Christmas is now past and it was a good holiday. I think my wife and I got the most expensive bag of gifts we've ever had since being married. I have movies to watch until the end of the time.
My back is feeling better slowly, so that's another good thing. Been seeing more of my family, going to my Dad's, talking to my brother, Josh.
Kind of slow lazy short week at work right now.
I'm gonna have to post something more in the way of original material than just these update posts as of late. I think New Year's will bring me some inspiration.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Wednesday
Work has been pretty damn uneventful. Spent most of the day trying to quench my recent thirst for job-related knowledge by actually going into some of my fellow employees' offices adn reading books on their shelves. Some CAD Drafting material, but mostly Land Surveying subject matter like three-wire level notes and other such things.
I've been getting a lot of praise for my job performance lately. I find it kind of strange since I'm probably in one of my lowest levels of work volume that I can think of in quite a while. I think it has more to do with the fact that we've had several longtime employees leave and go elsewhere, and I've been given their workloads. But it really turned out to be almost nothing. Kind of strange really. Plus we've been given new software and I've been told I'm one of the few not to complain about it or struggle. I attribute this versatility and adaptability on my gaming skills and youthful mind. Most of my colleagues are near my father's age and seem to have a healthy disdain for anything involving "change".
Other than that, my back has been killing me since we've moved into our new Apt. and it's turning me into an angry person (I've got to do something about it soon). I've always ignored pain, but this is some real ridiculous stuff, it has to be a pinched nerve or a herniated thingamajig, know what I'm sayin'?
Later.
I've been getting a lot of praise for my job performance lately. I find it kind of strange since I'm probably in one of my lowest levels of work volume that I can think of in quite a while. I think it has more to do with the fact that we've had several longtime employees leave and go elsewhere, and I've been given their workloads. But it really turned out to be almost nothing. Kind of strange really. Plus we've been given new software and I've been told I'm one of the few not to complain about it or struggle. I attribute this versatility and adaptability on my gaming skills and youthful mind. Most of my colleagues are near my father's age and seem to have a healthy disdain for anything involving "change".
Other than that, my back has been killing me since we've moved into our new Apt. and it's turning me into an angry person (I've got to do something about it soon). I've always ignored pain, but this is some real ridiculous stuff, it has to be a pinched nerve or a herniated thingamajig, know what I'm sayin'?
Later.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Driving in the Sunshine State
I found out during a conversation with someone why Florida drivers are the worst that I've ever encountered.
I told him that I took Driver's Ed in Maryland, and that I moved to Florida before taking the Driver's Exam, and how surprised I was when a large amount of what I had been learning and practicing wasn't on the Exam in Florida. I also mentioned that the actual Driving test I went on was a joke and that we weren't out for more than ten minutes before we were back at the DMV and getting my picture taken for my license (I didn't even have to parallel park!).
That's when he told me that he never had to take an actual driving test to get his license because he took Drivers Ed in high school in Florida, all he had to do was go down to the DMV and get his license.
Now I know why this town is full of people who don't know what the f*ck they're doing on the road.
I told him that I took Driver's Ed in Maryland, and that I moved to Florida before taking the Driver's Exam, and how surprised I was when a large amount of what I had been learning and practicing wasn't on the Exam in Florida. I also mentioned that the actual Driving test I went on was a joke and that we weren't out for more than ten minutes before we were back at the DMV and getting my picture taken for my license (I didn't even have to parallel park!).
That's when he told me that he never had to take an actual driving test to get his license because he took Drivers Ed in high school in Florida, all he had to do was go down to the DMV and get his license.
Now I know why this town is full of people who don't know what the f*ck they're doing on the road.
Friday, December 8, 2006
Rolling Stone's Top 500 Albums
At my office I have a friend who's a bit of an eccentric (he's an engineer, what should I expect?), and in his office he has a portable hard drive on his desk. I asked what it was about and he told me he got the hook up from a buddy and that he had Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 500 Albums of All-Time on it. I'm not sure where he got it or who compiled it, but I brought it home and he wasn't lying. In their listed ordered they're on the hard drive in their complete entireties. Now a critic's list of the top 500 albums is obsiously going to have a bunch of choices on it that are kind of unappealing to the average music listener, but I find most of the albums on the list to be good stuff. I don't think I would have listed certain albums where they are on the list, but that's how it goes with every list.
After 30 minutes of download time I have them all on my PC. Here's the list. It takes up 39 GB of memory.
1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles
2. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
3. Revolver, The Beatles
4. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
5. Rubber Soul, The Beatles
6. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
7. Exile on Main Street, The Rolling Stones
8. London Calling, The Clash
9. Blonde on Blonde, Bob Dylan
10. The Beatles ("The White Album"), The Beatles
11. The Sun Sessions, Elvis Presley
12. Kind of Blue, Miles Davis
13. Velvet Underground and Nico, The Velvet Underground
14. Abbey Road, The Beatles
15. Are You Experienced?, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
16. Blood on the Tracks, Bob Dylan
17. Nevermind, Nirvana
18. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen
19. Astral Weeks, Van Morrison
20. Thriller, Michael Jackson
21. The Great Twenty-Eight, Chuck Berry
22. Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon
23. Innervisions, Stevie Wonder
24. Live at the Apollo (1963), James Brown
25. Rumours, Fleetwood Mac
26. The Joshua Tree, U2
27. King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 1, Robert Johnson
28. Who's Next, The Who
29. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin
30. Blue, Joni Mitchell
31. Bringing It All Back Home, Bob Dylan
32. Let It Bleed, The Rolling Stones
33. Ramones, Ramones
34. Music From Big Pink, The Band
35. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, David Bowie
36. Tapestry, Carole King
37. Hotel California, The Eagles
38. The Anthology, 1947 - 1972, Muddy Waters
39. Please Please Me, The Beatles
40. Forever Changes, Love
41. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, The Sex Pistols
42. The Doors, The Doors
43. The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd
44. Horses, Patti Smith
45. The Band, The Band
46. Legend, Bob Marley and the Wailers
47. A Love Supreme, John Coltrane
48. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Public Enemy
49. At Fillmore East, The Allman Brothers Band
50. Here's Little Richard, Little Richard
51. Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel
52. Greatest Hits, Al Green
53. The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Rhythm and Blues Recordings, 1952 - 1959, Ray Charles
54. Electric Ladyland, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
55. Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley
56. Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder
57. Beggars Banquet, The Rolling Stones
58. Trout Mask Replica, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
59. Meet the Beatles, The Beatles
60. Greatest Hits, Sly and the Family Stone
61. Appetite for Destruction, Guns n' Roses
62. Achtung Baby, U2
63. Sticky Fingers, The Rolling Stones
64. Phil Spector, Back to Mono (1958 - 1969), Various Artists
65. Moondance, Van Morrison
66. Led Zeppelin IV, Led Zeppelin
67. The Stranger, Billy Joel
68. Off the Wall, Michael Jackson
69. Superfly, Curtis Mayfield
70. Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin
71. After the Gold Rush, Neil Young
72. Purple Rain, Prince
73. Back in Black, AC/DC
74. Otis Blue, Otis Redding
75. Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin
76. Imagine, John Lennon
77. The Clash, The Clash
78. Harvest, Neil Young
79. Star Time, James Brown
80. Odessey and Oracle, The Zombies
81. Graceland, Paul Simon
82. Axis: Bold as Love, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
83. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, Aretha Franklin
84. Lady Soul, Aretha Franklin
85. Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen
86. Let It Be, The Beatles
87. The Wall, Pink Floyd
88. At Folsom Prison, Johnny Cash
89. Dusty in Memphis, Dusty Springfield
90. Talking Book, Stevie Wonder
91. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
92. 20 Golden Greats, Buddy Holly
93. Sign 'o' the Times, Prince
94. Bitches Brew, Miles Davis
95. Green River, Creedence Clearwater Revival
96. Tommy, The Who
97. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan
98. This Year's Model, Elvis Costello
99. There's a Riot Goin' On, Sly and the Family Stone
100. In the Wee Small Hours, Frank Sinatra
101. Fresh Cream, Cream
102. Giant Steps, John Coltrane
103. Sweet Baby James, James Taylor
104. Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Ray Charles
105. Rocket to Russia, Ramones
106. Portrait of a Legend 1951 - 1964, Sam Cooke
107. Hunky Dory, David Bowie
108. Aftermath, The Rolling Stones
109. Loaded, The Velvet Underground
110. The Bends, Radiohead
111. Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell
112. Disraeli Gears, Cream
113. The Who Sell Out, The Who
114. Out of Our Heads, The Rolling Stones
115. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, Derek and the Dominos
116. At Last, Etta James
117. Sweetheart of the Rodeo , The Byrds
118. Stand!, Sly and the Family Stone
119. The Harder They Come Original Soundtrack, Various Artists
120. Raising Hell, Run-DMC
121. Moby Grape, Moby Grape
122. Pearl, Janis Joplin
123. Catch a Fire, Bob Marley and the Wailers
124. Younger Than Yesterday, The Byrds
125. Raw Power, The Stooges
126. Remain in Light, Talking Heads
127. If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, The Mamas and the Papas
128. Marquee Moon, Television
129. 40 Greatest Hits, Hank Williams
130. Paranoid, Black Sabbath
131. Saturday Night Fever, Various Artists
132. The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, Bruce Springsteen
133. Ready to Die, The Notorious B.I.G.
134. Slanted and Enchanted, Pavement
135. Greatest Hits, Elton John
136. Tim, The Replacements
137. The Chronic, Dr. Dre
138. Rejuvenation, The Meters
139. All That You Can't Leave Behind, U2
140. Parallel Lines, Blondie
141. Live at the Regal, B.B. King
142. Phil Spector, A Christmas Gift for You, Various Artists
143. Gris-Gris, Dr. John
144. Straight Outta Compton, N.W.A
145. Aja, Steely Dan
146. Surrealistic Pillow, Jefferson Airplane
147. Dreams to Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology, Otis Redding
148. Deja Vu, Crosby Stills Nash and Young
149. Houses of the Holy, Led Zeppelin
150. Santana, Santana
151. Darkness on the Edge of Town, Bruce Springsteen
152. The B-52's, The B-52's
153. Moanin' in the Moonlight, Howlin' Wolf
154. The Low End Theory, A Tribe Called Quest
155. Pretenders, The Pretenders
156. Paul's Boutique, Beastie Boys
157. Closer, Joy Division
158. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Elton John
159. Alive, Kiss
160. Electric Warrior, T. Rex
161. The Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding
162. OK Computer, Radiohead
163. 1999, Prince
164. Heart Like a Wheel, Linda Ronstadt
165. Let's Get It On, Marvin Gaye
166. Imperial Bedroom , Elvis Costello
167. Master of Puppets, Metallica
168. My Aim Is True, Elvis Costello
169. Exodus, Bob Marley
170. Live at Leeds, The Who
171. The Notorious Byrd Brothers, The Byrds
172. Every Picture Tells a Story, Rod Stewart
173. Something/Anything?, Todd Rundgren
174. Desire, Bob Dylan
175. Close to You, The Carpenters
176. Rocks, Aerosmith
177. One Nation Under a Groove, Parliament/Funkadelic
178. Greatest Hits, The Byrds
179. The Anthology 1961 - 1977, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions
180. The Definitive Collection, Abba
181. The Rolling Stones, Now!, The Rolling Stones
182. Natty Dread, Bob Marley and the Wailers
183. Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac
184. Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson
185. The Stooges, The Stooges
186. Fresh, Sly and the Family Stone
187. So, Peter Gabriel
188. Buffalo Springfield Again, Buffalo Springfield
189. Happy Trails, Quicksilver Messenger Service
190. From Elvis in Memphis, Elvis Presley
191. Funhouse, The Stooges
192. The Gilded Palace of Sin, The Flying Burrito Brothers
193. Dookie, Green Day
194. Transformer, Lou Reed
195. Bluesbreakers, John Mayall With Eric Clapton
196. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965 - 1968, Various Artists
197. Murmur, R.E.M.
198. The Best of, Little Walter
199. Highway to Hell, AC/DC
200. The Downward Spiral, Nine Inch Nails
201. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, Simon and Garfunkel 202. Bad, Michael Jackson
203. Wheels of Fire, Cream
204. Dirty Mind, Prince
205. Abraxas, Santana
206. Tea for the Tillerman, Cat Stevens
207. Ten, Pearl Jam
208. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Neil Young With Crazy Horse
209. Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd
210. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, Pavement
211. Tattoo You, The Rolling Stones
212. Proud Mary: The Best of Ike and Tina Turner, Ike and Tina Turner
213. New York Dolls, New York Dolls
214. Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley
215. Two Steps From the Blues, Bobby Bland
216. The Queen Is Dead, The Smiths
217. Licensed to Ill, Beastie Boys
218. Look-Ka Py Py, The Meters
219. Loveless, My Bloody Valentine
220. New Orleans Piano, Professor Longhair
221. War, U2
222. The Neil Diamond Collection, Neil Diamond
223. Howlin' Wolf, Howlin' Wolf
224. Nebraska, Bruce Springsteen
225. The Complete Hank Williams, Hank Williams
226. Doolittle, Pixies
227. Paid in Full, Eric B. and Rakim
228. Toys in the Attic, Aerosmith
229. Nick of Time, Bonnie Raitt
230. A Night at the Opera, Queen
231. The Kink Kronikles, The Kinks
232. Mr. Tambourine Man, The Byrds
233. Bookends, Simon and Garfunkel
234. The Ultimate Collection, Patsy Cline
235. Mr. Excitement!, Jackie Wilson
236. The Who Sings My Generation, The Who
237. Like a Prayer, Madonna
238. Can't Buy a Thrill, Steely Dan
239. Let It Be, The Replacements
240. Run-DMC, Run-DMC
241. Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath
242. The Jerry Lee Lewis Anthology: All Killer No Filler!, Jerry Lee Lewis
243. Freak Out!, The Mothers of Invention
244. Live Dead, Grateful Dead
245. Bryter Layter, Nick Drake
246. The Shape of Jazz to Come, Ornette Coleman
247. Automatic for the People, R.E.M.
248. Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z
249. Low, David Bowie
250. The River, Bruce Springsteen
251. The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul, Otis Redding
252. Metallica, Metallica
253. Trans-Europe Express, Kraftwerk
254. Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston
255. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, The Kinks
256. The Velvet Rope, Janet Jackson
257. Stardust, Willie Nelson
258. American Beauty, Grateful Dead
259. Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills and Nash
260. Buena Vista Social Club , Buena Vista Social Club
261. Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman
262. Workingman's Dead, Grateful Dead
263. The Genius of Ray Charles, Ray Charles
264. Child Is Father to the Man, Blood, Sweat and Tears
265. Cosmo's Factory, Creedence Clearwater Revival
266. Quadrophenia, The Who
267. There Goes Rhymin' Simon, Paul Simon
268. Psycho Candy, The Jesus and Mary Chain
269. Some Girls, The Rolling Stones
270. The Beach Boys Today!, The Beach Boys
271. Going to a Go-Go, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
272. Nightbirds, Labelle
273. The Slim Shady LP, Eminem
274. Mothership Connection, Parliament
275. Rhythm Nation 1814, Janet Jackson
276. Anthology of American Folk Music, Harry Smith, ed.
277. Aladdin Sane, David Bowie
278. The Immaculate Collection, Madonna
279. My Life, Mary J. Blige
280. Folk Singer, Muddy Waters
281. Can't Get Enough, Barry White
282. The Cars, The Cars
283. Five Leaves Left, Nick Drake
284. Music of My Mind, Stevie Wonder
285. I'm Still in Love With You, Al Green
286. Los Angeles, X
287. Anthem of the Sun, Grateful Dead
288. Something Else by the Kinks, The Kinks
289. Call Me, Al Green
290. Talking Heads: 77, Talking Heads
291. The Basement Tapes, Bob Dylan and the Band
292. White Light / White Heat, The Velvet Underground
293. Greatest Hits, Simon and Garfunkel
294. Kick Out the Jams, MC5
295. Meat Is Murder, The Smiths
296. We're Only In It For the Money, The Mothers of Invention
297. Weezer (Blue Album), Weezer
298. Master of Reality, Black Sabbath
299. Coat of Many Colors, Dolly Parton
300. Fear of a Black Planet, Public Enemy
301. John Wesley Harding, Bob Dylan
302. The Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem
303. Grace, Jeff Buckley
304. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Lucinda Williams
305. Odelay, Beck
306. Songs for Swingin' Lovers, Frank Sinatra
307. Avalon, Roxy Music
308. The Sun Records Collection, Various Artists
309. Nothing's Shocking, Jane's Addiction
310. BloodSugarSexMagik, Red Hot Chili Peppers
311. Unplugged in New York, Nirvana
312. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill
313. Damn the Torpedoes, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
314. The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground
315. Surfer Rosa, Pixies
316. Rock Steady, No Doubt
317. The Eminem Show, Eminem
318. Back Stabbers, The O'Jays
319. Burnin', Bob Marley and the Wailers
320. Pink Moon, Nick Drake
321. Sail Away, Randy Newman
322. Ghost in the Machine, The Police
323. Station to Station, David Bowie
324. The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt, Linda Ronstadt
325. Slowhand, Eric Clapton
326. Disintegration, The Cure
327. Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette
328. Exile in Guyville, Liz Phair
329. Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth
330. In the Jungle Groove, James Brown
331. Tonight's the Night, Neil Young
332. Help!, The Beatles
333. Shoot Out the Lights, Richard and Linda Thompson
334. Wild Gift, X
335. Squeezing Out Sparks, Graham Parker
336. Superunknown, Soundgarden
337. Aqualung, Jethro Tull
338. Cheap Thrills, Big Brother and the Holding Company
339. The Heart of Saturday Night, Tom Waits
340. Damaged, Black Flag
341. Play, Moby
342. Violator, Depeche Mode
343. Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf
344. Berlin, Lou Reed
345. Stop Making Sense, Talking Heads
346. 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul
347. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Pink Floyd
348. At Newport 1960, Muddy Waters
349. Roger the Engineer (a.k.a. Over Under Sideways Down), The Yardbirds
350. Rust Never Sleeps, Neil Young and Crazy Horse
351. Brothers in Arms, Dire Straits
352. 52nd Street, Billy Joel
353. Having a Rave Up With the Yardbirds, The Yardbirds
354. 12 Songs, Randy Newman
355. Between the Buttons, The Rolling Stones
356. Sketches of Spain, Miles Davis
357. Honky Chateau, Elton John
358. Singles Going Steady, Buzzcocks
359. Stankonia, Outkast
360. Siamese Dream, The Smashing Pumpkins
361. Substance, New Order
362. L.A. Woman, The Doors
363. Ray of Light, Madonna
364. American Recordings, Johnny Cash
365. Louder Than Bombs, The Smiths
366. Mott, Mott the Hoople
367. Is This It, The Strokes
368. Rage Against the Machine, Rage Against the Machine
369. Reggatta de Blanc, The Police
370. Volunteers, Jefferson Airplane
371. Siren, Roxy Music
372. Late for the Sky, Jackson Browne
373. Post, Bjork
374. The Eagles, The Eagles
375. The Ultimate Collection (1948 - 1990), John Lee Hooker
376. (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis
377. CrazySexyCool, TLC
378. Funky Kingston, Toots and the Maytals
379. Greetings from Asbury Park, Bruce Springsteen
380. Sunflower, The Beach Boys
381. Modern Lovers, Modern Lovers
382. More Songs About Buildings and Food, Talking Heads
383. A Quick One (Happy Jack), The Who
384. Pyromania, Def Leppard
385. Pretzel Logic, Steely Dan
386. Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, Wu-Tang Clan
387. Country Life, Roxy Music
388. A Hard Day's Night, The Beatles
389. The End of the Innocence, Don Henley
390. Elephant, The White Stripes
391. The Pretender, Jackson Browne
392. Willy and the Poor Boys, Creedence Clearwater Revival
393. Good Old Boys, Randy Newman
394. For Your Pleasure, Roxy Music
395. Blue Lines, Massive Attack
396. Eliminator, ZZ Top
397. Rain Dogs, Tom Waits
398. Anthology, The Temptations
399. Californication, Red Hot Chili Peppers
400. Illmatic, Nas
401. (Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd), Lynyrd Skynyrd
402. Dr. John's Gumbo, Dr. John
403. Radio City, Big Star
404. Sandinista!, The Clash
405. Rid of Me, PJ Harvey
406. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, Sinead O' Connor
407. Strange Days, The Doors
408. Time Out of Mind, Bob Dylan
409. 461 Ocean Boulevard, Eric Clapton
410. Pink Flag, Wire
411. Double Nickels on the Dime, Minutemen
412. Mezzanine, Massive Attack
413. Beauty and the Beat, Go-Go's
414. Greatest Hits, James Brown
415. Van Halen , Van Halen
416. Mule Variations, Tom Waits
417. Boy, U2
418. Band on the Run, Wings
419. Dummy, Portishead
420. With the Beatles, The Beatles
421. The "Chirping" Crickets, Buddy Holly and the Crickets
422. The Best of the Girl Groups, Volumes 1 and 2 , Various Artists
423. Greatest Hits, The Mamas and the Papas
424. King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 2, Robert Johnson
425. Changesone, David Bowie
426. The Battle of Los Angeles, Rage Against the Machine
427. Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica, The Ronettes
428. Kid A, Radiohead
429. Grievous Angel, Gram Parsons
430. At Budokan, Cheap Trick
431. Anthology, Diana Ross and the Supremes
432. Sleepless, Peter Wolf
433. Another Green World, Brian Eno
434. Outlandos D'Amour, The Police
435. To Bring You My Love, PJ Harvey
436. Here Come the Warm Jets, Brian Eno
437. All Things Must Pass, George Harrison
438. #1 Record, Big Star
439. In Utero, Nirvana
440. Sea Change, Beck
441. Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt
442. Boys Don't Cry, The Cure
443. Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963, Sam Cooke
444. Criminal Minded, Boogie Down Productions
445. Rum Sodomy and the Lash, The Pogues
446. Suicide, Suicide
447. Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, Devo>
448. In Color, Cheap Trick
449. The World Is a Ghetto, War
450. Fly Like an Eagle, Steve Miller Band
451. Back in the USA, MC5
452. Music, Madonna
453. Ritual de lo Habitual, Jane's Addiction
454. Getz/Gilberto, Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto Featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim
455. Synchronicity, The Police
456. Third/Sister Lovers, Big Star
457. For Everyman, Jackson Browne
458. John Prine, John Prine
459. Strictly Business, EPMD
460. Love It to Death, Alice Cooper
461. How Will the Wolf Survive?, Los Lobos
462. Here, My Dear, Marvin Gaye
463. Tumbleweed Connection, Elton John
464. The Blueprint, Jay-Z
465. Golden Hits, The Drifters
466. Live Through This, Hole
467. Love and Theft, Bob Dylan
468. Elton John, Elton John
469. Metal Box, Public Image Ltd.
470. Document, R.E.M.
471. Heaven Up Here, Echo and the Bunnymen
472. Hysteria, Def Leppard
473. A Rush of Blood to the Head, Coldplay
474. Live in Europe, Otis Redding
475. Tunnel of Love, Bruce Springsteen
476. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
477. The Score, Fugees
478. Radio, LL Cool J
479. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, Richard and Linda Thompson
480. Faith, George Michael
481. The Smiths, The Smiths
482. Armed Forces, Elvis Costello and the Attractions
483. Life After Death, The Notorious B.I.G.
484. Branded Man, Merle Haggard
485. All Time Greatest Hits, Loretta Lynn
486. Maggot Brain, Funkadelic
487. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, The Smashing Pumpkins
488. Voodoo, D'Angelo
489. Guitar Town, Steve Earle
490. Entertainment!, Gang of Four
491. All the Young Dudes, Mott the Hoople
492. Vitalogy, Pearl Jam
493. That's the Way of the World, Earth, Wind and Fire
494. She's So Unusual, Cyndi Lauper
495. New Day Rising, Husker Du
496. Destroyer, Kiss
497. Yo! Bum Rush the Show, Public Enemy
498. Tres Hombres, ZZ Top
499. Born Under a Bad Sign, Albert King
500. Touch, Eurythmics
After 30 minutes of download time I have them all on my PC. Here's the list. It takes up 39 GB of memory.
1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles
2. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
3. Revolver, The Beatles
4. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
5. Rubber Soul, The Beatles
6. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
7. Exile on Main Street, The Rolling Stones
8. London Calling, The Clash
9. Blonde on Blonde, Bob Dylan
10. The Beatles ("The White Album"), The Beatles
11. The Sun Sessions, Elvis Presley
12. Kind of Blue, Miles Davis
13. Velvet Underground and Nico, The Velvet Underground
14. Abbey Road, The Beatles
15. Are You Experienced?, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
16. Blood on the Tracks, Bob Dylan
17. Nevermind, Nirvana
18. Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen
19. Astral Weeks, Van Morrison
20. Thriller, Michael Jackson
21. The Great Twenty-Eight, Chuck Berry
22. Plastic Ono Band, John Lennon
23. Innervisions, Stevie Wonder
24. Live at the Apollo (1963), James Brown
25. Rumours, Fleetwood Mac
26. The Joshua Tree, U2
27. King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 1, Robert Johnson
28. Who's Next, The Who
29. Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin
30. Blue, Joni Mitchell
31. Bringing It All Back Home, Bob Dylan
32. Let It Bleed, The Rolling Stones
33. Ramones, Ramones
34. Music From Big Pink, The Band
35. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, David Bowie
36. Tapestry, Carole King
37. Hotel California, The Eagles
38. The Anthology, 1947 - 1972, Muddy Waters
39. Please Please Me, The Beatles
40. Forever Changes, Love
41. Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, The Sex Pistols
42. The Doors, The Doors
43. The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd
44. Horses, Patti Smith
45. The Band, The Band
46. Legend, Bob Marley and the Wailers
47. A Love Supreme, John Coltrane
48. It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Public Enemy
49. At Fillmore East, The Allman Brothers Band
50. Here's Little Richard, Little Richard
51. Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel
52. Greatest Hits, Al Green
53. The Birth of Soul: The Complete Atlantic Rhythm and Blues Recordings, 1952 - 1959, Ray Charles
54. Electric Ladyland, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
55. Elvis Presley, Elvis Presley
56. Songs in the Key of Life, Stevie Wonder
57. Beggars Banquet, The Rolling Stones
58. Trout Mask Replica, Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
59. Meet the Beatles, The Beatles
60. Greatest Hits, Sly and the Family Stone
61. Appetite for Destruction, Guns n' Roses
62. Achtung Baby, U2
63. Sticky Fingers, The Rolling Stones
64. Phil Spector, Back to Mono (1958 - 1969), Various Artists
65. Moondance, Van Morrison
66. Led Zeppelin IV, Led Zeppelin
67. The Stranger, Billy Joel
68. Off the Wall, Michael Jackson
69. Superfly, Curtis Mayfield
70. Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin
71. After the Gold Rush, Neil Young
72. Purple Rain, Prince
73. Back in Black, AC/DC
74. Otis Blue, Otis Redding
75. Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin
76. Imagine, John Lennon
77. The Clash, The Clash
78. Harvest, Neil Young
79. Star Time, James Brown
80. Odessey and Oracle, The Zombies
81. Graceland, Paul Simon
82. Axis: Bold as Love, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
83. I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, Aretha Franklin
84. Lady Soul, Aretha Franklin
85. Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen
86. Let It Be, The Beatles
87. The Wall, Pink Floyd
88. At Folsom Prison, Johnny Cash
89. Dusty in Memphis, Dusty Springfield
90. Talking Book, Stevie Wonder
91. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Elton John
92. 20 Golden Greats, Buddy Holly
93. Sign 'o' the Times, Prince
94. Bitches Brew, Miles Davis
95. Green River, Creedence Clearwater Revival
96. Tommy, The Who
97. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan
98. This Year's Model, Elvis Costello
99. There's a Riot Goin' On, Sly and the Family Stone
100. In the Wee Small Hours, Frank Sinatra
101. Fresh Cream, Cream
102. Giant Steps, John Coltrane
103. Sweet Baby James, James Taylor
104. Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Ray Charles
105. Rocket to Russia, Ramones
106. Portrait of a Legend 1951 - 1964, Sam Cooke
107. Hunky Dory, David Bowie
108. Aftermath, The Rolling Stones
109. Loaded, The Velvet Underground
110. The Bends, Radiohead
111. Court and Spark, Joni Mitchell
112. Disraeli Gears, Cream
113. The Who Sell Out, The Who
114. Out of Our Heads, The Rolling Stones
115. Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, Derek and the Dominos
116. At Last, Etta James
117. Sweetheart of the Rodeo , The Byrds
118. Stand!, Sly and the Family Stone
119. The Harder They Come Original Soundtrack, Various Artists
120. Raising Hell, Run-DMC
121. Moby Grape, Moby Grape
122. Pearl, Janis Joplin
123. Catch a Fire, Bob Marley and the Wailers
124. Younger Than Yesterday, The Byrds
125. Raw Power, The Stooges
126. Remain in Light, Talking Heads
127. If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears, The Mamas and the Papas
128. Marquee Moon, Television
129. 40 Greatest Hits, Hank Williams
130. Paranoid, Black Sabbath
131. Saturday Night Fever, Various Artists
132. The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, Bruce Springsteen
133. Ready to Die, The Notorious B.I.G.
134. Slanted and Enchanted, Pavement
135. Greatest Hits, Elton John
136. Tim, The Replacements
137. The Chronic, Dr. Dre
138. Rejuvenation, The Meters
139. All That You Can't Leave Behind, U2
140. Parallel Lines, Blondie
141. Live at the Regal, B.B. King
142. Phil Spector, A Christmas Gift for You, Various Artists
143. Gris-Gris, Dr. John
144. Straight Outta Compton, N.W.A
145. Aja, Steely Dan
146. Surrealistic Pillow, Jefferson Airplane
147. Dreams to Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology, Otis Redding
148. Deja Vu, Crosby Stills Nash and Young
149. Houses of the Holy, Led Zeppelin
150. Santana, Santana
151. Darkness on the Edge of Town, Bruce Springsteen
152. The B-52's, The B-52's
153. Moanin' in the Moonlight, Howlin' Wolf
154. The Low End Theory, A Tribe Called Quest
155. Pretenders, The Pretenders
156. Paul's Boutique, Beastie Boys
157. Closer, Joy Division
158. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Elton John
159. Alive, Kiss
160. Electric Warrior, T. Rex
161. The Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding
162. OK Computer, Radiohead
163. 1999, Prince
164. Heart Like a Wheel, Linda Ronstadt
165. Let's Get It On, Marvin Gaye
166. Imperial Bedroom , Elvis Costello
167. Master of Puppets, Metallica
168. My Aim Is True, Elvis Costello
169. Exodus, Bob Marley
170. Live at Leeds, The Who
171. The Notorious Byrd Brothers, The Byrds
172. Every Picture Tells a Story, Rod Stewart
173. Something/Anything?, Todd Rundgren
174. Desire, Bob Dylan
175. Close to You, The Carpenters
176. Rocks, Aerosmith
177. One Nation Under a Groove, Parliament/Funkadelic
178. Greatest Hits, The Byrds
179. The Anthology 1961 - 1977, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions
180. The Definitive Collection, Abba
181. The Rolling Stones, Now!, The Rolling Stones
182. Natty Dread, Bob Marley and the Wailers
183. Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac
184. Red Headed Stranger, Willie Nelson
185. The Stooges, The Stooges
186. Fresh, Sly and the Family Stone
187. So, Peter Gabriel
188. Buffalo Springfield Again, Buffalo Springfield
189. Happy Trails, Quicksilver Messenger Service
190. From Elvis in Memphis, Elvis Presley
191. Funhouse, The Stooges
192. The Gilded Palace of Sin, The Flying Burrito Brothers
193. Dookie, Green Day
194. Transformer, Lou Reed
195. Bluesbreakers, John Mayall With Eric Clapton
196. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era 1965 - 1968, Various Artists
197. Murmur, R.E.M.
198. The Best of, Little Walter
199. Highway to Hell, AC/DC
200. The Downward Spiral, Nine Inch Nails
201. Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, Simon and Garfunkel 202. Bad, Michael Jackson
203. Wheels of Fire, Cream
204. Dirty Mind, Prince
205. Abraxas, Santana
206. Tea for the Tillerman, Cat Stevens
207. Ten, Pearl Jam
208. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, Neil Young With Crazy Horse
209. Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd
210. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, Pavement
211. Tattoo You, The Rolling Stones
212. Proud Mary: The Best of Ike and Tina Turner, Ike and Tina Turner
213. New York Dolls, New York Dolls
214. Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley
215. Two Steps From the Blues, Bobby Bland
216. The Queen Is Dead, The Smiths
217. Licensed to Ill, Beastie Boys
218. Look-Ka Py Py, The Meters
219. Loveless, My Bloody Valentine
220. New Orleans Piano, Professor Longhair
221. War, U2
222. The Neil Diamond Collection, Neil Diamond
223. Howlin' Wolf, Howlin' Wolf
224. Nebraska, Bruce Springsteen
225. The Complete Hank Williams, Hank Williams
226. Doolittle, Pixies
227. Paid in Full, Eric B. and Rakim
228. Toys in the Attic, Aerosmith
229. Nick of Time, Bonnie Raitt
230. A Night at the Opera, Queen
231. The Kink Kronikles, The Kinks
232. Mr. Tambourine Man, The Byrds
233. Bookends, Simon and Garfunkel
234. The Ultimate Collection, Patsy Cline
235. Mr. Excitement!, Jackie Wilson
236. The Who Sings My Generation, The Who
237. Like a Prayer, Madonna
238. Can't Buy a Thrill, Steely Dan
239. Let It Be, The Replacements
240. Run-DMC, Run-DMC
241. Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath
242. The Jerry Lee Lewis Anthology: All Killer No Filler!, Jerry Lee Lewis
243. Freak Out!, The Mothers of Invention
244. Live Dead, Grateful Dead
245. Bryter Layter, Nick Drake
246. The Shape of Jazz to Come, Ornette Coleman
247. Automatic for the People, R.E.M.
248. Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z
249. Low, David Bowie
250. The River, Bruce Springsteen
251. The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul, Otis Redding
252. Metallica, Metallica
253. Trans-Europe Express, Kraftwerk
254. Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston
255. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, The Kinks
256. The Velvet Rope, Janet Jackson
257. Stardust, Willie Nelson
258. American Beauty, Grateful Dead
259. Crosby Stills and Nash, Crosby Stills and Nash
260. Buena Vista Social Club , Buena Vista Social Club
261. Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman
262. Workingman's Dead, Grateful Dead
263. The Genius of Ray Charles, Ray Charles
264. Child Is Father to the Man, Blood, Sweat and Tears
265. Cosmo's Factory, Creedence Clearwater Revival
266. Quadrophenia, The Who
267. There Goes Rhymin' Simon, Paul Simon
268. Psycho Candy, The Jesus and Mary Chain
269. Some Girls, The Rolling Stones
270. The Beach Boys Today!, The Beach Boys
271. Going to a Go-Go, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
272. Nightbirds, Labelle
273. The Slim Shady LP, Eminem
274. Mothership Connection, Parliament
275. Rhythm Nation 1814, Janet Jackson
276. Anthology of American Folk Music, Harry Smith, ed.
277. Aladdin Sane, David Bowie
278. The Immaculate Collection, Madonna
279. My Life, Mary J. Blige
280. Folk Singer, Muddy Waters
281. Can't Get Enough, Barry White
282. The Cars, The Cars
283. Five Leaves Left, Nick Drake
284. Music of My Mind, Stevie Wonder
285. I'm Still in Love With You, Al Green
286. Los Angeles, X
287. Anthem of the Sun, Grateful Dead
288. Something Else by the Kinks, The Kinks
289. Call Me, Al Green
290. Talking Heads: 77, Talking Heads
291. The Basement Tapes, Bob Dylan and the Band
292. White Light / White Heat, The Velvet Underground
293. Greatest Hits, Simon and Garfunkel
294. Kick Out the Jams, MC5
295. Meat Is Murder, The Smiths
296. We're Only In It For the Money, The Mothers of Invention
297. Weezer (Blue Album), Weezer
298. Master of Reality, Black Sabbath
299. Coat of Many Colors, Dolly Parton
300. Fear of a Black Planet, Public Enemy
301. John Wesley Harding, Bob Dylan
302. The Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem
303. Grace, Jeff Buckley
304. Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Lucinda Williams
305. Odelay, Beck
306. Songs for Swingin' Lovers, Frank Sinatra
307. Avalon, Roxy Music
308. The Sun Records Collection, Various Artists
309. Nothing's Shocking, Jane's Addiction
310. BloodSugarSexMagik, Red Hot Chili Peppers
311. Unplugged in New York, Nirvana
312. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill
313. Damn the Torpedoes, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
314. The Velvet Underground, The Velvet Underground
315. Surfer Rosa, Pixies
316. Rock Steady, No Doubt
317. The Eminem Show, Eminem
318. Back Stabbers, The O'Jays
319. Burnin', Bob Marley and the Wailers
320. Pink Moon, Nick Drake
321. Sail Away, Randy Newman
322. Ghost in the Machine, The Police
323. Station to Station, David Bowie
324. The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt, Linda Ronstadt
325. Slowhand, Eric Clapton
326. Disintegration, The Cure
327. Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette
328. Exile in Guyville, Liz Phair
329. Daydream Nation, Sonic Youth
330. In the Jungle Groove, James Brown
331. Tonight's the Night, Neil Young
332. Help!, The Beatles
333. Shoot Out the Lights, Richard and Linda Thompson
334. Wild Gift, X
335. Squeezing Out Sparks, Graham Parker
336. Superunknown, Soundgarden
337. Aqualung, Jethro Tull
338. Cheap Thrills, Big Brother and the Holding Company
339. The Heart of Saturday Night, Tom Waits
340. Damaged, Black Flag
341. Play, Moby
342. Violator, Depeche Mode
343. Bat Out of Hell, Meat Loaf
344. Berlin, Lou Reed
345. Stop Making Sense, Talking Heads
346. 3 Feet High and Rising, De La Soul
347. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Pink Floyd
348. At Newport 1960, Muddy Waters
349. Roger the Engineer (a.k.a. Over Under Sideways Down), The Yardbirds
350. Rust Never Sleeps, Neil Young and Crazy Horse
351. Brothers in Arms, Dire Straits
352. 52nd Street, Billy Joel
353. Having a Rave Up With the Yardbirds, The Yardbirds
354. 12 Songs, Randy Newman
355. Between the Buttons, The Rolling Stones
356. Sketches of Spain, Miles Davis
357. Honky Chateau, Elton John
358. Singles Going Steady, Buzzcocks
359. Stankonia, Outkast
360. Siamese Dream, The Smashing Pumpkins
361. Substance, New Order
362. L.A. Woman, The Doors
363. Ray of Light, Madonna
364. American Recordings, Johnny Cash
365. Louder Than Bombs, The Smiths
366. Mott, Mott the Hoople
367. Is This It, The Strokes
368. Rage Against the Machine, Rage Against the Machine
369. Reggatta de Blanc, The Police
370. Volunteers, Jefferson Airplane
371. Siren, Roxy Music
372. Late for the Sky, Jackson Browne
373. Post, Bjork
374. The Eagles, The Eagles
375. The Ultimate Collection (1948 - 1990), John Lee Hooker
376. (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis
377. CrazySexyCool, TLC
378. Funky Kingston, Toots and the Maytals
379. Greetings from Asbury Park, Bruce Springsteen
380. Sunflower, The Beach Boys
381. Modern Lovers, Modern Lovers
382. More Songs About Buildings and Food, Talking Heads
383. A Quick One (Happy Jack), The Who
384. Pyromania, Def Leppard
385. Pretzel Logic, Steely Dan
386. Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers, Wu-Tang Clan
387. Country Life, Roxy Music
388. A Hard Day's Night, The Beatles
389. The End of the Innocence, Don Henley
390. Elephant, The White Stripes
391. The Pretender, Jackson Browne
392. Willy and the Poor Boys, Creedence Clearwater Revival
393. Good Old Boys, Randy Newman
394. For Your Pleasure, Roxy Music
395. Blue Lines, Massive Attack
396. Eliminator, ZZ Top
397. Rain Dogs, Tom Waits
398. Anthology, The Temptations
399. Californication, Red Hot Chili Peppers
400. Illmatic, Nas
401. (Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd), Lynyrd Skynyrd
402. Dr. John's Gumbo, Dr. John
403. Radio City, Big Star
404. Sandinista!, The Clash
405. Rid of Me, PJ Harvey
406. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, Sinead O' Connor
407. Strange Days, The Doors
408. Time Out of Mind, Bob Dylan
409. 461 Ocean Boulevard, Eric Clapton
410. Pink Flag, Wire
411. Double Nickels on the Dime, Minutemen
412. Mezzanine, Massive Attack
413. Beauty and the Beat, Go-Go's
414. Greatest Hits, James Brown
415. Van Halen , Van Halen
416. Mule Variations, Tom Waits
417. Boy, U2
418. Band on the Run, Wings
419. Dummy, Portishead
420. With the Beatles, The Beatles
421. The "Chirping" Crickets, Buddy Holly and the Crickets
422. The Best of the Girl Groups, Volumes 1 and 2 , Various Artists
423. Greatest Hits, The Mamas and the Papas
424. King of the Delta Blues Singers, Vol. 2, Robert Johnson
425. Changesone, David Bowie
426. The Battle of Los Angeles, Rage Against the Machine
427. Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica, The Ronettes
428. Kid A, Radiohead
429. Grievous Angel, Gram Parsons
430. At Budokan, Cheap Trick
431. Anthology, Diana Ross and the Supremes
432. Sleepless, Peter Wolf
433. Another Green World, Brian Eno
434. Outlandos D'Amour, The Police
435. To Bring You My Love, PJ Harvey
436. Here Come the Warm Jets, Brian Eno
437. All Things Must Pass, George Harrison
438. #1 Record, Big Star
439. In Utero, Nirvana
440. Sea Change, Beck
441. Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt
442. Boys Don't Cry, The Cure
443. Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963, Sam Cooke
444. Criminal Minded, Boogie Down Productions
445. Rum Sodomy and the Lash, The Pogues
446. Suicide, Suicide
447. Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, Devo>
448. In Color, Cheap Trick
449. The World Is a Ghetto, War
450. Fly Like an Eagle, Steve Miller Band
451. Back in the USA, MC5
452. Music, Madonna
453. Ritual de lo Habitual, Jane's Addiction
454. Getz/Gilberto, Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto Featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim
455. Synchronicity, The Police
456. Third/Sister Lovers, Big Star
457. For Everyman, Jackson Browne
458. John Prine, John Prine
459. Strictly Business, EPMD
460. Love It to Death, Alice Cooper
461. How Will the Wolf Survive?, Los Lobos
462. Here, My Dear, Marvin Gaye
463. Tumbleweed Connection, Elton John
464. The Blueprint, Jay-Z
465. Golden Hits, The Drifters
466. Live Through This, Hole
467. Love and Theft, Bob Dylan
468. Elton John, Elton John
469. Metal Box, Public Image Ltd.
470. Document, R.E.M.
471. Heaven Up Here, Echo and the Bunnymen
472. Hysteria, Def Leppard
473. A Rush of Blood to the Head, Coldplay
474. Live in Europe, Otis Redding
475. Tunnel of Love, Bruce Springsteen
476. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
477. The Score, Fugees
478. Radio, LL Cool J
479. I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, Richard and Linda Thompson
480. Faith, George Michael
481. The Smiths, The Smiths
482. Armed Forces, Elvis Costello and the Attractions
483. Life After Death, The Notorious B.I.G.
484. Branded Man, Merle Haggard
485. All Time Greatest Hits, Loretta Lynn
486. Maggot Brain, Funkadelic
487. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, The Smashing Pumpkins
488. Voodoo, D'Angelo
489. Guitar Town, Steve Earle
490. Entertainment!, Gang of Four
491. All the Young Dudes, Mott the Hoople
492. Vitalogy, Pearl Jam
493. That's the Way of the World, Earth, Wind and Fire
494. She's So Unusual, Cyndi Lauper
495. New Day Rising, Husker Du
496. Destroyer, Kiss
497. Yo! Bum Rush the Show, Public Enemy
498. Tres Hombres, ZZ Top
499. Born Under a Bad Sign, Albert King
500. Touch, Eurythmics
Sunday, December 3, 2006
It's time to blog again
It's been since almost July that I've decided it's time to commit to blogging again and then disappear for a few more months again... maybe. But seriously, I feel like writing again (I like to alternate hobbies).
Thursday, November 30, 2006
New E-mail
This blog is pretty dead... for right now. But for those out there that only know how to reach me through this blog, I wanted to post a message about the fact that I've changed my e-mail address. the new one is
silversurfer9090@gmail.com
Thanks.
silversurfer9090@gmail.com
Thanks.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Superman Returns
I went to the movies today and finally saw Superman Returns.
I don't know what all the mixed reviews were about because after it was over I thought it was really good. I was surprised how well Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth filled their roles, and I thought Kevin Spacey did a great job of making Lex Luther seem much more dangerous and evil than Gene Hackman ever did.
From the reviews that I read, their complaint seemed to be that Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth don't have enough dialogue, enough stuff to say to each other, etc. But I got the feeling from the beginning of the movie that the approach of the film was "we've seen Superman 1 & 2, let's get right into Superman 2 1/2". So, there really didn't need to be a bunch of explaining, we already know the backstory.
Also, all the small nods to the original films were cool to me. The cameos by the Superman TV show actors, using Marlon Brando's scenes from the original film to play Superman's father once again, and using memorable lines of dialogue again was pretty cool.
I will say it was probably the most subliminal Superman movie. There are a lot of scenes that are lonely and quiet, without any dialogue. Only pictures and settings for you to draw your own conclusions about what the characters are thinking and feeling at times. I thought it worked well.
So, for me, Superman Returns was a really good movie and I thought it was much better than the mixed reviews that I'd read prior to seeing it. I would recommend seeing it.
Something is going on with my Photobucket account, among other things, and I need to straighten it out.
I don't know what all the mixed reviews were about because after it was over I thought it was really good. I was surprised how well Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth filled their roles, and I thought Kevin Spacey did a great job of making Lex Luther seem much more dangerous and evil than Gene Hackman ever did.
From the reviews that I read, their complaint seemed to be that Brandon Routh and Kate Bosworth don't have enough dialogue, enough stuff to say to each other, etc. But I got the feeling from the beginning of the movie that the approach of the film was "we've seen Superman 1 & 2, let's get right into Superman 2 1/2". So, there really didn't need to be a bunch of explaining, we already know the backstory.
Also, all the small nods to the original films were cool to me. The cameos by the Superman TV show actors, using Marlon Brando's scenes from the original film to play Superman's father once again, and using memorable lines of dialogue again was pretty cool.
I will say it was probably the most subliminal Superman movie. There are a lot of scenes that are lonely and quiet, without any dialogue. Only pictures and settings for you to draw your own conclusions about what the characters are thinking and feeling at times. I thought it worked well.
So, for me, Superman Returns was a really good movie and I thought it was much better than the mixed reviews that I'd read prior to seeing it. I would recommend seeing it.
Something is going on with my Photobucket account, among other things, and I need to straighten it out.
Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Random Thought 07-05-06
Have you ever had trouble falling asleep for half the night because your pillow smells funny?!
I did last night.
Well, so much for posting over the 4th of July weekend. I'm too interested in too many things and not interested enough to actually stay consistant about my endeavors.
I think I need a personal assistant to help me coordinate my recreational activities. Someone to hand me my helmet before climbing into the circus cannon, ya know?
I did last night.
Well, so much for posting over the 4th of July weekend. I'm too interested in too many things and not interested enough to actually stay consistant about my endeavors.
I think I need a personal assistant to help me coordinate my recreational activities. Someone to hand me my helmet before climbing into the circus cannon, ya know?
Friday, June 30, 2006
It's 4th of July weekend, y'all!!!
And yes, I'll finally be able to post some things. I'm off until Wednesday!
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Some Paint Shop Pro
Sorry about my lack of posts lately. The situation hasn't changed much in the last few weeks. Work, work, work.
But I still feel like posting something, so here are some of my Paint Shop Pro collages. I do it as kind of a hobby, and also for wrestling forums. It's something that I do to chill and relax for a few hours.
To see the real deal just click on the photo.
Tags: photoblogging Paint Shop collages wrestling hobbies
But I still feel like posting something, so here are some of my Paint Shop Pro collages. I do it as kind of a hobby, and also for wrestling forums. It's something that I do to chill and relax for a few hours.
To see the real deal just click on the photo.
Tags: photoblogging Paint Shop collages wrestling hobbies
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Dusty Rhodes speaks
I got my DVD box set of the "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes' wrestling career. As a small bonus, the DVD box actually says some of Dusty's more famous lines.
Tags: videoblogging wrestling Dusty Rhodes
Lost & Found
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Help save Screech's house
Haven't blogged in a few days and thought I'd return with something not too heavy. I saw this article and thought I'd spread the word.
Save Screech, Y'all!!!
'Screech' Actor Turns to Fans for Help
Published: 6/18/06, 3:05 PM EDT
MILWAUKEE (AP) - More than a bell is needed to save Dustin Diamond this time around. Diamond, best known as geeky Screech Powers on the 1989-1993 teen comedy series "Saved by the Bell," is selling T-shirts with his photo on them to try to raise $250,000 so he doesn't lose his gray two-story house under a foreclosure order.
"If the public didn't care, I as an entertainer wouldn't have been a success," he said.
Diamond, 29, is trying to sell nearly 30,000 shirts - at $15 or $20 (autographed) each - to supplement the income he makes as a standup comic so he doesn't have to move from his Port Washington home, about 25 miles north of Milwaukee.
The T-shirt has a photo of Diamond holding a sign that says, "Save My House." The back of the shirt reads, "I paid $15.00 to save Screeech's house." The third "e" was added to get around copyright laws, he said.
He's selling the shirts on his Web site: http://www.getdshirts.com.
The foreclosure order was filed last month in Ozaukee County Circuit Court.
Diamond appeared on Howard Stern's satellite radio show Tuesday to plead his case. "I'm doing great with my comedy, but this is definitely a low point," he said. "Real life comes in and affects you."
Diamond doesn't have a listed phone number, and e-mails to the address on his Web site and at an alternative address were not immediately returned Thursday.
Tags: news Dustin Diamond Screech
Save Screech, Y'all!!!
'Screech' Actor Turns to Fans for Help
Published: 6/18/06, 3:05 PM EDT
MILWAUKEE (AP) - More than a bell is needed to save Dustin Diamond this time around. Diamond, best known as geeky Screech Powers on the 1989-1993 teen comedy series "Saved by the Bell," is selling T-shirts with his photo on them to try to raise $250,000 so he doesn't lose his gray two-story house under a foreclosure order.
"If the public didn't care, I as an entertainer wouldn't have been a success," he said.
Diamond, 29, is trying to sell nearly 30,000 shirts - at $15 or $20 (autographed) each - to supplement the income he makes as a standup comic so he doesn't have to move from his Port Washington home, about 25 miles north of Milwaukee.
The T-shirt has a photo of Diamond holding a sign that says, "Save My House." The back of the shirt reads, "I paid $15.00 to save Screeech's house." The third "e" was added to get around copyright laws, he said.
He's selling the shirts on his Web site: http://www.getdshirts.com.
