Comments for the Key and Its Signature

Comment on Academic Survival Guide: #1, Know Your Substances by Mark Johnson

Mark Johnson — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:32:47 +0000

On my list of danger drugs, btw, is aceteminophen (i.e., Tylenol). Combining this with booze is a great way to leave your liver in a bad way. Also, St Johns Wort has interactions with a number of Rx drugs. Finally, I’d caution against people against popular drugs like Ritalin and Dexadrine — I’ve seen too many of my friends get royally screwed up.

And what about illegal drugs? Those are essential to any college education =)

Comment on Organic, Free-Range, All-Natural, Human Beings by theoraclemag

theoraclemag — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:05:39 +0000

Its a shame companies would rather feed us trash but label it so it seems healthy so they can make money. thats much easier and more profitable them really providing us with healthy options

Comment on Throwing Stones and Lifting Swords. by Bar Shirtcliff

Bar Shirtcliff — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:53:16 +0000

Key, maybe you shouldn’t think of them as holy wars, and give up on there being an idea of “right” and “wrong,” when it comes to tools. Sharp programmers love emacs, groping hackers love vi because they can’t grasp emacs, etc. I’m (half) joking, but, really, you shouldn’t take it personally. I know successful programmers who work exclusively in TextEdit. Programming is a craft. Different craftsmen prefer different tools.

Just ignore the holy wars and figure out for yourself which tools work best for you. i.e. LaTeX takes too long to learn—save it until you’ve got a damned good reason to use it, and ignore the LaTeX prophets until then. Focus on learning the skills you think you’ll actually need.

That’s my advice, anyway. Good luck.

–Bar

Comment on Religulous, or “Bill Maher’s Excellent Adventure.” by Chris Brumwell

Chris Brumwell — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:41:44 +0000

I didn’t see the movie, but this makes it sound interesting. It’s especially interesting that a documentary about religious people and the invisibility of atheism is more about an atheist than the religious people he interviews. I don’t really like the idea of Bill Maher mocking others to get me to be an atheist any more than I like the idea of Jerry Falwell appealing to my guilt to get me be a Christian. But it sounds interesting to see someone make a documentary of himself and then disguise that as a documentary.

Comment on Arguing for the Truth by Bar Shirtcliff

Bar Shirtcliff — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:29:11 +0000

I was reading Nietzsche, not long ago, for old time’s sake. I was reading The Twilight of the Idols, I think, and he mentioned that one doesn’t really rely on dialectics in an argument. He who does merely appears unconvincing. I’d look up the reference, but my books are disorderly, just now.

Anyway, I think it’s true. Very few people can argue and listen at the same time, and most such are fundamentally deranged.

Comment on Getting Lucky by Spencer Berry

Spencer Berry — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:04:07 +0000

While luck versus the astute is an interesting topic, your article reads to me as though it is believed that luck is a finite resource. I think luck is something, like religion, that does not exist without believers. That being said, belief is an infinite resource that pummels entire populations, as is luck. But opportunity is only called luck when its surveyor deems it to be. My point? Someone lucky is not a product of chance or miracle but attitude. To be lucky, someone has to be observed and a decision has to be made as to the nature of their good fortune: out of hand (lucky) or hard work (earned). The people who sincerely believe they are allies with luck are merely appointing blame to powers outside their own.

Comment on Arguing for the Truth by Spencer Berry

Spencer Berry — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:46:17 +0000

Dan and Jennifer just need to slam each other for a few hours and share some sweat. While I too have argued many times for the competency of my dish washing habits, I think the issue in this case is clear: a mutual struggle for control. Neither party wishes to admit or change on account of the other. The quest for individuality is what is at question. If Dan washes more dishes for Jen’s sake, what part of himself is he losing? If Jen does Dan’s dishes without complaint, then what kind of servitude has she signed up for? The true solution only comes when the mutuality of the situation is admitted and both parties agree to understanding, acceptance and sacrifice. Or divorce.

Comment on Getting Lucky by Alex

Alex — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:46:51 +0000

Your blog is interesting!

Keep up the good work!

Comment on Getting Lucky by key

key — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:44:17 +0000

I by no means intended to imply that luck is a matter of being at the right place alone. Being in the right place, I agree, is only part of the equation. That’s precisely why I describe it as a matter of “manipulation” as well, being able to “wing it.”

I can only hope there is a method to recognizing fortune when it smiles on us and dodging the worst of life.

Comment on Getting Lucky by adlv2006

adlv2006 — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:43:46 +0000

I’m sure that you don’t mean “luck” in the superstitious sense. I’m very familiar with “virtu” and “fortuna.” I agree wholeheartedly with Machiavelli that success is a combination of the intelligence necessary to recognize opportunities that be exploited. I also agree with what you said that a visionary in the wrong place/time would be burned at the stake. However, a visionary at the proper place/time would be hailed as a genius because their line of thinking would be understood within the context of current events. As you said, a huge consideration is whether or not a particular person fits within what’s going on at the time.
I disagree though that “luck” is simply about being at the right place. I heard about a study some time ago on TV where “lucky” people had the necessary intelligence to more often recognize opportunities. After all, what’s the point of being lucky enough to be at the right place when you don’t even recognize it?

Jose A. Rodriguez
adlv2006.wordpress.com