Categories
Photography Pop culture Society

[185] Of reality TV

I don’t get it. What’s with reality TV show? What actually with the reality idiot box show that makes people watch it?

First it was Survivor back in the late 90s. I thought it was a good show but as time passes me, I became more and more similar to a libertarian and later felt that the idea of watching people’s life is disturbing. My idea of privacy finally matured after reading 1984 by George Orwell. Thus, I would shout without shame nor fear that this so-called reality show is for people of whom do not want nor deserve freedom of privacy.

Seeing people in their private life, or whatever these days that happens in the supposedly reality TV is certainly disgusting. It’s like a stalker stalking some stranger. Of course, in the TV program, the real people, fake just like the mannequin used in some cheap horror movie, know that they are or will be on national TV. I have nothing against these fake people, the ones that are being stalked. But the stalkers’ the TV audiences! Argh! I have too many things to say that I don’t even know where to start. Let me just list down reasons why I look down upon these reality idiot box show.

First, are they too stupid to ACTUALLY believe the lies prepared and baked by the entertainment media? No wonder some people actually believe whatever Fox TV is reporting! Yes, yes! Eat everything the media feed us. To resist is to piss in the wind – anyone who does ends up smelling they say! HAH! Resist I say. RESIST IDIOTS! Resist for your own sake.

Secondly, yes some of these reality TV fans might come up by saying “we all know that the thing is a gimmick. It’s just a TV program.” That still doesn’t change the fact that these fans are enjoying the notion of reality TV. What if I observe, scrutinize all the idiot box lovers over the net? How about letting me install a CCTV inside your house, your room or better yet, your bathroom for my pleasure? I could just say that I am enjoying a reality TV show. Certainly there is nothing wrong with it, isn’t?

There are a number of other reasons but I would say the two that I’ve mentioned are the biggest reasons. Due to these reasons, my blood will almost always boils whenever a person whom is having a conversation with me and ask, “who do you think will win? Roger or Carol?” I will most certainly ask “who are they?” (most likely “wtf r they?”) and a reply flies from the person throat “the Bachelor” or “Survivor” or some sort of other latest show. Then, the golden moment, “you should watch it, everybody is watching it. It’s the thing right now.”

ARGH!

It’s okay to watch the television in order to have some fun now and then but when you are addicted, when you are being conditioned to sit in front of the idiot box 24/7 or 10/7 or whatever the numbers will be, you are becoming an idiot yourself. An idiot who thinks that you are free to do whatever you wish. In reality, you are doing whatever the moguls wish.

The next time somebody is talking about reality idiot’s box show, I assert you to say, “I do not wish to become an idiot without a fight.”

Listen all reality idiot box show fans, you are not free. Your mind is trapped and is controlled by the entertainment moguls. They are making money at your expense. Don’t cave in. Don’t surrender and be a drone. Don’t surrender to the mogul and become an ass among the masses. The masses are asses.

Now, I sound like a troubled man. Sigh…

p/s – Yet another for the Mirror Project.

Categories
Photography

[184] Of another mirror related photo

I am so lazy but here, another successful submission to the Mirror Project.

Categories
Environment Photography Solar car

[183] Of torn by failure

I am currently torn apart by the failure suffered by the team and I’ve decided to to fight this failure by fighting in Green’s name more aggresively. I do not know how yet but maybe finally joining Greenpeace officially.

News by AP on ASC 2003:

Solar-Powered Car Race Opens in Chicago
Mon Jul 14,10:39 AM ET
By DON BABWIN, Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO – The grounds of the Museum of Science and Industry had the look of pit row on race day Sunday, but the cars crossing the starting line bore more than a passing resemblance to giant envelopes on wheels and their fuel comes from the sun, not the pump.

The American Solar Challenge started when a team from Kansas State University became the first from 20 U.S. and Canadian colleges to hit the road in a 2,300-mile race that will end in about 10 days in Claremont, Calif. Drivers will spend most of their time on the way to California on historic Route 66.

