Howdy,
Doesn't talking about tax bases and city planning just get your week off to a lovely start? And now for something completely different....
its
James Burke.
One of my favorite TV shows has been posted on youtube until some copyright privateer ruins the party. Connections by and staring James Burke was a BBC show in which Burke began with something very simple and shows how that one invention was a trigger for immense historical change. I have a few books from grad school all about such triggers, and let me tell you, James Burke delivers it in a much more enjoyable way.
For example.
In one episode he shows a village square full of medieval peasants laughing, feasting, playing music, and dancing. The camera angle is from the ground looking straight up and Burke says "Now, I want you to do me a favor, look up the ladies dresses. Yup, that is right, the trigger for historical change is frilly knickers" and 20 minutes in the program later you have the computer.
The show is wonderful. When/if I become a social studies teacher I hope to do a James Burke routine with a few topics. Hear that? He is inspirational. That is a damn good show.
Anyway, here is the first part of the first episode. All of them are on youtube, all of them are cut up into five, ten minute bits. All are wonderful. Enjoy them while you can.
James's Journal
My Podcast Link
06/13/2007 10:18 #39635
Zombie TV makes me happy06/12/2007 00:28 #39620
A post in which nothing funny happensPoliticians don't get me hard.
Oh ya, those young left leaning kids love Obama, and certainly he is spreadable like butter. But no hard on, just limp with missed expectations.
And activists? Unless you want to add Emma Goldman's face to Mt. Rushmore, well, you might as well just smell like patchouli and volunteer for NYPIRG.
But then, there is Kevin Gaughan.
Kevin is not a politician. Yes, he has run for mayor, but not being a gear in the local machine he missed out.
Kevin isn't a 'all wet but no boner' activist. He isn't saving Pandas or documenting the east side as it crumbles into memory. The man has done research, crunched his numbers, has lifted a veil, and he has a plan to stick it to the bride.
This, is The Cost.
A site in which Kevin has tabulated the cost of running the local governments and compares them to a comparable city. The findings are absurd.
It is like this. Decades ago Atlanta was the sort of city you were as likely to find a McDonald's as you were to be having sex with your first cousin. That is to say, it was a place you wouldn't want to live. But as corporations moved down and took the population of New Jersey with them the city grew. As the city expanded so did the city line. Atlanta ate hamlets and villages and all became one big city with a normal rate of web-toed incest babies.
Buffalo never has.
Kenmore is a good place to start. It has 15,555 people living there and six elected officials. Buffalo has a population of 279,745 with 24 elected officials. That means, if Buffalo had the same ratio of people to elected officials there would be 90 members of the common council instead of 10.
The figures in his report jump off the page and makes us wonder just why the hell we are spending so much money on government. How many officials do we need to pick up the trash anyway? If Kenmore were to become apart of Buffalo we could save over $600,000. And that is just dinky Kenmore. Imagine what would happen if villages like Sloan or Brant were incorporated into municipalities? Not necessarily Buffalo, but a greater Williamsville, or Amherst.
How does all this stack up to the comparable cities. This is a real hoot.
What Kevin is calling greater Buffalo has 439 elected officials and 45 governments. Somehow New York City with ten times the population manages to get by with one government and half the elected officials. Indianapolis, which has a similar population to us has 14 governments and half the elected officials.
Gaugen solution isn't as draconian as the research suggests. The hatchet sounds really nice to me, but Kevin is nicer than me. He proposes that local governments each drop two elected officials by attrition, for a total of 84 politicians.
That doesn't sound to bad, does it?
Oh ya, those young left leaning kids love Obama, and certainly he is spreadable like butter. But no hard on, just limp with missed expectations.
And activists? Unless you want to add Emma Goldman's face to Mt. Rushmore, well, you might as well just smell like patchouli and volunteer for NYPIRG.
But then, there is Kevin Gaughan.
Kevin is not a politician. Yes, he has run for mayor, but not being a gear in the local machine he missed out.
Kevin isn't a 'all wet but no boner' activist. He isn't saving Pandas or documenting the east side as it crumbles into memory. The man has done research, crunched his numbers, has lifted a veil, and he has a plan to stick it to the bride.
This, is The Cost.
A site in which Kevin has tabulated the cost of running the local governments and compares them to a comparable city. The findings are absurd.
It is like this. Decades ago Atlanta was the sort of city you were as likely to find a McDonald's as you were to be having sex with your first cousin. That is to say, it was a place you wouldn't want to live. But as corporations moved down and took the population of New Jersey with them the city grew. As the city expanded so did the city line. Atlanta ate hamlets and villages and all became one big city with a normal rate of web-toed incest babies.
Buffalo never has.
Kenmore is a good place to start. It has 15,555 people living there and six elected officials. Buffalo has a population of 279,745 with 24 elected officials. That means, if Buffalo had the same ratio of people to elected officials there would be 90 members of the common council instead of 10.
