Pup: The Rantings of a Drunken Stuffed Bear

2012-01-13T18:55:00.002-06:00

Anger is a childish & generally useless emotion exhibited by those without a real sense of power. It is only those that have little to no understanding of real power that would use anger as a way to display one's prowess. Anger, as a comparison to other emotions, is weak, self-destructive, and unsustainable. Only a fool would believe that anger is useful in achieving anything.

2012-01-13T18:54:00.000-06:00

It is healthy in a democratic society to have disagreements and counter viewpoints about the government it has elected. With a majority rule, there will always be those that act as a counterbalance to the majority view. That is in essence the heart of democracy, to be able to hear multiple arguments and decide which course is best.

However, when these disagreements and differing viewpoints escalates beyond just a difference in viewpoints and one side of the argument begins to attack very structure and purpose of a freely democratic government, those voices are no longer constructive. Those voices become a disease that seeks to weaken the government to give room for anarchy and tyrants to fester and grow. For the sake of the society, we can allow those who spreads this poison to go unchecked. It is one thing to disagree about government policies or how it's carried out, but when you begin to question the very need for government, those are words of treason.

2011-10-30T04:38:00.004-05:00

Moving on Back... to the Dark Ages...

Lately, it seems to be very fashionable to call those who are against corporate corruption and those who wants things to be more fair a socialist or communist. I don't understand why everything seems to be so extreme and black and white with this groups, but I guess it's all projection. More importantly though, you can't be a socialist AND a communist. These ideals are mutually exclusive. The fact that you use those 2 forms of government interchangeably shows how little you understand about government structures. Get your name calling right.

I am not one for socialism or communism not because I don't like their ideas. I think all forms of governments are good on paper and as an idea. However, humans are not built this way (or perhaps just not today's humans) to make socialism or communism work. People today will not accept equality and hence these governments will never work. Not because it was a bad idea, but humans are intrinsically flawed to follow those ideals.

So today we have capitalism. Like socialism or communism, humans are incapable of a pure form of society. Humans are intrinsically unable to follow any form of society in its purest form because we have natural desires that doesn't fit in well within a society. Human have things like greed, lust, envy, etc., that makes them break any rules of a society. Hence, humans have built rules and regulations to guard against ourselves to make capitalism work. This has worked well, and it is with these safeguards that we've been able to grow within this society.

So why is it that so many people today are pushing us to go back to a Feudalistic form of society where you have a small group of the rich (kings, queens, royalty, etc.) and the rest of the people who work as serfs and peasants for them? They seem to be fine with 1% of the population owning the majority of the wealth and power in society. They seem to be fine with allowing those with wealth to change laws to benefit themselves. They seem to be fine with the fact that those in government work for this 1% instead of the 99%.

We've gone down that road and have rejected it. For thousands of years we lived in this feudalistic culture and it has lead us nowhere. A few lived ridiculously lavish lives while everyone is left with the scraps. We tore down these ideas and built a new world where we believed in letting everyone have a chance at a good life. We made things fair through education so that all children have a chance at a good life regardless of who their parents were. We created a society where we looked after each other equally and not by some title. This is the type of society we have fought so long and hard to create.

What's amazing is that the majority of those who are pushing to move backwards in society are the people that will become the serfs and peasants in their new world. Do they think they will be thanked by their new lord? Do they think betraying the 99% will earn them favors by the 1%? what's more amazing is that you may be fine to play that peasant role, but how do you live with yourself knowing you've condemned your children to these roles? No matter how hard they work, they will never have a chance to better themselves. You have given all the power and wealth to a few and they have no intention of giving that up. What will you do then? Revolt again for the very society you help to tear down?

Like a spoiled child who doesn't understand how good they have it. These conservatives/libertarians scream for an individualist society. Little do you know that while you think you're arguing for more freedom, you're tightening the noose on your neck.

2011-10-04T05:19:00.004-05:00

What I've Learned from Reading Manga

I know most people will dismiss this as childish. How could an adult possibly learn anything from Manga/comic book?! Isn't it just for children? Well, despite what you may think, I have learned a lot about life from these stories and I think it would be good if people did as well. Perhaps I'm just reading more into it than is there. Whatever the reason, the message in my head is clear and here they are.