The foreclosure order was filed last month in Ozaukee County Circuit Court.
Diamond appeared on Howard Stern's satellite radio show Tuesday to plead his case. "I'm doing great with my comedy, but this is definitely a low point," he said. "Real life comes in and affects you."
Diamond doesn't have a listed phone number, and e-mails to the address on his Web site and at an alternative address were not immediately returned Thursday.
Tags: news Dustin Diamond Screech
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Random Thoughts 06-12-06
Sometimes when I think of white America, I think of Tide commercials. - Rene Merced Jr
Don't ask me what that means. I don't know either.
Sorry if I haven't updated as regularly, amswered comments, or visited blogs lately. My job has got me back on field work and some odd hours. Plus, I've been sick.
Tags: humor personal Tide
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Miami wins Game 3
Damn that Dwayne Wade and his 42 points!
It was a great finish though.
Miami wins 98-96.
Dallas leads the Best-of-7 series, 2 games to 1.
Tags: sports NBA basketball
It was a great finish though.
Miami wins 98-96.
Dallas leads the Best-of-7 series, 2 games to 1.
Tags: sports NBA basketball
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Eat fresh
"What can I do to leave the house for a few minutes?" was the question I was asking myself on Saturday afternoon. Going to Publix supermarket to get a 12" sub sandwich and a six-pack of beer was what I decided to do. I hadn't had a sub from Publix in a good while and I haven't eaten at SubWay for a few months either as I had decided that SubWay was not all it claimed to be. In fact, my only sub sandwich experience in the last few weeks had been made up entirely of visits to the two Firehouse Subs locations in the area. The reason for this is quite simply explained by the fact that Firehouse makes the kinds of sandwiches I prefer. The majority of the sandwiches on their menu are hot and the ones that aren't hot seem to be slightly warmed. The bread and the quality of the meat and vegetables also always seem fresher at Firehouse. They're my favorite of the moment.
Saturday though, I had an urge for a sandwich from Publix. Firstly because I couldn't remember the last one I had eaten from Publix, but also (and not less importantly) I was going to buy some beer. While we were there the guy who made our sandwiches was a very talkative conversationalist. Before we left I knew that he played basketball, his daughter watched The Boondocks, he had gotten into playing Need For Speed: Underground thanks to the guy who fried the chicken in the Deli, and a few other tidbits about his life. It would sound as if he were an annoying person, but that would be the complete opposite. Some people could talk to me about the same things and I would want to put duct tape over their mouths and give them a stupid haircut, but there's something to be said about personality and composure. He was very charismatic for a guy who makes sandwiches at a supermarket. And I don't say that as a slight. I use to do his job for the same supermarket.
After getting my sandwich I went to the beer aisle. As I was in the mood for a sandwich I hadn't eaten in a while, I was also in the mood for a brew I hadn't drank in a few moons as well. I grabbed my six-pack and got into the checkout line. The young lady who rang up my groceries kept looking at my drink choice. She even pulled one of the bottles slightly out to look at the label. "What is this?" she said. I knew what the next question would be.
"Is there tequila in this?" she asked.
"No, it's just a beer with lime juice in it already," I said, as I've said a million times before to other people.
"The name would make you think there's tequila in it," she said.
I suppose the name Tequiza would make some people think that, but if you simply read the single sentence right underneath the name on the label you would know that there isn't. I think someday reading will catch on in the United States. But it may just be wishful thinking, like World Cup fever in the States.
After the routine Tequiza conversation and driving back to the apartment, I sat down to enjoy half of my sandwich and watch some of the NBA Finals analysis on ESPN. While I was eating my sandwich I thought about the guy who made it. "He was a pretty cool guy," I thought. It made me also think more about where I am. I use to do that job. Wearing the same shirt, the same hairnet, the same plastic gloves, the same kind of stupid name tag. And now it's been about four years since I've done that job and it was actually the last job I ever had involving any kind of food. I've come a ways since then, and it felt good to realize that. I'm sure most people have that feeling to some extent when they're going through the McDonald's drive-thru and they think about when they use to be the one with the headset, and now there working in a professional career in an office somewhere, a few leaps and bounds away from those days at the window. It's a good feeling.
But besides that, I thought that maybe the reason I liked the guy so much was because I could relate. Or at least I felt like we could relate to each other. The fact that he was doing something that I use to hate with a passion while I was doing it, but he was doing with a smile and a jovial manner also made me feel as if he was better than me in that respect. I could never act so light hearted when I was there, I was simply never thrilled about making people's food and the b.s. involved with such work. People treat you like dirt when you're the guy making their food for some reason. In my conversation with the guy and talking about our experiences in the job, I could tell he felt the same way about that aspect of things. It's probably why I have sympathy for the guy at McDonald's, or the young lady taking my order at Taco Bell. When you've been that person, it's much harder to be that guy who gives them sh*t about there not being napkins in the bag.
I can always tell who the people are who I work with who've never had that kind of job. The people in my office who never had to get a job while in college because their parents' paid their rent, their car payment, their tuition, their everything and even gave them cash and credit cards to spend as if they got a salary for doing nothing. Because they're the ones that I'll go to lunch with and have to hear them bitch about nothing, or what I perceive to be nothing. Call it my own prejudice because I've come from nothing, but I can never fully connect to those people. It's really a flaw of my own character, but I've always held a grudge against people who aren't ashamed to be of priviledge. There lack of humility seems to feed my unwarranted lack of acceptance. The fact that I honestly admit my flaw is really my only way of saying I know I'm wrong. But when I talk to people about this very subject I realize that I'm not the only one. Far from it, actually. Class, next to race, is still an issue amongst people. Because even when you become a person of wealth and priviledge you know who you really are and where you come from. Whereas a person who has never seen the bottom of the social ladder will never know those people. That's not meant as a condemnation, but simply a truth. It's quite a fascinating thing to roll around in one's head.
And to think, it all was the cause of buying a sub sandwich that I began to think about these things again. Good sandwich, by the way.
Tags: blogging personal society
Saturday though, I had an urge for a sandwich from Publix. Firstly because I couldn't remember the last one I had eaten from Publix, but also (and not less importantly) I was going to buy some beer. While we were there the guy who made our sandwiches was a very talkative conversationalist. Before we left I knew that he played basketball, his daughter watched The Boondocks, he had gotten into playing Need For Speed: Underground thanks to the guy who fried the chicken in the Deli, and a few other tidbits about his life. It would sound as if he were an annoying person, but that would be the complete opposite. Some people could talk to me about the same things and I would want to put duct tape over their mouths and give them a stupid haircut, but there's something to be said about personality and composure. He was very charismatic for a guy who makes sandwiches at a supermarket. And I don't say that as a slight. I use to do his job for the same supermarket.
After getting my sandwich I went to the beer aisle. As I was in the mood for a sandwich I hadn't eaten in a while, I was also in the mood for a brew I hadn't drank in a few moons as well. I grabbed my six-pack and got into the checkout line. The young lady who rang up my groceries kept looking at my drink choice. She even pulled one of the bottles slightly out to look at the label. "What is this?" she said. I knew what the next question would be.
"Is there tequila in this?" she asked.
"No, it's just a beer with lime juice in it already," I said, as I've said a million times before to other people.
"The name would make you think there's tequila in it," she said.
I suppose the name Tequiza would make some people think that, but if you simply read the single sentence right underneath the name on the label you would know that there isn't. I think someday reading will catch on in the United States. But it may just be wishful thinking, like World Cup fever in the States.
After the routine Tequiza conversation and driving back to the apartment, I sat down to enjoy half of my sandwich and watch some of the NBA Finals analysis on ESPN. While I was eating my sandwich I thought about the guy who made it. "He was a pretty cool guy," I thought. It made me also think more about where I am. I use to do that job. Wearing the same shirt, the same hairnet, the same plastic gloves, the same kind of stupid name tag. And now it's been about four years since I've done that job and it was actually the last job I ever had involving any kind of food. I've come a ways since then, and it felt good to realize that. I'm sure most people have that feeling to some extent when they're going through the McDonald's drive-thru and they think about when they use to be the one with the headset, and now there working in a professional career in an office somewhere, a few leaps and bounds away from those days at the window. It's a good feeling.
But besides that, I thought that maybe the reason I liked the guy so much was because I could relate. Or at least I felt like we could relate to each other. The fact that he was doing something that I use to hate with a passion while I was doing it, but he was doing with a smile and a jovial manner also made me feel as if he was better than me in that respect. I could never act so light hearted when I was there, I was simply never thrilled about making people's food and the b.s. involved with such work. People treat you like dirt when you're the guy making their food for some reason. In my conversation with the guy and talking about our experiences in the job, I could tell he felt the same way about that aspect of things. It's probably why I have sympathy for the guy at McDonald's, or the young lady taking my order at Taco Bell. When you've been that person, it's much harder to be that guy who gives them sh*t about there not being napkins in the bag.
I can always tell who the people are who I work with who've never had that kind of job. The people in my office who never had to get a job while in college because their parents' paid their rent, their car payment, their tuition, their everything and even gave them cash and credit cards to spend as if they got a salary for doing nothing. Because they're the ones that I'll go to lunch with and have to hear them bitch about nothing, or what I perceive to be nothing. Call it my own prejudice because I've come from nothing, but I can never fully connect to those people. It's really a flaw of my own character, but I've always held a grudge against people who aren't ashamed to be of priviledge. There lack of humility seems to feed my unwarranted lack of acceptance. The fact that I honestly admit my flaw is really my only way of saying I know I'm wrong. But when I talk to people about this very subject I realize that I'm not the only one. Far from it, actually. Class, next to race, is still an issue amongst people. Because even when you become a person of wealth and priviledge you know who you really are and where you come from. Whereas a person who has never seen the bottom of the social ladder will never know those people. That's not meant as a condemnation, but simply a truth. It's quite a fascinating thing to roll around in one's head.
And to think, it all was the cause of buying a sub sandwich that I began to think about these things again. Good sandwich, by the way.
Tags: blogging personal society
Friday, June 9, 2006
An ever wandering mind
Sometimes you have nothing to say, and an overwhelming need to say something. I'm kind of in that place right now. It's like a lethargic anxiousness while in the midst of writer's block.
Today at work was completely boring to no end. It would have been more exciting to answer phone for a PBS telethon than to sit at my desk and watch the digital clock on my taskbar (it's five minutes slow, by the way). Sometime in the afternoon I got tired of waiting on one our clients to no-show once again, and I decided to leave. Also I had a migraine and an upset stomach. I knew the migraine was fueled by boredom and surfing the internet, but the stomach I can't figure out.
Anyway, after going to the bathroom and dropping a stone so green Superman would've mistaken it for kryptonite, I said adios and headed home. Since then, I've taken some aspirin and watch some news coverage.
Oh yeah, al-Zarqawi is dead, if you didn't know. How could you not know? His dead face is only splattered across the top of every internet news site and talked about on all the 24 hour news networks. It's news, yes, but it's a bit overboard. It's also not too often that the U.S. media uses photos of dead people in their stories. Half of the stories basically seem like,"Hey, look at this dead guy! Yep... it's a dead guy... look... his lips are purple... cool, huh?"
World Cup is kicking off and no one seems to care here because I'm in the United States and if it's not a sport that we started or dominate, we don't want anything to do with it. Oh well, I think I'll try to keep up with it, myself.
The Dallas Mavericks won the first game of the NBA finals against the Miami Heat in a game that could've been better but was very close all the way to the end and still quite entertaining. Hopefully in Game 2 on Sunday both teams won't be nervous and bring their A games.
In other unexciting news, I watched Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves this week for the first time in maybe 6 or 7 years. It was still very good, and it was like watching a new movie since I completely forgot about two thirds of it. I also forgot that it was damn near 2 and a half hours long. I should've known that since Kevin Costner hasn't been in a movie under 2 hours since who knows when.
Besides all that exciting news, I can't really think of anything else to say at the moment. So, I'll leave you this:
Think about that for a moment. I'm sure I'll have something more entertaining to talk about tomorrow.
Sidenote: Does anyone ever listen to the songs posted at the top of the sidebar? Not that it matters, I was just wondering.
Tags: blogging al-zarqawi world cup NBA movies
Today at work was completely boring to no end. It would have been more exciting to answer phone for a PBS telethon than to sit at my desk and watch the digital clock on my taskbar (it's five minutes slow, by the way). Sometime in the afternoon I got tired of waiting on one our clients to no-show once again, and I decided to leave. Also I had a migraine and an upset stomach. I knew the migraine was fueled by boredom and surfing the internet, but the stomach I can't figure out.
Anyway, after going to the bathroom and dropping a stone so green Superman would've mistaken it for kryptonite, I said adios and headed home. Since then, I've taken some aspirin and watch some news coverage.
Oh yeah, al-Zarqawi is dead, if you didn't know. How could you not know? His dead face is only splattered across the top of every internet news site and talked about on all the 24 hour news networks. It's news, yes, but it's a bit overboard. It's also not too often that the U.S. media uses photos of dead people in their stories. Half of the stories basically seem like,"Hey, look at this dead guy! Yep... it's a dead guy... look... his lips are purple... cool, huh?"
World Cup is kicking off and no one seems to care here because I'm in the United States and if it's not a sport that we started or dominate, we don't want anything to do with it. Oh well, I think I'll try to keep up with it, myself.
The Dallas Mavericks won the first game of the NBA finals against the Miami Heat in a game that could've been better but was very close all the way to the end and still quite entertaining. Hopefully in Game 2 on Sunday both teams won't be nervous and bring their A games.
In other unexciting news, I watched Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves this week for the first time in maybe 6 or 7 years. It was still very good, and it was like watching a new movie since I completely forgot about two thirds of it. I also forgot that it was damn near 2 and a half hours long. I should've known that since Kevin Costner hasn't been in a movie under 2 hours since who knows when.
Besides all that exciting news, I can't really think of anything else to say at the moment. So, I'll leave you this:
I am eyes in a sea of ears.
Think about that for a moment. I'm sure I'll have something more entertaining to talk about tomorrow.
Sidenote: Does anyone ever listen to the songs posted at the top of the sidebar? Not that it matters, I was just wondering.
Tags: blogging al-zarqawi world cup NBA movies
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Ann Coulter sucks
I'm sure you already knew that Ann Coulter was an anorexic right-wing pre-op transgender. But recently Coulter decided to make disrespectful remarks about 9/11 widows simply to generate attention for her new book, displaying her ugly unshaved scrotum of hatred to the world (figuratively, of course). I tried to read one of her books once (Treason), and it was unbearable. Her book made Tucker Carlson's seem like Mark Twain by comparison. I doubt this new one will be any better.
So, Ann Coulter, you should celebrate your latest media blitz by eating an entire M&M. Peel the candy shell off first though! That's where the calories are, you know.
Also, do something about your adam's apple.
Tags: Ann Coulter politics opinion Satan
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Sorry, babe
...but I had to write about this. Last night while we were lying in bed me and Crystal were joking with each other. We were talking about coming straight home today after work and having sex. During the conversation Crystal said,"you can give me a good pokin!"
I've been laughing since last night! She doesn't normally talk like that (actually she never talks like that) which is probably why I'm still smiling. A good "pokin'"? Heh, yeah... I'm still laughing.
I asked if I could boink her instead, but that option was vetoed. So was porking.
Oh yeah. I wasn't suppose to write about that. She said it made her sound like she should be living in a trailer (yeah, it does). But I'm sorry I have an audience and I have an obligation to deliver the goods.
Sorry, babe. (She's gonna kick my a**)
Tags: personal humor sex
I've been laughing since last night! She doesn't normally talk like that (actually she never talks like that) which is probably why I'm still smiling. A good "pokin'"? Heh, yeah... I'm still laughing.
I asked if I could boink her instead, but that option was vetoed. So was porking.
Oh yeah. I wasn't suppose to write about that. She said it made her sound like she should be living in a trailer (yeah, it does). But I'm sorry I have an audience and I have an obligation to deliver the goods.
Sorry, babe. (She's gonna kick my a**)
Tags: personal humor sex
Monday, June 5, 2006
NBA Finals
After watching the Miami Heat put away Detroit on Thursday, and then the amazing comeback-from-behind victory for the Dallas Mavericks over the Phoenix Suns, I'm really psyched to watch the NBA Finals this year. Which is something I haven't said in a few years.
Plus, I can't wait to see how the Mavs and Heat match-up this time around. With the talent and depth of both rosters it should make for a very interesting series. I wouldn't be surprised to see it go 7 games.
Also, whoever wins this year will be NBA Champs for the first time in team history, no matter who wins, which is cool.
I still can't decide who I want to win this thing, but I'm leaning toward Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks at the moment. It was such an awesome game on Saturday, they just really won me over.
Game 1 Miami at Dallas 9e/8c pm on ABC this Thursday
Tags: NBA sports basketball
Plus, I can't wait to see how the Mavs and Heat match-up this time around. With the talent and depth of both rosters it should make for a very interesting series. I wouldn't be surprised to see it go 7 games.
Also, whoever wins this year will be NBA Champs for the first time in team history, no matter who wins, which is cool.
I still can't decide who I want to win this thing, but I'm leaning toward Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks at the moment. It was such an awesome game on Saturday, they just really won me over.
