Year: 2006

The Immorality Of Killing

“Each of us is unique; not one of us can be replaced. Each of us has a family, loved ones, friends and a life that is a web of caring, interdependence, and joy. When even one of us is killed or horribly injured for no justifiable reason, the damage affects countless people in addition to the primary victim. Sometimes, the survivors are irreparably damaged as well. Even the survivors’ wounds can last a lifetime.

This is of the greatest significance. There is nothing more important or meaningful in the world. No moral principle legitimizes our invasion and occupation of Iraq, just as it will not justify an attack on Iran. Therefore, when the first person was killed in Iraq as the result of our actions, the immorality was complete. The crime had been committed, and no amends could ever suffice or would even be possible. That many additional tens or hundreds of thousands of people have subsequently been killed or injured does not add to the original immorality with regard to first principles. It increases its scope, which is an additional and terrible horror — but the principle is not altered in the smallest degree”.

— Arthur Silber; Of Fundamental Moral Principles, and the Value of a Single Human Life.

[Via: Lawrence of Cyberia]

Manimal (The 80’s TV Series)

Today at work while joking about something, the idea of morphing images came up (ok we’re geeks!), and somewhere in the back of my head a little thread was launched down memory lane, reminding me of this short-lived TV series called “Manimal”, that I used to watch in my childhood.

The series was about a certain Dr. Jonathan Chase, a shape-shifting man who could turn himself into any animal to fight crime. The role of Jonathan Chase was played by actor Simon McCorkindale.

Only 8 episodes were made of this series before it was axed due to poor ratings, which I thought was a shame.
Of course, those days being the 80’s and it being a TV production, the special effects used were less than spectacular, but still as a child I really enjoyed it and loved the idea of a man who could tranform himself into any animal.

In reality his onscreen transformations were almost always into a black panther or hawk, using the exact same backdrops each time, in order to save on the budget by using the same footage. I remember he also became a snake once, which was a bit weird and left me a bit confused for some reason. In other episodes he also turned into a bull and horse, but the transformations occurred off-screen.

Anyway, it was a nice series, that I was allowed to stay up to watch, and I really enjoyed every episode of it. I think that if given a second chance with today’s technologies, it could work out better and maybe become a hit.
Until that happens, it’ll just have to live on as another little piece of my childhood memories, and the memories of others who watched it.

[More: IMDB, Wikipedia]

On The Scam Called Insurance

You know what’s worse than taxes?
What’s worse than tax is insurance.

You got to have some insurance.

They shouldn’t even call it insurance.
They just should call it ”in case shit.”

l give a company some money in case shit happens.

Now, if shit don’t happen,
shouldn’t l get my money back?

— Chris Rock – Bigger And Blacker (Full script here)

I couldn’t agree more…

Insurance is the biggest scam ever created by man!
What pisses me off even more is that somehow they’ve convinced everyone it’s ok for them to steal our money!

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 7 Released

Microsoft have finally released the new version of their still market-dominant browser: Internet Explorer 7.

It’s the first new version of the Web browser since Internet Explorer 6 launched in 2001 with the Windows XP operating system.

Back then Microsoft basically had no competition left in the browser market and so it announced it wouldn’t be releasing any more standalone versions of Internet Explorer, and that the next version would only ship with their next OS, which we know now by the name of Windows Vista.

But since then Firefox surfaced as a strong competitor which has been grabbing up market share, and Microsoft were forced to give their browser an update if they wanted to stop the migration and loss of users.
And so Internet Explorer 7 came to see the light of day.

I haven’t tested this version or any of its betas or release candidates yet, even though I have seen it on some of my friends’ machines, anyway I’m not really optimistic that Microsoft will win me back as a user, but still I will give it a try to see what they’ve done with it. According to what I’ve read and heard, there are a number of good things that were done with it.

I’ll quote the official IE Blog with a little paragraph that sort of sums it all up:

“We listened carefully to feedback from many sources (including this blog) and worked hard to deliver a safer browser that makes everyday tasks easier. When I first posted publicly about IE7, I wrote that we would go further to defend users from phishing and malicious software. The Phishing Filter and the architectural work in IE7 around networking and ActiveX opt-in will help keep users more secure. IE7 also delivers a much easier browsing experience with features like tabbed browsing (especially with QuickTabs), shrink-to-fit printing, an easily customizable search box, and a new design that leaves more screen real estate for the web site you

Human Species May Split In Two

Reality could imitate fiction…

Humanity may split into two sub-species in 100,000 years’ time as predicted by HG Wells, an expert has said.

Evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry of the London School of Economics expects a genetic upper class and a dim-witted underclass to emerge.

The human race would peak in the year 3000, he said – before a decline due to dependence on technology.

People would become choosier about their sexual partners, causing humanity to divide into sub-species, he added.

The descendants of the genetic upper class would be tall, slim, healthy, attractive, intelligent, and creative and a far cry from the “underclass” humans who would have evolved into dim-witted, ugly, squat goblin-like creatures.

[Source: BBC News]

The US And The Eye of Mordor

In an interview with the editorial board of the Bucks County Courier Times, embattled Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum has equated the war in Iraq with J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.”

According to the paper, Santorum said that the United States has avoided terrorist attacks at home over the past five years because the “Eye of Mordor” has been focused on Iraq instead.

“As the hobbits are going up Mount Doom, the Eye of Mordor is being drawn somewhere else,” Santorum said. “It’s being drawn to Iraq and it’s not being drawn to the U.S. You know what? I want to keep it on Iraq. I don’t want the Eye to come back here to the United States.”

Oh whatever…
I can’t think of a more stupid analogy…
Ok, George W. Bush does somehow look like a hobbit, but other than that this is complete nonsense…

[Source: Salon]

Googleplex Going Solar

Google will be partnering with EI Solutions, to begin installation of 9,200 (1.6 megawatts) of solar photovoltaic panels at their Mountain View campus. This project will be the largest solar installation on any corporate campus in the U.S., and maybe even the world.

The panels will cover the roofs of the four main buildings of the Googleplex, and also those of two additional buildings across the street. There will also be a portion of the installation on new solar panel support structures in a few parking lots. The amount of electricity that will be generated is equivalent to powering about 1,000 average California homes.

The electricity will be used to power several of Google’s Mountain View office facilities, offsetting approximately 30% of their peak electricity consumption at those buildings.

The system cost Google $3 million dollars, but will pay for itself within 15 years according to EI Solutions. Savings will be around $393,000 per year

(PRODUCT) RED

“What we collectively choose to buy, or not buy, can change the course of life and history on this planet.”
— From the (RED) Manifesto

(PRODUCT) REDThe (RED) project was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver, to raise awareness and money for The Global Fund by teaming up with the world’s most iconic brands to produce (PRODUCT)RED branded products.

A percentage of each (PRODUCT)RED product sold is given to The Global Fund. The money helps women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Apple and Motorola began selling red-colored electronics in the United States yesterday to raise awareness and money for the fight against AIDS in Africa, as well as tuberculosis and malaria.

San Francisco retailing giant Gap Inc. also rolled out an entire line of red clothing and accessories, much of it made in Africa, and pledged to donate half the profits from it to the Global Fund.

Other businesses who have already jumped on the (PRODUCT) RED bandwagon are: Converse, Emporio Armani and American Express.

I think this is a great idea and project which I hope will help in making the situation in Africa even a bit better. I truly respect Bono for all the work he’s been doing to help in the African continent over these past years, and this project with Bobby Shriver is another great initiative by him. Bravo to both men.

[More: (PRODUCT) RED, (BLOG) RED, Flickr (RED)]