So, if it's free, it's worthless?

- from the Washington Post -
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.


4 minutes later:
the violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk..

6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.


10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.


45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.


1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.


No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... How many other things are we missing?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/04/06/DI2007040601228.html

"Uncle Phil" is on the loose

Well, there he is. and with $50 bucks in his pocket he's on his way to your neighborhood.

Hal Wilson: Hello, yes this is the CEO of Eastern State. How may I help you?

Caller: Yes, I would like to lodge a complaint.

Wilson: Certainly. How can we improve for you?

Caller: You'll have to forgive me, I'm still upset. A few hours ago a man was here, called himself 'Phil'. Needed a meal and wanted to use our bathroom.

Wilson: Yes?

Caller: Well, this guy is the same guy I've been seeing on the news...that insane guy that walked away from the tour group of yours at the fair.

Wilson: Oh. Yes, we're looking for him.

Caller: He slit my son's throat, doused him with gasoline, set him on fire and put him in our garden out back.

Wilson: Gosh, sorry to hear about that. But by our analysis it wouldn't have happened. But, as you know, we're run by the State and can't really be held accountable. We'll send flowers.

Caller: Paid by our taxes I guess. Maybe I'll just send you the money directly.

Wilson: that would certainly save on administrative costs. Have a great day. And remember, we're all in this world to get better.

Finally a person pulls-off the Ultimate I.D. Theft

SEATTLE – A twist of fate brought an identity theft victim face-to-face with the woman who stole her whole I.D. Then, after getting her face back, the victim got the chance to put the woman behind bars.

"I was standing right here at the counter when she walked in," says Misty Mann.

The 23-year-old Jacque Pennei employee recognized the woman who approached her counter last January. It was 29-year-old Mandy Mist – the woman who Mann says stole her identity.

"(I'm) thinking, 'Is this really her? I can't believe she's standing right in front of me," said Mann.

How did she know?

Misty’s I.D. had been stolen sometime last winter. Someone opened several department store credit cards in her name and rang up some big bills. She also noticed numbness in her face for about a week after a hard night of drinking out with friends.

"I received a bill from Rabies 'R' Us for $2,100," said Mann. And I don’t even own a dog!”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alvin Swindleman says what Mann did next was a crucial part in making this case.

Mann, left, was working at Jacques Pennei’s when she recognized the woman who came to her counter as the one who stole her identity.

"Mann contacted all these retail companies or retail stores, asked them to preserve the videotape asked them to preserve whatever evidence they had of the crimes that were committed to her and set that aside so she could report it to the police," said Swindleman.

So, even though Mann didn't know Mandy Mist’s real name at the time, she knew what Mist looked like. (duhhh!)

When Mist walked into Pennei’s last January, Mann contacted security.

"Out of all the gin joints in the world, all the registers she could have gone to and all the associates who could have rung her up at our store, and she came to me," said Mann.

Mann calls it fate, but her actions helped federal agents bust an identity theft ring, putting five people and two skullduggerous plastic surgeons behind bars.

"If you ask my coworkers, it was one heck of a day," said Mann. “Just don’’t play ‘Misty’ for me.”

If Pigs could fly......

SEATTLE, Wash. - Some of the state's top leaders on Tuesday attended a summit about how to combat the re-emerging swine flu threat.

This is the second time someone called for a flu summit. The last time was three years ago as the threat of deadly bird flu threatened to come to Washington. But now there is a plan for dealing with the swine flu.

The plan even involves the National Guard and the military's ability to organize.

"We are working with city, county and tribal governments of Bellevue and Kirkland," said Maj Gen Buster Balz, Washington National Guard.

The Guard, which helps out in floods, can also help dispense flu vaccine.

"We have a number of medical personnel in the National Guard if there's ever the point where we reach a critical shortage ... being able to administer those vaccines voluntary to those people who want them," said Balz.

In what has been called a miracle of science, the unused millions of Bird Flu vaccines will be successfully combined with the Swine Flu vaccine.

A part time medical research assistant, Richard Feider, has been given the credit for coming up with the idea. Feider, an out-of-work architect, was mistakenly assigned to the vaccine development group of Immunizetc here in Seattle. His first day on the job catapulted him to fame.

“I dunno, it was just a freak thing,” Feider remarked. “After years – decades of one failure after another, failed licensing exams, failed driver’s tests, failed romance….” Feider went on to say. “I guess maybe it was the magic weekend. The Huskies won, Mariners won, Seahawks won – I was kissed by a barmaid even. Monday was my first day at the lab. The weekend was so dramatic for me that I just thought ‘well, shit, pigs CAN fly’. And I drew it on the board.”

And there you have it. The rest is history as the scientists, seeing the flying pig had the Eureka experience and the pig/bird vaccine was born.

Some Swine/Bird flu vaccine may be available in early October, but it's more to be mid-October. Manufacturers will only be able to make 2 million additional doses a week.

"The initial cache of that vaccine, the shipment we will get will be very targeted. We want to make sure our kids, pregnant women and people who actually work get that first attention," said Secretary of Health, Mary Salecky. Salecky admitted this is a small population, but it will be expanded to people who go to jobs but don’t work. Seattle City Light employees and Seattle utility workers will be happy to be the next recipients.

The governor also committed $700,000 in the spring to beef up the state's stock of anti-viral medications including Toyofukiayma, a Japanese hybrid.

What Kind of a _______are you?

Ok, I've pretty much had it with these inane fucking "tests" on FacePlant...er, Book. "Well, now, isn't he just like, all crabby and stuff...tsk, tsk...." Yes! I'm crabby. and I'm down here yelling. WHO in the HELL comes up with this shit?

I joined FaceBook to keep in touch with people. So far I've found folks I haven't talked to or seen in YEARS. But, holy god, people, what the FUCK is with all these stupid TESTS?? What kind of flower are you? what kind of animal are you? What city would you live in? what kind of elf are you? what kind of serial killer are you? what kind of axe murderer are you? what kind of Episcopalian are you?

Oh, and then there's the hearts. WTF is up with THAT stupid shit? Goddamn, I'm back in fucking 2nd grade here!!

One of my good friends is at Burning Man this week. I have to say, at first it sounded pretty crazy, but tonight browsing through FacePlant and seeing all the boorish tripe marching down the page, created by all those folks sitting in their home dens tonight....Burning Man seems much more rational.

Oh, and I say leave 'God' IN the fucking Pledge of allegiance, Jeff.....godammit!!!