Game 1 Miami at Dallas 9e/8c pm on ABC this Thursday
Tags: NBA sports basketball
Friday, June 2, 2006
Random Thoughts 06-02-06
In a cavalier and unpuncuated moment of thought today, I asked myself the question: What is the most unpleasurable household product that I use on a daily basis? The answer came to me before I had finished the question.
Listerine.
The fact that I gargle something every morning and evening that brings tears to my eyes should show you how dedicated I am to fresh breath, people. I do it for you.
If we should ever meet in person I would appreciate a courteous handshake... and a small compliment on the minty freshness emanating from my pie hole.
Thank you.
Tags: opinion personal listerine blogging
Listerine.
The fact that I gargle something every morning and evening that brings tears to my eyes should show you how dedicated I am to fresh breath, people. I do it for you.
If we should ever meet in person I would appreciate a courteous handshake... and a small compliment on the minty freshness emanating from my pie hole.
Thank you.
Tags: opinion personal listerine blogging
Thursday, June 1, 2006
Batwoman coming out of the Bat Cave?
It's funny to me that the Press actually cares about a story like this. I think there's 2 reasons for it.
1) Ignorance
2) "Lesbian"
Let me explain specifically on the two.
I say ignorance because for the majority of the mainstream press, comic books and graphic novels still fall into the category of "for the kids", and that's totally not the case. Just like when the press targets animated films and television, and the video game industry for violence and adult subject matter. They never seem to realize that none of these mediums are "just for kids". Children aren't the only target market and they haven't been for a long time now. I just know sooner or later someone is going to tie this into the old and tired argument of "what effect will this have on the kids?!"
It's bull.
For the second one. Well... that one's fairly obvious. The media loves Lesbians! Anytime the words "gay" or "lesbian" are put next to something new they sh*t their pants. So, I guess the press is interested to inform the world of the first mainstream lesbian comic book character in DC Comics history. I can't wait for the day when they're giving second-to-second coverage of the first lesbian to walk on the moon.
"That's one small step for lesbians. One giant leap for comfortable shoes."
Of course, gay people need to realize - even when you win, you don't always win that much. Batwoman is going to be the more acceptable (or at least sexier) "Lipstick Lesbian", not the more intimidating "Diesel Dyke Lesbian" that we all know and love that will share sex stories with you like one of the guys in the break room at work.
Plus, Batwoman is one the most marginalised characters in the DC comics universe. She's actually been DEAD and gone since like... 1980?
Tags: comic books Batwoman gay opinion
1) Ignorance
2) "Lesbian"
Let me explain specifically on the two.
I say ignorance because for the majority of the mainstream press, comic books and graphic novels still fall into the category of "for the kids", and that's totally not the case. Just like when the press targets animated films and television, and the video game industry for violence and adult subject matter. They never seem to realize that none of these mediums are "just for kids". Children aren't the only target market and they haven't been for a long time now. I just know sooner or later someone is going to tie this into the old and tired argument of "what effect will this have on the kids?!"
It's bull.
For the second one. Well... that one's fairly obvious. The media loves Lesbians! Anytime the words "gay" or "lesbian" are put next to something new they sh*t their pants. So, I guess the press is interested to inform the world of the first mainstream lesbian comic book character in DC Comics history. I can't wait for the day when they're giving second-to-second coverage of the first lesbian to walk on the moon.
"That's one small step for lesbians. One giant leap for comfortable shoes."
Of course, gay people need to realize - even when you win, you don't always win that much. Batwoman is going to be the more acceptable (or at least sexier) "Lipstick Lesbian", not the more intimidating "Diesel Dyke Lesbian" that we all know and love that will share sex stories with you like one of the guys in the break room at work.
Plus, Batwoman is one the most marginalised characters in the DC comics universe. She's actually been DEAD and gone since like... 1980?
Tags: comic books Batwoman gay opinion
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Inspirational School Poster: Class Participation
Parenting Tips for Idiots
Is anything on this list not obvious?! I'll let you read it and you tell me.
Top 10 Parenting Pitfalls: How to Raise Well Behaved Children
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
By Heather Hatfield
Parenting is no walk in the park, especially on the days when your little angel, whether he’s 6 or 16, decides to act like a demon.
If it’s the temper tantrum in the toy store over the latest video game, or the daily fight over math homework, or the food fight in a restaurant on Friday night, parents have a choice: To react in a way that will only make matters worse when the bell rings for round two, or respond like the calm, cool, and collected parents we see on TV shows like Nanny 911 -- after weeks of live-in, televised therapy.
What is the secret to their success, other than public humiliation?
“Overall, with any scenario, the worst thing a parent can do that helps bratty behavior blossom is to not set clear expectations and not have consequences to a child’s behavior,” says Jenn Berman, PhD, a psychologist in private practice in Beverly Hills who specializes in family therapy.
Experts offer advice on the top 10 parenting pitfalls that will help you raise a well-behaved child -- instead of a brat.
1. The TV Toy
It’s Saturday morning, you’re doing laundry, the kids are watching their morning cartoons, and it happens: Your middle child sees the toy of his dreams on TV, starts in with the begging, and doesn’t let up.
Brat-building response: “A lot of kids see things on TV -- games, food, or dolls -- and then they start nagging until they get it,” says Berman. “If you run to the store to buy your child exactly what they want, then you’ve taught them that nagging is an effective tool for getting their way.”
Angel-building response: “You can say, ‘It’s a cool toy. Let me find out how much it is, and I can help you save your allowance for it,’” says Berman. “You are teaching your child to work toward a goal --instead of giving in. It helps the child learn about goals, saving money, and it’s a good response for both parent and child.”
2. The Bribes
You’re having your boss over for dinner on Friday night, and while you begged your sister to watch the kids for the evening, no such luck. Is it time to start bribing them to be quiet with expensive sneakers or the latest handbag from Dolce & Gabbana?
Brat-building response: “Parents often try to buy good behavior by getting their kids expensive gifts,” says Berman. “And then they say, ‘I don’t understand why she isn’t better behaved? I get her everything she wants!’” These cool gifts lose their meaning and the child feels entitled and less well behaved.”
Angel-building response: “Allow the child the opportunity to earn what you give them, and set limits around their expectations,” says Berman. “Tell them, ‘You can get one pair of shoes within this amount of money.’ Teach them early on how to make choices.”
3. The Sleepover
Her bags are packed and she’s ready to go to the sleepover, except for one thing: She forgot to ask for your permission.
Brat-building behavior: Even though she’s screaming bloody murder, if you let her get away with it once, she’ll do it again, and again and again. “You’ve taught your child that screaming long enough will get her what she wants, and now you’ve created your own private hell,” Berman tells WebMD.
Angel-building behavior: “As a parent, it is always considerate and helpful to let a child know your thinking, so your child knows why you don’t want her to go to the sleepover, so it doesn’t seem like you are being unreasonable,” says Berman. “But if you shared your reasoning, and she keeps yelling, you have to stand your ground.”
3. The Divide and Conquer
You’ve been very clear and given your son a decisive NO when he asked, ”Can I go to the birthday party, puh-lease?” His tactic? To ask dad.
Brat-building behavior: “When a child gets 'no' from mom, and 'yes' from dad, it teaches them they can divide and conquer,” says Berman. “They learn that they can divide their parents and fool them, and if they are manipulative enough, they can get what they want.”
Angel-building behavior: “Enforce in advance,” says Berman. “Tell a child that if you ask mom and get 'no,' and then you ask dad and get 'yes,' the 'no' still stands, and your punishment for asking us both is xyz.”
4. The Screaming in the Store
We’ve all seen it: The screaming child in the toy store. He wants the latest video game, and he’s not shutting up until he has it.
Brat-building response: “If you give in, you teach your child that when he acts like a brat he can get what he wants,” says Dan Kindlon, author of Too Much of a Good Thing: Raising Children of Character in an Indulgent Age. “You’re reinforcing his bratty behavior.”
Angel-building response: “There are two ways to approach it,” says Kindlon, who teaches child psychology at Harvard University.
First, plan ahead, and second, plan a response.
“Make a deal with them beforehand -- you are going to buy them something and it’s only going to cost $5,” says Kindlon. “Or tell them, ‘I’m going shopping for your cousin and this is not for you.’ Give them structure beforehand so they’re not caught off guard. Then, if they still explode in the store, ignore them, say you are not going to listen anymore. Then you leave the store and take them with you.”
5. The Car Ride
You have 300 miles in front of you when your youngest explodes in a temper tantrum that rivals the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
Brat-building response: “If you just start yelling and screaming at her, it’s not going to help,” Kindlon tells WebMD. “And a major mistake most parents make is to give the child an ultimatum, like ‘If you keep this up you’re not going to watch TV when you get home.’”
But even though their tantrum continues ad nauseam, the TV goes on when the family gets home because the parent is beaten down.
“This teaches a child that the best way to get what they want is to behave like a brat,” says Kindlon.
Angel-building response: “Plan ahead,” says Kindlon “Bring snacks, games, and things to keep them entertained in the car. If that doesn't work, help them understand the consequences of their behavior. Again, with the ultimatum, if you use one, stick to it: ‘If you don’t stop behaving this way, you don’t get to watch TV when you get home.’”
6. The Lack of Respect
Your kid just called you a name, or talked back, or showed you some all-around lack of what Aretha Franklin likes to call R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Brat-building response: “If you sink to their level and use the same language back at them, you’re modeling bad behavior,” says Kindlon. “You’re teaching them the wrong way to deal with something and someone when you’re upset.”
Angel-building response: “Dock a kid 50 cents on their allowance when they use a tone of voice or an inappropriate word you don’t like,” says Kindlon. “Maintain your cool. Show mature behavior, and give them consequences for their bad behavior.”
7. The Restaurant
You just sat down to dinner with your husband and three kids at a local restaurant when the outbursts start.
Brat-building behavior: “What happens is there is talk of punishment and threats at the restaurant, like ‘I’m going to take way your play date on Sunday,’ or ‘No TV for a week,’” says Paul Donahue, PhD, director of Child Development Associates in Scarsdale, N.Y. “Punishments don’t work as well as a rewards, or the threats are idle because the kid knows that the parent won’t take away their TV.”
Angel-building response: “Before you get to the restaurant, tell your child what you expect in terms of behavior,” says Donahue. “If your behavior is good, here is what privilege will come your way, whether its dessert at the restaurant, or that they get to watch a movie when they get home.”
Kids need to understand that their privileges are based on their behavior, explains Donahue.
“While I’m not suggesting you bribe your kids or take them to Toys ‘R’ Us because they sit at the dinner table, they need to understand that the things they enjoy are privileges and they can have those things if they behave well,” says Donahue. “Kids have to have an understanding that good behavior is expected, and if they behave well, good things will come their way.”
8. The Morning Routine
It’s hard enough for you to get out of bed at 6 a.m., let alone get your two kids out of bed. Should you let them sleep late, just this once?
Brat-building response: “Sometimes kids come downstairs in the morning, they watch TV, they get around to eating their breakfast, they get dressed, the process gets delayed, mom or dad gets frustrated and angry, and maybe they make the bus, maybe the don’t,” says Donahue. Better yet, the whole routine starts over again the next day.
Angel-building response: “Kids shouldn’t come down and watch TV or play a video game first thing in the morning,” says Donahue. “It’s like saying you get to have this fun experience before you get dressed, brush your teeth, or do your work. You have to take care of your responsibilities first.”
9. The Homework
As your child gets older and wiser, his pile of homework grows -- as does the frustration you feel in making sure he gets it all done.
Brat-building response: “We want our kids to do well in school, and yet we are not clear that homework takes precedent over a play date or after-school activities,” says Donahue. “So then the homework gets left until after dinner, and then it’s diminishing returns: they’re tired, and it’s getting much more difficult to get them to do it, and they don’t have incentive to get it done.”
Angel-building response: “There needs to be a reasonable structure for homework,” says Donahue. “Say to your kids, ‘At 3 p.m. you get to play, but at 4 p.m., you sit down and do your homework.’ It’s especially important in most families that homework get done before dinner. Set the structure in place so when they are older and they have more activities, they know they still need to get homework done before dinner.”
10. Parenting Tips
No matter the scenario, here are tips for dealing with parenting pitfalls:
Mean business. “Speak to your child like you mean business, and send clear messages when you’re communicating with your kids,” says Donahue.
Stick to your guns. “The toughest thing is to have endurance,” says Donahue. “Stick to your guns, even when the kids are whining and pushing your buttons. Kids know that if we have a history of not sticking to what we say, they’re going to push and push. Have the endurance and the strength and the energy to keep up with them.”
Plan ahead. “Parents have to do a better job of helping kids to anticipate the behavior that is expected of them beforehand,” Donahue tells WebMD. “When you’re in the middle of a situation, you’re busy and rushing and don’t think about it, and then things can get out of control.”
Take care of yourself. “Sleep more, exercise, and take care of yourself,” says Donahue. “Parenting is extremely exhausting work.”
By Heather Hatfield, reviewed By Ann Edmundson, MD
Sources: Jenn Berman, PhD, psychologist, Beverly Hills, Calif. Paul Donahue, PhD, director, Child Development Associates, Scarsdale, N.Y. Dan Kindlon, professor of, child psychology, Harvard University; author, Too Much of a Good Thing: Raising Children of Character in an Indulgent Age.
People are so Politically Correct even when it comes to raising their children that they don't know how. It's sad when someone doesn't know how to even handle a freakin' kids temper tantrums.
It's funny that in this day and age I can read an article like this with ten problems and ten solutions. When I was a kid my mother had ONE solution for all ten problems and it was called,"Do what I tell you or I'm gonna bust your ass, boy!"
And the crazy thing was... it worked! Go figure.
If there is anything, and I mean ANYTHING on this list that you didn't know or realized before you read it, then you shouldn't have children.
Tags: opinion parenting children brats
Top 10 Parenting Pitfalls: How to Raise Well Behaved Children
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
By Heather Hatfield
Parenting is no walk in the park, especially on the days when your little angel, whether he’s 6 or 16, decides to act like a demon.
If it’s the temper tantrum in the toy store over the latest video game, or the daily fight over math homework, or the food fight in a restaurant on Friday night, parents have a choice: To react in a way that will only make matters worse when the bell rings for round two, or respond like the calm, cool, and collected parents we see on TV shows like Nanny 911 -- after weeks of live-in, televised therapy.
What is the secret to their success, other than public humiliation?
“Overall, with any scenario, the worst thing a parent can do that helps bratty behavior blossom is to not set clear expectations and not have consequences to a child’s behavior,” says Jenn Berman, PhD, a psychologist in private practice in Beverly Hills who specializes in family therapy.
Experts offer advice on the top 10 parenting pitfalls that will help you raise a well-behaved child -- instead of a brat.
1. The TV Toy
It’s Saturday morning, you’re doing laundry, the kids are watching their morning cartoons, and it happens: Your middle child sees the toy of his dreams on TV, starts in with the begging, and doesn’t let up.
Brat-building response: “A lot of kids see things on TV -- games, food, or dolls -- and then they start nagging until they get it,” says Berman. “If you run to the store to buy your child exactly what they want, then you’ve taught them that nagging is an effective tool for getting their way.”
Angel-building response: “You can say, ‘It’s a cool toy. Let me find out how much it is, and I can help you save your allowance for it,’” says Berman. “You are teaching your child to work toward a goal --instead of giving in. It helps the child learn about goals, saving money, and it’s a good response for both parent and child.”
2. The Bribes
You’re having your boss over for dinner on Friday night, and while you begged your sister to watch the kids for the evening, no such luck. Is it time to start bribing them to be quiet with expensive sneakers or the latest handbag from Dolce & Gabbana?
Brat-building response: “Parents often try to buy good behavior by getting their kids expensive gifts,” says Berman. “And then they say, ‘I don’t understand why she isn’t better behaved? I get her everything she wants!’” These cool gifts lose their meaning and the child feels entitled and less well behaved.”
Angel-building response: “Allow the child the opportunity to earn what you give them, and set limits around their expectations,” says Berman. “Tell them, ‘You can get one pair of shoes within this amount of money.’ Teach them early on how to make choices.”
3. The Sleepover
Her bags are packed and she’s ready to go to the sleepover, except for one thing: She forgot to ask for your permission.
Brat-building behavior: Even though she’s screaming bloody murder, if you let her get away with it once, she’ll do it again, and again and again. “You’ve taught your child that screaming long enough will get her what she wants, and now you’ve created your own private hell,” Berman tells WebMD.
Angel-building behavior: “As a parent, it is always considerate and helpful to let a child know your thinking, so your child knows why you don’t want her to go to the sleepover, so it doesn’t seem like you are being unreasonable,” says Berman. “But if you shared your reasoning, and she keeps yelling, you have to stand your ground.”
3. The Divide and Conquer
You’ve been very clear and given your son a decisive NO when he asked, ”Can I go to the birthday party, puh-lease?” His tactic? To ask dad.
Brat-building behavior: “When a child gets 'no' from mom, and 'yes' from dad, it teaches them they can divide and conquer,” says Berman. “They learn that they can divide their parents and fool them, and if they are manipulative enough, they can get what they want.”
Angel-building behavior: “Enforce in advance,” says Berman. “Tell a child that if you ask mom and get 'no,' and then you ask dad and get 'yes,' the 'no' still stands, and your punishment for asking us both is xyz.”
