I'm still trying to define myself...

Computer experts anyone?

silversolitaire — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:42:02 GMT

I'm thinking about buying a new laptop. It's going to be a Dell. Given the nature of Dell, I have many options to customize my computer. Since I do want a nice machine, but not necessarily spend a fortune, I'm trying to cut back on unnecessary spending. What I basically want is a laptop that'll allow me to do graphics processing reasonably well. I don't worry about that. But I also want to be able to play a couple of games I couldn't play just yet due to requirement limitations (namely Gothic 3 and future Sims 3). I'm not a core gamer, I don't need to run FPS at maximum frame rate or anything like that. Of course I would get a kick out of playing Sims at hires, but it's not totally necessary.

So, question is, with this set-up which is pretty much set:

4096MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM
256MB ATI® Radeon™ HD 3450 graphics card

I know the graphics card could be better, but 256MB dedicated RAM is all I could get for any of those systems without paying through my nose. The other one would offer a GeForce, but the drawbacks for that system are just too great.

Now I wonder which processor would be best. Naturally, the better the processor the better in general, right? However, the better option adds 200 EUR, so I'm wondering whether this is worth it or not. I mean, if all a 2nd level cache twice the size does is give me one frame more per second or something, then screw it. But if the improvement would be noticeable, I'd kinda like it. However, neither I, nor Tom, nor bro really know for sure.

Anyway, these are the options:

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo P8400 (2.20GHz/1066Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T9400 (2.530GHz/1066Mhz FSB/6MB cache)

So, as you can see, more gigahertz, same front side bus, double 2nd lvl cache. Any input?

Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it)

silversolitaire — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:26:28 GMT

Okay... THIS? Has made me laugh so hard I couldn't calm down for like 10 mins afterwards. This is brilliant.

Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.

And this is for bonus lulz:

I would like to address a serious matter:

silversolitaire — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:15:45 GMT

I'd like to point out that this product is called "Rainbow Berry". For reference, this is a rainbow:

Now, tell me: Is this a rainbow?

I THINK NOT!

But now it is! :D

Keith Olbermann on Prop 8

silversolitaire — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:59:23 GMT

It kinda feels a bit like beating a dead horse since everyone I know and everyone on my flist whose opinion I care about shares this opinion with me, probably already has reposted this, but I still liked it, so I'm reposting it too. I do feel that this guy goes on for about 3 mins longer than he should have and the choking up may have been a bit OTT, but in general I commend him for his bravery and his very clear words. I wish people would have taken a moment to consider it like this before they voted YES on Proposition 8.

Again, for me to keep, here's the transcript. There's also the link to the original site.

Olbermann: Gay marriage is a question of love
Everyone deserves the same chance at permanence and happiness

Nov. 10: In a Special Comment, Countdown’s Keith Olbermann disagrees with the passing of Proposition 8 in California and urges people to accept love between people of the same sex.

Finally tonight as promised, a Special Comment on the passage, last week, of Proposition Eight in California, which rescinded the right of same-sex couples to marry, and tilted the balance on this issue, from coast to coast.

Some parameters, as preface. This isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics, and this isn't really just about Prop-8. And I don't have a personal investment in this: I'm not gay, I had to strain to think of one member of even my very extended family who is, I have no personal stories of close friends or colleagues fighting the prejudice that still pervades their lives.

And yet to me this vote is horrible. Horrible. Because this isn't about yelling, and this isn't about politics. This is about the human heart, and if that sounds corny, so be it.

If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want—a chance to be a little less alone in the world.

Only now you are saying to them—no. You can't have it on these terms. Maybe something similar. If they behave. If they don't cause too much trouble. You'll even give them all the same legal rights—even as you're taking away the legal right, which they already had. A world around them, still anchored in love and marriage, and you are saying, no, you can't marry. What if somebody passed a law that said you couldn't marry?

I keep hearing this term "re-defining" marriage. If this country hadn't re-defined marriage, black people still couldn't marry white people. Sixteen states had laws on the books which made that illegal in 1967. 1967.

