Oh great, a new quirky defense for the stupid people.

I am going to be referencing this Wired.com article: http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/12/netflix-privacy-lawsuit/

I would suggest reading it first.

There are many lawsuits in this world that are stupid. I’ve been told the McDonald’s one isn’t stupid (where the woman spilled the hot coffee on herself and sued because it was “too hot”). I think that is stupid. I don’t like the whole it was hotter than it was supposed to be. It’s fucking coffee, deal with it. Don’t put it between your legs thats why GM invented CUP HOLDERS. Anyways, this lawsuit by this woman seems an attempt to get money in a time when money is needed. It doesn’t fight for gay rights, it doesn’t fight for women’s rights, it doesn’t fight for any rights at all except to bitch and moan. I do find it funny that she is/was so worried about being outed as gay from Netflix she outed herself in the lawsuit. That seems a little hilarious. Now, I’m not gay, but if you are, great. Have a cookie. I like women. Where’s my cookie now? See, it’s not a big deal anymore.

I also don’t see the argument that it could be used against her. How? Technically, she outed herself by starting the lawsuit in the first place. This all started with an innocent contest to improve the algorithm of finding movies for people. Whoever could create one 10% better than the standard Netflix one won. And someone did. Now, the contestants were given IDs and movies they picked. HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO FIND A PERSON FROM THAT? Oh, the date was given too. NOW I OWN YOUR SOUL! Come on, people. How the fuck does that make sense?

Then we get these two researchers who did just that. I’m not sure exactly what bullshit they pulled, but using IMDB somehow and the data they “identified” people. I smell some nice bullshit. If I was the judge I would recommend we take these people out back and beat the fuck out of them.

Why do people the movies they watch need to be so private? What nefarious plots can unfold with the use of a movie you watch. If I watch a horror movie does that mean I will go around killing people? That’s the logic that is being run here: If I watch Brokeback Mountain then I must be gay. What? WHAT? Way to take logic and throw it out the window.

Now, I use Netflix and I love it. This suit is calling for $2500 for each user. I could use that money, but I can tell you if the suit does come to fruition I will refuse that money. Where did they get the value of $2500? How does  that help?

As you can tell, I’m on the side of Netflix. I think this lawsuit is more frivolous than the McDonald’s lawsuit. In fact, I am planning to sue McDonalds because their iced coffee was too cold and I got a headache after I tried to drown myself in it.

I was afraid of this…

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/13/green-day-rock-band-trailer-unveiled-songs-will-be-exportable/

Well isn’t that wonderful? To think, I was trying to be positive with Harmonix.

In addition, even if this was a band I love, like Tool or NIN or Queen I would still be really mad, I don’t like the idea of a one-band Rock Band.
Come on Harmonix!!!

Also, fuck Guitar Hero.

Rock Band, et al. is Starting to Piss Me Off

I love Rock Band. I absolutely love it. It is one of my favorite games of all time. I still to this day play songs from the first Rock Band that came out in 2007. You can say I have an obsession with the Rock Band series, and to a lesser extent Guitar Hero. What I am starting to see is some bullshit tactics from Harmonix company (the maker of the series). Rock Band and Rock Band 2 were amazing games. The DLC is amazing. The Queen track pack that came out, best thing since sliced bread. Seriously, good shit. So why am I concerned? Why am I a little mad? Why am I considering not purchasing any more Rock Band/Guitar Hero games? I’m glad you asked. Hey, nice shirt. Let’s explore this some more, eh?

What makes a game complete to me is the ability to not only entertain me, but also keep me coming back. In addition, the game must have an excellent company (of course in the eyes of me) that cares about it fans enough. Games like Half-Life (Valve), Portal (Valve), Left 4 Dead (Valve), WoW (Blizzard), Diablo 2 (Blizzard), and Starcraft (Blizzard) all in the past have been great combos of my likes. Now, these days they are changing, and starting to rise my anger. However, when Rock Band came out, it instantly did everything to catch me. It was fun as hell, especially the drums. It kept me coming back to do better on the songs and unlock contact. And finally, Harmonix changed things with DLC and upgrades in future releases (mainly Rock Band 2). I mean, yeah, the DLC is a pain to pay. That’s why I choose only the songs I know I like. Now, if a friend tips me off on a good song, I may give it a chance. At the cost of $1.99 or $0.99, I can afford it. Hell, you can even trick the system with a cheat and make a playlist. I consider it a psuedo-Itunes that is playable when you want it. Cool, right?

