Another idea that won't go anywhere and probably wouldn't work even if it did:
Why not tie in the bailout with improving the energy efficiency of homes and buildings? Make it easier to renegotiate a foreclosure if the person commits to improving the energy efficiency of the home (even just simple stuff like adding insulation or upgrading appliances). Or give people more financial incentives to improve energy efficiency and install solar panels or small wind turbines - won't be a direct impact but more energy efficient homes are worth more so this would generally help keep housing prices from dropping as much. Or if a bank is going to take bailout money they should have to improve the efficiency of their buildings or commit to investing a certain amount in alternative energy companies.
I know my ideas are not that workable, but why isn't congress being at least a little creative? It seems like it might lead to better ways to improve the economy and it might help with negotiations - such as helping veterans would make it much harder to vote against and helping the Earth might convince some on the liberal side.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Is America The Greatest Country On Earth?
Clearly a presidential candidate has to strongly assert that America is the greatest country on Earth if he/she wants a shot at winning.
But, is America the greatest country on Earth? I'm not saying I think it is not, I just don't know if it is. I feel confident it is high on the list. Of course to take the question seriously you'd have to define what you mean by greatest. Do most people in America think America is the greatest country on Earth? Do all leaders of countries claim theirs is the greatest country on Earth (seems like there would be some countries where that would be too absurd for even a politician to say)? Do most people in other countries think their country is the greatest on Earth? What portion of people in other countries think America is the greatest country on Earth? What portion of people in other countries thought America was the greatest country on Earth 9 years ago? I'm not asking any of these questions to be rhetorical - I really have no idea what the answer is to any of them.
I realize a leader calling America the greatest country on Earth is in there with flag pins as a necessary but meaningless gesture (not that some leaders don't mean it, but since they all have to say it, you don't know what they really think). But I think it would be interesting to know what they really think. Because it seems like it would lead to very different foreign policies. If America is definitively the greatest country on Earth it would probably approach other countries differently than if it was a great country by reasonable measures, but not definitively the best.
But, is America the greatest country on Earth? I'm not saying I think it is not, I just don't know if it is. I feel confident it is high on the list. Of course to take the question seriously you'd have to define what you mean by greatest. Do most people in America think America is the greatest country on Earth? Do all leaders of countries claim theirs is the greatest country on Earth (seems like there would be some countries where that would be too absurd for even a politician to say)? Do most people in other countries think their country is the greatest on Earth? What portion of people in other countries think America is the greatest country on Earth? What portion of people in other countries thought America was the greatest country on Earth 9 years ago? I'm not asking any of these questions to be rhetorical - I really have no idea what the answer is to any of them.
I realize a leader calling America the greatest country on Earth is in there with flag pins as a necessary but meaningless gesture (not that some leaders don't mean it, but since they all have to say it, you don't know what they really think). But I think it would be interesting to know what they really think. Because it seems like it would lead to very different foreign policies. If America is definitively the greatest country on Earth it would probably approach other countries differently than if it was a great country by reasonable measures, but not definitively the best.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The Debate
I would blog about watching the debate, but I've suspended this blog until I find a way to fix the economy.
If only I had John Oliver asking me if I'm proud of that joke it would go from a bad joke to a funny bad joke (that's a reference for fans of The Bugle).
I was a bit disappointed by the debate. Ok, really I was just watching in case there was a "you forgot Poland" moment. But it felt a little like they were both phoning it in - watch Kerry and Bush and it feels like they were a bit more into it. Although I guess two people speaking intelligently and staying reasonably calm is a good sign. I also learned that McCain takes notes with a marker and writes really really big (what was up with that? and why can't I find a picture of it online?). Oh, and I did enjoy hanging out with the people I was watching it with.
I do have to say that it drives me crazy when old people tell young people that they don't understand with the implication that it is because they are too young. Experience is good and all, but young people are perfectly capable of understanding things. Major leaps in science often come from the young (look at the two most famous scientists: Newton was 25 when he published Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Einstein was 42 when he won the Nobel prize and most of his work was well before that). Major leaders can be young (Martin Luther King was 26 when he lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott). And there's the common idea that people have their young kids fix their computers. Heck here's a national security question: The Air Force is setting up a center for handling cyber warfare because it is likely to be a major issue in the future (there was actually a cyber attack on Georgia during the real one) - McCain do you understand what cyber warfare is, do you even understand how to connect your computer to the internet? I know that telling Obama he doesn't understand because he's a whipper snapper isn't exactly what McCain was going after, but as you can probably tell it is the nerve it struck for me.
