Scott Porad

Upon complaining about the online activism of SOPA opponets, one Congressional aide remarked:

Why can’t they just hire a lobbyist like everyone else?

Well, maybe because we don’t have the money that the major media corporations do!

If this doesn’t explain how corrrupt our government has become, then nothing will.

Cheezburger recently turned 5 years old!  Hooray for us!  Who would have ever thought that a silly web site about cats could transform into the leading destination for online humor?!

Sadly, after 5 years, Cheezburger, and the entire Internet, are facing the most serious thread of censorship that has ever existed in the United States: SOPA.

In protest, Cheezburger will protest SOPA legislation with a “blackout” on January 18th.  From Geekwire:

All Cheezburger sites will also be instituting a blackout on January 18th to protest SOPA and PIPA. Now, go ask Wikipedia to do it,” Huh said in a Tweet on Thursday. Wikipedia creator Jimmy Wales said he’s considering taking the popular online encyclopedia offline in protest of the legislation, a black-out being led by Reddit which noted in a blog post this week that “there are powerful forces trying to censor the Internet.

SOPA would enable the government to shut down websites based on the simple accusation of a copyright violation.  No due process.  No day in court.  Just a claim and…poof…you’re done!

…Goodbye Cheezburger
…Goodbye Google
…Goodbye Facebook
…Goodbye Internet

Of course, those sites won’t really shut down.  What will really happen is simple thuggery: major corporations with deep pockets will threaten a company like Facebook with a SOPA claim, but…through the graciousness of their good hearts…agree to withhold their claims for a modest fee.

I believe the mafia calls that “protection money”.

Just another step on the path to the Banana States of America.

Have you contacted your Senator?  If not, do it now…here’s a list of phone numbers.

The dim-wits and know-nothings that we ignorantly elected to Congress are about to screw you just about worse than ever.  (You can educate yourself on SOPA at KnowYourMeme.)

I’m Jewish, so naturally I have an aversion to Hitler. Yet, this Downfall parody explains the issues with SOPA perfectly.

Over the New Year’s holiday, I was hanging out with my doctor friend Greg when the discussion of resolutions arose.  After some discussion, I simplified my plan  down my plan for 2012 to the following, in priority order:

1. Reduce stress (mainly, by reducing fear, worry and anxiety)
2. Exercise regularly
3. Eat fewer unhealthy foods

It’s going to be a good year!

I didn’t say, “even Buddha valued measuring progress“, my friend Justin did.  He was referring to this:

The Buddha asks the group why they are practicing these austerities, and one replies that they are wearing away their past karma and would end their suffering by not adding any additional karma. The Buddha asks if they know how much of their old karma they have worn away. They say, “No.” He then asks if they know how much they have left. Again they answer, “No.” Finally the Buddha asks if they even know for certain they existed in the past and have karma to wear away. Again they shake their heads and say, “No.” The Buddha replies that this is meaningless practice.

Generally, I subscribe to the “never eat alone” philosophy. Meals are a great way to get to know the people you work with better, a great way to spend time with friends…plus for the Type A in me, it’s also an efficient use of time.

Today, however I showed up a week early for a lunch date with a former co-worker. I could have ran back to the office, but I have an appointment after lunch, so that didn’t make any sense.

Now, I’m enjoying the opposite philosophy: eating alone and trying to clear my mind of all thoughts. Simply focusing on the flavors and aroma of the food, and enjoying the calming, restorative nature of a quiet meal in solitude.

Even in the rat race of my life…so much to do, so many people to keep up with…so much pressure to hurry, hurry, hurry, do more faster. Even so, there is a time to eat together, and a time to eat alone.

From Common Sense for the Healing Arts by Robert Duggan:

Our main task as we move between our birth and death is to learn to live peacefully day-by-day.

Living peacefully day-by-day demands common sense: eat moderately, breath deeply, drink wisely, get plenty of sleep, accept life as it comes.  And as we move through life we have a marvelous resource—our symptoms, which remind us to slow down, be peaceful, to care for ourselves.  It’s wondrous to think of the symptoms our bodies create as teachers, as wisdom rather than problems.

In a continuing theme this week, think about it: Is it really a problem?  Is it really worth getting bent out of shape over?

If “everything is amazing, yet nobody is happy,” then the question is, “why”?  Perhaps this is the answer:

Following up on yesterday’s post about consumption archeology, Louis CK on how everything is amazing, and nobody’s happy: