How interesting

No time for a real post, so just some interesting information I’ve read from the DailyKos (not our Ko).

AMERICAblog:

ABC's Terry Moran just reported that the only time Bush got applause was in the middle of his speech when a White House advance team member started clapping all on their own in order to cajole the soldiers into clapping, which they dutifully did.
So even the applause was fake.

This must've been pretty obvious as even Fox news reported this later in the day. How sad of a president are you when you can't anyone to volunteerily clap for you.

From SurveyUSA in the latest approval ratings:

The bottom line, Bush is at 50 percent or above in only 11 states -- Utah (63), Nebraska (60), Wyoming (58), Idaho (56), Montana (56), Alabama (54), Alaska (53), North Dakota (52), Kansas (51), Kentucky (50), Mississippi (50), and Texas (50).

He's at 40 percent or lower in 14 states -- Ohio (40), Wisconsin (40), Maine (39), Massachusetts (39), Delaware (38), Nevada (38), New Jersey (38), Michigan (38), California (37), Connecticut (37), Illinois (37), New York (33), Rhode Island (33), and Vermont (32).

Nice to see Kansas right up there high with the ignorant states (sigh). I'm sure with teaching intelligent design starting next year will surly move us higher on this ladder.

There are also 3 southern states too. How fucking sad.

From Think Progress:

Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money

The House of Representatives voted yesterday to give themselves a cost-of-living raise. Congratulations, lawmakers! Next year you’ll be making $3,100 more than you did this year.

Unfortunately, Congress doesn’t want to share the wealth. This makes the eighth time Congress has voted to increase its own pay since 1997; they, however, have voted down every attempt to give minimum wage earners a cost of living raise since 1997. Today, the real value of the minimum wage is $3.50 below what it was in 1968. Working full time for minimum wage today will rake in a whopping $10,700 a year, or about $5,000 below the poverty level for a family of three.

Hope your conscience doesn’t bother you so much that you can’t enjoy that extra $3,100, Congress.

I’ve heard all your busines cases for not wanting to up the minumum wage. Frankly, all your arguments are asinine. One of the favorite and most common arguments you will hear against raising the minumum wage is that it hurts big and small businesses.

The truth is that small businesses are not the ones that will be hurt and they are not the ones that will stop hiring people with a small raise in minumum wage. Small businesses are usually more lenient in paying people better than the minumum wage.

The ones that will be hurt with an increase in wages are big companies. You know who this will hurt? Big ass companies like Wal-Mart that pays most of their labor force around the minumum wage. The same big ass companies that seem to have our government under their control in stopping legislation that would increase the minumum wage.

An increase in wages will mean a decrease in profits for these big companies and a hit in profits means the business will not hit some arbiturary numbers to appease the all powerful shareholder. And you know what happens when you don’t appease the all mighty shareholder.

You will be punished!!

Your stock value will deflate, your won’t get that extra couple of million dollar bonus this year. Heaven forbid, you may not be able to buy a second plane this year.

So screw the people making minumum wage, according to many of you conservatives, that’s more than enough to survive on anyway. We have bigger problems here. We need to appease the all mighty or they won’t give us more money for us to hoard and to generate a bigger wealth gap between us and you.

The cornerstone of capitalism is about making money. With that mentality, our society has fallen pray to rewarding the wrong types of behaviors. No longer is caring for each other the corner stone of civilization (yes, civilization was developed in order for us to protect each other from other forces), but now, what we care about is satisfying this mystical force that is the shareholders and protecting it by hitting these profit/growth numbers.

Spreading the wealth around and creating a smaller wealth gap? That’s just crazy talk.

_____________

Interesting news from the Ko (our Ko, not the daily one) reporting straight from China.

The Pup blog is NOT viewable in communist China. This is pure speculation on my part, but I believe they are afraid that if the people of China begins to read this blog, they will instantly revolt and overthrow their government to put the Pup in charge!

Yes. Fear me. You know I am the rightful heir of the empire. The Pup will rise!!

Happy Thursday!

Pup-Man*

* Geek Post warning!

Nah hah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah… Pup-Man!!!

I went to see Batman Begins with a friend last night. I tell ya what. It’s good. Even better than the original one with Jack Nicholson. The Batman and Scarecrow were both very well acted out. The movie also stayed true to the title as it revolves around Batman, and not as much on the villians or anything else.

I read some reviews where people either liked the first part or the second part. I can see how different people would enjoy one or the other, but if you’ve read a lot of Batman over the years, you’d know both parts were pretty good.

I’ve always liked Batman. Unlike other super hero, he has no super powers to rely on. It’s just one angry angry man kicking ass and using his head. He’s also not all goody goody like Superman or other super-heros. Batman is a dark character and for the most part, many of the story lines that follows him remains just as dark. He walks a fine line between being good, and joining those that he hunts.