“The strategy is to go as fast as you can and look for potholes,” said John Blessing, a crew member for KSU’s car. “You really feel every pothole, that’s the truth.”

The race sponsored in part by the U.S. Department of Energy (news – web sites) features cars that were years and, in some cases, well over $100,000 in the making. Made of the lightest and strongest materials the students can find, including the Kevlar used to make bulletproof vests, the cars can weigh as little as 400 pounds, students said.

The cars’ sleek bodies rest just inches off the ground, allowing them to slice through the wind efficiently. The vehicles are powered by the 3,000 or so small solar cells that cover them.

They can easily travel over 50 mph and can climb past 70 mph under the right conditions, students said.

News from the American Solar Challenge by ACS 2003:

REPORTS FROM THE ROAD – July 11, 2003

Last year’s winner Michigan fails to qualify
By Richard King
U.S. Department of Energy

BURLINGTON, Wis., July 11, 2003 – Since I know a lot of you will be going home for the weekend soon, I wanted to share some breaking news.

The University of Michigan, last year’s winner and defending champion, did not pass scrutineering and is out of the race. The servomechanism that powered the steering failed and the car is unable to turn safely out of traffic.

Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal also did not pass scrutineering. That team’s car has stability problems and poor brakes.

As of 2:30 p.m. , teams are frantically driving laps as they try to complete the 140 miles (61 laps) necessary to qualify. Yale, McMaster, Iowa State, and Western Ontartio look “iffy” and might not make it.

I dedicated this post to the University of Michigan Solar Car Team.

Some rights reserved. By Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams

We will come back stronger.p/s – Another one of my works published in the Mirror Project.

Categories
Solar car

[182] Of bad news from the SCT

The news just came out yesterday. It is quite tough to say it out or even type it. SpectruM suffered a steering damage during a qualification run for American Solar Challenge 2003 in Wisconsin. As a result, University of Michigan Solar Car Team, the winner of American Solar Challenge 2001, the reigning champion is not competing in the ongoing race that started yesterday.

Below is Josh Harmsen’s email the sponsors and to the team members:

Friends and Sponsors,

It breaks my heart to announce this, but Michigan will not be participating in the 2003 American Solar Challenge. While qualifying for the race this last week in Wisconsin, the car suffered steering system failures which did not allow SpectruM to qualify for and enter the race.

Although not being able to compete in this summer’s ASC was devastating to all those involved with the project, the team is committed to using this experience as a building lock for future success.

This is not the end for SpectruM! According to ASC race officials, SpectruM is “one of the most advanced and innovative Solar Cars ever built.”

During the next month, the team will be displaying SpectruM and the team’s sponsors at the Concourse D’Elegance auto show in Cranbrook, the Woodward Dream Cruise and the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City.

The team is also exploring the possibility of racing SpectruM this October in the World Solar Challenge in Australia, as well as participating in the inaugural 2004 Phaethon Hellas Solar Rally held in Greece before the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens.

On behalf of the team, I would like to thank you for your continued support. We look forward to working together with you to achieve continued and future success.

Thanks and GO BLUE!!!!

Josh Harmsen
Project Manager
University of Michigan Solar Car Team

Categories
Books & printed materials

[181] Of hard cover Green Mars

I found a dead-tree, first edition, hard cover Green Mars, an installation one of the greatest sci-fi in the 90s and bought it for USD5 at Dawn Treader. I’ve been searching for the Martian Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson for years in Malaysia but now, I even found a first edition hard cover Green Mars. If you are wondering how precious this book is, even Borders doesn’t have any hard cover edition of Red Mars, Green Mars or Blue Mars.

It’s a collection edition and I’ve bought it for merely USD5. OMG. OMFG! OOOMFG!

I think I’m going rich. At home back in Malaysia, I have a coin that dated back to the Straits Settlements and now, here in Ann Arbor, I have one of the greatest sci-fi novels in hard cover. Now, the hunt for dead-tree, first edition, hard cover Red Mars and Blue Mars has begun.

p/s – The __earthinc is still in renovation stage. I haven’t written a code for the gallery section yet.