Pattern Recognition

It's interesting to see how claims of algorithms that can predict what people might like or dislike can play out in realtime.

Let me rephrase this: looking at my FB feed, there are certain people who post the same damn thing all the time. One woman is really into Morrissey and her dogs. Another preaches against circumcision. One dude gets super defensive whenever anyone suggests that his constant posts about his band are boring people. Another has pretty routine (Sun-Mon) football posts. My uncle is certain that any liberal policy is evil (the 'Obama is blahblahblah', dude.) Rarely do they want to have a discussion.

It has lead me to a conclusion: People are fucking boring. We don't stretch our legs or minds, we don't try and experience the new, we cower safely in our havens of The Same. 

Which makes us predictable. Of course advanced math can tell us what we like; we always like the same thing. 

Worse, we're often mocked when our tastes change and this only encourages more of the same. Which, again, is fucking boring. I get it; you like Morrissey, you think Russell Brand is brilliant/a moron, liberal policies are lies that will lead America to armageddon, that you think your baby is super duper adorable and the best thing ever (which I will allow for 6 months no problem and then GET THE FUCK OVER IT, YOUR CHILD IS ONLY SPECIAL TO YOU) etc, etc. The exception to this would be actions: people who post about the races they engaged in, how their kid did well at the last B-ball tournament, an opinion on an activity they undertook. 

And just so nobody thinks that I'm holding myself above this: I am aware that I post about beer, heavy metal, videogames, and generally 'be excellent to each other' ideas, very, very frequently. I will read things about such and share them. 

It's one of my greatest fears though; not that I will repeat myself but that I will fail to advance as I repeat myself. 

The Devil & The Paycheck

The smell of sulfur fills the air.

"So...I hear you got paid. With a raise." Licks lips.

Well yes, I did! It's going to be so much..hey!

"Well, you did say you wanted to put more towards the house, right?"

Yes.

"And you need to start saving up again, after that whole furnace thing."

~narrows eyes~ I still don't know you didn't have something to do with that.

"hehe, Now, now, why would I tamper with such things? Where were we...oh yes. Look. Magic cards."

Hey, I've restructured the budget so that I'm actually spending less!

"Oh, that's adorable. I also see there's money towards pants, now."

But...all my other jeans are ruined. I need at least one more pair.

"Oh, certainly, we can't have you not wearing pants. Nor driving without insurance."

It's not my fault my car died. 

"But you just had to get a 'newer' one."

...

"Yes, so there's that increase. Heeey, did you know High On Fire is coming to town?"

C'mon, I haven't seen a concert in a year.

"I'm just saying. There's also that anniversary gift. And the Thanksgiving expenses: food, gas, oil changes, travel."

Those things keep me in sex and some form of happiness. Do you think I won't come down there and take over if you leave me sexless?

"A point made, however meaningless the threat. Ooooo, look at this! Internet. Beer supplies and blogging?"

HEY. You know the rule. No beer and no internet make Homer something something.

"Grrrr...I didn't negotiate that well. I suppose I should let you have the 'food' and 'water' thing too."

I'd appreciate that. So what do I have left?

"Left? Oh, yes. Left. Well there you go. Don't spend it all in one place."

Goddamnit.

"Remember, that's how you got in this jam in the first place."