(In no particular order)

You should always work your hardest to be strong. If you're not strong (whether physically, mentally, socially, or even economically), you will not be able to protect the innocent or the ones you love

No matter how strong you think you are, there will always be someone bigger, badder, and better than you. Always strive to be better

If you choose the right people to trust and believe in, they will go to the ends of the world with you

Taking advantage of the weak is not power. Power comes from being able to stand up and protect the weak

Believe in your friends and those that you trust, but most importantly, believe in yourself. Find the strength from within

Always believe. Even when the odds seems overwhelmingly against you. Always believe you can succeed

A life without honor is no life at all

2011-03-14T08:00:00.004-05:00

Together we will be stronger

As I look at these images of the disaster in Japan, it’s often hard for me to take. I realized that to be so moved by just these images while being so far removed from situation, I couldn’t even image what it’s like to be there or to be directly affected by something so large and catastrophic. It's hard to imagin what a 8.9 earthquake is like, but I can certainly see the destruction it can cause.

For the last 3 years, I’ve been traveling to Japan for work a couple of times a year. The country, the culture, and the people have really grown on me over these visits. I remember how wonderful it was the first time I visited Japan with my mom. The two of us and my aunt went all around the city to see all the lights and the super modern life of Tokyo. I was in complete awe. It was just like I’d imaged with its 10 story arcades and Manga stores.

We also left the city to see a completely different side of Japan. I was amazed how quickly we left the urban area filled with skyscrapers. Riding on the bullet train we soon got to the countryside with its mountainous terrains and wide-open spaces. We visited some mountains which I can't really recall (all I remembered was riding on a huge bus going quite quickly around a very narrow mountain road). There was a hot springs which was quite an experience for me at the time.

The last few visits were a bit different being there for work and much older than my first visit. I always managed to stay a few extra days to visit with my aunt or just hang around in the city. I don’t really speak a word of Japanese, but I feel really comfortable being there. I wish I spoke or understood more so I could get more of the culture, but I’ve always felt great just being there.

Seeing some of devastation of a place that I would place as one of my favorite places in the world was really hard. During the Katrina disaster, I saw many places in New Orleans that I had been just months before getting devastated. Places that I had gone throughout my college days on road trips for the weekend. Although it’s not the same as it didn’t hit Tokyo directly, it felt just the same. It's hard to see something like this happen to somewhere I so loved being around.

My heart sank as I watch the images and read the news. So many people in such a bad place through no fault of their own. So much destruction and so much death all around.

It’s times like this when you really feel how helpless one can be in the grand scheme of things. It would be great to be able to gear up in an Iron man suit and go help those people in need. Perhaps stop the tsunami with a blow of air or speeding through the waves fast enough. Sadly, that’s not the world that we live in. There are no super heroes to come save us. All we have is each other.

It’s situations like this that I hope people see the truly good in each other. We’re all in this world together. We have our minor differences, but at the end of the day, we’re all people here together on this planet. We can’t survive by ourselves. Only by supporting and relying on each other are we able to get through this, and not only get through this, but get through it stronger than we started.

To all the people in Japan. Stay strong and positive. The people around the world are here to help you through this. Together we will rebuild all that’s been lost and we’ll be better and stronger for it.

2011-01-03T17:31:00.002-06:00

2010 Year End Wrap up

Here we are again. It's time for the yearly wrap up. Doesn't seem very long ago since I posted the last wrap up. I know it's such a predictable saying, but these wrap ups seems to happen faster and faster. I don't think the younger me really knew what that meant, that life does speed up, but now that I'm experiencing it for myself, I'm looking to hold on and enjoy as much as I can.

This year saw the beginning of the 3rd year living here in Australia. I can say without a doubt that I'm entrentched in the culture and the people here. I have lived in quite a few places, and no where else have I felt more at home than here. There are so many wonderful things here and so much more that I've yet to experience. I think 2011 will bring more travel adventures than ever before.

This year, I was able to travel to Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, the US, and not to mention all the numerous internal trips within Australia for both work and holidays. In 2011, I'm looking forward to doing more trips to places I've never been.

This year has started a new chapter for me personally. I hope it's the chapter that I've been waiting to write all these years. I've found the person that I've been writing to and dreaming about for so long. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it every time I see her.

For me personally, this has been a wonderful year. However, the same cannot be said for those closes to me. I received some terrible terrible news about family members. This is going to play out a lot more in 2011 and the uncertainity is almost unbearable. Being so far away from everyone is also difficult. I think what's worst is that there's nothing I can do but wait. I wish these were problems that I could make go away because I know someone that knows someone. Those problems I can deal with. These issues my family is family sadly are not of those nature.