The parents of the President-Elect of the United States couldn't have married in nearly one third of the states of the country their son grew up to lead. But it's worse than that. If this country had not "re-defined" marriage, some black people still couldn't marry black people. It is one of the most overlooked and cruelest parts of our sad story of slavery. Marriages were not legally recognized, if the people were slaves. Since slaves were property, they could not legally be husband and wife, or mother and child. Their marriage vows were different: not "Until Death, Do You Part," but "Until Death or Distance, Do You Part." Marriages among slaves were not legally recognized.

You know, just like marriages today in California are not legally recognized, if the people are gay.

And uncountable in our history are the number of men and women, forced by society into marrying the opposite sex, in sham marriages, or marriages of convenience, or just marriages of not knowing, centuries of men and women who have lived their lives in shame and unhappiness, and who have, through a lie to themselves or others, broken countless other lives, of spouses and children, all because we said a man couldn't marry another man, or a woman couldn't marry another woman. The sanctity of marriage.

How many marriages like that have there been and how on earth do they increase the "sanctity" of marriage rather than render the term, meaningless?

What is this, to you? Nobody is asking you to embrace their expression of love. But don't you, as human beings, have to embrace... that love? The world is barren enough.

It is stacked against love, and against hope, and against those very few and precious emotions that enable us to go forward. Your marriage only stands a 50-50 chance of lasting, no matter how much you feel and how hard you work.

And here are people overjoyed at the prospect of just that chance, and that work, just for the hope of having that feeling. With so much hate in the world, with so much meaningless division, and people pitted against people for no good reason, this is what your religion tells you to do? With your experience of life and this world and all its sadnesses, this is what your conscience tells you to do?

With your knowledge that life, with endless vigor, seems to tilt the playing field on which we all live, in favor of unhappiness and hate... this is what your heart tells you to do? You want to sanctify marriage? You want to honor your God and the universal love you believe he represents? Then Spread happiness—this tiny, symbolic, semantical grain of happiness—share it with all those who seek it. Quote me anything from your religious leader or book of choice telling you to stand against this. And then tell me how you can believe both that statement and another statement, another one which reads only "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

You are asked now, by your country, and perhaps by your creator, to stand on one side or another. You are asked now to stand, not on a question of politics, not on a question of religion, not on a question of gay or straight. You are asked now to stand, on a question of love. All you need do is stand, and let the tiny ember of love meet its own fate.

You don't have to help it, you don't have it applaud it, you don't have to fight for it. Just don't put it out. Just don't extinguish it. Because while it may at first look like that love is between two people you don't know and you don't understand and maybe you don't even want to know. It is, in fact, the ember of your love, for your fellow person just because this is the only world we have. And the other guy counts, too.

This is the second time in ten days I find myself concluding by turning to, of all things, the closing plea for mercy by Clarence Darrow in a murder trial.

But what he said, fits what is really at the heart of this:

"I was reading last night of the aspiration of the old Persian poet, Omar-Khayyam," he told the judge. It appealed to me as the highest that I can vision. I wish it was in my heart, and I wish it was in the hearts of all: So I be written in the Book of Love; I do not care about that Book above. Erase my name, or write it as you will, So I be written in the Book of Love."

[source]

A black dude, on my POTUS list? It's more likely than you think...

silversolitaire — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:33:54 GMT

Oh Wikipedia, you never cease to amuse me. Being an "inclusionist", I really dislike all this wikilawyering lately where all the "deletionists" say that this and that article harms Wikipedia's respectability and reputation, so they keep taking down all sorts of articles. Personally, I think there's no such thing as "too much information". It's not like Wikipedia is going into print NOW and the information represented there has to outlast the next twenty years. So what if someone adds some article about some shortlived internet phenomenon? While it's hot, people will look it up. Eventually, nobody will care anymore and then you can either purge it or just let it sit there. The more info, the better. Just my opinion.

Anyway, as I was snooping around old W I noticed that the list of POTUS (that's Presidents of the United States for ya) was locked for editing. Weird, I thought. What's there to argue? Apparently quite a lot. Check this out. Apparently people are having a major disagreement over whether to include Obama already or not. Some (read: butthurt Republicans) insist that he's not yet President, in fact, he's not even President Elect yet as the Electorial College hasn't voted yet. Since the list clearly states POTUS and there's only one POTUS at a time, Obama shouldn't be on the list. Others (read: joygasming Democrats) believe this is just wikilawyering and he should at least be mentioned, and if it's just as "President Elect". Also, there should be a prettier picture of him.

