September 28, 2007
FOUR FOR FRIDAY
Q1 - Next Tuesday: Instead of going to work next Tuesday, if you could spend the entire day doing something else--any one or two things that you absolutely love doing--what would you do?
Q2 - Telecommunications & Privacy: Earlier this week, San Jose, California-based Pudding Media announced the availability of a new service that allows anyone to place free telephone calls from the Web or a cell phone. However, as many "free" offers turn out to be, there is a catch. Pudding Media uses voice recognition software to monitor your calls, and when certain keywords are spoken, timely news, entertainment, and other offers are displayed on your computer or cell phone screen. For example, if you were talking with a friend about an upcoming movie, you may see links to trailers, reviews and show times for nearby theaters. A sports fan talking about her favorite team may see commentary and game statistics on a computer or handset screen. How likely are you to use this service? Does the ability to make free telephone calls entice you enough to open up your conversations to a computer generated voice recognition software program, or does privacy dictate that you would never use such a service?
Q3 - Architecture: Back in the late-1960s, construction began on a six-building structure at the Coronado Naval Amphibious Base near San Diego, California. Designed by a respected architect, the original blueprint consisted of two central buildings and a single L-shaped 3-story barracks. Eventually, the plan called for the L-shaped building to be repeated three times at 90-degree angles from the central buildings. That's right, the United States Navy constructed a series of buildings that when viewed from above, appears to look like a giant swastika--the official emblem of the Nazi party and the Third Reich. (Don't believe me on this one? Fair enough. Google the words "Coronado" and "swastika" and see for yourself. Trust me, I could not make this stuff up even if I tried.) Now, some 40 years later, after fielding requests from the Anti-Defamation League and at least one member of Congress, the Navy plans to spend nearly $600,000 for landscaping and architectural modifications to obscure the fact that the complex looks like a swastika when viewed from above. How do you feel about this? Is the $600,000 expenditure an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars or is this not an issue that deserves our time and money?
Q4 - Magna Carta: Later this year, Sothebyís auction house in New York will present for sale The Magna Carta, the royal document revered as the birth certificate of freedom. This iconic manuscript, dated 1297, is the original charter that enshrined the rights of man into English law, and inspired the passion for liberty that flowered in America in the 18th century and continues around the world today. Quite simply, The Magna Carta is widely considered to be the most famous single document in existence. According to Sotheby's, it is estimated to sell for between $20 and $30 million. How do you feel about items such as The Magna Carta being sold? Do you think historical documents of such significance should be banned from ever being bought and sold? If your knee jerk reaction is that there is nothing wrong with the practice, would you change your mind if oh, I don't know, it was the original version of the Declaration of Independence that was up for sale?
Posted by Mikal at September 28, 2007 12:08 AM
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1. Another night dive off Ambergris Caye, and hang out with my family/siblings
2. i can't say that I'd never use it because it could come in handy in an emergency, but I already receive far too much spam as it is.
3. I can't believe that someone didn't realize this during the planning stages, but I'd rather see this money going to fund SCHIP, which apparently is an irresponsible waste of money, unlike the latest funding request for Dubya & Darth's Excellent Adventure.
4. 20-30 million seems to be cheap, but who am I to say? I also have my doubts that this is the only copy. Much like treaties, there are almost certainly multiple, signed copies. Taht being said, I'd prefer at least one copy to be held in trust by a museum, but its ownership is immaterial.
The real value of the Magna Carta as well as the DOI and Constitution is in the ideals they embody. I don't think that we have any right to complain about the sale of the Magna Carta though, seeing as our own President has famously declared the constitution to be just " a goddamned piece of paper," when it it's provisions threatened his imperial power grab. We've already sold our constitution to the highest bidder.
My answers are up here at sweetmemes.blogspot.com
Mike, you are right: this isn't the only Magna Carta floating around.
Q1 - Next Tuesday: I'd take a dayhike in the Wind River Mountains into the Cirque of the Towers.
Q2 - Telecommunications & Privacy: Probably not use it. Phone calls aren't that expensive, and I don't make that many of them that cost me money. Although if Pudding Media can voice filter your calls, is there really any doubt left that the NSA is filtering all our calls and sending the FBI out to check out people talking about the wrong stuff? ;)
Q3 - Architecture: Spend the money on something else. To think that the US Navy, who lost how many men fighting the Nazis?, would do something like this on purpose is stupid. Don't look at if from the air if it offends you. They're office buildings for Pete's sake!
Q4 - Magna Carta: Who is to decide what should and shouldn't be sold? If someone throughout it's history, it has ended up legitimately in the hands of a private individual as that person's property, I say sell away. Same if the Declaration of Independence was owned by someone. I don't like to mess around with the rights of people to own things. Otherwise, you'd end up with Eminent Domain issues for an entire whole set of property. Taking art and historical artifacts away from private individuals everywhere.
1. Relax with my family.
2. Considering that our calls are already being rediculously monitored, I think that the idea of getting movie trailers and showtimes popping up when I mention a movie I'd like to see might actually be worth while. Half the time I'm on the phone, I'm googling the stuff I'm talking about already.
3. If no one was smart enough to complain when the building were being planned, then why do they get the right to waste more money to change things?
4. No way its the only copy, and as much as I'd like to see stuff like that preserved for posterity, I think ending private ownership sounds like communism.
1 Next Tuesday - I would go dirt biking all day and then go to a movie that night. I haven't been to the movies in months!
2 Tele - Gmail has been doing this for a few years now with their e-mailing technology. I know some people who don't use Gmail just for that reason. I don't have a problem with it, but I wouldn't like it for phone conversations. Not so much because of privacy intrustion as just plain annoyance. I feel like I am a big boy and can search out information on products and services on my own time. I don't want them trying to shove it down my throat in yet another way.
3 Architecture - What a joke! And yes, I had to Google it to see for myself. The problem is that after the $600,000, it will probably draw more attention to itself, so they will go back to the drawing board with more plans that eat into taxpayer dollars.
4 Magna Carta - No, historical documents of such significance should not be up for auction. And that begs the question, who is selling it? How did they get it in the first place and what right do they have? This would make a great movie I'm sure. I can picture it now, starring Nicolas Cage and Jon Voight, a movie about the origination of the Magna Carta and the secret treasure map coded onto the back side!
Q1- I would spend the day with my daughter, or riding my motorcycle.
Q2- Nope, I like my phone calls the way they are right now.
Q3- There are many buildings and landscapings that look like or are similar to other offensive symbols all over the place. I do not think it is worth the money.
Q4- I think that articles of history should not be sold.
1. Camping with the fam, playing some bball, and finally fragging late into the night. I'm not hard to please.
2. I wouldn't probably use it much, but that's the price of free.
3. Yea, what a waste of money. It is what it is, and it seems to me that our actions in WWII and subsequent policy make it pretty clear what the US stance is on the subject of the Nazi regime. This just seems to me like one of those silly times when a minority group has the loudest voice and complains incessantly until they get what they want.
1. Camping with the fam, playing some bball, and finally fragging late into the night. I'm not hard to please.
2. I wouldn't probably use it much, but that's the price of free.
3. Yea, what a waste of money. It is what it is, and it seems to me that our actions in WWII and subsequent policy make it pretty clear what the US stance is on the subject of the Nazi regime. This just seems to me like one of those silly times when a minority group has the loudest voice and complains incessantly until they get what they want.
4. While I find this interesting and kinda of lame from the perspective of someone selling something that has so much meaning to them, it is still just a piece of paper, and as long as they don't sell out on the principles it embodies, I suppose it won't change much.
Q1 - Next Tuesday: Nothing. I mean, I would probably do something, but I would want a day with nothing planned--a day I could be entirely spontaneous.
Q2 - This is just another method of blasting people with pop-up ads. I'd never go for it. I have all-you-can-eat phone service for about $50 a month, ad-free.
Q3 - Architecture: I think it's unfortunate that the base looks like a swastika when viewed from above, but making expensive modications is a poor use of taxpayer money. Can't they just cover it with a big blue tarp?
