ModernGeek

    Every Friday evening during Lent there's stations of the cross at my church. Stations is followed by Lenten supper. Granted, the food isn't great, but it's cheap and you don't have to cook or clean up. The problem is this. Stations ends at 6:00, at which time about 100 people all rush to get in line for dinner, which usually consists of something along the lines of lasagna, soup, or something of the sort. There's always a zillion different types to choose from. Because I hate fighting my way through crowds of hungry people, and because I always have my four year old sister with me, I always end up at the back of the line. 

    Now, being at the end of a 100 people line is never fun, especially if it's a food line, and it will take a while until it's your turn. However, someone had the stupid idea of have people designated to serve out the meal, with one person usually managing two lasagnas. Each of these designated people all believe that they're doing everyone a great service. The problem? They're not. First off, it means that the lines can converge into two, one for each side of the food-serving table. Second, you have to shout to make it known that you want the veggie lasagna, instead of the shrimp lasagna. Third, these food people take forever. Truly, you begin to wonder if they're just slow in hand-eye coordination, or if they're purposely teasing you. It's the point that by the time I actually get my food, my brother(who sneakily dashed out and was first in line) is done. 

    The lesson? Bureaucracies are never good in any area of life. If people can do it themselves, let them. It'll get done just that much quicker.  

    It's raining outside, and things are mercifully quiet. People drive by in their cars, minding their own business, never paying any attention to the person in the car next to them. And yet somehow the world still functions. It's an amazing part of society of how everyone can mind their own business, and the world still turns 'round.

    I just finished watching 'Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex', and it's one of the best anime I've ever watched. It was named as an inspiration for The Matrix, so you get the cool sci-fi stuff without the lame plot and characters. The concept of Stand Alone Complex refers to a phenomenon in which you have hundreds of copies without an original. An example of this would be crimes that are committed everyday. Murder, stealing, these occur daily across the country. All similar in nature, but without an original from which to copy. Another example would be clothing. Most teenagers dress nearly identical. You get yourself a large group of people, and maybe three people will be wearing the same pants or shirt. Once again, all copies without an original. 

    As a side note, the Ghost in the Shell soundtrack is awesome. I haven't enjoyed one like this since the Death Note soundtracks. 

    I was reflecting once again on the implications of Death Note, and specifically the theme of justice. These are just my ramblings.

    Of all words, I think that 'justice' has been the one the most misused. It's been used to excuse atrocities of all sorts.

    What is justice?  "Justice is the firm and continuous desire to render to everyone that which is his due. -Justinian". 

    Who is the ultimate decision-maker of what is right and what is wrong? God.

    Should the civil law mirror the natural one? No. Actions in which there is no victim should not be crimes. 

    How can we know what punishment is fitting to what crime? This is where I get stuck.  What should the punishment be for, say, murder? Death? Absolutely not. Who are we to judge who lives and who dies? What about false accusations? It's not right to deliver a punishment so final and irreversible. Life in prison? Again, no. Most murders are simply burglaries gone wrong. They didn't mean to kill someone it just... happened. A life behind bars is not a life at all, it's only a shade below the death penalty. Besides, what good does that do anyone? In cases where said person is a true danger to the community, then I can possibly see that, but only the extreme cases. Well, what now? There's still no answer the question of 'how much is a human life worth?'. Obviously, it's impossible to put a price on one, but yet we have to if we are to have a punishment of some sort. 

    What about the punishments dealt out for minor offenses? Why is parking in the wrong zone only a $10 fine, but not coming to a full stop at a stop sign a $110 fine? What makes the fine rise $100? Both cases there is no victim, but the later presents more of a danger to others(technically, there are 'gray' areas), but why is is it $110 instead of $50. I can only come to the conclusion that these fines are competely arbitrary.

    What about stealing? Someone steals something that's wroth $10, but are fined $800. Where does that extra $790 come from? It seems to be just pulled out of thin air.  

