Some residents of Union, Maine have set up a website to help citizens keep track of what's going on in their town's government. Much of the initial motivation to develop the site seems to have been tied to controversy over the merger of the town's fire department and emergency medical services. As a libertarian, I'd be in favor of leaving both to the private sector, which would surely frighten both sides of the issue in Union. But the great thing about this site is that it aims to shine light into the decision-making processes going on in Union. The internet shows again that it's a powerful force for leveling the playing field between citizens and their government.
And these guys have set up a forum where totally anonymous posting is allowed! Talk about Wild West Web!
Peace,
Tor
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Planned Economies and Maine Seafood Processors
Anyone who wonders why planned economies are so evil needs look no further than the experience of Lyndon Smith. Maine's Economic and Community Development Department is perverting the free market among seafood processors by providing grants to processors to whom banks won't lend money because the processors are too vulnerable financially. This puts the processors who are able to swing a bank loan at a competitive disadvantage. Once again, government favors those who are failing in business in order to increase dependency on government, and expand the power of the political elite. And the whole economy suffers for it, especially the working class.
Jeff Fitzgerald should be fired, along with the rest of the Hancock County Planning Commission and the entire staff of the Economic and Community Development Department. Their positions should not be filled with new employees; indeed, these government functions should be shut down. Planned economies have never worked. The plight of Lyndon Smith proves it.
There's no telling if Lyndon Smith would be able to stay in business without having the power of the state giving advantage to his politically-approved competitors. But he, along with all the other small businesses in Maine, deserves the chance to try.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to: Freedom Watch, historymike's musings, Common Folk Using Common Sense, Stingray
Lyndon Smith noted the competitors were able to buy new cookers and do renovations to make their businesses more efficient and thus be able to lower their operating costs.
"I built my business myself. When I need money, I have to go to Camden National Bank. I can't get government grants," he said.
"I don't mind if someone sets up shop next to me and competes. I do mind if my tax dollars are going to people who compete against me," Smith added.
Bounty employs five people, down from 10.
"“I don't know how much longer I can keep the doors open," Smith said.
He noted he built his business from the ground up, putting in as many as 20 hours of work each day. He said he does not want to get government grants and feels the government should not be aiding other businesses in this way.
Jeff Fitzgerald, a planner with the Hancock County Planning Commission in Ellsworth, said he understands the frustration of Smith but that the program in Hancock County was not creating new competition but simply allowing existing small, at-home processors to remain in business.
Jeff Fitzgerald should be fired, along with the rest of the Hancock County Planning Commission and the entire staff of the Economic and Community Development Department. Their positions should not be filled with new employees; indeed, these government functions should be shut down. Planned economies have never worked. The plight of Lyndon Smith proves it.
There's no telling if Lyndon Smith would be able to stay in business without having the power of the state giving advantage to his politically-approved competitors. But he, along with all the other small businesses in Maine, deserves the chance to try.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to: Freedom Watch, historymike's musings, Common Folk Using Common Sense, Stingray
DaVinci Code at the Colonial Theatre: Third Puzzle & Open Trackback
The third puzzle I have framed for the Colonial Theatre in honor of the opening of The DaVinci Code this weekend is now available on the Colonial website.
Peace,
Tor
This is this week's post. Trackbacks on nearly any subject (at my sole discretion, and I haven't refused any yet) are allowed till midnight my time. You just need to link to this post in your post. I'll add the links here later today. Thanks!
Jon Swift has conducted an analysis of the marginalia in President Bush's copy of My Pet Goat.
greenr would like you to read about a proposed offshore windfarm in Texas.
Tagged as:
DaVinci code open trackback
Peace,
Tor
This is this week's
post. Trackbacks on nearly any subject (at my sole discretion, and I haven't refused any yet) are allowed till midnight my time. You just need to link to this post in your post. I'll add the links here later today. Thanks!Jon Swift has conducted an analysis of the marginalia in President Bush's copy of My Pet Goat.
greenr would like you to read about a proposed offshore windfarm in Texas.
Tagged as:
DaVinci code open trackback
Monday, May 15, 2006
Extreme Makeover in Rockland?
In my native Rockland, Maine, schoolboard chair Audrey Buffington has written a letter to the producers of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
I've got mixed feelings on the goal here. On the one hand, getting a private concern to fund the school's renovation so the taxpayers won't have to is a short-term plus. On the other hand, the end result would still be a government-run school. It would be great if ABC wrote back, saying, "We'll do it, but then we'll be converting the school into a nongovernmental, nonprofit public school that won't be supported by tax dollars at all. We'll help the community raise scholarship funds so any Rockland resident will be able to afford to send their kids there (if they want to), and an endowment to help sustain the new school in the long run. Then it'll be on its own."
