Police using force (2) Nov 6, 2006
I was watching one of those stupid "Wildest [insert uninteresting word] Videos" on Saturday, and one of the videos showed a standard police chase, complete with jumpy video of about 10 police cars chasing a 15-year-old 4-cylinder lawn mower Honda.  It showed police officers in the prime of their ineptitude, struggling to keep up with a stupid teenager speeding through traffic and evading capture.  The chased car didn't even stop when it hit the well-positioned road block that blew out its tires.  So the cops continued to chase it back and forth along some backcountry highways as the driver of the car had a blast keeping away from the cops.  Even when the cops finally cornered him, he simply rammed into their cars and kept on going. 

I've had my run-ins with The Man, and most have been unpleasant.  For some reason, cops don't seem to like being called "fat" or "short".  Kidding.  But for once, I'm gonna take the side of law enforcement.  I firmly believe that cops should have the right to use any force necessary to accomplish their objectives, assuming their objectives are legitimate and legal.  The cops in these videos should've used brute force to run this kid off the road.  They used a little force, but they were careful not to hurt him.  Why?  He was evading law enforcement.  And he was making a joke of it.  He knew the cops could only use a certain level of force on him, so he played their little game.  He bumped their cars.  He said he'd stop but then didn't.  After he finally stopped, he refused to get out of his car and/or show his hands.  Meanwhile, the bumbling cops could only point their (probably unloaded) guns at him and yell things in a threatening manner.  I'm sure my opinion on this matter is quite disagreeable to some, but I think they should've shot him.  As a mild humanitarian, I don't think people should be shot and/or killed for no reason.  But I think this kid should've been shot in order to force him to cooperate (not merely to kill him).  A shot to the arm or leg usually isn't life threatening, and it definitely would've gotten the message across.  Or for the more humanitarian out there, there's a magical weapon called a taser.  Police warn 3 times before using it.  After that, the perp gets 50,000 volts shot into his system.  It's effective and fair.  I don't know why these cops didn't use it. 

My opinions on this can be easily argued against.  "How could you legitimize shooting a human being?"  "You're a jerk."  And that's fine.  But what I don't understand is when people argue against cops being able to use force.  One person's argument said that cops shouldn't be allowed to use any force at all; it could cause too much collateral damage.  For example, if a person is evading pursuing cops while driving, the cops could inadvertently push the vehicle into oncoming traffic or innocent bystanders.  My argument against that is this:  What about the guy speeding away from the cops?  Doesn't he pose a threat to innocent bystanders?  I understand the opposing position, but I'd rather have power in the hands of law enforcement instead of in the hands of criminals. #travel
PayPerPost pays Nov 4, 2006
It's been about a month since I signed up for PayPerPost, and I've finally verified that it's legitimate:  I got paid $10 today for my first post.  Here's how it literally works: 
1.  You select a posting opportunity from the PPP website. 
2.  You write about it with the right number of words, include the proper links and/or pictures, and make sure you have the proper tone (that's the controversial part). 
3.  You wait about 3-4 days for your post to be approved or rejected (I haven't had any rejected yet). 
4.  After 30 days, the money ($2-$10 per post) is deposited into your PayPal account. 
Here are the terms and conditions for each post: 
All posts must remain up for at least 30 days.
You may post a maximum of 3 paid posts in any given day.
Paid posts may not be consecutive. Each paid post must be separated by at least one non-payperpost post.
All posts must be in English on an English Blog.
Your blog must be at least 90 days old with at least 20 pre-existing posts.
Your last regular post must have been within the past 7 days.
Content must be original. You may not post the same content on different blogs.
For me, it's a great way to make a few extra bucks to pay my webhosting costs.  It's certainly not enough to quit my day job, but it's nice to be able to make some money doing what I'd be doing for free anyway.  Some people at PPP have made upwards of $2000 over the course of several months.  I don't see that happening in my case.  And seeing that advertising still isn't making me any money, this is a great alternative. 

This is a sponsored post. #technology
Red leaves Nov 4, 2006
This picture was taken right around the corner from my house.  It's my favorite of the ones I've taken of fall colors this year.  The red is really vibrant, and the blue sky in the background makes everything look even brighter. 