Of course, walking 5 miles on a hot day to get to and from Target in flip flops even thought I almost immediately realized there was a blister starting makes me question the value of my opinion.
If only I had John Oliver asking me if I'm proud of that joke it would go from a bad joke to a funny bad joke (that's a reference for fans of The Bugle).
I was a bit disappointed by the debate. Ok, really I was just watching in case there was a "you forgot Poland" moment. But it felt a little like they were both phoning it in - watch Kerry and Bush and it feels like they were a bit more into it. Although I guess two people speaking intelligently and staying reasonably calm is a good sign. I also learned that McCain takes notes with a marker and writes really really big (what was up with that? and why can't I find a picture of it online?). Oh, and I did enjoy hanging out with the people I was watching it with.
I do have to say that it drives me crazy when old people tell young people that they don't understand with the implication that it is because they are too young. Experience is good and all, but young people are perfectly capable of understanding things. Major leaps in science often come from the young (look at the two most famous scientists: Newton was 25 when he published Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Einstein was 42 when he won the Nobel prize and most of his work was well before that). Major leaders can be young (Martin Luther King was 26 when he lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott). And there's the common idea that people have their young kids fix their computers. Heck here's a national security question: The Air Force is setting up a center for handling cyber warfare because it is likely to be a major issue in the future (there was actually a cyber attack on Georgia during the real one) - McCain do you understand what cyber warfare is, do you even understand how to connect your computer to the internet? I know that telling Obama he doesn't understand because he's a whipper snapper isn't exactly what McCain was going after, but as you can probably tell it is the nerve it struck for me.
Of course, walking 5 miles on a hot day to get to and from Target in flip flops even thought I almost immediately realized there was a blister starting makes me question the value of my opinion.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Support The Troops
I have no idea if this would work at all or what the exact details would be. But here it goes:
The government is about to spend a bunch of money trying to stabilize the economy and the housing market in particular. One approach is to deal directly with the banks, but that's questionable since they are the ones that took the risk. Another is to deal with the people who took on loans they cannot pay, but that again gets in the world of rewarding people who took risks (bit fuzzier in this case). Also it is probably harder to know where to target payments in order to maximize the impact on the economy. But there is a group that everyone agrees should be supported - as I'm told over and over by bumper stickers.
So here's the crazy idea - setup a program to help veterans buy homes. Probably couldn't be the whole fix, but helping a large group of people purchase homes might do a lot to stabilize prices and keep those mortgages owned by banks from dropping too far in value. I know hospitals and education and other stuff is really what veterans need to help with returning from combat, but I bet being able to buy a house wouldn't hurt. Plus, for once I would understand what the heck those bumper stickers are telling me to do.
The government is about to spend a bunch of money trying to stabilize the economy and the housing market in particular. One approach is to deal directly with the banks, but that's questionable since they are the ones that took the risk. Another is to deal with the people who took on loans they cannot pay, but that again gets in the world of rewarding people who took risks (bit fuzzier in this case). Also it is probably harder to know where to target payments in order to maximize the impact on the economy. But there is a group that everyone agrees should be supported - as I'm told over and over by bumper stickers.
So here's the crazy idea - setup a program to help veterans buy homes. Probably couldn't be the whole fix, but helping a large group of people purchase homes might do a lot to stabilize prices and keep those mortgages owned by banks from dropping too far in value. I know hospitals and education and other stuff is really what veterans need to help with returning from combat, but I bet being able to buy a house wouldn't hurt. Plus, for once I would understand what the heck those bumper stickers are telling me to do.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Software Licenses Are Taking Our Jarbs!
I know that in certain areas of engineering the software that an engineer uses can cost more per year than the engineer's salary (in certain cases significantly more). I imagine there are other fields where this is also true. Because the software is so expensive it is often stored on a central server so that anyone (up to a set number of people) who needs it can use it, but the company does not have to buy a copy for every employee. Alternatively they can use a license server, but either way the key idea is that for each license purchased one person can use the program at a time.
This has some advantage for people sharing an office since not everyone is using the exact same software at the same time. But there is a way to cut the cost of software in half - setup an office on the other side of the world so the company uses the licenses all day and night. Given the expense of the software it could be an advantage even if people in both offices made the same amount of money.
