Orble - The World From A Cynic's Eyes

Have you been called jaded/cynical/skeptical by people in your daily life?

Are you referred to as pessimistic, idealistic or just plain negative?

If so, then you may find the literature within to be somewhat interesting.. unless you're pessimistic about the odds of that happening as well..

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Joey Crews

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The World From A Cynic's Eyes

The Facebook Movie

As many of you will know, full-time work can sometimes be a drag. There are times throughout the day in which the level of productivity can wane and the mind can wander down more recreational mental paths. It was during one of these periods today, browsing through the Sydney Morning Herald website, that I stumbled upon this:

The creator of US TV drama The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin, is making a film about the controversial origins of Facebook.

The social networking site, which now counts more than 100 million users, has already distanced itself from the yet-to-be-named movie, saying it has not agreed to cooperate with any film project.

Harvard alumni magazine 02138 reported the film would be an adaptation of Ben Mezrich's upcoming book, Face Off, which includes allegations that founder Mark Zuckerberg stole the idea for the site from classmates and started it in 2004 as a way to meet women.

Etc etc

Oh boy. An idea, some conflict, potentially no resolution, backbiting, jealousy and most importantly, Applications! Now that sounds like something I would spend money on and not just torrent it effortlessly from the internet.

In all seriousness, I would much rather see a movie made about Facebook than a movie about Myspace. Purely because I don't think moviegoers want to see a movie about the kind of people who use Myspace. Unless seeing paedophilic musicians and Rupert Murdoch on his Unholy Throne of Plebian Skulls is your thing.

Regardless of how this movie is made, I don't think I will be one of the people skipping work to go and see the midnight premiere. I don't want to have the Facebook experience ruined for me by "facts" and "intrigue." It's Facebook, damnit! Just let us play the Pirates game in peace.

Don't shatter the magic for the lovely children!

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September 1st 2008 @ 11:33

Posted By: Joey Crews - Category: No Category

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Palin - Partisan Leverage?

The world - well at least the part that gives a damn about U.S politics - was surprised to hear that the Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin, is to join Senator John McCain on the Republican ticket in the race to the White House.

Depending on what "side" (whee, being partisan already

) you are on, this decision elected one of the following responses:

1) Surprise, followed by even more surprise, followed by cries of disbelief
2) Surprise, followed by more surprise, followed by "Oh, but of course it should've been her!"
3) "She's a woman! We must vote for her, regardless of rational thought!"

Now as an Australian who follows US politics with more than an idle curiosity, I was very taken aback at this decision by McCain. Who is this woman? Why is she good enough to be the second-in-command? Trawling through Wikipedia and the various info websites paints a picture of Palin as a conservative mum, with a strong belief in gun ownership and in the value of human life. If you're a polar bear however, you're out of luck..

Really Long Link

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - The state of Alaska will sue the U.S. government to stop the listing of the polar bear as a threatened species, arguing the designation will slow development in the state, Gov. Sarah Palin said on Wednesday.

The Republican governor has argued that the ice-dependent polar bear, the first mammal granted Endangered Species Act listing because of global warming, does not need additional protections.

"We believe that the listing was unwarranted and that it's unprecedented to list a currently healthy population based on uncertain climate models," said Alaska Assistant Attorney General Steven Daugherty.

So besides losing the polar bear vote, who wouldn't want to have Sarah Palin as the second in command? She is the mother of five children, one of whom is suffering Downs Syndrome. There's your sympathy vote right there, people! She has kids, so she must be able to lead a country of hundreds of millions.

The problem as I see it, is that John McCain and his cohort examined the situation before them:

- The night before, Barack Obama delivered one of his best political speeches to energize his party in a way which hadn't been seen by the electorate for nearly a decade.

- Despite the calls from the Clinton dynasty for unity and strength, there is still a hardcore segment of Hillary's support base (called PUMA) who wanted Hillary to win office, because she is a woman and who feel she was discriminated against, amongst other contradictory and hypocritical viewpoints..

- Obama chose Delaware senator Joe Biden to be his VP, which while on the surface is a very strong choice due to his experience in the current US political system as well as his foreign experience, could be construed as a backflip on bringing "change" to US politics due to Biden possessing the knowledge and experience of the very system that Obama wants to change.

McCain looked at the above points, and saw opportunity. It's almost as though one could see the cogs at work inside his head.. "What's the best way to gain more voters and at the same time polarize the very party which had made very strong arguments for unity not even 24 hours previously?"

Choose a woman. But not just any woman. A young woman (three years younger than Obama's 47 years). You kill two birds with one stone! Not only are YOU the person touting change with this 44 year old, but you are saying "Hey, you want a woman in the White House? Vote for me. What do you care about her policies or even that she's virtually unknown on the main political circuit, she has mammaries!"

I personally think this will backfire on McCain horribly. One of the main arguments for Obama's detractors is that the Democrats have not fielded a main candidate with enough experience. That his meager record in the US Senate means he does not possess the knowledge and wisdom necessary to be President.

Despite Palin only being the VP and not the President, McCain isn't young. He's suffered cancer four times, and is 72 years of age. Combine that with the stresses of being the US President and it isn't a far stretch to believe that Palin, with her small-time political experience in Alaska, will need to take the Presidential reins at some point. That is the scary part. That is where I believe McCain has totally forgotten that being US President isn't just about winning an election, it's about running a country with the best interests of its citizens at the forefront of decision-making.

I have nothing against Palin as a person, but I have to wonder what she thinks of all this. There were FAR more qualified candidates than her, even those that were women as well. Yet she was the lucky one picked. Honestly if it was me, a few alarm bells would be ringing in my head about the GOP's motives and how I was being used. Unless of course she's in on it and doesn't mind being used as a political honeypot to the naive and disillusioned. I guess only time will tell.

While I have some faith in the US voters to see through what I perceive to be McCain's disingenuous tactics, seeing stuff like this scares me..

Ah well. Still two months to go.. let's see what happens.

The World From A Cynic's Eyes

The Facebook Movie

Palin - Partisan Leverage?

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