I find it fascinating, that as a culture, we require certain days throughout the year to remind us of certain things. We need Thanksgiving to remind us that we should be grateful for the manifold blessings of life and Christmas to point out that love and peace are a good thing. We also have this day right here, Valentine's Day.
Why on God's green earth, do we need a day to remind us to tell each other of our love. This should be a daily occurrence. If you love someone, tell them every single day. We are not lucky enough to know when we will part this life, I don't want anyone I care about to have any lingering doubts about how much they meant to me. You shouldn't either. So get over your ample baggage and tell them you love them every day, and use this silly day for fun and tasty treats.
Who is this nut?
- kired
- "You need to believe in things that aren't true. How else can they become?" T. Pratchett
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rant. Show all posts
14.2.12
10.4.10
File Under: Bullies
The Bangor Daily News ran an article about the tragic situation in Mass, where a young lady took her life because of the interminable bullying of 6 other students. Many lives are now in ruins because the school officials didn't take the situation seriously enough.
I would also blame the multitude of the students and teachers that knew what was going on and did nothing to aid Phoebe Prince. It says in the article, that it was common knowledge that she was being bullied regularly. One can understandably deduce that none of these people made a real effort to help this girl in the form of kind words, or God forbid stand up to the little pukes. I've had my trips to the principles office and suspensions for standing up to bullies on my and others behalves. Funny thing, once I called them out on their shit, they left me and mine alone.
Bullies are insecure, cowards. Dave Ramsey says the best way to deal with a bully is to "pop'm in the nose." I may be a pacifist but I tend to agree with this sentiment. We've already had to deal with a child that was pushing our daughter around. We taught, nay drilled, her to scream out loud, "DON'T PUSH ME!" Alerting all in the area of the problem. Guess who doesn't get pushed anymore. However, if that didn't work, I was more than willing to teach my little girl how to take down a male significantly bigger than her. We would deal with the consequences of course, but she also would no longer be a victim.
Our schools and even society at large seem ill equipped to deal with the issue of bullying. Rules and laws seem to focus mainly on dealing with the issue, after it has gone too far. Therefore, like sex and money, it must fall to parents to do the real teaching. We must teach our kids that comments like "Boys will be boys," are not acceptable from teachers and principles. That you don't have to be a victim, and to stand up for what is right, even if there are consequences.
I would also blame the multitude of the students and teachers that knew what was going on and did nothing to aid Phoebe Prince. It says in the article, that it was common knowledge that she was being bullied regularly. One can understandably deduce that none of these people made a real effort to help this girl in the form of kind words, or God forbid stand up to the little pukes. I've had my trips to the principles office and suspensions for standing up to bullies on my and others behalves. Funny thing, once I called them out on their shit, they left me and mine alone.
Bullies are insecure, cowards. Dave Ramsey says the best way to deal with a bully is to "pop'm in the nose." I may be a pacifist but I tend to agree with this sentiment. We've already had to deal with a child that was pushing our daughter around. We taught, nay drilled, her to scream out loud, "DON'T PUSH ME!" Alerting all in the area of the problem. Guess who doesn't get pushed anymore. However, if that didn't work, I was more than willing to teach my little girl how to take down a male significantly bigger than her. We would deal with the consequences of course, but she also would no longer be a victim.
Our schools and even society at large seem ill equipped to deal with the issue of bullying. Rules and laws seem to focus mainly on dealing with the issue, after it has gone too far. Therefore, like sex and money, it must fall to parents to do the real teaching. We must teach our kids that comments like "Boys will be boys," are not acceptable from teachers and principles. That you don't have to be a victim, and to stand up for what is right, even if there are consequences.
11.3.09
File Under: From this kayaker to the state of Maine..
F#$% YOU! It seems that some of those genius legislators down Augusta way want to liscence every kayak and canoe operator over the age of 16. Are you f'n kidding me? We choose the least impacting way to enjoy Maine's waterways and now you want to punish us for that? Kiss my ass you overtaxing, money grubbing self agrandizing assholes. I have f'n had it with this state. Every time I turn around they're trying to clip me for another thing. I can't wait for them to tax the air I breathe. I believe in conservation, I have the f'n Loon Plates, I pick up trash when I see it. If I hump it up the hill, I hump it back down. That's the way you do it, but this is just ridiculous. You got the money on my f'n kayaks when I bought them. Take that 5% and conserve something you greedy f#$%s.
