On the Subject of Things

by Amanda Siberia

Although few people are aware, things are quite easily classified. Carolus Linnaeus attempted to classify things based upon their similarities, others have attempted to classify things based upon their function, their shape, or their color. One Dr. Reginald Hoober once attempted to classify things based upon the noises they make when stepped upon. There are numerous ways to classify things, but only one correct way.

The Herkimer-Bose Scale puts all things ever in existence into one of three sets. According to this quite authoritative scale things are either Stupid, Cool, or Neutral. Thousands upon thousands of scientists and philosophers, not to mention sciensosophers, have measured thousands upon thousands of objects, things and bits of stuff according to this scale. They have been able to prove the nature of things to an accuracy of seven thousand decimal places.

Stuff Graphic

Rocks are cool. The earth is made of rocks and rocks are everywhere. They come in a variety of sizes and have many uses.

Chimpanzees are cool because of their human-like behavior. It’s funny to see chimpanzees ride tricycles, smoke cigars and wear diapers.

Matzo is cool as it’s bread without yeast. It’s very crunchy and tasty and if you find the afikomen then it makes Passover all the more special.

Tires are neutral. You just can’t really get into tires. It’s sort of interesting that in England they spell it “tyres,” but it’s really not that interesting.

The Dead Sea is neutral. Sure, it’s full of salt and everyone floats in it, but it’s still just a bunch of water in the middle of a desert. Whoop-de-friggin’ do.

Albert Einstein is neutral. While he formulated a lot of interesting theories and had a neat mustache, he also spent a lot of time espousing socialism and political nonsense. Plus, he turned down the presidency of Israel.

Lip-synching is stupid. Either sing the song or don’t. Moving your lips to the words of a song is just pointless. I know you’re not singing, so why bother pretending. And lip-synching is especially stupid when it’s coupled with dancing. What, are you too useless to be able to sing and dance at the same time? Have to lip-synch while you contort your body? Who cares? I sure as hell don’t.

Picture frames are stupid. Do I really need a bit of wood to border my picture? What, the picture itself isn’t good enough…not wall worthy unless it’s got a bit of wood stuck up around the outside. Who thinks up this nonsense?

Bishops are stupid. Why do we need bishops anyway? We have the Pope and parish priests, what, these people can’t communicate? Ever heard of the internet you dumb Catholic weeds? Plus, bishops only move diagonally, I already have a queen that can do that and a lot more. For Christ’s sake, work this out before you put on the silly little hat.

Indeed, everything in the universe that has ever existed, currently exists or will exist fits in to one of these three categories. No doubt this information will introduce a new era of organization and classification, and will allow humanity an ever greater understanding of both things and stuff.

I’m Going to Berlin

by H.G. Peterson

H.G. Peterson

H.G. Peterson is the world’s greatest living helicopterist. Throughout all of Asia he is loved and adored for skill in piloting helicopters. He can fly all sorts of helicopters; blue ones, red ones and even a striped one once.

“I’m Going to Berlin”

The Solar System has planets nine
About the Sun they take their time

Mercury, the closest in
Flies ‘bout real fast, and has slow spin

Next comes Venus, with cloudy sky
Its temperatures are very high

Now there’s Earth, our home sweet home
There’s grass and you and Styrofoam™

Mars is fourth, and really red
It may have life, but is likely dead

Asteroids are this far out
It’s too far ‘tween them for you to shout

King of Planets, Jupiter is gas
There is no ground to grow some grass

Saturn is large, with many rings
And home to other interesting things

The name Uranus sure is funny
But it’s skies are hardly sunny

Blue and beautiful is Neptune
And quite too large to fit in your room

Pluto is tiny and really quite strange
About it in a car you could easily range

Kuiper Belt objects are icy and cold
Much too much so for bread to grow mold

Far out in space, the Oort Cloud is found
This is where comets spend time flying ‘round

And so you can see, with the Sun at the center
The Solar System’s neatness gets better and better

Cellists

The March of Progress: November 2005

Traveler I Set for Launch

Space Flats, Florida: Scientists, many of them loosely affiliated with NASA (National Aerospace Science Association) have announced the launching of a new interstellar space probe which will follow in the footsteps of Pioneers Ten, Eleven and Voyager. Dr. Aves Dimnation, Baron Administrator of NASA declared in a press conference early Tuesday morning that Traveler I will “utilize new advances in stellar propulsion to catch up with Voyager and Pioneer. Hopefully Traveler I will arrive at some unknown alien civilization roughly two or three weeks after the first probes. It will be a hopeful moment for humanity.” Scientists are hopeful that the new information contained in Traveler I’s specialized platinum plates will correct some of the erroneous record playing instructions contained on the Voyager Interstellar Record. NASA, as you may recall, was heavily involved in the space race of the 1950s and 1960s.

Voyager Plate

Changing Direction: The new plate aboard the Traveler I will help aliens better understand how to listen to interstellar recordings, which now feature a hot new dance remix of the Whale Song track.