I have no idea if this is actually a major factor in outsourcing and setting up offices around the globe. But it seems like it would have some impact and no one ever talks about it. Doesn't seem too hard to come up with a license agreement that would not reward sending jobs oversees (In this post I'm not taking a position on if jobs should be sent over seas or not, but if someone is looking for an easy way to make an impact this seems like a good place to start). Could have a rule that the license is only for so many hours a day or just charge per man hour of usage of the software or could just charge by total number of engineers at the company or... Seems like there should be a reasonable solution that is neutral on where a company sets up its offices.
Oh and check out the new iTunes visualizer (in iTunes 8) - way cooler than the old one. The Genius thing seems cool, but I can't actually see myself using it.
This has some advantage for people sharing an office since not everyone is using the exact same software at the same time. But there is a way to cut the cost of software in half - setup an office on the other side of the world so the company uses the licenses all day and night. Given the expense of the software it could be an advantage even if people in both offices made the same amount of money.
I have no idea if this is actually a major factor in outsourcing and setting up offices around the globe. But it seems like it would have some impact and no one ever talks about it. Doesn't seem too hard to come up with a license agreement that would not reward sending jobs oversees (In this post I'm not taking a position on if jobs should be sent over seas or not, but if someone is looking for an easy way to make an impact this seems like a good place to start). Could have a rule that the license is only for so many hours a day or just charge per man hour of usage of the software or could just charge by total number of engineers at the company or... Seems like there should be a reasonable solution that is neutral on where a company sets up its offices.
Oh and check out the new iTunes visualizer (in iTunes 8) - way cooler than the old one. The Genius thing seems cool, but I can't actually see myself using it.
Friday, September 19, 2008
The Tipping Point
Not long after moving here I went on a book buying spree and one of the books I picked up was The Tipping Point, How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.
The overarching theme is studying trends that grow or fall very quickly rather than gradually. He claims there are three key aspects to an epidemic (includes anything from rise of aids to drop in crime in NYC to certain ad campaigns): the key people in spreading it, how "sticky" it is, and the context. He says the three key groups for spreading epidemics are connectors - people who have a large number of acquaintances they keep in touch with, mavens - people very knowledgeable about a topic who like to share their knowledge to help others, and salesmen - people good at selling an idea (ok that one was kind of obvious). Stickiness is once someone finds out about something will they stick with it - if someone tells you about a good restaurant you'll only keep going back if it is actually good. Context is a bit fuzzy but he makes the case that people's decisions are heavily influenced by their surroundings.
This book had a somewhat similar structure as the world is flat where he takes you through numerous examples (and in what I think is greater than required detail) to build the main idea. Although I think in the world is flat the main theme gets more weight, tipping point borders on being like freakonomics where each individual topic is interesting but there is no underlying thesis. I think the examples make a reasonable case that the three things mentioned help spread epidemics, but I don't think he did anything to prove they are all that is required or to show that there are not other paths to spreading that do not require those three.
For someone in marketing/sales/advertising/pr it is probably interesting (unless it is stuff those people already know). For others I think the examples are kind of interesting but I can't really see using the overall message. Also as someone on amazon pointed out it is a bit odd to write a book that is basically about memes and yet never use the term or point to any of the research on the subject.
One item from the examples that stuck for me is most of the time when someone gets a job from a friend it is actually from an acquaintance, not a close friend.
The overarching theme is studying trends that grow or fall very quickly rather than gradually. He claims there are three key aspects to an epidemic (includes anything from rise of aids to drop in crime in NYC to certain ad campaigns): the key people in spreading it, how "sticky" it is, and the context. He says the three key groups for spreading epidemics are connectors - people who have a large number of acquaintances they keep in touch with, mavens - people very knowledgeable about a topic who like to share their knowledge to help others, and salesmen - people good at selling an idea (ok that one was kind of obvious). Stickiness is once someone finds out about something will they stick with it - if someone tells you about a good restaurant you'll only keep going back if it is actually good. Context is a bit fuzzy but he makes the case that people's decisions are heavily influenced by their surroundings.
