*sigh...*Honorary degree-holder Spielberg poked fun at the fact that he was famously rejected by USC three times: "As you know, I have tried to have some association with this school, but eventually I had to buy my way in."
To which Lucas replied, "I've got news for you, Steven. We've all had to buy our way in."
3.29.2009
not helping
From Variety:
3.23.2009
pass the tissues
For the rest of my life, I will tear up every time Wall-E tries to hold Eve's hand.
God bless you, Pixar.
God bless you, Pixar.
3.22.2009
we are all going to die
This post is going to make me sound like an either an old curmudgeon or a hypocrite. If I do it right, maybe I can get both.
While I am generally in full support of the latest advances in communication and technology, this Twitter thing is beginning to drive me batshit.
Twitter has existed for a couple years now, I believe, but what was once a laughable idea is turning in to a cultural phenomenon. Friends and acquaintances have been bringing it up in conversation. And this video is a) hilarious and b) making me think that more people Twitter than I realized.
What's my beef with Twitter, you ask? In a nutshell, I think it represents a cultural shift that is ultimately leading to the destruction of humanity.
Yeah, I'm serious. Why? Because nobody's thinking about anything anymore. A world where it's perfectly acceptable to tell everyone the status of your tooth brushing is a world where no one is really thinking about anything they say or do. And because culture is constantly building upon itself, this mindset isn't going to stay in the Twitter-sphere. If we don't make an effort to stop this now, the Twitter-brain-disease is going to spread like flesh eating bacteria, eventually killing us all with it's obsequious, mind-numbing stupidity.
How is it different than a blog (like this one, for example)? Well, in essence it's not. I still use thehurwitz to broadcast my thoughts to no one in particular. But the difference is in the form and content. I'm not updating anyone on every second of my generally mundane existence. I'm primarily just complaining about things. And although that's not ultimately any more productive, at least I'm putting some thought in to it. I'm forming complete sentences. I'm using words like "obsequious".
So please, people, think about this before you Twitter. For the good of everyone.
UPDATE: After writing this post, I realized I had never actually seen the Twitter website. I figured they might have some explanation as to why Twitter might exist, and why it might not represent the downfall of humanity after all. I was wrong.
While I am generally in full support of the latest advances in communication and technology, this Twitter thing is beginning to drive me batshit.
Twitter has existed for a couple years now, I believe, but what was once a laughable idea is turning in to a cultural phenomenon. Friends and acquaintances have been bringing it up in conversation. And this video is a) hilarious and b) making me think that more people Twitter than I realized.
What's my beef with Twitter, you ask? In a nutshell, I think it represents a cultural shift that is ultimately leading to the destruction of humanity.
Yeah, I'm serious. Why? Because nobody's thinking about anything anymore. A world where it's perfectly acceptable to tell everyone the status of your tooth brushing is a world where no one is really thinking about anything they say or do. And because culture is constantly building upon itself, this mindset isn't going to stay in the Twitter-sphere. If we don't make an effort to stop this now, the Twitter-brain-disease is going to spread like flesh eating bacteria, eventually killing us all with it's obsequious, mind-numbing stupidity.
How is it different than a blog (like this one, for example)? Well, in essence it's not. I still use thehurwitz to broadcast my thoughts to no one in particular. But the difference is in the form and content. I'm not updating anyone on every second of my generally mundane existence. I'm primarily just complaining about things. And although that's not ultimately any more productive, at least I'm putting some thought in to it. I'm forming complete sentences. I'm using words like "obsequious".
So please, people, think about this before you Twitter. For the good of everyone.
UPDATE: After writing this post, I realized I had never actually seen the Twitter website. I figured they might have some explanation as to why Twitter might exist, and why it might not represent the downfall of humanity after all. I was wrong.
3.21.2009
it's a drinking solution
The past week has been my last spring break. Ever. I didn't really go anywhere, and didn't really mind, but I have been enthusiastically participating in one stereotypical spring break activity: drinking.
I'm not a big drinker. My body isn't able to handle much alcohol before my stomach hits the "emergency eject" button.
But this week, I've been going out a lot. And I'll have a beer, or two, or a shot of vodka, or what have you. Not much, but more than none.