The real question I have about this story is what Buffington's really up to. She's not a dumb person. I don't know her personally, but have followed her educational reform attempts in the news. She must know that she'd have a better chance of balancing the school district's budget with Powerball lottery ticket winnings than getting Extreme Makeover to renovate the school.
I suspect she's just getting some free publicity for the upcoming school budget vote. Despite having cut some positions, the board is asking voters to approve a budget that will require an seven percent increase in funding from property taxes. And they already know that the voters will likely vote it down!
If you think the voters are going to turn it down, why submit it in the first place? Because you know you can pack the district meeting with people who will approve it, after it fails at the polls. That's what they're trying to do in Belfast, but might not get away with this time.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to: Pirate's Cove, Committees of Correspondence
In a one-page letter to "Extreme Makeovers: Home Edition," Buffington described the elementary school's aging facilities and air quality concerns.
She referred to the facility as a "sick school," and outlined the district's $186,000 cleanup, during which students were housed in area churches.
"Although the endotoxins are at acceptable levels now, the school board, parents, and staff are very concerned about having our precious kindergarten and first-grade students in the building," Buffington wrote. "We keep our fingers crossed daily that no one will become ill as a result of being in such an environment."
I've got mixed feelings on the goal here. On the one hand, getting a private concern to fund the school's renovation so the taxpayers won't have to is a short-term plus. On the other hand, the end result would still be a government-run school. It would be great if ABC wrote back, saying, "We'll do it, but then we'll be converting the school into a nongovernmental, nonprofit public school that won't be supported by tax dollars at all. We'll help the community raise scholarship funds so any Rockland resident will be able to afford to send their kids there (if they want to), and an endowment to help sustain the new school in the long run. Then it'll be on its own."
The real question I have about this story is what Buffington's really up to. She's not a dumb person. I don't know her personally, but have followed her educational reform attempts in the news. She must know that she'd have a better chance of balancing the school district's budget with Powerball lottery ticket winnings than getting Extreme Makeover to renovate the school.
I suspect she's just getting some free publicity for the upcoming school budget vote. Despite having cut some positions, the board is asking voters to approve a budget that will require an seven percent increase in funding from property taxes. And they already know that the voters will likely vote it down!
Dyer voted for the budget but warned that without additional cuts the public likely will reject it at the polls.
"If we take it to the voters now we will still be here in August," Dyer said, referring to the series of public budget forums held last year to adopt the budget.
If the budget is rejected at the polls, the board will then decide whether to make changes and send it back to a referendum vote at the polls or to schedule a public district budget meeting vote at which those who attend the meeting get to vote.
If you think the voters are going to turn it down, why submit it in the first place? Because you know you can pack the district meeting with people who will approve it, after it fails at the polls. That's what they're trying to do in Belfast, but might not get away with this time.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to: Pirate's Cove, Committees of Correspondence
Visit PoliticalForum.com
Thanks to PoliticalForum.com for becoming a sponsor of Tor's Rants! I've given the site a quick look-over, and it seems to have a good mix of topics for anybody to post about, from any point of view. Head on over; you might see me there!
Peace,
Tor
Peace,
Tor
Thursday, May 11, 2006
The Buddhist I Ching: Regulation
It's just a little unsettling for a libertarian of any stripe to undertake the discussion of "regulation," even if it's a concept randomly selected from the Buddhist I Ching. In this case, it's hexagram number 60.
From Thomas Cleary's translation of Chih-hsu Ou-i's commentary:
Water is dispersed by wind, regulated by a lake. When it is regulated, it does not overflow and does not dry up, so it can always provide moisture; therefore regulation is successful. If dispersal is excessive, it results in exhaustion, so it is taken up with regulation; but too much regulation results in suffering, so it is not to be held to permanently.
One can see the influence of China's native Taoism on the Ch'an (Zen) school of Buddhism here. It's very naturalistic and concerned with striking an elemental balance that's just so.
That's fine and dandy when contemplating spiritual progress. One shouldn't practice mindfulness of breathing to the detriment of development of loving-kindness. Nor should one work too hard to spread the Buddha's dharma when one hasn't applied it to one's own situation in a rigorous way.
The I Ching is meant to be taken in many levels, however, and sociopolitical is one of those levels:
Nature has four seasons, kings have laws; both of these is what is referred to as getting through by balance and rectitude.
Deference to regal authority has always been one of the aspects of the history of Buddhism with which I've had great difficulty. Especially since the legend of Gautama Buddha states that he abdicated his royal station to find enlightenment, I've been very puzzled to see the extent to which the Sangha and royalty have supported each other over the centuries, in many different cultures.
Of course, Ou-i was writing at a time and in a place where political and expressive freedom like much of the world has today was unthinkable. To the extent that he was trying to make a model for the kings to follow as beneficent monarchs, that was all to the good. Perhaps Ou-i even considered it an expedient means to the end of eventual political freedom, if he was even the slightest bit concerned with such matters. For many Buddhists through the ages, spiritual enlightenment and freedom from suffering have been paramount, and have made any political or mundane reality moot. This is one of those times that time-travel would come in handy.
