Another Useless Mélange

A lot of folks don’t see any redeeming qualities in Twitter. At all. I didn’t either at first, but I’m beginning to realize Twitter’s value is all in whom one follows. No deep-diving analysis is forthcoming, as I’m basically a shallow person with few well-formed ideas, opinions, or arguments on/about anything. Nope… my simple observations are these:

(1) Twitter is great for keeping up with folks whose blogs you read. Sort of real-time mini blog updates.

(2) There are obvious “friends and family” aspects.

(3) Twitter is sort of like hanging out at the bar and overhearing fragments of conversations. Stuff like this:

Lileks: So Friends can turn into Fans on Facebook? Is there a premium level where they turn into Loyal Subjects, or is that just for Saudi royalty?

I found that uproariously funny! But then again… I just told you I’m basically a shallow person*.

Now. Shall we talk about Facebook? I find that concept to be totally without redeeming qualities. But, Hey! Who am I to argue with 100 million people?

*(second graf, fourth sentence)

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Department of Stupid Associations and The Paths We Follow While Surfing: I started reading all of Amazon's One-Star reviews on “Annie Hall” as a result of searching for that “shallow” link above. And I found this:

I guess I've always resisted watching this movie because it was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture over "Star Wars." That, and I really don't like Woody Allen.

What? Can this BE? The movie that spawned an entire subculture of (pardon!) slavish devotees who will queue for days… in Princess Leia drag or worse… outside a theatre before the latest “Star Wars” re-flog is shown? A movie that has single-handedly kept the Halloween Costume Industry in the black for over three decades (and… toys!) lost to a sappy introverted comedy about the demise of a neurotic New York City schmuck’s love affair? Say it ain’t so!

It’s so.

I take back all the bad shit I’ve said in the past about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and its members, just for that one act of purity, truth, and justice back in 1977. Well… some of it, anyway. Hardly any of it, actually. They still suck.

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I guess The One will just have to make do with Dubya’s hand-me-downs, as Dubya did with the Big Dog’s, etc., etc.:

Looking for a New Air Force One: The Air Force has launched an effort to find the next fixed-wing aircraft to serve as primary Presidential transport, replacing the Boeing VC-25s that have flown US Presidents since 1990. The VC-25, based on Boeing's 747-200, is approaching the end of its 30-year design life, and, with commercial versions leaving airline service, the cost for parts and maintenance has increased. According to a Jan. 7 sources sought announcement, the Air Force conducted an analysis of alternatives, vying the cost of maintaining the current aircraft against buying a new one, and found that "replacing the VC-25 was the most cost-effective option." The new Air Force One, like its predecessor, will be a highly modified commercial wide-body aircraft that USAF expects to see delivered—complete with communications, interior, and aerial refueling capability modifications—in Fiscal 2017, followed by a second and third aircraft in two year increments. The Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio-based Aeronautical Systems Center, which is managing the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program, expects industry responses to its contractor capability survey by Jan. 28.

From the January 12^th edition of the Air Force Associations’ Daily Report newsletter. I think the current Air Force One is pretty danged cool as it is. But there is that life-cycle thing to consider. Which, of course, is true in other areas. Most especially other areas.

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Now get back to work. You’re paying for my retirement, ya know, and while I can overlook a little blog surfing on company time, enough’s enough. Keep that productivity up — my livelihood depends on YOU! And while we’re at it… thanks for the raise, guys! That was really nice of ya!