The Question Box

New Blog

2008-12-23T00:21:00.002-04:00

So, I have a new blog. It's usually not very funny, but still worth reading (if I do say so myself).

Freedom of BLEEP

HMM..... EINFACH LECKER!!!

2006-07-01T17:03:00.000-04:00

St. Mark's Basilica Plaza

2006-06-15T14:05:00.000-04:00

Mask Shop in Venice

2006-06-14T17:02:00.000-04:00

Florence, Piazza Stazione

2006-06-11T14:54:00.000-04:00

Florence Panorama

2006-06-10T14:37:00.000-04:00

Miguelete Panorama

2006-06-09T16:09:00.000-04:00

Valencia

2006-05-30T16:58:00.000-04:00

Park Guell

2006-05-20T17:41:00.000-04:00

Benja, My Roommate

2006-05-19T16:25:00.000-04:00

La Sagrada Familia

2006-05-16T12:34:00.000-04:00

I'm in Spain

2006-05-14T16:54:00.000-04:00

From now on I'll be writing about the pictures and what I've been up to in the comments section, so keep an eye out for it there.

So I'm in Spain now... sorry if I didn't get a chance to tell you before I left. I figured I would start doing this blog thing again to keep up with everyone. Post some messages for me here or email me at the address on the right side of this page. I'll be getting my cell phone working here tomorrow as well with free incoming calls; I'll let you know about the number when I get it.

I've been having a blast here, and I'll get in to some details later but I have to go unpack... I've been here a week so it's about time to do that I'd say.

Untitled Document

2005-11-16T04:24:00.000-04:00

hey, cool. my blog is still here.

Photoshop Series: Topograph

2005-08-14T17:46:00.000-04:00

Photoshop Series: Squares

2005-08-13T23:58:00.000-04:00

Backyard Series: Plates (In Light)

2005-07-29T02:27:00.000-04:00

Backyard Series: Chains (During Night)

2005-07-20T20:39:00.000-04:00

Back Yard Series: The Bucket

2005-07-16T17:04:00.000-04:00

Cherokee Avenue Series II: Outbox

2005-07-14T17:05:00.000-04:00

Cherokee Avenue Series II: Circles Standing

2005-07-11T17:11:00.000-04:00

Cafe Series I: Paper Lights

2005-07-10T18:04:00.000-04:00

Cafe Series I: Unexpected

2005-07-08T19:15:00.000-04:00

Cafe Series I: News

2005-06-26T18:10:00.000-04:00

Cherokee Avenue Series: Conversations

2005-06-23T02:04:00.000-04:00

Cherokee Avenue Series: #2225

2005-06-21T23:54:00.000-04:00

Cherokee Avenue Series: Mona Lisa (Unmodified Version)

2005-06-19T17:15:00.000-04:00

Cherokee Avenue Series: Ants

2005-06-18T15:25:00.000-04:00

Cherokee Avenue Series: Untitled II

2005-06-16T18:03:00.000-04:00

Cherokee Avenue Series: Going Somewhere

2005-06-14T17:25:00.000-04:00

Cherokee Avenue Series: Untitled I

2005-06-12T19:25:00.000-04:00

Cherokee Avenue Series: Flowers

2005-06-10T18:26:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (B&W): Cathedral II

2005-06-09T20:02:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (B&W): Untitled II

2005-06-05T18:42:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (B&W): Sunken Vessel

2005-06-03T17:00:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (B&W): Cathedral I

2005-06-02T16:26:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (B&W): Radial Motion

2005-06-01T00:21:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (Color): Mona Lisa

2005-05-29T11:58:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (Color): Untitled I

2005-05-28T19:51:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (Color): Pieces

2005-05-27T19:20:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (Color): Red Fish

2005-05-26T18:52:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (Color): Large Leaf

2005-05-25T00:25:00.000-04:00

Distortion Series I (Color): Cigar Store Indian

2005-05-24T01:13:00.000-04:00

Well...

2005-05-24T01:09:00.000-04:00

I forgot I was going to start updating this again, but someone brought it to my attention. Since I don't feel like doing anything else, for now this site will just be a frequently updated photoblog.

The Question Box is Coming Back

2005-05-09T19:26:00.000-04:00

on 5/16.

Here's something to look over while I'm gone.

Apnea Tables Log

2005-04-11T22:31:00.000-04:00

For the past week and a half or so I have been working on apnea tables. These are basically sets of breath holding that increase in time for each hold and you do a set every other day. People do these for free diving and I'm thinking about getting into it. The guy that's training me, Greg Leo, is possibly the best free diver in the country, having tied the national static record at about 7 minutes 15 seconds and shattered the dynamic records by 75%.

I'm going to use this post as a log in the comments to keep track of how long I get. My new record is 4:15! Give it a try and let me know what your time is and/or reasons why this could be bad for me.

*Helpful hints: Each hold gets a little easier, so if your first time is 1:30 try for 1:45 the next time and so on. Don't do more than eight holds in a set. Also, your chest may begin to undergo involuntary contractions since your body will want to breathe. This is normal and when you reach this stage it is your theoretical half limit.

Website Updated

2005-04-03T19:08:00.000-04:00

I put up some new pictures and changed the format a bit on brienapplegate.com. Let me know what you think.

Here's some old dogs.

A Paper I Wrote

2005-04-01T17:12:00.000-04:00

Someone asked if they could read this paper, so I figured I'd just post it here. I wrote it for my ethics class as a comparison and contrast of two societal models, but I'm not sure I entirely agree with it. You can let me know what you think if you feel like reading it.

The paper is in the comments.

Pictures from Panama

2005-03-27T18:09:00.000-04:00

Stupid Games

2005-03-17T14:49:00.000-04:00

I’m going to be going out of town for awhile, not that I post frequently anymore anyway. I’ll be in Panama, not sure when I’ll be back. Here are some cool games to play over your spring break.
These were selected from Casey Cook’s website where you can find lots more cool games to play.

No Touch
This game, best played in crowded areas, consists of making it from one spot to another without touching anyone, or anything. Can be played competitively.

Slap Bob
Whenever you meet any one named Bob, give them a good slap across their face.A nice ice breaker at parties.

Pocket Catch
This stupid game, like most others, sounds stupid but can be fun.you simply toss something in the air, usually a coin, and try and catch it in one of your pockets.

