Seeing Fakes, Angry Traders Confront EBay

Seeing Fakes, Angry Traders Confront EBay - New York Times:

"The Tiffany lawsuit, in addition to accusing eBay of facilitating counterfeiting, also contends that it 'charges hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees' for counterfeit sales."

Tiffany is only one example the above article references with respect to those being duped by eBay sellers. The problem here, however, cannot be dealt with in a normal sense, given eBay really has no control over what is and what is not listed. The business model is simple: create an electronic marketplace where buyers and sellers can come together and engage in mutually beneficial transactions. The key word here being, "electronic." The fact of the matter is, not only does eBay have any control over its listings, it has absolutely no feasible way of policing its listings either.

The quoted portion above, however, cites a very important point: eBay is collecting inumerous fees on these illegitimate postings. Now, it seems to me that in order to remain a positive reputation, eBay might consider taking an interest; otherwise, its users will lose faith in the service. But the bottom line here is simple: buyer beware. Choosing eBay over a brick and morter store is an absolute risk, and you must be ready to face the consequences.

I've bought DVD's on there and gotten pirated movies from China. I bought a rare CD, only to find it was a bootleg copy. Now, these two items I received my money back (less shipping) fairly easily--both claims with PayPal. However, I also got hosed on a fake Versace wallet that I did not receive my money back on. But you know what? If something seems too-good-to-be-true, it probably is. Duh! Right? As a buyer, I have to remain very skeptical of what I choose to purchase on eBay. Personally, I prefer to buy things in stores and if I'm only going to save $20 or so, I'll usually eat it and buy it locally. But really, that's generally because I find it more convenient. If I buy something on eBay I have to worry about where they will ship it and whether I will actually receive it, given I move around all the time. I have to worry about when the package will come; if I'll have to sign for it; etc.

So anyway, just watch yourself when you're bidding on eBay items, and you should be alright. Be especially leary of artwork, jewlery and artifacts. And remember: glowing positive feedback can easily be faked. But none of this is eBay's problem, necessarily. They just make the ability for online transactions possible.

JottoDesk in the Dodge Ram.

A few pictures showing the installation of a JottoDesk in the Dodge Ram.

Pando.

White Collar.

Okay, so I'm re-reading J. D. Salinger's, The Catcher In The Rye--okay, okay, you caught me! I never actually made it thru the first time; but god willing, I'll read the entire novel this time. Interestingly enough, I believe originally I switched from Rye to Franny and Zooey, if I recall correctly...

Anyway, I'm reading the first few pages, and I come across this curious passage:

"Pencey was full of crooks. Quite a few guys came from these very wealthy families, but it was full of crooks anyway. The more expensive a school is, the more crooks it has--I'm not kidding."

It always occured to me that--at least in the movies--the poor kids were just trying to survive, while the wealthy were always just looking for things to do. They were bored. They needed to rebel because normal behavior was too easy and too monotonous.

What's worse: the kid who robs a liquor store at 3am for a couple of hundred; or the man who robs billions from millions of stockholders? Well, at least no one got seriously injured.

Hiccups Lead To Two Deaths

My Way News:

"BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - A Colombian man accidentally shot his nephew to death while trying to cure his hiccups by pointing a revolver at him to scare him, police in the Caribbean port city of Barranquilla said on Tuesday.

After shooting 21-year-old university student David Galvan in the neck, his uncle, Rafael Vargas, 35, was so distraught he turned the gun on himself and committed suicide, police said.

The incident took place on Sunday night while the two were having drinks with neighbors.

Galvan started to hiccup and Vargas, who works as a security guard, said he would use the home remedy for hiccups of scaring him. He pulled out his gun, pointed it at Galvan and it accidentally went off, witnesses told local television.

'They were drinking but they were aware of what was going on,' one witness said."

Well, at least he cured the hiccups...

Kierkegaard's The Happy Conflagration

The Happy Conflagration

It happened that a fire broke out backstage in a theater. The clown came out to inform the public. They thought it was just a jest and applauded. he repeated his warning, they shouted even louder. So I think the world will come to an end amid general applause from all the wits, who believe that it is a joke.

