Just a few quick tidbits, today... It's been awhile, I know.

I received word from AVERAGE_JOE that he's revived his website. He's a genuine web dude with some design sensibility. Give it a look. He even has a snappy little blog thingy.

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I've been a busy little bee lately. I've had no interest in playing EQ so I suddenly find myself with a whole lot of free time on my hands. It scares me to think about how much time I've devoted to that game. This about sums it up. Anyway, since I have all this time I've been actually getting things done. Jaeger and I replaced the brake pads on the Trooper, I've started working on the new version of the headspaces, etc. It's good.

One of the more interesting little diversions has been Evangelion. I gave Jaeger the box set for his birthday. It's a great show. 14 year-olds piloting giant robots and generally kicking ass... all set to one of the strangest post-apocalyptic plot-lines you can imagine. I especially get a kick out of the wacky music. And when I say wacky I'm really not kidding. ADV Films did a fantastic job with the mastering and sub-titles. As with all anime, I highly recommend you watch it in japanese w/English sub-titles. Beanie would probably want me to comment about the tits and ass in the show at this point. Consider that my comment.

Another diversion has been DDR. I was incredibly dubious about this game when I heard about it but it turns out it's a real challenge, fairly good exercise, and a lot of fun. The music is j-poppy but tolerable. I really recommend you watch some of the videos at the DDRFreak site. It really has to be seen to be believed. You'lll laugh... a lot. I've actually worked up enough interest in the game to be willing to work with Jaeger to build some hard pads. We'll see how that works out. Stay tuned. Maybe I'll post some pics or videos. I hear you can do that sort of thing on the web.

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I need to make a concerted effort to stay up to date on events in the world. I'm still wallowing in a complete media blackout. No TV, no NPR, no online news. I haven't the foggiest idea what sorts of things are going on the world right now. I thought it would be a relief but I find, instead, that it makes me nervous.

Stupidity never sleeps, as you might have noticed.

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I wonder where our technology is taking us, really. With no controls, no sane governance, and no agenda beyond blind financial ambition it seems like we could be in for some rough times. I'm a strong, if quiet, advocate of technology and I'd like to see it used in a manner that benefits us as a species. I can't help but think that the current trend of technology driving us a part is going to have far-reaching consequences.

I dunno. Maybe I'm just contributing to the current trend of intellectual alarmism. Perhaps we are evolving away from our long-buried tribal roots. Any thoughts?

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I want to make you all uncomfortable for a minute and talk about racism. The idea of race seems a little stupid to me. From a purely biological standpoint it makes little sense. We are a species. Within a species there may exist any number of cultures. Racism stems, in my opinion, from not understanding the difference between cultural gaps and individuals.

By chance of birth I was raised in a culture I like to think of white suburban upper-middle class. Like it or not, this is a fact. For whatever reason (and there are a number) blending of cultures happens slowly in America. So, thanks to that factor, this is still largely distinct from black suburban upper-middle class. There exists a cultural gap... thankfully it's beginning to close. Racism would be saying I hate my black neighbors because of that gap. Looks just as stupid in print as it is in reality, doesn't it?

The cultural gap is worsened by economic gaps. I won't go in to the details here. You've all seen it in action.

Anyway. I'm not saying racism doesn't exist. I'm not delusional. I'm not apologizing for racism. It happens because people are stupid and easily manipulated. Does that make it alright? Fuck no, but aside from influencing the handful of people I talk to here and in my life is there much I can do about it? No. What I'm trying do is point out the very simple factors that, in my opinion, cause it so we can have a discussion about it.

The thing that makes me sickest about the whole issue is that we can't even talk about it as a society without it degenerating to angry name-calling. If I say something on this topic that pisses you off... for whatever reason... all you have to do to shut me up is cry racism. That's wrong. If you genuinely think I am being racist (exercising hatred based on no other factors than your cultural background) then lets talk about it rationally. Because that's the last thing I want.

It boils down to this: people are people regardless of their cultural origin. All of us, by virtue of being people, are worthy of at least a modicum of respect until we prove otherwise. Understand that it's alright to be uncomfortable in/with other cultures until you learn them (this is where so much of the anger comes from).

Look at it this way. If things keep going the way they are (and they are despite what the hate-mongers want you to believe) we are all going to have one culture in 200 years. It'll be a culture of brown-skinned, anesthetized, consumers... but it'll be a monolithic mediocrity. I'll bet you money. The only wildcard is whether or not the powers that be would rather see us destroyed before that happens. Dubya makes me wonder.

Anyway. Go back to whatever you were doing. Flame me if you must. Did I at least make you think?

Been a while since I really had a good rant. It feels good to be back in the saddle.

Peas.