If you're not with the flow, you're against it

Yeah, I know, I know: Times Square is exciting, and there are a lot of bright and shiny lights. However, it's also filled with people. So, tourists of the world, wherever you go, try and remember: You're not Julia Roberts and this world is not made for you. So before you stop in the middle of a busy sidewalk to look at your map, or take a video of a statue (?!), why not first step out of the general flow of traffic, and then do what you have to do? It's really not that hard, and will usually only add a couple of seconds to what you want to do anyways.

Furthermore, and this goes for all Americans: Why not keep to the right, in all situations? We drive on the right; most people in a city will walk on the right - except for those few folks who seem unaware of this general convention, and will happily plow upstream against a flow of people. I always wonder: Do these folks not get that they're going against the general flow, or do they not care?

That appears to be a fundamental question concerning all human behavior: Don't know, or don't care? Seems to me the answer explains most every impolite behavior.

Rightful Vengeance

It's heavily implied that Glinda arranged for Dorothy's house to land on the Wicked Witch of the East - she shows up right after it happens. And really, what are the odds it happened randomly?


So, after Glinda leaves, the Wicked Witch of the West shows up, and why not: It's her sister who's been crushed! Who wouldn't be upset if a house landed on their sister? Furthermore, who wouldn't have a right to vengeance  if someone did it intentionally?  If it's a magical matter, of course.


Or, is there any such thing as a right to vengeance?

Where you shouldn't be

Glinda never told you what happened to your Father...

Tat Dump

No, I AM Mr. Pink....

 LEAVE BRITTNEY ALONE (please note the blood in her teeth)!

 Otis in the outhouse with a bung (Mulberry Clue).

 COME ON DOWN (to be spayed and/or neutered)!

Here's a happy full sleeve...




Yeah. Coulda stretched this out for a while. Or dumped them. You see I've made my choice!

The Depths of our Devotions

I could go on, but I trust by now you see my point: People have too much time on their hands! And need to understand the proper place of heroes. Which is not on a pedestal. Or on your bicep.

Seed

An analogy, if you will: A speck of dirt in an oyster's "mouth" produces an irritation in the oyster which responds my secreting a fluid which encases the dirt over time, removing the irritation. The by product of this is a pearl.

Just so, many specks of dirt got together to form our sun and all the planets, moons, asteroids, and debris rotating around the central point of gravity. Specks attaching to other specks attaching to other specks and so on IS the story of everything, in one view.

Just as so sometimes what we hoo-mans call "evil" can by their great "irritation" produce many positive by products.

Such as the League of Nations. Or the Federation.

Sometimes. If you accept the principle it IS the very act of destruction at some level which is necessary for the act of creation at another. This is in fact a condition of our physical existence and NOT a moral value judgment. Morality in sooth has nothing to do with it.

Just so, such as, also too.

Space Pimpin' (Old Man Pants)

Check out those Old Man Pants on the tough guy Redshirts. Except they don't really look that tough, do they?

An observation: Not only have we, as Americans, gotten extremely fat, there is also the fact that the most athletic among us are bigger, stronger, faster, everything is more advanced than at any time in the history of our species. Using science, of course, we are sculpting ourselves into gods - like Hercules.

So, perhaps ironically, while we are fatter than at any time in our history, we're also in better shape. Some of us, at least. Perhaps a small percentage of the whole, but again, this is a unique separation: The vast swathes of the hoi polloi are fat as sows; whereas the elite are trim and model looking good. Contrast that to most of our history (all?), where the dirty multitudes starved, and only the very lucky few - the true elite - could afford to be fat.

Progress, or abomination? I report, you decide!

Sometimes a rock is just for bludgeoning

BUT! Even if this might be a tad too phallic, it's the Shat, man, in Kirk form. Still he-manly - he'll beat you down with that phallic rock, and you'll have no choice but to choke on it. Man.

 ACTING!

Redshirt Olympics

Logic would indicate that a redshirt in training is wasting his time, since he's going to die regardless of his training. Better to just sit around, eat, drink, and enjoy the few brief days in the sun allotted to you, as fodder.

However, some folks like to feel they are in control, and training can provide that illusion. So, if you like to fool yourself, here, some futuristic redshirt combat training program. Hard to say what's actually going on here, but it is the future, and maybe we just don't understand.