The libertarian in me still believes that freedom from both mundane and spiritual suffering will best come about in an environment where people are allowed to have the maximum amount of liberty conceivable.
Peace,
Tor
P.S. Thanks to these folks for making the I Ching graphics!
Linking to: Liberal Common Sense, TMH's bacon Bits, Quietly Making Noise, Imagine Kitty Magazine
Emails from Jesus
Head straight over and read this week's blog tenant at Tor's Rants, Emails from Jesus. It's not just a collection of emails from Jesus, but also from his Adversary. I had run across this site some time ago, before its recent facelift, when JC looked a little more like Bob Dobbs' nephew. I'm happy to have it as a tenant. Click on the thumbnail at the top of the right-hand column, and tell 'em Tor sent you!
Here's a good bit of Buddhist-bashing from a recent entry:
Peace,
Tor
Here's a good bit of Buddhist-bashing from a recent entry:
Oh No He Di'n't
Hey J-dude,
Just a few questions to ask.
Is Buddha your buddy? What's the weather like in Heaven? And do you think it makes any sense to condemn someone to hell if they (well, Judas) are supposed to betray you?
My Child,
Buddha is a really cool dude, and a friend of both of ours. I'm trying to get him on board with us here, but he's not having it. Something about woot.com interfering with his Eightfold Path. I dunno.
We have a weather button now. Check in daily to see - you know, just in case you...uh...visit.
That whole Judas thing is way misunderstood. Peter and John had this bet going, Judas had too much wine, someone said something about my momma - it's just a really long story I don't wanna get into, man. But yeah, totally made sense at the time.
Yours,
Jesus
Peace,
Tor
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Buddhism, Sexism and Religious Intolerance
Many Americans who fancy themselves Buddhists live under some dangerous misconceptions about Buddhist belief and history. Most of these misconceptions derive from their political leanings (mostly extremely liberal) and wishful thinking.
One of those misconceptions is that the history of Buddhism is lacking in violence.
China's Xinhua News (read: propaganda) agency is reporting that Dalai Lama loyalists tore down statues of Dorje Shugden, and of course blames the Dalai Lama for inciting the act. I highly doubt that the Dalai Lama ordered or encouraged this act, but I don't doubt that the folks who did this did it out of a sense of loyalty to him.
The earliest Buddhists in India would enter Hindu temples and destroy images of Shiva. Even these days, a bunch of Cambodian Buddhists can be build up a head of steam and burn down a Christian church.
So as an American Buddhist, I implore all my fellow American Buddhists to stop insisting that violence and Buddhism have never mixed. They shouldn't mix, but they have, and still do. Pretending that knowing that somebody's a Buddhist means also knowing that they are a peaceful person makes as much sense as pretending that knowing somebody's a Christian means also knowing that they won't sell you a lemon for a used car.
Denying the truth does not lead to spiritual attainment.
Another misconception many American Buddhists have is that Buddhism is not compatible with sexism. Mettanando Bhikkhu has an excellent essay that posits the sexism of the early Buddhists as the prime reason that it died out in its native India.
Till now, I always thought that the rigidity of the early Buddhists and their desire to differentiate themselves from Hindus lost out against Hinduism's ability to take any idea, even an idea seemingly antithetical to Hinduism, and incorporate it seamlessly into itself. Whereas later Buddhism, as it spread into other cultures, syncretized with the native practices and philosophies, and consequently endured.
Which brings us full circle to the issue between the Dalai Lama and worship of Dorje Shugden. If H.H. wants Tibetan Buddhism to endure, he will have to allow different sects to adopt practices as they see fit.
Peace,
Tor
Update: Welcome, readers of Blogmandu! Tor's Rants is a multi-topic blog, of which Buddhism is just one strand. You may use the FreshTags navigation in the left column to find my recent posts on Buddhism, or click on the word "Buddhism" next to the del.icio.us checker below to find a comprehensive list of my posts. Of course, I hope you'll look around a bit at my other rantings...they are, after all, through a Buddhist's perspective.
Tagged as:Dalai Lama Cambodia
One of those misconceptions is that the history of Buddhism is lacking in violence.
China's Xinhua News (read: propaganda) agency is reporting that Dalai Lama loyalists tore down statues of Dorje Shugden, and of course blames the Dalai Lama for inciting the act. I highly doubt that the Dalai Lama ordered or encouraged this act, but I don't doubt that the folks who did this did it out of a sense of loyalty to him.
The earliest Buddhists in India would enter Hindu temples and destroy images of Shiva. Even these days, a bunch of Cambodian Buddhists can be build up a head of steam and burn down a Christian church.
