I have just returned to my office after having a smoke. The weather is foul; cold and windy and I’m wearing a sweater so thin that my nipples can cut glass when I get back in. The extremely luxurious smoking accommodation here consists of standing amid the pee stains while huddling under the dryer vent which is conveniently located next to the enormous and rather aromatic dumpster in the back alley. It’s very glamorous. The upside is of course that the dryer vent keeps my clothes smelling “freshly laundered” regardless of my alley activities. When I quit I will be one of the few people who will say that I smelled better as a smoker.

I can’t seem to focus on much today but in an effort to ensure that I won’t inadvertently “Dooce” myself, I will not say that I am ducking out for a cigarette every 15 minutes. However, shivering under a dryer vent that produces an ungodly amount of lint while wearing a black sweater seems to state otherwise.

Note to self; leave grey lint coloured sweater in office for future use.

(PS- For all of you Yanks out there–Yes, colour is supposed to be spelt with a “u” so thank you and shut up.)

There is an unwritten rule that states if your evening ends like this…………..

Your next morning must begin with something like this……..

Last night I had a rather heated debate with Steve about link usage on the net and some of the problems that I foresee in regrades to copyright and link usage. Our opinions were polar opposite (with me being right, obviously) though we both did concede that the other had made valid points, they were clearly not valid enough as to sway either of us from our original stance on the problem. The vast and often complicated copyright laws that exist today are not adequate to cover the age and realm of technology that we currently live in. Though once very useful, they were intended to cover print, verbal and even video, they were not intended for internet which then didn’t exist.

The net allows for such an enormous exchange of information that people often forget that someone wrote, published and still owns that piece that you are reading or referencing or quoting. Just because you get to use it doesn’t make it yours, and just because we have access to everything all of time, doesn’t mean that we always will, or even should. I’m not talking some ridiculous government agency playing “big brother” through the interwebs, but I am talking about giving the authors some say about how their material is used and most importantly, the right to say no.

There are already huge issues with online copyright infringement (think music industry and illegal downloads for an example) and new laws are being written as these copyright violations gain momentum. The next problem that I see coming down the pipe is with links and link permission. The lawsuit in Sheyboygan this last August is the beginning of what I think will be a full on throw down, though quite honestly, I can’t understand why. Seriously, what the fuck is the problem? (more…)

Feeling a wee bit peckish?

Why are we shocked that obesity rates in North America are through the fucking roof when this is considered an acceptable past time?

We are a gluttonous society; whether food, natural resources, money, time, or bad habits, we just can’t seem to get enough. Super size, all-you-can-eat, buffet, buffet, buffet. It’s as though we’re terrified that we “won’t get our fair share.” Let me tell you, there is nothing fair about our share.

We have over consumed all that is around us to such an extreme extent that anything less than too much leaves us feeling deprived. We go on about how terrific it is that the junk food is out of school vending machines and how you can get a salad instead of fries at most fast food joints and yet more kids in North America own an x box/Nintendo than are enrolled in any type of sports program. Children as young as 3 are getting too large for child car safety seats and this isn’t because the seats have changed radically in the last 10 years, our perception of fat certainly has though.

Has North America gotten so fat that we can no longer recognize what fat is? (more…)

Dear Asshole,

You are the one who talks when you shouldn’t, pretends to think when you really don’t and appears to have no real use at all.

If you were a Kleenex I would fill you with snot and discard you all in the space of a nano second, never to think of you again.

k

"Huh? You talkin' to me?"

Not Obama’s best debate but it certainly could have been worse had McCain not derailed himself with ranting and demanding an apology. I still can’t believe the depth to which abortion was brought up (be warned ladies, you’ll be getting out those knitting needles again should McCain be heading to the big white house on the hill.) The moderation was terrific and the split screen format ruled! I love being able to see the other candidates reaction and I think most other people would have to agree. It made for very interesting viewing.

Yes, they debated. Yes, they both had “shining moments” but in all honesty, I’m sick of the whole god damn thing and you know, I bet Joe the fucking plumber is too.