But really, understand this, muscle men:

 "You're gonna die, Charlie."

Graph of the Inevitable

Not much to add - certainly puts the matter into proper perspective, right? Redshirts = Deadshirts.


Let's light a candle for all our sake's:

And yes, the ship itself is always considered a character - perhaps the most popular, really.

3.14159265358979323846264...

Math might be hard, but, occasionally, it can also be tasty.


And as a former die hard mathaphobe, I am coming around completely to the "true" idea that everything we are, everything around us, everything, essentially, can be expressed via mathematics. That is, the world is mathematics, and it is only the incredibly powerful interface that is our brain that allows us to experience this world as we know it. In other words, the brain is simply a translation tool, converting the pure realm of math into things like colors, sounds, smells, electrical impulses, etc. After all, a sunset is really just a bunch of radiation at different wavelengths being filtered by the atmosphere - it could all be expressed numerically. Or, as we usually prefer, poetically. 


Also:

 

It's At The Automat!

One of my favorite new subjects: Futuristic visions from the deep, dark past. For instance, the Automat! How our moon living children will eat pie! And other assorted foodstuffs.


Hmmmm, pie.

WE WANT BEER

A fair demand, methinks. And truly, unless it's some Christian Nosy Fussbody, what Overlord would not want his minions mostly drunk and/or high, at least during the few hours they're not slaving away for him? A besotted redshirt is one who more easily slides into his inevitable role.

But, those pesky Christians! Always with the meddling.

Legion

That's a lot of troopers. In fact, I'm beginning to understand that this "hobby" - dressing up like a Stormtrooper - is becoming more and more popular by the year, and given the anonymity of the costume, there's no telling who's into this. It could be a friend, a lover, a co-worker - it could be the person sitting right beside you!!!!

But lest you non-nerds cluck your tongues and mutter "NERDS", I challenge you to tell me the difference between dressing up like a Stormtrooper, and dressing up like this:

The principle is even the same - anonymous intimidation and bonding.

But one activity is done by nerds; the other by ostensible "cool kids"; thus, one accepted, one mocked. 

One day the Nerds will rise up and have our robots beat down on these stupid jocks. Till then, we bide our time, nursing a mighty grudge.


UPDATE: Speak of the devil, but here's an article on how popular dressing up as a Stormtrooper has become.

In a poorer Empire

Budget cuts have really started to bite.


Is that Lord George in the background, I wonder? Or a look-a-like? The look is not hard to pull off, afterall.

Also interesting, maybe, how often boxes can substitute for robots. It's the squareness, I assume.

Looking for love at 192.168.1.1

As you can see from the stamp, this is an online dating site (okcupid) profile picture. Think of the glorious nerd who lies behind this cardboard robot, desperate to find a 1 for his 0. A catch, no doubt.




okcupid, by the by, is a treasure trove of depressingly hilarious photos.


Witness!

I recommend you spend some time looking at the detail in this one. It's the real catch.

Robot Preacher

10. Dearly Beloved we are gathered here to join
   12. INSERT MALE NAME
   14. INSERT FEMALE NAME
   15. IF CA OR MA, PREPARE SUBROUTINE :GAY WEDDING:
20. INSERT RANDOM PABLUM ON MEANING OF LOVE AND MARRIAGE
30. Do you?
   32. IF NO, PROCEED TO SUBROUTINE :WEDDING DISASTER:
   34: IF YES, PROCEED TO 40
40. Do you?
   42. IF NO, PROCEED TO SUBROUTINE :WEDDING DISASTER:
   44. IF YES, PROCEED TO 50
50. I now pronounce you husband and wife!
   52: IF CA OR MA, PREPARE SUBROUTINE :GAY WEDDING:

Yay!

Till Death

The Hatfields call this a "prenupshul".

Circle of Life (of a clown)

For every ending, there is a beginning.....

Death of a Clown

I'm not the fairest judge of this, since, oddly, I don't mind funerals in the least bit, and I guess I'm a bit ashamed to say I enjoy them - death is so often so resolutely ignored that, from a mad scientist perspective, I enjoy watching people's responses to this one terrible topic. Maybe. I'm not morbid though, in some Goth Harold and/or Maude manner.

