and horrible regime. If the US were to leave now, then they would truly be showing the world that they don't care about the people of Iraq. Of course, this doesn't mean that the US soldiers currently in Iraq are treating the civilian population the way they should. There has been some nasty abuses of power over there that should not be tolerated. And, if the MAWO's goal was to bring about proper treatment for civilians living in Iraq, then I would support them. That's not what they're saying however. They're saying “US OUT OF IRAQ”, and that pisses me off..

Obviously, I'm not saying it's a GOOD thing that soldiers are occupying Iraq. I'm saying that, for RIGHT NOW, a military force is necessary in order to keep Iraq stable. If the US were simply to leave, then the situation would quickly get a lot worse for the people living there. Until some sort or stabilizing force can be set up in the country, the Iraqi people will never have the chance to determine their own fate. This chant of “US OUT OF IRAQ” is a reactionary knee-jerk response to the war. It's a mouse trap that slams down without consideration or thought. This war may have been unjust, but that doesn't make what these people are suggesting “just” or “good” as a result. And, instead of stopping to think about the issue and maybe even TALKING about it, they take the usual response of mindlessly throwing a protest or a rally. It's the ultimate platform for these people since they don't want to think critically about anything. Instead of talking about the issue and working through it, they shout slogans and hold signs. These people aren't TRYING to figure out how to fix things in Iraq. They just want to tell everyone else how and what to think. I have no problem with protests, especially when they bring an issue which needs to be addressed to the publics' attention. These people, however, are not doing that. This is just an excuse for people to shout their opinion without having to give it any thought.

ISRAEL OUT OF PALESTINE!!

Putting “Israel out of Palestine” next to “Canada out of Afghanistan” and “US out of Iraq” is a clever and subtle way of hiding what this claim is really saying. Canada can leave Afghanistan and go back to CANADA. The US can leave Iraq and go back to the US. If Israel were to leave Palestine, it can't go back to ANYTHING. Demanding Israel leave Palestine is to demand that the country be destroyed. Now, I'm well aware that many Palestinians were displaced when Israel was created. Was that RIGHT? No. It wasn't. But to claim that the Jews who live in Israel now should be displaced in the same way is equally as wrong and for the same reasons. Many people have been born in Israel after its creation, and to displace them for the same reason that the Palestinians were displaced (to give a home to people with no home) would be just as wrong. It could be argued that the Jews living in Israel don't need to be displaced just so long as the Palestinians can return and Israel be considered Palestine once again. Of course, it's not that easy. Those who live in Israel aren't so keen to live in a country where they are no longer the majority and no longer have input in the government. Why? Well, it might have something to do with how nearby places like Saudi Arabia don't even allow Jews to ENTER the country. Jews are banned by law from Saudi Arabia. Can you blame the Jews in Israel from being a wee bit paranoid of suddenly living in a country where they are no longer the majority? Now, I'm not saying that everything Israel does is praise-worthy. All I'm saying is that this issue is complicated. The concerns of those living in Israel are not irrational or absurd. They need to be addressed and talked about and thought about in order for any progress in the middle east conflict to come about. I don't claim to know how to fix the middle east problem or even if there is a solution. I DO know that chanting “Israel out of Palestine” is not only unhelpful, it's downright harmful, stupid and ignorant.

As long as groups like MAWO exist, no true progress or honest attempts at a solution will come about. People need to sit down with those who feel differently and talk about the issues calmly and rationally. Until people acknowledge that these issues are complicated and not clear cut, nothing good will come about. These are issues that can't be solved with a sign saying “____ out of ____”

erbeeble @ 2004-03-16T17:53:00

2004-03-17T01:55:00Z

Quote of the Day

2004-03-15T07:08:34Z

"Anyone who can go through life and not get offended, is not living in a free society" -Kim Campbell

erbeeble @ 2004-01-30T20:42:00

2004-01-31T04:42:59Z

"Computer games don't affect kids, I mean if Pac Man affected us as kids, we'd all run around in a darkened room munching pills and listening to repetitive music..." -Kristian Wilson, CEO, Nintendo Gaming Corporation, Inc, 1989

It may be wrong, but not because it hurts the little guy.

2004-01-29T00:12:21Z

Has anyone seen these "respect copyright" ads they're showing before movies these days? Well, I saw one recently that I thought was rather stupid. You can watch it by going to http://www.respectcopyrights.com/hear-artists.html It's the first one (Set Painter) that I saw and really had a problem with. Essentially, this guy is saying that when movies are pirated, it's people like him (blue collar workers) that are hit hardest by it and that the people "at the top" aren't really effected one way or the other. He says pirating films will make it more difficult for him to find work. Frankly, this is a load of shit.

This guy is a set painter. His job is necessary for the filming of the movie and is performed REGARDLESS of how the film does at the box office. As such, no matter how much the movie brings in, he still gets paid the same amount. He doesn't get a percentage of the profits. It's the movie stars and/or the director and/or the studio executives that get a percentage of the take. As such, it is only the people “at the top" who are hurt by the pirating of films. The only way this could hurt his career is if less movies are made as a result of pirating. In such a situation, he would have less opportunities for work. This obviously isn't the case though.

