The Empirical Manifesto

I was up until 0130 last night trying to get drax0r's web server to stream flash video. Once I perfect this, I will pull my clips from YouTube and replace them with full-length clips of my ass. The clip in this post was going to be my triumphant success, but I didn't *actually* get the embed to work until I was at work, and then only on a similarly configured box as my one at home - remember I was denied access to my box recently, and my Air Card is in drax0r's coat pocket. Wouldn't matter though, as I still have some ffmpeg option flags to work out until I'm entirely satisfied with the output of my videos.

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According to a recent Engadget article Microsoft may consider opening a retail space similar to the Apple Store.

Of course, the reason the Apple Store exists, is because Microsoft strong-armed themselves into Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Office Max, Office Depot, and every other point-of-sale retailer in the world. Those stores already look like a 'Microsoft Store' so Apple built their own. And now Microsoft wants to do the same? Their greed is incomprehensible.





Speaking of unmitigated selfishness, I want a new computer. I don't "need" one as though mine is aged and frustratingly slow, its still usable, if only by a thin thread of that definition. Just because something is not as grand as you would like it to be doesn't mean you can't use it, it just means you don't want to. It sounds better if its a need, or if you tell yourself you deserve it. If you can't pay cash for it, you really don't. So I want a new computer. I'm considering a Psystar Mac Clone. drax0r turned me on to them. "Even if they go bankrupt and stop making OSX updates, its still one hell of a x86 box." He said. Hrm...8GB of RAM and an Intel quad-core proc for $1700?

But I don't want to charge it. We're a nation of consumers on a rampant spree of self-indulgence. And to temper that, our new president wants to take my money and give it to you. I'm sorry, but you don't deserve my money either. My family and I are the only ones who've made sacrifices along the way to scratch out an existence on this planet while the rest of you have mocked me for my frugality and hard work. Its time for you to go fuck yourself. The reason I cannot afford to help you is because I don't qualify for any assistance programs, ergo, I've become your tax base. And because I'm your tax base, I'm one paycheck away from being homeless so you can endure relative comfort without being expected to work. I'm one paycheck away from poverty, because you destroyed my retirement when you cratered the economy with your greed.

I am no different than any of those bloated cows out there though. The critical eye I have for others inspects me as well. My daily consumption consists of a $3 can of Monster (200 calories), a $3 can of moist tobacco, a $6 made-to-order omlette, hashbrown & gravy breakfast (2800 calories), and a $6 made-to-order taco bowl (2800 calories). $18 and fifty-eight hundred calories daily. $360 a month. I was wrong in thinking I was going to hit the Bowflex during my 2-week Christmas Break. I do FANTASTIC on a routine. Not so much when every day was filled with trying to break yesterday's record of how long I could stay in bed or dreaming up new and interesting ways to abuse myself. Now that we're back on schedule, everything seems to be smoothing out. So I've turned over a new leaf.

NO daily Monster, NO daily snuff, and I've found that a container of yogurt before I leave the house, a container of oatmeal about an hour into work, and a $.99 side-salad topped with a pouch of tuna, while not tasting as good, is certainly adequate for my work day. This is one fourth the cost, and one tenth the calories.

I'll have enough for my new computer, in cash, in six months.

There just weren't any clips of Hyperdrive out there, not on YouTube nor YouTube.co.uk. Ashame, really. So...I made my own! This is from the last 45-seconds or so of the Season One finale, "Assessment." First Officer York gives Sandstrom the command, "Full power" and she performs her triumphant dance.

Burned an episode of Hyperdrive onto DVD for celtmanx who had me Tivo it. It was fantastic. "Ed" from Shaun of the Dead was the commander (Nick Frost). I loved it. If I find a box set, I think I'll pick it up.

Listened to a lot of Christopher Young & Marco Beltrami this weekend, but did not get my two new scores yet from BSX. After watching Clerks II (which was really pretty good) I popped in a CD I haven't listened to in years, Smashing Pumpkin's two-disc Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Excellent, excellent, excellent!

Drank some most fantastic Warsteiner. That made me happy, then again, it almost always does.

I found that under the circumstances of a self-imposed disengagement from real-life, funny things sometimes happen. I went through phases of self-doubt (a damn rare thing for me), exhilaration (another oddity), boredom, restlessness, despair, and joy. Perhaps it was the lack of proper sleep, or the skewed sleep-scheduled. It could also be attributed to the scotch. Either way, a very interesting and rewarding weekend.