Q4 - Magna Carta: I don't think these items should be sold. The government should be in charge of protecting them and making them available for display in public museums.
1. Next Tuesday: IF I could... ride a bullet bike and fly a jet plane into combat.
2. Telecommunications & Privacy: Sure I'd use it if I had a need for it. My phone conversations aren't so private that I mind having a computer overhear me. As for the ads, I'd be too busy talking to pay attention.
3. Architecture: Sure, let's change the buildings to look like a giant birdie finger.
4. Magna Carta: Let it be sold. If somebody thinks it should be stuck in a museum, then let that person buy it and donate it. Last I heard, freedom allows people the right to sell anything that they rightfully own. If it were the Declaration of Independence? No problem by me. If I had the money I'd buy it just so I can use it to blow my nose with, film the world's rage, then sell the video.
1. I would spend the day with my favorite person who lives far away.
2. I wouldn't use this service. I like to keep who I talk to and what I say as private as possible.
3. The "swastika" is an ancient symbol found before the birth of Christ and in many ancient cultures around the world. Up until WWII it was considered a good luck symbol and used in various cultures to represent the sun and for other decorative and religious purposes. It is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism and is still in use today. In the West and U.S., this symbol is taboo due to it's use in WWII by that evil dictator and his army. It can be found in art, design, and other uses throughout history. If you go to Wikipedia and look up the origin of this symbol it will give you a lot of interesting info. That being said, I don't think structures here in the U.S. should be constructed to reflect this symbol because it represents the death of millions of U.S. soldiers and innocent victims during WWII. Although it is an ancient symbol that has been corrupted, it's original meaning was good, most people in the West today still associate it with the evil dictator and the atrocities of the genocide inflicted. No taxpayer money should be spent, the building is already built and most of us won't see (it) from the air anyway - I don't agree with the public use of this symbol in America or Europe.
4. Hell no! I think this historical document should be preserved in a national museum, in England, perhaps. Why does it need to be sold?
1. Play with my daughter, play music and jam with friends, go out for gourmet coffee and finish with a romantic dinner with my wife.
2. That's clever I would totally use it. What would happen if someone was talking dirty to their significant other? might get some freaky ads pop up. Not that I..er would do that...next question
3. I think they can just plant some trees on the roof or something and maybe cut of the little angles on the swastika, making it into a harmless plus sign instead. Google earth that!
4. I suppose since its British people would dump on it and say, F it sell it on eBay. But I think we need more symbolic things in life, we seem to loose more and more metaphors for what is good or pivital in history and delve deaper in materialism. I would put it up in a museum. I know money talks these days and it won't happen, but that's my 2 cents.
1. I know this is a family blog, so I wonít say what I would really choose, however I would love to spend the day reading, writing, and video editing. Those are three things I really enjoy, but donít seem to find as much time as Iíd like for doing them.
2. Buck beat you to this question. And my answer is no, I wouldnít use the service. I really donít consider myself to be a paranoid person, but I just think it would creep me out to see ads pop up about the things Iím talking about. Honestly, I canít ever see this service catching on. I mean who really wants to advertise to people who are so cheap theyíre willing to allow a service to eavesdrop on their calls and serve them up ads while theyíre talking. Does that type of person make a great customer for very many businesses?
3. I think itís pretty disgraceful that the buildings were ever built in the first place and I think the $600,000 cost is worth it. To me, one of the main reasons for military spending is to allow your citizens to feel safe. Safe from invasion, attacks, etc. Can people really feel safe thinking their government is building military structures in a shape that for most of the western world has come to symbolize hate? Itís probably money better spent than much of the rest of the military budget.
4. I think a document of that significance should be in a museumó-not a private collection. And just for the record, that was my knee jerk reaction even before thinking about the declaration of independence.
I always wait to read the comments of others until after I've posted, but after reading this week's, I've flip-flopped on the Magna Carta. People who argued in favor of letting it be sold, my hat's off to you. You presented better cases (IMO) than those who argued against. My other answers remain unchanged.
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