Harry Park's blog » Popular Culture

Prayer does no good

Harry — Sat, 18 Oct 2003 01:55:34 +0000

A Duke study finds that prayer doesn’t do a body good. The researchers conducted a study on patients with half praying for the patients, the other half receiving no prayers. Apparently, there was no significant difference.

This study seems to be a waste of money and time. After all, most people who think that prayer will help, believe as a matter of faith. It only gives more ammo to those who believe science explains all.

I still pray to God. I know there is no factual basis for it, but I do anyways.

In other news, a recent study finds that saying “Good Morning” has no significant effect on whether a person will have a good morning.

Flag Etiquette

Harry — Sat, 05 Jul 2003 06:47:25 +0000

Yara and I went to a baseball game and received a little flag for being one of the first 5000 fans. There was a kickin’ fireworks show after the game. During the game, Yara asked me whether I knew if there was a special way that flags were supposed to be discarded. I didn’t know, but I knew that the Internet would. Here’s the answer: Flags should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning when they are no longer fit to serve as emblems of our nation. I found this at the Betsy Ross website. She’s the lady who is supposed to have done the first Stars and Stripes. Now we all know how to get rid of our flags when all the July 4th hoopla is over. Also, another curious fact is that proper etiquette dictates that a flag should never be used for advertisement or have words or designs printed on it. So all those Power of Pride bumper stickers are actually an affront to our nation’s emblem. Shame on them.

The End is Near

Harry — Wed, 09 Apr 2003 17:29:26 +0000

The people Iraq today are outside, standing free in their own country. Their dictator is defeated, thier children free from tyranny for tomorrow. They set out to destroy the images that remind them of Saddam Hussein.

As the Iraqi people rejoice, I wonder if they will cherish a freedom that was handed to them. A freedom that foreigners shed their blood for. A freedom that their own people opposed. How precious is freedom when it is handed to you freely? No toil or sacrifice to make freedom more precious. Will the blood of Americans we spilt on foreign soil be as precious to them as it is to us. Will they remember the names and sing songs of the saviors who lost their lives in freeing them? Is it possible for us to instill in them this preciousness?

We at home mourn the loss of every life lost. Some of us wonder if this conflict was necessary, if truly righteous. Most celebrate our show of might, the strength of our steel and conviction. I can only hope that our quick success in Iraq doesn’t make us thirsty for more foreign blood.

UPDATE: Damn, we even took down the statue for them. We even managed to insult the Arab world by putting the US flag over the face of Saddam. That Marine was quickly reminded ours was a liberation force, not an invasion force and a pre-Gulf War flag was put up in its place.

UPDATE 2: Hume An drops some knowledge in the comments section. Take a peek, then you’ll know why Hah-vad wants him. Here’s his website. Be sure to read his thoughts page, it’s well written.

Return of Zelda

Harry — Tue, 01 Apr 2003 05:54:13 +0000

It’s been a long time since I visited the land of Hyrule and used the power of the triforce, but that time has come again. I started playing Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Wow, what a great game.

I thought it would be a little stupd since the graphics were getting better and better with each successive game, seemingly moving closer to realistic. This edition is definitely more cartoony, but it totally works. The graphics are good, and well suited for the young audience who is most likely the title’s target. Needless to say, it also works well for some of us older people too.

The thing that really gets me going about this game is the constant interaction with the environment. You are the wind waker and you must control the wind. You change the direction of the wind to make your boat sail upon the sea, to fly in the right direction, and to power other things. Every weapon and item in your disposal probalby has one of two uses at least. The way these items just fit in with their usage in the environment is just great. You have torchiers lining the halls, you pick up a stick and just set it on fire by putting it in the torchier’s flame. Now you can burn down wood things or light other torchiers. Its just great.

The puzzles aren’t too hard. There have been a few that stumped me for a few minutes, but they came along as soon as I opened my mind to other possibilites and possibly used two or more tools in combination.

I really like this game and I think that it is great for all ages. I would go into it more, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone else. I’ll probably be lending this game out after I finish it, which probably won’t be long.