The figures in his report jump off the page and makes us wonder just why the hell we are spending so much money on government. How many officials do we need to pick up the trash anyway? If Kenmore were to become apart of Buffalo we could save over $600,000. And that is just dinky Kenmore. Imagine what would happen if villages like Sloan or Brant were incorporated into municipalities? Not necessarily Buffalo, but a greater Williamsville, or Amherst.
How does all this stack up to the comparable cities. This is a real hoot.
What Kevin is calling greater Buffalo has 439 elected officials and 45 governments. Somehow New York City with ten times the population manages to get by with one government and half the elected officials. Indianapolis, which has a similar population to us has 14 governments and half the elected officials.
Gaugen solution isn't as draconian as the research suggests. The hatchet sounds really nice to me, but Kevin is nicer than me. He proposes that local governments each drop two elected officials by attrition, for a total of 84 politicians.
That doesn't sound to bad, does it?
james - 06/13/07 00:43
Jessbob: Thanks for letting us know. I will file that under "holy crap this is awesome".
Spitzer makes happy
Jessbob: Thanks for letting us know. I will file that under "holy crap this is awesome".
Spitzer makes happy
paul - 06/12/07 23:14
Jessbob, who has the power to change this. Would residents of places like Kenmore have to vote to be part of Buffalo or would like just be merged by the state or county government.
Jessbob, who has the power to change this. Would residents of places like Kenmore have to vote to be part of Buffalo or would like just be merged by the state or county government.
jessbob - 06/12/07 22:20
The governor actually appointed a Commission about a month ago to look at this and they are having a hearing in Buffalo in the next couple of months. The website is :::link::: and it has a lot of background on local government. If you want any more information let me know. In the interest of full disclosure, I do work for the commission so this is a bit of a plug and I am a bit biased.
The governor actually appointed a Commission about a month ago to look at this and they are having a hearing in Buffalo in the next couple of months. The website is :::link::: and it has a lot of background on local government. If you want any more information let me know. In the interest of full disclosure, I do work for the commission so this is a bit of a plug and I am a bit biased.
metalpeter - 06/12/07 19:29
I can't remember his user name might be ejtower but he is very passionate about consolidating Buffalo into one unit. I think the way that it could work would be combine Kenmore and Buffalo along with the tonawandas. Then as you move away from the City you have Chektowaga West Senca, Depew in some area's across from Depew you have lancaster. If you combined all of those that would make a preaty good Buffalo. After that I'm not sure how much further it should be expanded.
I can't remember his user name might be ejtower but he is very passionate about consolidating Buffalo into one unit. I think the way that it could work would be combine Kenmore and Buffalo along with the tonawandas. Then as you move away from the City you have Chektowaga West Senca, Depew in some area's across from Depew you have lancaster. If you combined all of those that would make a preaty good Buffalo. After that I'm not sure how much further it should be expanded.
james - 06/12/07 11:36
Joshua: The situation is not hopeless. One day the greasy fat necks of our corrupt politicians will swing on ropes tied to city hall. On that day all our problems will be solved.
Paul: ya, you did that just to siphon off my comments you attention hog ^_~
Mr.Mike: As much as the politicians are to blame for being unresponsive to change, the population feels fit to elect the same machine ass hats to office time and time again. It isn't a Republican vs Democrat issue, it is a Incompetent Pork Face vs Incompetent Pork Face. The spirit of the populists should be evoked here.
Joshua: The situation is not hopeless. One day the greasy fat necks of our corrupt politicians will swing on ropes tied to city hall. On that day all our problems will be solved.
Paul: ya, you did that just to siphon off my comments you attention hog ^_~
Mr.Mike: As much as the politicians are to blame for being unresponsive to change, the population feels fit to elect the same machine ass hats to office time and time again. It isn't a Republican vs Democrat issue, it is a Incompetent Pork Face vs Incompetent Pork Face. The spirit of the populists should be evoked here.
mrmike - 06/12/07 10:01
The only thing more frustrating than what Joshua pointed out is the lengths that these bozos will go to to protect what they have now. There's no sense of compromise, working together, any of it. Gaughan got a couple of memorable "Conversations" to be held, that were well attended. The population showed up, but our supposed representatives paid it lip service. Precious few reformers in the rath building, which costs us
The only thing more frustrating than what Joshua pointed out is the lengths that these bozos will go to to protect what they have now. There's no sense of compromise, working together, any of it. Gaughan got a couple of memorable "Conversations" to be held, that were well attended. The population showed up, but our supposed representatives paid it lip service. Precious few reformers in the rath building, which costs us
joshua - 06/12/07 09:53
The financial breakdowns are interesting - our Erie County legislators actually get more benefits and contributions than anybody in the State Assembly, which is old news but is still a damn scandal. After all, the legislators make $40k a year plus "better than elected state assemblyman" benefits for a PART TIME POSITION.
The Erie County DA gets $20k in health care benefits, which is $5k more than the County Executive and $14k more than the pigs in the legislature - is that really necessary?
Actually, the more I look at Erie County the more irritated I get... and in all honesty I feel like our government situation in our area is hopeless.
