I think it would be pretty funny to have a case of the Wonkies. Who knows what it could involve. Maybe one leg would spontaneously grow two inches longer, while the opposing are become 2 inches shorter. Maybe one foot would grow wider while on hand narrower. Or maybe all your clothing would change in this manner while the rest of you stayed just as you are. The result would no doubt be an amazing eye opener for some and mostly a confusing (and possible expensive) inconvenience for others.
If I had a serious case of the wonkies, I know I would spend a lot of time thinking about how my body was fitting the world in a different way. As I learned to do things in new and better ways, I would wonder how I had ever managed before. When my hand easily slips down the drain to reach a lost ring, or my foot helps propel me like an platypus through the water at swimming, what fun it will be. As I spend time cutting up old strangely shrunken misshaped clothes to make new exciting apparel inventions, I'll wonder why I hadn't done it sooner.
Why wait till you catch the wonkies to fit in the world in a different way. Maybe the wonkies is one of those illnesses that is just in your mind, but better than schizophrenia or something you gt to control it. It might be the worlds only enabling disease, well the wonkies and sickle cell anemia...
Just imagine.
ps. I fell out of bed this morning. Surely an early symptom of the wonkies.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sorry Guys but Viacom is right...sort of
Viacom's lawsuit that supposedly threatens the web is hopefully finally going to help us face facts about what and how we should access information on the internet. The lawsuit is against YouTube over copyrighted material that is uploaded on the website.
Obviously, Viacom made this stuff and as things have worked until now if you make something it is yours and if you want to share it you are allowed to charge or not as you feel fit. To make a profit and be able to survive in the world. Well obviously this is true and Viacom is right, people are regularly violating the company's copyright on the web in general, but particularly through web services like YouTube.
But the question is, what should be done? YouTube asks you if you have copyright of what you post. They close accounts of people who violate copyright laws. Both users and YT employees can flag videos for removal. But there really is little way to hold users accountable for their violations. Not only should accounts be closed but fines against violaters be levied. Repeat offenders should face jail, like current copyright laws dictate (nb. I don't know if copyright laws ever say jail is required, but perhaps if fines exceed ability to pay a person goes to jail...I don't really know)
However, I don't think YouTube should be responsible for this prosecution (in the same way record companies can fine DJs for playing music at a wedding for which copyright isn't paid). But YouTube should perhaps develop a mechanism to make it easier for record companies to track down where their music/movies etc are being used/distributed illegally. And contact those users who are violating copyright. I know perhaps it begs some interesting privacy questions, but IP addresses can be tracked, so personal computers can be found (i think). If you're breaking the law, tough shit. Don't break the law and you don't have to worry.
But maybe, media companies need to be more proactive about the whole Web 2.0 revolution and find ways to get their media available for people who want to watch tv on the subway or listen to Canadian Indie Music in Khazakstan. The fact is it's easier for people to move around this vast globe of ours and we clearly want to take our media with us. Companies like Viacom should stop bitching and get to work, from grammaphone to CD through what ever music/media transmission is now (I'm still at somewhere just after CD but I know my luddite ways have kept me well behind current trends) keep innovating new ways (like YouTube) to share media, to be creative and entertain each other. And people will pay for it, but you need to be proactive about it, the fact is if 1.5billion people are watching a film (you have already made a profit on) you can't possible expect them to even pay 1$ for that privelege. Perhaps membership fees, limited access to certain stuff.
I think the porn industry has it about right. Access to a certain amount of media, some free stuff, but membership fees to those who want to use their services heavily. I mean, come on people.
Obviously, Viacom made this stuff and as things have worked until now if you make something it is yours and if you want to share it you are allowed to charge or not as you feel fit. To make a profit and be able to survive in the world. Well obviously this is true and Viacom is right, people are regularly violating the company's copyright on the web in general, but particularly through web services like YouTube.
But the question is, what should be done? YouTube asks you if you have copyright of what you post. They close accounts of people who violate copyright laws. Both users and YT employees can flag videos for removal. But there really is little way to hold users accountable for their violations. Not only should accounts be closed but fines against violaters be levied. Repeat offenders should face jail, like current copyright laws dictate (nb. I don't know if copyright laws ever say jail is required, but perhaps if fines exceed ability to pay a person goes to jail...I don't really know)
However, I don't think YouTube should be responsible for this prosecution (in the same way record companies can fine DJs for playing music at a wedding for which copyright isn't paid). But YouTube should perhaps develop a mechanism to make it easier for record companies to track down where their music/movies etc are being used/distributed illegally. And contact those users who are violating copyright. I know perhaps it begs some interesting privacy questions, but IP addresses can be tracked, so personal computers can be found (i think). If you're breaking the law, tough shit. Don't break the law and you don't have to worry.