4. The Screaming in the Store
We’ve all seen it: The screaming child in the toy store. He wants the latest video game, and he’s not shutting up until he has it.
Brat-building response: “If you give in, you teach your child that when he acts like a brat he can get what he wants,” says Dan Kindlon, author of Too Much of a Good Thing: Raising Children of Character in an Indulgent Age. “You’re reinforcing his bratty behavior.”
Angel-building response: “There are two ways to approach it,” says Kindlon, who teaches child psychology at Harvard University.
First, plan ahead, and second, plan a response.
“Make a deal with them beforehand -- you are going to buy them something and it’s only going to cost $5,” says Kindlon. “Or tell them, ‘I’m going shopping for your cousin and this is not for you.’ Give them structure beforehand so they’re not caught off guard. Then, if they still explode in the store, ignore them, say you are not going to listen anymore. Then you leave the store and take them with you.”
5. The Car Ride
You have 300 miles in front of you when your youngest explodes in a temper tantrum that rivals the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
Brat-building response: “If you just start yelling and screaming at her, it’s not going to help,” Kindlon tells WebMD. “And a major mistake most parents make is to give the child an ultimatum, like ‘If you keep this up you’re not going to watch TV when you get home.’”
But even though their tantrum continues ad nauseam, the TV goes on when the family gets home because the parent is beaten down.
“This teaches a child that the best way to get what they want is to behave like a brat,” says Kindlon.
Angel-building response: “Plan ahead,” says Kindlon “Bring snacks, games, and things to keep them entertained in the car. If that doesn't work, help them understand the consequences of their behavior. Again, with the ultimatum, if you use one, stick to it: ‘If you don’t stop behaving this way, you don’t get to watch TV when you get home.’”
6. The Lack of Respect
Your kid just called you a name, or talked back, or showed you some all-around lack of what Aretha Franklin likes to call R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Brat-building response: “If you sink to their level and use the same language back at them, you’re modeling bad behavior,” says Kindlon. “You’re teaching them the wrong way to deal with something and someone when you’re upset.”
Angel-building response: “Dock a kid 50 cents on their allowance when they use a tone of voice or an inappropriate word you don’t like,” says Kindlon. “Maintain your cool. Show mature behavior, and give them consequences for their bad behavior.”
7. The Restaurant
You just sat down to dinner with your husband and three kids at a local restaurant when the outbursts start.
Brat-building behavior: “What happens is there is talk of punishment and threats at the restaurant, like ‘I’m going to take way your play date on Sunday,’ or ‘No TV for a week,’” says Paul Donahue, PhD, director of Child Development Associates in Scarsdale, N.Y. “Punishments don’t work as well as a rewards, or the threats are idle because the kid knows that the parent won’t take away their TV.”
Angel-building response: “Before you get to the restaurant, tell your child what you expect in terms of behavior,” says Donahue. “If your behavior is good, here is what privilege will come your way, whether its dessert at the restaurant, or that they get to watch a movie when they get home.”
Kids need to understand that their privileges are based on their behavior, explains Donahue.
“While I’m not suggesting you bribe your kids or take them to Toys ‘R’ Us because they sit at the dinner table, they need to understand that the things they enjoy are privileges and they can have those things if they behave well,” says Donahue. “Kids have to have an understanding that good behavior is expected, and if they behave well, good things will come their way.”
8. The Morning Routine
It’s hard enough for you to get out of bed at 6 a.m., let alone get your two kids out of bed. Should you let them sleep late, just this once?
Brat-building response: “Sometimes kids come downstairs in the morning, they watch TV, they get around to eating their breakfast, they get dressed, the process gets delayed, mom or dad gets frustrated and angry, and maybe they make the bus, maybe the don’t,” says Donahue. Better yet, the whole routine starts over again the next day.
Angel-building response: “Kids shouldn’t come down and watch TV or play a video game first thing in the morning,” says Donahue. “It’s like saying you get to have this fun experience before you get dressed, brush your teeth, or do your work. You have to take care of your responsibilities first.”
9. The Homework
As your child gets older and wiser, his pile of homework grows -- as does the frustration you feel in making sure he gets it all done.
Brat-building response: “We want our kids to do well in school, and yet we are not clear that homework takes precedent over a play date or after-school activities,” says Donahue. “So then the homework gets left until after dinner, and then it’s diminishing returns: they’re tired, and it’s getting much more difficult to get them to do it, and they don’t have incentive to get it done.”
Angel-building response: “There needs to be a reasonable structure for homework,” says Donahue. “Say to your kids, ‘At 3 p.m. you get to play, but at 4 p.m., you sit down and do your homework.’ It’s especially important in most families that homework get done before dinner. Set the structure in place so when they are older and they have more activities, they know they still need to get homework done before dinner.”
10. Parenting Tips
No matter the scenario, here are tips for dealing with parenting pitfalls:
Mean business. “Speak to your child like you mean business, and send clear messages when you’re communicating with your kids,” says Donahue.
Stick to your guns. “The toughest thing is to have endurance,” says Donahue. “Stick to your guns, even when the kids are whining and pushing your buttons. Kids know that if we have a history of not sticking to what we say, they’re going to push and push. Have the endurance and the strength and the energy to keep up with them.”
Plan ahead. “Parents have to do a better job of helping kids to anticipate the behavior that is expected of them beforehand,” Donahue tells WebMD. “When you’re in the middle of a situation, you’re busy and rushing and don’t think about it, and then things can get out of control.”
Take care of yourself. “Sleep more, exercise, and take care of yourself,” says Donahue. “Parenting is extremely exhausting work.”
By Heather Hatfield, reviewed By Ann Edmundson, MD
Sources: Jenn Berman, PhD, psychologist, Beverly Hills, Calif. Paul Donahue, PhD, director, Child Development Associates, Scarsdale, N.Y. Dan Kindlon, professor of, child psychology, Harvard University; author, Too Much of a Good Thing: Raising Children of Character in an Indulgent Age.
People are so Politically Correct even when it comes to raising their children that they don't know how. It's sad when someone doesn't know how to even handle a freakin' kids temper tantrums.
It's funny that in this day and age I can read an article like this with ten problems and ten solutions. When I was a kid my mother had ONE solution for all ten problems and it was called,"Do what I tell you or I'm gonna bust your ass, boy!"
And the crazy thing was... it worked! Go figure.
If there is anything, and I mean ANYTHING on this list that you didn't know or realized before you read it, then you shouldn't have children.
Tags: opinion parenting children brats
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Fight Club for Techies
I saw this story and had to say something. First of all, you're not suppose to be wearing helmets if it's a Fight Club. Secondly, it's not suppose to be in some guys garage like you came over to play and have juice like a group of 2nd graders. Thirdly, flailing and kicking another nerd does not prepare you for the unadulerated rage of a real man. It only gives you false confidence which will cause you to do something stupid and eventually facilitate your own pummeling and aerial flight into a McDonalds dumpster. Don't think you're "all that" after beating up Rog while wearing a bicycle helmet, Keith!
Just because you happen to be 125 lbs. and only have selective pubic hair growth doesn't mean you're not a man. It just means that you're only half a man. It's sad, but those are the facts. Don't fight them with your soft pudgy fists. Fight them with your brain. Make more money, buy nice things, and get yourself a shallow, but attractive gold digging trophy wife. It's the only way you can compete or attempt to get even.
Being the toughest nerd will only bring you to the top of the bottom of the heap, man.
Tags: humor news fight club nerds
Just because you happen to be 125 lbs. and only have selective pubic hair growth doesn't mean you're not a man. It just means that you're only half a man. It's sad, but those are the facts. Don't fight them with your soft pudgy fists. Fight them with your brain. Make more money, buy nice things, and get yourself a shallow, but attractive gold digging trophy wife. It's the only way you can compete or attempt to get even.
Being the toughest nerd will only bring you to the top of the bottom of the heap, man.
Tags: humor news fight club nerds
Monday, May 29, 2006
Cordless Jump-rope?! Wha?!
Yes, this is a real AP News story.
Cordless Jump-Rope Can Help the Clumsy
Published: 5/29/06, 9:45 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) - If you think keeping fit is merely mind over matter, Lester Clancy has an invention for you - a cordless jump-rope.
That's right, a jump-rope minus the rope. All that's left is two handles, so you jump over the pretend rope. Or if you are truly lazy, you can pretend to jump over the pretend rope.
And for that idea kicking around Clancy's head since 1988, the U.S. Patent Office this month awarded the 52-year-old Mansfield, Ohio, man a patent. Its number: 7037243.
What makes this invention work is the moving weights inside the handles. They simulate the feel of a rope moving, Clancy said. Well, it's only one handle so far because Clancy is waiting for financial backers before building its partner.
But why jump rope without a rope?
It's perfect for the clumsy, Clancy said. "If you are still jumping, you're still using your legs as well as your arms, and getting the cardiovascular workout. You just don't have to worry about tripping on the rope."
It is also good for mental institutions and prisons where rope is a suicide risk, said Clancy, who works as a laundry coordinator in a state prison. And low ceiling fans aren't a hazard any more, he said.
Daniel Wright, who features the cordless jump-rope on his Web site http://www.patentlysilly.com, can barely talk about Clancy's invention without laughing.
"What really grabbed me," Wright said, was the name the item has in its patent, Wright said.
The idea isn't all that crazy, said Mike Ernst, a professor of kinesiology at California State University in Dominguez Hills.
"I think it's silly but at the same time if somehow, some way it promotes physical activity, gets kids active, then I'm all for it," Ernst said.
The more he thought about it, the more Ernst said he could see the benefit, adding that the act of jumping, not the rope itself, is what provides exercise.
"Do you need to jump with a rope? You don't," Ernst said. "But I wouldn't buy the product, I can tell you that. I'm not an idiot."
High-tech handles aren't needed. You could even use toilet paper holders, Ernst said. On second thought, he wondered if he could patent that idea.
___
Patentlysilly: http://www.patentlysilly.com
Anyone caught purchasing this product should be tagged like cattle, tracked by the federal government and targeted for sterilization.
Tags: humor inventions news stupid
Cordless Jump-Rope Can Help the Clumsy
Published: 5/29/06, 9:45 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) - If you think keeping fit is merely mind over matter, Lester Clancy has an invention for you - a cordless jump-rope.
That's right, a jump-rope minus the rope. All that's left is two handles, so you jump over the pretend rope. Or if you are truly lazy, you can pretend to jump over the pretend rope.
And for that idea kicking around Clancy's head since 1988, the U.S. Patent Office this month awarded the 52-year-old Mansfield, Ohio, man a patent. Its number: 7037243.
What makes this invention work is the moving weights inside the handles. They simulate the feel of a rope moving, Clancy said. Well, it's only one handle so far because Clancy is waiting for financial backers before building its partner.
But why jump rope without a rope?
It's perfect for the clumsy, Clancy said. "If you are still jumping, you're still using your legs as well as your arms, and getting the cardiovascular workout. You just don't have to worry about tripping on the rope."
It is also good for mental institutions and prisons where rope is a suicide risk, said Clancy, who works as a laundry coordinator in a state prison. And low ceiling fans aren't a hazard any more, he said.
Daniel Wright, who features the cordless jump-rope on his Web site http://www.patentlysilly.com, can barely talk about Clancy's invention without laughing.
"What really grabbed me," Wright said, was the name the item has in its patent, Wright said.
The idea isn't all that crazy, said Mike Ernst, a professor of kinesiology at California State University in Dominguez Hills.
"I think it's silly but at the same time if somehow, some way it promotes physical activity, gets kids active, then I'm all for it," Ernst said.
The more he thought about it, the more Ernst said he could see the benefit, adding that the act of jumping, not the rope itself, is what provides exercise.
"Do you need to jump with a rope? You don't," Ernst said. "But I wouldn't buy the product, I can tell you that. I'm not an idiot."
High-tech handles aren't needed. You could even use toilet paper holders, Ernst said. On second thought, he wondered if he could patent that idea.
___
Patentlysilly: http://www.patentlysilly.com
Anyone caught purchasing this product should be tagged like cattle, tracked by the federal government and targeted for sterilization.
Tags: humor inventions news stupid
Hot Dog! - pilot episode
I was discussing television & comedy concepts with a friend during an IM conversation when this idea came about. I liked it - he did not.
It's been so long since I've done something like this for the blog though, and I think it might be fun to write some original material again. So, here is the first episode of...
SETTING: Chicago Suburb, Evening, The Gowan Residence
SCENE: The Gowan's are lying in bed reading
Gary Gowan: Are you ready for bed?
Jill Gowan: I'm almost finished with this chapter.
Gary: How many more pages?
Jill: Why?
Gary: Because I can't sleep when the lights are on, you know that.
Jill: Turn your light off and go to sleep then.
Gary: Your light has to be off too.
(Jill closes her book and puts it on the night stand)
Jill: (huffs) Fine then! Let's go to bed. Will that make you happy, Gary?
Gary: Yes, Jill, it would.
(Jill turns off her light. They both lay in the dark for a moment in silence)
Gary: Now what?
Jill: Well, now I can't sleep!
Gary: Just close your eyes... shut your mind... concentrate on nothing... concentrate on the silence...
(Gary farts)
Jill: Oh great. That really helps.
Gary: Does it?
(Gary farts again)
Gary: (smiling) Sorry, babe. Do you want me to roll over?
Jill: Yes, Gary! Roll over! Roll over and die!
Gary: Now you're just being a brat. I bet you wouldn't hate it so much if you gave it a chance.
Jill: Excuse me?!
Gary: Gave it a chance. You might be a freak, Jill. You might get turned on by it. You know. Like this!
(Gary pulls the covers over Jills head and lets one rip)
Gary: It's called a "Dutch oven"!
Jill: You dirty son of a bitch!(coughs)
Gary: Damn! That one kind of hurt.
Jill: (coughs) I can taste it!!! (coughs) You bastard!!!
Gary: I had a glass of orange juice and a boiled egg for lunch.
(Jill slowly begins to wiggle less and less under the sheet)
Gary: Playing dead, Jill? (laughing) That's a good one!
(Jill stops moving completely)
(silence)
Gary: Jill? ...Jill?
(Gary lifts the sheet and looks at Jill)
Gary: Jill?!
(fade out)
NEXT SCENE: Jill's funeral
Preacher: Jill was a warm and caring woman...
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
Now, I'm sure after reading that you're wondering what exactly the premise is. Well, Gary evaluates his life after the death of his wife, Jill, and decides to finally stand up to his older brother and father by competing against the rest of the family in the Hot Dog Stand business in Chicago.
I know. It's completely retarded, but I think that's what I like about it and I plan to go forward with it for awhile. I think once the characters of his father and brother come into the picture, it will get a lot more interesting.
Tags: Humor television comedy
It's been so long since I've done something like this for the blog though, and I think it might be fun to write some original material again. So, here is the first episode of...
SETTING: Chicago Suburb, Evening, The Gowan Residence
SCENE: The Gowan's are lying in bed reading
Gary Gowan: Are you ready for bed?
Jill Gowan: I'm almost finished with this chapter.
Gary: How many more pages?
Jill: Why?
Gary: Because I can't sleep when the lights are on, you know that.
Jill: Turn your light off and go to sleep then.
Gary: Your light has to be off too.
(Jill closes her book and puts it on the night stand)
Jill: (huffs) Fine then! Let's go to bed. Will that make you happy, Gary?
Gary: Yes, Jill, it would.
(Jill turns off her light. They both lay in the dark for a moment in silence)
Gary: Now what?
Jill: Well, now I can't sleep!
Gary: Just close your eyes... shut your mind... concentrate on nothing... concentrate on the silence...
(Gary farts)
Jill: Oh great. That really helps.
Gary: Does it?
(Gary farts again)
Gary: (smiling) Sorry, babe. Do you want me to roll over?
Jill: Yes, Gary! Roll over! Roll over and die!
Gary: Now you're just being a brat. I bet you wouldn't hate it so much if you gave it a chance.
Jill: Excuse me?!
Gary: Gave it a chance. You might be a freak, Jill. You might get turned on by it. You know. Like this!
(Gary pulls the covers over Jills head and lets one rip)
Gary: It's called a "Dutch oven"!
Jill: You dirty son of a bitch!(coughs)
Gary: Damn! That one kind of hurt.
Jill: (coughs) I can taste it!!! (coughs) You bastard!!!
Gary: I had a glass of orange juice and a boiled egg for lunch.
(Jill slowly begins to wiggle less and less under the sheet)
Gary: Playing dead, Jill? (laughing) That's a good one!
(Jill stops moving completely)
(silence)
Gary: Jill? ...Jill?
(Gary lifts the sheet and looks at Jill)
Gary: Jill?!
(fade out)
NEXT SCENE: Jill's funeral
Preacher: Jill was a warm and caring woman...
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
Now, I'm sure after reading that you're wondering what exactly the premise is. Well, Gary evaluates his life after the death of his wife, Jill, and decides to finally stand up to his older brother and father by competing against the rest of the family in the Hot Dog Stand business in Chicago.
I know. It's completely retarded, but I think that's what I like about it and I plan to go forward with it for awhile. I think once the characters of his father and brother come into the picture, it will get a lot more interesting.
Tags: Humor television comedy
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Calling Dr. Scholls
I hate getting ingrown toe nails. I especially hate the troublesome ones that don't like to come out easily. This last time I had to get hardcore. I don't usually cut into my toe nail with wood carving chisels, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.