The financial breakdowns are interesting - our Erie County legislators actually get more benefits and contributions than anybody in the State Assembly, which is old news but is still a damn scandal. After all, the legislators make $40k a year plus "better than elected state assemblyman" benefits for a PART TIME POSITION.
The Erie County DA gets $20k in health care benefits, which is $5k more than the County Executive and $14k more than the pigs in the legislature - is that really necessary?
Actually, the more I look at Erie County the more irritated I get... and in all honesty I feel like our government situation in our area is hopeless.
james - 06/12/07 09:30
Is it a joke? No, not at all.
Sloan is its own town with its own government and is located just south of central terminal.
Brant is some podink town outside of Hamburg.
I am fully confident that Buffalo or Lackawanna could swallow Sloan and Hamburg could incorporate Brant without too much of a problem. Less government, more money for local governments to get out of the red and give back to the tax payers.
dig?
Is it a joke? No, not at all.
Sloan is its own town with its own government and is located just south of central terminal.
Brant is some podink town outside of Hamburg.
I am fully confident that Buffalo or Lackawanna could swallow Sloan and Hamburg could incorporate Brant without too much of a problem. Less government, more money for local governments to get out of the red and give back to the tax payers.
dig?
jenks - 06/12/07 08:31
"Imagine what would happen if villages like Sloan or Brant were incorporated into municipalities?"
Is this a joke? what/where are Sloan and Brant?
"Imagine what would happen if villages like Sloan or Brant were incorporated into municipalities?"
Is this a joke? what/where are Sloan and Brant?
06/08/2007 11:17 #39579
27 Million Dollars of StupidHow much ignorance can $27 Million buy? A whole heck of a lot it seems. In fact you can build a whole museum! A monolith to the perpetual dull glaze that shall keep zombie science at bay.
Specifically, the Creation Museum in Kentucky is what I am talking about. Now, if you care to chime in with the Evolution is 'just' a theory thing, best not read ahead and read a little on just what the heck that science thing is and how amazingly nontrivial something like a theory is.
A dandy little slide show can be found here and boy is it worth it! The second photo is a triceratops with a blanket and saddle. Some poor child is being hoisted on top for a photo op that I hope become regrettable one day. It is worth the visit just for that photo alone.
There is a fun little bit of logic here. Evolution takes millions of years, right? So all those changes we see evolving in life couldn't possibly have explained the difference between a fox and a Doberman if the flood was only a few thousand years ago, right? So god must have built all this genetic variation into the original couple taken onto Noah's ark.
Yup, evolution is too slow in the time frame of the bible, and thus God has something built in. I wish the same could be said for my aging computer.
Another fun moment is how deformed, web-toed incest babies don't spring for from Adam/Eve and Noah and his crew (arrg! Shiva me timbers!) Genetic mutation has, despite all evidence, anything to do recessive traits. Rather, it is all about sin.
You see, mutations are mistakes (it says so right there); mistakes caused by sin. People did not mutate as much because their sins weren't as accumulated or as great (so, why the whole flood thing again?) And, and this is my favorite part, close relatives today are more likely to have mutant incest babies because their sins are similar.
I will give you a second to giggle snort your beverage through your nose.
Look, this isn't about religion. This is about religion throwing on the mantle of science and parading around like a buffoon. Nor is this a Christian thing. I would be snotty at any creation museum be it Christian, Hindi, Wiccian, or what ever. The joke is that willfully ignorant people spending 27 million to give something unscientific a shred of scientific validity. 27 million that could be spent in far more Christian ways like, oh, let us just say, an endowment fund to keep charities perpetually running. WWJD? I hope he would be clutching his belly and laughing right next to me.
good day
Specifically, the Creation Museum in Kentucky is what I am talking about. Now, if you care to chime in with the Evolution is 'just' a theory thing, best not read ahead and read a little on just what the heck that science thing is and how amazingly nontrivial something like a theory is.
A dandy little slide show can be found here and boy is it worth it! The second photo is a triceratops with a blanket and saddle. Some poor child is being hoisted on top for a photo op that I hope become regrettable one day. It is worth the visit just for that photo alone.
There is a fun little bit of logic here. Evolution takes millions of years, right? So all those changes we see evolving in life couldn't possibly have explained the difference between a fox and a Doberman if the flood was only a few thousand years ago, right? So god must have built all this genetic variation into the original couple taken onto Noah's ark.
Yup, evolution is too slow in the time frame of the bible, and thus God has something built in. I wish the same could be said for my aging computer.
Another fun moment is how deformed, web-toed incest babies don't spring for from Adam/Eve and Noah and his crew (arrg! Shiva me timbers!) Genetic mutation has, despite all evidence, anything to do recessive traits. Rather, it is all about sin.
You see, mutations are mistakes (it says so right there); mistakes caused by sin. People did not mutate as much because their sins weren't as accumulated or as great (so, why the whole flood thing again?) And, and this is my favorite part, close relatives today are more likely to have mutant incest babies because their sins are similar.
I will give you a second to giggle snort your beverage through your nose.