Bend the Utensil
Bend a metal utensil, then try and bend it back.The spoon is perhaps the most commonly bent utensil.

Phoneacide
Put a For Sale sign with your phone number in a public place. Sell something very cheap. Like your stereo for $20. When people call you to ask about your merchandise, tell them "It's not for sale!!", people will call you continuously if you phoneacide is enticing enough.

Molecules
After the elevator door closed, run around the elevator, bouncing round the room, off walls and other passengers until the doors open again.

Not Bothering to Make Lame Titles

2005-03-07T16:04:00.000-04:00

Question #9

2005-03-06T23:55:00.000-04:00

"I’m running low on cash. Can you help me out?"

- A.D.

Well you’ve come to the right person because I’m pretty well known for my get-rich-quick schemes. Unfortunately though, I’m too lazy to ever go through with them. While inventions are probably less likely to be successful than pyramid schemes and the like, I think they are slightly more dignified. With that in mind, here are a few of the inventions that I’ve been thinking about the past few days.

Pantos

Ever see the Seinfeld episode where Cramer invents the Bro, a bra for men? Well this was a pretty dumb idea, but they did mention that women’s underwear is more comfortable than men’s and I think they may have been on to something. The way I see it everything else men wear is more comfortable, there’s no reason our underwear shouldn’t be more comfortable too. Personally, I’ve never worn women’s underwear. It’s partially because I fear they may be too constricting, but the main reason is that I don’t know what size I wear in women’s clothing. Any way, it’s a pretty simple idea, shouldn’t be too hard to pull off. In a commercial I think I’d say “I make underpants for the American working man, because that’s who I am and that’s who I care about.”

Bacon Sprinkles

Bacon is pretty good and it goes with just about anything. The problem is it’s too hard to cook it every time you want to put it on something. I think little pieces of pre-cooked and well-cured bacon would do great on the market. Then you could have bacon any time you wanted! Even on salad! You might laugh now but people also laughed when bubble gum was invented. Well, probably.

Consistent World Map

Teachers in the United States really need a map they can use that parallels their teaching style. Students just get so confused when they see the smaller, less important countries that had nothing to do with the American Revolution. You could probably make a lot of money if you developed a map that only incorporates the countries that we need to learn about in the United States.

I also designed a perpetual motion machine, but I don’t think the public would really accept it since our society is pretty set in its ways about obeying the laws of thermodynamics. Besides, those are some pretty good ideas and should be enough to get you started. I'm sure any one of them will bring in more than enough to retire off of.

Urban Efficiency

2005-02-27T22:45:00.000-04:00

As Atlantans take the North Druid Hills exit off 85, many shake their heads at roadwork that seems to be the result of apathy and laziness. I disagree, however, firmly believing this project was carefully reasoned and thoroughly analyzed, and that the Homer Simpson Ideology is not as prevalent in America as one might expect. Rather, the logic is flawless – genius in fact – as mud will inevitably cover the road since there is a large useless pile of dirt right next to the road. By simply painting over the dirt that falls off the dirt pile the line will be visible for at least a week longer.

Similarly, the Department of Transportation has recently determined that stop signs are unnecessary for vehicular safety. They have already begun to faze them out at random intersections.

A Highly Recommended Goods

2005-02-23T00:45:00.001-04:00

I went to see my cousin this weekend and he showed me a "land surfer" he just got. It has a suspension system that simulates being on snowboard. It's pretty cool, check out this instruction manual translated into very well English.

The Technical Information:

(click to enlarge)

So that's the engine.. At first glance it looks like some sort of glass steel board counterweight.

General Information: (My favorites are 2 and 9)

(click to enlarge)

In case you go out and buy this, I just want to emphasize that you should never perform shunts with it, including bypasses or any other medical procedures.

Operating:

(click to enlarge)

I'm not sure enough about what that means to say anything about it.

Troubleshooting:

(click to enlarge)

Start up is hard? Is that normal? Is that a warning or does that mean something is wrong?

On the Road

2005-02-18T14:00:00.000-04:00

I'm going to be out of town for a few days... maybe I'll have some questions to answer when I get back...

Fair Use or IP Abuse?

2005-02-15T01:44:00.000-04:00

Recently, an artist named DJ Dangermouse integrated the riffs and vocals from The Beatles' White Album with the lyrics and beats of Jay-Z’s Black Album. The finished product - The Grey Album - consists of Jay-Z rapping to Beatles guitar and backup vocals.

To many, the controversial album seems to blatantly exploit fair use laws, but Dangermouse did an extensive amount of work on the album, including mixing in some of his own beats, and The Grey Album will not adversly effect the market for any Beatles or Jay-Z albums. DJ Dangermouse did not sell the album, but distributed it over the internet through peer-to-peer networks. While he did not receive any revenue directly from the album, its popularity has made him an internationally renowned DJ and has increased the demand for his other works.

Roc-A-Fella, Jay-Z’s label, commented that while DJ Dangermouse should have obtained permission to use Jay-Z’s recordings, the record is otherwise "hot."

Anyway, I'm doing a paper on Intellectual Property Law and this post came to mind. Let me know what you think.

Illusion and Intent

2005-02-10T19:49:00.000-04:00

There is, of course, no reason why the new totalitarianisms should resemble the old. Government by clubs and firing squads, by artificial famine, mass imprisonment and mass deportation, is not merely inhumane, it is demonstrably inefficient.… A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude. To make them love it is the task assigned, in present-day totalitarian states, to ministries of propaganda, newspaper editors and schoolteachers.… The greatest triumphs of propaganda have been accomplished, not by doing something, but by refraining from doing. Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth. By simply not mentioning certain subjects… totalitarian propagandists have influenced opinion much more effectively than they could have done by the most eloquent denunciations, the most compelling of logical rebuttals. But silence is not enough.… Without economic security, the love of servitude cannot possible come into existence… but security tends to be taken for granted. Its achievement is merely a superficial, external revolution. The love of servitude cannot be established except as the result of a deep, personal revolution in human minds and bodies.
-Aldous Huxley

The rational human being maximizes utility. Throughout this pursuit, personal tastes play among the most important roles in determining the marginal benefit from engaging in an activity or consuming a good. Interestingly enough, these preferences are the very things individuals accept as practically indisputable, and, as part of our nature, (temporarily) unchangeable. This usually leads to impulse “submission without inquisition.”