--Søren Kierkegaard, Either/Or

Me and David had a discussion about this in reference to Neitzsche's Parable of the Madman in an earlier post.

Kennedy Space Center

I forgot to post these pictures of my visit to Kennedy Space Center last year.

Blogger Web Comments for Firefox

evhead: Blogger Web Comments for Firefox:

"It's a Firefox plug-in that uses blog search to show you the latest stuff people are saying about the page you're currently viewing."

Get it.

Darwin Wins Point in Rome

In 'Design' vs. Darwinism, Darwin Wins Point in Rome - New York Times:

"'If the model proposed by Darwin is not considered sufficient, one should search for another,' Fiorenzo Facchini, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Bologna, wrote in the Jan. 16-17 edition of the paper, L'Osservatore Romano.

'But it is not correct from a methodological point of view to stray from the field of science while pretending to do science,' he wrote, calling intelligent design unscientific. 'It only creates confusion between the scientific plane and those that are philosophical or religious.'"

This belabored point is perhaps of utmost import, with regards to this long-lasting debate. Kuhn suggested in his Structure of Scientific Revolutions, that science forges new theories by way of introducing paradigm shifts in scientific models. This comes from new, relevant data; increasing sophistication and advances in technology; and after rigorous experimentation, checks and balances, and general scholarly rigamarole in the scientific community.

Facchini is simply suggesting we abide by this methodology--that if a given model does not seem to live up to the standards of science, perhaps we should find an alternative. However, that alternative must meet the scrutiny of science and the scientific community. Creationists and also some purporters of intelligent design, believe that if they can find any problems in Darwin's theory--more specifically, modern evolutionary synthesis--that therefore, "goddidit." This is called God-of-the-Gaps theory and is common sensically invalid, logically or otherwise speaking.

In an earlier post, I formed the arguement that one can believe in a Creator and still accept evolutionary theory as a valid, scientific model. In the afformentioned article, I showed the distinctness of modern evolutionary synthesis as a scientific theory, as opposed to intelligent design: merely a statement of faith, having little or nothing to do with actual science.

The present article seems to agree with that point, by and large, demonstrating the 'evolution' of the Vatican's standpoint on evolutionary science.

Google Cares.

Google Resists U.S. Subpoena of Search Data - New York Times:

"'Google's acceding to the request would suggest that it is willing to reveal information about those who use its services,' it said in an October letter to the Justice Department. 'This is not a perception Google can accept. And one can envision scenarios where queries alone could reveal identifying information about a specific Google user, which is another outcome that Google cannot accept.'"

While MSN, AOL and Yahoo! have all complied with the U.S. government's demands for search data, Google is providing ample resistance, questioning the relevance of said data. The government is hoping the data will help promote an online pornography law, put into motion back in 1998.

While the multi-faceted search engine is clearly attempting to protect its trade secrets, Google seems to be genuinely concerned about the privacy of its users. The fact that Google is fighting this subpoena on grounds that it is unjustifiable, boosts my confidence a great deal. How could I ever use another search engine?

Always Look On The Bright Side.

Parable of the Madman.

Have you not heard of that madman who lit a lantern in the bright morning hours, ran to the market place, and cried incessantly: "I seek God! I seek God!"---As many of those who did not believe in God were standing around just then, he provoked much laughter. Has he got lost? asked one. Did he lose his way like a child? asked another. Or is he hiding? Is he afraid of us? Has he gone on a voyage? emigrated?---Thus they yelled and laughed

The madman jumped into their midst and pierced them with his eyes. "Whither is God?" he cried; "I will tell you. We have killed him---you and I. All of us are his murderers. But how did we do this? How could we drink up the sea? Who gave us the sponge to wipe away the entire horizon? What were we doing when we unchained this earth from its sun? Whither is it moving now? Whither are we moving? Away from all suns? Are we not plunging continually? Backward, sideward, forward, in all directions? Is there still any up or down? Are we not straying, as through an infinite nothing? Do we not feel the breath of empty space? Has it not become colder? Is not night continually closing in on us? Do we not need to light lanterns in the morning? Do we hear nothing as yet of the noise of the gravediggers who are burying God? Do we smell nothing as yet of the divine decomposition? Gods, too, decompose. God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.