Look, this isn't about religion. This is about religion throwing on the mantle of science and parading around like a buffoon. Nor is this a Christian thing. I would be snotty at any creation museum be it Christian, Hindi, Wiccian, or what ever. The joke is that willfully ignorant people spending 27 million to give something unscientific a shred of scientific validity. 27 million that could be spent in far more Christian ways like, oh, let us just say, an endowment fund to keep charities perpetually running. WWJD? I hope he would be clutching his belly and laughing right next to me.
good day
fellyconnelly - 06/09/07 11:07
James: I will now suggest that we take a midnight train to kentucky and liberate that poor triceratops from the evil of those who do not recognize its heratage!
VIVA LA EVOLUTION!
James: I will now suggest that we take a midnight train to kentucky and liberate that poor triceratops from the evil of those who do not recognize its heratage!
VIVA LA EVOLUTION!
drew - 06/08/07 22:09
a few thoughts are on my page.
I might to a longer post about faith/science later.
a few thoughts are on my page.
I might to a longer post about faith/science later.
james - 06/08/07 20:07
Peter: A museum for religion or faith is dandy. A museum that ignores an irrefutable amount of scientific data and turns it into its own magic faery land is lame. Faith can't give a scientific explanation and has no business disguising its theology as such. No, science can't explain everything. But if you put faiths explanations up to the rigors of science then it can't explain anything.
Felly: That image shocked me. Not so much because it was land of the lost, dribbling stupid mayhem, but because it roused the green demon in me and I am next in line to ride it.
Ajay: I think it might be a lamb. And as we all know lamb is for sacrifice and sheep are for fucking. So really, either way that animal should be appalled.
Peter: A museum for religion or faith is dandy. A museum that ignores an irrefutable amount of scientific data and turns it into its own magic faery land is lame. Faith can't give a scientific explanation and has no business disguising its theology as such. No, science can't explain everything. But if you put faiths explanations up to the rigors of science then it can't explain anything.
Felly: That image shocked me. Not so much because it was land of the lost, dribbling stupid mayhem, but because it roused the green demon in me and I am next in line to ride it.
Ajay: I think it might be a lamb. And as we all know lamb is for sacrifice and sheep are for fucking. So really, either way that animal should be appalled.
ajay - 06/08/07 19:24
I like this display: :::link:::
The sheep looks like he's just been caught doing something baaad....
I like this display: :::link:::
The sheep looks like he's just been caught doing something baaad....
fellyconnelly - 06/08/07 19:01
oh my god. I'm not even going to involve myself in any type of intellectual conversation about this. it hurts my brain too much to consider the reality of this place. the only thing my mind can wrap itself around is that it is in kentucky.
that being said....
i want to ride a triceratops.
oh my god. I'm not even going to involve myself in any type of intellectual conversation about this. it hurts my brain too much to consider the reality of this place. the only thing my mind can wrap itself around is that it is in kentucky.
that being said....
i want to ride a triceratops.
metalpeter - 06/08/07 17:20
I will admit that I don't know much about the creation muesum. But I don't think it is a waste at all. Some people belive in science only some believe in Faith only and some people believe in both. Faith and Science are two different ways to answer the big questions. Having a tellascope that can see the stars or having a science muesum is the equivalent to someone who only belives in science to the musuem of creation for the faithfull.
What bothers me is often that people of faith and science often don't understand that there view of the world is done through a different process then each other. The other thing that bothers me is that a lot of people think that believing in creationism means you can't belive in evolution. You can believe that they are both true and work togather. But part of the problem with that is often people have to insisit that they have all the answers and that none of there thoughts are wrong. But evolution and createtism can work togathrer. Here is one example. God created the world then he created all the animals. Then lastly he created man or if you want Adam and Eve. If you look at Adam & Eve literly a snake got them to give into temptation then they saw eachother nude and that is where sin comes from (sort of). Once they had sex they had kids. (this assumes that there was one adam and eve and not multiple ones all over the world). To populate the world one brother would have to have sex with his sisster or even mother. Over time these kids spread out over the world. If you believe in conteintal drift one could even guess that all the humans or what ever they where called lived in one area and when the land split it slowly moved away. As the climate slowly changed people had to adapt or die. That would explain why people where there is bright sun and it is hot have dark skin and why the irish are light skined white.
A second theory (ok it is my way of thinking about things). is that the Bible isn't literal but is figurative. The seven days isn't really seven days it is the amount of time that has gone by since the world was created. So on the sixth day man was made. The 7th day would have been the present day then meaning that god was going to rest and let the world devolop on its own. This man that was created was an animal like all animals but it was slightly advanced. It is kinda like god playing with a chemistry set where he mixes things up and evolution is what causes things to change. It could even be that man when he was created was a step ahead of an ape and had better DNA that could change. We where made in god's image and he isn't perfect so the apes didn't go right. If god is resting and not interfearing this could also be an explaintion for why people do evil things and why bad things happen.
My point is that I don't have all the answers. Science dosn't have all the answers. Faith doesn't have all the answers. So people have to stop acting like there way of thinking is the only right way and there way of thinking answers all the questions and that there is no doubt. If people where a little more open then someday someone might answer all the really cool really tough questions, like why are we here?