The impact of biological chemistry on the decision process, however, is likely over speculated. Certainly genetic composition is a factor in determining one’s actions, but perpetual exposure to conditioning is likely to be included in the function. Since the adolescence of America, an infatuation with everything material has matured proportionately to a budding economy. The media has raised us to save our money for the things we need, and for everything else there’s MasterCard. As the hierarchy of deeper needs pursued by our predecessors seems to fade, marketing schemes push aspirations of each individual toward a tangible conglomerate. With exceeding irony, we forfeit the pursuit of self-actualization in order to extract the earth’s heart and mold it to take the shape of our pockets, all the while making nature a convenient scapegoat. But in chasing an unsatisfiable desire for more, the nature of personal preference is never questioned. Adherence to illusion persists.

The thought-to-action transition is the result of an assumption that consciousness is a neutral collection of thoughts which inevitably lead to logical conclusions. However, consciousness is problematic; it contains bias, error due to lack of information, misconception due to extraneous (or fictitious) information, and irrationality derived from external sources. More often than not, the reality we see only consists of the shadows projected by our teachers, textbooks, news papers, and television programs. Such projections shape our “instinctual” ideals that ultimately compose the aggregate from which we draw our judgments and sentiments, even those regarding of our perception of good and evil.

Streamlined illusion suggests intent, and intent must have an origin. If intent exists, free will is compromised by false consciousness. In this manner concordance has been equated to truth. While “peace is made in such ways… slaves are made in such ways.”

We're Number One!

2005-02-05T18:34:00.000-04:00

In 2000, the average American had 5 credit cards and $7564 in credit card debt.
Every year more than a million people file for bankruptcy.
More people file for bankruptcy than graduate from college.
Americans spend nearly seven times as much time shopping as they do playing with their kids.
Shopping is the favorite activity of 93% of teenage girls.
The national savings rate is often below zero.
Most American children see over a million commercials before the age of twenty.

(Source: Affluenza, De Graaf)

“As volume of consumption goods increases, requirements for the care and maintenance of these goods also tends to increase; we get bigger houses to clean, a car to wash, a boat to put up for the winter, a television set to repair, and have to make more decisions on spending.”
-Swedish economist Staffan Linder, 1970

Ice Cream Who?

2005-01-27T23:59:00.000-04:00

This ice cream truck drives by my apartment everyday, then sometimes again at night. It is January, so I'm sure business is booming. Also, it's unseasonably warm here - and ya know, sometimes you just need a tasty treat to cool you down when it's a stifling 40 degrees outside. Even still, I wonder if this ice cream man could be peddling something else to the upright citizens of metro Atlanta.

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Ice cream!
Ice cream who?
Ice cream if you don't let me in!

(hahahaha)

Inkblot

2005-01-20T23:57:00.000-04:00

A friend and I came across this lake in the area where we usually go camping. Turn your head sideways and maybe you'll see something among the semi-structureless entities.

Question #8

2005-01-13T23:55:00.000-04:00

“What classifies a band as 'emo'? What is an 'emo' band?”
- Brooke

Sorry it’s taken me a while to get to this one. Things get lost in my gmail inbox when I don’t check it for a few days.

Most people will tell you that the term emo is short for ‘emotional.’ Some have more specifically described it as a “broad title that covers a lot of different styles of emotionally-charged punk rock,” (because all punk rock sounds so distinct these days) but this definition is pretty controversial. People who have been listening to punk rock for a long time claim the music must be upbeat and energetic for it to be a true brand of punk. However, if you take a look at the newer releases of some punk bands (i.e. - Blink 182) you can see how punk rock has slowly evolved and converged with a style of mainstream pop. But I digress, and you still don’t know what emo is. So here’s a different approach.

Picture Woody Allen for a minute.

Ok. If Woody Allen were to start producing music it would probably be emo. I’m not exactly sure what Woody Allen produced in the past, but the association is really just with his extremely annoying voice, which is pretty important when it comes to emo. Typically the singer will whine a lot with lyrics about how no one liked him in high school or about how is girl friend dumped him – that kind of stuff.

Looks are equally significant. The lead singer should be a skinny white guy. Height isn’t particularly important, as long as he is wearing tight jeans, and usually he should have finger length hair parted slightly to the side. The proper emo stance is to have both feet pointed somewhat inward while singing. Also, nerdy glasses can be a nice touch.

Besides all of this, the other elements that characterize emo are pretty debatable, or at least variable. Generally, the vocals are highlighted along with acoustic guitar being the key instrument. Sometimes electric guitars are used but with low distortion, and regardless power chords are the norm with occasional picking during the verses.

Dashboard Confessionals might be considered an archetype of emo, so for a good example check them out.

Lastly, I’d like to say that not all emo bands are bad even though I may have made them out to be, and some of them can be pretty enjoyable. But a lot of them just whine way to much.

Pyramid Scheme

2005-01-12T22:15:00.000-04:00

I went to the gym today and there was someone on every single piece of equipment. I guess it’s that time of the year again when people make their annual New Year resolutions to start working out. Consequently, my fellow year round quasi-regular gym attendees and I will have to wait to use benches and curl bars until things are back to normal in about a month or so. Sure, they have the right to be there. But sometimes I just want to say, “You might as well give it up now buddy.” From what I’ve observed, when people try an approach to become physically active that they don’t take pleasure in it usually doesn’t work out for them.

In the News:

U.S. Government Updates Diet Rules for Next Food Pyramid

I’m still not sure the food pyramid is the problem.

Angles are Attitudes

2005-01-09T23:43:00.000-04:00

Another picture from New Orleans in the marketplace.

Don't hang your hat higher than you can reach.
-Proverb

I'm Not Dead

2005-01-08T13:57:00.000-04:00

Well, I’ve been on the road for a while and have kept pretty busy doing other things. One of the places I traveled to was New Orleans. Here’s a shot from a cathedral in the French Quarter. I messed around with it on my computer and tried to make it look like an older picture. Also, I got a new camera but I’m not very familiar with it yet so a lot of the shots didn’t turn out as well as I would have liked.

Last Minute Xmas Shopping?

2004-12-23T02:53:00.000-04:00

Maybe these classy gifts will give you some ideas.

