As much as I love-hate my PC, it's evident that Apple is the consumer darling. For the past decade, every time Apple has come out with a new killer product, companies come out of the woodwork claiming to have a better product. So far Apple has held supreme. Even with its computers, despite the small market share, Apple has managed and grown a die-hard non-prescription plastic frame glasses and tight jeans wearing fanbase.
But recently, the seemingly supreme iPhone has been challenged twice in a rather short period of time. Although the G1 garnered extensive coverage in the tech community, it's the Blackberry Storm that has captured the attention of people across the nation. But will the Blackberry Storm, like the Microsoft Zune, flash by and disappear despite all the hype?
What do you think?
WIth the soon-to-be-released, Bangkok Dangerous, I have myself looking at the long and "illustrious" movie careeer of one Nicolas Cage.
To make it quick, I don't like it. I've never liked Nick Cage. I can't stand that slow, Southern accent he does in some films. Or that half-tilt of the head and smile look he makes. Or the way he enunciates certain words, but not in a cool, menacing manner like Christopher Walken, but like the spawn of a Valley Girl and the Speech Device in Microsoft Windows. Call me crazy, but I think John Travolta did a better Nick Cage than Nick Cage. Nick Cage's Nick Cage was a poor man's Nick Cage compared to John Travolta's Nick Cage.
But I will admit this, Nick Cage gets gigs in some of the coolest movies. Gone in 60 Seconds. Awesome. Lord of War. Great. Family Man. Fantastic + Tea Leoni is smoking hot. Leaving Las Vegas. Depressingly Good.
So maybe Nick Cage has some sort of charm about him that keeps on bringing in the big bucks, but for the most part, I can't really stand his acting. The End.
Awesome! Now how long before Metallica takes it down?
BUY DEATH MAGNETIC WHEN IT COMES OUT!
HOW TO ARGUE EFFECTIVELY
I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining friends. I can win an argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this and steer clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they don't even invite me. You too can win arguments. Simply follow these rules:
DRINK LIQUOR
Suppose you are at a party and some hotshot intellectual is expounding on the economy of Peru, a subject you know nothing about. If you're drinking some health-fanatic drink like grapefruit juice, you'll hang back, afraid to display your ignorance, while the hotshot enthralls your date. But if you drink several large martinis, you'll discover you have STRONG VIEWS about the Peruvian economy. You'll be a WEALTH of information. You'll argue forcefully, offering searing insights and possibly upsetting furniture.
People will be impressed. Some may leave the room.
MAKE THINGS UP
Suppose, in the Peruvian economy argument, you are trying to prove that Peruvians are underpaid, a position you base solely on the fact that YOU are underpaid, and you'll be damned if you're going to let a bunch of Peruvians be better off. DON'T say: "I think Peruvians are underpaid." Say instead:
"The average Peruvian's salary in 1981 dollars adjusted for the revised tax base is $1,452.81 per annum, which is $836.07 before the mean gross poverty level."
NOTE: Always make up exact figures.
If an opponent asks you where you got your information, make THAT up too. Say:
"This information comes from Dr. Hovel T. Moon's study for the Buford Commission published on May 9, 1982. Didn't you read it?" Say this in the same tone of voice you would use to say, "You left your soiled underwear in my bathroom."
USE MEANINGLESS BUT WEIGHTY-SOUNDING WORDS AND PHRASES
Memorize this list:
Let me put it this way
In terms of
Vis-�-vis
Per se
As it were
Qua
So to speak
You should also memorize some Latin abbreviations such as "Q.E.D.", "e.g.", and "i.e." These are all short for "I speak Latin, and you don't."
Here's how to use these words and phrases. Suppose you want to say,"Peruvians would like to order appetizers more often, but they don't have enough money."
You never win arguments talking like that. But you WILL win if you say:
"Let me put it this way. In terms of appetizers vis-�-vis Peruvians qua Peruvians, they would like to order them more often, so to speak, but they do not have enough money per se, as it were. Q.E.D." Only a fool would challenge that statement.
USE SNAPPY AND IRRELEVANT COMEBACKS
You need an arsenal of all-purpose irrelevant phrases to fire back at your opponents when they make valid points. The best are:
You're begging the question.
You're being defensive.
Don't compare apples to oranges.
What are your parameters?
This last one is especially valuable. Nobody (other than engineers and policy wonks) has the vaguest idea what "parameters" means.
Don't forget the classic: YOU'RE SO LINEAR.
Here's how to use your comebacks:
You say: As Abraham Lincoln said in 1873...
Your opponent says: Lincoln died in 1865.
You say: You're begging the question.
You say: Liberians, like most Asians...
Your opponent says: Liberia is in Africa.
You say: You're being defensive.
So that's it. You now know how to out-argue anybody. Do not try to pull any of this on people who generally carry weapons.
*Thanks to whoever wrote this up. It is genius! You have the world slightly better.
http://boomp3.com/listen/bz3zydjuc_w/chris-cornell-feat-timbaland-long-gone
1. He's got a song that's playing on KIIS FM. Ryan Seacrest and Chris Cornell? Chris Cornell, you can't be serious.
2. Timbaland and Chris Cornell? Whoever saw this coming? Maybe Rivers Cuomo from Weezer was right, Timbaland DOES know the way to reach the top of the charts.
3. We all knew Chris Cornell's career was floundering after he wrote a song for Casino Royale(although it was cool) and then covered Billie Jean.
Listen to the song linked above and tell me what you think
