A year ago I created this informative website for Calvin, a good friend in Virginia who was working on his Computer Science degree from Virginia Tech. It was about Biometrics, including a few types of Biometrics and how they could be used by our government. Well, I had assumed at the time that it was all very experimental and the FBI or DOD probably only funded the research to use in government offices as security measures. Well, according to this clip, people are getting concerned about the possibility of government stronghold now that the Biometrics database is being expanded.

I know that we are all kept in the dark on a lot of government research but I’m going to have to ask, do you think I’ll get the privilege of knowing what (if any) data the government is collecting on me personally? I can log into my state’s government website and request (for $7) my driving record. I wonder if I can also find out if the state or federal government is keeping my fingerprints, face scan, DNA, etc? I wonder.

Posted By: Kevin February 25th, 2008
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Last Tuesday I was sitting at Sears waiting to get some new car tires installed and was forced to watch CNN. I was stuck in that waiting room for 2 hours watching Wolf Blitzer’s primetime election coverage in the “Situation Room”. First of all, Blitzer’s “Situation Room” is unrealistically more chaotic and fear inspiring than an actual military situation room.

The on-screen graphics look like a first-person-shooter war video game. So for 2 hours I watched as loudmouth campaign experts were being asked their opinions on how Hilary’s strategy needs to shift for the upcoming elections in Texas and Ohio. They interviewed Texans and repeatedly showed coverage from previous debates where Hilary changed her stance from friend to foe of Obama and back again. CNN’s coverage is another reminder of how mainstream media has become so accustomed to graphically yelling things to their audiences. Loud commentators, fast-paced graphics, informal criticisms are all things we have come to expect from most news programs and it is our fault for accepting it and relying on it.

Posted By: Kevin February 24th, 2008
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Poll: Bullshit Is Most Important Issue For 2008 Voters

Posted By: Kevin February 20th, 2008
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I saw Juno last weekend and I thought it was pretty good. A feel good story with the amazing Ellen Page and the hilarious Michael Cera. A quality cast, sarcastic dialogue, romantic comedy (and I do enjoy romantic comedies)… means its good. Parts of it were annoying though. Such as like the hipster dialogue and the overtly pro-life message of the movie. Teen pregnancy is easy! All you need to get through it is some witty comebacks to anyone who insults you and some old people to give the baby to. Life is so simple.

Anyways,  now there’s talk of Juno winning an Oscar. I think that would be the most ridiculous thing ever. Now, it does have that underdogness to it, being an “indie” film overcoming a small budget with a strong script to show those big Hollywood big-wigs how it’s done. Though, is anything about this movie exceptional? It’s a simple story that oversimplifies its subject matter and an unremarkable coming of age story with a script that rips off trendy hipster motifs, slang and imagery. A “Stand By Me” it is not, and that wasn’t even nominated for a best picture.

I haven’t seen any of the other nominees, but I’m sure one of them is more original than Juno.

Posted By: Roger February 20th, 2008
Comments: 1

When do we use “yes sir, no sir?”Since moving to the dirrty south, I’ve noticed a lot of people use formal salutations and have “manners.” When I first started hearing people calling their bosses or professors sir or ma’am, I thought everybody in the south was being sarcastic and rude. Turns out they are actually trained to do it from childhood. My opinion? Well, although it shows respect, blah blah - it also shows a hint of dominance and I think unecessary in the year 2008. My boss is not my WWII Veteran grandfather and addressing him as “sir” implies that I’m an office kiss-ass. It could help or hurt my career based on whether or not my rhetorical boss liked the attention enough to promote me or found it annoying. Either way, it would probably prevent me from being seen as an equal in his eye and I’d never earn a position higher than his. Yet another example of why I yearn to be in the north, where things just makes sense to me.

Posted By: Kevin February 8th, 2008
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It occurred to me while watching the Superbowl today that America is in need of more than a political shift towards truth and compassion, but indeed America’s brand could use an overhaul. Of course the Superbowl was on Fox, which does an excellent job of using graphics to engage emotions of terror and shock. I think it has become the “American” way to yell things, rather than speak softly. A strong brand is seen as one that has crammed itself into every aspect of our lives whether or not we asked them to. A good movie is seen as one with an enormous budget and dominating special effects. Check out this interview of Paula Scher about branding America…

Posted By: Kevin February 4th, 2008
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Super Duper Tuesday is coming and unless the media releases a sex tape of Obama or Mitt Romney assassinates a puppy, we may be stuck with this crazy thing called a “Brokered Convention.” Apparently we have a pretty crazy political system in this country and one of the crazy ingredients is the Brokered Convention. If not enough candidates drop out and there is no clear winning number of delegates for either political party, then we refer to “super delegates” who help determine who the candidates will be in November. These Super Delegates wear capes, fly around and are basically tied into politicians and corporations across the country. “What does this mean?” Well, unless Obama is struck by the lucky truck, he won’t have enough delegates over Clinton to avoid a Broker Convention. Similar situation on the Republican side. The fun part is the realization that these Super Delegates are probably going to determine who is running for President this November. Hint: Each super delegate is a 60 year old corporate exec with a private plane and hellbent on world domination. Enjoy November.

Posted By: Kevin February 1st, 2008
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