Unsought Input

I found this tidbit of internet the other day and I just felt the need to share with everyone. This site looks nice and professional.  In fact they even dare to let their motto be “make an educated decision” while they write articles telling us about five “Weird Careers in the Unknown” which include careers in “Cryptozoology, Ufologist, Parapsychologist, Paranormal Investigator and Conlinguist (unfortunately neither Wikipedia nor Google knows what conlinguism is so I had to direct you to that site, Google suggested I had misspelled cunnilinguist). This site, a college career advice site, feels that it’s okay to tell people who are looking for a new career in these troubling times that becoming a cryptozoologist is an awesome and exciting new career choice. In fact, here is a paragraph from the introduction of this article to explain:

These career paths are not for the faint-hearted. Any of these will almost certainly mean danger, spooky experiences, scanty paychecks, and/or ridicule from the mainstream public. If you think you have what it takes to be the next Fox Mulder, check out the following careers.

Scanty paychecks and/or ridicule? Sign me up right now! And, seriously, the next F0x Mulder? Did no one tell this guy that Fox Mulder was an imaginary character on a Science Fiction TV program and never really existed? What kind of career path is this? How many Paranormal Investigators have to have second jobs to pay the rent? How many Conlinguists (which if you didn’t figure it out yet, these people’s jobs are to create, write and speak fake languages from fictional characters from movies, books and tv shows) need to work at McDonalds just to eat? I think it’s time to scrutinize each section of this guy’s article and then add one more “exciting and fictitious” career to his already lacking list. (more…)

Just when you thought it was safe to drink water you hear about this. This headline on yahoo.com today strikes fear into the hearts of all Americans who thought it was healthy to drink water. Yes, conspiracy theories aside, there was a five month probe to find out what was actually in our drinking water. And do you know what they found out? I think you might since I put in in the headline of this article but allow me to reiterate. They found prescription drugs and other stuff in minute concentrations in our drinking water. Minute. I.e. small amounts. Very small. But still present. And what do our utility companies say? Is our water safe? Should we be allowing our selves and our loved ones to drink this water? This aqua pharmaceutical cocktail that comes out of our taps and into our glasses, into our showers and baths and food?

First off, let’s talk about media hype. It’s built up around times when people are getting too worried about other things: war, elections, terrorism, etc, to distract everyday people like you and me from these intense subjects by worrying about something else. In magic it’s call slight of the hand. The magician makes you look the other way and does the trick while you are distracted. Then, viola! You didn’t even know what was happening and now it’s already over and you are just left to wonder how it was done without you noticing.

So, the media creates hype and fear about your drinking water while there are several other important things to be reporting to the good people of America about so that you are distracted. Yes, something in the water is very scary. You need water to live and you trust the water that comes delivered to you. So, I agree, it’s a scary idea that there is something in the water. (more…)

Does sorting bottles and cans really save the earth? You may have heard the rumor that the whole thing is a big sham - either a misguided to make ourselves feel better about our wasteful lifestyles, or worse a conspiracy of crystal-wearing, tree-hugging hippies.

You may have noticed a number of geeky environment-related posts on Unsought Input. Some of our writers like to think of themselves as environmentalists. Now, before you click your back button, I should explain: no one here will ever tell you to stop driving and live in a cave! We are positive, progressive environmentalists who come to our green views through a love of innovation, efficiency, scientific progress, and yes, even market economics.

So, is recycling a bunch of bullshit designed to make us all feel better about ourselves? Does putting glass and plastic in a green bin actually damage the environment more than help?

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