So you might possibly be wondering why within the last couple of entries that I treated swearing like some kind of big deal. Well, in a way, I do. I feel that the purpose of "colorful language" is basically shock value. That value is greatly diminished when every other word out of someone's mouth is "fuck". It paints that person as some kind of vulgar moron with an extremely limited vocabulary. An example: Occasionally at work (actually, now that I think about it, more like at least once a day for me) the molds on the presses need to be "treated"; that is, sprayed with some kind of chemical so the rubber won't stick. And the other day, as it happens often enough, the little bucket of the sprayer ran out, while I was in the middle of spraying a press. So I had to wait as more was being brought to me (the backup wasn't there, and I don't know where to get more), and during that time, the molder returns after the every-half-hour smoke. I explain that I was almost finished, but not quite since the sprayer was "out of fluid." His response? "So you ran out of the shit?"

My point: unnecessary vulgarity. I know the response was a little redundant, but remember, I'm working in a noisy place where hearing protection is required. And I have a hard enough time hearing people sometimes. I know I'm guilty of not enunciating too. And I have this (possibly annoying) habit of trying to re-explain everything said to me, in an effort to not only understand it myself, but also make sure I'm on the same page as the other person. A lot of times it ends up as a lot of double-talk, like "That's what I just said." So the problem is worse for me with earplugs and industrial fans and such. But I digress.

It's not that I'm opposed to using swears, and it's not like I don't use them myself. I just feel that it's better to use them when you really need to, as opposed to all the time and you get desensitized to it. Then you'd have to come up with all new swears. Which might not be such a bad idea, since kids are learning swears younger and younger (I happened to learn "shit" myself when I was 7, in a nice embarassing little story). Or at least, they're being exposed to more adult things. I didn't really notice it until I was watching TV with a kid in the room...there's a lot of stuff I might find objectionable if I were a parent. But I'm not...I like being able to be an adult without having to constantly worry about da children (you have to say it like Chef).

And now for something completely different...

I caught a little bit of Star Trek the other night (TNG...and I'm using the abbreviation like I'm cool). And I thought about it, and I noticed: every scheduled action takes place at the top of the hour. I never heard Picard call a meeting for 0830 hours. Most of these tasks are also scheduled in the morning...I never heard 1900 hours either. And is that strict 24 hour time, or military time? (1650 hours being 4:30pm, or 4:50?) Yeah, I'm reading into it too much, but you KNOW there are other people who analyze other things WAY too much. Plus, I'm pretty sure they operate on a 25 hour clock. Yeesh, all that, plus all that travel at relativistic speeds, that must really screw you up. Warp lag? Must be pretty bad if you constantly end up with that "twin paradox" thing.
posted by Tim at 12:14 AM