I think the subway might just be the saddest place in existence. Nowhere else can you see so many people completely devoid of all emotion. It always amazes me when I look around at all the people who are concentrating so very hard on not looking at anyone. They stare at the advertisements. Listen to their IPod Nanos. Pretend to be sleeping. There are only so many ads on the train, you know - I think I've read them all about 50 times now. They're not really all that interesting. It's just something to look at so you don't have to make eye contact with the person across from you.
It reminds me of the song "Dark Blue," the refrain of which contains the words "have you ever been alone in a crowded room?" It's interesting to see so many humans with so little...humanity.
And that is the whole of my sermon.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
"I Gotta Jet"
As you may know, this Thursday was the last episode of the show "The O.C." When I first heard of this program from my roommate last year, I thought it would be retarded and refused to watch even a few moments of it. Then a friend across the hall had a guest who happened to have the first two seasons on DVD. It was one of those situations where it's 2 am and you have nothing better to do, so we decided to watch one episode or another, I don't remember which. Anyway, at the end of the episode, when everyone else decided it was time to go to bed, I took the guy's DVDs and went back to my room, where I proceeded to watch one episode after another until 11:00 the next morning.
When the guest left and took his DVDs with him, I found someone on another floor who had the disks and watched his. When he got annoyed with me having his stuff all the time, I bought my own. For the next week, if I was not eating, sleeping, or in classes, I was watching the O.C. I saw the entire first two seasons in that week.
I was not impressed with the series finale. I actually didn't even watch the whole thing. The last two seasons have been little more than a mockery of the show's former glory. I will admit that I was a little sad on Thursday as I watched the O.C. come to an end, but it was not because I would never see a new episode. Rather, it saddened me to see such a good show in ruins.
So here's to the first two seasons of an amazing show. The candlelight vigil will be on Tuesday.
When the guest left and took his DVDs with him, I found someone on another floor who had the disks and watched his. When he got annoyed with me having his stuff all the time, I bought my own. For the next week, if I was not eating, sleeping, or in classes, I was watching the O.C. I saw the entire first two seasons in that week.
I was not impressed with the series finale. I actually didn't even watch the whole thing. The last two seasons have been little more than a mockery of the show's former glory. I will admit that I was a little sad on Thursday as I watched the O.C. come to an end, but it was not because I would never see a new episode. Rather, it saddened me to see such a good show in ruins.
So here's to the first two seasons of an amazing show. The candlelight vigil will be on Tuesday.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Rise of Zit Boy
I recently had the inordinate pleasure of watching the popular television show "American Idol." On this program, "wannabes" and "gonnabes" exhibit their talent, or lack thereof, to a panel of judges who unerringly target and mock those who show some degree of imperfection. I especially like it when they burst out laughing before the contestant finishes. Classy.
The popularity of the show, of course, comes from the people who absolutely suck. People with no talent whatsoever who come on the show and embarrass themselves on national television. And then they have the nerve to act disappointed when they are not chosen to be stars. This is the show where I saw an overweight, unattractive girl with absolutely no dancing talent attempt to perform a ballet routine. As I recall, it resembled a huge, hideous egg rolling about on the stage. She also threw up off the edge halfway through.
I am convinced that no human being is this stupid. No one in their right mind thinks they will win this thing. Clearly they are being brainwashed. Who is the culprit? Parents. That's right. Instead of encouraging your child's ambitions to succeed at something they suck at, share with them the wise words of a modern-day prophet: Tyler Durden. Instead of saying grace at dinner every night, repeat his words: "You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake." Let each child know, let them truly believe, that they are indeed "the same decaying organic matter as everything else."
Maybe then we wouldn't have to bear witness to this hideous montage of humiliation and shame.
The popularity of the show, of course, comes from the people who absolutely suck. People with no talent whatsoever who come on the show and embarrass themselves on national television. And then they have the nerve to act disappointed when they are not chosen to be stars. This is the show where I saw an overweight, unattractive girl with absolutely no dancing talent attempt to perform a ballet routine. As I recall, it resembled a huge, hideous egg rolling about on the stage. She also threw up off the edge halfway through.
I am convinced that no human being is this stupid. No one in their right mind thinks they will win this thing. Clearly they are being brainwashed. Who is the culprit? Parents. That's right. Instead of encouraging your child's ambitions to succeed at something they suck at, share with them the wise words of a modern-day prophet: Tyler Durden. Instead of saying grace at dinner every night, repeat his words: "You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake." Let each child know, let them truly believe, that they are indeed "the same decaying organic matter as everything else."
Maybe then we wouldn't have to bear witness to this hideous montage of humiliation and shame.
Tributaries
For your information, I've been fighting Mom to stay away from my laundry since I began high school. I am convinced that somewhere there is a massive box where she collects all the socks she has siphoned from me over the years. Pure evil, I say!
I would also like to point out that before January 2, 2007, I had not seen the hour of 6:30 am in at least a year and a half unless I was staying up a few hours later than normal. Unlike the residents of the arctic North, I am not accustomed to leaving my room before the sun comes up and returning after it goes down.