This book had a somewhat similar structure as the world is flat where he takes you through numerous examples (and in what I think is greater than required detail) to build the main idea. Although I think in the world is flat the main theme gets more weight, tipping point borders on being like freakonomics where each individual topic is interesting but there is no underlying thesis. I think the examples make a reasonable case that the three things mentioned help spread epidemics, but I don't think he did anything to prove they are all that is required or to show that there are not other paths to spreading that do not require those three.
For someone in marketing/sales/advertising/pr it is probably interesting (unless it is stuff those people already know). For others I think the examples are kind of interesting but I can't really see using the overall message. Also as someone on amazon pointed out it is a bit odd to write a book that is basically about memes and yet never use the term or point to any of the research on the subject.
One item from the examples that stuck for me is most of the time when someone gets a job from a friend it is actually from an acquaintance, not a close friend.
Survey of Economists
Monday, September 15, 2008
A personal first
I tried cheese pizza for what may be the first time ever! A near by pizza place has a pizza that uses soy cheese. And this is what happened:
Well, no, actually that was from the Egyptian Museum I went to on Saturday. The soy cheese pizza experiment actually went well, much better than my previous tofu cheese experiment (although I'm starting to wonder if Max and Steve tricked me into eating a slice of real cheese). Unfortunately the pizza was the Berkeley Soy Pizza which has no tomato sauce and is topped by veggies and veggie burger. I think I'd trade the soy cheese for tomato sauce and meat. Although it is nice to be full after eating only half a pizza.
PS Yes the excessive reflections may make that one of the worst pictures I've ever taken.
Well, no, actually that was from the Egyptian Museum I went to on Saturday. The soy cheese pizza experiment actually went well, much better than my previous tofu cheese experiment (although I'm starting to wonder if Max and Steve tricked me into eating a slice of real cheese). Unfortunately the pizza was the Berkeley Soy Pizza which has no tomato sauce and is topped by veggies and veggie burger. I think I'd trade the soy cheese for tomato sauce and meat. Although it is nice to be full after eating only half a pizza.
PS Yes the excessive reflections may make that one of the worst pictures I've ever taken.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Quick Follow Up
Yes, I realize that people living in the Bay Area using text from the Qur'an to transition into an attack on a Republican probably isn't the help Barack is looking for right now. Well, this blog has already ended any hopes of running for president and looks like it just eliminated political pundit as well.
Stop twisting his words!
A while ago I bought a Bible (part for the New Testament and part for the Old (yes I realize the translations may not be the exact same)) and a Qur'an. I haven't made it very far through either of them, and probably never will, but I just saw the follow paragraph in the Qur'an (note that it is a recent translation so who knows how it is interpreted in other versions):
God: there is no god but Him, the Ever Living, the Ever Watchful.
Step by step, He has sent the Scripture down to you [Prophet] with the Truth, confirming what went before: He sent down the Torah and the Gospel earlier as a guide for people and He has sent down the distinction [between right and wrong]. Those who deny God's revelations will suffer severe torment: God is almighty and capable of retribution. Nothing on earth or in heaven is hidden from God: it is He who shapes you all in the womb as He pleases. There is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Wise: it is He who has sent this Scripture down to you [Prophet]. Some of its verses are definite in meaning - these are the cornerstone of the Scripture - and other are ambiguous. The perverse at heart eagerly pursue the ambiguities in their attempt to make trouble and to pin down a specific meaning of their own: only God knows the true meaning.
Wow! Those last two lines may just be the most reasonable thing I've ever read in a religious text. I fear people might think the title of this blog is aimed at Islam or Radical Islam, but it is equally aimed at all religions (Sarah Palin I'm looking at you).
God: there is no god but Him, the Ever Living, the Ever Watchful.
Step by step, He has sent the Scripture down to you [Prophet] with the Truth, confirming what went before: He sent down the Torah and the Gospel earlier as a guide for people and He has sent down the distinction [between right and wrong]. Those who deny God's revelations will suffer severe torment: God is almighty and capable of retribution. Nothing on earth or in heaven is hidden from God: it is He who shapes you all in the womb as He pleases. There is no God but Him, the Mighty, the Wise: it is He who has sent this Scripture down to you [Prophet]. Some of its verses are definite in meaning - these are the cornerstone of the Scripture - and other are ambiguous. The perverse at heart eagerly pursue the ambiguities in their attempt to make trouble and to pin down a specific meaning of their own: only God knows the true meaning.
