Dean Paxton

Category: News

  • Nike Buys Converse

    hi-top.jpg Nike Inc. has announced that it will buy Converse for $305 million, about 10 days income for Nike. This is quite a shrewd business decision on Nike’s part. Mostly because the Chuck Taylor All Star’s achieved something they couldn’t really do. They just bought an entire brand heritage that appeals to a counter-culture and underground market that they probably couldn’t have created if they wanted to, let alone understood. Business looks even better for the old brand because retro shoes are cool, once again. The PF Flyer (New Balance) just relaunched this year, as well as some others. Canvas and rubber retro is apparently on the rise again, despite the fact that there probably isn’t a less attractive shoe on the market. Which is what made them appealing to the “rebels” and the “counter culture” to begin with. But, thanks to musical figures they are the thing, my kids have been wearing them for well over a year. Not just the All-Stars but, early 80’s-style retro shoes like the Air Force One and the Adidas Top Ten.

    Well, now the teeming masses of child-slaves will be working hard to help you achieve your individuality. To help you make your, very important personal statement. Because you are an individual… just like everyone else. Don’t feel too badly about the sell-out, someone has got to make them, someone has to distribute them, someone has to retail them. Some American jobs are bound to be created as a result. I hope.

  • Must See Paxtonland TV

    Matrix Ping Pong – (3.4 MB Windows Media File)

  • They Knew They Could Die…

    …and they did.

    The Iranian twins, joined at the head, both died yesterday after literally days in the operating room in a Singapore hospital. They knew the risks and did it anyway. The Iranian government is paying the $300,000 bill. This story hit me harder than I would have expected it to.

  • Rare E-mail Humor

    E-mail jokes are almost all much older than anyone realizes. Sometime their origins can be traced back many years before the internet to BBS and Usenet postings. Exceptional examples have been circulating around in the strange, yet somehow still intact, fax network. Earliest and most primitive examples were found bouncing back and forth on teletype machines. Even stranger still, there are some that are much older as they can be traced back to that terrifying and confusing age before computer enabled communications (shudder). More often than not, if you’re reading it, it was written years ago. Many times, an old joke is given a new twist and sent out as original material. The sender changes some aspect of the “premise” and mails it merrily on to as many people as they can.

    Examples of unique, unaltered, and barely circulated text are indeed rare. This is an example. A few Google searches of “Michigan Driving Rules” and even selections of the text “A real Michigan driver never uses them.” or, “without ABS, it’s a chance to stretch your legs.” reveal this is indeed originally authored as Michigan Driving Rules. I’m quite sure that they were originally authored years ago and have been added to and frequently changed to reflect that individuals point of view, the current conditions, or even the times if they are exceedingly old. Of course, once I post it here and you e-mail it to a few of your friends and family member, it won’t be rare anymore. Regardless, this is an example of on of those rare finds(sent in by Heather):
    (more…)

  • The Easter Bunny Died On The Cross For Your Sins

    Hauling out the paxtonland tradition:

  • Gulf War Protesters Speak Out

    Gulf War Protesters Gather In Passionate Display

    Someone sent me this via ICQ, I’m not sure who it was but, I think they were sending me a message. I liked it. It spoke directly to the mindless criticism that I’ve seen and read. The popular opinion of the world? The world leaders that pander to it and the ones that try to resist and will also eventually succumb, for at least a minute until the artillery begins to fly. It is as if it has become suddenly trendy to wear a certain kind of clothing, it’s just as trendy to speak out against something… just because everyone else is doing it.

    This is the type of mentality and hyperbole that drowns out clear and intelligent voices. But of course, we’re no stranger to this phenomenon.

    Here at paxtonland we’ve earned and learned our way to our opinions! After all, we’re individuals… just like everyone else!

  • Great White Fire, Mullets Said Not To Be A Factor

    great_white_fire.jpg If you haven’t heard yet, there was a fire at a Great White concert in Providence the death toll is up to 95. Apparently the band’s (potentially unauthorized) pyrotechnics ignited a blaze. The nightclub, mostly wooden went up in flames in a matter of minutes (video). They still can’t find the guitar player, Ty Longley. The Great White Website and The Station’s website (the venue) seem to be down. The Station messageboard still seems to be working)

    (CNN): Jack Russell, the lead singer for the band Great White, said in an interview Friday morning that he quickly realized things had gone very wrong with the band’s pyrotechnic show. “I tried to put it out with water bottles,” he said. “There were no fire extinguishers on the stage. The worst part was when the lights went out.”

    The BBC has the video, pretty disturbing. Plus (as usual) their coverage is better too: Michelle Craine of West Warwick, who was waiting to hear about a missing friend, told the Associated Press news agency that many people were terribly injured. “They were completely burnt. They had pieces of flesh falling off them,” she said. “It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen,” she said.