16.2.09
File Under: GOP Senators are full of shit!
I have had it with GOP Senators and their whiny obstructionist bullshit. They have the audacity to claim that President Obama isn't reaching out to them? Are you fucking kidding me? Our country is in full blown meltdown and you're bitching cause Obama didn't come over and fondle your balls while you tried to get fatter paydays for your ultra-rich friends.?
These people are just plain full of shit, they don't care about us or our worries. They care about the game they're playing and the gains their wallets are making. Mind you I have every faith that Dems are just as guilty of partisan revisionism and profiting off our woes.
John McCain, glad to see you found that inner douche bag, I came to hate on the campaign trail. I mistakenly thought you had exorosied that demon in your concession speech. Yet another case of my naivete. To think there was a time when I would have voted for you, I guess that makes me the douche bag.
I would like to personally thank Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, for putting partisan stupidity aside and working for the people of this country. Thank you, for not having your heads stuffed up your own asses this time. Enjoy the fresh air.
There, maybe that will drop my blood pressure a little.
These people are just plain full of shit, they don't care about us or our worries. They care about the game they're playing and the gains their wallets are making. Mind you I have every faith that Dems are just as guilty of partisan revisionism and profiting off our woes.
John McCain, glad to see you found that inner douche bag, I came to hate on the campaign trail. I mistakenly thought you had exorosied that demon in your concession speech. Yet another case of my naivete. To think there was a time when I would have voted for you, I guess that makes me the douche bag.
I would like to personally thank Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, for putting partisan stupidity aside and working for the people of this country. Thank you, for not having your heads stuffed up your own asses this time. Enjoy the fresh air.
There, maybe that will drop my blood pressure a little.
19.12.08
File Under: Annoying Record Labels
As I'm loading up my media player with guitar greats, I once again realize how short sighted the labels really are. I use Rhapsody's all you can eat buffet subscription service. This allows me to load up my and my wife's media player for the cost of a CD a month, also to access the service from any broadband/net capable device. To my point, there are some tracks which don't fall under the purview of this deal. They are accessible as only 30 second snippets to tease you into dropping the 99 cents on them.
The only thing I can figure, based on which tracks end up in this category, is that the labels are trying to protect what they view as high value properties. This is understandable, yet short sighted. Many people will just ignore those tracks, especially when exploring new artists. If I can listen to all but one or two tracks off the album, I'm probably gonna do it. Then if I really want those, I may decide to buy them (hasn't happened yet).
So let's say I buy it. Now they get their share of the 99 cents, once. However, if those tracks are ones I really like and keep on my player for months to years at a time, they will get a small but regular revenue stream out of me, that may turn out to be a larger sum.
Now we come to the "wait a minute" section. "What if you don't keep the tracks, then they don't get the revenue?"
True, there is a gamble that I will think the music is crap (and a lot of it is). However, if I pay my near buck a track, I'm gonna tell my friends how much crap it is and to avoid it. If it's just part of my large buffet, I'll delete it and forget it. Conversely, if I like it and keep it, I'll tell other people how great it is. Then they may download it at Rhapsody, or pay up at iTunes, or even buy a shiney disc. Now instead of avoiding the track, I'm micro paying for it, promoting it, and getting the label additional users.
I'm sure the labels will tell you, I'm just a whiny person who doesn't want to pay for music. Not so, I'm someone who has a disturbingly large number of shiny discs, that I paid way too much for in college. I'm someone who doesn't want to steal music, therefore I have a subscription service so I can explore new artists and back catalogs of my faves. I'm someone who will tell anyone who will listen, how great an artist is. To the labels I say, if you're worried, I won't like your music and want your money up front, maybe you should produce better music.
The only thing I can figure, based on which tracks end up in this category, is that the labels are trying to protect what they view as high value properties. This is understandable, yet short sighted. Many people will just ignore those tracks, especially when exploring new artists. If I can listen to all but one or two tracks off the album, I'm probably gonna do it. Then if I really want those, I may decide to buy them (hasn't happened yet).