Ah, hours of fun.

Also, this.

Halloween 2008

silversolitaire — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:20:36 GMT

Since some people have pointed out last year that I didn't post my annual pumpkin carving saga, I made extra sure to do so this year. So, here it is:

Pumpkin Carving in 10 Easy Steps!

Step 1: Prepare the tools.

Step 2: Decap pumpkin.

Step 3: Scoop out icky goo. Ewwww...

Step 4: Carve the insides nice and smooth. Always kinda makes me feel like a pumpkin abortionist :x.

Step 5: Conceive design.

Step 6: Follow through on conceived design. (fail)

Step 7: Cut out all pieces that don't belong.

Step 8: Avoid maiming your fingers. (fail)

[Not shown to protect the innocent]

Step 9: ???

Step 10: PROFIT!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!</font>

Who Killed Cock Robin?

silversolitaire — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:13:12 GMT

So, when I was looking through my box of old letters, I found a reply from a TV station from 1997 or so where I complained about a cartoon. This actually both amused and intrigued me. I actually still remember said cartoon and why I complained about it. As a matter of fact, I've tried since then and the dawn of YouTube to dig it up again and verify my slightly dodgy memory. So, in this letter they happened to mention the title of the cartoon I complained about, so now I know it again! *squee* Of course, my first stop was YouTube and lo and behold, there it was. I watched it... and all the things that annoyed me were still there. I mean, of course they were, but I still find them annoying and inacceptable. So I'm content *g*.

Now, I realize how this sounds. Like one of those nutjobs who complain about some kiddy cartoon which might not be 100% PC but hey, it's a kid's show, so loosen up. But really, it was more than that. Allow me to elaborate. The cartoon in question was "Who Killed Cock Robin?" by Silly Symphony short by Walt Disney himself from 1935. From what I've learnt now it was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject, Cartoons and actually won a Special Recommendation at the Venice Film Festival in 1936. So it's not just some neglectible throw-away cartoon.

Now, in order to understand what I'm talking about, you probably need to watch the cartoon in question.

[link]

The plot is quickly told. Cock Robin serenades his lady, Jenny, a Mae West stand-in of the avian variety, and is prompty shot into the chest with an arrow and falls down dead. Jenny's scream startles the neighbors and they watch poor Robin in his throes of death. The cops arrive and all but 60 seconds later the trial commences, discussing the question "Who killed Cock Robin?". I don't know about you, but in my world the trial shouldn't serve to figure out the culprit in the first place, but never mind that.

The cartoon is only 8 minutes long but if this is too much for your attention span at the moment, just check out, say, 3:00. Here, we have the first witness, no wait, suspect (who btw was rather randomly picked and dragged out of some bar along with two other guys, eh birds, while the coppers beat rhythmically on their heads with their batons) who's being questioned by the D.A. If you don't see the racial stereotype right there, allow me to enlighten you: here we have a blackbird, black, got it? He talks in the typical drawl and simpleton language usually associated with the stereotype of the black man, wears the stereotypical outfit. He turns white when scared, his gestures and stance is submissive and servile. Then there's the jury-choir reciting his testimony, adding the "No, sir"... I think it's rather obvious and quite racist. That was one of my complaints.

The other reason for complaint I've already hinted at earlier. It's this blatant use of police violence against the suspects. I realize this is just a cartoon, but i still can't stand watching the blackbird professing his innocence with the cop replying sardonically "Tell it to the judge, tell it to the judge," before beating around on his head without him putting up any form of resistance (2:30). I find that, frankly, quite disgusting. This just isn't funny.