I know for most people, their goals change year to year and especially when they start to get older. I think I've really noticed this this year. A lot of things that I've really enjoyed in the past hasn't been as exciting for me and on the other hand, there are a lot of things that I really enjoy now that I would've thought as boring before. Besides that, some of my goals that I have personally acheived I'm once again trying for. This time though, it's a lot more fun achieving these goals with someone.

It seems silly to have goals for this year when there are such big things going on within the family to worry about. I think my biggest goal/wish this year is to be able to write this post next year with some excellent news.

Hope is not a good strategy. Do what you can. Don't wait for someone else to help, and don't just hope that something will be done. Be a hero for someone.

2010-10-10T06:04:00.002-05:00

Can Heros still exist?

With the world so blinded and cynical today with so much falsehoods and ignorance, is it possible for a true hero to exist in our society? If there is truly a hero out there, would they want to rise up to help this society that will greet him/her with nothing but indifference, hate, or fear?

Humans today would not give the benefit of the doubt, in fact it would be the opposite. They would face this hero with everything that is bad and ugly about humans. The hardest fight this hero would have is with the very people he/she is trying to save.

Why would the hero bother?

I hope I am wrong and that people are better than what I give them credit for.

2010-09-27T20:14:00.002-05:00

Perpetual Children

It seems that for many people, growing up is a process more complicated then they're able to handle. Even with time, maturity doesn't seem to be guarenteed.

Examples of this can be easily seen in how people think politically. Let me break it down for you.

Libertarians / Tea partiers - these are the classic emo kids. They think everyone is out to get them, and that no one understands them. Somehow, they believe they live in isolation from the rest of society and they just want to be left alone writing their crappy poetry/shooting off their guns and not be responsible for anything or anyone else. They seems to have a short memory when it comes to where they actually get all their stuff or the freedom that they enjoy. They enjoy being the outcasts, yet they band together in small exclusive groups trying to anti-social (not knowing that by banding together in small exclusive groups, you are being exactly what you supposivley hate). All of their political ideology are based on the world revolving around them.

Republicans - these are the generic immature high school kids. They think they know everything and have a sense of entitlement. They think they know what's best for themselves and for the rest of the world without taking into account anyone's perspective on anything. They think in terms of black or white, right or wrong. As is popular with most kids at this age, they have a sign that says 'keep out' on their bedroom doors without realizing who pays for the bills in the house they live. Being stuck at this maturity level means that they are quick to judge and change their mind with little idea about hypocracy or the big picture.

Democrats - these are the idealist youth who believes that they can save the world and that there is indeed still good in everyone. They believe to a fault that everyone tries to do the right thing and that everyone believes in fairness. Like the Republicans, they too also believe they know everything. They can be naive in their thinking as they don't understand that not everyone has the best intentions. Not everyone believes in the greater good.

As long as we're stuck with these groups in government, there is not that much chance there's going to be any progress in society.

2010-09-09T04:41:00.005-05:00

The Dangers Facing Progressive Thinking

One basic problem to progressives is this. Progressives tend to view issues from multiple sides, hence they will critique the argument (even their own) from multiple angles. However, conservatives lacks the understanding and ability to see any fault in their own thinking and hence will only attack the opposition. For the average person who doesn't think critically and just listen to others (even if it's from both sides), they're going to hear more negative points about the progressive argument because they will hear progressives arguing both sides and conservatives purely attacking the progressive view while fully supporting their own views. Mathematically, there will be more negative views on a progressive viewpoint vs. a conservative one.

There is a big difference in arguing and attacking a view which has really been blurred or ignored in today's politics. You can be objective and disagree with a view without attacking it blindly. This is a big difference that most people just doesn’t seem to understand. They think all criticism is bad, and if you discuss any points that automatically mean you're against it. Also, the idea that you can't change your mind is absurd. Being completely inflexible in an opinion doesn't show strength, it show ignorance in accepting other views.

A big reason for this lack of understanding is that in our educational system and society in general, critical thinking is not often taught or valued. We’re taught information and for the most part, are asked to regurgitate the information and nothing more. Very rarely are we asked to question this information or to discuss the origins or possibility that it might be wrong. It is not just a fault of society, but it is also a problem with people today. People today are amazingly connected with information through the Internet and because of that, have become lazy in turning information into thoughts or ideas. They simply read a headline here or there, never getting to the details or think for themselves the meaning of what they’re reading.

