These are from political signs and commercials in my area:
VOTE YES FOR ISSUE X NO NEW TAXES -I don't care if they are old or new taxes, I don't want to pay them. The last time we voted and this passed, they probably were new taxes. This is about as blatantly deceptive as advertising gets imo.
But it reflects the masses the sign is meant to persuade. "X is a good thing, and we don't have to pay for it. Why would I vote no?"
I'm also bothered by the fact that people who want an issue passed have every incentive (usually $ is a big part of the equation) to get it passed. They stand to benefit from it. However, the people who stand to lose from it stand to lose disproportionately. We're getting nickel-and-dimed. But who's going to pay for billboards and commercials and such to hopefully discourage people from getting something passed. Why pay a lot of money now to try and dissuade the public from costing you less money dragged out over the course of your lifetime?
And no one is taught in schools how to think critically about politics. At least, in my experience, that's the case. We go through civics and history yet, when we come out on the other side, how equipped are we for doing our part?
"People who want you to vote against issue x claim this. These are the real facts..." This gets on my nerves because the "facts" that she presents that follow don't negate those presented by the opponents. They merely change the subject.
And quit calling facts "real." Our facts are more real. Pfft.
"I'm so-and-so from the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police. Why would I support this if it weren't true?" Because you're an idiot. If you hold the superior position, explain why instead of expecting me to do your bidding just because of who you are. All you're really doing is lowering my opinion of your little club.
I think the commercials would be more effective if they acknowledged the validity to the other side's point, but then went on to show why it didn't make strong enough of a case.
Well, at least I don't have to see it anymore for a while now because today was election day. I didn't vote either. I tried checking online to see if I was registered (I'm not sure how I would have become unregistered exactly), but it looked like I wasn't. Maybe it had something to do with us moving (even though we moved to property adjacent to our previous residence). I mean, I'm a fan of voting, especially a) when I'm firmly behind a vote (when I think neither option is really worthwhile (cough*every presidential election I've been able to vote in*cough), it's not as big of a deal to me) and b) when it's local (instead of my vote having an astronomically low chance of making a difference, it has a slightly less incredibly insane chance of making a difference).
Before I wrap it up, I'd like to say that I hate all Scope, Listerine, or fill-in-the-blank mouthwash commercials ever. They're all the same (except the one with Ryan Seacrest, which is equally retarded, but not the same old rubber stamp). I'm looking at random people from a diversity day event gargling at the camera like it's their bathroom sink. And they act zany (I say that in the most agonizing way possible.) And they try to make it look like it's fun and it leaves them with a great feeling mouth.
Guess what, guys? I've done the mouthwash thing before. No matter how you spin it, I know what it does, and I'll pass. If I buy any, it'll be because the dentist told me that I'm dying of gingivitis or something.
And since we're on the subject, I saw a commercial for Oral B electric toothbrushes (starting at $22). Yeah, so, $22 worth of toothbrushes would last me a life time. I actually wouldn't need that much because I usually go from dentist check-up to dentist check-up without replacing them. I'd just have to buy one for every time I lost one. I really am not buying the idea that magic vibrations and battery power and a chunk of money are going to be the difference between cavities and a hollywood smile. That all being said, what really got under my skin was the lady saying something about wanting that "fresh from the dentist feeling." Who wants that? I always feel like I have sand and silly putty in my mouth after the dentist. I want a "I just ate a pound of candy feeling" in my mouth (except Sour Skittles because they start to hurt my tongue).
Infomercials start with creating a problem (usually in black and white). This commercials talks about how horrible toothpaste is. The tube is evidently a terribly troublesome contraption to operate that results in you making an incredible mess.
After working in food service, I actually believe that there are people out there who are this messy. But here's a hint, the tube isn't the problem.
To sweeten the deal, they toss in a Sonic 4x toothbrush. /blink
/blink blink
A.k.a., the "sound four times" toothbrush. I'm not sure anything could get my teeth cleaner.
Oh wait.
A sonic 4x toothbrush with the (patented! awesome!) toothpaste dispenser.
That'll complete my bathroom set when paired with my toilet paper holder/reacher thing (ridiculous).
Any time when you think most people aren't half bad, realize that people who make those infomercials sell quite a few products.
I saw some muted story (it was at work) on CNN about washing your hands. Its subtitle was something like, "Washing your hands may halt disease," or something like that. Thanks CNN, what would we do without you?
In my experience, washing hands only matters if you've been around sick people, feces, or raw meat. And even then, it's not a guarantee. I've eaten raw bacon, raw eggs, etc. Somehow I managed to live. Didn't even get sick.
The times I tend to be most susceptible to sickness are when I've not gotten enough sleep.
I think I may upgrade to Windows 7. It's more what I want out of my OS (much like my government), smaller, simpler, less resource hogging, faster. I *think* I can do so for less than full price since I just got Vista last year with this rig (I wasn't going to hold out on a machine for an OS that wasn't coming out for a year). I guess I could have signed up for beta, but I'm more of a finished product sort of guy, esp when it comes to computers.
