Dumb People. And I miss Gumby.

You lucky people (the few of you who actually read this) get this amazing post because my vanity couldn't stand to be pushed off the bottom of the page by any new posts⁰.

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You know what I hate? People. That's right. People. Not any person individually, just as a function of society.

Firstly, as you are probably aware, the most tragic event in the world, with earth-shattering consquences happened! The most amazing actress (Naked Gun 33 ¹/₃, Hudsucker Proxy and Veronica's Closet)¹, the most beautiful playmate, the most interesting person in the world, has left us.

Ok, I can deal with this. Breathe. Breathe deep. The world just seems like it's over. That's what I assume from the news coverage that's been playing on least 2 of the 24 hour news channels since her death (which, to be honest, was untimely, tragic and unfortunate). Stop it people! They're only doing this because you watch it! Stop watching it, and maybe they'll report something good²! Stop watching infotainment!!!

Also, I watched Babel today. And, you know what, it gets a little bit preachy (as with most best picture nominated films), but that doesn't make it less true. What drives me crazy is people's arrogance and pride and stupidity when they interact with others. Just let insults go, people! Don't make a commotion, or start a fight, or start a feud over something that doesn't matter. Just sit down and shut up. I want to say more, but the more I type, the more I get a headache.

Humility. Emotion. Discussion. Politeness. Sense. Intelligence. Thinking. What's wrong with people that they don't willingly foster these "virtues", instead idolizing the Secretive, Stalwart, Proud, Rude, Irrational, Prejudicial ones?

Bad World! Bad! No cookie for you!

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⁰Gumby has nothing to do with this, but I saw a reference to the amazing stretchy thing and remembered the good ol' days of yore.
¹I'm proud of the way I did a third with a superscript and a subscript. One of the many simple things that made me smile today. Mind of a child, me.
²By good, I mean something that changes our lives, like this³, not necessarily something good.
³I really like Specter. He's one of the good Republicans that I'd keep if I had to reappoint the Senate. Him, Collins, Snowe, Graham, McCain. I would have kept DeWine, Chaffee and Allen, but they got booted out. That's a pipe dream...
⁴I know there's not a 4, but why is the number 3 so big? It almost looks like a normal sized number in either super- or subscript. So does 4, for that matter.

In the immortal words of Sisqo

Here's another tidbit from the life of a paper boy who, in a few months time, will begin work on yield projections for wind power at domestic scales, thank you.

Britain seems to be almost unique in having newspapers that are sorted by audience to the extent that even someone like me who almost never buys one can still describe their socio-political-economic status by the newspaper they would, theoretically, buy. Personally I'm an Independant reader, though most of my friends are Guardian types. My parents get the local paper.

Obviously, different markets implies a different focus. The Telegraph loves it whenever Gordon Brown wakes up suddenly and someone gets a photo of him looking kind of dopy- I mean, that's front-page material. Similarly, the Mail makes it a point of pride to give you all the facts and figures about exactly how many foreigners are creepin' round your back stair.

Nonetheless, some days the news is so important, so grandiose that it shows up on the sweep of human history. On those days, all you can do is apply the house style and know that you've taken part in the grand story.

Times: Yeah, we can't really ignore this anymore.
Guardian: Climate change worse than we thought.
Independant: Humanity royallyboned.
Express: Taxes suck, especially ones aimed at rich white people.