Air Sickness Bag Poster: $10

Dukes of Hazzard Wristwatch: $21.99

Leg Lamp (From Christmas Story): $49.95

Meat Scented Air Freshener: $4.99

Mr. T in Your Pocket: $9.95

Nerd Glasses: $3.49

Toothpaste Necklace: $4.50

Sigmund Freud Action Figure: $7.99

Free Money To Change Your Life

2004-12-17T23:57:00.000-04:00

I saw this commercial on TV, and I must admit I was pretty skeptical at first. But I looked into it and it actually appears to be legit. Hey, the spokesperson looks pretty credible. And I think he’s Jewish.

Here are just a few of the ways it tells you how to get FREE MONEY!

$100K - create marble sculpture (it can’t be that hard)
$20K - take advantage of your disabilities
$30K - become a grizzly bear tagger

I bet by now you are wondering how you can take advantage of this opportunity. Well you can buy this book for just $37.95!

“It’s really not like a college course because this is funny plus entertaining.”

I’m sure it’s nothing like a college course.

Claus-trophobia

2004-12-15T19:25:00.000-04:00

After my finals I headed back to my parents house in Florida. The first thing I heard when I got out of the car was, "On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me..." I knew it was too early for Christmas carolers but I glanced around anyway. Turns out it was my neighbors' singing lawn decorations. This photo only captures about half of the lights in their yard; the other half are blinking.

It looks like Santa is a part of the nativity scence. But I guess that's getting more and more common these days.

In other news:
"The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn't for any religious reasons. They couldn't find three wise men and a virgin."
-Jay Leno

What's New on the Music Scene

2004-12-10T18:55:00.000-04:00

I listen to music a good bit so I wrote some short reviews of music artists that you may or may not have heard about. Most of the websites have songs on them. Tell me what you think and post other bands if you want.

New Rock

Anchor
Songs: Prodigal, How I Feel
Album: Catalyst
Anchor is an awesome hard rock band from the ATL. One of my fraternity brothers is in this group and I actually just saw them in concert for the first time earlier this week. In fact they were recently signed by Interscope Records and just finished up recording their first EP under their new record label.

Will Hoge
Songs: Not that Cool, Carousel, Bible vs Gun
His songs range from light to moderate rock and are characterized by a touch of folk music feeling and grassroots that result from his Tennessee upbringing. Will Hoge writes passionate lyrics, some of which portray his liberal ideals. Overall, a great up and coming artist.

My Chemical Romance
Song: I’m Not Okay (I Promise)
My Chemical Romance is a new age punk rock group with a unique sound. Their vocalists can’t sing very well, but this song has a catchy tune. The latest My Chemical Romance album is called Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge.

Silvertide
Song: Ain’t Coming Home
Straightforward rock and roll, old school style from Philadelphia. Maybe sounds like Pearl Jam, Lenny Kravitz, and Lynyrd Skynyrd rolled into one.

Dogs Die in Hot Cars
Song: I Love You Cause I Have To
A band from the UK that plays rock with a vintage feel that makes them sound a little bit like The Cars. Some of their songs feature a unique blend of reggae beats, such as the ska-pop hit I Love You Cause I Have To. Dogs Die doesn’t use much distortion, but focus on other interesting effects.

Auryn
Song: Your World
These guys from Ohio just got signed a couple of months ago as well. Auryn plays hard rock with a deep sound. The emotional lyrics are angry and bitter, especially those on their album In Absence of You.

Worth checking out:
Hawthorne Heights - Ohio is for Lovers
The Killers - Mr. Brightside, Somebody Told Me
Lost Prophets - I Don’t Know
Earshot - Someone
Chronic Futures – Time and Time Again
Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
Damien Rice – Volcano

Independent Artists

Garrison
Song: Heaven’s Not that Far
Jordan and Jeremy’s band! An awesome Christian rock group with powerful songs and intricate lyrics. Their new album will probably be available on their website soon.

Honestly
Songs: I Don’t Know, Always Alone, Strange Way
An excellent rock group from the Atlanta area that is young and energetic. They have a great website with songs on it. Check these guys out.

Snow Patrol
Songs: Run, Spitting Games
Talented new artists with a complex sound and laid back beat that reminds me of Coldplay’s style.

Pinback
Song: Microtonic Wave
An extremely unique and artistic group that uses a variety of digital effects to make their music distinct. Very metro.

Death Cab for Cutie
Song: Debate Exposes Doubt
A slightly emo band, but the singer doesn’t whine as much as most emo vocalists and their lyrics are a little deeper.

Worth checking out:
KillRadio – Do you Know
Hey Mercedes – Quality Revenge at Last
Belle & Sebastian – You’re just a Baby

What Do You Feel

2004-12-09T18:58:00.000-04:00

Write a short story about this picture. If you feel like it.

No Parking Zone

2004-12-06T02:30:00.000-04:00

Reason #1 not to block the driveway of my fraternity house... or any fraternity house for that matter: your car might get newspapered and moved into the middle of the street. I had nothing to do with this by the way.

Photo from Taco.

Question #7

2004-12-05T17:26:00.000-04:00

This post was removed because my intentions were not clear.

Why I Usually Don't Cook

2004-12-02T22:39:00.000-04:00

Free Trade and You

2004-11-30T23:10:00.000-04:00

Today in economics, my professor handed out an in class assignment that was such a blatant attempt to brainwash us I found it insulting. In groups, we were to determine the response of our imaginary country to a resolution that proposed free international trade. We were to base our decision mainly on the opinions of our advisors - four of which made strong arguments against free trade and the remaining one quoted some economic theory with poor sentence structure.

While I know others exist, he’s the only economics professor I’ve heard of that opposes free trade. But the theory on how free trade promotes economic growth and increases production is soundly demonstrated, in my opinion. If a country has a comparative advantage in the production of a certain good, they can specialize and trade it with another country. Then both countries are producing more than they could individually.

A country that imposes tariffs, on the other hand, will end up hurting its own export industry. Naturally, a tariff will decrease the number of imports we get from other countries. If we buy less from other countries their aggregate income is lower so they have fewer assets to purchase the goods of our country. Quotas and voluntary export restraints decrease the gains from trade in a similar manner.

The national security and infant-industry arguments fail to invalidate the theory behind free trade because it is more efficient to supply strategic firms and important developing industries with subsidies financed out of taxes than to restrict trade. The fear of a global monopoly charging arbitrarily high prices is also a weak argument; a market could always reopen since there are many foreign resources for virtually all goods.