Wow! Those last two lines may just be the most reasonable thing I've ever read in a religious text. I fear people might think the title of this blog is aimed at Islam or Radical Islam, but it is equally aimed at all religions (Sarah Palin I'm looking at you).
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Rivalries are Fractals!
There's a bit of a rivalry between the "East" and "West". It has probably been built up to be more than it would be by politicians trying to blame "them" for "our" problems.
Within the West there is a rivalry between the US and Europe. It is not a strong one, but it exists and comes and goes based on world events. Right now it is probably more distinct if you don't count the UK as part of Europe (and don't forget Poland!).
Within the US there are rivalries between different regions. There is at least somewhat of a rivalry between each pair of the west coast, the midwest, the south, and the northeast. Politics has really highlighted some of these rivalries. At this level people can start to get offended if you confuse which region they are from.
Within the midwest there are rivalries between different states. This level tends not to be as strong, but it does exist, especially if you include the impact of sports.
Within Kansas there is a rivalry between cities and rural areas (ok, maybe cities should be in quotes unless we include a slice of Missouri).
There is a rivalry between the two "cities" in Kansas - Kansas City and Wichita.
Within Kansas City there is a rivalry between the "Johnson County" types and other areas (I should really know Kansas City better than I do).
Within Johnson County there are rivalries between the different school systems. Within Blue Valley there are rivalries between the different high schools. Within a high school there are rivalries between the grades. Within a grade there are rivalries between the different groups...
I wanted to go down a path that I had a "right" to go down. Although I think there are some far more interesting paths (think going from UK vs the rest of Europe then England vs Scotland and Ireland then Ireland vs Scotland). No matter how much you zoom in you have the same basic picture. That's a fractal!
The odd part of rivalries is that as you zoom in they tend to get more intense (ooops, so much for being fractals). Again the example of going from Europe down to Ireland vs Scotland comes to mind. Or here's another path:
From my personal observations some reform Jews have little problem learning about and participating in Eastern religions, have a bit more hesitancy going to a church, and show significant resistance to taking part in orthodox Judaism.
I think a piece is that the closer the alternative is, the more likely it is to be true, so people feel more need to distinguish themselves from it. Although I don't think that explains all of it. I bet if I bothered to open my intro to psych book or do 5 minutes of googling someone would probably have a real explanation, but instead you get a page of thoughts that have been forced together to create what can't even be called a hypothesis (since it makes no testable predictions, hm, maybe Sarah Palin will defend teaching it in schools like she does for creationism).
Since the penalty for confusing someone in one group for being in another increases as the proximity and similarity of the groups increases it really discourages trying to group people. Since if you go too broad there's no point and if you go too narrow any inaccuracy will cause great offense. Which is a way more hippie, we're all just people, conclusion than I intended. And I don't think it is valid since there is some value in recognizing cultural differences and you can't do that if you're not willing to do at least a little grouping. Aren't you glad you went through all that to get a conclusion that is clearly wrong?
On a total tangent: Picking which path I had a "right" to go down was a bit odd. I've been told I have to spend around 10 years in California before I can claim to be a Californian (and go through an earth quake, although I'm not sure how I'm going to distinguish that from the sound of loose floorboards shaking due to the people upstairs running around or that few minutes of rhythmic shaking that comes from my next door neighbors around the same time each night). And having left SoCal it is like I'm starting over with the Bay Area. There's no way I can claim Bostonian since that was just for college. Paris was way too short for that claim (plus the lack of speaking french). I don't even remember living in Ohio. So Kansas City (or as demonstrated in this post I feel the need to specify Overland Park) would seem to be the strongest claim. Although having lived there for about 14 years on and off and then not having lived there for 8 years I'd say I'm quickly losing that claim. I'm a nothing-an. Throw in a lack of real religious identification and not being particularly skinny or fat and while being a bit on the short side I can't really identify as short or tall. I would make the worst stand-up comedian ever! There's no group I can get away with making fun of and then say "it's ok I'm one of them"! I guess I always have my nerdyness - I feel the need to go read slashdot and be with my people.
PS Since this post is free to travel through any of the tubes I feel the need to add that I'm not really having an identify crisis. And yes I do realize I'd be in the short category. And if the dentist who converted in that episode of Seinfeld gets Jew joke rights, I've totally earned them.
Within the West there is a rivalry between the US and Europe. It is not a strong one, but it exists and comes and goes based on world events. Right now it is probably more distinct if you don't count the UK as part of Europe (and don't forget Poland!).