And then, of course, there's the real kicker. Direct your attention to 6:40. When no verdict can be reached, neither the coon, nor the thug, nor the loon can be pinpointed as the culprit, Jenny demands "Someone ought to be hung!" and the judge, completely smitted by her presence, casually decides to hang them all, barely capable of lifting his eyes out of Jenny's cleavage. The jury breaks out into ecstatic singing and dancing: "We're gonna hang them all, we're gonna hang them all! We don't know who is guilty, so we're gonna hang them all!" ... Need I say more? This sentence alone, in my opinion, makes the entire cartoon inacceptable. They admit to not being able to prove any of the suspects guilty, so they're just going to give the death penalty to all of them? And I thought Phoenix Wright had a fucked up legal system.

To round it all off, the ending graces us with yet another stereotype. This time it's cupid-bird who really comes across as a total pansy, being delightfully pink, speaking with a lisp while waving around with his limp wrists. He confesses the "crime", but of course he didn't actually shoot Robin dead, he made him fall in love (wasn't he already in love before?). Robin and Jenny kiss (although he kinda seems to miss her mouth and hit some area between her chin and stomach, ehem), the jury breaks out into yet another song and everyone's happy. Or something.

Now, my problem isn't the mere existence of this cartoon. I'm not saying "BURN IT ALL!!!!! Hide it away, never to be found!!!!!". No, not at all. I just think this doesn't belong into the Sunday morning cartoons and this is why I complained. This is not a children's cartoon by any standards anymore. It shouldn't be aired anymore without reflection and commentary. It's just not funny anymore and it shouldn't be treated as such. That's my opinion.

While I was researching this, I looked at some of the comments on IMDB and people praise it for its "radical vision of The System", call it a "legal system at high speed". Thing is, I don't really think it is! I really don't think it's poking fun at the legal system and its convuluted ways, I think, despite being funny, they're being perfectly serious. Or rather, they're not reflecting such topics at all. Because otherwise we'd never have gotten such results, because despite everything, Disney usually really tries to do better. This cartoon merely is a sympton of its time, 1935, tail end of the Prohibition, rise of organized crime, at the brink of another World War. It really seemed okay then to portray minorities like that, to show them being treated in such a fashion, trivialize police violence. It was no big deal then. And this is exactly why it's so outdated now and why we can't just continue using it like it was as good as the next Spongebob Squarepants episode. It just isn't.

HALP

silversolitaire — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:52:18 GMT

Does anyone know how I cite a citation within a citation according to MLA? I want to cite U.S. News & World Report as it was cited in Katrina Mann's text. How do I cite that properly???

Weezer: Pork and Beans

silversolitaire — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:55:15 GMT

Dunno if you guys have caught this video yet: Weezer: Pork and Beans.

Since I'm a geek, I recognized most of the references, so I figured I might as well list them here. Ehem:

00:15 One Man Band
00:19 Dramatic Look
00:23 Afro Ninja
00:31 Diet Coke and Mentos Experiment
00:38 Guy catches glasses with his face
00:38 G.I. Joe PSA
00:48 T-Shirt World Record
00:59 Chris Crocker: LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!!!
01:04 All your Base
01:11 Miss South Carolina
01:16 Numa Numa Guy
01:24 Crank That Soldier Boy
01:27 Evolution of Dance
01:30 Tay Zonday: Chocolate Rain
01:39 K-Fed does PopoZão
01:48 Daft Hands
01:52 Daft Bodies
02:06 Best Sex Ever!!
02:09 Ask a Ninja
02:29 Kelly wants shoes
02:37 Sneezing Panda
02:37 Dancing Donald Duck
02:37 Ryan vs. Dorkman
02:43 Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!!
02:54 Will it blend?
02:56 Charlie the Unicorn

Did I miss anything?

Love Letters (excerpt)

silversolitaire — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:33:27 GMT

To all you dieting folks out there!

Dear Carbs,

I miss you so much. It's only been a week but I just can't get you out of my mind. Fruits and vegetables are boring. Who wants to eat a parsnip? Nobody. Mashed potatoes, biscuits, lasagne (sp?)! Mmmm. Oh man, I've got to stop thinking about you. I'll go crazy!!! I promise I'll be back after my high school reunion.

Yours,
Bob

P.S.: I love you!