Some lies you may have heard about the “protection” of domestic industries from foreign competition:
- Protection saves jobs
- Protection allows us to compete with cheap foreign labor
- Protection penalizes lax environmental standards
- Protection preserves national culture
- Protection prevents rich countries from exploiting developing countries
(List from Macroeconomics, Seventh Edition, Parkin 428)

Let me know if you have any thoughts. My arguments were quite abbreviated.

cartoonbank.com

For Lack of Better Words

2004-11-29T23:54:00.000-04:00

Here is some weird stuff.

Music

-Are they "not that innocent?"
Stairway to Heave Backward
Britney Spheres Backward

Religion

Jesus, the Vegetarian

British Humour

-This stuff is almost funny. But it takes special person, perhaps one from the UK, to really appreciate it.

Fat-pie
My Dad actually showed me this one. Borderline disturbing, but worth checking out if you have some extra life to waste. I listed a few decent ones. Don’t watch Milkman, or else you will really wish you didn’t. But now you’re going to watch it just cause I said that…

-You may enjoy episodes 1 and 2 if you fancy Mr. Bean and Helen Fielding.
Shorter DLs:
-Burnt Face Man (I think I get this one)
-Salad Fingers (Spoons.)

Blode 6
It doesn’t get anymore UK-esque than this.

Coinbird
This is based on the true story of a bird that learned to steal money from a change machine. A couple thousand dollars in coins were recovered from the top of a roof.

Other stuff and Old News

What’s wrong with this picture?

Rejected cartoons

Penguin Game

Subservient Chicken

StarWars Kid – If you think you’re life sucks…Some kid made this video and left it in his video productions class. He is now famous, thanks to his good buddies that put it on the internet.
Clones

Mystery Celebrity – Try to guess who it is

End of the World - Inappropriate for all Audiences

Stongbad – Here are some of my favorites
-Techno
-Trogdor
-Duck Pond

Feel free to post any additions.

The Wheelbarrows

2004-11-24T09:24:00.000-04:00

I'm posting this week's picture early because I am not bringing my computer with me tomorrow. It looks slightly better if you click on it, but these pictures are available in higher resolution upon request. Looking at this one sort of reminds me of my childhood. It also reminds me of this pop-up ad I keep getting about travel deals.

No, wait, that's the pop-up I'm looking at.

The Blame Game

2004-11-23T15:56:00.000-04:00

Well basketball season is now in full swing, especially after the brawl in Detroit this week. But what do you expect in America’s second most dangerous city? Luckily I’m safe here in Atlanta, America’s third most dangerous city.

A lot of fingers have been pointed over the past couples days. Some people blame the fans, others blame the players, still others blame President Bush. But now that the smoke has cleared, the responsible parties have surfaced: the Detroit tourism industry, fortune 500 investors, and the consumer whores of the United States. The whole thing is a marketing scam.

With Detroit's reputation reinforced, its street side vendors aren't complaining.

Various knick-knacks are available as well.

The new Ford Truck advertising campaign: Big Ben Tough

Now that he has the rest of the season off, The Artest Formerly Known as Pacers’ Forward will have some time to promote his upcoming release - The Black and Blue Album. But if you go to see this rap artist in concert be sure to bring your pepper spray. And for cryin out loud, don’t throw anything up on stage.

Thursdays

2004-11-18T18:17:00.000-04:00

To try something new, on Thursdays I'm going to start posting some pictures that I've taken - at least until I forget. Here is the first one.

Due Credit

2004-11-17T02:26:00.000-04:00

While I was procrastinating I came across this picture that looked familiar.

Then I remembered that it looks a lot like this one I took a while back.

I'm not going to point any fingers because I can't deny the possibility of him standing in the same place at the same time. And I wasn't even going to mention it because I actually do know the guy and he's cool in my book. But he then proceeded to copyright it, so I figured I should do the same.

© Now - End of Time

Wow, that was easy.

Question #6

2004-11-15T02:57:00.000-04:00

"What’s the most cost effective way to handle household pests?"

- Samuel

Malathion. A few drops of that stuff could kill a full grown person. And it’s easy to use.

Unfortunately, if you want to live in your house then you may have to look for some alternatives. The easiest one is to just clean up after yourself. If pests are around, it’s because you have something they want.

When I… errr, when one of my friends first started college he didn’t take out the trash very often. Who could blame him? He had to walk five flights of stairs and half a block down the street to get to the dumpster. When he could no longer throw trash away without jeopardizing the structural integrity of the towering trash heap, he figured out instead of putting pizza boxes in the trash you could put trash in the pizza boxes. Plus they stack conveniently. Well 10-15 pizza boxes later he noticed a few little fruit flies had made their home in his dorm. Since they weren’t big and didn’t take up too much space, he wouldn’t bother them if they wouldn’t bother him. But then they laid eggs in the trash heap and when he got back late one night there were hundreds of fruit flies swarming around the room.

This seemed like a clear violation of the mutual contract so he got out the vacuum cleaner and started sucking up all the fruit flies, one by one. At first it was easy, but when it got down to the last few dozen it was only the smarter ones left that flew away from the loud sucking noise of death. By that time it was easier just to take the trash out and leave the window open for a few days.

So that’s how I proved natural selection. That was the question, right?

John sucking flies. (Reenactment. Name has been changed to protect confidentiality.)

My Computer is Fixed

2004-11-10T23:58:00.000-04:00

If you didn’t know it was broken, then I probably only talk to you through my computer. No offense.

I downloaded one of those, what do you call it, “virus scanners.” I think it did the trick. It deleted the 53 viruses that I have accumulated since my software update subscription expired two years ago. And there was another virus that could not be deleted or quarantined. I figure it’s not that big of a deal though, since it takes 54 of them to reach the critical point at which my computer ceases to function.

The only reason I’m telling you this is because I think we can all learn a valuable lesson from it. That is, if your virus scanner detects something in a file someone sent you, then tell them about it... and that nothing is ever my fault.

Well, I guess it's ok..

It’s so Romantic!

2004-11-07T15:00:00.000-04:00

“So where did you two meet?”
“We met on the internet!”

Man, internet dating services are goldmines... I mean.. for people who want a date. So, if you are looking to meet that special someone just send me $10 and I’ll set you up with the male/female/multigender of your dreams!

Along with the payment, include your responses to this simple questionnaire to ensure compatibility.