Needless to say, I had to drink a few beers before and after. But I feel much better for doing so.
Tags: blogging health personal
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Harold rules!!!
Was I the only person watching Top Chef on Bravo?
No matter. Because the guy I was rooting for, Harold, won the whole thing! Way to go.
Anyone would have been better than Tiffani, but Harold was the guy that I liked the most during the whole show.
"Tiffani, pack up your knives and please leave."
I guess everyone else was watching Taylor Hicks win American Idol. I personally turn Idol off once all the crazy retarded people are eliminated. Let me know what you thought of Top Chef, or if you were watching Idol, or if there's another reality show I should be watching.
Tags: Top Chef reality tv Bravo
No matter. Because the guy I was rooting for, Harold, won the whole thing! Way to go.
Anyone would have been better than Tiffani, but Harold was the guy that I liked the most during the whole show.
"Tiffani, pack up your knives and please leave."
I guess everyone else was watching Taylor Hicks win American Idol. I personally turn Idol off once all the crazy retarded people are eliminated. Let me know what you thought of Top Chef, or if you were watching Idol, or if there's another reality show I should be watching.
Tags: Top Chef reality tv Bravo
My Theme Park Adventure
Where to begin...
Last Wednesday was the longest day at work that I can remember in a long time, simply because I was waiting to run out the door and start my vacation the following morning. Eventually, the workday ended and I went home and got all my things together for the trip to Orlando the next morning. I slept, but not as well as I usually do. I was obviously anxious to start the journey 5 and a half hours Southeast and start getting on some thrill rides.
Crystal woke up at around 6am to make a large breakfast before we hit the road. I didn't rise and get dressed until about 7:30am. When I did shuffle out into the kitchen there was french toast and cream of wheat already made and waiting to be eaten. I inhaled about 5 pieces of french toast and a bowl and a half of cream of wheat. Yep, it was good.
I packed the car with our two bags (a suitcase and a large duffle bag), our MP3 players, a cooler filled with PowerAde and water, and a box full of potato chips and other delectable snack foods. We were off and running. Things were going quite smoothly... too smoothly.
Crystal decided to take the driver's seat for the trip down to Orlando. Which is fine by me, because after breakfast I was quite ready to go back to sleep. I didn't go back to sleep though. I sat in the passenger seat and talked to Crystal most of the way. When we weren't talking I was playing with my MP3 player. I played a good amount of Styx, Weezer, and assorted 80s hits. Once I tired of that I went through the radio stations which weren't very fruitful. We were able to listen to Fort Minor's Where'd You Go about three times in a row by simply changing the station after it ended each time (that song is getting a lot of play).
And then about three quarters of the way to Orlando something happened. It seemed very much like an omen at the time, to turn around and head back. As were rounding a very long curve on I-75 in our small sized, lowriding Ford Escort SE, we both looked ahead in our lane and saw a shredded tire from an 18-wheeler. Not a large piece of a tire - the whole freakin' thing! As we flew toward it at a speed somewhere near 75mph, we both seemed to clench for the impact. Even though the radio was on, it seemed like 3 whole seconds of complete silence as the tire disappeared from view as we began to go over it. I could feel the scraping "clud" as the rubber hit the underside of the passenger side floorboards and the car gave a slight jolt up and forward. We both turned and looked back at the tire and let out our breath. We got lucky, nothing happened to the car.
When we got to Orlando we didn't go straight to the hotel room. We went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We went there for our honeymoon two years earlier and this year we decided to get annual passes since we plan to start going on a regular basis now that Crystal's working and we both love the parks and the rides.
First, we got our annual pass IDs made. Mine looks very much like my Drivers' License: like a serial killer's mugshot on the 11 o'clock news.
Then we hit the park. Our day was already half over so we decided to only hit the biggies. We went into Universal Studios first and got on the Mummy's Revenge. If you haven't ridden it, I highly recommend it. Then it was over to Islands of Adventure to get on The Hulk, and Spider-Man 3D. We were planning to ride Dueling Dragons as well, but it was closed for some reason. Shortly after eating at the NASCAR Cafe there on City Walk, we went to the hotel to check in.
Our room was very nice compared to what we usually get when we go to Orlando on a budget. Our room at the Best Western had two double beds, a large TV, and a Fridge. The drapes, sheets, and carpeting were all very clean and neat. We were both very tired and went to sleep after taking showers. It had been a long full day and we needed some rest for Disney World the next day.
Almost everytime I would begin to fall asleep Crystal would yell over to me that I was snoring and that she couldn't sleep because of it. Yes, I do snore. And when I'm extremely tired I really saw logs. She tossed and turned until I tried to stay awake so she could fall asleep. Eventually we both were dreaming. But when the alarm went off in the morning, I was dead tired.
We got dressed and headed out to the car to head to breakfast. "Aw, great!!", I said when I saw the rear drivers' side tire completely flat on the car. "We have a flat tire,"
"What?! Noooo!!!" Crystal knew exactly what pitch to hit to make it feel like an international crisis.
She went into the room to get a phonebook to look for service stations and Wal-Marts, and I got the jack and spare out of the trunk. About 15 minutes later we were driving to the Wal-Mart about 15 minutes away. I was completely covered in sweat and I still couldn't seem to wake up. Well, $64 later I was slightly awakened. Afterward, we drove to Disney's Animal Kingdom to meet Crystal's sister and her family.
They coordinated their vacation with ours and we both decided to go to the parks and do the rides together. Once we got there and met up with them the day really began and after that the trip never went South again. It was completely smooth sailing after the tire, but at the time I was beginning to think that this was going to turn into a National Lampoon's Vacation and when we got to the park it was going to be closed or some other crazy scenario. Thank goodness, I was wrong.
The very first thing we rode was Expedition Everest. The newest ride in all the parks. They try to hype it up in the commercials and brochures like it's one of the tallest coasters in the world, but once you get to the top it goes inside the mountain and you really can't tell how high you are because you're flying around like a maniac in the dark (like Space Mountain). After that it was over to Khali River Rapids and a healthy douche of theme park water from head to toe. We also went on the Kiliminjaro Safari ride which was cool and they had it set up like the African plains.
Well, now I'm just gonna hit the highlights since as we all know, a day at the theme park is long and not great stuff to really get into detail. Let me talk about the attractions. Soarin' was a lot of fun. It's like a glider simulator where you're flying over the Golden Gate Bridge, mountains, orange groves, and trees. You feel the breeze and even smell the oranges and trees. You sit in a seat raised off the floor and placed out over a large IMAX style screen.
I thought Rock'n Rollercoaster starring Aerosmith was a big disappointment. It goes fast, but that's about all there was to it. The same kind of goes for Test Track, but it was a little more fun.
Mission To Mars made me feel kind of light headed and really wasn't much fun.
The three rides that we got on more than anything were three classics. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and of course, Space Mountain.
Besides the coasters we went to a lot of the 3D shows and older rides, like It's A Small, Small World, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventure, The Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, The Carousel of Progress, and many more.
It was a fantastic time. By the end of it though I had blisters on the bottoms of both of my feet. Next time, I need to bring a better pair of sneakers.
Tags: Blogging Vacation Disney World Family
Last Wednesday was the longest day at work that I can remember in a long time, simply because I was waiting to run out the door and start my vacation the following morning. Eventually, the workday ended and I went home and got all my things together for the trip to Orlando the next morning. I slept, but not as well as I usually do. I was obviously anxious to start the journey 5 and a half hours Southeast and start getting on some thrill rides.
Crystal woke up at around 6am to make a large breakfast before we hit the road. I didn't rise and get dressed until about 7:30am. When I did shuffle out into the kitchen there was french toast and cream of wheat already made and waiting to be eaten. I inhaled about 5 pieces of french toast and a bowl and a half of cream of wheat. Yep, it was good.
I packed the car with our two bags (a suitcase and a large duffle bag), our MP3 players, a cooler filled with PowerAde and water, and a box full of potato chips and other delectable snack foods. We were off and running. Things were going quite smoothly... too smoothly.
Crystal decided to take the driver's seat for the trip down to Orlando. Which is fine by me, because after breakfast I was quite ready to go back to sleep. I didn't go back to sleep though. I sat in the passenger seat and talked to Crystal most of the way. When we weren't talking I was playing with my MP3 player. I played a good amount of Styx, Weezer, and assorted 80s hits. Once I tired of that I went through the radio stations which weren't very fruitful. We were able to listen to Fort Minor's Where'd You Go about three times in a row by simply changing the station after it ended each time (that song is getting a lot of play).
And then about three quarters of the way to Orlando something happened. It seemed very much like an omen at the time, to turn around and head back. As were rounding a very long curve on I-75 in our small sized, lowriding Ford Escort SE, we both looked ahead in our lane and saw a shredded tire from an 18-wheeler. Not a large piece of a tire - the whole freakin' thing! As we flew toward it at a speed somewhere near 75mph, we both seemed to clench for the impact. Even though the radio was on, it seemed like 3 whole seconds of complete silence as the tire disappeared from view as we began to go over it. I could feel the scraping "clud" as the rubber hit the underside of the passenger side floorboards and the car gave a slight jolt up and forward. We both turned and looked back at the tire and let out our breath. We got lucky, nothing happened to the car.
When we got to Orlando we didn't go straight to the hotel room. We went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We went there for our honeymoon two years earlier and this year we decided to get annual passes since we plan to start going on a regular basis now that Crystal's working and we both love the parks and the rides.
First, we got our annual pass IDs made. Mine looks very much like my Drivers' License: like a serial killer's mugshot on the 11 o'clock news.
Then we hit the park. Our day was already half over so we decided to only hit the biggies. We went into Universal Studios first and got on the Mummy's Revenge. If you haven't ridden it, I highly recommend it. Then it was over to Islands of Adventure to get on The Hulk, and Spider-Man 3D. We were planning to ride Dueling Dragons as well, but it was closed for some reason. Shortly after eating at the NASCAR Cafe there on City Walk, we went to the hotel to check in.
Our room was very nice compared to what we usually get when we go to Orlando on a budget. Our room at the Best Western had two double beds, a large TV, and a Fridge. The drapes, sheets, and carpeting were all very clean and neat. We were both very tired and went to sleep after taking showers. It had been a long full day and we needed some rest for Disney World the next day.
Almost everytime I would begin to fall asleep Crystal would yell over to me that I was snoring and that she couldn't sleep because of it. Yes, I do snore. And when I'm extremely tired I really saw logs. She tossed and turned until I tried to stay awake so she could fall asleep. Eventually we both were dreaming. But when the alarm went off in the morning, I was dead tired.
We got dressed and headed out to the car to head to breakfast. "Aw, great!!", I said when I saw the rear drivers' side tire completely flat on the car. "We have a flat tire,"
"What?! Noooo!!!" Crystal knew exactly what pitch to hit to make it feel like an international crisis.
She went into the room to get a phonebook to look for service stations and Wal-Marts, and I got the jack and spare out of the trunk. About 15 minutes later we were driving to the Wal-Mart about 15 minutes away. I was completely covered in sweat and I still couldn't seem to wake up. Well, $64 later I was slightly awakened. Afterward, we drove to Disney's Animal Kingdom to meet Crystal's sister and her family.
They coordinated their vacation with ours and we both decided to go to the parks and do the rides together. Once we got there and met up with them the day really began and after that the trip never went South again. It was completely smooth sailing after the tire, but at the time I was beginning to think that this was going to turn into a National Lampoon's Vacation and when we got to the park it was going to be closed or some other crazy scenario. Thank goodness, I was wrong.
The very first thing we rode was Expedition Everest. The newest ride in all the parks. They try to hype it up in the commercials and brochures like it's one of the tallest coasters in the world, but once you get to the top it goes inside the mountain and you really can't tell how high you are because you're flying around like a maniac in the dark (like Space Mountain). After that it was over to Khali River Rapids and a healthy douche of theme park water from head to toe. We also went on the Kiliminjaro Safari ride which was cool and they had it set up like the African plains.
Well, now I'm just gonna hit the highlights since as we all know, a day at the theme park is long and not great stuff to really get into detail. Let me talk about the attractions. Soarin' was a lot of fun. It's like a glider simulator where you're flying over the Golden Gate Bridge, mountains, orange groves, and trees. You feel the breeze and even smell the oranges and trees. You sit in a seat raised off the floor and placed out over a large IMAX style screen.
I thought Rock'n Rollercoaster starring Aerosmith was a big disappointment. It goes fast, but that's about all there was to it. The same kind of goes for Test Track, but it was a little more fun.
Mission To Mars made me feel kind of light headed and really wasn't much fun.
The three rides that we got on more than anything were three classics. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and of course, Space Mountain.
Besides the coasters we went to a lot of the 3D shows and older rides, like It's A Small, Small World, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventure, The Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, The Carousel of Progress, and many more.
It was a fantastic time. By the end of it though I had blisters on the bottoms of both of my feet. Next time, I need to bring a better pair of sneakers.
Tags: Blogging Vacation Disney World Family
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Vacation Photos '06
I am planning to give a rundown of the trip, but today I'm just gonna chill before heading back to work tomorrow. But in the meantime, here are some pictures form the trip. Enjoy!
Above: Splash Mountain, of course.
This is a FilmLoop from PhotoBucket. If you have FilmLoop, or click on the loop to download it (it's free), you can see the fullsized photos if you want.
Tags: Blogging Photoblogging Vacation Disney World Family
Above: Splash Mountain, of course.
This is a FilmLoop from PhotoBucket. If you have FilmLoop, or click on the loop to download it (it's free), you can see the fullsized photos if you want.
Tags: Blogging Photoblogging Vacation Disney World Family
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
"I'm going to DisneyWorld!"
Actually, I'll be going to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure also... but those parks don't have people whose heads I can digitally place in jars.
(Yes, I know that Walt Disney didn't actually have his head cryogenically frozen, but what the hey! It makes an interesting picture.)
I'm off from the 18th - 23rd, I'll be coming back on the 22nd. So I'll be back to give everyone the details(with some pictures, of course) in about a week. See ya then!
Tags: Blogging Vacation Disney World humor fun
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
The Da Vinci Code controversy
I guess the first thing I have to ask is - why? What is the big controversy about the Da Vinci Code?
Before the new movie was made, I read the book. You probably remember about a year ago, maybe, when everyone was talking about it and everyone was reading it. Well, I was one of those readers. And after I read it, I'd have to say that I liked it. I thought it was an interesting, fast-paced read with some cool little puzzles and crap in it, and it had an interesting resolution, I thought. Afterword, I read Dan Brown's Angels & Demons (which, if it were made into a movie would probably be much more controversial) and I felt like I had been taken a bit. They were damn near the same book!(sighs) But back to Da Vinci Code...
It's members of the Christian community (which I'm a part of) that find a problem with the book. Many seem to feel that the book presents some contradicting views of Christian history and theology as fact and that bothers them. I can understand that in some regards. But the problem with that is the fact that the book is clearly fiction. It is a fiction book. FICTION BOOK. What am I missing here?
It's almost like watching the freaks come out into the sun all over again like during the initial Harry Potter controversy. Why, people?! What is wrong with Harry Potter?! Did your parents act like this when the Wizard of Oz came out?! I doubt it.
I just don't understand sometimes, the battles that people choose to fight.
As far as the movie is concerned here is a link to one of the first movie reviews. I'm not sure if I'm going to see it at the theater since I've already read the book, but I'm thinking about it.
Tags: Da Vinci Code Opinion Religion Movies
Before the new movie was made, I read the book. You probably remember about a year ago, maybe, when everyone was talking about it and everyone was reading it. Well, I was one of those readers. And after I read it, I'd have to say that I liked it. I thought it was an interesting, fast-paced read with some cool little puzzles and crap in it, and it had an interesting resolution, I thought. Afterword, I read Dan Brown's Angels & Demons (which, if it were made into a movie would probably be much more controversial) and I felt like I had been taken a bit. They were damn near the same book!(sighs) But back to Da Vinci Code...
It's members of the Christian community (which I'm a part of) that find a problem with the book. Many seem to feel that the book presents some contradicting views of Christian history and theology as fact and that bothers them. I can understand that in some regards. But the problem with that is the fact that the book is clearly fiction. It is a fiction book. FICTION BOOK. What am I missing here?
It's almost like watching the freaks come out into the sun all over again like during the initial Harry Potter controversy. Why, people?! What is wrong with Harry Potter?! Did your parents act like this when the Wizard of Oz came out?! I doubt it.
I just don't understand sometimes, the battles that people choose to fight.
As far as the movie is concerned here is a link to one of the first movie reviews. I'm not sure if I'm going to see it at the theater since I've already read the book, but I'm thinking about it.
Tags: Da Vinci Code Opinion Religion Movies
President Bush's immigration speech
I'm not sure how many people watched President Bush's speech on television last night, but I was only able to catch about the last five minutes of it since I somehow completely forgot it was coming.
Today, when I got the chance, I went online and read the entire oration. And I had a few thoughts on the subject.
I can't say that much of what he said was new because I'm pretty sure I've heard most of what he said before. Although in his speech many of the strategic points were finally clearly stated - like the eventual end of "catch and release", the worker IDs, and the ability for illegals to work toward citizenship, but not blanket amnesty. Also, the use of National Guard troops at the border was stated in his speech. He also said that the Guard are not to be militarizing the border, but basically in a support capacity for the Border Patrol. I know a lot of people didn't like the use of Guard troops being mentioned as many feel that we're already stretched too thin in that respect. The number of Guard troops that the President gave, however, would only be about 2% of the country's Guard forces.