So as an American Buddhist, I implore all my fellow American Buddhists to stop insisting that violence and Buddhism have never mixed. They shouldn't mix, but they have, and still do. Pretending that knowing that somebody's a Buddhist means also knowing that they are a peaceful person makes as much sense as pretending that knowing somebody's a Christian means also knowing that they won't sell you a lemon for a used car.
Denying the truth does not lead to spiritual attainment.
Another misconception many American Buddhists have is that Buddhism is not compatible with sexism. Mettanando Bhikkhu has an excellent essay that posits the sexism of the early Buddhists as the prime reason that it died out in its native India.
Till now, I always thought that the rigidity of the early Buddhists and their desire to differentiate themselves from Hindus lost out against Hinduism's ability to take any idea, even an idea seemingly antithetical to Hinduism, and incorporate it seamlessly into itself. Whereas later Buddhism, as it spread into other cultures, syncretized with the native practices and philosophies, and consequently endured.
Which brings us full circle to the issue between the Dalai Lama and worship of Dorje Shugden. If H.H. wants Tibetan Buddhism to endure, he will have to allow different sects to adopt practices as they see fit.
Peace,
Tor
Update: Welcome, readers of Blogmandu! Tor's Rants is a multi-topic blog, of which Buddhism is just one strand. You may use the FreshTags navigation in the left column to find my recent posts on Buddhism, or click on the word "Buddhism" next to the del.icio.us checker below to find a comprehensive list of my posts. Of course, I hope you'll look around a bit at my other rantings...they are, after all, through a Buddhist's perspective.
Tagged as:
Dalai Lama Cambodia
Second DaVinci Code Puzzle
The second of five puzzles I have framed for The DaVinci Code is now available on the Colonial Theatre website.
Peace,
Tor
P.S. Sorry to OTA participants for not posting my scheduled open trackback yesterday. Blogger was down in the morning when I would have done it, and I needed to work yesterday evening, since our projectionist-in-training isn't ready to work solo yet. I did notice that some folks trackbacked on Monday's post, and that's fine with me, since it's in the spirit of things. So here are the folks who did it:
Diane's Stuff, Blue Star Chronicles (bis), Jon Swift, and last but not least Planck's Constant.
Tagged as:DaVinci Code
Peace,
Tor
P.S. Sorry to OTA participants for not posting my scheduled open trackback yesterday. Blogger was down in the morning when I would have done it, and I needed to work yesterday evening, since our projectionist-in-training isn't ready to work solo yet. I did notice that some folks trackbacked on Monday's post, and that's fine with me, since it's in the spirit of things. So here are the folks who did it:
Diane's Stuff, Blue Star Chronicles (bis), Jon Swift, and last but not least Planck's Constant.
Tagged as:
DaVinci Code
Monday, May 8, 2006
Late to the Loompanics Closing Party
Apparently, I missed the announcement that Loompanics is going out of business. Their website says that they are now selling off the rest of their stuff at 75% off. I'm not sure if they're actually still in business, since the original announcement about the closure of the publishing company was made in January of 2006. I'd recommend making a phone call before typing any credit card info into an order form online.
For those who are in a state of ignorance, here's what Loompanics is/was:
I guess I forgot to get onto their mailing list again the last time I moved. I probably did that on purpose, thinking that I could always go to their website when the spirit moved me. But a lot of the "information" that Loompanics published is now more easily obtainable on the web. Like how to set up a travel-trailer homestead, complete with a low-budget septic system. Or how to build a log cabin for under fifteen grand. Or how to obtain a new identity.
What made me think of looking up Loompanics after these past few years? This Washington Post story about a Floridian who apparently has been living under an assumed identity in Great Britain and Germany for more than twenty years. Sounds like he pulled it off for so long by using the sort of information that Loompanics used to publish.
This fellow, if he is who the police think he is, adopted a new identity to evade justice for an act of violence. But not all who adopt new identities without the state's permission (e.g. witness protection programs) are doing it for immoral reasons. Some do it to escape oppression -- or certain death -- at the hands of the state. Imagine if Raoul Wallenberg hadn't saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews by falsely -- and illegally -- issuing them Swedish identity cards.
It is in the spirit of Wallenberg that so many in New Hampshire have been vociferously protesting the national NH Real ID law.
It's true that identity theft and fraud are issues in which the state might legitimately need to get involved. But there should always be a way for people to escape the state's scrutiny when tyranny arises. Or even before the tyranny is anything but a lone demagogue's dream.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to: Pirate's Cove, Committees of Correspondence, Pirates! Man Your Women!
