http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Tue, 22 Apr 2003 15:10:47 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/04/22/151047.php GueroShhhhhh! I am trying to do my biznass over here! Man I love public places: Las Vegas strip, downtown Seattle, San Diego beaches. There is nothing like the affectionate breeze on your face, the cold soda streaming down your throat, and the searing sun smashing your skin adding to the precious gift of melanin. Although I really love public places, there are some places that shouldn't be so public, i.e. the bathroom. I do think that sufficient facilities should be provided in buildings and in public places (clean ones preferably) however; I believe some alterations should be made to create a more private atmosphere. I don't know about you, but there should be an unwritten rule about having a conversation with a stranger in the next stall over who is sharing the same goal as you and I offer a solution for this and a solution for the echo-ness caused by the tendency of having a gym-like surrounding. You wouldn't have to talk with that stranger next door or feel embarrassed if the burritos are causing you to make more noise than anticipated or you have made the bathroom your next bombing target and you don't want your enemies to detect the raid. The solution you ask? The solution I offer is to upgrade the bathrooms with sound proof stalls and walls. With this new luxurious feature, you will no longer have to worry about playing 20 questions with the new arrival next door and you will no longer have to worry about others knowing EXACTLY what is happening on your side of town. Now, not only whistle while you work but you can play the natural tunes of everyday biznass.If you would like to share any experiences (keeping it clean please) or offer any additional suggestions to resolve this problem, it would be well received. Culture4783@blogcritics.org Tue, 22 Apr 2003 15:10:47 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/03/28/123857.php GueroBathroom etiquette, unspeakable, not discussed, taboo? I don't think it's very fair to the general public when people don't practice bathroom etiquette. How difficult is it to flush after bizness is finished? I think its common decency to flush followed by a wash of the hands. Is this too much to ask for? I don't think it's fair to have to walk in to a polluted bathroom while holding the door open for the culprit of the double crime of no flushing and no washing of the hands; I have little oxygen as it is. And after being required to play the superstitious game of holding your breath through a tunnel for so long I am worried that I have killed too many brain cells due to the lack of oxygen. I have come up with a few ideas to cure us of these crimes.Idea #1-Hire an etiquette police so the next time there is a no flush or washing of hands the police will pull out his anti-bacterial hand sanitizer and yell, "Freeze! Hands in the air!" No handcuffs, no beating, just a simple dime-size drop of good 'ol hand sanitizer.Idea #2-If the building only contains manual toilet flushers instead of the self-flushers, then there should be an alarm above the toilet that sounds every time there is no flush. Then another alarm if there is no follow up of washing the hands. If the culprit evades the alarms, then a huge mechanical hand slaps a sign on his/her back that reads "trust me, don't shake my hand" as they run out the door.Idea #3-Have a fortune cookie dispenser (because you know you can't resist those tasty, wisdom filled shells) that has the following piece of acumen inside all cookies "Don't forget to flush and wash your hands, good day!"Bottom line, if you don't have bathroom etiquette please visit the International Center of Bathroom Etiquette at http://www.icbe.org/. And remember to never get caught with your hands in the air.If you have any other suggestions on how to resolve this issue, I would be willing to read them. Culture4180@blogcritics.org Fri, 28 Mar 2003 12:38:57 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/03/26/124107.php GueroTwo-Face, one of Batman's arch enemies, had a bright side and an evil side to his personality. With the simple flip of a coin, life's decisions were made. With the flip of a coin, a decision is made as to who kicks off first at a football game. With the flip of a coin, Billy has a 50/50 chance of losing the tie breaker to his best friend. What gives this piece of circular metal such power to make such important decisions? We do! Just like Two-Face, there are different sides to "love's" personality, and sometimes we allow love to be decided by yelling out "heads" or "tails." Married by America, a new "reality" TV show, exhibits the beggar-side, the untamed-side, the moral-side, the mixing of elements-side, and the shot by cupid's arrow-side of love. Which face are you wearing? Many people bring up the topic of love, and I believe that since it's such a popular topic, TV attempts to create reality shows depicting love. Do these so called reality shows really display the truth of how Americans view and should view love? First, Billie Jeanne and Tony are parading the untamed-side of love. She fell for him; he will soon run away with some free and "justified" lovin.' But soon Billie Jeanne's heart will be wrapped in a doggy bag, only to be tossed in the garbage after a few days in the fridge. Is it bad to have passion? No. But honestly, can you not read between the lines Billie?! Tony is a dog and you are his squeaky, toy bone that will soon lose the squeak. Boot them off America! Love should include passion but cannot be sold at Toys "R" Us. Second, Stephen and Denise are showing the beggar-side of love. Denise is struggling with the common 80/20 relationship, in that, the woman gives 80% and the man gives 20% (which consists of 18% hormones and 2% heart). She is begging for more love while he glances at her body, his eyes shielded by shallowness- he doesn't like what he sees. Of course, she now has the weapon of using his shallowness to satisfy her needs temporarily and to give what he wants temporarily because shallowness will soon get bored with monogomy. Unfortunately, using the newly found weapon is a good start to a bad relationship. Isn't it a bit obvious what face he is wearing to the game? Next episode, YOUR OUT! Third, Jennifer and Xavier are all about the moral-side of love. Jennifer's family/friends picked the complete opposite of her. What where they thinking? Xavier is all about the "no morals" where Jennifer claims to be all about "with morals." Xavier is the French love-Tarzan and Jennifer is the wolf posing in nun's clothing. Xavier is the real deal of a player, and Jennifer is a fake, who hides behind her "morals" because she can't be honest enough to just tell the guy she doesn't like him. Yet another common mishap in love; not enough communication and too much "beating around the bush". 'Tails', you lose! Fourth, Matt and Cortez, who have been voted off already, were a perfect display of the "mixing of elements" side of love, AKA chemistry. Cortez was all about the "you are the perfect guy, BUT I'm just not feelin' it baby." This is a tough face of love to understand because she says that he has everything that she ever wanted, but then she throws in that dreaded "BUT" with the additional "I just don't feel this mysterious chemistry." So what does "this chemistry" feel like? It's tough to explain, but the words "comfortable", "trusting", and "desire to give your all" come to mind. Fifth, Jill and Kevin are displaying the early signs of "getting hit by cupid's arrow" side of love. This type of love is also known as "love at first sight". A lot of people can't explain it but say "you just know when it happens." This is frustrating to the single crowd wanting to get hitched because "you just know" is not enough. Sometimes love requires you to go on blind faith until that faith turns into knowledge. I think this couple have well-balanced "faces of love" like passion, chemistry, same morals (not necessarily great morals but at least they agree that they like the lovin'), and both begging for more. Yup, you guessed it; 'Heads' they win, at least for now. Although I think this show is all a setup by the producers to get rich (you greedy little...) we can learn by some of the faces of love displayed by these actors and actresses that will help us stop flipping the coin and help us decide now which faces we want to have and which faces we don't. Remember what killed Two-Face...the flip of a coin. Video4110@blogcritics.org Wed, 26 Mar 2003 12:41:07 EST