1.) In a relationship, your ideal geographic proximity would be:
a.) within 500 miles
b.) on the same continent
c.) an adjacent hemisphere

2.) Your favorite color is:
a.) blue
b.) other

3.) Your ideal partner is:
a.) literate
b.) legally blind
c.) not Kobe Bryant or OJ Simpson

4.) You would best describe your past relationships as:
a.) existent
b.) nonexistent
c.) prefer not to say

5.) In a relationship, you look for:
a.) getting free stuff
b.) good cooking
c.) free stuff and cooking

6.) Something your potential match should know about you:
a.) carrying STD(s)
b.) ex-convict or serial killer
c.) the picture of my face looks pretty good, but I’m actually fat
d.) two or more of the above

Remember: If you’re not married yet, there’s something wrong with you!

Send check or money order to:
Brien’s Awesome Dating Service
PO BOX 325207
Georgia Tech Station
Atlanta, GA 30302

Let's Just Flip a Coin From Now On

2004-11-02T16:40:00.000-04:00

Just to let you know Florida already screwed up again. I heard from a Palm Beach girl that her absentee ballot was the same on both sides! The presidential candidates weren't even on there! The lawyers will have a field day with that one. Plus most of the residents there are legally blind. I don't know how they expect the elderly citizens to read the ballots from some of these precincts.

Click to enlarge (to actual size).

Happy Halloween

2004-10-31T22:39:00.000-04:00

..Or happy Harvest Day Festival, if you’re one of those overly dogmatic fundamentalists.

I actually forgot today was Halloween since all the parties were Friday and Saturday. My roommate and I also forgot to have candy for the kids that kept knocking at the door of our apartment. We ended up just putting out an empty basket with a sign that said, “Take one piece.” That went over pretty well.

Also, our second plant died. We tried everything to make it look better – watering it more, watering it less, more sunlight, less sunlight, spray painting it… It’s a good thing we didn’t get a dog. I don’t think you’re allowed to just throw those things in the trash when they die.

Starless Night

2004-10-29T14:23:00.000-04:00

The brilliant lights emanating from the stadium penetrated a foggy night that frescoed the ever starless Atlanta skies, making the streets for over a dozen city blocks appear as day. Written with an eerie glow across the familiar skyline, the message was clear: this is our house. Victory seemed inevitable.

THE SAFETY’S JOB IS TO KEEP THE RECEIVER IN FRONT OF HIM! HOW HARD CAN THAT BE?

Virginia Tech 34, Georgia Tech 20

There are no stars on a losing team.

p.s. I still love Tech football.
p.p.s. I also love photoshop.
p.p.p.s. I hate differential equations, and missing CSI.
p.p.p.p.s. I am indifferent to Yankees/Red Sox, and the death of Bambino’s curse.

Question #5

2004-10-26T23:52:00.000-04:00

"What came first, the chicken or the egg?"

- Mike

This question has been asked for years by people that have nothing better to do, just like you. It’s not an easy question to answer. Creationists tend to say that it was the chicken, while evolutionists tend to agree that it was indeed (technically) the chicken. So you can begin to see the problem here.

The process is difficult describe, so I created this PG-13 rated diagram to help you understand.

Step 1: “What comes first,” is not the chicken or the egg, per se. The first event is actually the administration of a special blend of antibiotics, hormones, and date rape drugs to promote growth and manage breeding.

Step 2: A mutant chicken grows inside of an egg and eventually hatches.

Step 3: More miscellaneous drugs administered, usually consisting of additional hormones and whatever else the farmers can get thier hands on.

Step 4: After a careful selection process (and sending the chickens with more than two legs to KFC), the “normal” giant chickens are shipped out to your grocery store.

Step 5: Nobody really knows what happens in step 5, so just try not to think about it.

The Virtue of… Apathy?

2004-10-25T23:17:00.000-04:00

Figure taken from America (The Book)

Speaking of Tucker Carlson, he said something on Unfiltered last week that didn’t sit right with me. I don’t know, maybe I just lack understanding of media ethics (if there is such a thing). But it seems like such a faux pas for the host of multiple television shows focusing on political and social issues to say, “Americans shouldn't feel an obligation to vote in this year's presidential election.”

The way I see it, the only *valid* reason not to vote is if someone has no opinion on the issues that the candidates have covered. If this is the case, they don’t get out very much. Even other countries care about this election because the President of the United States is widely regarded as the most powerful man in the world. And as the saying goes, there is always a better candidate.

If someone doesn’t care about what the Republicans and Democrats have to say, there are always the third parties. These parties exist for citizens to express their opinion. When the Socialist Party received a million votes in 1912 (the first third party ever to do this I believe) politicians heard the voice of labor unions loud and clear.

The point is, Tucker, there is no honor in the decision of indecision.

Idiot.

I Heart Jon Stewart

2004-10-24T02:37:00.000-04:00

Today I’m going to pick up a copy of Jon Stewart’s America (The Book): A Citizens Guide to Democracy Inaction. Despite some differences in our political ideals, I think he made a few really good points last week on Crossfire [watch it]. And come to think of it, I’m pretty tired of partisan hackery, too. The further this election rolls along, the more reprehensible and incompetent the candidates look. The sad thing is that this isn’t the result of party affiliated propaganda, but that of slanted news shows.

“Stop.. Hurting.. America.”

On a side note, I don’t think CNN should allow Tucker to dress himself.

The Bottom

2004-10-22T01:32:00.000-04:00

Here's something I worked on today.. I just thought it would look interesting. It gave me some trouble though, since my camera doesn't like to focus on glass.

The Mystery Bulge

2004-10-19T10:57:00.000-04:00

Since all the other bloggers are talking about it…

Here is some internet feedback on the media feedback concerning internet initiated rumors about Bush’s mystery bulge.

In response to video footage of the first debate, James Atkinson (Technical Surveillance Counter Measures) said, “I have come to the professional opinion that either George Bush was wearing a wireless prompter/queuing system […] or is growing some kind of mutant dorsal fin.”

I, however, have to question Atkinson’s professional opinion since most engineers don’t know much about biology. Seriously, what are the chances of him growing a dorsal fin?

Maybe he was wearing a wireless piece. But who cares if the president is incapable of thinking for himself anyway? No one else in this country can either.