Today, each individual has more information thrown at them than ever before, but how much of that is actually used? We all seem to know more information, but it doesn’t seem to be making us any smarter or wiser in decisions or discussions. You still hear the same idiotic and naive discussions out there and worse yet, most discussions are just talking points from other people. So while we have more information, it's not being used at a higher level than simple data.

This is a big reason why there is a growing number of conservatives out there. The conservative argument is much more easily digested than a progressive argument. Conservative arguments are simplistic. Typically, it's either for or against. Period. It only requires a headline to be repeated over and over again to get into their people’s mindset. They don’t need or want you to get to the details as there is often nothing there. They simply repeat a message that's simple to understand over and over again. People digest this simple one sided argument and that becomes the basis for their thoughts. In today’s society, this is perfect as it's how to best influence people in the digital age.

On the opposite spectrum, progressive arguments are very difficult. It's difficult to describe, it's difficult to discuss, and it's just difficult all around. Progressive argument not only requires a great deal of basic knowledge into a subject, but it also requires you to think about the information to get to the conclusion as there is not just one answer. The progress argument typically have to account for multiple viewpoints so it requires a great deal of insight both into the issue at hand and of yourself. This takes a lot of time and effort. Unlike conservative views, it’s almost never just right or wrong, black or white. It’s never just good or bad. Progressives understands that this is a complicated world and that answers to solve its problems are complicated.

Unfortunately, this is where progressives will lose the majority of the population. People don’t want to think about problems. They have enough of their own problems to think about complicated global issues. The last thing a person wants to do is think about other people’s complicated issues. It also takes a very special breed of people to enjoy thinking and discuss problems. This is why you hear less and less progressive thoughts out there. It’s just too difficult to have discussions with people when they only want to talk in bullet points and not really engage in a discussion.

In today’s society, people just want to hear an answer. Much like when you google something, you just want to get an answer. We’ve become that society in all matters of life now. We want whatever we desire quickly and easily. Most people don’t want to think about things, just tell them what to know/think. Typically, whatever is the loudest and most simplistic will get the ears of the people (think top 10 links in a google search). With this mindset in people today, that’s why conservatives are winning the minds of people.

I wish I could be more positive and have a solution to this issue, but it seems quite daunting. How do you make people think when everything around them is allowing them to think and do less and less? The next generation will be inundated with even more information and they will be able to get it even more quickly. What will happen to them? Will they be more resilient than I give people credit for? I guess only time will tell.

2010-07-08T20:59:00.002-05:00

Church and Guns

This strong connection between right wing Christians and guns really confuses me. These right wingers argue with each other about how Christian they are and try to out do each other on being Christian, but when it comes to things like wars and guns, they will support it to the end of time. There are a lot of things that we can argue about Jesus, but I think its pretty universally agreed that he wasn’t really one for the violence.

During this week, the governor of Louisiana signed a law that allows people to carry guns into churches. Really? Cause you feel that unsafe in your own house of worship? What exactly do you actually think your religion is all about? You argue that other religions might be hiding things in their places of worships. So instead of showing people how a religion should behave, you're just going to be just like them?

Besides the absolute contrary views to Jesus you are showing by bringing a gun to a church, you’re probably too ignorant to understand this, but you are questioning your faith in your own religion. I understand you're not the best about understanding that you can't have everything your way, but you are going to have to decide one or the other. You cannot have it both ways in this case. Either you believe that Jesus is all powerful and will protect you (especially in a church), or that he is not all powerful and that you need to protect yourselves by bringing a gun. You can’t believe in both as they're contrary and if you think you need a gun in church, well, that's not giving much credit to your sworn lord and savior.

Have we become that mistrusting of a society that there is no refugee anywhere anymore? Must we be armed everywhere we go? How far is the paranoia going to go?

One thing that proponents of these juvenile laws rarely understand is that their paranoia is generally based on their own efforts to legalise guns and allowing them to be carried everywhere. This paranoia that everyone else has a gun and that you need to carry one to ‘protect yourself’ is a gun fantasy that is perpetuated by organisations like the NRA. It also shows your immaturity in understanding that what you see in cartoons, movies, and tv isn't the real world. These is just gun fantasy and is just not the case in real life. Guns hurt the innocent much more often then they hurt an intended target.

