OK, this ain't tv, but it's still a must see. if you use microsoft windows and you haven't updated since today (4/10) you *need* to update asap. there's a slim chance you might go to a nasty website that exploits the security holes they found, but if you like to click on pop-ups you're a lot more likely! in either case, just go get updated, okay? Here's the link:

microsoft security updates center

oh yeah, and if you missed my previous blog entry, it's a good'n:

(Cool blog entry)

Category: General

I wanted to mention a couple of websites that my son has. He's a game programmer, but these sites are not dedicated to games per se. This first one is kind of a general site that he uses for promotion and other interests. It's a very beautiful site- very clean and attractive graphically. He really shows his artistic talents here!

And here's his other site. It's got tons of cool pictures from his adventures in the wilderness and a bunch of other great stuff!

Category: General

Okay, I admit I went a little overboard on that last post. My son brought this to my attention:



yes, we should all consider each other innocent until proven guilty. this is indeed the cornerstone of civilization. my son is an intelligent person and he got me to thinking about this issue, just like many other things. i realize that i have some prejudices i need to deal with. just because i see a person dress a certain way or speak with a certain accent, i shouldn't automatically make up my mind about them. just because there are certain people of a certain ethnicity who are currently indulging in senseless acts of violence, i should not condemn the rest of them. After all, just look at the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the Halocaust of the Jews, the Bosnian tragedy, etc. yes, it would be truly unjust to require each other to prove that we *don't* side with any groups like these. and so i must apologize for making such a statement. *however*, as i've thought about this issue, i realize something about my encounters with people from the middle east. first, these encounters have not all been negative. for example, i played in a band one time that had two brothers, a guitarist and a bassist, who were born of iranian parents. the brothers didn't wear turbans, though. they didn't bow down to mecca several times a day, as far as i knew. and their house seemed like any other house in the suburbs where we lived. and they were very friendly, outgoing guys. so how can i be prejudiced against people from the middle east? well let me ask you drivers something. who here has ever driven in new jersey? if you've driven there, i don't need to say anymore. but for those of you who haven't been there, you need to understand something. there has never been a more cut-throat, malevolent, self-centered, selfish, idiotic, dangerous, foolish, and moronic group of motorists anywhere else on the face of this earth!. (oops, i'm sorry... i meant to say "commuter challenged"!) seriously, there are people driving the streets there that should be arrested for attempted assault because of how they drive. but does that mean i should look down on everyone i meet who comes from new jersey? certainly not. but if they *do* hail from jersey, it should be understood that they have a *reputation* that they're gonna have to deal with. it's not because the individual did anything wrong. no, it's because there is a significant amount of *other* individuals in that group that does the wrong things.

*statistics matter*

and so, with people from the middle east i try to keep an open mind, but i also have a certain amount of subjective evidence that enters into the equation. for instance, let's look at the people who run conevnience stores. i've encountered many of them of different nationalities. i've encountered whites, some who have been aloof, and many who have been friendly. i've encountered hispanics, some who have been aloof, and many who have been friendly. i've encountered blacks, some who have been aloof, and many who have been friendly. i've encountered asians, some who have been aloof, and many who have been friendly. and i've encountered people from the middle east, who have been almost universally aloof and unfriendly. the worst example i've had recently was when i was buying something at a convenience store and i asked the clerk (middle eastern) a question and he just turned around and kept talking to his friend as if i wasn't even there. and then there was another one who i asked if there was anywhere i could mail a letter and he just said "at the post office" and turned his back to me. (just to let you know, most truck drivers don't have access to a post office. usually we're trying to find some mail box in the local area that we can use, because a lot of post offices can't be accessed by an eighteen-wheeler.) i know this is just subjective, but i have to say i've had a *bunch* of subjective encounters like this. i see drivers walking around with turbans now and then. they don't look at me. there is a definite arrogance in their attitude. now granted, this may be part of their culture, but if so, then their culture needs to be changed, imho. we have a certain culture in this country, and if you want to *completely* ignore it then be ready to face the consequences. (i'm sure we would be expected to comply with the cultural expectations in *your* country!) i meet plenty of other drivers that i talk to all the time- black, white, hispanic, asian- you name it. but i tell you the truth, i would probably fall over on the spot if a middle eastern driver even said "hi" to me.

so if i eventually have any kind of personal encounter with another person from the middle east, i might have to really fight against the temptation to condemn them with the hoards of other negative middle-eaterner people i've met. i believe in freedom of expression, but with liberty comes responsibility. if i walked around with a nazi symbol on my arm, i shouldn't be shocked that people would spit in my face. and if someone walks around with a turban on their head, in light of the thousands of people who have died due to the actions of people from the middle east, then what should *they* expect? by wearing turbans, are they proclaiming their freedom of expression, or flauntingly mocking the freedoms we love? i guess this is where the freedom of expression settles the issue. let everyone express themselves however they want. but eventually the truth will come out...

Category: General