analog thoughts in a binary world

I think politics are stupid. I think our bipartisan government needs serious work, but most of all, I think people who blindly support a politician because of their beliefs really need to remember that they're on my list of people who see me as an intellectual superior, and dammit, I'm not that smart.

So, anyway, I took a dumb online poll and this is what I came up with:

You are a Social Moderate (55% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (35% permissive) You are best described as a: Centrist Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

I've taken many online polls and I seem to be more Libertarian than anything else, however, the above poll gave me a different result.

goes to show you that your political affiliation is like taking a test - it's only good for that one time you take it.

The power of post-production and editing is amazing.

For instance, Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" literally scared the crap out of me and to this day, I'm afraid of twin little girls.

However, after some editing, "The Shining" becomes "Shining".

Wow.

The film has been completely taken out of context...and the teaser trailer makes it look like a family-friendly movie.

What the hell is wrong with the world if something like this is necessary and actually profitable?

Seriously...what kind of thought process goes through the mind of a customer of this service? Who are they trying to fool? Family and friends who know that their significant other is incarcerated? Themselves? Each other?

let's see...your husband is in jail for several years with no chance of parole, and you visited him last week, but the picture is of you and him in a Manhattan penthouse???

I thought it was cool to photoshop a picture of my head onto something completely different (like a dog's butt)...and that's really what I feel is the most 'creative' way of using photoshop, but this is a profitable usage of photoshop and it's just as outrageous.

What's next? A service for Hurricane Katrina/Rita victims who want to be in sunny Southern California but can't afford the plane tickets because they've lost everything, but instead, want a fabricated picture of them standing in front of the Hollywood sign, while in reality, they're standing in front of what used to be their house?

Damn. I can do that for free. I'll do it out of charity if it would make them feel better and allow them to escape from the reality of their situation.

good TV on FOX is back!!!



I'm a huge "Arrested Development" fan, not just because I live in Orange County, but because the characters are well-executed and the serial plot format is unique - well, unique nowadays. So, I'll definitely set my DVR to record AD. I can't wait to see what they do with George Michael and Maeby this season.

I'm not so sure about "Kitchen Confidential". As much as I like Anthony Bourdain (I've read his books and watched his shows on Food Network and the Travel Channel), I'm not sure how good a show based on his book is going to be without his witty repartee and cynical observations coming from him. I'm actually a bit OD'ed on Anthony Bourdain anyway - there's only so much down-to-earth-New-Yorker that I can take.

I've got a bunch of other shows recording on the DVR...most of them on the Discovery Channel: "Dirty Jobs", "Mythbusters", "Going Tribal", and "Top Gear". All of them are very good shows and worthy of my time. I had recorded Comedy Central's "Stella" until the season abruptly ended. I guess the United States isn't ready for Michael, Michael, and David.

so my coworker and I went to the Mazda ZoomZoomLive event in Pomona last weekend.

we got a chance to drive the new MX-5 Miata and the new Mazda5 and the RX-8. we could have driven the other Mazda cars that were there, but we drove them already during previous Mazda Rev-it-up events.

anyway, it was fun. I never thought I'd say this, but I want a Miata. yes. I want a Miata.

it's small, impractical, and utterly-feminine, but I want one. It handles so well and has *just* enough power to kick the back end out. Unfortunately, I don't think I can convince my wife to let me trade in my Protege5 for a Miata...and she said that if we did get a Miata, we'd have to get an automatic, at which point, I laughed because there's no sense in getting an automatic transmission Miata.

I mean, come on...driving a roadster is about the experience...the wind in your hair...rowing through the gears!


so here's a picture of Dwaine and yours truly. Dwaine's driving...I'm imitiating a giraffe: