http://robertswitzer.org prose::commentary::opinion Fri, 06 Oct 2006 13:15:11 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/03/dell-lying-in-tv-ads/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Robert Switzer :: Back Your Shit Up Fri, 06 Oct 2006 13:15:11 +0000 http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/03/dell-lying-in-tv-ads/#comment-51 [...] I’ve been bitten again. Ouch! I lost several posts from this blog yesterday due to both carelessness on my part and a sudden, unavoidable computer glitch. The crappy Dell laptop that I’m currently stuck with has a problem with the pointing device that occasionally manifests itself by spontaneously selecting and deleting a block of text in the blink of an eye if I put too much pressure on the top of the case with my palms while I’m typing. [...] [...] I’ve been bitten again. Ouch! I lost several posts from this blog yesterday due to both carelessness on my part and a sudden, unavoidable computer glitch. The crappy Dell laptop that I’m currently stuck with has a problem with the pointing device that occasionally manifests itself by spontaneously selecting and deleting a block of text in the blink of an eye if I put too much pressure on the top of the case with my palms while I’m typing. [...]

]]> http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/01/men-growl-whine-like-dogs-to-determine-dominance/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Robert Switzer :: Fox News’ Ratings Take a Nosedive Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:42:30 +0000 http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/01/men-growl-whine-like-dogs-to-determine-dominance/#comment-22 [...] In reality, O’Reilly’s Dad was an accountant, and O’Reilly grew up in Levittown, or someplace like that. So it does make sense, if you think about it. A cheap-suit, low-ball accountant would have reason to envy both his betters at the office and the highly-paid union men down the street. The union men probably made as much or more money, yet had fewer demeaning political hoops to jump through than the delta dog in some office park pack. [...] [...] In reality, O’Reilly’s Dad was an accountant, and O’Reilly grew up in Levittown, or someplace like that. So it does make sense, if you think about it. A cheap-suit, low-ball accountant would have reason to envy both his betters at the office and the highly-paid union men down the street. The union men probably made as much or more money, yet had fewer demeaning political hoops to jump through than the delta dog in some office park pack. [...]

]]> http://robertswitzer.org/2006/05/05/two-hundred-pounds-of-pure-pussy-repellant/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Robert Switzer :: Fox News’ Ratings Take a Nosedive Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:31:59 +0000 http://721.com/blog_1/?p=9#comment-21 [...] And then, there’s Bill O’Reilly himself. Columnist Matt Taibbi used a phrase to refer to a former congressman from Texas that works for Mr. Bill, too. And I still wonder how he managed to quelch that sexual harassment issue he was embroiled in. [...] [...] And then, there’s Bill O’Reilly himself. Columnist Matt Taibbi used a phrase to refer to a former congressman from Texas that works for Mr. Bill, too. And I still wonder how he managed to quelch that sexual harassment issue he was embroiled in. [...]

]]> http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/10/david-brooks-why-must-you-be-so-mean/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Robert Switzer :: Fox News’ Ratings Take a Nosedive Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:14:24 +0000 http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/10/david-brooks-why-must-you-be-so-mean/#comment-20 [...] But the design of Fox News is far from funny. I don’t watch it voluntarily, but I’ve seen it enough in public places to recognize some of the structural elements. Ever notice how they manage to find whacked-out, space-case “Liberals” to serve as straw men to be blown down by the mighty intellect of Bill O’Reilly? Of course, the New York Times may be doing the same thing in reverse with David Brooks. [...] [...] But the design of Fox News is far from funny. I don’t watch it voluntarily, but I’ve seen it enough in public places to recognize some of the structural elements. Ever notice how they manage to find whacked-out, space-case “Liberals” to serve as straw men to be blown down by the mighty intellect of Bill O’Reilly? Of course, the New York Times may be doing the same thing in reverse with David Brooks. [...]

]]> http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/18/four-fifths-of-us-high-school-graduates-not-ready-for-college/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Robert Switzer :: Does Homework Work? Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:25:20 +0000 http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/18/four-fifths-of-us-high-school-graduates-not-ready-for-college/#comment-19 [...] A week or so back I wrote a post about scoring trends on the ACT, one of the two major aptitude tests used in the post-secondary school admissions process. [...] [...] A week or so back I wrote a post about scoring trends on the ACT, one of the two major aptitude tests used in the post-secondary school admissions process. [...]