What’s also very interesting about Batman are the villains that he faces. These are not your alien, mutant, or super freak varieties. They’re just regular people. Regular people who are crazy that is. All of whom, by the way, are based very much on specific psychological disorders and whom, I can relate to. Scary as that sounds, I can see myself being quite a few of them.

Villians such as the Joker, Two-face, Scarecrow, and Dr. Freeze all have such rich background stories. They're not just your typical criminals out for property crimes, but are generally out there to hurt people for various reasons which I'm not saying I approve, but I understand.

When I watch movies like this, or read about great feats other people do, I always ask myself “what the hell have I been doing?”. I come home from work, maybe go play ultimate, if not, grab some food and watch TV or play some games. Isn’t there more I could be doing? Something actually productive?

I’m not suggesting I fighting crime or anything. Although after the movie, I mentioned that I could be Pupman here where I live. However, the only crimes I would fight would be a couple of under-age drinking and maybe trying to scare someone from buying that hideous H3. Not really the stuff of super-heros.

Finding a new goal has really been on my mind ever since I finished school. It’s been quite difficult to pick up something new and improve myself with. Physically, mentally, socially, whatever it is. I just hate to just be sitting around. It makes me feel boring and nothing is worst than that feeling that you're boring.

Although I must say, it’s hard to fight the urge of being lazy too.

I really wish I could take a month off or so to wander the country and find something new for myself. I'm very jealous of a couple of my friends that are doing that right now between jobs.

So, does anyone have any suggestions as to what new things I should get into? Hobbies, interests, ways of life? The only idea I’ve been playing around with is running for some type of elected office. Can you imagine? Pup on a ballot for something?!

Makes me giggle just thinking about it.

Happy Tuesday!!

Not that I’m one to complain… but…

I don’t even want to talk about last Thursday. It was just bad bad bad. I played like total trash. I think I got myself a bit too worked up and my tummy was feeling all kinds of knotty so I didn’t feel well and played crappy. That's no excuse though. I had a couple of turnovers, had a 3 points scored on me, the list goes on.

It was a close and easily winnable game, we lost 13-11. We were actually leading at least half the game. We were without one of our best players and 2 other good players and they were fully stocked and made some really bad calls. Still no excuse though.

We’ll see them again soon. Yes... we certainly will.

Then I leave our defeat only to watch the Pistons lose it at the end too. How frustrating.

Ok, I guess I kinda wanted to talk about it.

You know that new awesome super fast cable modem that I got last week? Well, it doesn’t work (sorry it cut off on you like that Ms. Gulia). Its worked for about 2 hours in the whole last week. They’re having a guy come by to check it out later today. How annoying.

This weekend, a co-worker was throwing a party at her place and she had asked that I DJ. However, when I asked what kind of music she wanted me to play, she mentioned mostly rock, metal bands, and some stuff that you would hear at weddings. Of course you know I can’t stand that, so I kindly refused.

However, since she didn’t have any music equipment (her 70s boom box only had a cassette player), I offered to bring my equipment, but told her strictly that she would have to provide her own music.

So I went over there on Saturday night and set up the equipment and she handed me 3 CDs. She said she made a mix and I can just play them and not have to worry about manning the booth.

When I put in the first CD, guess what song it was?

Yup. The bane I’ve spoke of the last time I DJ-ed.

Rick Springfield – Jesse’s Girl.

Oh my good lord.

Later, I got tired of this music and went to my car to bring some decent music to play. When I was fumbling with the equipment, a couple of people came up to request some music. None of which I had.

Then someone said the phrase which is the reason I don’t DJ at things like this.

“Do you have any ______? “

“No”

“But you had Rick Springfield…”

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I then proceeded to drink myself silly.

___________

In scary news of the day. In a recent poll by the Kansas City Star, the results found that when asked their views of the origin of life, Kansans answered:
- 39 percent said creationism
- 26 percent said evolution
- 16 percent said intelligent design
- 19 percent said other

When asked which direction the board (school) should take,
- 31 percent said it should require that theories other than evolution be offered
- 24 percent said criticism of evolution should be allowed
- 25 percent said only evolution should be taught
- 20 percent were not sure.

The scary thing is not that only 26% believes in evolution, but that they’ve actually integrated intelligent design enough that it is being separated out as a different category then creationism. People! It's the same damn thing!!!

To think that if something omnipotent was in charge, why would it bother with the process of evolving anything? All powerful people. Do you know what that means? All knowing..

What? You think it just evolved things for kicks? Why? It knows what will happen.

Think!!!!!

I could go on, but I shall refrain as there's tons of work I need to get done.

Anyway, I feel bad for all these kids that are going to learn some crazy ass misinformed. With the government already lying to them, and now the schools, they don't have much of a chance.

Have a good week everyone!