Tagged as:Real ID
For those who are in a state of ignorance, here's what Loompanics is/was:
Loompanics was an American book publisher specializing in nonfiction on generally unconventional or controversial topics, with a philosophy arguably tending to a mixture of libertarian and left wing ideals, although Loompanics carries books expressing other political viewpoints (including far right) as well as outspokenly apolitical ones. The topics of their list of the title list include drugs, weapons, anarchism, sex, conspiracy theory, and so on. Many of their titles describe some kind of illicit or extralegal actions, such as Counterfeit I.D. Made Easy, while others are purely informative, like Opium for the Masses. Loompanics has been in business for nearly 30 years. The publisher and editor is Michael Hoy. In January 2006, Loompanics announced that it is going out of business, and that it was selling off its inventory.
I guess I forgot to get onto their mailing list again the last time I moved. I probably did that on purpose, thinking that I could always go to their website when the spirit moved me. But a lot of the "information" that Loompanics published is now more easily obtainable on the web. Like how to set up a travel-trailer homestead, complete with a low-budget septic system. Or how to build a log cabin for under fifteen grand. Or how to obtain a new identity.
What made me think of looking up Loompanics after these past few years? This Washington Post story about a Floridian who apparently has been living under an assumed identity in Great Britain and Germany for more than twenty years. Sounds like he pulled it off for so long by using the sort of information that Loompanics used to publish.
This fellow, if he is who the police think he is, adopted a new identity to evade justice for an act of violence. But not all who adopt new identities without the state's permission (e.g. witness protection programs) are doing it for immoral reasons. Some do it to escape oppression -- or certain death -- at the hands of the state. Imagine if Raoul Wallenberg hadn't saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews by falsely -- and illegally -- issuing them Swedish identity cards.
It is in the spirit of Wallenberg that so many in New Hampshire have been vociferously protesting the national NH Real ID law.
Lauren Canario dressed up in a Nazi-esque khaki uniform and helped run a fake checkpoint where she demanded people's identification.
Real ID "sounds a lot like the old Nazi movies, and we just wanted to illustrate that," she said in an interview last week.
It's true that identity theft and fraud are issues in which the state might legitimately need to get involved. But there should always be a way for people to escape the state's scrutiny when tyranny arises. Or even before the tyranny is anything but a lone demagogue's dream.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to: Pirate's Cove, Committees of Correspondence, Pirates! Man Your Women!Tagged as:
Real ID
Sunday, May 7, 2006
Golf Clubs on eBay
Some friends are selling on eBay some vintage golf clubs that one of them inherited from an ex some time ago. You can find their current listings here. You will find that the mitts of yours truly appear in some of the photos. If any hand-modeling scouts feel the need to contact me for extremely lucrative photo shoots, you know where to find me. (Disclosure: my lovely wife, Rowan, is doing the work in getting the golf clubs listed, and is getting a cut of the proceeds from the eBay sales.)
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:golf clubs
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:
golf clubs
Doug Hall: Maine Boy Does Good on "American Inventor"
Doug Hall, the fellow in the Hawaiian shirt on American Inventor, is a native of Maine.
I have a hard time believing that he's considered "the show's villain."
I get more of a villain vibe from Ed Evangelista. Doug always seems personable to me. Did you see the way he was very proud of the lady who put together the restroom survival kit? And the way he made a point of talking to the family of the kid who make the dog air conditioner? And he's the one who's always hugging everyone, for cripe's sake! That's a villain?
We need more villains like Doug Hall.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:American Inventor Doug Hall inventions
Linking to: The Uncooperative Blogger, Stuck on Stupid, The Bullwinkle Blog, 123 beta
I have a hard time believing that he's considered "the show's villain."
"It's TV, and they edit it to make me look as mean as possible," Hall said. "I'm the villain, even though I'm the one wearing the Hawaiian shirt."
I get more of a villain vibe from Ed Evangelista. Doug always seems personable to me. Did you see the way he was very proud of the lady who put together the restroom survival kit? And the way he made a point of talking to the family of the kid who make the dog air conditioner? And he's the one who's always hugging everyone, for cripe's sake! That's a villain?
We need more villains like Doug Hall.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:
American Inventor Doug Hall inventions Linking to: The Uncooperative Blogger, Stuck on Stupid, The Bullwinkle Blog, 123 beta
Friday, May 5, 2006
Warren Kremer Paino Blinks; Lance Dutson Vows to Keep Raking Muck!
Woooooooooooo-hoooooooooooo!
Lance Dutson announced this afternoon that Warren Kremer Paino advertising has withdrawn their lawsuit against him. Congratulations, Lance. And congratulations to all the folks who linked to him, and got the story out; most of all, congratulations to his top-notch legal advisors.
Chalk up one for the blogosphere this time. Government and its contractors remain fair game for criticism. As Rep. Stephen Bowen put it in his press release earlier today:
Peace,
Tor
Lance Dutson announced this afternoon that Warren Kremer Paino advertising has withdrawn their lawsuit against him. Congratulations, Lance. And congratulations to all the folks who linked to him, and got the story out; most of all, congratulations to his top-notch legal advisors.