So let's say I buy it. Now they get their share of the 99 cents, once. However, if those tracks are ones I really like and keep on my player for months to years at a time, they will get a small but regular revenue stream out of me, that may turn out to be a larger sum.
Now we come to the "wait a minute" section. "What if you don't keep the tracks, then they don't get the revenue?"
True, there is a gamble that I will think the music is crap (and a lot of it is). However, if I pay my near buck a track, I'm gonna tell my friends how much crap it is and to avoid it. If it's just part of my large buffet, I'll delete it and forget it. Conversely, if I like it and keep it, I'll tell other people how great it is. Then they may download it at Rhapsody, or pay up at iTunes, or even buy a shiney disc. Now instead of avoiding the track, I'm micro paying for it, promoting it, and getting the label additional users.
I'm sure the labels will tell you, I'm just a whiny person who doesn't want to pay for music. Not so, I'm someone who has a disturbingly large number of shiny discs, that I paid way too much for in college. I'm someone who doesn't want to steal music, therefore I have a subscription service so I can explore new artists and back catalogs of my faves. I'm someone who will tell anyone who will listen, how great an artist is. To the labels I say, if you're worried, I won't like your music and want your money up front, maybe you should produce better music.
30.11.08
File Under: Greed
There is a reason why greed is one of the mortal sins. It leads people to totally disregard the welfare of self and others in the pursuit of money and things. There is no better example of this than those people in Long Island, who ended a man's life so they could get better deals. To them and to Walmart, who hosted Jdimytai Damour's death, I say "F#@K YOU YOU GREEDY F#@KS!" I am disgusted with our consumer ways, which often leads to some self disgust, but this is on a whole new level of putrescence.
You gotta love the way this CNN story spins the "positive" news of good sales for Walmart, for that-F#@k you CNN.
You gotta love the way this CNN story spins the "positive" news of good sales for Walmart, for that-F#@k you CNN.
15.11.08
File Under: Gladwell-The Uses of Adversity
I enjoy Malcolm Gladwell's work. I find it insightful, well written and easily related to. This article came to my attention through "The Lefsetz Letter" (subscribe). I highly recommend you take the time to read it.
As an only child, it is often assumed that I have an overdeveloped sense of entitlement. Thanks to my parents, that just isn't the case. Anytime I started to think that way, I was always put back in my place, i.e. you work for what you get, life isn't fair, and the world doesn't revolve around you (I have since found that bed-spins temporarily negate that last one).
These are lessons that seem to be non-existent in many families around our country today. I feel that I am observing a generational devolution of the ability to overcome. Whining to mom and dad to fix it, is not a survival trait. I feel that Gladwell's notion of disadvantage as advantage is spot on. Our national fixation of giving children every advantage, and thing, is leading us down a path where so many people don't know real success.
The point in our society where a C became the teachers fault and was just unacceptable, therefore making self-preserving teachers change their scores, is the point where we went off the rails. If Joey doesn't know that he can get C's or even fail, he has no idea what it means to succeed based on merit. He won't develop those skills that are necessary to overcome roadblocks to success. In fine we are raising entitled kids, who have no idea what it means to struggle for what they have.
I fear for those people and what life will mean for them in the future I see coming. It seems quite possible that our national heyday has passed, and in that new world, the old insider ties that protect them won't matter. It will indeed be those who faced failure and disadvantages that will be most equipped to succeed.
As an only child, it is often assumed that I have an overdeveloped sense of entitlement. Thanks to my parents, that just isn't the case. Anytime I started to think that way, I was always put back in my place, i.e. you work for what you get, life isn't fair, and the world doesn't revolve around you (I have since found that bed-spins temporarily negate that last one).
These are lessons that seem to be non-existent in many families around our country today. I feel that I am observing a generational devolution of the ability to overcome. Whining to mom and dad to fix it, is not a survival trait. I feel that Gladwell's notion of disadvantage as advantage is spot on. Our national fixation of giving children every advantage, and thing, is leading us down a path where so many people don't know real success.
