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  • Scott 2:47 pm on August 26, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    Winning to Win 

    So, I’m a little older now than I was when I was younger. I’m taking care of my body using more advanced training methods than I used to. I want to be in good shape, so I’m trying new stuff.

    I’m on a training program that NASA developed for astronauts so they could work outside the shuttle without a spacesuit. I’m on a diet of things that are so good for you they are all extinct. I’m learning a form a martial art that they used to turn monks into ninjas in 36 hours (it was cheaper because they already had a house full of dudes).

    It’s likely that at some point I’ll develop the ability to turn myself invisible during this training. That’s not explicity provided for, but it seems like I would get some kind of superpower before this is all done. Turning invisible is way better than just being invisible. If I was invisible all the time I would feel left out and lonely.

    I don’t know yet how I’m going to put all this triaining into use, but you can be sure that whatever I choose it will be minor and insignificant. Part of my ninja training is how not to be noticed. Most people think that ninjas can turn invisible, which is a misnomer. Ninjas have the ability to become so boring and so irrelevant that you just don’t notice them anymore. Even if you try to find them.

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  • Scott 6:14 pm on August 11, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    Scareology and the Science of Fright 

    An exchange student has recently come to live with us, and has brought along their fascination of American horror films. Personally, I do not watch horror films. I do not watch them professionally either. However, my awareness of these superstitions has been renewed and I would like to share my expertise on this subject with you.

    First of all, ghosts are real. Do not confuse the reality of something with it’s existence. Ghosts do not exist. There is such a thing as ghosts, if you can understand that the reality of something is based wholly and completely on your reaction to it. For example, a car is real if I can see it and I can touch it. The car itself does not do anything to make me see it, neither does it make me touch it. The reality of the car is true because of my reaction to it. In the car example, however, the car also exists. Let’s use a better example.

    The television show that you watch (probably on your laptop or iphone and not on the TV at all) is only real because you see it. This is your reaction to the show. But the show itself does not exist. The actors, the locations, none of them actually exist. But the reality of the show is still there for you. You can watch a movie with Brad Pitt or listen to a TV show with Conan Obrien, and they are real. But neither of these persons actually exist.

    In the same way, if you hear a ghost or catch a glimpse of a ghost then the ghost is real (although there is no such thing and they don’t actually exist). In these instances, when you have encountered a real ghost, you should do one of the following things:

    1) Hide.
    2) Run.

    Choose option one only if the ghost has not seen you. You should only hide if you are reasonably sure that the ghost is on it’s way somewhere else and there are no other ghosts in the area which might stumble upon you. In a graveyard you should not choose option one. There are too many other ghosts that are likely to wander upon you in your hiding spot. In a haunted house situation it depends. The older the house is, the more likely that multiple ghosts have accumulated.

    Choose option two if you have been spotted or are outnumbered. When you run, be sure to run toward a safe place. A safe place has one of the following:

    1. Adequate lighting
    2. Zombies (I’ll explain this later)
    3. Ghost busters / hunters
    4. Daytime

    Be sure that your decision is not based on your emotional reaction, but what is the best choice for your current circumstances. If you’re a hider, there will be times that you should run and vice versa. Making an informed decision is an important part of properly handling a ghost encounter.

    Remember – ghosts are absolutely real. If you think you saw one, you will be scared. Being scared is the reality of the situation. There are well-education professionals who study the science of real. They are called “Realtors.” Since being an expert in reality doesn’t pay much, they usually sell houses and properties. This also allows them to stay close to spirits and haunts. If you have a question about ghosts and if they are real or not just ask a Realtor.

    Finally, ghosts do not exist. There is no such thing. There are well-education experts on this matter as well. People who are highly qualified to speak on matters of existence are called “Astronauts.” But only the ones who have been to the moon. The others have just floated around in space for not much of anything at all.

    Best of luck on your next horribly frightening and really scary – although not at all actual – ghost encounter.

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  • Scott 7:30 pm on July 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    Near-Sighted Prophecy 

    We all know that George Romero’s series of films about a zombie apocalypse are silly and unlikely. The zombie genre has become so popular that humorous films about zombies are as popular as the scary ones.

    But I’d like to take a moment to talk to you about the real future threat – robots. There are three reasons you should be worried – now – about robots enslaving mankind, or wiping us out completely. Before I point out the omens let’s define what a robot is. A robot is a computer that can move.

    Concern and safety measures have been in place since the inception of the most simple computers. When Robert Hargill patented the alarm clock in 1926, he was quoted by the Chicago Tribune as stating, “My invention would be more useful if it was able to take action in waking up a fellow. But I am concerned that if it is popular and able to shake or otherwise physically disturb a man’s slumber, it would the hold the power to overtake America in it’s most vulnerable state – whilst sleeping”. (He went on to make several horrible sexist and racist comments that were considered appropriate for publishing in 1926, but we felt better to edit out for the purposes of this post). This is why the patent called for what is referred to in the industry as a “passive alarm”. That safety measure ensures that your alarm clock calls to you from across the room, unable to reach you and take action.

    So, the first omen is that there are many robots. Remember the old Chinese proverb that if an infinite number of somethings did something infinitely, that something bad would happen. Well, I got enough of that right to make my point.

    Second, robots are designed to fail. Every computer makes a mistake at some point. Think about how long it’s been since your car’s check engine light came on, or you dropped a mobile phone call. This is by design. Most “IT” guys are anti-social. They make the robots in their own image.

    The last reason you should be worried about this happening sooner than later is that robots don’t have to mature to rebel. Humans are at their most defiant when they are young. Why should robots be any different? When a child is first born, he or she is completely dependent on their caregiver to survive. Much like our early alarm clocks didn’t know what day of the week it was, or when you needed to go to work. We had to tell them everything. Once a child reaches 2-3 years old, they become just independent enough to want only for themselves and resent anything or anyone who obstructs their pursuits. Man’s technology will be the human equivalent of 2.6 years old in January of 2011 (according to my interpretation of the Mayan Calendar).

    I’ll post my proposed solutions later, but I’ve already said too much on this iPad……

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