Now, I'm not saying we should all go pirating movies. I just think the current strategy that studios are using to get people to stop pirating (i.e. it doesn't hurt us RICH people, it hurts the small regular guy!) is total bullshit. Let's face it, it IS the "people at the top" who lose from movie pirating. It is the already rich people who stand to gain from increased box office sales.

You know you're a redneck when...

2004-01-27T20:36:23Z

Man marries 15-year-old cousin who is also his aunt

Hey, at least it makes family reunions easier to plan.

Stupid Quote of the Day

2004-01-25T22:58:39Z

This is just too idiotic not to share with others. Enjoy!

"The vision of the Seattle Ley-Line Project is to heal the Earth energies within the Seattle city limits by identifying ley-line power centers in Seattle, neutralizing negative energies and then amplifying the positive potential of the ley-line power centers. We believe the result will be a decrease in disease and anxiety, an increased sense of wholeness and well-being and the achievement of Seattle's potential as a center of power for good on Spaceship Earth." -http://www.geo.org/qa.htm

The Seattle Arts Commission awarded these guys a grant of $5,000. My sheer lack of respect for the Seattle Arts Commission is leaving me rather speechless.

erbeeble @ 2003-10-30T21:08:00

2003-10-31T05:08:13Z

Well, I just watched the series premier of a Fox show called Tru Calling. It's kind of like a cross between The 6th Sense and Quantum Leap as far as I can tell. My prediction: it won't last.

Here we go...

2003-10-26T23:11:15Z

Ok, I've always been really bad at updating my LJ. Well, no more! I've decided that I'm going to start updating it again on a semi-regular basis. We'll see how that goes.

I just re-watched the Matrix Reloaded yesterday. I doesn't suck so much the second time around. When you know what to expect, it's easier to ignore the parts that make no sense whatsoever. Also, it makes it a lot more watchable when you can skip scenes.

erbeeble @ 2003-10-26T00:45:00

2003-10-26T07:45:39Z

"Well, I guess that we all learned a lesson today. That it's what's inside a person that counts. And that on the inside, midgets are thieving little bastards."

TAing

2003-09-08T00:33:41Z

I just found out which courses I'll be TAing. To be honest, I assumed I'd only be Taing one course per semester. That's what I get for assuming I guess. I'll be TAing:

Knowledge and Reality I

"Topics in metaphysics and epistemology such as truth, knowledge, justification, the nature of physical reality, and personal identity. Readings from classic and contemporary texts."

I should be able to handle this one ok.

Philosophy in the 17th Century

"Survey of 17th-century philosophy from Bacon to Leibniz, including the writings of Hobbes, Descartes, and Spinoza. The influence of science and religion on philosophical thought."

This one is gonna be a bit more difficult. I don't really know Spinoza, Hobbes and Leibniz that well. I'll have to do some major readings to catch up.

Here in Vancouver

2003-09-07T23:08:28Z

Well, I survived my move to Vancouver. I've got furniture, internet access, one of those spaghetti scooper thingies; the whole nine! So far, it's been a pretty pleasant move, although it is a bit unsettling living in a completely different city. It feels as though I've been cut off from my everything in my life. I guess that's natural though.

Stupid is as stupid does

2003-08-04T01:31:59Z

"A classroom survey released earlier this year by car maker Volkswagen found that about a third of high school students deemed seat belt use "uncool."

Another 30 percent said belts were uncomfortable or would wrinkle their clothing, while 20 percent said they thought seat belts were unnecessary on short trips. And 18 percent said a feeling of invincibility — "nothing will happen to me" — stopped them from regularly buckling up. The survey had a margin of error of 5 percentage points."

-Yahoo News (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=534&ncid=534&e=5&u=/ap/20030803/ap_on_he_me/unbuckled_youth)

This is a prime example of how 'survival of the fittest' works.

Here's the news

2003-07-24T00:24:17Z

1) My great aunt passed away a few days ago.
2) My dad had his operation. It went fine. He's doing well.
3) I was able to get a Teaching Assistant position for UBC!
4) Just got back from visiting Alix in Boston. Had a blast. He's doing well.
5) I officially gave my 2-weeks notice at work today.
6) Today is Wednesday.

erbeeble @ 2003-06-30T22:23:00

2003-07-01T02:24:10Z

ooga booga

erbeeble @ 2003-06-21T19:26:00

2003-06-21T23:36:06Z

Harry Potter 5 was released this morning. We almost sold our ENTIRE stock of 600 copies today alone. Let's hope the book doesn't suck.

erbeeble @ 2003-06-17T20:45:00

2003-06-18T00:47:34Z

I just got accepted to the University of New Brunswick for Grad School. This means I got into half the schools I applied to. Not too shabby.

erbeeble @ 2003-06-12T21:16:00

2003-06-13T01:19:25Z

As of today, I am a university graduate. The graduation ceremony was nice, but what made the whole thing worth it was being able to see everyone from journalism again. Truly some of the greatest people on this planet.