    At 95 dead, this has got to be the worst concert accident in modern times, I would venture to guess. What is worst, they in effect, killed their own fans in one of the most startling displays I’ve ever heard of. I doubt very seriously that this will be Great White’s come back year.

  • These People Should Be More Careful

    I saw this headline…

    bullets_columbia.gif

    …and thought, “you mean that someone shot those astronauts?”

    Now, of course that’s wrong. Hell, they aren’t even spelled the same but, don’t you think that headline was just a bit misleading or, is it just me?

  • Time To Pay Your Loanshark Uncle Sam?

    cash_pig.gif Student Loans Are For Suckers

    By Ted Rall

    The Fleecing of Our Young

    Eliminating the debt racket wouldn’t be difficult. Calling off the invasion of Iraq, for instance, would save an estimated $200 billion—that’s six years of fiscally emancipated youth right there. Eliminating last year’s $1.5 trillion tax cut–money that would have gone to rich people who won’t miss it–would pay off everyone’s student loans for the next 50 years.

    I’m for that. Still, read the whole article, it’s worth it. It’s a powerful piece but, missing some points. It doesn’t even take into consideration the debt incurred from credit cards and other avenues of credit one accumulates while in college, sometimes just to buy books and pay rent and heat bills. Additionally, I would doubt that a college degree is of the same value of a high school diploma was in 1955. Finally, as difficult as it has been for us to pay ours here at paxtonland, I still view them as an investment. Esp. if his figures are right and we can expect to earn at least $1mil a piece in our lifetimes over and above non-grads.

  • It’s Only Just Begun

    Fingers are out looking for something to point at. It hasn’t been 24 hours yet.

  • More STS-107 Links and Info

    STS-107 Mission Status Center and NASA TV (Realplayer/Helix feed), which is running 24/7. Here’s another RADAR animation sequence. Some items are showing up on eBay, real or not. People are finding debris everywhere, including possible body parts. Also, son astronomers in California say they saw the shuttle in trouble much earlier. The BBC has an excellent timeline of space flight since Sputnik 1. Reminiscent of post 9/11 WTC imagery, AMC Theaters are pulling “The Core” trailers that feature the 1886 shuttle explosion. Finally there is a lot of talk about an AP prewritten article that had fluff text about the shuttle landing safely. I’ve yet to find it, however.

  • Lowest of the Low

    Man Convicted of Raping 4-Month-Old Girl. This makes me question my opinion of the death penalty.

  • STS-107 Links and Info

    The STS-107 Columbia landing journal is chilling to read. Someone at metafilter’s discssion also pointed out that columbiadisaster.com was available, until now. A good minute-by-minute account: Spaceflight Now: STS-107 Mission Report. As well as an interesting article that mentions that Columbia had up to 3500 wiring defects at that time. Space.com’s discussion of STS-107 The Iraqi’s call it God’s Vengence. Bush’s statement did touch upon God and even invoked Isaah, in a very uncomfortable manner, to me anyway. Regardless, of what the Iraqi’s think, someone thought it was terrorism, more than once. Finally, a RADAR still image and a loop of the RADAR sequence, also chilling.

  • The Long Arm Of The Straw

    Or, “Big ‘pot’ stash was only hay.”

    “These guys were treated like they were cartel drug traffickers,” he (the atty.) added. “Once we finally secure their release, we will be talking to a civil rights lawyer.”

    Instead of pot, they found straw left over from a nativity scene at a local Catholic church. The men were returning it to the farm in which it was borrowed.

  • Did You Win The Unemployment Lottery?

    Big Image Here - Click. You Can't Resist. Click. Click.

    The Senate extended some unemployment benefits today.

    The Senate Tuesday unanimously voted to extend unemployment benefits for jobless workers whose benefits expired Dec. 28, despite Democratic complaints that all unemployed workers should be included.

    Yes, that’s right, it’s a one day only offer folks! Act now… operators are standing by.

    What? Your date didn’t fall exactly on Dec. 28th? Sorry, that’s too bad… you’ll find your new shovel sticking out of that pile of shit over there. But, do play again soon! Remember, you have to play to win! And thanks again for playing the republican parties Unemployment Lottery.

  • When Drug Companies Invent Diseases

    Drug firms deny creating female sexual disorder and offering cure, like Viagra.

    “…drugmakers said they were simply seeking a treatment option for millions of women with sexual difficulties equivalent to the erectile dysfunction that men can face, which is now frequently treated with Viagra, a $1.5 billion seller for Pfizer Inc…”

    Wait, just what exactly is the female equivalent to erectile dysfunction? Just being a common slob, not a medical professional, I’m having a bit of trouble seeing the corelation. I would imagine that it must be related to libedo, sexual appetite or, perhaps desire/willingness?

