by Ethan Johnson
December 24, 2007

Every so often, I'll click a link at random, and wonder why I don't engage in random link-clicking more often. Case in point: Below the Eight. Read the blog to learn the story behind the name. Anyway, the author wrote out a list of things that she doesn't "get", and pretty much nailed something that has nagged at me here and there, as one of the unwashed masses:

Text messaging - Oh, I get it. I just don't want it. I'm sorry, these keys are ... all little, and I keep hitting the wrong one, and then it keeps telling me I want to type something I don't want to type, and fuck this noise, how about I just call you and tell you what I want to say? Like, out of my mouth and stuff. And maybe you can send me an email since ur soo in luv wit typing lol. Actually, I think we had the text-messaging function disabled on our cell phone plan, so I really don't think about this anymore ... unless I accidentally hit the Messaging button. Which happens less frequently than you'd think, really.

One of Marlena'a co-workers is a text messaging demon. However, to watch him crank out a text message, thumbs twiddling along, begs the question: Why not just call the person with your - wait for it - cell phone? It's not like sending text messages is somehow less rude than excusing yourself for a phone call. If anything, people know that the person on the other end of the line is receiving the caller's (theoretically) undivided attention, as opposed to the frustrated people who are being nodded to absently and told "go ahead, I'm listening (type type type)."

Some more random items to share:

• Crayon Pouches: I'm 2-for-2 in the random link clicking department. We don't have a sewing machine, and I'm not into sewing anyway, but I'm thinking that if you're into sewing, and into crayons, or know someone who is, this is the link for you. I'd imagine these could be modified to hold other items, like pens, brushes, hand tools (for crafts), etc. I so want the "flame" design, so I can look tough while I color.
• God in the Gaps: I was watching a show about Dark Matter, and some skepticism was expressed about whether it could exist. In a nutshell, the physical (observable) universe/Milky Way galaxy falls apart in computer models if one only works with visible matter, which contains mass, which exerts some amount of gravity. Unfortunately, there isn't enough visible matter to account for the gravity that holds the galaxy/universe together. Here's the dilemma: If Dark Matter exists, and it cannot be seen, does not contain atoms, yet still has enough mass to exert gravity (loosely speaking), then particle physics as we know it has to be re-thought. If Dark Matter does not exist, and gravity is not constant, then Newton must be refuted. In a way, it's lose-lose. But who lost? Well, Dark Matter does indeed exist. Score (another) one for Newton. I did find it amusing, pre-discovery, the way that science-y types insisted that Dark Matter must exist in ways that are normally attributed to, shall we say, the faith-based community. Obviously, vindication came with the empirical discovery of Dark Matter, but what if that discovery was never made? At what point would the belief in Dark Matter mirror the popular belief in God? I guess similarly to how non-constant gravity must come off in the wake of Dark Matter being proven.
• About that Unplanned Pregnancy: Probably the only blog post you need to read about the Jamie Lynn Spears teen pregnancy brouhaha. SBWLTB: Always refreshing. Always worth it.
• Hairspray (1988): I'll have a longer review (more or less) in the Movie Reviews section sometime in early 2008, but we finally sat through the original version of Hairspray. Night and day difference. Not only is the newer one plain more enjoyable, decisions were made about the plot and characters to really pack a wallop. FYI for anyone who is wondering what the difference is.
• Lies, Lies, all Lies: I've been reading the second edition of Lies My teacher Told Me. It's something of a long slog, but I think its time has come, for me. Fair warning to US Americans: You'll never see your country, or the world, the same way again. And I'm mid-way through the third chapter.

Finally, I'll have more to say about this at another time, but in the meantime here is my holiday gift to you (yes, you). This link was passed along by way of the Journal Revolution blog, and the following paragraph really stuck to my ribs. May you be similarly inspired:

"The cruelty and aggression we see throughout the world is only possible when we de-humanize our fellow beings," Pema Chödrön says. "When they cease to exist as real, feeling beings then we can kill and abuse them. The key is to see others as living beings just like ourselves. When we see them as real, feeling people and listen to their stories, we cannot harm them."

Have a safe and happy remainder of 2008. <EM>