The point in our society where a C became the teachers fault and was just unacceptable, therefore making self-preserving teachers change their scores, is the point where we went off the rails. If Joey doesn't know that he can get C's or even fail, he has no idea what it means to succeed based on merit. He won't develop those skills that are necessary to overcome roadblocks to success. In fine we are raising entitled kids, who have no idea what it means to struggle for what they have.
I fear for those people and what life will mean for them in the future I see coming. It seems quite possible that our national heyday has passed, and in that new world, the old insider ties that protect them won't matter. It will indeed be those who faced failure and disadvantages that will be most equipped to succeed.
2.11.08
File Under: Walmart Sucks
I know many of you are already quite aware of the massive suckage that is Walmart (aka Wally World). I avoid shopping there as much as possible, but sometimes they just have what you need at prices you want to pay.
I went out this morning, cause I hate the crowds of people that play out their Springeresque lives in the aisles of this retail giant. All was quiet, as most of those folks don't get up that early.
I picked out my various body cleansers and moisturizers, as well as looked at some possible Christmas presents for the kidlets. When I arrived at the front, all the lines were backed out to the ends of the aisle. You see, Walmart is very good at making sure they have just enough people working cash, to barely handle the customer flow. I understand that they need to control costs, so I'm cool with being a couple people deep. What pissed me off, after waiting in the line for over 5 minutes, the dipshit, turns off his light and says to the person in front of me, we all need to find another line cause he has to go.
After briefly staring in disbelief (the rule is, if the light is on when you get in line, you get served), I determined that no other line was opening to handle the people in my line. I wandered to the other side of cash register bank to find they were all full to the brim with overflowing carts and slow cashiers. I began looking up and down the 26 lines to see if one may open up soon. I then noticed a light come on back where I was. I rushed back, trying to save myself 20 minutes of standing in line. When I got there, it was the same little puke that kicked us out of his line. Muttering obscenities to myself, I dropped my basket and walked out.
Rite Aid had what I needed for a little more money. So Walmart can keep its suckiness to itself. Until I give up and have to go in for something. *sigh*
I went out this morning, cause I hate the crowds of people that play out their Springeresque lives in the aisles of this retail giant. All was quiet, as most of those folks don't get up that early.
I picked out my various body cleansers and moisturizers, as well as looked at some possible Christmas presents for the kidlets. When I arrived at the front, all the lines were backed out to the ends of the aisle. You see, Walmart is very good at making sure they have just enough people working cash, to barely handle the customer flow. I understand that they need to control costs, so I'm cool with being a couple people deep. What pissed me off, after waiting in the line for over 5 minutes, the dipshit, turns off his light and says to the person in front of me, we all need to find another line cause he has to go.
After briefly staring in disbelief (the rule is, if the light is on when you get in line, you get served), I determined that no other line was opening to handle the people in my line. I wandered to the other side of cash register bank to find they were all full to the brim with overflowing carts and slow cashiers. I began looking up and down the 26 lines to see if one may open up soon. I then noticed a light come on back where I was. I rushed back, trying to save myself 20 minutes of standing in line. When I got there, it was the same little puke that kicked us out of his line. Muttering obscenities to myself, I dropped my basket and walked out.
Rite Aid had what I needed for a little more money. So Walmart can keep its suckiness to itself. Until I give up and have to go in for something. *sigh*
19.7.08
15.7.08
File Under: The Death of an American Icon
I admit I don't really drink Anheuser-Busch products. They'll do in a pinch, but not likely to reside in my cooler or fridge. I am still severely disappointed in the sale of this great American company and icon to a foreign brewer. It's not xenophobia or fear of globalization. It's just one of those brands that I think of as fundamentaly American and by its loss we are losing yet another piece of our national identity.
I blame stockholders, cause they don't care about anything other than their pocketbooks and look what it has wrought us. A nation in the flails of an economic downturn that may not have a bottom, driven by "profits" at any cost. Except the profits, it turns out, were lies in too many cases.
I feel that this issue with stockholders and boards does tie into the nationalistic ideas of Bud. We tend to view natioanlism with a judgemental eye and history has given us good reason. However, a moderate amout of it is a good thing. It may give people pause, to consider the greater good of their fellow countrymen and women, before their own personal greed, I mean gain.
