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January 2004
Have you ever seen an old photo of yourself and been embarrassed at the way you looked? Did we actually dress like that? We did. And we had no idea how silly we looked. It's the nature of fashion to be invisible, in the same way the movement of the earth is invisible to all of us riding on it.
What scares me is that there are moral fashions too. They're just as arbitrary, and just as invisible to most people. But they're much more dangerous. Fashion is mistaken for good design; moral fashion is mistaken for good. Dressing oddly gets you laughed at. Violating moral fashions can get you fired, ostracized, imprisoned, or even killed.
If you could travel back in a time machine, one thing would be true no matter where you went: you'd have to watch what you said. Opinions we consider harmless could have gotten you in big trouble. I've already said at least one thing that would have gotten me in big trouble in most of Europe in the seventeenth century, and did get Galileo in big trouble when he said it-- that the earth moves. [1]
Nerds are always getting in trouble. They say improper things for the same reason they dress unfashionably and have good ideas: convention has less hold over them.
It seems to be a constant throughout history: In every period, people believed things that were just ridiculous, and believed them so strongly that you would have gotten in terrible trouble for saying otherwise.
Is our time any different? To anyone who has read any amount of history, the answer is almost certainly no. It would be a remarkable coincidence if ours were the first era to get everything just right.
It's tantalizing to think we believe things that people in the future will find ridiculous. What would someone coming back to visit us in a time machine have to be careful not to say? That's what I want to study here. But I want to do more than just shock everyone with the heresy du jour. I want to find general recipes for discovering what you can't say, in any era.
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</td> <a href=" http://www.paulgraham.com/say.html/"> - Mood:pensive

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| You're on my friends list. I'd like to know 27 things about you. Just copy and hit reply and paste in the comments section with answers. Thanks! You'll be surprised how much you didn't know about your friends after this! Then copy the meme and see if anyone answers
1. Do you have a tattoo? 2. How old are you? 3. Are you single or taken? 4. Fish? 5. Do you dream in color? 6. Ever seen a corpse? 7. Hipsters or Hillbillies? 8. How did we meet? 9. What's your philosophy on life and death? 10. If you could do anything with me, and have no one know, what would it be? 11. Do you trust the police? 12. Do you like musicals? 13. What is your fondest memory of me? 14. If you could change anything about yourself what would it be? 15. Would you cheat ? 16. What are you wearing? 17. Have you ever peed in a pool? 18. Would you hide evidence for me if I asked you to? 19. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together? 20. Which do you prefer - short or long hair? 21. What's your favorite day of the week? 22. What's your favorite color? 23. If you could bring back anyone that has passed, who would it be? 24. Tell me one interesting/odd fact about you? 25. What was your first impression of me? 26. Have you ever done drugs? 27. Will you post this so I can fill it out for you?
Thanks Bardibabe. - Mood:ditzy

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| I thought about making a promise to myself to post often.Chronicle the trivialities of my life on a daily bases regardless of how mind numbingly dull it would be. Then I remembered how many bad days you have in an average year and how awful the bad ones have been for me this year. Not only have I changed my mind,I'll find another way to keep in touch,but I've gone and depressed myself in the process. The only thing left to do now is drink or buy shoes. As it's sunday,bars are closed! So off to the mall for me. - Mood:depressed
 - Music:Gary Jules-Mad World
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 - Music:One Of Those Funk Things-George Clinton
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| Your home is a Magnate's Manor Your kitchen is someplace you never go, because you "have people for that." There's a Chocolatessin, a word you made up yourself, but that is beginning to catch on among your wealthy neighbors. Your master bedroom is the size of a small barn, with carpet thick enough to reach your ankles. Your study has hardback editions of every classic ever written, plus a special edition of Rich Dad, Poor Dad with the parts you ghost-authored highlighted. One of your garages holds your collection of ferraris, and is measured in acreage.
Your home also includes a guest wing and private quarters for your servants. Outside is your hedge maze and gardens, meticulously tended by a team of world-class botanists.
Below is a snippet of the blueprints: |
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Find YOUR Dream Home! |
- Mood:curious
 - Music:Damien Rice-9 Crimes
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| Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to a student, but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing. Author unknown | |
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| Ever see thoses find your graduation class ads. I found some of my graduating class and now have high hopes of NEVER doing it again. Are we reallt that old? - Mood:chipper
 - Music:Al Jarreau - Take Five
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| When I bought my house I had solar panels installed in the roof. This month marks the first month they've paid off,and handsomely! I actually MADE MORE ENERGY THEN I CONMSUMED AND SOLD SOME BACK TO A.E!!!! O.K it was only $23.00 but it's the easiest money I ever made. I'm no longer ambivalent about my green living. In the past it's been a desultory attempt at recycling and all things pertaining but prey on the greed factor and I,m all about earth day. - Mood:chipper
 - Music:Al Jarreau - Take Five
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