Dear Fruits,

It's killing me that I have to eat five servings of you every day. Pears are so gross. Stupid guys who made that food pyramid. I bet they think they're so smart. I'd like to shove a pear up their butts. Now I know why there's Starburst and Jew Jew Bees (sp?). It's because you're not good enough the way you are. I wish Frankenberry cereal was considered a fruit. Then at least I'd have a puzzle or a maze to complete while I ate you.

Whatever,
Bob

Dear Vegetables,

Now I know why braindead people are named after you and not rocks. At least rocks don't taste like DESPAIR. You know why broccoli is shaped like a cartoon fart? Because it smells like something that came out of Andy Capp's ass. Yeah, take a look at yourself, you poor excuse of a nourishment. Look at an onion. It makes you cry. And then you have to put something else into your mouth so your wife won't run away screaming! Stupid! Wheat grass? Feet grass! FUCK YOU!!!!

Bob

From here. Although the rest isn't really that funny. I just felt like quoting this bit because I can totally relate. Well, I do like vegetables, and onions too, but broccoli is gross and sometimes veggies really do taste a bit like despair... *g*

silversolitaire — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:46:57 GMT

Damn, I can't believe I forgot Denmark and Cyprus! D:

54

Created by OnePlusYou

Also, I claim ~~two~~ more! For some reason it totally refused to accept Swaziland and New Zealand! (okay the later I mucked up the spelling, but still! I knew it! I should do fuzzy search! D:) I just checked Zimbabwe. I kept trying to enter it with an S, so no wonder it rejected that too. So make that 57! Hmpf! Oh! And I tried United Emirates which it also didn't accept. Isn't that a country too?!?

(also, as I was brushing my teeth, I realized I forgot the United Kingdom and Ireland! OMG!!!!)

Yay commentz!

silversolitaire — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:53:22 GMT

Just got a comment on my Stopwatch video that makes me teeter between being offended and amused.

Comment from dalekdalekdalek:

ianto is a brunette u twit he doesn't hav black hair!
ur an idiot dude!
other than that it waz good!

WTF XD At least it was constructive.

In other news, I have a headache. Again, not still. I think.

GIP!

silversolitaire — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:25:32 GMT

It had to happen.

Garfield minus Garfield

silversolitaire — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:00:53 GMT

I've found an interesting follow up to my post, many eons ago, about the Garfield comic strips without Garfield lines. Now someone has removed Garfield entirely and the product is, as the owner of the blog says, "an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life".

Here are some examples:

Source: http://garfieldminusgarfield.net

I find that hilarious. Without Garfield as his sounding board, Jon just seems even more like a loser than he usually does. As a matter of fact, I could imagine this is what most cat owners seem like to other people. We talk to our cats, we suspect malicious intent in their actions, we get upset, yet we always submit to their whims and stand in the kitchen, pantless, yet again to scoop out their food into a bowl. Oh yes, it's all quite realistic.

Indy 4 (no spoilers)

silversolitaire — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:50:17 GMT

Just came back from seeing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I thought it was pretty cool. Definitely a worthy part of the Indiana Jones franchise. I loved the little details here and there that they added to evoke the spirit of the former movies. I also felt like the character of Mutt worked and wasn't annoying or anything. Cate Blanchett as Soviet dominatrix is made of sex. Yes, the plot was a little spaced out (ehem), but aren't they all? >.>; I mean Indy has always been dabbling with paranormal forces, so that was okay IMO. For the first half of the movie, possibly longer, I had this stupid grin on my face *g*. So that's a good thing! Hehehe... the scenic depth of the movie was amazing, too. Many times you stop looking at what's right in front of you, because there's so much going on in the background! You'd probably need to watch it a dozen times to catch all the little details. Some critics have said that the movie has its lengths. I didn't really feel that was true. Maybe the jungle chase could have been just a tad bit shorter, but it wasn't really bad yet.

I didn't anticipate that the theater would be so full in the afternoon. Guess I was a bit naive ^^;. As a result, we had awful seats. Booo... but it could have been worse. I might write something deeper about it later, but for now I just want to record that I've seen it.

Eric, the Half-a-Bee?

silversolitaire — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:30:44 GMT

Okay, that doesn't really fit, but this week's Doctor Who episode definitely made me sing that song in my head all the time now! *g*

And right on cue, I had the opportunity today to snap a couple of pictures of a hornet! I want to share them with you because I think they're most amazing!

