What ever happened to Y2K?

"Why does this applied science, which saves work and makes life easier, bring us so little happiness? The simple answer runs: Because we have not yet learned to make sensible use of it."

"Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal."

- Albert Einstein


I’m sure we can all remember things that happened to us five years ago, well maybe not what we ate for dinner on December 16th but, the major events of the year should still be pretty fresh in our minds. This sounds like a logical request: Tell me one major thing from 1999…and no partying like it’s… is not a good answer. It’s funny how short the human memory can be. Just over five years ago the acronym Y2K was everywhere. It was going to be the end of the world as we know it and now…nothing.

I know that the Y2K bug or curse never happened, it was a complete bust. (Maybe that’s why we’ve brushed it under technology’s giant rug.) During the closing of 1999 people were in a panic, with technology and lack of foresight to blame. For one of the first times in my life technology as whole was being questioned by the masses. People were turning their backs to the once welcoming arms of the tech-world, giving a second thought to how much they were depending on technology in everyday life. Then a miracle occurred, nothing happened. There was no global shut down. So what did we do now that we were spared from the electronic meltdown? We got pissed on New Year’s, fought through our hangovers, hopped back on our tech-horses, and just kept on riding. We must have had way too much to drink that night, cause it seems we drank away all of our fears and concerns.

So here we are it’s 2005 and the furthest thing from our minds is worrying that we are depending too much on technology. We want it faster, smaller, and less to do with human contact than ever. Our faith in technology never failed, it may have wavered for a minute, but no way will we ever give it up. They say that hindsight is 20/20, but who’s looking back? We’ve constructed a lifestyle that depends so much on technology that our biggest concern we have with our new systems is the ‘human factor’ or human error.

“We’ve got the best traffic control system in the world, but we can’t count out human error…”
The big mistakes or problems we have with our systems is the humans running them or running inside them. This seems a bit odd to me. We build systems for humans, by humans, but we can’t trust the humans to operate them? We lack trust in our own intelligence to perform simple, menial tasks, however we trust the people who designed these complex systems? Don’t get me wrong, I’m the first to point out that there are a lot of idiots out there, but should we be taking away the need for skilled people? Should we constantly be replacing humans with machines? Sure we’ll train new people to run the machines, but what happens if the machines go down? I mean all of the machines…or let’s say we lose power. Now we’re left with a society filled with people that can type 150 words a minute, but no one who can build a typewriter. If we can’t trust humans, who or what are supposed to look to…monkeys?

I’m not predicting the apocalypse or even the death of your batteries on your palm pilot. In fact I love technology, I sometimes wish we had more. But when I sit back and think about it, it seems that technology’s kung-fu grip has got us tighter than ever. Think about your everyday life, how much do you do without using electronics, computers, or even a remote? Try to imagine what it would take to make it though your day without it…or how long it would take. It’s scary to think the amount of control that technology can have over us, and most of the time without our knowledge. I’m not saying technology is evil however, the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to make the world think she didn’t exist.

Feb. 15th

Welcome to the divorce lawyer's busiest day of the year....

..I guess those flowers would have been a good idea after all...

Gwen Stefani is this generation's Cyndi Lauper

...I really gotta get some pictures or something to back up these ridiculous claims...

China might have the right idea...or they are evil and disgusting

According to this article China is performing miracles for patients with ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. The surgeon injects the patient with cells taken from an aborted fetus to halt the deterioration process that ALS has on its victims.

...oh wait...back up a minute...aborted fetus you say?

Yes...I do say.

Stem cell research of this kind is against the law in Canada and the US, but it is completely acceptable in China. I guess it comes down to a question of morality. Is it okay to use the cells of unborn children to possibly save someone's life? This is not an easy question to answer...but think about it. In China there is a one child limit and even if we don't want to admit it or pretend it doesn't happen, abortions are happening. They will continue happening. Is it wrong to use the cells from discarded tissue to save human lives? Regardless of where it came from? If the research could help your child, friend, or lover what would you think then? What if it was you?

For more information on ALS click here:
http://als.ca

For the article mentioned above:
http://www.pressargus.com/articles/2005/02/05/news/news01.txt

Is it better to die or fade away?

So like millions of people I watched the Superbowl last night...congrats Patriots. So being from Canada and too lazy to go to a bar, I didn't get to see the great new commercials. In lieu of super expensive ad spots I thought that seeing Paul McCartney at the half time show would make up for it. What was I thinking?

Now, I don't know if they were trying to keep things really family friendly...to avoid last year's fiasco, but ugh was that boring. I'm sorry but I started to channel surf while one of the beatles, the most influencial band ever, was singing some classics. So this got me to thinking...is Paul ruining his rep as one of the best singer/songwriters to ever live?

We can all say that the Beatles were one of the best bands to ever produce a vinyl. In fact I was protecting Paul just minutes before the halftime show, talking about how talented the guy is. But after seeing the show I couldn't help but think he was just looking like a BTO reunion. One of those guys who is living off of his past achievements..no matter how spectacular they were.

When you think of the Beatles, individually not as a group, you've got John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

John: Musical Genius, would have changed the face of music for years to come...if he wasn't killed.
George: Innovative guitarist, humanitarian, loved by all
Ringo: ...uhm well he was a Beatle...and wasn't he on that show with that train?
Paul: Knighted, in two number one bands, hasn't written anything in decades

I guess it isn't fair to say that Paul and Ringo's contribution to the world of music was any less than any of the other Beatles (well okay Ringo didn't do too much). It just begs the question: Would it better to die a Beatle or be a former Beatle with nothing left. It's a tough choice aside from the whole dying part...cause that probably sucks.

Society doesn't always commend you for what you did 20 years ago...but they'll be quick to ask where are you now or Paul "What have you done for me lately?"

First Day of Bloggin'

There is a moment in your life that you realize that you are not meant for greatness. That one instant that you know you aren’t going to be a movie star, a rock god, or even have that job you dreamed of as a child. Your delusions of grandeur fizzle out and are replaced with reality, this reality, your reality.

Ideals are broken apart and you’re left with opinions. You have accepted the hand that life has dealt you without a fight or a scream. You just wake up in this older body and the dreams you had for it are gone. That feeling of being special is replaced with a feeling of angst and bitterness against the world for not seeing you as you thought you should have been seen. Dreams of riches have been replaced with thoughts of bills and debts and timelines. Your childhood is gone.

It can happen at a different time for everyone.

Mine is happening right now.
I’m 31 years old...and I just started a blog.