"How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it? There has never been a greater deed; and whoever is born after us---for the sake of this deed he will belong to a higher history than all history hitherto."

Here the madman fell silent and looked again at his listeners; and they, too, were silent and stared at him in astonishment. At last he threw his lantern on the ground, and it broke into pieces and went out. "I have come too early," he said then; "my time is not yet. This tremendous event is still on its way, still wandering; it has not yet reached the ears of men. Lightning and thunder require time; the light of the stars requires time; deeds, though done, still require time to be seen and heard. This deed is still more distant from them than most distant stars---and yet they have done it themselves.

It has been related further that on the same day the madman forced his way into several churches and there struck up his requiem aeternam deo. Led out and called to account, he is said always to have replied nothing but: "What after all are these churches now if they are not the tombs and sepulchers of God?"

Friedrich Nietzsche, The Gay Science (1882, 1887) para. 125; Walter Kaufmann ed. (New York: Vintage, 1974), pp.181-82.

Grab Life By The Horns

My new truck. The 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Quad Cab 4.7L V8.

Pandora.

Thank you Aerikuh for sharing knowledge of Pandora: The Music Genome Project. Create. Listen. Share.

My stations thus far:

• Seven Deadly Synths / a collection of essential synth pop & new wave titles
  
• Femmelodic / a collection of essential female melodies
  
• Indysphere / a collection of essential alt.indie.emo
  
• Bad Boys Cry Too / a collection of essential rock power ballads

MyWorld?

It being the case that I travel around quite frequently, I'm always on the lookout for new people to hang out with. Lately, I've been using MySpace as a means to that end. Last night I met up with a friend I'd met a week or two prior and a lot of her friends; and while I was at the bar, I heard the word "MySpace" come up on many occasions. Apparently, one of the other guys there had just met one of the other girls from MySpace and I heard other conversations about MySpace during the duration of our stay. Even at the diner where we sobered up and whatnot, one of the guys stated, "She has a MySpace profile!" about a waitress. It all seems so surreal to me.

Memoir One: First CD's

These are my first seven CD's. I'm pretty sure, anyway.

Janet Jackson - janet. [Christmas gift along with Sony CD player. I remember singing along with the song "Again" over and over in bed and thinking about Rachael P.]

Live - Mental Jewelry [Christmas gift along with Sony CD player]

Pearl Jam - Vs. [I first saw this CD at a haunted hayride in sixth grade. When I got there, Dustin G. (we called him "Tom Cruise Junior" because he played Tom Cruise as a kid in Oliver Stone's Born On The Fourth of July) handed me a business card with his name and telephone number and a picture of a telephone on it. I thought this was just about the coolest thing ever--and from Dustin: the coolest guy on the planet! Rachael P. brought the Pearl Jam CD and I really liked the cover so I bought it the next day. More about the party in a later memoir.]

Stone Temple Pilots - Purple ["Twelve Gracious Melodies!"]

Pearl Jam - Vitalogy [The liner notes detail the "evils" of masturbation--a frightening subject for fourteen year old boys.]

Alice In Chains - Jar of Flies [This EP still hails as one of my all-time favorites.]

Jim Valentino - Shadowhawk: The Secret Revealed Comic Book Soundtrack [I still hear quotes from this in my head from time to time.]

I'll have to do some heavy thinking to go further than this. BMG and Columbia House kicked in at a certain point and I started receiving CD's like mad.

This is about how it's gonna be: my memoirs, that is. Tiny fragments of my memory published here, as my memory seems to be failing the older I get. They won't be in any particular order or posted for any particular reason, other than that I might just be thinking about said memoir at the time. If it entertains you, read it; if it doesn't, feel free to move on. Either way, they are what they are and I'll remain real and true as far as my mind believes it to be the case.