Isn't she just so beautiful?

Er yes, my funky fingernails are showing on this one! ^^;;; I was experimenting with some new nail polish I got for my toes to match my new sandals... uhm, yeah.

If I'm not mistaken, this is a European Hornet. When I stop being lazy, I'll take out my snazzy entomology book I got from no_ron and do a proper taxonomy.

So fuzzy! <3

This is the most amazing shot ever. How often do you get to see the bottom of a hornet! Fantastic! As you can see, she was busy drinking up the drops on the glass! *g*

Close-up on head. So sleek and beautiful!

And just to clear up with a myth? Hornets are not dangerous. Their sting is actually less poisonous than the one of a wasp and just about as painful, and they are in fact a lot less aggressive than wasps. So, stop trying to kill those poor creatures all the time. No wonder they're endangered.

The Red Guy

silversolitaire — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:11:26 GMT

Just took a walk down memory lane and recalled "I am Weasel" and subsequently went over to "Cow and Chicken" and then of course the Red Guy with his hilarious aliases.

I've made a list of the ones I remember:

Dr. Lax Slax
Ben Panced
Seymour Butts
Mr. Lackapants
Mrs. Bare Derierre
Officer Pantsoffski
Geraldo Rearviewa
Baron von Keinlederhosen
Dr. High Knee
Officer O'Fannyhee
Sir Pantsareoff

I knew there were tons more so I looked up a list and found several more, but also this one:

Ivan Panced

Somehow the pun eludes me here. Anyone care to enlighten me? O.o

I am Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiron Maaaaaaaaan!

silversolitaire — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:33:25 GMT

In other news, I've finally gotten around watching Iron Man on Monday. I loved it. It was most excellent. There's really nothing to complain about it. Except perhaps the changes they made in Stark's personality that bothered me a slight bit. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but in the comics Stark is pretty much unapologetic about his weaponmaking business. He does have some moral concerns occasionally, but most of the time Iron Man just beats the shit out of baddies, takes out competitors and then uses the research for himself. But I can see why they made that change. I'm also not too hot on Stark outing himself as Iron Man in front of the press. How the hell is that going to work out?

In general the film was ailing a bit from the lack of a definite villain, but that's a problem the comic books have, too. Jeff Bridges did an excellent job, I thought, and I just adored those magazine covers at the beginning. 21-year old Stark was simply darling. Took me right back to my great Robert Downey Jr. love in the 90s when I was all over him with Air America, Hearts and Souls, Soapdish and Chances Are... Paul Bettany as Jarvis' voice was awesome, too. It just gave the whole thing such an elegant quality, I thought.

There was a bit of a stretch in the last quarter I thought where the movie was teetering at the edge of becoming boring. Well, not so much boring but it was like, "Okay, now he's done testing his suit, he blew the shit out of the ebil terrorists... what's going to happen now for the remaining half an hour?" There just wasn't a conflict. But that only lasted a couple of minutes until they established Stane as the villain. Of course that was a bit of a "duh" thing, but from a purely narrative POV there was no villain there and IMO they could have set up a long-term complication a tad bit sooner to keep up the suspense. But that was just a minor draw-back.

The humor was excellent, Robert Downey Jr. clearly was born for this role and I just can't wait for more of that! I'm still chuckling when I think of those suit testing scenes. They're always my favorite. I love that in Spider-Man best, too, when he tests out his powers and tries to get comfortable with them. Dummy, the fire safety, was just so funny. Yay for anthropomorphized robot arms. And as I said before, I just loved Jarvis' dry humor.

So, overall it it was a very enjoyable experience. Now we just have to wait for the sequels to fuck it all up.

silversolitaire — Sun, 04 May 2008 21:11:25 GMT

"I don't claim a lot of experience with crying women, but in stories I read, the man always holds the woman close and lets her cry. And it always turns out to have been the wise, understanding thing to do; I've never heard of a single authenticated case where the wise, understanding thing was to distract her with card tricks or tickling her feet. So I was wise and understanding: I held Becky close and let her cry, because I didn't know what else to do or say."