Chalk up one for the blogosphere this time. Government and its contractors remain fair game for criticism. As Rep. Stephen Bowen put it in his press release earlier today:
Rep. Bowen contends further that fundamental rights are at issue here. "In a small state like ours, where people retain a strong voice in public affairs, everyone has the right to question what the state is doing and how it is spending our money," he said. "That right is sacrosanct."
Peace,
Tor
CBS Launches "innertube"
The whole shift to online programming by the networks is happening much more quickly than I ever imagined. Now CBS has launched "innertube", which will have both previously aired and original programming:
They're smart to make initial programs appeal to younger folks who tend to have a lot of free time and blazing fast web access. But they're also going to be showing programs that turned out to be not-quite-ready-for-prime-time:
Is it possible that many shows might receive a second wind after being available for on-demand viewing? If enough people watch the shows online, and enough advertisers are willing to pay to support them online, then somebody's going to produce them. Simple economics.
There also have to be some bean-counters somewhere who realize that they might make more money from having episodes of old shows available online than releasing them on DVD. Or even syndicating them.
TV producers will have to establish a fine balance between their own profitability and the profitability of the networks and affiliates who got them this far. Eventually, tho, I envision that most broadcast television stations will simply disappear. That'll free up a lot of broadcast bandwidth for other things that haven't been invented yet.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to: Leaning Straight Up, MacBros' Place, Gospel Fiction, Comedian Jenée: People are Idiots , Woman Honor Thyself
Among the shows debuting this month: "Greek to Chic," a makeover reality series for college students; "BBQ Bill," a sketch comedy series with Rick Najera; "Animate This!," where celebrities narrate funny stories from their lives that are animated; and "Beyond Survivor," a behind-the-scenes look at the reality show.
They're smart to make initial programs appeal to younger folks who tend to have a lot of free time and blazing fast web access. But they're also going to be showing programs that turned out to be not-quite-ready-for-prime-time:
Later this month, "innertube" will begin streaming "Fire Me ... Please," a reality series that was canceled on the network last year before all of the episodes aired. Similarly, "innertube" will be the destination for episodes of the drama "Love Monkey" that were not aired before it was taken off CBS for low ratings.
Is it possible that many shows might receive a second wind after being available for on-demand viewing? If enough people watch the shows online, and enough advertisers are willing to pay to support them online, then somebody's going to produce them. Simple economics.
There also have to be some bean-counters somewhere who realize that they might make more money from having episodes of old shows available online than releasing them on DVD. Or even syndicating them.
TV producers will have to establish a fine balance between their own profitability and the profitability of the networks and affiliates who got them this far. Eventually, tho, I envision that most broadcast television stations will simply disappear. That'll free up a lot of broadcast bandwidth for other things that haven't been invented yet.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to: Leaning Straight Up, MacBros' Place, Gospel Fiction, Comedian Jenée: People are Idiots , Woman Honor Thyself
Thursday, May 4, 2006
The Buddhist I Ching: Thunder
This week's randomly selected hexagram from the Buddhist I Ching is number 51, Thunder.
From Thomas Cleary's translation of Chih-hsu Ou-i's commentary:
Developed people do not worry or fear. Why would they need repeated peels of thunder before they practice introspection cautiously? Cautious introspection actually refers to their daily practice of being careful by themselves of what they might not notice. This daily effort can foster what is good and diminish what is bad. Because they are accustomed to cautious introspection in daily life, therefore even when they run into "repeated thunder," they no longer worry or fear.
This commentary underscores the positive results of a good meditation practice. Sorry to say, my meditation practice has left a lot to be desired for quite some time now. Even so, I still feel the vestigial effects of my former zeal for sitting in my mental and emotional patterns. I must try and resume my former ways.
One excellent meditation that I used to alternate with mindfulness of breathing meditation is called mettabhavana, or loving-kindness, meditation. I can attest to its efficacy in helping calm negative emotions, and in dealing with difficult people (even if you're the one who's being difficult). Developing loving-kindness for all beings helps one see the root causes of suffering. And seeing the root causes of suffering helps one develop loving-kindness for all beings. It's a wonderfully vicious circle.
On the opening night of Star Wars: Episode I, I waited in line for six hours (note to self: waiting in line for six hours for a movie is dumb) with the hope of getting into the first showing at a few minutes past midnight. The rules the theatre owners, who -- unbeknownst to both them and me at the time -- would later become my employers, had laid down were that each person standing in line would be able to buy four tickets.
As the evening progressed, we who were standing in line near the cut-off point of patrons who could be reasonably assured the ability to buy tickets noticed some funny goings-on ahead of us. We'd see people come stand by the folks who were going to buy "their tickets" for them. No problem there. It would get everyone into the theatre more efficiently when the time came.