I will admit that I don't know much about the creation muesum. But I don't think it is a waste at all. Some people belive in science only some believe in Faith only and some people believe in both. Faith and Science are two different ways to answer the big questions. Having a tellascope that can see the stars or having a science muesum is the equivalent to someone who only belives in science to the musuem of creation for the faithfull.
What bothers me is often that people of faith and science often don't understand that there view of the world is done through a different process then each other. The other thing that bothers me is that a lot of people think that believing in creationism means you can't belive in evolution. You can believe that they are both true and work togather. But part of the problem with that is often people have to insisit that they have all the answers and that none of there thoughts are wrong. But evolution and createtism can work togathrer. Here is one example. God created the world then he created all the animals. Then lastly he created man or if you want Adam and Eve. If you look at Adam & Eve literly a snake got them to give into temptation then they saw eachother nude and that is where sin comes from (sort of). Once they had sex they had kids. (this assumes that there was one adam and eve and not multiple ones all over the world). To populate the world one brother would have to have sex with his sisster or even mother. Over time these kids spread out over the world. If you believe in conteintal drift one could even guess that all the humans or what ever they where called lived in one area and when the land split it slowly moved away. As the climate slowly changed people had to adapt or die. That would explain why people where there is bright sun and it is hot have dark skin and why the irish are light skined white.
A second theory (ok it is my way of thinking about things). is that the Bible isn't literal but is figurative. The seven days isn't really seven days it is the amount of time that has gone by since the world was created. So on the sixth day man was made. The 7th day would have been the present day then meaning that god was going to rest and let the world devolop on its own. This man that was created was an animal like all animals but it was slightly advanced. It is kinda like god playing with a chemistry set where he mixes things up and evolution is what causes things to change. It could even be that man when he was created was a step ahead of an ape and had better DNA that could change. We where made in god's image and he isn't perfect so the apes didn't go right. If god is resting and not interfearing this could also be an explaintion for why people do evil things and why bad things happen.
My point is that I don't have all the answers. Science dosn't have all the answers. Faith doesn't have all the answers. So people have to stop acting like there way of thinking is the only right way and there way of thinking answers all the questions and that there is no doubt. If people where a little more open then someday someone might answer all the really cool really tough questions, like why are we here?
james - 06/08/07 12:31
Zobar,
I am not in the habit of trusting anyone who sticks up for catholicism. For that, I require [link=http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0071/0071_01.asp]the real record[/link] as written and published by the only trustworthy source, Jack Chick.
This entry wasn't about particular groups of Christians, or Christianity at all for that matter. The only group I was gnashing my teeth against were the willfully ignorant. I do have to admire the stance you linked to. Basically, admitting to a divine influence. Not really worried about mechanics. Which is a smart move after that whole geo-centric universive debacle. Rock on RCC
Zobar,
I am not in the habit of trusting anyone who sticks up for catholicism. For that, I require [link=http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0071/0071_01.asp]the real record[/link] as written and published by the only trustworthy source, Jack Chick.
This entry wasn't about particular groups of Christians, or Christianity at all for that matter. The only group I was gnashing my teeth against were the willfully ignorant. I do have to admire the stance you linked to. Basically, admitting to a divine influence. Not really worried about mechanics. Which is a smart move after that whole geo-centric universive debacle. Rock on RCC
zobar - 06/08/07 11:59
I'd just like the record to show that the Catholic Church showed some rare taste in avoiding the evolution issue. The official stance is that God created the world and guided its development, but the precise mechanics and schedule are more or less irrelevant. And I'm kind of down with that - there are people whose entire career is based on doing acrobatics to fit the development of the entire universe into seven days, but for the life of me I can't see why that particular detail matters so much to so many people.
:::link::: with imprimatur.
- Z
I'd just like the record to show that the Catholic Church showed some rare taste in avoiding the evolution issue. The official stance is that God created the world and guided its development, but the precise mechanics and schedule are more or less irrelevant. And I'm kind of down with that - there are people whose entire career is based on doing acrobatics to fit the development of the entire universe into seven days, but for the life of me I can't see why that particular detail matters so much to so many people.
:::link::: with imprimatur.
- Z
james - 06/08/07 11:36
I should have added that this post wasn't even about evolution.
Well, naked human apes couldn't survive here in Buffalo. Sure, we would get through a summer, but dead by November. Technology is our own species peculiar way of evolving. Rather than breaking off into dozens of other species with different amounts of fur adjusted to our climate, we just wear different cloths here than we would in Rio (which would be no cloths, ironically, the same dress code applies in chilly Montreal)
So why does the flesh have to evolve when technology will do it for us? Weird.
I should have added that this post wasn't even about evolution.