Game on Bitches!

This is a big sporting day for me today.

In Ultimate Frisbee tonight, we will be playing the pre-season favorites and one of this year’s powerhouse team of summer league. As I’ve been scouting them the last couple of games, I could not find any weak links. This is very troubling as I have no idea who I would be able to guard or match up with against these guys.

Not that we’re a bad team or anything, we’re 2-0 just like they are. We’ve blown out the other 2 teams like they have the last 2 weeks as well. They have the big time, name recognizable, flashy players around summer league. Our team is a lot more modest, we play well together, and I would contend that our good players are just as good as theirs.

So it may be left up to the other players to step up. Players like the Pup that NEED to step up, and while the good players are busy canceling each other out, the Pup needs to get his game on.

Another reason for the need to win is that friends of the Pup play for the other team as well. So in the spirit of being competitive, we need this win.

Even if I don’t help the team with good offense/defense, I certainly hope I don’t hurt the team with turnovers, drops, missed assignments, or anything stupid like that.

Breathe….. big breath…. In… Out… OK, I’m getting all nervous and excited just typing this out.

I’m listening to songs from the Karate Kid and Rocky to get all motivated and fired up.

I need the eye of the tiger!!

Also, immediately after Ultimate, there will be a rush home or to a bar for some Game 7 NBA finals action!! Can’t you just feel the excitement? Even if you don’t care about basketball or sports, a game 7 must excite you right?

No? Well, you suck. Go to a bar and get drunk anyway!

Go Pistons!!! Deeeeetroooooit Basssssetballlllllllllllllll!!!!

Happy 'Go time' Thursday!

Pride

Equal Rights – Nothing More, Nothing Less

When you first read this statement, I think most civilized and educated persons would agree that it is an ideal state. It is something that we as a civilization have tried to work towards. No longer are the barbaric days of enslaving certain races, or making certain groups of people 2nd class citizens acceptable behavior.

However, just because the civilized and the educated doesn’t believe it is acceptable behavior doesn’t mean it doesn’t still happen. The slave trade is still very much alive and well in the sex and agriculture industries. Hundreds of thousands of women are bought, sold, and trafficked around the world each year. If you don’t think so or would even disagree at the slightest, I strongly suggest you open your eyes and do some research. Although not from the popular media as something as trivial as women being enslaved to be sex workers would NEVER be newsworthy enough for the likes of Fox News.

Along those lines, the gay community continues to be the source of hate and discrimination in our society today. They are 2nd class citizen with all the rights to pay taxes, but without any of the privilages that their taxes should bring them. And for what? For something that they are born with?

Did you wake up one day and decided you’re going to be heterosexual? That women/men (depending on your gender) is the one you’re going to be attracted to? Did someone have to ‘teach’ you to be attracted to the right gender? No, it comes natural, just as it does for everyone.

What I really don’t understand is what people are afraid of from the Gay Community? What types of crimes do you EVER hear that population commit? In general, they are better educated, upper middle class people who live lives that has nothing to do with you. They pay taxes just like you, follow all the laws just like you, live just like you. All they want is to be treated like everyone else. Is that such a radical request?

Is it this mysterious ‘Gay Agenda’ the Christian conservative hate groups keeps talking about? If there was a Gay Agenda, it would be “Equal Rights”, and if you’re against that, then you may want to think about your beliefs. Also, if you think your God doesn’t believe in equal rights for ALL people, and would EVER preach hate, then your God is not one to be worshipped.

I could spout off on the religious reason that people give for being against homosexuality, but I won’t as that would take too long. One different point I would like to go into here is this homophobic fear people have.

If you’ve read this blog, you probably see that I’m very much for Equality. I’ve spoken for Gay rights quite a few times. Does that make me any less straight? Am I all of a sudden becoming more gay or attracted to males? Not so much. I don’t think anything can sway me from Dushku.

For once in your life, all you homophobics out there, think clearly for once. Letting people live their lives will have absolutely NO effect in your life. You will not magically turn gay if you’re exposed to it (unless of course you’re in the closet as so many of these high profile anti-Gay politicians seem to be). Promoting equality and loving all people will be a GOOD thing in your God’s eye.

If you truly are patriotic and believe in this country and what it stands for, if you believe in a civilized world where you are not discriminated by something you’re born with, if you don't think our country should be run by religious principles (as other certain middle eastern countries that we have deemed 'evil'), you will think twice before supporting anyone who would stand up and yell about discrimination and hate and hide themselves behind the shield of religion.

If you belong to any minority group, you too should feel their pain of trying to fight a majority that is discrimination against a group for something they cannot help. Remember also, if you want to use the good book as an guide, among other things, the bible says slavery is acceptable. So you may want to think twice before using it strickly word for word.

