Make monorails, not nuclear plants

I'm a firm believer in learning lessons from our misfortunes. In the case of Japan's recent natural disaster, which has been compounded with the threat of nuclear fallout, I hope we learn the lesson that nuclear is not a viable or safe energy alternative. If the U.S. govt is looking to invest in alternative energy, let's go ahead and build those monorails we keep talking about. It would address the fuel question by providing mass transportation with low environmental impact for the long term without risking the health of every living thing in a 50 mile radius. And monorails provide jobs, too! No brainer, problem solved. Your welcome, America.

Un-American to take Wisconsin union's bargaining rights

If union workers are willing to accept less pay and contribute more to their pensions, why the extra call to remove their collective bargaining power. That defeats the very point of a union - to protect workers' rights to ask for better pay and working conditions. It's something workers fought hard for over 50 years ago. It's a civil right. To take away that right is against, what I believe, America stands for - the right to ask to be compensated fairly for your labor. What about when the economy recovers? They would've given away their power to ask for that.

P.S. I noticed I've been posting mostly rants, I'll find a rave to post next...

Texas lawmakers arm college students... because the solution to mass shootings is more guns?

Why are people so stupid? The solution to protecting college students from gun massacres is not to arm every student. That sounds like a recipe for a blood bath. Now instead of one person shooting you have a shoot out. Higher education a la the wild west, where students are responsible for their own campus security. Absurd.

The individuals responsible for gun massacres are mentally unstable. Knowing that others are armed will not be a deterrent, because remember...they're mentally unstable. The solution is to improve mental health screening and treatment...and possibly campus security. Duh.

Could oil spill bring new push for alternatives?

This most recent Gulf Coast oil spill reinforces the arguement against off-shore drilling and for alternative energy and energy conservation. I have no problem saying, "I told you so!

What I do have a problem with is the relative silence of those-so called advocates for clean energy. Where are they?

This is a key time to use the visibility of the disaster to argue for clean energy and against further investment in potentially dangerous technologies like off-shore drilling or nuclear energy.

Why are we so reluctant to capitalize on a misfortune, even when it's in the interest of preventing the next one, when our opponents have no such qualms?

I hope we don't let this event pass without raising the issue. That's one, "I told you so," I'd rather not say.

Why 3-D is overrated

First, it's not new. The 50s wants its idea back. Present day 3-D creates close to the same 2-D cut out feel of yesteryear's matinee sci-fis.

Second, for most films it adds nothing to the viewing experience and may actually detract from it. Just ask those viewers driven to remove their 3-D glasses midway when bad effects simply distract (ie, Clash of the Titans). Either way most films (non-action genres) won't benefit from the feature making extensive investment questionable.

Third, in my opinion it's still a novelty better suited to theme park rides. Call me when they can make a holographic movie that I can walk inside of.

In summary, 3-D is neither new, effective across genre, or realistic, so what's the big deal! It's hot now, but unless it advances drastically, it's no different from the red and blue 3-D technology of 60 years ago (esp. considering advancements in other industries that dwarf the baby steps of 3-D film). I can watch a movie on a phone that fits in my pocket and you want me to get excited about some cutout images that look a little closer than the background? Overrated!

Of course, 3-D animation is another story...

I'd rather die, than miss a flight!

While the week long halt in European air flight was unfortunate and caused expense and inconvenience to travelers, the idea of people now demanding compensation is absurd.

Volcanic eruptions and ash are natural phenomena, so if you want to bill someone, bill God or Mother Nature (depending on your beliefs). But holding airlines and the safety boards responsible creates a disincentive for them to keep safety in mind in the future.

I’m just as annoyed as the next passenger when my flight is delayed for plane maintenance or de-icing, but I’d rather be inconvenienced than be injured or past tense. How can you be mad at someone for trying to save your life? I’ll say it again, absurd.

There's no substitute

I've been attending Art Center College of Design for the past year. It's kept me too busy to do many things, let along post regularly. But it's nice to be busy doing things I love, like write, draw, and design. One of the classes that kept me excessively occupied, but in a way that I loved was Norm Schureman's Visual Communications 4 class. I wore enrollment like a badge of honor and bragged to people that I, a film student, had deigned to take such a rigorous and notoriously tough class.

I hadn't finished my homework for my class, which was scheduled for tomorrow morning at 8:30. I was planning a late night to finish it. Because I absolutely would not consider walking into Norm's class without my homework.

I just learned that Norm won't be there. Someone shot him this weekend. And he won't be there to grade my homework or tell me how much I'm improving. More importantly, he won't be there to teach his children and tell them how much they're improving. He won't be there to help his wife raise them. Because someone shot him. Not a stranger who wanted his wallet. But a neighbor at a party. A neighbor with a history of making violent threats to party guests at previous parties. A neighbor who was tolerated in his community and humored for his bad temper.

It's just so unbelievable that we can lose a person for so little. It's not a fair trade. That guy may spend years in prison, but we don't get Norm back. Maybe Norm won't be in class tomorrow. But I'm still going to finish my homework. Because that's where he is for me.

I wish people weren't so polite that they tolerated bad behavior in the people around them. Because no matter how much you humor them or walk on eggshells they will lash out eventually. Because it's not about what you do, it's about them. And it's not worth it. Abusive people are dangerous to everybody.