- Jack Finney, "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers", p. 47

Train of Thought

silversolitaire — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:11:54 GMT

Every time I'm taking the train, I amuse myself with reading the graffiti at the walls while I wait. Maybe it's the anthropologist in me that enjoys things like that. For the longest time, there's been this big spray-on at the opposite side of the platform. It said "a witty remark" and it always made me smile. I was blogging about it in my head, every time I saw it, thinking how I'd say "Someone sprayed a witty remark on the wall, literally!" and it made me smile even more. One day I actually blogged about it, but I guess nobody else found it as funny as I did.

Every time I saw this graffiti I promised myself I'd take a photo of it. Just... to keep. I thought someone needs to document this. Keep this for posterity. Last week I actually had a camera with me, but because of circumstances beyond my control I didn't really have the time to snap a picture before I got on the train. Then, when I got home it was dark and I was tired and I just didn't think about it anymore.

This week, I return to the waiting booth and I'm staring at a large plain surface. Someone has painted over all the graffiti. It doesn't really improve the attractiveness of this place as it's grey and dull. All the funny little remarks, the small signs of people who've waited here just like me, are gone. Of course the witty remark is gone as well. I'm struck with an immense feeling of loss.

As I'm waiting for the train, my eyes brush past the now decomposing carcass of the cat. Of course nobody has bothered to remove it from the tracks. My heart aches again as I think that this could be my cat... lost, missed, forgotten. I wish someone would get on those tracks and remove it. I wouldn't want to touch it, of course. But someone else should.

Behind me, someone has shattered a glass bottle on the ground. Brown shards poke up like jagged mountain ridges. For a brief moment I wonder what would happen if I stepped on those. Would they cut through my soles, into my flesh, making me hurt and bleed? The thought seems strangely appealing now, leaving a track of blood as I walk so I could never get lost. A bit like a bizarro version of Hansel and Gretel. My foot hovers above a shard, but I never put it down.

I get lost in thoughts some more and keep waiting for the train. Then it arrives and I take a step back. I hear the crunch of the glass under my shoes as I step into the pile of shards. Nothing happens. I get on the train.

Cats in the Bed

silversolitaire — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:07:54 GMT

Today while I was dicking around instead of reading texts for my thesis, my eyes brushed past this book I managed to obtain several years back, written by the mayor of Munich. He's a very witty and funny man and he's also an avid cat owner and wrote quite a few humorous stories on the subject. I found this one particularly amusing, so I've translated it for your enjoyment!

I'm not that good with official politician talk, so if you notice anything that could be improved, lemme know!

Cats in the Bed
by Christian Ude
translated by silversolitaire

When I was encouraged to seriously consider a career in politics, I timidly asked myself whether I'd be assertive enough to be up to the task. After all, day after day I wake up doubting my own assertiveness as it is the same thing every morning: the cats are lounging at the foot of my bed once again despite the fact that I've strictly forbidden them to do so.

How was I supposed to assert myself against powerful political adversaries, the perils of administration and the opposition amongst my own people when I'm not even able to manage it with my own cats?

I found comfort in observing my future colleagues: it isn't really that important to actually achieve anything, you just have to find impressive words for failing to do so!

Ever since, the cats at the foot of my bed aren't a problem anymore. As a local politician, I simply announce:

"I have issued a strict order to ban all cats from entering the bed and lounging at the foot of it on pain of civil penalties. The resolution position couldn't be any better. Unfortunately we're facing minor completion deficits which aren't likely to be resolved any time soon considering the current staff situation."

As a politician involved in energy policy I can even score big time with cats in the bed:

"Our course is clear: cats out of the bed. We want an exit of cats, without ifs and buts – but not right away! We need a short-, intermediate- and long-term exit strategy. For the short term, the cats will remain in the bed, for the intermediate term, we're not really sure yet, but for the long term, we'll switch to guinea pigs."

Famous politicians have taught me how your entire party can benefit from cats in the bed:

"My cats and I, we have managed to converge through patience and perseverance to prove ourselves as good neighbors internally as well as to the outside. We have reached a feasible and neighborly arrangement regarding the usage of the foot of the bed, and I rush to add: that we have opposing interpretations in regards to this arrangement is exactly what makes our democracy such a great and vivid process!"