But maybe, media companies need to be more proactive about the whole Web 2.0 revolution and find ways to get their media available for people who want to watch tv on the subway or listen to Canadian Indie Music in Khazakstan. The fact is it's easier for people to move around this vast globe of ours and we clearly want to take our media with us. Companies like Viacom should stop bitching and get to work, from grammaphone to CD through what ever music/media transmission is now (I'm still at somewhere just after CD but I know my luddite ways have kept me well behind current trends) keep innovating new ways (like YouTube) to share media, to be creative and entertain each other. And people will pay for it, but you need to be proactive about it, the fact is if 1.5billion people are watching a film (you have already made a profit on) you can't possible expect them to even pay 1$ for that privelege. Perhaps membership fees, limited access to certain stuff.
I think the porn industry has it about right. Access to a certain amount of media, some free stuff, but membership fees to those who want to use their services heavily. I mean, come on people.
Monday, May 19, 2008
The drug that's got to go
More and more I am finding myself surrounded by and deeply effected by alcohol. And I have had just about enough of it. I look at my aging generation and all I see are a bunch of kids who can only entertain themselves with this drug. And my regular choice of sobriety is further and further alienating me from my peers.
It's frustrating because I am the one who gets ragged on for "not having fun" hanging out with a bunch of borderline alcoholics. Get chastised for only attending daylight rugby festivities, or opting to stop dancing and catch the last train home (for $1.60) rather than anti-up the $25 cab fare. I talk with friends online and can smell their acrid breath over the internet they are so stinking drunk. And it's just gross. And I have had enough of it.
People say, it's not just your generation, alcohol has always been used like it is now, it's just that now you are old enough to be part of it. Further, people always died of all sorts of liver disease and alcohol related stuff, but before it was called demons, a weakness of spirit, or just accounted to whatever, "God said it was his time." And these are very true and valid point, of course I was never part of the alcohol using society until 19 or there abouts, so I am fairly new on the scene.
But its getting gross. The NHS in England is stepping up efforts to help people drink smarter not harder (uhh...) so I guess I'm being exposed to a lot of media just now about alcohol, use and abuse. Media that is of course affecting my thoughts about the drug. But I'm sure that there is more going on in my life and the worlds of my close friends than media hysteria. It's difficult to gage, knowledge, surveys, stats can be overwhelming without help interpreting them, putting them in context and stuff.
But even this media is troubling. It talks about younger people being admitted to hospital with various liver diseases etc, about how much different age cohorts drink and how it compares to surveys from the past. And it talks about what individuals should do. Of course William Pitt, the youngest Prime Minister of England, died of "liver disease."
Unfortunately NHS's advice is know your limits and know your units. But there seems to be very little suggestions about what to do with this knowledge. It's great to know I drank 15 units of alcohol last night; sweet some kids will think, I'm going to see if I can beat it. And what are "my" limits? Most people think of a limit as the outward boundary, the final edge of ability. Feeling hungover or puking might be, by some, considered a limit, but it can often take more than 15 units of alcohol for people. This 15 units seems like way over a healthy intake limit. Becoming so drunk as to fall and get injured, or get alcohol poisoning and require tax-payer dollars in medical establishments to have bones set and stomaches pumped, is definitely a sign that you have had too much to drink and "reached your limit". But again this is takes well more than the recommended 4 units a day. So talking about limits should not really be about the limits of your body.
Rather it's a long term limit these media watchdogs are referring to. Maintaining a level of consumption that will not cause long term irreparable damage.
Really the message needs to promote and build up people's strength to make a choice. To choose to drink less. To choose to engage activities that are not consuming drugs and sitting around. To choose to support their friends and family members who want more from a clearer vision of the world. One that is unblocked, unfuzzied by drugs. Maybe even empower us to choose to drink. For too many it isn't even a choice, its just a default state of being.
I think globally we need to help empower each other to recognize that we get to choose. We get to choose to pray. We get to choose to work. We get to choose to dance on Fridays. We get to choose to find means of empowerment. And we don't have to fully bend to the will of other people choice, that we can choose to find out more about other peoples reasons. Other people choices.
But we need to begin freeing ourselves from the attitude "I'm free to choose how I live my life and you can't belittle me for that choice, and you can't take the choice away from me" If our choices are affecting emotions on other people, so strong that they would take legal measures to take away your choice, you should think carefully about how you force others to live with your choices.
It's frustrating because I am the one who gets ragged on for "not having fun" hanging out with a bunch of borderline alcoholics. Get chastised for only attending daylight rugby festivities, or opting to stop dancing and catch the last train home (for $1.60) rather than anti-up the $25 cab fare. I talk with friends online and can smell their acrid breath over the internet they are so stinking drunk. And it's just gross. And I have had enough of it.
People say, it's not just your generation, alcohol has always been used like it is now, it's just that now you are old enough to be part of it. Further, people always died of all sorts of liver disease and alcohol related stuff, but before it was called demons, a weakness of spirit, or just accounted to whatever, "God said it was his time." And these are very true and valid point, of course I was never part of the alcohol using society until 19 or there abouts, so I am fairly new on the scene.
But its getting gross. The NHS in England is stepping up efforts to help people drink smarter not harder (uhh...) so I guess I'm being exposed to a lot of media just now about alcohol, use and abuse. Media that is of course affecting my thoughts about the drug. But I'm sure that there is more going on in my life and the worlds of my close friends than media hysteria. It's difficult to gage, knowledge, surveys, stats can be overwhelming without help interpreting them, putting them in context and stuff.
