Brainsprain.net

“…Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

That’s what the government believes, anyway. It’s apparent in the new Daylight Savings Time rules enacted in 2005 quietly under the guise of energy savings to extend DST by 4 weeks this year. Having read several studies that show a decrease in energy consumption by 0.7%, studies that show that it’s a net wash, and studies that show that there is actually an increase in energy demand in the mornings, I have to say it’s not enough proof to warrant changing the damned clocks every time the temperature changes.

“It’s just the clocks, Chad, calm down!” you say.  Nope, it’s not “just the clocks.” As someone with a recently diagnosed (and now treated) sleep disorder I can tell you that one hour of sleep can make worlds of difference to your sense of well being. Also, having to make sure that my TV, cable box, stove, blackberry, phone, computers and cars all have the right time to get me where I need to be at the right time is a pain I shouldn’t have to deal with.  What’s the point in having self-setting clocks if I have to SET THEM?

Stupid Federal Government…

Today, I discovered the world’s smallest Pac-Man on the world’s smallest website. Check it out cause it’s hellacool.

At a company meeting yesterday, the new VP of Marketing said that magic phrase that never fails to rile me up: “Everyone is in marketing.” This phrase somehow disables the tact and teamwork sections of my brain and makes me spit vitriol such as, “Really? If that’s the case, why do we need a marketing department? Seems to me you guys are just wasted expenditures if I’m doing your job AND mine…”

But I’ll refrain from that rant. I know he meant it as a compliment, as if I, too, were intelligent enough to be in marketing. I find it odd that the VP of Engineering at any company I’ve ever worked for never stood up in front of the company and told everyone, “We are all software developers. In everything you do, and in every conversation you have with friends or clients, be thinking about how we can make our code more efficient.”

Of course he didn’t. Because it’s stupid to say that. Don’t get me wrong, I think marketing is a crucial department to have at any company, and their function is vital to any organization’s well-being… But so is mine. Working together and using our disparate skill sets is what will make us successful, not you telling me that I can do my job and somehow find time for yours, as well. Telling me that I’m in Marketing tells me, really, that you have no idea what it is I do and how it affects your paycheck. Buy a clue.

Rick Perry, governor of my great state, has done a whole lot of no good for Texas.  Converting paid-for highways to tollways was just one of the high points of his office, now he’s apparently trying to be your dad.   I mean, sure, HPV is bad.  Sure, we can save lives by vaccinating all girls against it… But shouldn’t we at least TRY education and voluntary vaccinations before resorting to Third Reich methodology?  I mean, call me a wacky conspiracy theorist, but isn’t it odd that the folks who just got paid to do a study on the Texas Lottery just hired Perry’s son?  Surely Perry has no personal ties with Merck, the company that manufactures the HPV vaccine?  Food for thought…

Since starting The Hacker’s Diet, I’ve been trolling around its creator’s web site. If you have a spare five minutes, read this short story. Damned if he’s not a really talented bazillionaire…

On Saturday, we celebrated the wedding of my close friends Shane and April. It was great to see all their friends and family and I felt very special to be made a part of such a joyous day. While all marriages are work, Shane and April have always made their relationship look easy and I wish them happiness piled upon joy piled upon bliss piled upon love piled upon passion. With lots of money and a cherry on top, while I’m wishing.

On XMRadio today, they played a rerun of This American Life from 2001, where they interviewed Fred Rogers (1928 – 2003).  If you’re so inclined, go listen to the episode from their web site. It’s Episode 184.

Whether you listen to it or not, there were a couple of things about Mr. Rogers that struck me. In conversation, he is completely engrossed in the other person. He carried around a gym bag with puppets in it, and didn’t hesitate to pop out Daniel the Lion and speak to adults with it. Not surprising to me, the adults responded identically to the way children responded. Again, I encourage you to listen to at least the Mr. Rogers part.

See how much Daniel reminds you of Elle. Think about how you react to Punk Monkey. Remember that while they’re both just cloth, they are so much more.

ZOMG… Read this!

Where to even start?! I made a list:

• What ever happened to living in a free country? Can’t I more or less do what I want?
• Why is this suddenly a problem? What about books? Couldn’t you get hit reading a book and walking through a crosswalk? Walkmans (walkmen?) have been around since the seventies, for crying out loud. Why do we need a law 30 years after the fact?
• I’m a big believer in evolution, and if you’re too stupid to walk and listen to your iPod at the same time, then I don’t want you surviving to breed.
• On general principles, you shouldn’t use the terms “fiddling” and “blackberry” together in a sound byte. You sound retarded.
• Super Mario Brothers on a Game Boy? Why not Pong on an Intellivision? Where has this senator been, anyway? Pick a game & console from THIS MILLENIUM before you get all hopped up on righteous indignation, please.

Stupid lawmakers…

Oh how to tell the MSU alumni association that I have no intention of giving money to sponsor football? Oh I know, NO! I received a call today asking me if I would like to be a sponsor of the fighting mustangs football team. I informed the poor student victim that when I joined the university, I did it because they did NOT have a football team at the time so I knew more money would be spent on academics and fine arts. Therefore, I had no intention of supporting a team that took money from the departments that I cared about and frankly did nothing for the school.

This year, however, I did send a girl to MSU for voice to study under Dr. Maxwell who to my surprise is still teaching there. I hope she is doing well and learns the foundation of the Psyche and Soma system.

Wow. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut. We were told of the rigorous physical and psychological requirements of the job, and I opted for a less physically demanding career choice. I figured that astronauts were really together folks… I mean, they undergo extensive psychological evaluation, right? Um… Read this. Then come back.

I’m no professional, but I’m pretty sure that when you drive from Houston to Orlando wearing diapers so you don’t have to stop to use the restroom in order to kidnap your boyfriend’s girlfriend even though you’re married with three kids, the term they use for you is “loony.” If, after this, you move in on your prey on airport grounds in a rental car parking lot less than 100 yards from the security booth wearing sunglasses, a trench coat, and a wig, you’re somewhere between stark-raving mad and crazy as a sh*t-house rat.

You know someone high up at NASA is screaming at a room full of psychiatrists right now, wondering how this woman ever got within sight of the shuttle, much less piloted it.