Jeffrey Dale Starr

Jeffrey Dale Starr

22p

18 comments posted · 173 followers · following 0

14 years ago @ Concrete Academic - The Wolf and the Lamb · 0 replies · +2 points

Phaedrus, I knew Aesop. Aesop was a friend of mine. And you're no Aesop.

14 years ago @ Concrete Academic - The Value of Dynasties · 0 replies · +1 points

Growing up in San Antonio rooting for the Spurs, I hate to admit it, but you're right about them too. I don't think anyone's knees wobble when they see them on the schedule. In their heyday, I think the hated Detroit Pistons were much more intimitading (the image of Bill Laimbeer still churns my Spurs-loving gut).

14 years ago @ Concrete Academic - The Value of Dynasties · 0 replies · +1 points

Great article, and I completely agree! Another aspect of dynasties is that they bring out the best in their competition. As a die-hard Cowboys fan, I was always frustrated that no matter how bad of a season the Detroit Lions were having, all of a sudden they turned into Lombardi's Packers when they faced Big D (especially during the Aikman era). If you're some crummy team like the Chiefs, and you know you're gonna end up with 3 wins or so, then New England or Indianapolis suddenly becomes the Super Bowl on your schedule. You'll rarely see a team unprepared when going up against a dynasty.

14 years ago @ Concrete Academic - Nothing Means What You... · 1 reply · +1 points

Another great article. I think what really supports what Eagleton was saying is the great challenge that faces anyone trying to become fluent in a foreign language (in my case, Japanese). It's one thing to learn the textbook version of a language, but then at some point you face the biggest hurdle - idioms. Every language has them, and if taken at face value can be very confusing: "he went the whole nine yards", "beating around the bush", "don't throw out the baby with the bathwater". I have always sympathized with anyone trying to learn English as a second language.

14 years ago @ Concrete Academic - Review of The Flaming ... · 0 replies · +1 points

I was holding a Diet Coke (which is the case most of my waking hours) when I wrote the article, so it was the metaphor at hand...so to speak [groans from audience].

14 years ago @ Concrete Academic - Loquacious Lemmings · 0 replies · +1 points

I don't mind...I think it was great!

14 years ago @ Concrete Academic - Loquacious Lemmings · 2 replies · +1 points

Vlad, that's hilarious. I had no idea that my article had been billed as "IKEA Sucks...". It might explain some of the visceral reaction - I guess if you love that store you might take it as a personal attack. I think we should name our next article, "Why Strawberry Is The Worst Flavor Of Ice Cream".

14 years ago @ Concrete Academic - The Industrial Revolut... · 1 reply · +1 points

I'm not sure the expensive furniture can be sold any cheaper, to be honest. If it took you 3 months to hand-make a wardrobe, what would you charge for that? If you wanted to make a decent living, say $60k, you would have to charge $15k for that wardrobe. Who can afford that?

My beef is with the manufacturers of mass-produced furniture, who could dramatically increase their quality by reducing their profit margin. We've all heard enough stories about Nike shoes being made in the Far East for $3.00 and being sold to Americans for $125. Same idea.

14 years ago @ Concrete Academic - The Industrial Revolut... · 1 reply · +1 points

Wrong. I don't look down on anyone buying these products. I thought I made that clear. I'm angry at the manufacturers who produce shoddy goods just to increase their profit margin. You should be angry too.

And by the way, a lot of people seem to be making assumptions about who I am and where I come from. I grew up among the "lower classes" I spoke of and am not ashamed of it. Even now, I'm middle class at best. I guess prejudice is alive and well.

14 years ago @ Concrete Academic - The Industrial Revolut... · 1 reply · +1 points

You make a good point about the high price of quality merchandise. And if an armoire takes 4 months to build, I guess the builder has to charge an exorbitant rate. I guess there should just be a middle ground. I think if manufacturers of mass produced furniture upgraded their quality, it might mean reducing their profit margin from 70% to 50%. I just wish consumers would demand that sort of thing instead of just laying down and saying, "oh well, guess that's just the way it is".