Philosophy Football

Wow. Saw this last night.



I can't believe how incredibly hilarious it is. The world needs more high comedy.

Monochrome Night

I typically dislike nights like this.

Between the clouds and the city lights, it doesn't look much like night.

But there's snow in the air, and on the ground. I look out my window and everything is a pinkish golden white. Everything is the same color.

It's beautiful.

The Third Funeral

So tonight at about 12:30, my XBOX 360 died. This has happened twice before. Once in the first year I had it repaired or replaced, I don't recall. Then it died again in December of last year. Out of warranty, I figured I was out of luck. I couldn't afford a repair.

Over the summer, by a fluke call for my brother's XBOX Live account, dad discovered that the warranty for my console had been extended. I called Microsoft, and my XBOX was whisked off, and either replaced or repaired, I don't recall again. (I know there was 1 repair and 1 replacement, but I don't recall the order)

This summer I spent time getting to know the console again. It was a second honeymoon. This term I finally bought a new game, Halo 3. I ploughed through it, but without an XBOX Live subscription (Why would I renew it if my 360 was broken, after all?) the experience wasn't the Halo I love.

I then played Call of Duty 3, which had been sitting unfinished since the console broke in December. I beat it, and rejoiced. This past week I rented the Orange Box, and played through Portal, which I've discovered a love for. I had just picked up Half-Life 2, when tonight ... a tragedy.

Those three red lights. Flashing. Taunting.

Hardware Failure. I didn't even have to look it up at this point.

I called 1-800-4-MY-XBOX immediately and complained. When he offered to get a repair order set up, I suggested that a repair might not be enough. He forwarded me to a manager of some sort.

Let me tell you, despite being on hold for over an hour, I'm very impressed with the Microsoft Customer Support Team every time I call. The guy spoke my language, and sympathized with me. Apparently there's a division of Microsoft expressly for this, and they'll be calling me this week to figure out what can be done.

No promises yet, but I actually can't believe that this has gone this way. Three hours ago my console broke, and I'm already on the road to having it up and running again.

But why does it always happen RIGHT before Christmas?

Working Theory

It's funny. Sometimes I put together a working theory as to how a certain thing is working, like a social hierarchy or something, or some sort of relationship pentagon, and even though I know it's probably incorrect, it brings me comfort.

And despite knowing that it's incorrect, and I'm expecting the reality to be different, when the reality turns out to be different, I can't help but be surprised.

For a little while after, my head is reeling. My reality gyroscope is going haywire trying to compensate for the slightest shove in a wayward direction. It's an interesting feeling.

Also, my knee feels funny.

Why I Love My Chinese Philosophy Prof

(Note: She is a Professor of Chinese Philosophy, not a Chinese Professor of Philosophy)

[General noise from construction equipment outside the window in the middle of her lecture]
"You know, it's a really good thing that there aren't any schools or anything near here, or else that would be really disruptive."

Madness

Every step you take, it follows. Sometimes it is so far back, you could hardly see if you looked. Other times it's breathing down your neck. Madness.

And the day that it overtakes you, I'll be there singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic backwards, my spatula held aloft, in a gesture of goodwill.

Bring your cat. He and I never did finish our conversation on Marxist theory.

Communist.

A Poem from 1:30 A.M.

Conceived by insomnia and insanity comes a new poem from the mind of Joshua Thompson:

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Proposal for the Changing of the Anomaly of Language That is the Word "Orange"

Orange we know,
Is a word with no rhyme.
Search if you will,
But you're wasting your time.

This colour, no doubt,
Is abandoned indeed,
Rhymes for the others
Are found with great speed.

So I would propose
A most foolhardy aim,
To modify "orange"
But not change it's name.

That's just too outrageous!
Surely you jest!
Cry misunderstanders,
While pounding their chests.

But our word "orange"
is a strange one, amen?
With it's letters "G.E."
Preceded by "N."

Similar words,
Like arrange and change,
Have companions plenty,
They're not estranged.

Was it an error,
Or is something amiss?
Why don't we say
Fair orange like this?

So from this day onwards
I am fixing this wrong.
"Or-ange" it is,
Like it should all along.

Now my dear list'ner,
My rant finds it's end.
Like red, blue, and green,
"Or-ange" has some friends.

And my most dear colour,
You might think it's strange,
Can end a rhyme scheme,
Just watch: "Or-ange!"

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