If we sell off our ownership, where does that leave us? A nation owened by many other nations. It will eventually erode our power to even defend ourselves. I'm obviously beyond beer at this point, but where does the Great American Sell Off end?
I blame stockholders, cause they don't care about anything other than their pocketbooks and look what it has wrought us. A nation in the flails of an economic downturn that may not have a bottom, driven by "profits" at any cost. Except the profits, it turns out, were lies in too many cases.
I feel that this issue with stockholders and boards does tie into the nationalistic ideas of Bud. We tend to view natioanlism with a judgemental eye and history has given us good reason. However, a moderate amout of it is a good thing. It may give people pause, to consider the greater good of their fellow countrymen and women, before their own personal greed, I mean gain.
If we sell off our ownership, where does that leave us? A nation owened by many other nations. It will eventually erode our power to even defend ourselves. I'm obviously beyond beer at this point, but where does the Great American Sell Off end?
3.6.08
File Under: Special Oil
Hello boys and girls in CMP land. Your Uncle Kired just received his budget plan for heating oil this coming year. $313.00 per month. Isn't that special? Last year it was $185 per month. That was special too. I feel so special right now, I just want to tell our President how special he is. I would also like to tell all those folks at those big oil companies how special I think they are. Oh and those special people who play the commodities market, aren't they just the most special people?
I would like to hear from all you boys and girls about how special it's going to be to heat your home this year.
I would like to hear from all you boys and girls about how special it's going to be to heat your home this year.
30.3.08
File Under: Heads on pikes
For those of you naive enough to think we live in a country where all are equal and anyone can succeed if they only try. Wake the fuck up. This LA Times story about the compensation packages for the top idiots at Countrywide, just makes me wonder when the revolution is coming. So many people have lost their homes and these guys are getting tens of millions of dollars for being complete fuck ups. The good ol boy network is alive and well. If you aren't one of them, get back to work those yachts don't buy themselves.
File Under: Pretentious Pratt
I tend to shy away from writing a lot of commentary on the music I present here at Cursed Monkey Paw. I do this with the idea, that you will know if you like it or not, and your connection to the artist is the only one that matters to you. I'll just muck it up. Not to say that on occasion I haven't been known to rant about the horrid state of certain pieces (Madonna-4 Minutes, seriously yuck), but all in all, I try to stay hands off.
However, as many of you are well aware there are a lot of bloggers out there that think they are quite clever and that you somehow need them to cough up their sputum on your entree to enhance the flavor. Pratt Songs is one such blog. I find designating each album a representative food to be particularly pretentious. Blogs like this are the other reason I try to keep my opinions to myself, some other shit like me may come along and mock me.
However, as many of you are well aware there are a lot of bloggers out there that think they are quite clever and that you somehow need them to cough up their sputum on your entree to enhance the flavor. Pratt Songs is one such blog. I find designating each album a representative food to be particularly pretentious. Blogs like this are the other reason I try to keep my opinions to myself, some other shit like me may come along and mock me.
21.3.08
File Under: Oops my bad, sorry Radiohead.
Those of you who know me in the real world, know that I am not a huge fan of Radiohead (I heard those gasps). Don't get me wrong, I liked "Creep" and The Bends was a great album. I just don't seem to have the "everything they do is genius" bug. Anyhoo, the reason I need to apologize is this. Radiohead's new album has a song I really like on it "Bodysnatchers," and the first few times I heard it, I thought it was Queens of the Stone Age. Maybe I am an unwashed plebe who doesn't know my ass from my elbow, or maybe I was right, Radiohead isn't the second coming.
Radiohead - Bodysnatchers (Scotch Mist version)
Radiohead - Bodysnatchers (Scotch Mist version)
20.3.08
File Under: This song just plain sucks.
I was quite confused when Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I was amused when Iggy Pop performed her music. To my point, this is her new single, it is absolute shit. I can't even listen to it again. I mean it is real crap. O boy another Timbaland song which sounds like every other Timbaland song. Justin Timberlake (who seems to have a strong desire to couple with Madonna) also sucks. It is almost like all three sat around thinking of how crappy a song they could make and still get figuratively fellated by the media and all the pop junkies out there.