Overall, it was a middle-of-the-road-soluton speech, I feel. Guard troops and "no amnesty" to appease the hardline conservatives, and "a chance for citizenship" and "no mass expulsions of the illegals already here" for the liberals. Still it would seem that there are people unhappy on both sides.
There are GOP members who say anything short of arrest is amnesty, and you have liberals who are saying that Bush is simply pandering to both sides(I thought that's what a solution was supposed to do?). I find both groups completely contemptible, myself. Neither really wants to find a middle ground, they're more interested in winning the argument.
I did go around the internet a bit today to see the reaction to the speech and I have to say it was kind of funny. On the conservative side there really wasn't much to read. It was kind of a collective "eh", if you will.
Whereas on the liberal side they seemed to be stark raving mad. When some of the comments on AirAmericaRadio and it's message board compared Bush's speeches with those of Adolf Hitler, I almost had to laugh! What a bunch of f*cking whack jobs, man.
Now, if you're a liberal and/or a Democrat, that's fine, I have no problem with that. But don't expect anyone to take you seriously when you start to say things like that. It's impossible to listen to someone reasonably when they get into that territory. It shows a lack of a deductive thought process and ignorance. Shouting that the other guy is narrowminded because he holds a different political opinion is simply "the pot calling the kettle black".
As far as my own view of politics is concern it's a lot like this:
The late great Bill Hicks summed it up best when he said that when you're deciding to vote for either a Democrat or a Republican you're basically saying,"I believe the puppet on the left expresses my views... No wait, I feel like the puppet on the right shares my political opinons... Hey wait! One guy is holding both puppets!" (a loud voice comes over a p.a. system) "Go back to sleep, America. Everything is fine. Go back to sleep, America,"
That pretty much sums it up for me and politics. Do you wanna vote for Coke? Or would you pefer Pepsi?
As far as the President's speech is concerned, I'd have to say it made sense to me. I honestly don't care about the issue that much and if what he said will shut everyone up, good - do it!
And if people are still up in arms at this point, I'd have to say screw 'em. You can't please everybody.
Agree? Disagree? I'm always open to hear what others think.
Tags: Politics Bush Immigration Opinion
Today, when I got the chance, I went online and read the entire oration. And I had a few thoughts on the subject.
I can't say that much of what he said was new because I'm pretty sure I've heard most of what he said before. Although in his speech many of the strategic points were finally clearly stated - like the eventual end of "catch and release", the worker IDs, and the ability for illegals to work toward citizenship, but not blanket amnesty. Also, the use of National Guard troops at the border was stated in his speech. He also said that the Guard are not to be militarizing the border, but basically in a support capacity for the Border Patrol. I know a lot of people didn't like the use of Guard troops being mentioned as many feel that we're already stretched too thin in that respect. The number of Guard troops that the President gave, however, would only be about 2% of the country's Guard forces.
Overall, it was a middle-of-the-road-soluton speech, I feel. Guard troops and "no amnesty" to appease the hardline conservatives, and "a chance for citizenship" and "no mass expulsions of the illegals already here" for the liberals. Still it would seem that there are people unhappy on both sides.
There are GOP members who say anything short of arrest is amnesty, and you have liberals who are saying that Bush is simply pandering to both sides(I thought that's what a solution was supposed to do?). I find both groups completely contemptible, myself. Neither really wants to find a middle ground, they're more interested in winning the argument.
I did go around the internet a bit today to see the reaction to the speech and I have to say it was kind of funny. On the conservative side there really wasn't much to read. It was kind of a collective "eh", if you will.
Whereas on the liberal side they seemed to be stark raving mad. When some of the comments on AirAmericaRadio and it's message board compared Bush's speeches with those of Adolf Hitler, I almost had to laugh! What a bunch of f*cking whack jobs, man.
Now, if you're a liberal and/or a Democrat, that's fine, I have no problem with that. But don't expect anyone to take you seriously when you start to say things like that. It's impossible to listen to someone reasonably when they get into that territory. It shows a lack of a deductive thought process and ignorance. Shouting that the other guy is narrowminded because he holds a different political opinion is simply "the pot calling the kettle black".
As far as my own view of politics is concern it's a lot like this:
The late great Bill Hicks summed it up best when he said that when you're deciding to vote for either a Democrat or a Republican you're basically saying,"I believe the puppet on the left expresses my views... No wait, I feel like the puppet on the right shares my political opinons... Hey wait! One guy is holding both puppets!" (a loud voice comes over a p.a. system) "Go back to sleep, America. Everything is fine. Go back to sleep, America,"
That pretty much sums it up for me and politics. Do you wanna vote for Coke? Or would you pefer Pepsi?
As far as the President's speech is concerned, I'd have to say it made sense to me. I honestly don't care about the issue that much and if what he said will shut everyone up, good - do it!
And if people are still up in arms at this point, I'd have to say screw 'em. You can't please everybody.
Agree? Disagree? I'm always open to hear what others think.
Tags: Politics Bush Immigration Opinion
Monday, May 15, 2006
Anniversary
Today is my 2 year anniversary. We've had our "ups and downs".
All kidding aside, they've been 2 of the best years of my life. I wouldn't change a thing in my life because it's what brought me to where I am now, and to Crystal (the undisputed Worlds Greatest Wife).
Also, about Mothers Day yesterday. I cooked a ton chicken, but when we got over there nothing else was done. We ended up eating much later than we were suppose to even though I did my part. By the time we ate, the chicken was cold. Crystal also made a large macaroni and cheese, and a pasta salad. Besides the late start it was a decent day.
All kidding aside, they've been 2 of the best years of my life. I wouldn't change a thing in my life because it's what brought me to where I am now, and to Crystal (the undisputed Worlds Greatest Wife).
Also, about Mothers Day yesterday. I cooked a ton chicken, but when we got over there nothing else was done. We ended up eating much later than we were suppose to even though I did my part. By the time we ate, the chicken was cold. Crystal also made a large macaroni and cheese, and a pasta salad. Besides the late start it was a decent day.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Mexico Beach
I finally went to the beach for the first time this summer. We decided to go to Mexico Beach about 45 minutes East of Panama City.
It would be nice to go to the beach here, but it's gotten overtaken with condos and people from out-of-town. Sorry, but I refuse to fight for a piece of the beach with a bunch of rednecks and snowbirds. I'd rather move on to another spot. Besides that, Mexico Beach has Panama City Beach beat by a mile. It's cleaner, quieter, and the people aren't as loud and obnoxious.
We took the radio, the sunblock, and some water and drinks. Crystal won't get in the water, she only wants to get a tan. I find that ridiculous, but I'm a Puerto Rican - I must swim! I got in the water and swam up and down the shore for a little while. The only irritating thing I can think of was an elderly couple fishing not too far from where I was swimming. I knew exactly what I was going to say if I got a fish hook in the hand, but luckily it never came to that.
After a couple hours of sunning and swimming, we went for a walk down the beach and looked for shells (nothing this time). We walked back, I swam one more time, and then we packed it up.
It was a good time. The water was perfect for a refreshing swim and the temperature was a breezy 80 degrees. While we were there I snapped a couple pictures.
My favorite photo...
There's nothing cuter than a woman enjoying her juice pouch at the beach.
Tomorrow's Mother's Day and I have to get up in the morning to grill a bunch of chicken for a cook-out at my Mother-in-law's house. I'm sure I'll have something to say about it afterword.
It would be nice to go to the beach here, but it's gotten overtaken with condos and people from out-of-town. Sorry, but I refuse to fight for a piece of the beach with a bunch of rednecks and snowbirds. I'd rather move on to another spot. Besides that, Mexico Beach has Panama City Beach beat by a mile. It's cleaner, quieter, and the people aren't as loud and obnoxious.
We took the radio, the sunblock, and some water and drinks. Crystal won't get in the water, she only wants to get a tan. I find that ridiculous, but I'm a Puerto Rican - I must swim! I got in the water and swam up and down the shore for a little while. The only irritating thing I can think of was an elderly couple fishing not too far from where I was swimming. I knew exactly what I was going to say if I got a fish hook in the hand, but luckily it never came to that.
After a couple hours of sunning and swimming, we went for a walk down the beach and looked for shells (nothing this time). We walked back, I swam one more time, and then we packed it up.
It was a good time. The water was perfect for a refreshing swim and the temperature was a breezy 80 degrees. While we were there I snapped a couple pictures.
My favorite photo...
There's nothing cuter than a woman enjoying her juice pouch at the beach.
Tomorrow's Mother's Day and I have to get up in the morning to grill a bunch of chicken for a cook-out at my Mother-in-law's house. I'm sure I'll have something to say about it afterword.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Cotton Top sighting
The scientific name is "constantus-turn-signalus", or the more commonly used "Cotton Top". An elderly driver with the nimble and agile reflexes of a drunken rhino.
I spotted this one on the way home wandering to and fro. She was in no big hurry to get to the end of the road. Why hurry? The speed limit is only 35mph. I mean, why we're at it why don't we drive... 25mph! After all, we're only on our way to look at the extensive collection of pantyhose at Walgreens.
Sh*t!
But just because we're driving at 25 in a 35 doesn't mean we need to come to a smooth stop. If we're going to have fun we need to apply the brakes suddenly when we're 10 to 15 feet from the car in front of us. As a Cotton Top we need to confuse and frighten anyone within 100 yards of our death machine, er... vehicle.
I HATE OLD PEOPLE!!!
I'm sorry, I take that back. I hate elderly people with access to personal transportation.
Why aren't these people in a hurry?! If anyone should be in a rush it should be them. The Grim Reaper of Death is only within arms reach of you! You need to move your ass! He could get a hand inside the back of your shirt collar and pull you down at any moment! Run, dammit, run! You're never gonna make it to Goody's in time for the wool dress suit sale!
And while you're doing that, get out of my way or take the damn bus!
(sighs) Thank you.
I spotted this one on the way home wandering to and fro. She was in no big hurry to get to the end of the road. Why hurry? The speed limit is only 35mph. I mean, why we're at it why don't we drive... 25mph! After all, we're only on our way to look at the extensive collection of pantyhose at Walgreens.
Sh*t!
But just because we're driving at 25 in a 35 doesn't mean we need to come to a smooth stop. If we're going to have fun we need to apply the brakes suddenly when we're 10 to 15 feet from the car in front of us. As a Cotton Top we need to confuse and frighten anyone within 100 yards of our death machine, er... vehicle.
I HATE OLD PEOPLE!!!
I'm sorry, I take that back. I hate elderly people with access to personal transportation.
Why aren't these people in a hurry?! If anyone should be in a rush it should be them. The Grim Reaper of Death is only within arms reach of you! You need to move your ass! He could get a hand inside the back of your shirt collar and pull you down at any moment! Run, dammit, run! You're never gonna make it to Goody's in time for the wool dress suit sale!
And while you're doing that, get out of my way or take the damn bus!
(sighs) Thank you.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Running on empty
Damn, this week is slowly sucking me dry! I can't really explain it - yes, I can.
Sunday night was fine. Skip that.
Monday night was the beginning. Had a great day and a great night out. But, when we arrived at the house around 10:20pm it started to go downhill. We made it home before a major storm blew through and did some damage around town. The rain was coming down sideways all night, beating off the sliding glass doors and the windows. Then it began to hail. Shortly after the hail, the power went out. That was around midnight.
Slowly but surely it began to get hotter and hotter until I could barely stand it. At the same time lightning flashes outside were lighting up the room every 10 to 15 seconds. It was like a bad acid trip.
Eventually, the power came back on around 4am, which didn't help much since I was finally just starting to fall asleep again. I listened to some things click around and light up around the house as the juice came back and then I tried to roll over and get back to sleeping. My alarm was supposed to go off at 6am. It didn't. Not because I forgot to reset it. It has batteries in it as well as being plugged into the wall so I don't have to. I knew I didn't have to reset it because while the power was gone it was still working. But the strangest thing happened. It seemed to reset my alarm even though it kept the time. Arrgghh!!!
I woke up around 7:15am. I had to be at work at 8am. I washed my face, brushed, my hair, did the Listerine thing and went out the door. When I got to the office there wasn't a single co-workers' car in the parking lot and I simply thought,"everyone must be running late too,"
How naive, Rene. How naive.
As I'm unlocking the alleyway door into the office (I'm a backdoor man), I get a call on my work phone.
"Are you at the office yet?"
"I'm just walking in." I unlock the door and walk in. All the lights are off in the place. At the very moment that I'm realizing that the power hasn't come back to the office, I hear on my phone,"There's no power at the office yet, Rene. No one's there. I'd call back about every two hours until we find out something,"
F*ck.
So, I get back in my Ford Exploder (that's not a typo) and head back to my apartment. By the time I get home I begin to feel the fatigue from my sleepless hot sweaty night of tossing and turning. I sit down and have a bowl of cereal since I'm home. Halfway through my bowl of CoCoa Krispies I get the call to come back to the office, the power was finally back. Ugh.
When I get back to the office I walk in the front doors to see that for some reason the carpeting at the entrance is soaked to the bone. You see, the entire facade of the the office entrance is a glass wall basically, with some vertical blinds. The company name is on the glass outside - it looks rather nice. The drawback, however, is that this is an OLD building and there seems to be a sealant problem between the bottom of the glass wall and the inside of the office. As the rain came sweeping down and the wind blew it against the face of the office building throughout the night, it actually swept the water right under the glass and into the building, into the carpet. It made a nice "squish, squoosh" sound when I walked in.
When I got in my office I had to flip on the switch on my gigantoid surge protector next to my computer to get started. As I was sitting there I noticed that my phone, which hadn't been displaying on the LCD for about three months, was working! I guess it just needed a few bolts of lightning up the old wazoo.
Anyway, since then I've slept like crap all week and for some reason can't seem to fall asleep before 11am. I'm a bit of a zombie at this point really. Which is why I'm sitting here writing this, I suppose.
Hopefully, I'll hit a wall soon and can catch up on some sleep. If anything good can come out of this, at least my phone is working again... thank you, Satan. You smug bastard.
Sunday night was fine. Skip that.
Monday night was the beginning. Had a great day and a great night out. But, when we arrived at the house around 10:20pm it started to go downhill. We made it home before a major storm blew through and did some damage around town. The rain was coming down sideways all night, beating off the sliding glass doors and the windows. Then it began to hail. Shortly after the hail, the power went out. That was around midnight.
Slowly but surely it began to get hotter and hotter until I could barely stand it. At the same time lightning flashes outside were lighting up the room every 10 to 15 seconds. It was like a bad acid trip.
Eventually, the power came back on around 4am, which didn't help much since I was finally just starting to fall asleep again. I listened to some things click around and light up around the house as the juice came back and then I tried to roll over and get back to sleeping. My alarm was supposed to go off at 6am. It didn't. Not because I forgot to reset it. It has batteries in it as well as being plugged into the wall so I don't have to. I knew I didn't have to reset it because while the power was gone it was still working. But the strangest thing happened. It seemed to reset my alarm even though it kept the time. Arrgghh!!!
I woke up around 7:15am. I had to be at work at 8am. I washed my face, brushed, my hair, did the Listerine thing and went out the door. When I got to the office there wasn't a single co-workers' car in the parking lot and I simply thought,"everyone must be running late too,"
How naive, Rene. How naive.
As I'm unlocking the alleyway door into the office (I'm a backdoor man), I get a call on my work phone.
"Are you at the office yet?"
"I'm just walking in." I unlock the door and walk in. All the lights are off in the place. At the very moment that I'm realizing that the power hasn't come back to the office, I hear on my phone,"There's no power at the office yet, Rene. No one's there. I'd call back about every two hours until we find out something,"
F*ck.
So, I get back in my Ford Exploder (that's not a typo) and head back to my apartment. By the time I get home I begin to feel the fatigue from my sleepless hot sweaty night of tossing and turning. I sit down and have a bowl of cereal since I'm home. Halfway through my bowl of CoCoa Krispies I get the call to come back to the office, the power was finally back. Ugh.
When I get back to the office I walk in the front doors to see that for some reason the carpeting at the entrance is soaked to the bone. You see, the entire facade of the the office entrance is a glass wall basically, with some vertical blinds. The company name is on the glass outside - it looks rather nice. The drawback, however, is that this is an OLD building and there seems to be a sealant problem between the bottom of the glass wall and the inside of the office. As the rain came sweeping down and the wind blew it against the face of the office building throughout the night, it actually swept the water right under the glass and into the building, into the carpet. It made a nice "squish, squoosh" sound when I walked in.
When I got in my office I had to flip on the switch on my gigantoid surge protector next to my computer to get started. As I was sitting there I noticed that my phone, which hadn't been displaying on the LCD for about three months, was working! I guess it just needed a few bolts of lightning up the old wazoo.
Anyway, since then I've slept like crap all week and for some reason can't seem to fall asleep before 11am. I'm a bit of a zombie at this point really. Which is why I'm sitting here writing this, I suppose.
Hopefully, I'll hit a wall soon and can catch up on some sleep. If anything good can come out of this, at least my phone is working again... thank you, Satan. You smug bastard.
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