Well, naked human apes couldn't survive here in Buffalo. Sure, we would get through a summer, but dead by November. Technology is our own species peculiar way of evolving. Rather than breaking off into dozens of other species with different amounts of fur adjusted to our climate, we just wear different cloths here than we would in Rio (which would be no cloths, ironically, the same dress code applies in chilly Montreal)
So why does the flesh have to evolve when technology will do it for us? Weird.
jason - 06/08/07 11:26
Evolution must be pretty damned slow, after all we still don't have any innate way of protecting ourselves against the forces of nature, or of integrating ourselves into our environment naturally. We engineer everything, and have lost the instincts (and the cool hair!) passed down to us from our Gorilla parents, and our ancestors who lived in the primordial goo. We are in less harmony with our world than any other species I would imagine.
Evolution must be pretty damned slow, after all we still don't have any innate way of protecting ourselves against the forces of nature, or of integrating ourselves into our environment naturally. We engineer everything, and have lost the instincts (and the cool hair!) passed down to us from our Gorilla parents, and our ancestors who lived in the primordial goo. We are in less harmony with our world than any other species I would imagine.
06/06/2007 12:06 #39543
The sweet taste of Mother Russia's UrineHello,
Having just posted about stupid American's protesting stupid Russia in a stupid way, I was on a bit of a Russia kick.
Russian history is awesome. It is the story of the runt of the litter who gets beat up at every turn, can do nothing but fail, and then grows up to be a mean alcoholic dad who raises his kid to be the same way.... and um... then gets hit by a car? Or something? I don't know where this metaphor is going.
But, while trying to find some info on Russian exports I came accros this web page.
Russian Urine Against a Scalpel of the Doctor
Now, you too can order Russian human urine bottled online. Ship it directly to your door. Drink the sweet taste of Rus waste and immerse yourself in its healing powers.
Seriously. DRINK SOMEONE ELSE'S URINE FOR YOUR HEALTH!
maybe I was wrong, maybe Russians do understand the full bladder of capitalism than I give them credit for.
drink up kids
Here is a working link to a page that links you to the original and the translation as well as a snippy summery
Having just posted about stupid American's protesting stupid Russia in a stupid way, I was on a bit of a Russia kick.
Russian history is awesome. It is the story of the runt of the litter who gets beat up at every turn, can do nothing but fail, and then grows up to be a mean alcoholic dad who raises his kid to be the same way.... and um... then gets hit by a car? Or something? I don't know where this metaphor is going.
But, while trying to find some info on Russian exports I came accros this web page.
Russian Urine Against a Scalpel of the Doctor
Now, you too can order Russian human urine bottled online. Ship it directly to your door. Drink the sweet taste of Rus waste and immerse yourself in its healing powers.
Seriously. DRINK SOMEONE ELSE'S URINE FOR YOUR HEALTH!
maybe I was wrong, maybe Russians do understand the full bladder of capitalism than I give them credit for.
drink up kids
- Edit***
Here is a working link to a page that links you to the original and the translation as well as a snippy summery
fellyconnelly - 06/07/07 12:38
i prefer my mug o urine to be piss warm.
hehe piss warm... i'm just too clever aren't i?
i prefer my mug o urine to be piss warm.
hehe piss warm... i'm just too clever aren't i?
james - 06/06/07 19:53
I know plenty of people who feel better after drinking a frothy mug of urine. But they suffer from now medical malidy.
Links to the site in original Russian and the translation, in addition to a synopsis have been inserted into the entry. Thanks for bringing that to my attention Peter.
I know plenty of people who feel better after drinking a frothy mug of urine. But they suffer from now medical malidy.
Links to the site in original Russian and the translation, in addition to a synopsis have been inserted into the entry. Thanks for bringing that to my attention Peter.
metalpeter - 06/06/07 18:47
I tried to get the site but the translater thing didn't work so this is what I will say, how fucking gross is that. Secondly why someone else why not just your own if it is good for you. And if it is ok why not send the results to the FDA. I can just see the ads now "Are You sick, Feal better pay someone to Pee in your mouth" "um sir we can't say that that might be illegal" "um no that is perfectly fine if it is only pee and no sex" "I yes I checked the law books and you are correct sir" Even though he is dead I hear one of the guys in John Clesse's voice.
I tried to get the site but the translater thing didn't work so this is what I will say, how fucking gross is that. Secondly why someone else why not just your own if it is good for you. And if it is ok why not send the results to the FDA. I can just see the ads now "Are You sick, Feal better pay someone to Pee in your mouth" "um sir we can't say that that might be illegal" "um no that is perfectly fine if it is only pee and no sex" "I yes I checked the law books and you are correct sir" Even though he is dead I hear one of the guys in John Clesse's voice.
06/05/2007 23:07 #39538
Stoli hates youSo, Check this shit out.
Russians hate gays. Oh yes they do. In the city of Moscow, a group of people wanted to have a gay pride parade and festival and all that good stuff. But, once again, city government said no way poofs, why don't you go to one of those western countries that allow degenerates like you to live. And so, a group of people, representatives from poofter/western nations, and civil rights groups went with a petition to the municipal government.
