Welcome to the future.

Have you ever noticed that we live in the future? I know we literally don't, but at least we are starting to live in what I call the "classical future". For instance, we now have cloning. We talk about sending people to Mars as an afterthought. I can play poker against Gerard Depardieu online and not even know it. The Segway Human Transporter runs off your subtle subconscious movements.

What if going to Mars was an economic question rather than a technical one?

Reading Slashdot clues me in on several technological innovations and generally cool things. Sean and I are plotting to get Olin on Slashdot. That would be good, even if it would kill our servers. The hype alone would generate new applicants almost certainly. Keep your eyes peeled.

I babysat for four hours today. Mark Somerville's two daughters and I ran around Needham Center in the park there. We would have played with the children statues running in a circle, but they had new concrete poured underneath them. After that we watched the Blue's Clues DVD, guest starring, of all people, Ray Charles. Luckily they don't have a TV to watch at home (which probably is a boon to their development), so they watched very intently, making my job all the easier.

That last sentence was rife with dependent clauses.

Other than that, today Dan packed up most of his things. The room is now very bare. The move is upon us! We're all so ready. Just five days to go, which reminds me, I need to make sure the sign is getting updated in the MAC that shows how many days are left. As the MAC is actually called the Modular Academic Center, I've heard the use of RAC for Real Academic Center pick up. I don't really like this new name, but perhaps it will stick. It wouldn't make sense too many years from now, in the real future.

Some WTC survivors/families are adding insult to incredible injury by suing the terrorist funders for trillions of dollars. To demonstrate the size of their suggested amount (US$116 trillion), the Gross World Product is around $US46 trillion. That means all economic output of all countries would have to go toward paying these people for three years. That's the equivalent of a Bill Gates per each person killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. It's also 20 of our national debts. I hate to have to be the one to break it to you, but I don't think these Saudis have as much money as you're wanting.

Tort reform may save the world someday. It certainly could have saved my mother from sitting through a frivolous lawsuit involving a guy spilling a coffeepot on himself. Accidents happen. We've got to learn to live with them. I refuse to suffer for your unrelated random misfortune.

Tuesday, August 20, 2002

I forgot to mention my mom was on the jury. I don't want people to start inserting her in random roles such as judge or bailiff, or even lawyer.

I'm not trying to come off as so ranty. I'm really in a good mood. I promise!