And I've made a fascinating discovery. When I get home, I'm actually more productive. For whatever reason, that one drink that's still in my system takes the edge of my laziness. I do dishes. I do laundry. Hell, I'm even writing more.
My theory is that the one drink provides a way to shut my stupid brain up one tiny little bit, so I can stop worrying so much about my perfectionism and actually get something accomplished.
Go figure. And to think they call it a drinking problem.
I'm not a big drinker. My body isn't able to handle much alcohol before my stomach hits the "emergency eject" button.
But this week, I've been going out a lot. And I'll have a beer, or two, or a shot of vodka, or what have you. Not much, but more than none.
And I've made a fascinating discovery. When I get home, I'm actually more productive. For whatever reason, that one drink that's still in my system takes the edge of my laziness. I do dishes. I do laundry. Hell, I'm even writing more.
My theory is that the one drink provides a way to shut my stupid brain up one tiny little bit, so I can stop worrying so much about my perfectionism and actually get something accomplished.
Go figure. And to think they call it a drinking problem.
3.20.2009
morons are making me question my core beliefs
Sweden's income tax is over 50%. They have free healthcare, free public transportation, free education (including college), and they probably give away free puppies at orphanages (which are also completely supported by the government). For all intents and purposes, Sweden is a socialist country.
I share this because my mom is half Swedish, and until mid-2008, full-Canadian. I was raised to be as liberal as is socially acceptable in this country. For my high school graduation, my mom gave me a ring that has "Question Authority" engraved on the inside. To me, socialism has always made a lot of sense -- I see it as espousing values of generosity and kindness toward those less fortunate than ourselves. I have always believed that government exists to help people above all, and provide as many services to the public as possible. Healthcare for everyone. Public transportation. Welfare, social services, you name it. I like my government big and taxtastic.
However, in the light of the out-of-countrol financial crisis, the American government is making me wonder whether or not big government can ever work in this country. The AIG bonus scandal in particular is leading to believe it's a lost cause -- but not for the reasons you'd think. An article from the New York Times does a pretty good job of explaining what I'm worried about, but since reading a lot of hard, I'll summarize:
The government's knee-jerk reaction to AIG is making things worse. One truism that seems oft-neglected is the fact that if the government is going to be running a lot of things, there need to be smart people in the government. And apparently there are none. In Congress, at least.
I'll start by saying the bonuses look bad. Clearly. Taxpayers are aware that their money is being funnelled in to the company (although I imagine the average household contribution isn't worth getting upset about), and they don't want that money going straight to the fuck-up executives that largely created this problem in the first place.
But it's important to consider that the bailout money bequeathed to AIG isn't a gift -- Edward Liddy, AIG's new chief, has said he intends for the company to be able to repay it. If the insurer has any hope of doing that, Congress needs to stop fucking with their shit. AIG has been raked over the coals so much by this thing that no one wants any part of it anymore -- and their ability to recover and repay the government grows slimmer with every stupid and ultimately pointless "How many of you took a corporate jet here?" question.
Congress needs to stop stooping to this populist mob-mentality, and start solving problems. They should not hold a hearing to yell at Liddy for things that were largely beyond his control. They should find out why the bonuses happened and then stop them. Done. I don't need to watch every congressman raise their hand and tell me how outraged they are. You cannot fix this problem by disapproving. The economy is collapsing. Do something about it.
Can we elect Barack Obama king? He seems like a pretty smart guy. Maybe that'll work.
I share this because my mom is half Swedish, and until mid-2008, full-Canadian. I was raised to be as liberal as is socially acceptable in this country. For my high school graduation, my mom gave me a ring that has "Question Authority" engraved on the inside. To me, socialism has always made a lot of sense -- I see it as espousing values of generosity and kindness toward those less fortunate than ourselves. I have always believed that government exists to help people above all, and provide as many services to the public as possible. Healthcare for everyone. Public transportation. Welfare, social services, you name it. I like my government big and taxtastic.
