Tag Archives: humor

21st Century Moral Dilemma

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When I was in college my girlfriend left me to join a cult. The central activity of this cult was to sit in a circle, chanting and passing around a chillum  of really good hash and engaging in random sex. This is a great source of amusement for both of us (God help me, I stay in touch with my ex-girlfriends) but at the time it made me crazy. Now it seems that without even being aware of it, I’ve joined a cult. Yes friends, I’m a Firefox user.

Indeed, the advertising appears innocuous. But Firefox has a dark side. Once you join this insidious cult, you will be lured into a life of crime, according to the courageous cult fighters at whyfirefoxisblocked.com. You will be encouraged to use Ad Block to block ads (duh) when you load web pages. By doing so you are violating copyright laws and depriving web authors of potential income, in other words you are stealing. You are also contributing to the collapse of the internet. There will no longer be anyone willing to produce Web content if Firefox succeeds in it’s campaign to destroy internet advertising. And if you use The Devil’s Browser, you will blocked from much of the net, content providers have been forced to block Firefox in order to remain viable. Never mind that IE has ad blocking software. Can you say “hidden agenda”?

Now, I know that I’m a victim of brainwashing, but it seems to me these intrepid cult busters might be a little biased. And perhaps a bit humor impaired.

Myth – “Firefox is not a Religion“

Reality – Type in about:mozilla into the Firefox address bar to get “The Book of Mozilla“.

The Book of Mozilla

Religion (Definition) – “A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.”
– Source

“Giving
people unadulterated access to the web became something of a religion,
and every wasted pixel, button or dialog that impeded it was a demon
that nagged at us.” – Blake Ross Mozilla Firefox Founder
– The Firefox Religion

So here’s my dilemma. I’ve loaded Ad Blocker. I had to try it. It works. I’m sure most folks would agree that all that advertising is extremely annoying. I almost never click on those ads anyway. But I’m a little worried  about contributing to the downfall of the Web. And like about half of the world, I have dreams of making a fortune with my contribution to online culture. After all, I don’t want to be a hypocrite. Plus I’m getting really tired of being blocked from all those sites. Well actually, it’s never happened. I lay awake at night agonizing over this complex and crucial moral decision.

What should I do?!??

Pain and torture and the other roommate

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Exchange this morning between me and my physical therapist:

Me: That hurts my knee!

PT: I don’t care.

On my last night in rehab, I got a new roommate. Jim, kind of a crusty looking old guy (is that redundant?) wearing blue jeans and a Red Socks cap. I asked him if he was a Red Socks fan. He was the bat boy for the Red Socks in 1936, he had a great view of Jimmie Foxx’s huge year at the plate. He was a lifer in the military, first the Navy and then the Air Force, and airplane mechanic. He was on the Bunker Hill at Midway, so he saw some real gritty action. When he retired he worked with a horse trainer at Canterbury Downs. He wasn’t supposed to walk around by himself, but he was constantly getting up to go to the bathroom without anyone around.

And then there was the other Jim. He was in his mid seventies, younger and more lucid than the rest of the inmates, he had been in the hospital and at that home since early June. He got hit by a car while riding his Harley, among other injuries, he had a crushed pelvis. He probably be able to walk eventually and he certainly will ride again. He’s already going through catalogs, picking out his next Harley. I’m don’t think his wife is too keen on that idea though.

Jim was kind of the leader of the pack at the home. He always got to meals early and sat in the same seat. That made his table the “cool guy’s table.” It was just like high school with guys jockeying for seats, everyone wanted to sit by Jim. Include me because he was by far the most lucid guy in camp. Although I was one of the few guys who actually sat at the Women’s table. I managed to get some good conversations with some of the ladies there.

Another guy, Werner, had fought in the German army in WWII. He was captured by the Russians and spent four years in the Gulags. When asked what that was like, he simply replied, “Weird.”

Well, Rebecca is headed down state to attend her High School reunion. She’s leaving me to the mercies of my daughters. Pray  for me.

I go to the doc today and will have some blood work done. If it’s all clear, I may get my new knee in a couple of weeks. It’s ballroom dancing by the first of the year!