Within the US there are rivalries between different regions. There is at least somewhat of a rivalry between each pair of the west coast, the midwest, the south, and the northeast. Politics has really highlighted some of these rivalries. At this level people can start to get offended if you confuse which region they are from.
Within the midwest there are rivalries between different states. This level tends not to be as strong, but it does exist, especially if you include the impact of sports.
Within Kansas there is a rivalry between cities and rural areas (ok, maybe cities should be in quotes unless we include a slice of Missouri).
There is a rivalry between the two "cities" in Kansas - Kansas City and Wichita.
Within Kansas City there is a rivalry between the "Johnson County" types and other areas (I should really know Kansas City better than I do).
Within Johnson County there are rivalries between the different school systems. Within Blue Valley there are rivalries between the different high schools. Within a high school there are rivalries between the grades. Within a grade there are rivalries between the different groups...
I wanted to go down a path that I had a "right" to go down. Although I think there are some far more interesting paths (think going from UK vs the rest of Europe then England vs Scotland and Ireland then Ireland vs Scotland). No matter how much you zoom in you have the same basic picture. That's a fractal!
The odd part of rivalries is that as you zoom in they tend to get more intense (ooops, so much for being fractals). Again the example of going from Europe down to Ireland vs Scotland comes to mind. Or here's another path:
From my personal observations some reform Jews have little problem learning about and participating in Eastern religions, have a bit more hesitancy going to a church, and show significant resistance to taking part in orthodox Judaism.
I think a piece is that the closer the alternative is, the more likely it is to be true, so people feel more need to distinguish themselves from it. Although I don't think that explains all of it. I bet if I bothered to open my intro to psych book or do 5 minutes of googling someone would probably have a real explanation, but instead you get a page of thoughts that have been forced together to create what can't even be called a hypothesis (since it makes no testable predictions, hm, maybe Sarah Palin will defend teaching it in schools like she does for creationism).
Since the penalty for confusing someone in one group for being in another increases as the proximity and similarity of the groups increases it really discourages trying to group people. Since if you go too broad there's no point and if you go too narrow any inaccuracy will cause great offense. Which is a way more hippie, we're all just people, conclusion than I intended. And I don't think it is valid since there is some value in recognizing cultural differences and you can't do that if you're not willing to do at least a little grouping. Aren't you glad you went through all that to get a conclusion that is clearly wrong?
On a total tangent: Picking which path I had a "right" to go down was a bit odd. I've been told I have to spend around 10 years in California before I can claim to be a Californian (and go through an earth quake, although I'm not sure how I'm going to distinguish that from the sound of loose floorboards shaking due to the people upstairs running around or that few minutes of rhythmic shaking that comes from my next door neighbors around the same time each night). And having left SoCal it is like I'm starting over with the Bay Area. There's no way I can claim Bostonian since that was just for college. Paris was way too short for that claim (plus the lack of speaking french). I don't even remember living in Ohio. So Kansas City (or as demonstrated in this post I feel the need to specify Overland Park) would seem to be the strongest claim. Although having lived there for about 14 years on and off and then not having lived there for 8 years I'd say I'm quickly losing that claim. I'm a nothing-an. Throw in a lack of real religious identification and not being particularly skinny or fat and while being a bit on the short side I can't really identify as short or tall. I would make the worst stand-up comedian ever! There's no group I can get away with making fun of and then say "it's ok I'm one of them"! I guess I always have my nerdyness - I feel the need to go read slashdot and be with my people.
PS Since this post is free to travel through any of the tubes I feel the need to add that I'm not really having an identify crisis. And yes I do realize I'd be in the short category. And if the dentist who converted in that episode of Seinfeld gets Jew joke rights, I've totally earned them.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Bibliography
Hm, guess it is worth saying where the somewhat random references in the last post are from. Spoiler alert in number 4.
1. Highlander - when an immortal beheaded another he got the other's power, unless they are on sacred ground in which case the powers just go away. I'm not actually sure what happens if a non-immortal beheads an immortal, but seems like they should become immortal.
2. Most any vampire story (Buffy, Angel, Blade, Dracula...) - I think this one is fairly well known.
3. Greek myth I vaguely remember from 8th grade English class - Guy asks a greek god for immortality (instead of eternal youth) and gets it, but gets older and older till he shrivels up to the point of being a cricket (this is what I remember from 8th grade so some or all of the details could be wrong).