4.3.08
File Under: Proud to be a Mainer
Dear Mr. Chertoff,
You may think that you are helping by threatening the States that don't comply with your Real ID program. You are mistaken. The State of Maine is full of a proud people, as are the people of New Hampshire, and Montana. I agree with the governor of Montana, we will gladly wait in another line to board a plane as long as we don't have to carry a national style ID. This is not a dictatorship, this is not a cold war era Soviet State, so we say to you, no.
So threaten away and invade someone else's privacy.
You may think that you are helping by threatening the States that don't comply with your Real ID program. You are mistaken. The State of Maine is full of a proud people, as are the people of New Hampshire, and Montana. I agree with the governor of Montana, we will gladly wait in another line to board a plane as long as we don't have to carry a national style ID. This is not a dictatorship, this is not a cold war era Soviet State, so we say to you, no.
So threaten away and invade someone else's privacy.
7.2.08
File Under: Don't ever even think about buying a Microsoft Xbox 360
That's right I said it. I have fucking had it. For the third time I have the three flashing lights of death. For the third time I had to call these assholes, in what ever country they are in. For the third time, they will take a month to fix the damn thing. Oh wait, they don't actually do that, they keep it for 2-3 weeks then send me another one.
For my trouble they were kind enough to offer me a free month of X-Box Live. Free? Fuck you I already paid for it and you are just replacing it. Then they offered me one of their shitty discount shelf games. We are talking launch titles here. How is that compensation? Admittedly Viva Pinata is one of them, but I already have it.
So I asked to talk to a supervisor, stupid shit that I am. I had time for Eve Online to finish downloading (I started the download when I made the call), install, watch the intro video, and start creating a toon, before Mark (she said her name was Mark), came back and handed me over to Edgy. Edgy is a royal douche and I hope that his education in the language of English helped him to pick up the nuances of what I was telling him. All Edgy and his ilk will tell you is that, there isn't a damn thing they are going to do to make you feel better about the fact that their product is a world class piece of donkey flop. He just kept repeating that I could either do it their way or enjoy my new 36o shaped brick. The conversation ended with me asking him to "Please just send the fucking box." Which is all that was going to happen in the first place.
So to you, I say, don't even think about buying an Xbox 360. It's a big festering turd. You will end up with 4 different consoles in just over 2 years and contemplate why you shelled out all that fucking money in the first place. Just go read a nice book or something.
Addendum: This is not an isolated issue, I have two friends who have had this failure in the last 4 months. Theses machines are shit.
Also, EA, that's right fucking EA, replaced their defective drum pads for Rock Band in 2 days. TWO DAYS!
For my trouble they were kind enough to offer me a free month of X-Box Live. Free? Fuck you I already paid for it and you are just replacing it. Then they offered me one of their shitty discount shelf games. We are talking launch titles here. How is that compensation? Admittedly Viva Pinata is one of them, but I already have it.
So I asked to talk to a supervisor, stupid shit that I am. I had time for Eve Online to finish downloading (I started the download when I made the call), install, watch the intro video, and start creating a toon, before Mark (she said her name was Mark), came back and handed me over to Edgy. Edgy is a royal douche and I hope that his education in the language of English helped him to pick up the nuances of what I was telling him. All Edgy and his ilk will tell you is that, there isn't a damn thing they are going to do to make you feel better about the fact that their product is a world class piece of donkey flop. He just kept repeating that I could either do it their way or enjoy my new 36o shaped brick. The conversation ended with me asking him to "Please just send the fucking box." Which is all that was going to happen in the first place.
So to you, I say, don't even think about buying an Xbox 360. It's a big festering turd. You will end up with 4 different consoles in just over 2 years and contemplate why you shelled out all that fucking money in the first place. Just go read a nice book or something.
Addendum: This is not an isolated issue, I have two friends who have had this failure in the last 4 months. Theses machines are shit.
Also, EA, that's right fucking EA, replaced their defective drum pads for Rock Band in 2 days. TWO DAYS!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)