Bowling for Columbine

Harry — Wed, 26 Mar 2003 08:36:49 +0000

Note: this entry was originally written on January 5th. I’m finally publishing it because I’m starved for content and it just won an Oscar for Best Documentary.

This Saturday, I caught the newest Michael Moore movie, “Bowling for Columbine“. This documentary of America’s gun culture was a provocative and evocative (thanks NFA) look into why America is such a violent nation, with over 11,000 gun-related deaths in a single year. It brings up a lot of really good points and made some strong arguments with key figures in the debate. Before this movie, I really strongly considered buying a gun and keeping it in my house, I won’t now. I may one day own a rifle for skeet shooting or long distance shooting, but I wouldn’t keep it at home.

Burnt Sienna

Harry — Tue, 18 Feb 2003 06:41:41 +0000

ALERT!! ALERT!!

We are at alert level orange. We have secretly confirmed reports that suspicious behavior is afoot. Here’s a link to the office of Homeland Security.

I guess I’ve been quietly laughing to myself for a while now, but I’ve seen something surprising happen lately. People are complaining how ridiculous the White House’s advice is on security. Duct Tape your house? Buy plastic sheeting to cover the whole thing? How crazy is that, but it comes from Bushie himself. Can we really believe that this stuff will prevent a plan from blowing up into a building or anthrax from spreading? Don’t we still have to go outside, eventually. (Of course, I think there might be a secret plot from the Video on Demand Industry)

But people are scared. I talked to a couple today who were planning to have their honeymoon in London, but now are just going to Canada. Sure its nice, but now it seems like the terrorists have won. We are prisoners, captured in the fear produced by our own government. Great. Well, gotta run out and buy some duct tape and plastic sheeting…

Harry — Mon, 03 Feb 2003 15:44:15 +0000

We shall never cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
-T. S. Eliot (1888 – 1965)

WWDN

Leno was on fire tonight

Harry — Tue, 28 Jan 2003 08:43:26 +0000

I hope you caught it. Leno was hilarious tonight. The superbowl guy had me laughing out loud. Celine Dion told him, “You go, girl” when asked if he could become a diva too. He gave a hug to Michelle Sparks with the line “If I put my arms around you, would you call me for holding?” Madden did not look happy to hear the same thing. He hit on some Raiderettes, which was priceless. The guy was just great.

Then he had a Bush impersonator that was dead on. The guy was so funny that Leno had to keep from laughing. I’m starting to think that the skits are funnier than Leno’s monologue where he basically points out how dumb Americans are. The telling line was when Leno said “What are we gonna call it the new war?” There was no doubt in his mind that we were going to war, none in mine either. The hawks in the White House are winning. Even Powell is bowing to them.

Heather Graham was very dull. She looks good, but I got sick of hearing her Yoga talk. What a fruit cake, or in her case, fruit soup head.

Keyshawn and Brad Johnson brought up the rear though. They were funny. I hoped they would continue to do Jon Gruden impressions, but they didn’t. Oh well. Maybe I’ll tune into some more Leno. He’s not so funny, but some of those other people are.

Scary news for U.S. citizens abroad

Harry — Thu, 09 Jan 2003 08:40:51 +0000

I just read this article and it scared me. Now, the 4th Circuit US Court of Appeals has ruled that the military can hold citizens indefinitely as “enemy combatants”. It cites the need for the executive branch to have latitude in the ability to wage war, but have we declared war? This looks like a nice step to doing the same to citizens captured within our borders. After all, what rights should be different for a US citizen whether he is abroad or at home. Just a matter of time if you ask me. Maybe someone will have mercy on us and this will be appealed to the Supreme Court before the people who still love the Constitution retire. Otherwise, it will be Aschcroft lockdown on anyone who the government just wants to hold onto for a while. I think it’s a little funny that the military protects the Constitution but doesn’t grant the rights it guarantees (right to a fair and speedy trial).

Don’t forget the small town of prisoners we have down at Camp X-Ray in Cuba. Most of those guys will probably not see their families and homes for another 5 years at least. Good thing we won’t acknowledge or deny who we have there either.

Hmm… what’s that sound? Oh, just the founding fathers rolling in their graves. You’ll get used to it after a while.