Send Your Name to Pluto!

Beforenoon

You know, the most important difference between A term and C term is that in A term, 10:00AM is a happy shiny time.

Your very own Shakey's!

• Reuters.co.uk | Scientists create embryonic cells from skin cell: The title is kinda misleading - they used stem cells they already had to transform the skin cells. However, this could drastically reduce the demand (and someday increase the availability) of a highly sought after medicine.
  

HOW DID I NOT NOTICE THIS

Being in Orange with my computer broken is NO excuse.

• The patch is available for Diablo II Classic and Expansion.
  
• A "safe" no-CD loader is here.
  
• Blizzard reportedly won't detect the use of this hack.
• To use, throw the .exe in your Diablo II folder, make sure any old plugins are deleted, and run it.
  
• Blizzard cracked down on cheaters soon after the patch came out:
• 36,000 accounts closed.
• 28,000 CD keys banned for one month.
• 3,000 CD keys banned permanently.

Further bulletins as events warrant.

Finally, Peace Between Germans and Frogs

Yes, this actually happened. My sister's dog, my pool's frog, my own blog.

Nerdism is Easy, and Fun!!!

• Slashdot | Requiem for the Once-Imagined Future: Speak of the devil, huh? The first-post jerk brings up Transhumanism - a philosophy I'm personally a fan of. Allow me to take this opportunity to rant about it.

Now, I'm not going to get into Transhumanism's jailbait sister, Singularitarianism. Transhumanism is a philosophy just like any other, a perspective on the current human condition as well as the future. Singularitarianism, by comparison, is speculative, since there have been no singularities to date (to the best of my knowledge).

Transhumanism asserts that the human condition is improved by technology, and that technological advancement will inevitably lead to an improvement in the human condition. However, the philosophy has in recent years fallen into the hands of crazy futurists who argue that transhumans are, by definition, on their way to being "posthumans" (immortal cyborgs). Initially, it was defined as "man remaining man, but trans­cending himself, by realizing new possibilities of and for his human nature".

I'd argue that we're already transhumans. We might not live forever, but we certainly rely on technology just to survive, and it clearly makes our lives better. If you disagree, go outside during the winter with no clothes or shelter, or try hunting moose with your bare hands. To some degree, we have become weaker because of technology - myopia isn't selected against any more, yada yada yada, I'm nearly blind. But I think that technology is advancing us faster than evolution ever has, and soon enough technology may even help with our biological evolution, rather than hinder it (see Gattaca).

None of this is proof against the immortal cyborg theories, but it's difficult to predict where progress will take us. There's no universal desire amongst humans to travel into space. Yes, it's cool, but I'd rather be assured I'll always have enough food and medicine than sink cash into that SpaceShipOne ticket. I may personally hope that the food and medicine comes by way of a shiny cyborg body, but I can't be sure - all I know is that other people will want these problems solved too, one way or another.

Tests are fun.

The Cardinal You scored 57% Cardinal, 38% Monk, 38% Lady, and 24% Knight!

You are the real power behind the throne. No one dares dispute or refuse you. Which is good because that's how you get things done. You are also, however, completely corrupt and highly immoral. This doesn't bother you in the least as you lounge around your rich comfortable surroundings, reveling in wealth and authority.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 86% on Cardinal You scored higher than 42% on Monk You scored higher than 34% on Lady You scored higher than 3% on Knight

Link: The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test written by KnightlyKnave on Ok Cupid

Current Events

Well, I've been having a decent time in Orange, despite the lack of hedonism. Last night I saw Batman Begins, which, by the way, is awesome. I won't ruin it for anybody, but I think the best were the villans; they were all realistic and made sense, instead of the "I'm a jerk who robs banks in a mask!" of the previous movies.

Also, I've been going to the gym a little. Granted, this won't become a habit or anything, but it's at least reducing the rate at which I get fatter. I haven't been doing any strength training at all. I've been getting exhausted with all the running. Possibly, because they have PERSONAL TVs in front of all the treadmills. Row after row, column after column, floor after floor of people treading mill with water straws, headphone wires, an LCD screen, and a readout panel of glowing LED numbers. Without your headphones, you'd hear the dull hum of electric motors and florescent lights, but who would want to take their headphones off? Truly, my dream of times to come. I've got Star Trek on my TV - it's a quaint reminder of a future long gone.

Cast OFF your sinful mutual funds!

So, I'm reading Time magazine, the issue entitled "Evolution Wars", and there is an article titled "Putting Faith First" that is about Christian investors forcing the face of corperate America to change. One sentance struck me more than the others:

"According to an analysis based on data from investment tracker Morningstar, 58 faith-based mutual funds have formed since 2001, bringing the total to 142."

- Time Magazine, August 15th, 2005, Page whothefuckknowsTimeistoocoolforpagenumbers

Now, when I hear "Morningstar" in a religious context, I think of Isaiah 14:12 - "How have you fallen from heaven, Lucifer, the morning star? You have been cut down to earth, you who cast lots on nations." (Or something to that effect.)

Now, I'm not a religious guy. I don't think Satan has a hand in all of this. I don't see some Funkish similarity between 142 and 14:12. BUT, I do think it's funny that Charlie Church's investments are being watched with great interest by the Morningstar.

Even Best Buy is in on it, "cracking down on minors who buy shoot-em-up video and computer games." It reminds me of this comic.