Archive for April, 2008

2008.04.09

The Olympic Torch

Today the Olympic Torch will, in theory at least, be run right past my work. I’ll have an excellent opportunity to watch it from the safety of my fourth floor window. If it goes past, it will be the first time in my life I’ll have seen it.

Of course there are protests expected. China is not terribly popular on the human rights front and their suppression of Tibet isn’t winning them a whole lot of fans. Hint: hey China, just because your civilization has been around some 4,000 years doesn’t mean that any land you ever occupied is still yours. Things change despite your weird combination of conservative Confucianism and Communism.

That being said, I am curious why San Francisco is the single stop for the Torch in North America; I feel this is a kind of snub to our continent. I suppose it’s because we have a very large Chinese population here but that’s not a good enough reason we’re the only city on the continent to see the Olympic Flame. I don’t like the feeling that we’re the “token” visit for this worldwide event.

Any idiot knows that San Francisco is famous for protests of any sort. Hell, I bet they would protest odd socks coming out of clothes dryers if someone could put it in a framework that blames authority. So I’m wondering which city in the world will win the gold medal for protesting. Paris and London seem to be the obvious leaders right now. Today we’ll see if San Francisco is up to snuff (as in snuffing out the Torch). As much as I love this City, this is one contest I’d like to see us lose. The Olympics are, in my mind, something above and beyond politics. It’s just a shame I’m the minority in this view.

2008.04.08

Housing for Motorcycle Enthusiasts

Now these are apartments I could get into. Three levels, easy access to the street, non-linear spaces… and all designed around your motorcycle. The spaces are small, yes, but it was designed for the amazing crowded Tokyo. I was going submit this to my favorite motorcycle blog, but I see they already picked this story up.

2008.04.07

How Would We Know?

I’ve been watching some of these documentaries about how the Earth would continue without us such as History Channel’s Life After People (watch it here while the link lasts). According to some, most of our great civilization will vanish within 250 years. In a thousand years nothing will remain except the Hoover Dam, The Great Wall of China, Mount Rushmore and some of the already ancient monuments like the Pyramids of Giza, and even these would fade in time. Ironically the things to survive the longest are made of stone proving, perhaps, that ancient technology may be the best.

My question is this… If there was ever an ancient civilization tens of thousands of years ago, how would we even know? If there was intelligent life on our planet millions of years ago, what proof would remain?

How would we know if there was intelligent life on Earth before humanity?

2008.04.05

WordPress Upgraded to 2.5 Brecker

I took some time today and upgraded this site and OOKEE.com to the latest version of WordPress. I’ve barely started digging into the improvements, but just writing this post I can say I’m not keen on some of the new entry interface. That being said, like many changes I will just get used to them with time.

I am curious about the new built-in gallery as I’ve been using myGallery and been quite happy with it. Apparently my Plug ‘n’ Play Google Map by Yongfook will be broken (or at least not working) so I’ll have to figure out a replacement and/or give up on any sort of geotagging of posts.

Whatever, the sites are upgraded. I’m going to continue watching the rest of Season Three of Battlestar Galactica now.

2008.04.02

I’ve Done My Civic Duty: Jury Duty

I realize not everyone likes the idea of jury duty. Certainly it is not the most popular obligation on the planet. Personally I see this as a failure of the education system and of parents. Our Constitution calls for all cases except treason to be trials by jury, and I understand the wisdom of this. I’ve been called many times but never had to sit on a trial until now. Eight days ago I was asked to sit on a trial and though I wasn’t keen on the obligation I did not shirk my duty. Say what you will about our system of government, it is a good system and I will always stand up for my Constitution. The Constitution is mine as much as it is yours. It asks very little of us yet gives us so much. Sometimes not enough, but that can -and will- change.

For the first, and likely not the last, time in my life I sat on a trial. I had to listen to evidence given, weigh the veracity and compare that to the wording of the law, and judge a person. This is not something anyone really wants to do, but it is something we must do despite these days in which people feel entitled to the freedoms they enjoy.

I won’t deny that I’m glad my service is over but I also won’t lie that I am satisfied to have served my people and given something to this nation, even if just in a small way. There is no ideal justice in the world, but I think our system goes a long way towards fairness and equitability. Meanwhile, if you’re even still reading this, I will end things now. I’m mildly intoxicated and yet in quite a sober mood. Really I just wanted to say I’ve done my jury duty and am happy to have done it, and am happy it’s over. Why is ending an article so difficult when drinking…?