But even this media is troubling. It talks about younger people being admitted to hospital with various liver diseases etc, about how much different age cohorts drink and how it compares to surveys from the past. And it talks about what individuals should do. Of course William Pitt, the youngest Prime Minister of England, died of "liver disease."
Unfortunately NHS's advice is know your limits and know your units. But there seems to be very little suggestions about what to do with this knowledge. It's great to know I drank 15 units of alcohol last night; sweet some kids will think, I'm going to see if I can beat it. And what are "my" limits? Most people think of a limit as the outward boundary, the final edge of ability. Feeling hungover or puking might be, by some, considered a limit, but it can often take more than 15 units of alcohol for people. This 15 units seems like way over a healthy intake limit. Becoming so drunk as to fall and get injured, or get alcohol poisoning and require tax-payer dollars in medical establishments to have bones set and stomaches pumped, is definitely a sign that you have had too much to drink and "reached your limit". But again this is takes well more than the recommended 4 units a day. So talking about limits should not really be about the limits of your body.
Rather it's a long term limit these media watchdogs are referring to. Maintaining a level of consumption that will not cause long term irreparable damage.
Really the message needs to promote and build up people's strength to make a choice. To choose to drink less. To choose to engage activities that are not consuming drugs and sitting around. To choose to support their friends and family members who want more from a clearer vision of the world. One that is unblocked, unfuzzied by drugs. Maybe even empower us to choose to drink. For too many it isn't even a choice, its just a default state of being.
I think globally we need to help empower each other to recognize that we get to choose. We get to choose to pray. We get to choose to work. We get to choose to dance on Fridays. We get to choose to find means of empowerment. And we don't have to fully bend to the will of other people choice, that we can choose to find out more about other peoples reasons. Other people choices.
But we need to begin freeing ourselves from the attitude "I'm free to choose how I live my life and you can't belittle me for that choice, and you can't take the choice away from me" If our choices are affecting emotions on other people, so strong that they would take legal measures to take away your choice, you should think carefully about how you force others to live with your choices.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Mareux update
My poor puppet, I think she is more than a little shell shocked after her hostage situation. I thought she was just tired, but she isn't talking or anything. Just lying on the chair watching the sky. But it is a bit rainy today so maybe its just a grey day.
Anyone got any tips for picking up a depressed puppet let me know.
Anyone got any tips for picking up a depressed puppet let me know.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Honk Kong Debrief
So Hong Kong was pretty sick. Absolutely gorgeous, packed sweaty filled-to-the-brim skyscrappers 7th story gardens, wrap around sidewalk escalator alley ways through the third story of the city of new old colonial futuristic nonscape and land sences twisted like emotions in every direction. Wow. What a ride.
So we lost, but it was bound to happen. I'm not to impressed with my play. Totally not seizing the opportunity on the field, conserving too much energy and not communicating well. But a good game. Saw some great ideas, nice thinking and good development.
Highlights: picking up jellyfish, pouncing Mel (the pillow thrower) in the middle of the morning, singing, shopping (not that I did much of it), dancing, hanbok wearing, eating chicken butt (I heartily do not recommend it), junk boat tour (sweet food, people and a boat to jump off and swim with), swimming, totally sweet ginger pineapple smoothy, did I mention rugby...oh yea...RUGBY!!! totally sweet.
Only one minor incident involving a terrorist attck and hostage situation. But I think Little Roo will pull through. She was pretty quite when we got in this morning, but I think she was probably tired of all the trravelling, and with having to deal with the stress and anxiety of being taken hostage so far from home.
Oh, tip for anyone carrying sweaty rugby kit through customs, sniffer dogs do not like sweat...so our kit bag got a big buzzing pad lock on it. So I took it for Xray where the man put his hand into the twoday old sweaty kit and pulled it out quick saying eerr...before i could explain it was two day old sweaty kit...oh well.
Another great weekend for the books.
So we lost, but it was bound to happen. I'm not to impressed with my play. Totally not seizing the opportunity on the field, conserving too much energy and not communicating well. But a good game. Saw some great ideas, nice thinking and good development.
Highlights: picking up jellyfish, pouncing Mel (the pillow thrower) in the middle of the morning, singing, shopping (not that I did much of it), dancing, hanbok wearing, eating chicken butt (I heartily do not recommend it), junk boat tour (sweet food, people and a boat to jump off and swim with), swimming, totally sweet ginger pineapple smoothy, did I mention rugby...oh yea...RUGBY!!! totally sweet.
Only one minor incident involving a terrorist attck and hostage situation. But I think Little Roo will pull through. She was pretty quite when we got in this morning, but I think she was probably tired of all the trravelling, and with having to deal with the stress and anxiety of being taken hostage so far from home.
Oh, tip for anyone carrying sweaty rugby kit through customs, sniffer dogs do not like sweat...so our kit bag got a big buzzing pad lock on it. So I took it for Xray where the man put his hand into the twoday old sweaty kit and pulled it out quick saying eerr...before i could explain it was two day old sweaty kit...oh well.
Another great weekend for the books.
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