Suck it God, I own a Gun

I see a number of "pro gun" memes where the basic subtext (for anyone who knows how to think) is: "I own a gun, and I would be proud to kill another human being." For example, "Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out."

Really? Would you also be proud to beat your wife? To kick a dog? To steal food from the mouth of a child? To knife a soldier? To chainsaw a cheerleader? To tell God to "suck it"? Bet you would, you bloodthirsty murderer-wannabe.

I think the best meme to make my point is the one that went something like "Guns and God. Trespass and meet both of them." I think that person needs to add "And when you meet God, you can tell him I said 'Suck Your Sixth Commandment!' - because, that's what this little sign says, right up there for anyone who knows how to think.

I'm prepared to allow that this person doesn't really mean it, but just as actions speak louder than words, so words speak louder than intentions. But, in the case of a bumper sticker that says "Screw the Sixth Commandment," (by any other words) actions have already spoken: bumper stickers don't put themselves on bumpers. Someone bought that sticker, carried it home, stuck it on that bumper, and left it there, to show the entire world how proud that person is to say "Suck it God, I own a gun."

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Money Sex at its Finest - Exchange Traded Funds may generate tax-free revenue

So, I had YouTube running in the background, one of those mashups of songs from Within Temptation and whomever else the mashup maker thought fit (I was pleased to find Amaranthe in the mix, so I'm not the only one that mashes those bands together).

Anyway, this guy from Wisdom Tree comes on and starts talking about Exchange-Traded Funds and makes the comment "they can take very efficient use of tax structures, and may often generate returns with no tax impact at all, which, of course, has a huge benefit on growth over time."

Well, no shit. It also means the rich trust-fund kids have found a way to totally dodge having to pay taxes.

Okay, maybe that's not quite true, but even so, the capital gains tax caps out at 15%, which is great for the uber-rich who have all that money in the market doing the money sex thing (i.e. "making" money by rubbing money together, without actually doing anything dirty like make roads or cars, or anything in any way useful). And there is constantly legislation being pushed by the lapdogs of the greedElitists to entirely wipe out taxes on capital gains under the tired old "tinkle-down" economic premise that giving money to the rich has any impact whatsoever on making the rest of the world a shinier place (pro-tip: it has far less impact on economic growth than taxing the shit out of the rich and spending the money on things like roads, or cars, or anything useful).

Theological Thursday: Go preach crazy somewhere else; I've already got Cthulhu

Just so we're clear: "Cthulhu," by any other spelling, is fictitious. Well, at least as fictitious as all the other divine entities concocted, invented, "contacted" and "discovered" by humanity over the years. Hell, I once had a conversation with someone ten years younger than me who was telling me all about the "Religion of the Twelve Dragons" and was baffled when I told her to read "Dragons of Autumn Twilight." I mean, the shit people will adopt as dogma and gospel....

Damnit, I wasn't going to trap this post as a "Theological Thursday," but I went there, so now it goes there.

Ah, well, at least theology guarantees months of material :)

 

 

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The fallacy of "rational" thinking

Getting thru the day is much easier when you always remember that people are insane.

No, no, we like to believe we are all "rational actors," but the truth is that we're all insane.

Every "rational" decision is just a bundle package of emotions, thoughts, expectations, brain chemistry, poor overhead lighting, and breakfast.

"Rational" is a goal, not a reality.


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Zitpoppers? Ew! Why am I still watching??

In the general category of "What The Hell Is Wrong With People?" I recently discovered all the horrible, disgusting, and wretchedly fascinating videos on YouTube about things like "World's Largest Blackhead," and "Biggest Tonsil Stone," and "Puppy's Skin Infested With Maggots," and "Insect Extracted From Ear Canal." (No, I'm not providing links - if you really want to traumatize yourself, then you have to take full ownership and find these horrors yourself.)

So, what the Hell is wrong with people that these videos have so many viewings? Why the Hell did I watch them (yes, all four of those)? Why the Hell did I watch more?

It's only a bit healthier than watching video of a medical amputation or an actual beheading. (Hello! Real People feeling real horror and pain and carnagey death, and they don't get to laugh about it and go home when the camera stops, because they're really dead!) As a species we seem fascinated by the bizarre and horrific. I mean - "Human Centipede" wasn't horrible enough in every literal and artistic way, people actually auditioned to be part of a sequel?? (Ditto you don't get to blame me if you look it up.)

