The Dying of the Light

My laptop died today, but she did not go gently into that great night.  No, there was a rage of whirring fans and blinking lights, and then...nothing.  Fortunately, I have two months left on my warranty (take that, planned obsolescence!) and so after a rapidly accumulating number of business days for warranty clearance, shipping, repair, and more shipping, she will eventually make her way home.  I think this probably her way of  punishing me for not ever naming her; ten months of jealousy over my exes, Abigail (a Dell) and Grace (an Acer), spilled over into that last recourse for all jilted companions: self-destruction.

And so, I am going dark for the next week or so, while she convalesces.  It's probably for the best, as my links-to-writing ratio has recently hit an all-time high.  This silver-lined tragedy will force me to actually put pen to paper every day, which I will post here as often as time--and my roommate--permit.

In the meantime, and in between times, I bid you a fond adieu.

Almost forgot

I should have been asleep hours ago, but I've been working on a school project, and I just realized I hadn't blogged yet today.  Anyway, here's a most excellent site I came across yesterday:  Psykopaint.  Enjoy!

Beware: Sheer Awesomeness

There's really nothing that can, should, or needs to be said. The best ten minutes of your life coming right up:

The Silver Screen

Graphical proof that movies are getting worse?  Check this out.

Peter and the Wolves

Peter Huntsman, second son and CEO of those Huntsmen, spoke to my Global Management class today.  A few takeaways:

• Huntsman looked a little like Dr. Wilson, AKA Robert Sean Leonard.
• He makes more in a day than I did my entire first year teaching: which comes out to about $10.3MM annually.  So it was nice of him to donate his time today. 
• Pakistan is the most dangerous nation in the world.  Between 10-25 nukes, an unstable autocratic government, Islamic jihadists, and numerous border wars, it's a powderkeg.
• Although China's GDP growth is about 3x that of the U.S., in actual dollars it's a wash since America's GDP is about 3x the size.
• Brazil is more or less a Chinese colony at this point: infrastructure comes in, resources go out.  This change (from being a U.S. colony) has happened over the last 24 months.
• The U.S. is foolish to be so dependent on oil (which is not news, by any means, but was strange to hear from a major chemicals/polypropylene guy), because none of the world's major oil exporters are friendly to the us: Iran, Iraq, Russia, Venezuela, Libya--not exactly the Fans of American club.
• "We don't live on a gold standard. We live on a hydro-carbon standard."  I am still envisioning  Huntsman as William Jennings Bryan: 

"Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a [hydrocarbon]standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of [oil]."

• America needs to invest in green tech and infrastructure or be left behind.
• It's cheaper to hire Chinese labor in Taiwan or Singapore than in China.
• No one who has ever run an effective business for any period of time believes that the customer should always come first.  Safety, profitability, employees, then customers.  Customer are the end result of an effective business, not its platform.
• Be passionate about what you do.  "I'd rather see a passionate truck driver than a miserable millionaire."

Seuss at War

Today is the birthday of Dr. Seuss,

An author who had a few wizurzles loose.

He wrote about cats and hats and sneeches and thneads,

But tonight I want to mention a lesser-known deed.

Seuss was drafted in the Second World War, 

Owing to his pen being mightier than the sword. 

He schtimpled cartoons to help the war go,

Some of which you can check out below:

Music of Tonight

I thought this was pretty great (or at least that it appeased my lack of attention span): five seconds of every song to hit #1 on the charts from 1956 to 1992.

How many do you know?

Five Seconds Of Every #1 Pop Single Part 1 by mjs538

Five Seconds Of Every #1 Pop Single Part 2 by mjs538