4. Dune - specifically end of book 3, beginning of book 4. Some authors skip a few years in telling a story, Frank Herbert skips 10,000 years. The father of the guy who lives 10,000 years can see the future so clearly that he loses his freewill.
I'm actually surprised I can't think of any other becoming immortal stories. I was thinking Bender (Robot from Futurama) since he often goes back in time and then waits to catch up with the present a number of times, but that only sort of counts. Fry (also from Futurama) sort of does the same thing, but spends his 1000 year spans frozen so that definitely doesn't count.
1. Highlander - when an immortal beheaded another he got the other's power, unless they are on sacred ground in which case the powers just go away. I'm not actually sure what happens if a non-immortal beheads an immortal, but seems like they should become immortal.
2. Most any vampire story (Buffy, Angel, Blade, Dracula...) - I think this one is fairly well known.
3. Greek myth I vaguely remember from 8th grade English class - Guy asks a greek god for immortality (instead of eternal youth) and gets it, but gets older and older till he shrivels up to the point of being a cricket (this is what I remember from 8th grade so some or all of the details could be wrong).
4. Dune - specifically end of book 3, beginning of book 4. Some authors skip a few years in telling a story, Frank Herbert skips 10,000 years. The father of the guy who lives 10,000 years can see the future so clearly that he loses his freewill.
I'm actually surprised I can't think of any other becoming immortal stories. I was thinking Bender (Robot from Futurama) since he often goes back in time and then waits to catch up with the present a number of times, but that only sort of counts. Fry (also from Futurama) sort of does the same thing, but spends his 1000 year spans frozen so that definitely doesn't count.
I'm On The Exercise Bike Thanks To Fiction
The main trick I use to push myself to exercise is remembering how much I don't want to have a titanium box put into my chest (well, it would be ok if it gave me super powers or something, but not to help my heart do what it should be doing anyway). However, that's more of a long term thought - skipping the gym one day isn't going to be the difference between needing a medical device or not. It often leads to the thought - I'll start getting to the gym everyday... next week.
So I've come up with a new motivation for the day to day: What if I become immortal tomorrow? You might think exercise would not matter at all if you are going to become immortal, but in most immortality stories the body you have when it happens is the body you keep forever. So if you've got an extra 10 pounds or your arms have atrophied a bit this might be the last chance to deal with it or regret it for hundreds of years (funny how most tales of immortals involve them dying within a thousand years or so).
You might think that becoming immortal isn't something to worry about, but all it takes is one car accident where you take off the head of a highlander and take his powers, or one vampire sneaking up on you and letting you drink its blood after draining yours, or remembering when a greek god grants you a wish to ask for eternal youth instead of eternal life. From that moment on till you are beheaded or staked or whatever happened to greek immortals that didn't become crickets, that's it, there's no amount of exercise that is going to make a difference. Of course if you gain immortality through becoming a giant worm it doesn't really matter, but you'd probably know already if you grew up on the spice planet and had a father that could see the future.
People are always so down on watching TV, but if I hadn't watched so much of it that I worry about what would happen if I became immortal I wouldn't have a cool new way to motivate myself to get to the gym.
So I've come up with a new motivation for the day to day: What if I become immortal tomorrow? You might think exercise would not matter at all if you are going to become immortal, but in most immortality stories the body you have when it happens is the body you keep forever. So if you've got an extra 10 pounds or your arms have atrophied a bit this might be the last chance to deal with it or regret it for hundreds of years (funny how most tales of immortals involve them dying within a thousand years or so).
You might think that becoming immortal isn't something to worry about, but all it takes is one car accident where you take off the head of a highlander and take his powers, or one vampire sneaking up on you and letting you drink its blood after draining yours, or remembering when a greek god grants you a wish to ask for eternal youth instead of eternal life. From that moment on till you are beheaded or staked or whatever happened to greek immortals that didn't become crickets, that's it, there's no amount of exercise that is going to make a difference. Of course if you gain immortality through becoming a giant worm it doesn't really matter, but you'd probably know already if you grew up on the spice planet and had a father that could see the future.
People are always so down on watching TV, but if I hadn't watched so much of it that I worry about what would happen if I became immortal I wouldn't have a cool new way to motivate myself to get to the gym.
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