]]> http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/03/dell-lying-in-tv-ads/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Robert Switzer :: Dell Recall Benefits Sony Rivals Thu, 17 Aug 2006 14:21:46 +0000 http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/03/dell-lying-in-tv-ads/#comment-17 [...] It’s refreshing to find out that at least one aspect of Dell Product Suckage isn’t their fault. Maybe they can make lemonade out those lemons and give the exploding laptops to the managers who decided to defund and outsource customer service. [...] [...] It’s refreshing to find out that at least one aspect of Dell Product Suckage isn’t their fault. Maybe they can make lemonade out those lemons and give the exploding laptops to the managers who decided to defund and outsource customer service. [...]

]]> http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/08/michael-moore-movies-arent-very-good-anymore/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Robert Switzer :: A World Without Movie Theatres Thu, 17 Aug 2006 14:01:32 +0000 http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/08/michael-moore-movies-arent-very-good-anymore/#comment-16 [...] So I have no interest in the mall cineplex these days. It’s not worth the effort, especially when you know you can wait a scant six months and see the film on pay-per-view or rent it from Netflix. Most of the high-budget studio stuff sucks anyway. Even a high percentage of the art-house stuff turns up on Sundance or IFC in six months or so. A couple of years ago, my wife and I attended a pretty good regional film festival and were pleasantly surprised a year or so later when a lot of the most notable fare turned up on premium satellite TV. [...] [...] So I have no interest in the mall cineplex these days. It’s not worth the effort, especially when you know you can wait a scant six months and see the film on pay-per-view or rent it from Netflix. Most of the high-budget studio stuff sucks anyway. Even a high percentage of the art-house stuff turns up on Sundance or IFC in six months or so. A couple of years ago, my wife and I attended a pretty good regional film festival and were pleasantly surprised a year or so later when a lot of the most notable fare turned up on premium satellite TV. [...]

]]> http://robertswitzer.org/film/a-scanner-darkly/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Robert Switzer :: A World Without Movie Theatres Thu, 17 Aug 2006 13:51:24 +0000 http://robertswitzer.org/film/a-scanner-darkly/#comment-15 [...] On the other hand, even out here in the rural Pennsylvania countryside, specialized boutique theaters are opening all over the place. Many are vaudeville theaters built in the early 20th century and renovated. These theaters serve as regional arts centers and host live performances as well as films. I recently saw Richard Linklater’s ‘A Scanner Darkly’ in one of these theaters. [...] [...] On the other hand, even out here in the rural Pennsylvania countryside, specialized boutique theaters are opening all over the place. Many are vaudeville theaters built in the early 20th century and renovated. These theaters serve as regional arts centers and host live performances as well as films. I recently saw Richard Linklater’s ‘A Scanner Darkly’ in one of these theaters. [...]

]]> http://robertswitzer.org/2006/05/19/obsolete-technologies-become-art/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Robert Switzer :: A World Without Movie Theatres Thu, 17 Aug 2006 13:09:44 +0000 http://721.com/blog_1/?p=14#comment-14 [...] I don’t think movie theaters are going to go away. In a post I wrote a while back, I reiterated an observation someone made about how obsolete technologies become art. Examples would include black and white photography and motion pictures, the use of antiquated analog sound recording technology for it’s ‘warmth’ and ‘character’, and in the near-future, a preference for books and newspapers over their electronic equivalent. [...] [...] I don’t think movie theaters are going to go away. In a post I wrote a while back, I reiterated an observation someone made about how obsolete technologies become art. Examples would include black and white photography and motion pictures, the use of antiquated analog sound recording technology for it’s ‘warmth’ and ‘character’, and in the near-future, a preference for books and newspapers over their electronic equivalent. [...]

]]> http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/11/we-believe-in-evolution-less-than-other-western-countries/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Robert Switzer :: White House: Bird Flu Suspected in Michigan Geese Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:48:17 +0000 http://robertswitzer.org/2006/08/11/we-believe-in-evolution-less-than-other-western-countries/#comment-13 [...] This looks like another attempt to use a non-news event, i.e. a low-threat, previously identified strain of bird flu, to further a partisan political agenda. In this case, the agenda item is the federalization of the National Guard. I continue to be surprised that more people aren’t picking up on this, but then again half of us still believe that Iraq had WMD despite obvious facts indicating otherwise and half of us don’t know what DNA is, so why am I surprised? [...] [...] This looks like another attempt to use a non-news event, i.e. a low-threat, previously identified strain of bird flu, to further a partisan political agenda. In this case, the agenda item is the federalization of the National Guard. I continue to be surprised that more people aren’t picking up on this, but then again half of us still believe that Iraq had WMD despite obvious facts indicating otherwise and half of us don’t know what DNA is, so why am I surprised? [...]

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