...and the worst of it is that the majority seems to have been totally bashed into submission by the small, insane minority.

The Sapolsky Event

Robert Sapolsky's Kenya baboon troupe experienced a transformation years ago. Please Google all that for the details. The upshot of this is that we as a species will never begin to mature out of the mire that we continue to create until Homo sapiens experiences a Sapolsky Event as the baboon troupe.
For future research: was it a Sapolsky Event that temperamentally separated the chimps and bonobos? Was it a Sapolsky Event (the Napoleonic Wars) that gave the French their reputation as great lovers (and/or surrender monkeys)? Meanwhile I'll expect of us only more of the same. Forever.
(Oh by the way, I coined the term "Sapolsky Event." Here it is.)

T-Mobile, Ugh!

Cat Stevens has produced nothing but trite drivel throughout his entire career. It disturbs me to think that otherwise normal (although obviously musically naive) people can find anything he's ever done musically stimulating (unless you're stimulated by doggerel droned in a reedy, nasal voice set to the most pedestrian chord progressions). But for those of you "die hard" fans just remember, if you choose not to "sing out" in harmony with his fruity little club, he'll support a fatwah calling for your death too. Ask Mr. Rushdie how peace-loving and belevolent that whole mob is. When the T-Mobile ads start, I change the channel (and am starting to have second thoughts about Google by association). Yeah, we don't "want to be you." My wife and daughter especially don't want anything to do with what you are and represent-an affront to all of humanity; you're pretty shameful. The worst thing is that now you have my pity as well as my disgust and anger; ugh, so predictable, so unworthy, so tragically human.

Here We Go

American culture is following the "Poorly Administered Mom & Pop" business model. The first generation founds it. The second generation nurtures and builds it. The third generation squanders it. Unfortunately we're currently mired in the "squander" phase; and it seems as if at least half the country is OK with that!

O Hubble!

Reflexions on the new Hubble pictures: Life is a property of matter. I'm happy. I'm happy to participate. I'm just happy.

Crazy Contest: Who Will Win?

I was cutting away some bamboo in the yard a few days ago because it was growing too close to the house. As one particularly slender length began to fall I caught it and felt its supple strength. Suddenly a thought popped into my head: "...this would make the perfect cane for lashing that Muslim woman who wore those pants..." Moral of the tale: if you read the news you will probably go insane. (NOTE: I think she ended up getting off with just some jail time–did I already mention something about insanity?)

Airline food

...and what's with that airline food anyway? I said WHAT'S WITH THAT AIRLINE FOOD?!?!?