So we have Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Rock Band: Beatles,  Guitar Hero 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and Aerosmith, Metallica, Van Halen. OK, not too bad. A little disappointed with the Aerosmith and GH 5, and although I haven’t played Van Halen, I can tell you I will not until it is in the 10 dollar bin. The folks at RedOctane (GH) and Harmonix (RB) have found the cash cow. They suddenly found a market and for a bit cranked out good shit. Now they are getting greedy. With games like DJ Hero, Band Hero (lamest name ever, are you fucking serious?), and any form of any of the games on a DS, Iphone, Blackberry, Palm Pilot, or abacus. Oh, then they took all the songs from GH 1, 2, and 3 and repackaged the best of them into a 60 dollar package just to add drums, singing, and bass. That, to me, is very lame. I mean, at the very least DLC that shit and I won’t have a problem with it!! I can understand the business idea of this. However, as a gamer, this is just sad. This is officially the best way to alienate the true fans, and jump the shark, nuke the fridge, and whatever other phrase  when something like this happens. This really bothers me.

While guitar hero is doing this WAY more than Rock Band, I am sure Rock Band isn’t too far behind the cash cowathon of games. They have started with the Rock Band: Beatles. Now, I’m not the biggest fan of The Beatles, they do have their place in history though. However, the game itself only had 45 songs. A normal RB game has nearly 60 songs. 45 songs? Guess where the remainder is? DLC! Wonderful, cash filled DLC. And they are not cheap. Each song is $1.99 or more. Abbey Road has 8 songs, and is $17. I just feel it is a little cheap they cut some songs out to only release into making more money via DLC.

I have this feeling this is only the beginning of this mess. The peripherals are another matter. First, the game comes with one mic, one guitar, and one drumset with sticks. Now, you have to buy another plastic guitar controller for a bass ($60), a guitar stand to hold all the guitars ($30), a mic stand($30 each) if you want to sing while playing an instrument, and for Rock Band Beatles two more mics and two more stands. Oh, and Harmonix can supply all of that for some cabbage. In addition, other companies have stood up for the money peripheral. The drum list: http://www.rockbandstore.com/?v=rbs2_gear_playstation-3_drum . A drum gig bag? Check out that premium set. That’s more money than the band box. $299 for a drumset for the game. I do want that set. It’s pimp. But I don’t need it. I am perfectly happy with the standard set and two extra symbols. But the idea of a $300 set is kind of crazy. Also, one of the worst product ideas ever http://www.rockbandstore.com/detail.php?p=110180&v=rbs2_gear_playstation-3_guitar has broken my spirit. $30 for a device that you can do with the damn guitar itself (by tilting it or hitting a button). These peripherals are getting insane, stupid, and expensive. What’s next, a digital triangle that cost $20 and says “don’t stick up your ass, that cost $5 extra?

I don’t mean to bitch, but I am starting to see a pattern that just will leave the fan in the cold. Rock Band has a chance to change and win me back. Guitar Hero sucks already in my opinion (except GH: Metallica). I hope in the future the company stops taking advantage of the stupids (including me) and re-think the music games. If they don’t, I will stop playing/buying. Until then, I will continue to enjoy Rock Band 2.

Really, Rock Band on the PSP? That’s like doing calculus with a set of marbles.

Health Care-less

Socalized health care is a good idea on paper. In practice, it will fail. Not only is it expensive, but it cripples free market business. I am more independent these days, not wanting to affix myself to one ideal only to find I don’t agree with more than 50% of people in that party. I work in a pharmacy, I see one aspect of healthcare at work. Is it perfect? Hell no. Does it sometimes work? Hell yes. Does it sometimes utterly fail people? Hell yes. And that’s the problem.

I would like to know one system set up in this world that is 100% perfect. My minuscule brain cannot find one. I feel like most of this issue for people in the US is to get something for free. They feel that all health care for every single person should be free. It should especially be free for their families and of course their own person. They start to throw words around like “entitled” and “god given right” and all that horse shit that mucks up the actual problem. They don’t care how much it will cost, the harm it could cause, they only want it covered for them. I liken this attitude some people have to the fraction of medicaid patients who feel they shouldn’t have to pay even one cent for a life saving medication, but can go around the corner and buy a carton of cigarettes.

And on another note, I don’t see the disastrous health care problem some pundits and elected officials are decrying. Yes, it is hurting. The entire WORLD is hurting right now due to the economic problems. Health care is another cog in the wheel of that system, and so of course it is going to hurt. However, for hundreds of the horror (like this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/health-care-horror-story_n_306572.html and this http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/27/health-insurance-horror-s_n_245410.html ) there are potentially millions of success stories. However, a quick Google search (Oh Google, you are my bread and butter) shows the only positive thing about health care is some HIV testing. Ouch.

Working in the health care industry for as little time as I have (3 years) I have learned a lot. I have seen some bad things happen, and some good. Most people remember the bad things. I think it is time we remember the good. I have seen some medications be completely covered for some people, and these meds are life saving antibiotics, anti-cancer, and etc. I have seen some pharmacists call up a doctor and ask to change a medication because it was way too expensive, and the alternative is pennies on the dollar cheaper. These are the stories that show the good side of the current system.