  • From the “It’s Finally Coming Full Circle” Dept.

    nazi_punks_fuck_off.jpgAt an anti-race summit in Barbados, dozens of whites and asians were asked to leave the conference. They did so without protest.

    Conference chairwoman Jewel Crawford of the United States said “There are a number of black people who have been traumatized by white people and they suffered psychologically and emotionally and, as a result of that trauma, some of them did not care to discuss their issues in front of them.” From what I can see these “leaders” are effectively driving a wedge of hatred between blacks and whites, now as with everything else, it’s migrating globally.

    Could one equate this to a conference of raped woman voting all males out of the room? Well, I guess it would be okay if any of them were actually slaves. However, that is only my opinion. Feel free to add yours, if you have the right to it. Perhaps we need to pay reparations to earn the right.

  • New Fork of Mozilla

    Mozilla has released the 0.2 version of Phoenix. Phoenix is the browser-only “light” version of Mozilla. The rendering engine is incredibly fast and load in about 1/2 the time as the groupware-laden Mozilla. If you were complaining that Mozilla was still too top heavy, then keep your eye on this.

    I’m running it now since v0.1 and I’m very impressed. Since it’s based upon Gecko (as is Mozilla and Netscrape 7) development should move quickly.

  • Hurricane Lili Hits New Orleans

    Lili news live from New Orleans. As of right now, they are expecting winds up to 140 mph.

  • U.S. Troops Heavy Handed?

    operation_endless_opression.jpg“I Yelled at Them to Stop”

    Six paratroopers from the 82d Airborne, also part of Mountain Sweep, were lined up outside the farmer’s house, preparing to force their way in. “I yelled at them to stop,” says the captain, “but they went ahead and kicked in the door.” The farmer panicked and tried to run, and one of the paratroopers slammed him to the ground. The captain raced back to the house. Inside, he says, other helmeted soldiers from the 82d were attempting to frisk the women. By the time the captain could order the soldiers to leave, the family was in a state of shock. “The women were screaming bloody murder,” recalled the captain, asking to be identified simply as Mike. “The guy was in tears. He had been completely dishonored.”

    Compelling, upsetting. Many of you will read this and may even be angry for my blatant criticism, of the military lately. But, I can assure you, as good as a nations intentions can be, the individual intention may not alway reflect the same thing. Remember, just because you cannot picture yourself becoming over-aggressive and even oppressive, don’t think that others will reflect your convictions. Brutal and terrible things have happened and are happening, that we and the rest of the world are not aware of. Carte blanche eventually has a price.

    I can tell you this is true from cold hard experience.

  • Can There Be A Peaceful Resolution?

    Iraq to accept inspections

    A White House spokesman said Monday night that the administration will still seek a resolution to deal with the threat Saddam Hussein poses despite news that Iraq had agreed to accept a new round of weapons inspections without condition nearly four years after the last inspectors left. Baghdad’s announcement, delivered by letter and made public by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, came amid growing momentum to force Baghdad to comply with its previous commitments to disarm and prove that it had destroyed all biological, chemical and nuclear weapons or face military action.

    Kofi Annan was on Seasame Street today, with Elmo and the others. Very interesting indeed. I fear that Elmo and company could better handle this situation that the present administration.

  • Cheney Back In Cryogenic Tank…

    Vice president in secure location, again. *sigh*

    A decision was made late Monday that Cheney would not attend a Kennedy Center concert with the president, officials said, because of what one called “an overabundance of caution” that triggered concerns about having the president and vice president together.

    So What? Is GeeDubbya Expendable? What does this say about our executive branch? I don’t remember Big George sticking Quayle in the orbiting headquarters (or, the bunker at the center of the earth, whatever) during the gulf war, do you? What makes a shady CEO with an explosive heart such a valuable national asset? So much so that he can’t be in public during a time of national need? Has anyone ever seen him in public? Did his heart already explode?

  • Feel the Earth Rumble With 9/11 Sentiment

    Click Here!President Bush, who will mark the remembrance of Sept. 11 by visiting three terrorist attack sites, plans to start the observances in prayer and close them with a prime-time address to the nation.

    Afterward, there will be a hot dogs, chips and dip, a three-legged race, fireworks, and a 3000 mile wide image of the American flag will be displayed on the moon in laser light, while the New York Philharmonic Orchestra booms the national anthem from giant orbiting satellite speakers in space.

    Anyone caught not honoring the festivities your government has carefully planned for you will face the minimum mandatory sentance….

  • Repost Cause It Is Still Cool

    3D Pong. Fun.

  • Axis Of Corporate Evil

    Bush anti-corruption chief accused of account fraud.

    Larry Thompson, who is also deputy attorney general, was accused of dubious accounting practices and insider trading while on the board of Providian, a credit card issuer that also operates in Britain.