There will always be those who think the civil rights movement of the 60s or women's suffage was a bad thing, just as there will always be those who think giving equal rights to everyone is a bad thing. We can’t let this minority rule and the doctrine of hate continue to poison our society.

Celebrate Pride Week this week!

Just wondering, why haven’t I seen any stories about Pride week from this “liberal” media people keeps talking about?

Happy Pride Wednesday!

Summer Jamz

That’s right, that’s Jamz with a Z. Which mean it is extra special and hip with the kids.

I need your help fellow bloggers!!

I’m putting together my Summer CD as I do every year. A CD for me to cruise to as I roll in my 5.0., with the rag top down, so my hair can blow. Girlys on standby, waiting to say hi. Did I stop? No, I just drove by.

My summer theme song/soundtrack if you will.

I have room for a few more songs and would like to get your ideas on what else to put on this album. These songs should rock, jam, fun, or easily sing along to, and in whatever genre. Just as long as the song has a funky ass beat and summer-ish it will be considered. So as much as I like Sarah McLachlan, she’s not gonna make it.

I usually try to have more current music with the album, but if there are some good classic ones that you think should be on it, I’m open to the ideas as well.

Please make suggestions in the comment area!

If you email me with your address, you too can receive a copy of Pup's Summer Jamz to cruise your ghetto with!

Thanks!!

________________________________

In other gay news from Dan Savage:

Last week the pope condemned divorce, masturbation, birth control, in vitro fertilization, living together before marriage, and same-sex marriage. According to Bennie (the new pope), all of the above add up to "anarchic freedom." The headlines the next day? "Pope Condemns Gay Marriage as 'Anarchy.'

"The headlines should have read something like this: "Pope Condemns Majority of American Heterosexuals for Private Sexual Conduct, Also Gay Marriage."

Yea, liberal media my ass.

Why haven’t I won the lottery yet?

The weather last evening was so perfect. It was just before dusk and it was still light outside. Everything had a nice orange glow from the falling sun. The weather had cooled a bit to a nice mid-high 70s from the early 90 degrees that was scorching me during my Frisbee time in the afternoon.

We just had dinner (yummy roast and 'taters) and drove to a Custer (ice-cream) stand where delicious ice-cream was to be had. Since I live in a ridiculously wealthy suburbia county, we kept seeing these big-ass SUVs and Mini-vans. Most of the times these huge vehicles were driven by little women. It’s kinda funny.

I saw a new H3. Just when you thought it couldn’t get worst than the H2, the H3 is just plain silly. It's suppose to be a mid-size hummer. Like that's suppose to be better. It also advertises the fact that it would drive through water (up to 24 inces). Not suprisingly, I couldn't find the miles per gallon this thing does. I would hope it's a improvement from the 11 MPG the H2 gets.

I parked big red next to this monstrosity. I was secretly hoping the H3 would nick poor big red cause then I would have a good excuse to slash his/her tires.

After the ice-cream (I had the worm farm, Oreos and gummy worms), came my favorite part of the outing. We drove around the really really nice sub-divisions that surrounds my little apartment. There’s a nice golf course right behind where I live, and the houses that overlooks the course are just ridiculously nice.

We saw cottage-like ones, castle style, traditional ones, Roman-type column houses, and lots others that were all unique. The only thing similar about them was that they were all HUGE. These houses were just incredible. One thing I didn’t like about some of the houses was that some had front doors that were made from decorative iron bars with glass behind it. It looks nice, but having iron bars on your door and windows is just ghetto. Maybe that's just bias from where I come from.

My idea for a front door when I build my house is to go to Europe or Asia first. There are many places where you can buy doors that were used and taken from palaces or castles. These doors are the real thing. They were made with the ability to withstand sieges. Now that’s the kinda door I’m talking about.

I’ll be laughing when the cops try to break down the door with their little door crusher thing (Never mind all the windows in the back of the house). Then I will shoot them from my towers and hide in the secretly passages all through the house.

Excellent....

We took one of the sale brochures for one of the places we saw. Yea, 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths was going for the very reasonable price of $974,000. It’s a bargain I tell ya!

It wouldn't be that big of a problem if I won the lottery though. Although if I won the lottery, it would be evil island life for me. Unless it's a small jackpot, I would still move away from here though.

Have I mentioned I still have yet to hit even one number on any lottery ticket I've EVER bought?

After looking at all these house, my apartment felt really small when we got back home. Suck. It was still fun going to look at the good life.

BTW, guess who just got their cable modem connected and will be online all the time now?!!

That’s right. I’ve caved in to high-speed goodness. I’ll be canceling my home phone line soon, so it’ll actually come out to be cheaper for me. That’s right. Still a cheap bastard, but now a high-speed cheap bastard.

Happy Monday!