#nature
Arithmetical symmetry Nov 3, 2006
See?  Math can be beautiful: 

1 x 8 + 1 = 9
12 x 8 + 2 = 98
123 x 8 + 3 = 987
1234 x 8 + 4 = 9876
12345 x 8 + 5 = 98765
123456 x 8 + 6 = 987654
1234567 x 8 + 7 = 9876543
12345678 x 8 + 8 = 98765432
123456789 x 8 + 9 = 987654321

1 x 9 + 2 = 11
12 x 9 + 3 = 111
123 x 9 + 4 = 1111
1234 x 9 + 5 = 11111
12345 x 9 + 6 = 111111
123456 x 9 + 7 = 1111111
1234567 x 9 + 8 = 11111111
12345678 x 9 + 9 = 111111111
123456789 x 9 + 10 = 1111111111

9 x 9 + 7 = 88
98 x 9 + 6 = 888
987 x 9 + 5 = 8888
9876 x 9 + 4 = 88888
98765 x 9 + 3 = 888888
987654 x 9 + 2 = 8888888
9876543 x 9 + 1 = 88888888
98765432 x 9 + 0 = 888888888
987654321 x 9 + -1 = 8888888888

1 x 1 = 1
11 x 11 = 121
111 x 111 = 12321
1111 x 1111 = 1234321
11111 x 11111 = 123454321
111111 x 111111 = 12345654321
1111111 x 1111111 = 1234567654321
11111111 x 11111111 = 123456787654321
111111111 x 111111111 = 12345678987654321
(via Neatorama) #math
Podcasting Nov 3, 2006
Podcasting (soon to be renamed "Netcasting" because of legal issues) is stupid.  I really don't see the point of it.  Why would I want to listen to some dorks talk about what's on their websites?  Maybe it's because I don't own an iPod or other easy-to-use portable audio player (my Treo plays music, but it's sort of annoying).  Maybe it's because I don't walk anywhere; I drive.  And when I drive, I listen to CDs (gasp!) and commercials on free public radio (God I love commercials).  People who live in cities tend to walk everywhere, and the best way to isolate yourself from the rest of the world while simultaneously being right in the center of it is to wear headphones at all times.  And maybe these walkers walk so much that they've exhausted their pitifully small music collections, so the next logical step is to listen to a bunch of dorks talk about their websites. 

Plus, podcasting lets people hear what bloggers sound like.  That's sometimes scary.  That's why these people are writers and not talkers.  Their voices often don't fit your mental image of them, and their spoken rendition of their written language can get real annoying real quick.  Also, the podcasts I've heard have been frighteningly poor in audio quality.  It sounds like someone speaking into the cheap microphone that came with their Gateway 2000.  And I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it was. 

I'm sorry, I just can't get into it.  Then again, I've been resistant to new technology in the past.  A few years ago, my dad was doing some research into this new thing called "blogging" and he asked me what I thought about it.  I said, "Meh, it's just stupid people writing their stupid opinions online." #technology
Scottsdale Nov 3, 2006
I keep hearing about Scottsdale, Arizona and how great of a place it is.  Wikipedia said the New York Times called it "The Beverly Hills of the Desert", but that was in 1989, so I don't know how accurate it still is.  This Scottsdale real estate site shows a few houses and condos for many millions of dollars, so the city is a bit out of my price range.  But the US Conference of Mayors awarded the city "Most Livable City", and we all know the USCoM is never wrong (never heard of 'em).  Seriously though, I might be interested in checking this place out some day.  I've heard only good things.  Lots of golf, mountains, and warm weather. 

This is a sponsored post. #travel
Self-decapitation Nov 2, 2006
Somebody asked MetaFilter (via Cynical-C): 
Do you think a super strong person could yank off his own head?

Like one of those strong-man competition guys (the ones who lift those big boulders and carry around telephone poles), or some other freakishly [strong] person, could one of them actually kill himself by ripping off his own head? Or would other physiological factors make this feat impossible?
I personally don't think it would be possible for a few reasons: 
1.  Leverage.  It would be nearly impossible to get enough leverage to yank your own head off with your own arms.  You'd basically be using your triceps and a few other arm and back muscles, and no angle would make it any easier.  If you were flexible enough to use your legs, I highly doubt it would be possible to get a tight enough grip.  It would be much easier with a pulley system or other mechanical device, but that's totally different. 

2.  Tension.  As you exert effort into performing an action, you tense up.  Try it.  The harder you pull on your own head, the tighter your own body keeps it in place. 