    I have no answers yet. 

    So, apparently animators in Japan are whining again about *drumroll* the FANSUBBERS. Accusations are the usual. Evil fansubbers providing free anime with subtitles, thus ruining DVD sales in America.

    For those of you unfamiliar with fansubbers and fansubs here is a short expalantion. Anime is aired in Japan in, quite obviously, Japanese.  Fansubbers(they usually work in teams) are these amazing people, who get copies of the anime, translate it, put subtites on it, and then offer it for free download via bittorrent. Fansubbers can usually get an episode done within 24 horus. Without fansubbers, we anime fans would have to wait a year and a half, and then have to pay $30 for a DVD that has 4-6 episodes on it. So, if you're trying to a two season anime(26 episodes) you end up paying $120-$180 per SERIES, which you may end up hating, or not wanting to watch over again. Who the heck has that kind of money? Thus the beauty of fansubs.

    Looking at the download numbers for the latest Naruto Shippuuden episodes, they come to 344 THOUSAND, within FIVE days. Okay, imagine if the American anime companies charged $1 per download, and got it ready for release within 24 hours. Surely, if the fansubbers, who are amateurs and volunters, can get it done in 24 hours, then professions can get it done to. Estimating the cost of buying the copyrights for each episode at $50,000, and the cost of translating at $25,000(at the VERY, VERY most), you're left with $260,000 dollars in profits, assuming that everyone who downloads the fansub will download the offical version for $1. And, I'm sorry, anyone who's not going to pay $1 for the OFFICIAL translations, is not going to be paying at all. 

    Sure, they won't make as MUCH as they want to, but they'll make a heck of a lot more then they currently are.  Why this rather obvious solution hasn't been discovered already, I just don't know. It's not that hard to figure out. 

    I spent the past weekend participating in the schola workshop, here in Auburn AL. Beginning Friday morning, one day was spent on gregorian chant, Saturday being spent on polyphony, and the choir of 70 people sang at the vigil mass on Saturday evening. It's amazing to be singing in a choir of 70 people in the first place, but when combined with singing music that is so entrenched in history, and beauty is truly glorious. But, onto the main point. I was looking around during rehearsal, and I was noting several 'sterotypes' if you will. This in turn gave way to this list: The Eight Types of People You Meet in a Choir

1. The Droaner

The droaner seems unable to match a single note, continuing to 'feel' around for it, yet failing epicly. Yet, somehow, instead of getting softer he proceeds to get louder driving everyone in his section insane. The droaner is almost never aware of his own failings.

2. The Prima Donna

The prima donna is most often a soprano, and is very proud of her voice. She sings very loudly, with insane amounts of vibrato, and refuses to shut up.  If she ever does make a mistake, she proceeds to blame it on someone else. 

3. The Know-It-All

 The know-it-all spends their time informing everyone around them how experienced and knowledgable they are. The truth is, they know absolutely nothing at all, and accomplish nothing besides making total fools of themselves. The know-it-all can often be combined with the droaner. 

4. The Scribbler

This person has more side-notes written on their music then a college term paper draft. Every time the conductor opens his mouth, out come the pencil, and down goes another scribble. 

5. The Mumbler

The mumbler true to his name, mumbles things under his breath the entire rehersal. Just loud enough to be heard, but not loud enough to be understood the mumbler is one of the surest ways to drive someone insane.  

 6. The Leech

The leech is a skill level above the droaner and is constantly stealing the pitch from the person next to them, resulting in them always coming in about a second late.

7. The Free-loader

The free-loader never wants to pay for anything, and is constantly trying to weasel out of expenses. Any kindness offered to the free-loader is simply taken advantage of.

8. The Cynic

The cynic wastes rehearsal time by asking questions that appear to be very complicated, but are in fact completly pointless. In the case of chant groups, his phrases often begin with the words "B-B-but the St. Gall neumes!!!".