AVOIDANCE

I think the next time a wear a clean, new shirt to work and someone says, "Hey, T! Nice shirt! Where'd you get it?" I'll say, "Oh, I got it when I was in the Army. Standard issue."

Then the person will tell me to fuck off. Or the really annoying people will ask, "What squadron were you in?" Then I'll say, "I was in the "2 dash A" squad. That's right, the "dos alphas" in the house!"

When I used to go out I always carried a book. Yup. Whenever I went to the mall, or a park, or a coffee shop, whatever I had me a book. I not easily motivated to "go out." Mainly I'm afraid of interacting with people. But if I have a book, then I've got protection.

It's so aggravating to read the same page over and over again because some person interrupts me by asking, "What you reading?" I always say "A BOOK!" Now I don't go out much. Or at least when I'm out I don't carry a book, I got my gamboy instead. Only once did a kid ask me what I was playing. Guess what I told him?

So I'm me. Mister Avoidance. I do nothing of great significance and share nothing with no one. I don't like you. And, DON'T TOUCH ME!!!

All I want is someont to say ‘My bad’

Say it!! You fucking self-righteous twits.

Before I start my Rant.

Bob's your Uncle

For those of you not familar, this is a catchphrase known mainly in Britain and Commonwealth countries, and is really a kind of interjection. It’s used to show how simple it is to do something: “You put the plug in here, press that switch, and Bob’s your uncle!”.

On to the rant!

Back to a topic that has recently received definititive information to clear up things, Terri Schiavo’s autopsy had shown that she suffered severe, irreversible brain damage that left that organ discolored and scarred, shriveled to half its normal size, and damaged in nearly all its regions, including the one responsible for vision. She was by every account, a vegetable.

Now do we hear THIS news broadcasted all over the television? No.
Has any of these right-to-life people come out and said ‘That’s our bad’? No.
Will these fanatics out there be convinced that they are wrong or even read this information about Terri Schiavo? No.

In an interview this morning with Bill Frist (R-TN), he now says he never made a diagnosis on this matter.

Oh but didn’t you Bill? Didn’t you? Was it not you who challenged her doctors who has been treating her for years and said “I question it based on a review of the video footage which I spent an hour or so looking at last night in my office,"

Also with the hour of home video footage, Frist came to the conclusion that "She certainly seems to respond to visual stimuli."

She was blind you dumbass! You’re trained as a heart surgeon. If that. And certainly not a neurologist. You had no right to make that call. This is probably just as good as your last medical diagnosis when you repeatedly decline to say whether or not HIV-AIDS could be transmitted through tears or sweat just because one of these crazy ass federal education program championed by some conservative groups had suggested that such transmissions occur.

In case you still don't know (I know you read this blog), the answer is NO you dumbass. According to the CDC, there has NEVER been a case of HIV-AIDS transmission in that way.

Also during this debate, when you and the Republicans were threatening judges with "The time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior," said Tom DeLay, where’s the apology now? The damage certainly has done in your quest to weaken the judicial system and put the lives of judges at risk. Congratulations. Way to restructure our government to your liking instead of following the constitution.

For once I hope you are right Tom DeLay. I hope you and others who are responsible for causing a media circus around this private family issue will answer for your behavior. However, apparently the majority of the country has been completely brainwashed so I guess probably not.

It’s pathetic that so many people sees you (Frist) and relies on you as some type of medical expert on capital hill. It’s obvious even with your degree, you knowledge of the medical field is questionable and seriously clouded by your ambitions for the white house. It’s too bad you’re about as close to following the Hippocratic Oath as I am to sign up as a republican.

Even with all these repeated public announcements and signs of misinformation and blatant ignorance, will the medical board take away your license? Probably not. Must be nice to be above the law and have no repercussions for any of your behaviors huh? To be able to blantantly lie and guide the country with wrong and biased information and even when caught, have nothing done to you. That’s SO exactly the kind of president I want.

Oh wait… Nevermind.

Mid Year Already...

And I've talked to one girl. Well Pup gave me half credit for that one, so does that count as half a girl?

The odd thing I've noticed is that I haven't really talked to many guys either. Now wait a cotton pickin' minute! T aint gay!!! I'm just sayin' when it come to talking to people, the T would rather not!!! And another thing, DON'T TOUCH ME!!!

Well magic night has been cancelled this week, boo. It's a shame too because I'm so ready to throw down my killer round three combo. Then by round four, game over, I WIN!!!

Anyway, Magic night will resume next week. Maybe tomorrow night instead of gaming I'll talk to the other half of the girl from before. I might get lucky and find a whole girl.

Did Trent Reznor just say conquistador?

Okay, here is my message to the world: IF YOU'RE A GIRL, I HOPE U DON'T MIND, BUT CAN I TALK TO YOU? I PROMISE TO CLEAN MY CAR!!!

That's all I got.

Forever nappy,
T

Bob's Your Uncle.