But as the ticket-selling time neared, the boundary between the line of ticket-buyers and everyone else became hazy. Eventually, there was no way to tell for sure who had been standing there for hours on end, and who had just shown up.
At that time, since I had been quite disciplined in my mettabhavana practice, I was able to almost spontaneously generate metta for the very brats who were out to deprive me of my viewing pleasure. (In retrospect, I should say that they were likely acting out of a conspiracy of loving-kindness for me, to keep me from seeing one of the worst movies released that year.)
As the commentary says, people who practice daily won't get shaken when "repeated thunder" is heard. Nowadays, I'm sure I'd be much more likely to grumble. Under my breath, but grumble, indeed.
I need to sit.
Peace,
Tor
P.S. Thanks to these folks for making the I Ching graphics!
Linking to: Liberal Common Sense, TMH's Bacon Bits, Quietly Making Noise, Sed VitaeTagged as:
Buddhist meditation FWBO mettabhavana Star Wars
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
The Forever Stamp from the United States Post Office
The United States Postal Service has an idea to make their proposed three-cent increase in First Class letter rates next year a little more palatable:
This is a good idea, from the Post Office's point of view. They'll get a big chunk of change up front, and probably won't have to provide the service of delivery for years to come. And some of these "forever stamps" will likely be lost or destroyed before they can be used.
For most of us, buying the "forever stamps" won't make fiscal sense. As the Washington Post article implies, postal rates for first class letters have gone up a little less than three percent per annum since 1981. Just about anyone, even the most conservative investor, would have beaten that rate of return by putting their money elsewhere. The only folks for whom buying this product would be a sound fiscal move would be those on limited incomes that won't grow as quickly as inflation, and who mail lots of first class letters. And that's not taking into account that the "forever stamps" will have to have a pricing premium over normal first-class stamps to make them worthwhile for the USPS to issue and honor them.
Kearney is right that the major economic incentive for buyers of these "forever stamps" would be the avoidance of future hassle. Having to get in line for three-cent stamps has a cost of time and convenience that many people would like to avoid. Especially if the only time you can get to the post office is during peak usage (lunch hours and quitting time). When I lived in Rockland, Maine, I rented a larger mail box in order to avoid standing in line to pick up parcels that wouldn't fit in the small boxes. In terms of convenience, it was a wise investment. Especially when I got to upbraid postal workers for making me stand in line for parcels that would have easily fit into my box. That was worth every penny.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to: Stop the ACLU, Diane's Stuff, Cigar Intelligence Agency
Tagged as:USPS forever stamp postal rates
The Postal Service said it would begin selling a "forever stamp" next year that would be good for first-class mail "no matter how prices might change beyond 2007." While some consumers might use it as a hedge against future price increases, it is intended to eliminate the inconvenience for consumers of having to buy new stamps every time the rates increase, said Stephen Kearney, vice president for pricing and classification.
This is a good idea, from the Post Office's point of view. They'll get a big chunk of change up front, and probably won't have to provide the service of delivery for years to come. And some of these "forever stamps" will likely be lost or destroyed before they can be used.
For most of us, buying the "forever stamps" won't make fiscal sense. As the Washington Post article implies, postal rates for first class letters have gone up a little less than three percent per annum since 1981. Just about anyone, even the most conservative investor, would have beaten that rate of return by putting their money elsewhere. The only folks for whom buying this product would be a sound fiscal move would be those on limited incomes that won't grow as quickly as inflation, and who mail lots of first class letters. And that's not taking into account that the "forever stamps" will have to have a pricing premium over normal first-class stamps to make them worthwhile for the USPS to issue and honor them.
Kearney is right that the major economic incentive for buyers of these "forever stamps" would be the avoidance of future hassle. Having to get in line for three-cent stamps has a cost of time and convenience that many people would like to avoid. Especially if the only time you can get to the post office is during peak usage (lunch hours and quitting time). When I lived in Rockland, Maine, I rented a larger mail box in order to avoid standing in line to pick up parcels that wouldn't fit in the small boxes. In terms of convenience, it was a wise investment. Especially when I got to upbraid postal workers for making me stand in line for parcels that would have easily fit into my box. That was worth every penny.
Peace,
Tor
Linking to: Stop the ACLU, Diane's Stuff, Cigar Intelligence AgencyTagged as:
USPS forever stamp postal rates
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
A Da Vinci Code Puzzle for Colonial Theatre Patrons
We're getting ready for The Da Vinci Code at the Colonial Theatre. You can go to the Colonial website and see the first of five puzzles that I've framed. If you're local to Belfast, Maine, you can win some free tickets and other prizes over the next five weeks. Anyone who solves all five weekly puzzles will get a chance at a special prize.
