chris j. howard | notebook http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/ the online notebook of chris j. howard en Copyright 2013 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:29:00 -0700 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss SimCity Happiness simcity-happiness.jpg

 
"Sims get happy by spending money" ... hahaha! (I bet that's what EA thinks of real people too. just spend $80 renting a game, and you too can be happy!)
 
so no quality of life issues, like low crime rates, high paying jobs, good quality healthcare, a clean environment, quiet neighborhoods, or access to music, art and other culture... nope, just spending money.
 
I guess you could go to the park in case you've maxed out your credit cards.
]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consumerism/simcity-happiness.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consumerism/simcity-happiness.cfm consumerism Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:29:00 -0700 un film spectaculaire breve jeux pixel! ]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/whimsy/un-film-spectaculaire-breve-jeux-pixel.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/whimsy/un-film-spectaculaire-breve-jeux-pixel.cfm whimsy Sat, 18 Sep 2010 20:46:42 -0700 the good consumer

it's Buy Nothing Day again. unfortunately this year, there are probably more consumers involuntarily participating in buying nothing due to an unprecedented decline in consumer spending. more unprecedented is exactly how large this bubble of consumption is. according to Stephen S. Roach, the chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, consumer spending in the United States was up to 72 percent of the gross domestic product in 2007, "a record for any large economy in the modern history of the world." in other words, 72% of all the income generated — the market value of all the output produced in a year — was spent on buying "things." the rest was probably spent on paying off credit card debt as the result of buying "things" from the previous year.

however, you didn't have to look too far to find some holiday cheer. apparently enough people who had some room left on their credit cards to buy a $3 toaster trampled a store employee to death at a Long Island Wal-Mart:

 

Wal-Mart worker dies in Black Friday stampede
Nov. 28, 2008

A Wal-Mart worker at its Long Island store has died after being trampled by a throng of unruly shoppers looking for Black Friday bargains. Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers stepped over him and became irate when officials said the store was closing because of the death, police and witnesses said.

At least four other people, including a woman who was eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries. The store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening. Black Friday takes its name from the profits retailers hope to rack up at the start of the holiday shopping season.

Take the one week "Debrand your life" challenge!

]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consumerism/the-good-consumer.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consumerism/the-good-consumer.cfm consumerism Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:29:19 -0700 no good and evil there is no good and evil, only authenticity and fear -- the fear of being authentic.

fear allows the ego to grow and cloud the thoughts of authenticity, which can lead to outrageous behaviour (results).

]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consciousness/no-good-and-evil.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consciousness/no-good-and-evil.cfm consciousness Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:30:52 -0700 tasty fish squeeze i was just down at SaveCo and noticed a huge sale on Tasty Fish Squeeze... do you want me to pick you up some crates?

 

]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/whimsy/tasty-fish-squeeze.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/whimsy/tasty-fish-squeeze.cfm whimsy Sun, 06 Jan 2008 18:02:00 -0700 even cowboys celebrate Buy Nothing Day It’s the law on November 23rd, 2007.


I wonder what Jesus has to say about Buy Nothing Day?]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consumerism/even-cowboys-celebrate-buy-nothing-day.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consumerism/even-cowboys-celebrate-buy-nothing-day.cfm consumerism Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:59:49 -0700 atomic bush 2004 a few years back, i co-hosted several radio shows on KRCL in salt lake city. for one show shortly before the 2004 election, i created a new remix of Coldcut's classic "Atomic Moog 2000" using some precious "bushy drops" ... anyway, here in all its streaming glory i present "Atomic Bush 2004"

 

]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/music/atomic-bush-2004.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/music/atomic-bush-2004.cfm music Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:38:00 -0700 a work of art http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consciousness/a-work-of-art.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consciousness/a-work-of-art.cfm consciousness Sat, 10 Nov 2007 22:09:37 -0700 can you spot the Coca-Cola bottles? What%20the%20World%20Eats.jpg

judging by this Time Magazine photo essay (+ part II), half the world eats fresh fruits, vegetables and other whole foods -- the other half eats mostly artificial food and soda pop.

]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/health/can-you-spot-the-cocacola-bottles.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/health/can-you-spot-the-cocacola-bottles.cfm health + feeling good Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:31:06 -0700 The Japanese Way of Health

The Japanese Way of Health

Why the Japanese live so long and so healthy
 

]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/health/the-japanese-way-of-health.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/health/the-japanese-way-of-health.cfm health + feeling good Mon, 02 Jul 2007 01:31:00 -0700 fun, done

 

article in the Salt Lake City Weekly featuring those lovely boys Nick and Jesse... (and me too):

Fun, Done

]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/music/fun-done.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/music/fun-done.cfm music Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:52:00 -0700 The Mint Julep my dear, dear, dear friend david dick came into town to visit this week.... we ate sea urchins, made mint juleps and played katamari damacy. quality times were had by all. http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/whimsy/the-mint-julep.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/whimsy/the-mint-julep.cfm whimsy Fri, 03 Mar 2006 15:18:00 -0700 A man with priorities so far out of whack doesn't deserve such a fine automobile. everything we think is important and everything we've been taught is important—doesn't matter. the most important things in life, we are raised to almost completely ignore. what the fuck is wrong with this world? absolutely everything that would truly make us happy we are either taught to look the other way or disregard, or we are taught that anyone who embraces these ideals is somehow a second-class citizen or otherwise someone who has an anti-social personality. in the true clinical definition of the term i have an anti-social personality. why? because i choose to live a life of doing everything i want?

rules were made for people who are scared shitless of blazing their own trail... of those who would never dare walk on the grass.

god.. going through old stacks of crap tonight and coming across unopened bills and mail et cetera that DOESN'T and DIDN'T ever matter. the most important things in life are few and far between -- HOLD ON TO IT when you find it.]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consciousness/getting-clear/a-man-with-priorities-so-far-out-of-whac.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consciousness/getting-clear/a-man-with-priorities-so-far-out-of-whac.cfm consciousness getting clear Tue, 21 Feb 2006 23:52:00 -0700 what your soul sings don't be afraid
open your mouth and say
say what your soul sings to you

your mind can never change
unless you ask it to
lovingly re-arrange
the thoughts that make you blue
the things that bring you down
only do harm to you
and so make your choice joy
the joy belongs to you

and when you do
you'll find the one you love is you

don't be ashamed
to open your heart and pray
say what your soul sings to you

ask it anything
because it loves you dear
it's your most precious king
if only you could hear

and when you do
you'll find the one you need is you]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consciousness/what-your-soul-sings.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/consciousness/what-your-soul-sings.cfm consciousness Wed, 01 Feb 2006 11:31:00 -0700 lithium, hell & handcream Troy and i hosted the Lake Effect yesterday. it was hot! our best show to date... except for our sex show (which no recordings survived...eeepp! that was a great show -- all sex songs, all the time).

you can listen to it here: ]]> http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/music/lithium-hell-handcream.cfm http://www.chrisjhoward.com/notebook/music/lithium-hell-handcream.cfm music Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:31:00 -0700