The Bass Ship!


At lunch I took a walk around the parking lot, cuz that's what I do, yo! I key the cars of people I don't like and kick the tires on the rest of them. Anyhow while I'm walking I spy a spiffy red Ford Escort, not too much unlike mine. The only difference is it's clean both inside and out. Let me tell you, it was looking tight. The rims were so fresh and clean, clean. No spots on the windshield. No bird poop.

So that's it. It's time to wash my car, vacuum the interior, and do something about the ants. I think the last time I washed my car was circa '01.

That's all I got.

Forever nappy,

T

Busy Busy

Work has been getting a little silly lately. For the last few days we’ve been locked in a room for 8 hours at a time doing work for the new company (in case you didn’t know, pending approval from the government, my company and one other one that sponsors the nascar cup are merging). It’s very cool stuff as we’re defining a lot of what and how everyone at the new company should behave and the new company values.

You WILL behave the way I tell you. Don’t make Pup have to choke a bitch.

Good times.

No time for a good real post, so stuff I’m thinking of:

I went out Saturday night with a couple of guys. I didn’t drink all week as part of my lower my tolerance campaign. It was just getting way too expensive. So on Saturday, I was ready to get my drink on. A few things I realized during this night of drunkenness:
- Pup is no bull rider. I tried it. It hurt me a lot more than I hurt the bull. I think I’ll be sore in some strange areas for a couple of days. I’ll have my revenge Mr. mechanical bull!!
- Having a good seat overlooking the street where all the bars let out at 3am is fun. Betting on how long it would be before the first fight broke out is even more fun.
- Drunk people are only funny when you are also drunk.
- Best food ever at 3am: Getting a meat-on-a-stick or Gyro after a long night of drinking.
- I don’t understand line dancing. I just don’t.
- I hate it when people try to make little extra moves during line dancing. You don’t look cool or special buddy, you look like a jackass.
- Why is hip-hop everywhere? It’s not that I don’t like it, but they play hip-hop in a country bar nowadays? WTF?
- Wearing a sleeveless black Metallica shirt with a black cowboy hat and a mullet takes courage. Stupid drunken courage. Especially since I saw you cut off your sleeves by the bathroom and hearing you say you’d get SO much tail tonight. Good luck with that.

I cleaned like I had OCD this weekend. The place is still a little messy, but it’s very clean. My apt. was getting quite nasty since I haven’t been there for the last 4 weekends.

Other than general nastiness, I also cleaned because I’m expecting a certain cross-country driving New Yorker tomorrow and other company this weekend. Nothing like shame of other people seeing your nastiness to get you motivated. I’m telling ya, if I didn’t invite people over every now and then, my place would be a breeding ground for biological weapons.

Ultimate was SO awesome last week! I think we have a really good team this year. We won our first game versus a slightly above average team (13-7). I’ve got high hopes for this season. If nothing else, everyone seems very friendly and it’ll be a good time this season.

I don’t know why this keeps popping into my head, but…

Agent Smith: I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet, you are a plague, and we are the cure.

It’s SO true.

Happy Tuesday!

Purty Flower, UNC-Chapel Hill

Wedding adventures

A picture of a flower I took while strolling through the UNC Chapel Hill Campus. Since I’m not good with flower names or remembering things, I will call this purdy flower.

The wedding I went to last weekend was very nice and elegant. Quite the classy affair. The ceremony was wonderful as the pastor lady actually focused the ceremony on the couple and said wonderful things.

Imagine that huh. It’s one of my big peeves when a wedding ceremony focuses almost exclusive on God and how great s/he is. Listen, you have at least one day every week all year long just for you, back on up off this one buddy. It’s not about you right now. Sit here with the rest of us and celebrate the couple.

I’m sure it’s the person conducting the ceremony’s fault when it happens. I’m just saying.

Anyway, the wedding and reception were both outdoors and while it was pretty hot earlier in the day, the temperature was perfect by the time the wedding rolled around. The band was especially great. It was this 4 person jazz ensemble and they played and sang wonderfully and at the perfect volumes. As a bonus, at no time did any songs I detest hearing at weddings were even considered (i.e., Celebration, She’s a brick house, any line-dancing songs, etc.).

One strange thing about the wedding was that I noticed no one was drinking. This is quite odd to me as all other weddings I’ve attended involved lots and lots of alcohol (even one where there wasn’t alcohol at the wedding but we managed to sneak in several bottles of liquor). There was plenty of alcohol available at the wedding, but just no one drank. Weird.

I had time in between wedding activities to drive and walk around Duke and UNC that weekend and man, those are gorgeous campuses. I was especially impressed with the Duke campus. The buildings were spectacular. Old Oxford-looking, and everything just looking so perfect. Makes me wish I studied during high school.

