Why I'm Generally Upset With the World

I probably don't really even need to write anything about this. Here...

• Exploiting Strippers (my brother was exploited in a similar way by his previous employer)
  
• Douchebag just doesn't get what's happening in the world
  
• Both Abercrombie and Fitch are assholes!
  
• An example of the general reason I hate most insurance companies
  
• Another reason to despise most insurance companies
  
• Apple still employs ass-headed business practices and generally acts dickish
  
• Another company (Bally's) trying to exploit the masses
  
• CarFax vehemently advertises, but reporting to them is voluntary
  
• Exploitation of cash-for-clunkers
  
• More insurance crap
  
• This feels a lot like exploiting consumers after gas prices started dropping again
  

I see this kind of stuff all the time. It's painful, and it's unavoidable, and I'm sick of it

I Hate Headline Baiting

Yesterday, I saw this article (don't read too much of it if you click it) and I was curious. Part of me wanted to be tentatively excited. I should have known...

I hate cell phone companies and their business practices with the fury of a thousand suns. I have always had problems finding cell phones. The phones I was interested in were always tied to different carriers. I wouldn't have my current phone if not for cell phones being locked to providers, since I hate Apple's business practices too. I wanted to try out an Android phone, but AT&T doesn't have any, and unlocked phones cost WAY too much.

So, I read this article. My cynicism temporarily disappeared, which unfortunately allowed me to elevate my hopes, which were dashed again. The article pretty much spent however many words on asking a question; will a net neutrality bill result in cell phone exclusivity being illegal? Now that I have my cynicism back, my guess is no.

One Change A Week

If you haven't noticed, life has been kind of rough this year. Let's not dwell on that right now. It's just that life being rough required me to do something. So I actually thought of something to do. Inspired by Jonathan Coulton's Thing A Week, and considering my complete and utter despisal of change, I decided to try to force myself to do something about it.

Enter One Change A Week. I'm forcing myself to get one thing done every week; not just anything, but something out of the ordinary. For instance, thus far, I've begun the Hundred Pushup Challenge, decided to build a Halloween custume, started reading half an hour a day, investigate the library, and much more. I'm hoping to use this to begin to learn a language and re-learn another.

I'm hoping it can spark me into doing more. I'm also hoping it can help spark me to get in shape again. In the meantime, I'm sticking to it.

The point of this endeavor is not to take on the world or overdo it in general. The point is to get used to doing something that's new and different, and not too big that it can't get done in a week (except for starting an exercise routine). Sometimes I get kind of tired of feeling like a bum. Rather than sitting on my butt and feeling antsy all the time, I'll use that down time in fun and constructive ways! Feel free to join me.

Return of the Blog!

Yeah, it's been awhile. Sometimes it's just hard to stay motivated. I'm hoping to do so again. A lot has happened of late, which could partially explain why I've been away, but I'll leave that for another time and stick to the mundane and strange at the moment.

A lot of car news happened on Slashdot. I am something of a self-contained conundrum because I love my car but I hate driving. Well, more accurately, I hate traffic. That's unimportant, though. What is important is the good and the bad.

The good? Massachusetts, which will now be known as the state of awesomeness, wants auto manufactures to pony up the goods. Apparently, some auto manufacturers close off some information necessary to your mom and pop repair shops, which prevents them from being able to repair your car, creating a repair monopoly for the dealer. I say screw that! Dealer prices are way too high as it is, and I'm personally sick of being taken for too much. For instance, my dealer wanted $112 to replace a headlight and the parking light, which I then did for less than $10.

The bad? In Oregon, which will now be known as the state of Mr. douchebag, US Representative Earl Blumenauer wants to mandate that drivers install GPS units in their cars, which will subsequently communicate with roadside RFID units, so that he can tax residents for the miles they drive. Can you see any problems with this? If not, check your vision!

And finally, the strange! Samurai sword home defense! Enjoy!