They got the shit beat out of them. Oh yes they did. Homophobes, fascists, the sort of people who would do well in Russian politics beat the ever living hell out of them. And then, our petitioners were arrested. You see, you can have an Eisenstein, a Shostakovitch and still wonder how those surfs got emancipated 100 years ago.
So what do we do here in New York? Well, we protest. Who can we protest? Well... what does Russia do? Don't they make a lot of Vodka? YA! Let's boycott vodka.
And so, protesters lined up in front of the Russian embassy in New York and poured Stoli down the sewer. Held signs aloft begging all gays and gay bars to dump their Stoli and replace it with something else (tolerant Polish vodka perhaps? oh wait... crap"
It is a nice shot at Russia. Stoli's sales are over 400 million a year in America. They are the third largest seller of Vodka in the states. That should give the ol' bear a black eye, right?
First, Stoli is not the state vodka. Money earned does not go into pointing new nuclear weapons at Prague. It is a private company.
Second, Stoli advertises heavily in gay magazines which means KA-CHING money in the hands of gays! Stoli does sponsorships at bars, at social programs, in all kinds of media. KA-CHING here you go gays, some money that you gave us back into the community.
Stoli, for the record, is bottled in Latvia, not Russia.
So um. Drink up my homo-brethren. Enjoy the smooth, crisp taste of vodka beloved by millions of men and women and despised by fascists and Russian politicians.
Russians hate gays. Oh yes they do. In the city of Moscow, a group of people wanted to have a gay pride parade and festival and all that good stuff. But, once again, city government said no way poofs, why don't you go to one of those western countries that allow degenerates like you to live. And so, a group of people, representatives from poofter/western nations, and civil rights groups went with a petition to the municipal government.
They got the shit beat out of them. Oh yes they did. Homophobes, fascists, the sort of people who would do well in Russian politics beat the ever living hell out of them. And then, our petitioners were arrested. You see, you can have an Eisenstein, a Shostakovitch and still wonder how those surfs got emancipated 100 years ago.
So what do we do here in New York? Well, we protest. Who can we protest? Well... what does Russia do? Don't they make a lot of Vodka? YA! Let's boycott vodka.
And so, protesters lined up in front of the Russian embassy in New York and poured Stoli down the sewer. Held signs aloft begging all gays and gay bars to dump their Stoli and replace it with something else (tolerant Polish vodka perhaps? oh wait... crap"
It is a nice shot at Russia. Stoli's sales are over 400 million a year in America. They are the third largest seller of Vodka in the states. That should give the ol' bear a black eye, right?
First, Stoli is not the state vodka. Money earned does not go into pointing new nuclear weapons at Prague. It is a private company.
Second, Stoli advertises heavily in gay magazines which means KA-CHING money in the hands of gays! Stoli does sponsorships at bars, at social programs, in all kinds of media. KA-CHING here you go gays, some money that you gave us back into the community.
Stoli, for the record, is bottled in Latvia, not Russia.
So um. Drink up my homo-brethren. Enjoy the smooth, crisp taste of vodka beloved by millions of men and women and despised by fascists and Russian politicians.
fellyconnelly - 06/08/07 19:05
i had to google that to see if you were kidding or not. stupid me, the first entry that came up was this post.
don't mind me, i was raised in a shed behind a cave.
i had to google that to see if you were kidding or not. stupid me, the first entry that came up was this post.
don't mind me, i was raised in a shed behind a cave.
james - 06/06/07 19:58
Felly: Have you not seen the epic movie about the Mormon bobsled team called 'Austere Runnings' it is a somber testament to the triumph of the human will and sobriety.
Peter: For the boycott to work more people have to stop using a product than new people begin using because of the boycott. Of the many, many gay bars I have been in almost all had Stoli in them. Which could mean a huge hit to their earnings. But, if suddenly homophobes and facists and the like pick up drinking Stoli well, that would dampen the damages a bit.
Thankfully, Stoli is Latvian and loves all people. So, go out today and have a martini or two to show your support for progressive liquor.
Felly: Have you not seen the epic movie about the Mormon bobsled team called 'Austere Runnings' it is a somber testament to the triumph of the human will and sobriety.
Peter: For the boycott to work more people have to stop using a product than new people begin using because of the boycott. Of the many, many gay bars I have been in almost all had Stoli in them. Which could mean a huge hit to their earnings. But, if suddenly homophobes and facists and the like pick up drinking Stoli well, that would dampen the damages a bit.
Thankfully, Stoli is Latvian and loves all people. So, go out today and have a martini or two to show your support for progressive liquor.
metalpeter - 06/06/07 18:40
This is the part that I don't get about a boycott. Lets assume that there was some Vodka Company that gave money to the Russian Government and then they beat up gays and people who wanted a pride parade (it isn't true but let us assume that). What would a boycott do? 1. Some Gays would stop buying it. 2. Some strights would stop buying it. 3. Some bars would stop buying it. 4. A lot of strights and gays wouldn't care and still buy it. 5. Everyone who doesn't like gays would go out and buy that brand of Vodaka the second they heard about it. There are a lot of people in this country who don't like gays and think being gay is immoral and have a lot of hate. These aren't people who protest marchs or hurt anyone. But if they thought they could help fund the hate then they would. I think a boycott could just make things worse in Russia. Again it is mute point since Stoli doesn't give money to people to attack gays. That being said it is to bad that they beat up the petitioners but that is a much different country then places where gays are more accepted.