So, that said, Good Shesah in the sky would I have LOVED to gone to this funeral. A bona fide CLOWN FUNERAL. Look at the clown with the hat labeled "Dust". Brilliant!

I guess I have a new sub-mission in life: Attend a clown funeral. I'll keep my eyes/ears open. Please do the same and pass on word if you hear about it. I'm prepared to travel.

A Good Death

At least from someone's perspective.

Inappropriate Family Photos

I might be a prude, but in front of an open casket does not seem the best place for a fun family photo. But, the way things are changing these days, perhaps I'm simply behind the times.

Kid Hipsters

I'd like to suggest a product - feel free to steal this idea and make a million dollars: Schlitz and/or PBR covers that you can slip over your child's sippy cup or bottle. After all, what Hipster would be seen without a PBR or Schlitz in hand? Ironically, of course.

Happy Birthday President Obama!

Awww - he was a Redshirt pirate back in the day. Just another reason why I love our President!


He's 49 today - let that sink in for a bit, my Gen-X peer group: You're almost as old as the President of the USA. Hipster that up.

I once again give thanks for this man - not only is he brilliant, inspired, bound for historical glory. But he's the perfect man for right now. He's got a way of dealing with conflict that I'll never have, but what many of the most inspirational people in history have had - Gandhi, for example. I don't know how he does it - but then, I'm a Redshirt, and a blunt instrument. 

Seriously though, if there is one person alive right now who can pull America out if it's current ditch, it's the guy currently running the show. Thus, despite the overwhelming levels of bullshit from the truly depraved and evil Repuglican party, we have a chance. 

Hope that's enough.

Happy Birthday Barry!

A VENGEFUL REDSHIRT

I DO NOT COME IN PEACE


But seriously, as with Life/Death, is not Creation/Destruction the same thing? Just different aspects of "Change"? And it cannot be pointed out enough that many - most; all? - acts of supposed creation have a foundation of destruction.

Example - the only reason we're here, our planet, our sun, our entire solar system, is because of other stars before ours exploding, and spreading their contents to the vast reaches of space. All gold, for example, on this Earth, was forged in the furnace of a giant supernovae. Thus, quite clearly here, destruction = creation.

Is it always true?


Regardless, the tale is always the same (and I mean for everything): The story of energy transferring.

Born to Die

Countless millions - billions? - of redshirts turned to dust over the history of humanity. Fodder for the elite, for the insane, for the power hungry. Conflicts lubricated by the blood of our brother and sister redshirts - will it ever end?

Seems unlikely. As the reality of our existence is quite clear, despite however you would like to deny it: To live, is to die. By DEFINITION. Thus, these "two" are really one and the same, since you cannot have one without the other. This is a deep realization, and goes a long way to addressing the core insecurity we all have in this world: Dealing with Loss. 

Once you realize you never had anything to lose in the first place, certain psychic barriers can be broken, and a greater truth understood. Like:


I'm sorry, but these Thai Redshirts are seriously diluting my brand. I've watched in growing dread as google searches for redshirts turns up more and more and more of these guys, and less of the real redshirt goodness I'm looking for. It used to be - back in the old days (2008) - I only had to wade through the dross of stupid college football players. Alas, no longer.

I hope you resolve your conflict one way or the other soon, Thailand. For my sakes!

The Glorious Dead

London, 2004

Here's to all the redshirts throughout all of time - the numbers that have died in someone else's wars are staggering if you start adding them up. But then, that's why we're here! Huzzah.

Stormtroopers are people too!

Or, maybe not:

 Part of a balanced Imperial breakfast!

Morans

Sums up most of my thoughts on the subject. In an ironic way, of course.

Dicks

z

Forget all the high falutin' analysis and whatnot; to wit - most Repuglicans, teabaggers, teatards, "liberatarians", "Conservatives", "Fundamentalists" etc etc - are simply dicks. Dicks, assholes, douchebags, idiots, and maliciously uninformed bigots.

This explains most of their behaviors, yes?

We have no idea what we're talking about

From this:

And this:

To this:

And this:

Leads to what?

Go ahead and guess. 


Truism: Fundamentalists are always the same; all that differs among them is whatever utopia they claim to be fighting for.