I saw another story on CNN about the federal gov't mellowing out on marijuana (go go CNN and alliteration). And what they meant by mellowing out was that they were making it so that what California had legalized re: medical marijuana would, oh I don't know, be the final word. In case you were unaware, the federal gov't did some drug raids on legitimate medical marijuana suppliers because it was against federal regulations (even though they were acting within the allowances of California's laws). I got a little annoyed when I read one of the comments left by a reader on the interwebz. It said some crap about marijuana being a terrible drug and the new president being soft on drugs. >.>
Nevermind the legitimate uses it has. Nevermind that many prescription drugs are abused for their euphoric effects (in fact, some are prescribed specifically for those reasons). Certain drugs have been demonized by our society. I could sit here and describe in detail some of the effects of a substance without giving away the name and I could get people calling for its illegalization (and sounding silly when I named them; alcohol comes to mind). Ofc, it would be more rhetorically powerful if I did that instead of talking about it, but I don't feel like doing the work.
But it's the same type of thinking people have who want to ban sugar, soda, etc. If you want to be a health nazi in your house (the mom of the kid who cuts up apple slices for guests and offers them Ovaltine and Sunny D), by all means, go for it. But don't ruin everyone else's time. Mind your own business.
Soft on drugs. Pfft. You know what I want? A president who is not soft on states' rights or personal freedoms. And I want citizens who tend to their own business, not everyone else's.
Ofc, while I'm listing stances I'd like the president to exhibit, how about limited government? And an intention to fix the world's problems by not being a part of the problem. Inhibiting and overregulating ftl. Bureaucracy can get hit by a bus for all I care.
Last thing. There was a story about breast cancer awareness. I hate the word awareness when it's attached to certain events. "It's autism awareness week." "It's dogs-getting-beaten-by-mean-owners awareness month." "It's awareness awareness day." Hey guys, I'm aware of breast cancer now. Cool. Now I can go to sleep tonight knowing that I'm aware of something I need to be aware of. I know that I can perhaps one day get it. And I know that if I get it, I'll figure it out sooner or later. And I'll hope the doctors are really aware of it.
I'm just missing the whole "awareness" idea. Raising money? I get the point. Awareness? Who isn't aware of cancer? If they aren't, what does it matter? They'll go to the doctor when they start hurting in one place or another. And if they don't, that's their call. And if they want to expose themselves (haha) to carcinogens of one type or another, or they want to try to avoid every possible cancer-causing agent ever (each of which should be illegalized btw), more power to them.
[Disclaimer: I understood being aware of certain things can help you catch a disease sooner.]
I hope you guys are now aware of my thoughts on these matters now. Now send me a check so I can research it further.
For starters, forgive me for harping on and on about "The House of the Rising Sun" and Apocalyptica. I guess I'm not really harping on and on, though I've posted comments on here and facebook occasionally about them.
The reason behind it is my iPod is screwed up. The wheel doesn't work. So, to listen to music as it stands, I have to either go from Music > Playlists > Abby's Girl Music and hit play or just hit play on Music, which starts alphabetically. The Animals are first with "The House of the Rising Sun." And then it's a bunch of Apocalyptica songs. I have hit forward a nonsensical amount of times, but the drive on the thing doesn't keep up with how many times I press it. It stutters and then just sets me down 6 or so songs down the list (not many out of ~1400). I haven't made it past Collective Soul (though in all fairness, I usu don't listen to it for extended periods of time, just while doing dishes, shaving my head, or what have you). Plus, after I don't hit play for several hours, it resets.
I could link it up with iTunes and make a playlist entitled "Aardvark" or something like that, but I don't feel like it. It's a lot of work given how little I listen to the thing.
But, anyway, here I am, listening to that song and those songs with a hint of regularlity. I miss Fear Factory and Metallica (though for the latter I get a pseudo dose and the radio is sometimes obliging). Led Zep gets played at work and on the classic rock stations, so that's nice.
Okay, so what I wanted to share. The first is a part of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" by Apocalyptica. It's not as cool if your speakers aren't that great. Anyway, I love the part at 2:16 where the other cellos drop out and the bass is the only one going. Good times.
The other thing is the organ solo from "The House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals. It totally reminds me of the NES game Gunsmoke every time I hear it. It starts around 1:43.
Btw, anyone have any thoughts on the lyrics at 1:34-35? I've looked on the interwebz and have read different words. "Now the only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase and a trunk / and the only time he's satisfied is when he's _______." "On a drunk" is my best guess (and what I saw most often. Maybe it's a retired expression or just one I'm not familiar with.
Oh, and I think the stage is hilarious. It reminds me of "Jesus is a Friend of Mine" or whatever that song is called. I guess that's how everyone rolled ~40 years ago.