Hope you have fun. Sorry, no hints.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:Da Vinci Code puzzles
Hope you have fun. Sorry, no hints.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:
Da Vinci Code puzzles
I Was an "All-Gendered" Bathroom Pioneer
Via The Denver Channel, a report on the gender revolution that's sweeping through the privies of the University of Colorado-Boulder campus:
I attended a private college in Maine in the late eighties thru the earliest of the nineties. At my (coed) fraternity, we had no gender-specific bathrooms. When people came by during rush to see if they were interested in joining, we could usually spot the folks who would never join in a million years when, during the house tour, they would start to nervously giggle when they found that out.
The entire time I was there, folks respected the privacy of others, and somehow managed to refrain from becoming voyeurs in the showers. Unless they were romantically involved, of course.
Unisex bathrooms also save a lot of money in obviating two different facilities side-by-side. The only folks who'd be bummed by the widespread adoption of "all-gendered" bathrooms are the folks who make the fixtures. Especially urinals, which don't really have a place in such facilities. Oh, and I guess the men who don't want to be bothered to sit down to urinate. But they're barbarians, anyway. We can't leave the course of western civilization to them.
Peace,
Tor
h/t Drudge
Tagged as:fraternities gender inclusive
A transgender task force wants to bring more "all-gendered" bathrooms to the University of Colorado-Boulder campus, the Boulder Daily Camera reported in its Monday editions.
"It's about creating more welcoming spaces," Bryce Abelson told the newspaper.
I attended a private college in Maine in the late eighties thru the earliest of the nineties. At my (coed) fraternity, we had no gender-specific bathrooms. When people came by during rush to see if they were interested in joining, we could usually spot the folks who would never join in a million years when, during the house tour, they would start to nervously giggle when they found that out.
The entire time I was there, folks respected the privacy of others, and somehow managed to refrain from becoming voyeurs in the showers. Unless they were romantically involved, of course.
Unisex bathrooms also save a lot of money in obviating two different facilities side-by-side. The only folks who'd be bummed by the widespread adoption of "all-gendered" bathrooms are the folks who make the fixtures. Especially urinals, which don't really have a place in such facilities. Oh, and I guess the men who don't want to be bothered to sit down to urinate. But they're barbarians, anyway. We can't leave the course of western civilization to them.
Peace,
Tor
h/t Drudge
Tagged as:
fraternities gender inclusive
Consumers Union Promotes Awareness of "Natural" Remedies
Consumers Union, nonprofit independent publisher of Consumer Reports, has added a "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database" to its online health databases. For nineteen bucks a year, you can have access to this database, along with its prescription meds and medical treatments databases.
The Washington Post's article has a curious passage in it:
The CU's actions here help to point out the fact that we don't need the FDA anymore. We just need people working cooperatively, either in nonprofit groups like CU, or in for-profit ventures, to distribute the information. I mean, nineteen bucks a year for access to all that good info is chicken feed. I'm sure more money than that is taken from my federal taxes to keep the FDA running.
Even if CU decides that it's too much work to maintain the database, I'm sure several profit-seeking entrepreneurs would be glad to offer subscriptions to the "natural remedies" crowd for similar undertakings.
FDA delenda est!
Peace,
Tor
This is this week's post. In a nutshell, any topic is allowed, at my discretion, till midnight tonight, my time. I'll post the links here Wednesday morning.
This post was linked by Planck's Constant
Tagged as:open trackback FDA
The Washington Post's article has a curious passage in it:
Many users erroneously regard these products as safe because they are "natural" and do not consider them to be drugs, Metcalf noted. In fact, the efficacy of many products is untested, their purity unknown and their safety uncertain because they are largely exempt from the scrutiny of the Food and Drug Administration.
The CU's actions here help to point out the fact that we don't need the FDA anymore. We just need people working cooperatively, either in nonprofit groups like CU, or in for-profit ventures, to distribute the information. I mean, nineteen bucks a year for access to all that good info is chicken feed. I'm sure more money than that is taken from my federal taxes to keep the FDA running.
Even if CU decides that it's too much work to maintain the database, I'm sure several profit-seeking entrepreneurs would be glad to offer subscriptions to the "natural remedies" crowd for similar undertakings.
FDA delenda est!
Peace,
Tor
This is this week's
post. In a nutshell, any topic is allowed, at my discretion, till midnight tonight, my time. I'll post the links here Wednesday morning.This post was linked by Planck's Constant
Tagged as:
open trackback FDA
The Vegan Diet
Please join me in welcoming my latest tenant in the right-hand column, The Vegan Diet. Tho I am a Buddhist, I am far from a vegan. Indeed, I struggle to get the servings of fruits and veggies that my doctor says I should. Many Buddhists are vegans out of ethical reasons, so I'm sure those of you who fall into this camp will enjoy Jackie's blog. You don't need to be a vegan, tho, to enjoy the recent post on kebabs.
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:vegan vegetarian
Peace,
Tor
Tagged as:
vegan vegetarian
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