Question #4

2004-10-18T23:38:00.000-04:00

A EF HI KLMN T VWXY
-----------------------
BCD G J OPQRS U

"Does "Z" go on the top or bottom of the line, why?"
- Becky

The answer is no, it does not.

When the alphabet consited of only capital characters Z was not included. Early language had used S sound alone for both the unvoiced and the voiced sibilant. Later, the Latin sound was not written with a Z, but with a G or an I. The question is sort of confusing though, since several other characters like J and W weren't around back then either. Also, the Y had a funny little line in the middle of it that made it look like a fork.

Prophesy is Dead

2004-10-16T02:44:00.000-04:00

According to Madam Prophetess of 860 AM, “Atlanta’s Choice” for radio ministry, the Lord has said we approach a new dawn of world order. “And the Lord told me the system of White supremacy is dead, and will never again raise its face on this earth,” proclaimed The Prophetess. “A new world order of Black supremacy is near,” she continued, “and blacks will raise up to the positions of leadership and hierarchy in which they belong.”

As she delved further into this exposé of the “Modern Eden” she made clear her views that power did not belong to Whites or even to Native Americans, who lack the “nappy hair that characterizes Blacks.” Further, she said the Lord has condemned Whites and The Prophetess referred to them as “children of judgment” that hinder the advancement of society which can only occur via the “children of reconstruction.”

Hopefully you don’t buy into this; The Prophetess even nullified her own claim. She declared that the Lord has also told her the second coming will occur in 2021, while the Bible clearly notes that no one will know when this will take place, but that it will come as “a thief in the night.” (Later, I may post a comment regarding more of what I think about her claims.)

While it may subsist at a communal level or among individuals, as far as I am concerned Prophesy at a global scale is dead. Do a few bad apples, like Benny Hinn and Madam Prophetess, who clutter the airways with flimflam and absurdity, justify this statement? Certainly not, for disproving a statement only requires one counter example. Thus, the fact that evidence is lacking in every respect renders the assertion uncontested.

4th Time’s A Charm

2004-10-13T02:09:00.000-04:00

No, you don’t need to have your vision checked – it is a $50 parking ticket. No yellow lines or handicap signs… 50 bucks just for not having a parking pass.

But I guess since I never bought the $500 parking pass I’m actually coming out $450 ahead. HAHA! Take that, suckas!

If you look carefully, you’ll notice the time was 10:12. When I turned on my car the clock said 10:13, no joke. I pulled up to the parking attendant and tried to reason with him since I was only parked there for 10 minutes, but he said there was nothing he could do about it. He said I could appeal it but I would need a better excuse than that [makes zigzag snapping motion].

Seriously though, this is my fourth ticket since I’ve been going to school here and it’s starting to get old. My appeals for the other tickets didn’t get them revoked, but I have a good feeling about this one. In the past, my fatal mistake has been telling the truth to the Parking Department. Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.

Bearing this in mind, I have resolved to submit the best excuse I can come up with. I’ve listed some possibilities that others have suggested, but let me know if you have another one! Also let me know which one you think is best. This is one time your vote might actually count for something! (joking again)

I saw someone getting mugged so I pulled in and went
to help them.

I had explosive diarrhea and I didn’t want that stuff
in my car again.

I was putting groceries in my friend’s room and 5
minutes later I had a ticket.

I sprained my ankle and no one else could drive me
there.

I ran out of gas so someone helped me push it into a
spot and we went to the BP station.

I work for a company that goes to each campus
making sure their parking services are in good working order...and I know yours
is now.

Magician David says, "Would you believe it?"

2004-10-09T16:36:00.000-04:00

Today marks the first time in three years that I remembered my own birthday. Since it is my 21st that might have something to do with it. In honor of this occasion, here are some pictures from a magazine I found. It was published in the year I was born - the year of the mini van.

Room for seven!

Question #3

2004-10-07T15:10:00.000-04:00

"I am not sure if this is the kind of question that you normally answer and it may be sort of a hard one. My girlfriend has been getting on my nerves lately but I have a hard time talking to her about it. Every time I try she gets all googley eyed and I can’t do it."
- Joey

I answer all types of questions.

I’m sorry to hear about your girlfriend’s eye problem. I can only image how deranged she must look. When my eyes itch I sometimes use Clearasil eye drops and I think it can make swelling go down as well. If that doesn’t work try getting her to wear sunglasses all the time.

I know the other part is trivial compared to whole ‘eye’ thing but I have some suggestions for handling your emotions, too. The easiest thing to do is just suppress your anger. That usually works pretty well. Eventually though, you’ll have to channel your rage toward something else - like your dog, the sales clerk at the mall, and all the people you come into daily contact with - so just be ready for that. But remember, killing people should always be the last resort, cause man, those guys on CSI are good.

Also, if you just want to let her know that you are mad try giving her a red rose, since red is the color of rage. She should be able to take a hint.

Swing Jumping and Monkey-Bar Fighting

2004-10-04T09:27:00.000-04:00

Monkey-bar fighting is a little bit different from regular bar fighting. Both involve their fair share of slugs and jostles, but usually one has less pool cue bashing and beer mug projectiles.

The other night I couldn’t sleep. It was partially because I seem to have mild insomnia, but also I couldn’t stop thinking about my childhood for some reason. I have no idea how I can remember some of this stuff or why it suddenly came to mind.

When I was in the second grade we used to monkey-bar fight at recess. Just like members of any other social structure, second graders have to earn their honor. At my school, being the last one hanging upside-down from the jungle gym, with your opponent lying tattered on the ground, was one way to do so. It sounds like little kids could really get hurt roughhousing until one of them falls from the top of the jungle gym, but the pebble gravel on our playground was possibly the most amazing material man has ever produced. You couldn’t get hurt on it no matter how high you fell from, regardless of whether or not you landed on your head.

An equally exhilarating recess pastime was swing jumping, although it was less violent and spectator-like. Swing jumping is a competitive sport in which the contenders leap from their swings at the peak of their ascent. The contender that soars the furthest though the air is the winner, although style points can be awarded for exceptionally impressive dismounts or landings. Again, the pebble gravel usually kept us from killing ourselves. To read more about this, check out my comment on The Art of Swing Jumping.

On a day that seemed like any other day, Scott Schoegger and I were walking though the play ground just shooting the breeze. He was one of my good buddies and we had been that way since we started grade school. As we walked by the swing set someone called out to me. It was Brandon Edwards. Rick Thurston was there as well. They were two more of the guys I hung out with.