Oh, and to come back around to the starting point - turns out the "world's largest blackhead" was just a clogged bellybutton. W.T.F.?? Man spends 20 years and never once cleans his bellybutton until some doctor (okay, some person wearing latex gloves) gives it a squeeze and out pops this gunkwad the size of a marble? What the Hell is wrong with that guy? I mean... doesn't a bath once a year prevent something like that... never squeezed it once, ever, himself to clear it out...? Inexcusably ewwwwwwww!

I don't actually have any answers to why people are so fascinated by the disgusting and grotesque (darkly, it's easier to explain why people are so disgusting and grotesque). I just needed to share my trauma at how screwed up we are as a species.

Microsoft: You Will Do It Our Way, And Like It

The people at Microsoft have changed the terms of service agreement, and it's to their benefit, not your's.  Not that this has any practical impact on most people, but the new clause amounts to you agreeing to sign away your rights and options, should you get screwed by the people at Microsoft.

I mean, really, the entire ToS is written by lawyers to protect the interests of the people who own the legal entity known as Microsoft.  It is written by really smart people, with really expensive college educations, to ensure that they have as many advantages as possible - as allow ed by the laws they can buy from politicians. (Note again I said they have college educations - a college education is expensive, and there are lots of trade-craft jobs that pay really great wages, but the only guaranteed way to escape poverty is by getting an education, so even if you do become an industrial welder in your 20s, stick with the part-time college work, because that's how you can move into management in your 40s).

Here are the two key parts of the latest revision of the Microsoft Terms of Service (as of July, 2014)

Effective July 31, 2014

IF YOU LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES, SECTION 10 CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER. IT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS ABOUT HOW TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE WITH MICROSOFT. PLEASE READ IT.

10.4. Class action waiver. Any proceedings to resolve or litigate any dispute in any forum will be conducted solely on an individual basis. Neither you nor Microsoft will seek to have any dispute heard as a class action, private attorney general action, or in any other proceeding in which either party acts or proposes to act in a representative capacity. No arbitration or other proceeding will be combined with another without the prior written consent of all parties to all affected arbitrations or proceedings.

Most of you are asking: So what?

Class Action is a way of helping the little guy - you and me - share the unbelievably huge cost of lawsuits. Microsoft Corporation has the money to fight a legal battle between now and Armageddon, but you and I are lucky if we can afford to pay a lawyer to talk to us about whether or not we even have legal standing to sue Microsoft Corporation, let alone actually plunge into the costs of that lawsuit.

By this contractual clause, we agree to surrender an important legal opportunity.  It's a bit like saying "Oh, yes, I agree that if you throw me over a barrel and butt rape me, that I can't change my mind later and decide I regret it."

Seriously. It's like the rights of privacy you surrender to the asshats at Faceborg or Googleborg when you agree to use their services (technically, I've surrendered the Copyright to what I'm writing here, and I've accepted that).

There are website entities where you can agree to let them abuse you and treat you like shit, including what amounts to rape, or injury, then sell the videos of them doing it to you, typically in exchange for a one-time payment of money (but they make piles by selling the video again and again), and you've surrendered you right to ever stop them (short of murder or vandalism). (This entire paragraph is literal, not figurative. It's freaky shit people do.)

It's a bit like that - you want what Microsoft or Faceborg offers? You agree to surrender everything in order to have it.

It's all about money, power and privilege. It's class warfare, bitches. Welcome to the digital age.

Musical Monday: "Freak Like Me" by Halestorm - I've Found My Anthem

Going to try a new theme day. I've trying to curb some of the anger in my soul with other things. Mostly, because it's not good for me to only be angry, but also because people get bored of a one-note talking head. Even Rush Limbaugh changes it up from time to time by acting like he cares about people, or getting himself caught in a drug scandal-of-his-own-making, and whatever.

So, anyway, let's try "Musical Monday."

I've got a grrl-crush on Lzzy Hale. I love her voice, and her delivery and her energy.  You can love her body; she's hot. (Her brother has yummy abs, too.)

It's not likely any kind of stretch why I identify with Halestorm's "Freak Like Me." I mean, talk about angry and embracing it. :)