This is the part that I don't get about a boycott. Lets assume that there was some Vodka Company that gave money to the Russian Government and then they beat up gays and people who wanted a pride parade (it isn't true but let us assume that). What would a boycott do? 1. Some Gays would stop buying it. 2. Some strights would stop buying it. 3. Some bars would stop buying it. 4. A lot of strights and gays wouldn't care and still buy it. 5. Everyone who doesn't like gays would go out and buy that brand of Vodaka the second they heard about it. There are a lot of people in this country who don't like gays and think being gay is immoral and have a lot of hate. These aren't people who protest marchs or hurt anyone. But if they thought they could help fund the hate then they would. I think a boycott could just make things worse in Russia. Again it is mute point since Stoli doesn't give money to people to attack gays. That being said it is to bad that they beat up the petitioners but that is a much different country then places where gays are more accepted.
fellyconnelly - 06/06/07 12:11
I just looked it up and they are called ushankas. The Utah Ushankas, on a side note, sounds like the name of the Mormon Bobsled team.
I just looked it up and they are called ushankas. The Utah Ushankas, on a side note, sounds like the name of the Mormon Bobsled team.
james - 06/06/07 11:58
Ahem, Alexander III is what I meant.
I am afraid my old academic adviser will read this and weep that I can't keep my Czars straight.
Ahem, Alexander III is what I meant.
I am afraid my old academic adviser will read this and weep that I can't keep my Czars straight.
james - 06/06/07 11:54
Joshua: That is why I really dig Ikea furniture, Black Metal, and salted fish. Sweden is the hipest, coolest nation for left wingers who don't have their heads up their ass (sorry kids, Chavez is quotable, but the same South American scary ass lefty we have seen before).
And Russia isn't slipping back to totalitarianism, it has never really left it. I think Russians really want a Philosopher-King. They dig that idea. So warm, fuzzies like democracy and capitalism just don't work in Russia. At its most democratic, Russians love a pro-wrestler drinking buddy as king (Alexander II). Other than facial hair, I can't even tell the real difference between the right wing monarchy, the left wing Soviets, and the abortive democracy they have now.
Felly: Russian energy is exported mostly to its neighbors. They are also the largest exporter of arms (weapons, not limbs). Strangly though, the largest exporter of those furry Russian hats is Utah. Who knew?
Joshua: That is why I really dig Ikea furniture, Black Metal, and salted fish. Sweden is the hipest, coolest nation for left wingers who don't have their heads up their ass (sorry kids, Chavez is quotable, but the same South American scary ass lefty we have seen before).
And Russia isn't slipping back to totalitarianism, it has never really left it. I think Russians really want a Philosopher-King. They dig that idea. So warm, fuzzies like democracy and capitalism just don't work in Russia. At its most democratic, Russians love a pro-wrestler drinking buddy as king (Alexander II). Other than facial hair, I can't even tell the real difference between the right wing monarchy, the left wing Soviets, and the abortive democracy they have now.
Felly: Russian energy is exported mostly to its neighbors. They are also the largest exporter of arms (weapons, not limbs). Strangly though, the largest exporter of those furry Russian hats is Utah. Who knew?
fellyconnelly - 06/06/07 11:11
ahh yes... rash Americans trying, unsuccessfully, to prove a point.
Russia actually exports a ridiculous amount of petroleum/products and natural gas.
And you KNOW that we don't have much success in boycotting that! So... umm... Vodka! yes vodka and those furry russian hats! we'll boycott that!
ahh yes... rash Americans trying, unsuccessfully, to prove a point.
Russia actually exports a ridiculous amount of petroleum/products and natural gas.
And you KNOW that we don't have much success in boycotting that! So... umm... Vodka! yes vodka and those furry russian hats! we'll boycott that!
joshua - 06/06/07 09:10
Swedish vodka, man - my fellow Swedes are as neutral (I prefer "bland") as they come!
Russia is slowly slipping back to totalitarianism if you ask me.
Swedish vodka, man - my fellow Swedes are as neutral (I prefer "bland") as they come!
Russia is slowly slipping back to totalitarianism if you ask me.
swedish monarch jokes can get rather racey... i may need some pepto first.
Depends, how well can you tolerate jokes about Swedish monarchs? If you are of a strong stomach then you got it ^_~
you have a BA in history? will you be my bestest buddy friend?
Yup, have my BA in history, working on my certification and MA in Social Studies education. It is like a very long dental procedure, but I am strapped to the chair.
And please watch it. James Burke is for lovers.
It sounds very interesting. I can't wait to watch it (the computer keeps freezing when I try to play something).
Are you going for social studies ed right now?
I had the day off when I found these.
I spent four hours watching *_* it was like magic
dammit james, why do you have to supply me with fascinating distractions?