“Hey Drew,” shouted Brandon (That is what they called me), “See if you can jump further than me today!”

“I doubt you’ve gotten any better since yesterday,” I yelled back. “Common Scott, let’s go jump.”

“Nah, I don’t really feel like it.”

“Common, we do this all the time.”

“Yeah, but I don’t think I really fit in with those guys.”

“What do you mean?”

“We’re just different.”

“What do you mean, common, I’m gonna go jump.”

“Nah, you go ahead. I think I want to be alone right now anyway.”

So I went.

To me nothing about Scott ever seemed to be particularly odd. All kids look funny in the second grade. I mean everybody’s head is so freakin big. I don’t know. Maybe it was in the way he walked. Maybe it was in the way he talked. But neither of these mannerisms seemed strange to me. I didn’t see any reason why they couldn’t all get along. I didn’t understand.

Bandon and Rick were my friends just like Scott was my friend. Why should I have had to stop hanging out with certain friends just because one didn’t get along with the others? And besides, I was the reigning champion swing jumper. What would they have thought if I denied their challenge? What would people have said? I had to go, right? That was what I was thinking.

After that day things between Scott and I were never really the same. We still said ‘Hi’ when we walked past each other, but having a conversation just became awkward. Throughout the rest of our careers as elementary school students we talked less and less, and after the fifth grade I never saw him again.

Today, I can’t help but wonder if that decision that I made in the second grade ultimately determined who I am today. Did I choose who I am? Does every trivial intermediary process I go through determine what kind of man I will be tomorrow, and in turn what kind of man I will be thirty years from tomorrow? And if I mess up is there no going back? It seems irrational to say that my identity is independent of the decisions I make. Such metaphysics would require a defined set of consequences to occur regardless of the preceding actions. Maybe I am not actually capable of making decisions at all. My identity makes my decisions. Then I cannot change unless it changes me.

A scorpion and a frog sit near a stream.

The scorpion asks the frog, “Would you give me a ride across the stream?”
The frog replies, “I can’t trust you! You’re a scorpion.”
“Sure you can,” says the scorpion.

The frog lets the scorpion jump on its back, and they set off to cross the stream. About halfway across, the scorpion stings the frog.

“Why’d you do that?” asks the frog. “Now we’re both gonna die.”
The scorpion answers, “I can’t help it, I’m a scorpion.”

Question #2

2004-10-01T12:20:00.000-04:00

"Is ADD a neurological evolution?"
- Penny

As a person with an extremely short attention span I can tell you three things. 1.) a short attention span is definitly indicative of a more advanced organism [that will one day conquer Earth] and 2.) Kenny Barron is a great jazz musician.

Okay, I'll be serious for once. I don't think that the increasing number diagnoses of ADD and ADHD over the years is due to evolution in its truest sense. Evolution involves a change in genetic composition, thus a change in behavior is not necessarily evolution unless it causes speciation (basically those exhibiting the new behavior no longer mate with those exhibiting the original behavior). My guess would be that the wide spectrum of this flux in human thought processes is directly related to our environment. The emergence of indecision, finiky behavior, and inability to focus should be expected with the increasing complexity of our lifestyles. People are simply becoming overstimulated by the variety of choices we have. The levels of "ADD" we are currently observing among the population may have always been present, but only now does it reveal itself as new factors have been introduced.

And to make matters worse, many states in the U.S. don't even allow kids to play dodgeball in school anymore. I don't care what other people say, I think it's friendly game.

Question #1

2004-09-29T16:24:00.001-04:00

"How does fluorescent light work?"
-Anonymous

Well Anonymous, let me just start off by saying I’m a big fan of your poems, even though some of them are kind of weird.

Light pretty much all works the same - it moves really fast and probably causes cataracts. But in case you meant “how does a fluorescent light bulb work?” I’ll answer that one too (even though I have soooooo many questions to answer).

When you were young, did you ever smash the tail of a lightning bug (or firefly depending on where you are from) and rub it between your fingers to make your fingers glow? I know it sounds inhumane, but the way I see it, the more time kids spend killing bugs the less time they spend killing higher order species. Anyway, fluorescent light bulbs work pretty much the same way. Just crush a fluorescent light bulb in your hand and you’ll know what I mean.

The Journey Is the Destination

2004-09-26T23:19:00.000-04:00

brienapplegate.com has been officially launched. There you will find some pictures that I have taken and some other miscellaneous goods. Check it out.

Cats and Dogs

2004-09-17T20:55:00.000-04:00

This storm has been pounding Atlanta like Michael Moore on a treadmill and they still expect me to ride my bike through it for 15 blocks to get to class. And believe me, it's not easy to ride on roads that are slicker than deer guts on a door knob in tropical storm force winds. Oh well, Georgia Tech wouldn't cancel class for the apocalypse. It's really not too bad outside right now, I just wish they didn't send out that megamod email saying that classes might be cancelled. They love building up our hopes. It just makes our morale that much easier to crush.

Mow Over the Competition

2004-09-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

Looking for an internship? Well you need something to give you an edge over the competition. Companies love it when you have done your research. Let them know you are interested in them. Here's a great example:

This is my good buddy Mark Peterson, photo courtesy of Taco. You can see Mark do a standup comedy act Friday, September 17 (that's tomorrow). He will be performing at Under the Couch around 7:30 and it should be pretty good since he won the last standup competition. There will be some professionals there as well.

The Question Box

2004-09-15T15:57:00.000-04:00

Well some people said they would like me to start a blog so here it is. I wish I could say this was my first website so I would feel like less of a nerd, but it's not. However, I've never done a blog (or even read a blog for that matter) so that's my excuse for this one being so bad.

I am going to try to make this blog interesting so you actually want to read it and so it's not just a big waste of life. Here you'll find stories, phrases, pictures, and diagrams from the chronicles of my super exciting life. I'll try to update it twice a week or so, or at least until I get bored of doing this.

This blog is also going to have a theme to mix things up a bit. If you found this site you might have noticed that the address is http://questionbox.blogspot.com. It's called The Question Box because that's also what the blog is going to be used for. You can ask me a question about anything - life, how the world works, whatever - and (if it's a good question) I'll answer it. If I don't know the answer I'll find it. Send questions to brien.applegate@gmail.com.

Enjoy.