I would also like to point out that before January 2, 2007, I had not seen the hour of 6:30 am in at least a year and a half unless I was staying up a few hours later than normal. Unlike the residents of the arctic North, I am not accustomed to leaving my room before the sun comes up and returning after it goes down.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Gambling
In keeping with my elder siblings' tradition of whining about things that piss them off, I have decided to discuss something that annoys me to no end: gambling. I don't mean the kind of gambling that most people think of; I've nothing against poker or Las Vegas or putting a few bucks on the game. No, the gambling I speak of is of a much more sinister nature. Indeed, it is so vile that few even recognise what it is. I tell you now, I am one of those enlightened few. And while the burden of this knowledge is a heavy one, I am confident that you, my worthy disciples, will be able to handle the strain.
Let me first make one simple clarification of how I define gambling. When you enter into an agreement with another person or organisation that if one event happens, you get their money, but if another event happens, they get your money, you have gambled. The implication is that some element of chance is involved - if there's no chance you could lose, it's not a gamble. I think this is a fairly reasonable definition. If anyone has a problem with this, please, let me know so that I can express my complete disregard for your opinion.
Now, consider how casinos make their money. You're all aware; the odds are massively stacked against the gambler. The chances of winning are significantly lower than the chances of losing. You can tell this because the casinos consistently make large amounts of money. If they didn't win most of the time, they would not be in business. The gambling I speak of operates on the same principle, except on a much larger scale. The customer base of these companies is enormous - it is actually required by law for most people to gamble with them.
What companies, you ask? The insurance companies. These places make tons of money. Berkshire-Hathaway, which you may know as Warren Buffet's company (Forbes' 2nd richest man in the world), a company whose stock is currently worth over $100,000, is an insurance company. People make deals with these companies saying that if they get hurt, the company gives them money; if they don't, then they give the company money (actually they always give the company money, but the end result is the same). Per my earlier definition of gambling, I hereby accuse people who fraternize with insurance companies as gamblers. That's right. You thought your old man who blew his paycheck down at Foxwoods was bad? You're just as bad, because you are sinking massive quantities of your own paycheck into a similar gamble. Really, it's a worse gamble, because you're betting that something bad is going to happen to you.
For some reason people do not seem to understand this. Insurance companies make money by preying on people's fears. Statistically speaking, you are as likely to collect on your insurance as you are to win the lottery. And the insurance company is going to raise your premiums if you do collect. Most people are simply too afraid to play the odds. They live their lives behind the bars of insurance, too frightened to step out into the freedom of statistical analysis.
Instead of cowering in a corner and wondering "what if I get cancer?", try canceling your insurance and putting the money you usually spent on premiums into a bank account. Even better, invest. Earn 15% off the money you were previously throwing in the trash.
Now normally I would not be mad about this. All you infidels are welcome to give away as much of your own money as you like. I couldn't care less what various ill-advised investments you make. But when I get a letter advising me that I am required as a student to have health insurance, then I get pissed off. A year ago I wasn't allowed to gamble, and now I am required to? Whose idea was this?
Let me first make one simple clarification of how I define gambling. When you enter into an agreement with another person or organisation that if one event happens, you get their money, but if another event happens, they get your money, you have gambled. The implication is that some element of chance is involved - if there's no chance you could lose, it's not a gamble. I think this is a fairly reasonable definition. If anyone has a problem with this, please, let me know so that I can express my complete disregard for your opinion.
Now, consider how casinos make their money. You're all aware; the odds are massively stacked against the gambler. The chances of winning are significantly lower than the chances of losing. You can tell this because the casinos consistently make large amounts of money. If they didn't win most of the time, they would not be in business. The gambling I speak of operates on the same principle, except on a much larger scale. The customer base of these companies is enormous - it is actually required by law for most people to gamble with them.
What companies, you ask? The insurance companies. These places make tons of money. Berkshire-Hathaway, which you may know as Warren Buffet's company (Forbes' 2nd richest man in the world), a company whose stock is currently worth over $100,000, is an insurance company. People make deals with these companies saying that if they get hurt, the company gives them money; if they don't, then they give the company money (actually they always give the company money, but the end result is the same). Per my earlier definition of gambling, I hereby accuse people who fraternize with insurance companies as gamblers. That's right. You thought your old man who blew his paycheck down at Foxwoods was bad? You're just as bad, because you are sinking massive quantities of your own paycheck into a similar gamble. Really, it's a worse gamble, because you're betting that something bad is going to happen to you.
For some reason people do not seem to understand this. Insurance companies make money by preying on people's fears. Statistically speaking, you are as likely to collect on your insurance as you are to win the lottery. And the insurance company is going to raise your premiums if you do collect. Most people are simply too afraid to play the odds. They live their lives behind the bars of insurance, too frightened to step out into the freedom of statistical analysis.
Instead of cowering in a corner and wondering "what if I get cancer?", try canceling your insurance and putting the money you usually spent on premiums into a bank account. Even better, invest. Earn 15% off the money you were previously throwing in the trash.
Now normally I would not be mad about this. All you infidels are welcome to give away as much of your own money as you like. I couldn't care less what various ill-advised investments you make. But when I get a letter advising me that I am required as a student to have health insurance, then I get pissed off. A year ago I wasn't allowed to gamble, and now I am required to? Whose idea was this?
Time waits for no man
I regret to announce that Mandal Man has passed away. He took his own life some nights ago, after a tragic encounter with a band of monkeys which left him maimed almost beyond recognition. He felt he could no longer stand to live after the humiliation. What can I say. Shit happens.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)