Before the economic collapse, I took a little pill called Nexium(R) for GERD. This capsule literally saved my life as I was slowly dying from over 20 ulcers in my esophagus and duodenum. For a month supply this drug is $300. Now, I won’t go into the bullshit of why this drug is so expensive right now (I’m saving that for a future topic), but my insurance only asked for $15 as a co-payment. $15 dollars a month to be able to drink OJ without throwing up? Oh, sign me up! Then, in about 2006 Astra Zeneca introduced this amazing assistance program that made my Nexium(R) completely free. All I had to do was sign up. I got some mail every few months about information promoting Nexium(R). I can live with that for free. Now, the economic times have taken that away. I can’t blame Astra Zeneca. I received almost 20 months of free medication that at a cost of $300 a month is $6000 worth of medication. That saved me a whopping $300 during the same period. How can I complain about that? I can’t! When they took the program away, I didn’t bat an eye. I had saved a ton. Also, my medication IS STILL only $15 dollars a month! I feel the health care system helped me immensely.

I don’t understand why there isn’t a collection of positive stories regarding the health care system. There are, I have not only lived a couple myself, but I have seen other people’s gratefulness for their situation. I don’t understand why most people don’t think about the positive. They should be able to use their cognitive ability to see how the system has helped people. Of course the system has failed many people. The system should LEARN from those failures.

So, even though I am not on board with Obama’s current plan, what masterful plan do I have to set forth to save all of humanity? Uh, well, you see, I have no fucking clue. I have no answer. I don’t see how any fix could be painless, quick, and free. The system should be forced to evolve slowly. Change this, change that. While the idea that the system will fix itself over time is flawed, it would take the work of many people to slowly improve the system. Will it fail a certain number of people? Oh, fuck the hell yeah it is made by humans who are flawed. The plan Obama and his team are setting up will not only cost the American taxpaying a lot but not actual help as many people. The influx of people who will abuse the system (accidentally and on purpose)  will cripple hospitals, doctor offices, and pharmacies. Imagine, you get sick. You feel miserable. You have this health care that you know will be free. Won’t you use it? Heck, I would. I do. My health care at school is free. Well, free as in I will be paying for it after I get out of pharmacy school. But I digress.

Many people (I’m sick of saying millions, that sounds so insane) will go to their local hospital, pharmacy, or doctor’s office for needless tests, drugs, and check-ups. Oh wait, you say. What about the positives I am talking about? Yes, I detect the irony there too. However, there will be positives. There will be people who are helped by this system. Honest people who need a life saving surgery who won’t have to stress about paying for it. Mothers and fathers who will have drugs and critical care all paid for so they can concentrate on other things. There will be positives and negatives to this.

However, I feel there will be slightly more negatives. I can’t base that upon much fact. There are crazy stories from other countries (Canada, UK) of people waiting months for critical surgeries and dying or having critical side effects (I will not post any here, you all can Google).

I hope at the very least that Obama’s health care plan will spurn support to change the system bit by bit. I also hope the system doesn’t get passed. It scares me to think of some consequences if it does. Consequences that are both positive and negative.

First post: A little about Me.

Hello, I am David Mankoff and I am glad you are reading this. I hope to be able to express some thoughts about this world and hopefully someone can take something away from this (whether positive or negative). As my first post, I would like to give you some background on me. I am still fairly young, yet I have an old soul. My life has been fun so far, and I hope to continue to learn about this world and even be able to influence some of it in the future.

My religious background is akin to a mutt puppy, as my Dad’s side of the family is Jewish (in religion and race, more on this later!). My mother was raised Christian in a standard church-on-Sunday way. I used to be Christian, then I was agnostic for a few months. Now, I am 99% Atheist. I will leave that as it is for now.

I am studying to be a pharmacist and am currently enrolled as a PS2 at Midwestern University in Illinois. This is a tough field, but I absolutely love it. I could not see myself doing anything else in my life and being this happy. When I got accepted into pharmacy school, which was a dream from age 8 on, I cried with joy. I am not ashamed to admit that; pharmacy is a passion of mine. I love assisting people. I enjoy informing someone of a medication, and the next day they come back and thank me for my service. I may complain sometimes about how stupid and rude people are, but that is a generalization that isn’t true for the entire population. I adore hyperbole, so sometimes take what I say with a grain of salt (except for my devotion to music and pharmacy).

If anyone has any questions/comments/complains or would like to donate to the expensive beast that is school, you can reach me at narn1234@gmail.com. To end the question now, a Narn was a species from Babylon 5 that would not take abuse from people, and stood up for what they believed in. They are a stubborn race, but they have a soft side of them shown at certain times.

I also believe in completely free speech. That being said, don’t swear needlessly. I will swear from time to time, as I feel that can intensify the emotion I’m trying to show. Flagrant abuse of that will lead comments to be deleted, or asked to be cleaned up. If you disagree with anything I say/do, feel free to post about it in a respectful manner. I will treat you with equal respect.

I would like to thank Brett Kaminski for the support and allowing me to create this. Brett’s informative blog can be found at http://brkaminski.wordpress.com/