3.  Pain.  If you made any progress in removing your head, you'd most likely be forced to stop once you caused any amount of significant damage, such as pulled ligaments or even broken bones.  The pain you'd be in and the emotional shock you'd be experiencing would essentially disable all other body mechanics. 
#science
Login frequency (2) Nov 2, 2006
I don't like using websites that require me to login each time I use them.  Digg, MySpace, and PayPerPost are just a few examples.  In order to access more content or to be able to use advanced features, I'm forced to login either every day or every new browser session.  And what I don't understand is why this happens for reasons other than financial or personal security.  I can understand when my bank makes me login every time.  I can understand why Amazon won't let me buy things until I login.  But MySpace?  What exactly is the MySpace login process protecting me from?  [Answer:  MySpace (heh)]  This is particularly annoying because I know how to fix it (I'm sure it's not a "bug", but rather a "feature"):  Cookies.  It's incredibly easy to make a browser accept a cookie that doesn't expire until 2085.  For all intents and purposes (or intensive purposes; pick your poison), that'll keep you logged in forever.  Gmail and Bloglines seem to have this figured out.  I haven't logged into Bloglines since sometime around last fall.  Gmail asks me to re-login every two weeks or so.  I'm ok with that.  It keeps me honest.  On the other hand, Yahoo makes it seem like I'm logged in.  I can access information and use advanced features.  But when I submit my changes or updates, it says, "Hmm, you don't seem to be logged in.  Please login for security purposes."  If I'm not logged in, I shouldn't be treated like I am.  That's just stupid.  One less point for Yahoo. #technology
Disclosure policy Nov 2, 2006
PayPerPost thinks it's a good idea to have a disclosure policy on every website to let readers know if there's any exchange of money and how that money affects the website's contents.  Using the Disclosure Policy Generator, I created one (Edit:  It's gone now.  Here's why.).  The most important part is this:  "Even though the owner of this blog receives compensation for his posts or advertisements, he always gives his honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products."  That's been my deal since the beginning of this PayPerPost thing, and that's how it's gonna be.  I don't mind checking out a new website and offering my opinion on it.  But if the website's owner is requiring me to give a positive opinion of it and I don't have a positive opinion of it, I'm not gonna do it. 

TechCrunch really hates PayPerPost and their supposedly dirty tactics.  So does Matt (whose last name is WordPress [not really]).  And so do a bunch of their commenters.  It's interesting to see this huge battle raging in the internet world and to watch how angry people get about it.  I can sort of see both sides of the argument:  Being paid to post something on a website will just fill the internet with a bunch of paid advertisements disguised as actual posts; but at the same time, most websites are currently filled with contextual ads and mentions of sponsors.  I fail to see the difference.  Whether I disclose payment details or not shouldn't affect my opinion of the payer.  If it does, it's not worth my time. 

This is a sponsored post. #technology
Airplane seat yank (2) Nov 1, 2006
One of the best things about traveling by plane is the infamous airplane seat yank.  You're sitting there, enjoying your ice-filled drink, your miniature pack of pretzels, and your "in-flight entertainment", when all of sudden, one of the jerks in the row behind you uses your seat for leverage.  They yank down on the headrest as they pass by and then just go about their business as if nothing happened.  Meanwhile, you're shaking like a bobblehead doll and you spill your drink and your miniature pretzels all over the place.  You turn around and give the "hey buddy thanks for using my seat to balance your overweight body; I hope you fall in the toilet" look and you resume your business. 

I personally make it a point to not do this.  I don't think I'm a better person for doing this; it's just that I try to do my little part to make the world a better place (actually it's because I don't want to start a fight; airline travel is pretty hostile as it is).  Whenever I'm climbing in or out of my row, I use my own armrests for balance and I make sure I don't touch the seats in front of me.  I know I hate being woken up by the idiot behind me who decided to drink a 64-ounce coffee before getting on the plane.  Why should other people suffer for one stupid person's actions? 

But at the same time, I sort of enjoy watching this happen to other people.  I can see it before it even starts to happen.  There's a guy sleeping in seat 13A, a lady reading in 13B, and a guy watching a movie in 13C.  A lady in 14A has an overactive and/or small bladder, so she gets up to use the bathroom about 6 times.  Every time she gets up, it's the same deal:  She yanks 13A to get out of her seat, yanks 13B to keep from banging her head, and yanks 13C to get over the last armrest.  As she walks to the back of the plane, she gets three dirty looks from three angry, awakened, distracted people.  When she comes back, she repeats the same exact process as if nothing happened. #travel