During the flight there and back, I was at constant odds with mother nature. There was a delay on my way there, and a delay on the way back. The delay back was much more interesting though. We were 6 miles from the Atlanta airport when we were put on a holding pattern. I knew it was 6 miles cause that’s what it said on the little map thing on the screen. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you’re missing out on this cool thing they have on planes now.

We circled around the city 2 or 3 times and we started flying into the storm. I think lightening storms are spectacular on the ground, and in the air, it’s even more awesome. There were lightening all around the plane. We were being bumped and several times almost thrown out of our chairs from the rough turbulence. It’s good that I think it’s fun, cause there were lots of screaming all over the place. Good times.

The pilot eventually came on the speaker and told us that we had to fly to Columbia, SC to refuel because we can’t land in Atlanta, and we don’t have any more fuel. I suggested they let me jump out of the plane (since we’re actually almost on top of my parent’s house), but I thought I’d have to wait for my luggage anyway, so that wouldn’t save me any time.

When we finally got to Atlanta, we were 2.5 hours late so of course I missed my flight. Luckily, they were able to get me on the standby for the next flight. Of course, that flight was delayed as well.

I was secretly hoping they’d offer some free flight vouchers. I would’ve taken that in a sec. Need a voucher to take a free trip with the Puppett! That’d be a good time.

So I was in the airport or on a plane for over 11 hours. A trip that would have otherwise taken about 4. I’m fine though, the weather for the wedding was perfect and that was much more important.

On a more exciting note, Ultimate Frisbee summer league starts tonight! Time for the Pup to step up and lead the team to victory! I’ll sure you’re all dying to know how it went so I’ll post some play-by-play accounts of the action later.

BTW, those of you that wanted to be interviewed, I haven’t forgotten you, I’ll have those questions tomorrow.

Questions Questions Questions

I’m back. After spending 10 hours in the airports and in the air with delays after delays, fighting through a lightening storm, running out of fuel, and other fun things, I’m finally back. The trip itself was great, but getting the trip started and coming home were quite nightmarish. More on that later.

Instead, I bring you this. Answers for questions from Fleece

1. For every year of your life subtracted, you'd receive 1 million dollars. How many years would you give up and why?

I’d say just one. I can’t give up enough for my island of evil, and I would like to be able to enjoy the money. So while the money is good, the things that I really want to accomplish in life really can’t be bought (although it’d be much easier with money, but no need for lots of it).

I know it’s cheesy, but it’s true.

2. You are forced to have the same dish every single day for every meal -- what would you pick?

Oh, that’s easy. It’d be a pork chop (deep fried or just regular fried) plate over rice with mustard greens (the Asian type) and some sausage. I LOVE that dish.
LOVE it LOVE it LOVE IT!!!

I’m drooling for it now. Mmmm…

3. Alcohol has been outlawed in your country, how would you while away that recreational time?

No Alcohol in my country? Easy, I’d move.

No, I think I’d lose at least 10-15 pounds if I didn’t drink and eat bar food so much. Actually, I don’t think that no alcohol would change that much with what I do. I know that’s sounds strange with all my other posts about me drinking, but really it’s not that big of a deal.

This is my story I’m sticking with as I’m going on an alcohol diet. I’ll keep everyone posted on how that works out.

More than likely too, I may join the mob and bring alcohol back into the country. I’d be like a freedom fighter. Freedom fighter of delicious fermentation grain products!

4. Let's say you were exiled from the US and had the choice of picking where you'd live next, where would you go?

I want to be exiled to an island (my evil island of course) with all the necessities. The island will mysteriously give me some type of superpower, or have large groups of super monkeys that will be obedient to me. I will become all powerful and come back to destroy you all for not believing in the Pup.

You will rue the day you exiled me!!!

I’ve always wanted to say “you will rue the day!!”

5. What color would best describe your last love affair?

Hmm.. this is a hard one as I’m not good with colors or know what you mean exactly by love affair. Is that just having relations or the movie-ish love affair thing?

If I must answer, I will answer Pink.

Here are The Official Interview Game Rules:

1. If you want to participate, leave a comment saying "interview me!
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. Each person's questions will be different.
3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

If you don't have a blog, I will still ask you five questions and you can leave the answers here.

Look what else I made in class!

Shut up, stain glass is cool. You just wait till I make a giant stain glass Pup to put up in my future house that I will be building. It’ll have some kick ass features like secret rooms, secret tunnels, and at least one portrait where you can take out the eyes and stare from behind the walls. If I can't have that on an island, I'll have it somewhere damn it.

As you can see from my mood, I have a bit of a hangover today. I almost never get hangovers, but I did something I knew better not to. I drank some Fat Tire beer. I don’t know how many of you are familiar with this beer, but it’s a microbrew out of Colorado. It’s very delicious and I like it a lot. However, for some reason, one or two pints and I’m hammered. When I lived in Colorado, one would actually have gotten me quite buzzed vs. 6 Coors Light which would do jack squat.