However, in the light of the out-of-countrol financial crisis, the American government is making me wonder whether or not big government can ever work in this country. The AIG bonus scandal in particular is leading to believe it's a lost cause -- but not for the reasons you'd think. An article from the New York Times does a pretty good job of explaining what I'm worried about, but since reading a lot of hard, I'll summarize:
The government's knee-jerk reaction to AIG is making things worse. One truism that seems oft-neglected is the fact that if the government is going to be running a lot of things, there need to be smart people in the government. And apparently there are none. In Congress, at least.
I'll start by saying the bonuses look bad. Clearly. Taxpayers are aware that their money is being funnelled in to the company (although I imagine the average household contribution isn't worth getting upset about), and they don't want that money going straight to the fuck-up executives that largely created this problem in the first place.
But it's important to consider that the bailout money bequeathed to AIG isn't a gift -- Edward Liddy, AIG's new chief, has said he intends for the company to be able to repay it. If the insurer has any hope of doing that, Congress needs to stop fucking with their shit. AIG has been raked over the coals so much by this thing that no one wants any part of it anymore -- and their ability to recover and repay the government grows slimmer with every stupid and ultimately pointless "How many of you took a corporate jet here?" question.
Congress needs to stop stooping to this populist mob-mentality, and start solving problems. They should not hold a hearing to yell at Liddy for things that were largely beyond his control. They should find out why the bonuses happened and then stop them. Done. I don't need to watch every congressman raise their hand and tell me how outraged they are. You cannot fix this problem by disapproving. The economy is collapsing. Do something about it.
Can we elect Barack Obama king? He seems like a pretty smart guy. Maybe that'll work.
3.17.2009
the price of freedom
I've always had a problem with free time. My goldfish memory and general laziness often causes me to spend large chunks of time clicking around the internet, reading celebrity news and random wikipedia articles until I come to two hours later, wondering what the fuck I've been doing. It's kind of like an automatic StumbleUpon, except I'm terrified to download the actual toolbar because I know I'll never get anything done.
I still grapple with this issue on a daily basis, but one tactic I've devised is a To Do list made by a company called Cultured Code. They have an iPhone version too, which syncs to the Mac version (though not well), and it provides a remarkably satisfying "checking off" graphic whenever I complete a task. I've conditioned myself to look at the program every time I find myself without something specific to do, so I don't get lost roaming the internet.
Downloading (and paying for) this little program has probably created an aggregate 30 hours of productivity since the beginning of the semester, but I've noticed the effect is beginning to fade, especially when damn-near 100% of my time is unstructured, a la spring break.
This is bad. Very bad. I need to find some motivation, because if I have my way, career-wise, pretty much every day is going to be nothing but unstructured time. It's gotten to the point where I consider writing this blog entry to be a productive use of my time.
Resolved: every time I find myself not working when I'm supposed to be working, for whatever reason, I'm going to try a new strategy to cope. It might be going in the other room, it might be leaving my apartment, it might be drinking tea, it might be standing on my head for thirty seconds, whatever. Do something else. This is my pledge to you, the-one-person-who-still-reads-this-blog. Hold me to it.
I still grapple with this issue on a daily basis, but one tactic I've devised is a To Do list made by a company called Cultured Code. They have an iPhone version too, which syncs to the Mac version (though not well), and it provides a remarkably satisfying "checking off" graphic whenever I complete a task. I've conditioned myself to look at the program every time I find myself without something specific to do, so I don't get lost roaming the internet.
Downloading (and paying for) this little program has probably created an aggregate 30 hours of productivity since the beginning of the semester, but I've noticed the effect is beginning to fade, especially when damn-near 100% of my time is unstructured, a la spring break.
This is bad. Very bad. I need to find some motivation, because if I have my way, career-wise, pretty much every day is going to be nothing but unstructured time. It's gotten to the point where I consider writing this blog entry to be a productive use of my time.
Resolved: every time I find myself not working when I'm supposed to be working, for whatever reason, I'm going to try a new strategy to cope. It might be going in the other room, it might be leaving my apartment, it might be drinking tea, it might be standing on my head for thirty seconds, whatever. Do something else. This is my pledge to you, the-one-person-who-still-reads-this-blog. Hold me to it.
3.14.2009
"Do not try this!"
A few days ago, my dad sent me an email with a link from the Seattle Times.
The future is near...
Bionic eye, here I come.
The future is near...
Bionic eye, here I come.
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