28.5.04

Architecture Diploma for Sale

This guy was on the road to success, until he went to college on student loans. Unable to pay them back on rookie-architect wages he's now up to his neck in bad credit and wants to get rid of his diploma -- "a monument to my stupidity, naivete, and the fact that I was sold on the idea that I needed a college education, regardless of the price."

The opening bid of $14,000 would cover his obligation to Rensselaer Polytechnic. The Buy it Now price of $72,000 would cover that and his loans from the State of New York.

25.5.04

More Applications

Maybe you don't have what it takes to be stranded on a desert island with a millionaire and his wife. You could always apply to join the Israeli secret service.

The Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, otherwise known as 'Mossad' has been appointed by the State of Israel to collect information, analyze intelligence and perform special covert operations beyond its borders.

"Where no counsel is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety" Proverbs XI/14.

Hot off the Fax Machine

According to an unsolicitied fax I received today, you'd be a fool not to invest in 3DIcon Corp. (formerly First Keating Corp.), headed by Martin Keating -- Yes, THAT Martin Keating, co-producer of "The Buddy Holly Story", author of "The Final Jihad" and brother of former Oklahoma Governor and critic of the Catholic Church Frank Keating.

"3DIcon is standing where Sony was 20 yrs ago with the VCR...Apple with the PC and Microsoft with it's [sic] Windows operating software 20yrs ago!"


"The largest full-color, 360-degree hologram that we know of has been on display and working 24/7 for years...the Aurora Borealis!"


"The new holographic communications industry, fueled by astonishing technologies, promises to be bigger and vastly more significant than the Industrial Revolution and today's internet combined!"



The friggin' INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION is about to be TRUMPED, folks. You've got to get in on this now! Did I mention the low entry price and their research and development partnership with the University of Oklahoma! The INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. The INTERNET! NOTHING COMPARED TO THIS OPPORTUNITY!!!

24.5.04

Just sit right down and you'll hear a tale.


Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful trip.
That started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin' man,
the skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day,
for a three hour tour, a three hour tour………
The weather started getting rough,
the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew,
the Minnow would be lost; the Minnow would be lost.
The ship took ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle,
with Gilligan, the Skipper too,
the Millionaire, and his Wife,
the Movie Star, the Professor and Mary Ann,
here on Gilligan's Isle.

So this is the tale of our castaways,
they're here for a long, long time.
They'll have to make the best of things,
it's an uphill climb.
The first mate and his skipper too,
will do their very best,
to make the others comfortable,
in the tropic island nest.
No phones, no lights, no motor cars,
not a single luxury.
Like Robinson Crusoe,
it's primitive as can be.
So join us here each week my friend,
you're sure to get a smile.
From seven stranded Castaways,
Here on Gilligan's Isle.


Think you've got what it takes? Download an application to join the cast[aways] of the reality-TV version of Gilligan's Island, coming soon to a boob-tube near you.

23.5.04

Our Summer with Michael

Doug Segrest reminisces about covering the 1994 Birmingham Barons with Michael Jordan playing right field.

17.5.04

As long as you don't know what exactly it is your spraying on your tomatoes, you can still call them "organic"

The Organic Consumers Association wishes to make you aware of the new Bush administration rules on "organic" labelling which pretty much open up agribusiness to shovel whatever they want down your throat and call it good for you. (link)

UPDATE: Some of the proposed changes have been tossed out. For example, there was a proposed change to allow a farmer to sell his or her produce as organic as long as "reasonable effort" to determine the actual composition of pesticides used didn't turn up anything known to be really harmful. Which I guess would encourage people to sell "mystery pesticides," that one was rescinded. The USDA is now instructed to also listen to the recommendations of the "National Organic Standards Board" instead of just Monsanto and Archer Daniels Midland. (story)

12.5.04

The Definitive O'Reilly Interview of All Time (link)

via BoingBoing we learn that Bill O'Reilly is preventing NPR from re-licensing the rights to his interview last October with Terry Gross on 'Fresh Air.' I haven't listened to it yet (Real and WinMedia only), but reviews in the comments at Lawrence Lessig's blog range from (papraphrased) 'He held his own against obvious bias' to 'She didn't even CHALLENGE his lies!'

10.5.04

In Progress

Blogger has updated its site and is allowing a lot more options for me. Expect inconsistency. There should be a way to comment on posts now, so if you have any comments, and the system is working, feel free to add them.

7.5.04

Birmingham Nights

Birmingham Nights - by Petronius

I went to this party, but I don't remember any of these people. And it didn't really change my life. Interesting to read about from another perspective, though.

5.5.04

Terror Alert

Current terror alert level:
Terror Alert Level

3.5.04

The end is near

Greg Maddux has two runs in today's game against the Cardinals. He also stole second base. But then Cards pitcher Marquis went and got on base and stole second right back from him.

1.5.04

The March of Dimes

Last November, Representative Mark Souder of Indiana introduced a bill, H.R. 3633, "To provide for dime coins to bear the likeness of President Ronald Reagan, the Freedom President, in honor of his work in restoring American greatness and bringing freedom to captive nations around the world."

Perhaps this is not the place to go into detail on America's greatness and contributions to freedom during the 1980's. The strength of this site is much more the "silly list" approach. So in that spirit, I bring you the "DystopiaBox List of Portraits on US Money:"

Amount : Honoree : Political Affiliation : Nickname(s)

Cent : Abraham Lincoln : Republican : The Great Emancipator
Nickel : Thomas Jefferson : Democratic Republican : Sage of Monticello
Dime : Franklin Roosevelt : Democrat : FDR
Quarter : George Washington : Federalist : Father of his Country
Half Dollar : John Kennedy : Democrat : Jack
Dollar : Sacagawea : Shoshone : Squaw
Dollar : George Washington : Federalist : American Fabius
Two Dollars : Thomas Jefferson : Democratic Republican : Long Tom
Five Dollars : Abraham Lincoln : Republican : Railsplitter
Ten Dollars : Alexander Hamilton : Federalist : Mr. Secretary
Twenty Dollars: Andrew Jackson : Democrat : Old Hickory
Fifty Dollars : Ulysses Grant : Old Three Stars
Hundred Dollars : Benjamin Franklin : Quaker (Federalist) : Poor Richard
Five Hundred Dollars : William McKinley : Republican : Prosperity's Advance Agent
One Thousand Dollars : Grover Cleveland : Democrat : Man of Destiny
Five Thousand Dollars : James Madison : Democratic Republican : Father of the Constitution
Ten Thousand Dollars : Salmon Chase : Free-Soil : Attorney General for Runaway Slaves
Hundred Thousand Dollars : Woodrow Wilson : Democrat : The Scholar in Politics