What is wrong with our country if anti-immigrant sentiments are so strong right now that a pizza chain with a 60% Hispanic customer base receives hundreds of angry emails and even death threats for offering to accept pesos? People don't have time to sit down and write to their government representatives or their presidents about problems such as global warming or overcrowded schools, but they do have time to read this sign, remember it, go home, find Pizza Patron's contact information, and compose extraordinarily unproductive feedback that makes no difference in their communities or lives besides quashing an opportunity for some Hispanics (and tourists returned home) to use up spare pesos lying in their drawers. Wow thank you all for your valuable contributions to this country. I worry about people's attitudes towards legislation regarding immigration, but this incident makes me wonder how dangerous and disturbing those attitudes are in everyday life. Where did extreme nationalism ultimately take some other countries in the 20th century?
Friday, January 12, 2007
pizza for pesos
What is wrong with our country if anti-immigrant sentiments are so strong right now that a pizza chain with a 60% Hispanic customer base receives hundreds of angry emails and even death threats for offering to accept pesos? People don't have time to sit down and write to their government representatives or their presidents about problems such as global warming or overcrowded schools, but they do have time to read this sign, remember it, go home, find Pizza Patron's contact information, and compose extraordinarily unproductive feedback that makes no difference in their communities or lives besides quashing an opportunity for some Hispanics (and tourists returned home) to use up spare pesos lying in their drawers. Wow thank you all for your valuable contributions to this country. I worry about people's attitudes towards legislation regarding immigration, but this incident makes me wonder how dangerous and disturbing those attitudes are in everyday life. Where did extreme nationalism ultimately take some other countries in the 20th century?
Thursday, January 11, 2007
andromeda
My question, which could probably easily be answered if I bothered to do some conversions with the data supplied in the article, is how much of the night sky our closest neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy (M31), really takes up for the naked eye. Because UCSC researchers have found that it's much, much bigger than we thought.
In less intellectual but more entertaining news, Mr. Blackwell has assigned the euphemism "style-free and fashion deprived" to Britney Spears (who makes 1st for the 3rd time) and Paris Hilton (who makes 1st for the second time) in his annual worst-dressed list, undoubtedly to the glee of many such as myself. Also rewarding was his inclusion of my favorite Angelina Jolie and even Nancy Pelosi in his list of 10 "fabulous fashion independents." The unfortunate thing about all this style criticism is that any actress can be portrayed as a poor dresser. Taking bad shots of people is so easy, particularly when they're in runway clothes.
In less intellectual but more entertaining news, Mr. Blackwell has assigned the euphemism "style-free and fashion deprived" to Britney Spears (who makes 1st for the 3rd time) and Paris Hilton (who makes 1st for the second time) in his annual worst-dressed list, undoubtedly to the glee of many such as myself. Also rewarding was his inclusion of my favorite Angelina Jolie and even Nancy Pelosi in his list of 10 "fabulous fashion independents." The unfortunate thing about all this style criticism is that any actress can be portrayed as a poor dresser. Taking bad shots of people is so easy, particularly when they're in runway clothes.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
It's awfully entertaining to me in my campanologically nerdy way that UC Berkeley's library catalog gives as search term examples on its home page "bell tolls" and "for whom the bell." I apologize for not having resisted sharing that incredibly stupid fact with you.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
wanderlust
I'm starting to think about travel again as I work out my European concert tour, and am in the mood to be enticed by other destinations. China, anyone?
Thursday, January 04, 2007
The Belgians are getting taller and heavier. Not the most surprising news around the block. But Dutch men are the tallest Europeans, and Dutch women weigh the most in Europe, while Ireland has the biggest difference between the sexes. That's weird.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
nerdiness
So I feel justified in indulging in a little nerdiness today. I have time. How's this?
It's a false-color image of colliding galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163, space.com's sometime image of the day.
If you're also feeling nerdy, you might try voting for the best space images of 2006. Or reading about the most bizarre satellite ever.
It's a false-color image of colliding galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163, space.com's sometime image of the day.
If you're also feeling nerdy, you might try voting for the best space images of 2006. Or reading about the most bizarre satellite ever.
Tiffany Blue
Sweeeeet not only do I have gaudy jewelry and a stinky expensive perfume named after meeeeeee, but also a shade of my favorite color, blue: Tiffany Blue, PMS 1837.
Indiana Jones 4!!!
So I keep telling people that I haven't been particularly excited about any movies since Back to the Future and Indiana Jones. (The Matrix and Koyaanisqaatsi excepted.) Well, today's my lucky day: George Lucas has announced that Harrison Ford will be returning for his fourth installment as Indie!I'll be the first in theaters with my Icee to watch and cheer. If it ever emerges from development hell, I'd also watch Ender's Game.
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