Because my home PC keeps getting filled with downloads from iTunes – a byproduct of teenagers, I frequently have to purge unneeded files in order to free memory. So it is with my gray matter – occasionally things have to go.
But what to purge? Something that is unneeded and of little use. Hmmm.
So, to free space for ideas and thoughts that matter, I am purging from memory the list of US presidents – the list considered essential to my public education.
Why am I purging the list of presidents? Well, it’s either that or the list of Tour de France winners. And I hold Tour winners in higher esteem – even those who doped or otherwise cheated.
In my opinion, it is time to drop the worship of presidents, past and present. Allocating scarce memory to these folks is of little use – other than supporting the belief that the regime is to be glorified.
So, if you ask me for the names of the last 25 presidents, I’ll ask you for the names of the last 25 Tour winners.
{ 11 comments }
I hate to be *that* guy, but deleting files frees up storage space on your hard drive, not memory. And if hard drive space is a problem due to teenagers and iTunes I suggest getting an external USB terabyte hard drive which can be had for ~100 bucks.
With that pedantry out of my system, I agree with everything beyond the first paragraph!
Jeff,
Data stored on hard drives or similar device is a form of memory. In modern usage, storage and memory are synonymous.
Storage and memory are synonymous to some people, but a help desk would have suggested that you close some running programs or restart your computer to clear your memory.
I hate to be *that other* guy, but Jim’s hard drive analogy is entirely appropriate.
RAM = volatile storage / short-term memory (useful for brief ad hoc lists – e.g. grocery items)
Hard Drive = non-volatile storage / long-term memory (useful for lists of presidents & Tour de France winners)
I must disagree, not because I support the US presidents, but because it is necessary to keep knowledge on who, how, and for what reasons the American state has been taking advantage of its people for the last 200+ years. How else are we going to convince others that the gov’t needs to be stopped?
“How else are we going to convince others that the gov’t needs to be stopped?”
Answer: It is always wrong to initiate force/theft against innocent people.
But how will be build roads?
Answer: It is always wrong to initiate force/theft against innocent people.
But how will we defend against foreign threats?
Answer: It is always wrong to initiate force/theft against innocent people.
But who will take care of the old and sick?
Answer: It is always wrong to initiate force/theft against innocent people.
How will children learn to read and write?
Answer: It is always wrong to initiate force/theft against innocent people.
Answer: It is always wrong to initiate force/theft against innocent people.
Answer: It is always wrong to initiate force/theft against innocent people.
Answer: It is always wrong to initiate force/theft against innocent people.
ad infinitum… anything else is a red herring.
We don’t need a list of presidents on our hard drives to remind us of the tyranny. It is all too much “in your face” to ever forget. This began with the very first president and his war on distillers, just to force tax collection.
Since I see no reason for a state apparatus, I refuse to support it in any way. I don’t vote because it is one way of not supporting it.
Get ready to add “Wiggins” to your list. No, seriously.
Go ahead and delete them. The way we’re going we’ll soon have a million dollar bill, a ten million dollar bill etc. it won’t be long before all the presidents to have their very own denomination. And we’ll probably have some denominations in reserve for future presidents.
Augustus, Tiberius, Gaius Germanicus, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellus, Vespasian, Titus, Domitian, Nerva…etc. Most of these are names far more awful than that of any US president, yet I and many people consider knowing the men behind them worthwhile, if only for the entertainment and educational value.
Are you talking of soviet-style purge of history? For good or bad, these people are historical or historic figures. They can hardly be compared to a bicycling race winners.
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