Lastly, I have learnt a thing or two from our government about how you can cover up your own neglects in coping with problems, especially regarding the placement of unpleasant guests and how you can turn it into a constitutional debate:

"Well, look at that! How cat-degrading the housing arrangement for these two is and how much of a hassle they are for us as well! It can't go on like this! Ladies and gentlemen, THE BED IS FULL! Obviously we must consider a new amendment!"

Couple of interesting links

silversolitaire — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 19:46:12 GMT

Famous photos, reenacted by Lego minifigs.

And this:

It makes me laugh tears, seriously. Animal/Beaker = OTP, seriously!

Vereh Important Announcement:

silversolitaire — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:34:57 GMT

I gots me a new mood theme! :D (not sure if that shows okay?) I kinda skipped on the Torchwood one since I was lazy and everyone and their dog had one anyway. Then I was flirting with making myself a Nuke mood theme and just in time mystictwilight came in and made one! But I didn't let that put a damper on my excitement and since she said it was okay with her, I went ahead and made my own! ^^

Isn't it pretteh! So much boy angst!

What academics really mean

silversolitaire — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:27:12 GMT

Found this this weekend and in the light of my Master's thesis this seems rather relevant. And oh so true! XD

What academics really mean:

It has long been known (I haven't bothered to look up the reference)

A trend is evident (These data are practically worthless)

Typical results are shown (this is the prettiest graph)

In my experience (once)

In case after case (twice)

In a series of cases (thrice)

It is believed that (I think)

It is generally believed that (a couple of others think so too)

It is not unreasonable to assume (If you believe this, you'll believe anything)

Correct within an order of magnitude (wrong)

According to statistical analysis (it is rumored)

Of great theoretical importance (I find it kind of interesting)

Of great practical importance (I can get some mileage out of it)

Typical results are shown (The best results are shown)

Three of the samples were chosen for this study (the other samples didn't make any sense)

It has not been possible to provide definitive answers (The experiment was negative, but at least I can publish the data somewhere)

It might be argued that... (I have such a good answer for this objection that I shall now raise it)

I thank X for assistance with the experiments and Y for useful discussions on the interpretation of the data. (X did the experiment and Y explained it to me.)

It is significant (I'm not sure how, but you can probably figure it out)

Mainstream scholars believe (I'm ignoring everyone I disagree with)

To put this statement in context (Let me spend five pages detailing my irrelevant historical research)

Beyond the scope of this essay/study (I don't feel like talking about it)

Only tangentially relevant (I'm thoroughly sick of talking about it)

New research has shown (Everyone else is wrong)

LJ Strike

silversolitaire — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:05:25 GMT

Since all the cool kids are doing it I'm going to participate as well. It's not like LJ is going to miss out on my thoughful posts or anything, but I'll try to make an effort not to comment on that day either. I know, I know. People are saying left and right that it's pointless anyway, that a protest like this won't really bother them, how dare we protest that we're not getting stuff for free anymore, yadda-yadda. From a purely selfish POV I don't care. I've got a paid account, I'm not seeing ads anyway and I'm not the kind of person who creates new accounts all the time. So whatever.

Thing is, people are growing frustrated with LJ and are migrating. And THAT bothers me. I don't want to sit here with my paid account while everyone else is playing somewhere else. Not so much because I refuse to move, but it's just that people scatter into all directions and that sucks. LJ just finally has started to become something of a centralized place for fanfics. After the demise of mailing lists and with people no longer actually creating and maintaining archives this is essential for finding fics. And it's no good when people go all over the place and just post links to their fics to LJ which are actually hosted on InsaneJournal or whatever. You lose so many functions. Commenting properly, mem'ing, what not... Things have to stay the way they are!

So I rather want people to stay happy and remain with LJ. I'll do what it takes to make them happy. And if that strike has a remote chance of working, I'll try that too. And hey, who knows. This might actually work better than merely ranting about how evil LJ is in your own journals or just leaving in a huff.

Anyway, here's some info on the strike.
And here are the times when the strike starts all over the world.