I don’t know what it is about this beer, my body doesn’t seem to process it very well. It’s all nice going down, but coming back up is not pleasant. Nope, not at all. There's a high chance of that every time I drink it too. No matter how few I have. Also unlike getting drunk from other things, Fat Tire leaves me with a hangover the next morning. Urg.. stupid hangover. I didn’t even really drink all that much, even though it was free beer (Fat Tire) night.

I was reminded that Ultimate Summer League starts today!! Crap. I forgot all about it. Especially the registration part. That’s why I went to the bar last night because they were doing registration and free beer. There are no ultimate events without beer. That’s just a fact. It always amazes me, these ultimate guys and gals, who are probably some of the most in-shape people around, that they do so much drinking, smoking, and other types of smoking.

On an interesting note, talking to one of the captains last night, he told me I was on a sleeper list. What they do for summer league is that they play a game tonight where it's basically just pick-up. The captains walk around and evaluate the players. Then this weekend there's a draft. So basically, I'm not good enough as a first or second round pick, but could end up on a good team because no one knows about my mad skillz. Yea, with a z.

OK, so it was interesting to me. I do need to step it up this year though. It's time for them to know Ultimate Pup!

I’m taking off later today for a couple of days in ATL, then off to North Carolina for a wedding. All of which I should’ve been getting ready for last night, but the sudden plan to go register changed all that. I wasn’t about to do anything when I got home, so I had to pack this morning. That really didn’t work out. I do not recommend packing with a hangover.

I’m really hoping its ok to wear jeans and a t-shirt to the rehearsal dinner cause I think that’s all I packed. I may have packed this new shirt that I bought for $1.97!!! It says “Ohio, Living in Paradise”. Yea, just had to throw that in that I bought a new shirt for $1.97. Damn I’m smooth.

I’ll be back next week.

Play nice with each other!

The Information Age – The Dawn of Advanced Civilization or The Down Fall?

I can safely say that we are in the age of information. Information for anything and everything is at the tip of our fingers. However bizarre, however rare, we can search for information that we’re seeking because there are other freaks out there just like you.

The old saying is that knowledge is power, and I think that still holds true. However, people are mistaking information for knowledge. The simple fact of having more information and even knowing more information does not equal to having knowledge. Information is simply data that means very little by itself. Knowledge is the collection of that information and interpreting, synthesizing, and most importantly, filtering the relevant and important data.

An adverse impact that people are really not seeing from the information age is how compatible are we really to receiving all this information? The growth of information and availability of information has happened in less than one generation. From an evolutionary perspective, this change has happened too quickly and our biological make-up (esp. the brain) is not ready to handle all this information. This is not true for all or perhaps even most people, but there is a good segment of the population that is becoming a prisoner of information.

What happens to the human mind when it is bombarded with so much information is that it will naturally try to protect itself. The way to do that is to slow down or even stop higher level functions which is what is required for higher-level cognition (how knowledge is developed) in order to process all the information that’s coming in. Instead of developing knowledge, there is so much information that the brain is bombarded with, it has to deal with the quantity and in turn not leaving enough resources for quality. That’s where it leaves us, with low functioning thoughts and scattered information.

What also occurs when the mind is bombard with information is that it will try to process the information as quickly as possible between those that it considers important or relevant, and that it considers junk. This may be a major cause in the polarization of the population today. People are only taking in and seeking information that conforms with their viewpoints. For example, conservatives getting information from conservative sources and same with liberals only getting their information from one source.

Information that aligns with what one already thinks is much easier to digest and process whereas information that maybe counter to what one thinks will induce conflict and actual thinking on the subject. With the brain already so overloaded, it will automatically take in only similar information in order to ease the burden and protect itself.

The result from this is what you see today. People are militantly polar. There is no in-between. Everyone thinks they are right, and they now have all this information at their finger tips showing them that they are right. There’s no dialogue between the 2 sides, each side holes up with only information that supports their argument and never sees the other view points.

We created the information age as a way to share information and to increase the communication among all of us. Although that has been accomplished, the side effects are no doubt appearing as well. The ease of information has allowed humans to succumb to a very basic human flaw which is a desire for power and righteousness. No matter what our thoughts or ideas are, no matter how wrong, we can no doubt find someone with similar ideals and hence the strength in numbers and affirmation.

No longer do we communicate in dialogue and get to understand different sides in order to increase our knowledge about the topic. We simply find information to support what we think and because of the ease of finding this information, we no longer ever need to consider other viewpoints or the fact that we maybe wrong about some things.

Although I cannot quote it directly, Freud said once that humans created technology and looked to it as their savior, but technology will not become our savior, but our master.