What about the actual implementation of this rule? When you see a gun in public or a church, how will you know if that person is suppose to have one or not? Should they look a certain way? Is it ok when some white dude is carrying a gun? What about a young black male carrying a gun? Will you call the police? What about someone of a Muslim descent? How will you act then? Will you just shoot first and ask later?

By supporting these laws you show your utter ignorance for your religion, society, and your basic understanding of how things work in the world. This world is complicated and has complicated answers to its problems. Your simpleton responses don’t help or fix anything. It’s time you let adults who know how to think handle things.

2010-06-25T21:25:00.002-05:00

The Proliferation of Poker and the Beginning of the Financial Crisis

Yes it's true. I know it's a bit out there. You think it's just another crazy pup theory. How can a little Poker hurt the entire world's economy? Well, I'm glad you're here for me to explain it to you.

Poker was first seen on the television as an annual sideshow. The World Series of Poker. Through movies and various marketing, the existence of this event was popularized outside of the world of professional gamblers. The event grew as ESPN began showing the event on their network and attacting a great deal of new followers. Marketing it like a sports event with announcers, creating poker 'superstars', story lines within the game among players and with the invention of the table cam (that little camera that shows what cards the players have), Poker official became a spectator sport.

In order to legitimize the game, the announcers talked of theory and the math behind the game which is all true. There are indeed a lot of theories and math behind playing this game. Pretty basic human behavior 101 stuff, but nevertheless, legit discussions on what the poker players were thinking and how they were behaving. What these announcers knowingly or unknowingly were doing, was steering people away from the fact that at the end of the day, poker is still a gambling game. The very definition of winning or losing in gambling is that a lot of it is based on chance. Not due to any specific formula or theory. No one wins in a casino because they were smarter than the casino. You were merely more lucky than the casino for that period of time you were there. Given more time, the house will always win.

Most of us have seen someone make the most ridiculous bet in a casino and for it to come up a winner or something playing completely against 'the book' in blackjacks and yet they win. Was that person smart for making that bet? Did that person calculate their chances and decide that it was a good idea to bet? No, more than likely, they were impulsive or drunk or probably both. Putting down a bet that had very little chance of winning. Yet they do and they won. They were not smart. They were lucky.

By focusing on the 'skills' of these Poker players, the announcers avoid the other I would say 80% part of the game of Poker. That which is luck. Watching it on TV, it always shows a player's chance of winning. A player could do everything 'by the book' and they will still lose. In a real game based on skill, if you do everything perfectly, there is a very little chance that you would lose.

For example, if poker was indeed a skills game, you would see the same people in the final table in all the tournaments like in other skills games, but you don't. In most major tournaments, there are always several amateurs. This would not happen in a game that was based more on skill then luck. It would be a miracle for an amateur to appear in the finals of the Wimbledon or say the World Cup. In poker, however, that would be a norm.

So the idea here is that with proliferation of poker, we are blurring the line between gambling and statistics in the world. People believed by relying solely on statistics, they could predict the outcome of something even though in reality, there is still a great deal based on luck. This is the mentality that has driven the world into the financial crisis.

Traditionally, Wall Street looks at the fundamentals of a stock to determine if it is a good idea to invest in the company. They took the time to investigate the company’s books, their strategy, and their customers. They did this in person, and they did this by getting to know the people that ran the companies. With the advancement of technology and statistics, this practice began to slow as investment firm began running statistical models on companies and basing their evaluation on that information. No longer is it a matter of knowing what a company did, how they did it, and who they have doing it. It’s now just plugging in a range of key numbers and statistics and plugging it into a math model.

I’m not against the statistic models. I think they’re important and very useful. I’m not commenting on Wall Street’s practices either. What I am concerned with, is the people at Wall Street and their shift in mindset. It seems that they feel safe with these statistic models and in turn that has made them more bold in making risks. As now, with statistic models, all counts as calculated risks hence it’s ok. You could always blame the model if your investments goes bad. As we saw with the financial crisis, these statistic models created these derivatives that started the downwards spiral, and greed grew this problem to crippling the world.

I’m not saying that there aren’t lots and lots of other reasons for the crisis as well, but I believe this mentality is the root cause of a lot of the other issues. When you believe you can predict the future simply by complex statistical equations, and then add to that the greed that is inherent on Wall Street, this is exactly the result of the outcome.

2010-05-09T20:21:00.003-05:00

South Australia - Clara Valley

This weekend, Tess and I went on a weekend trip down to South Australia to tour the wine valley in Clara. There are several wine valleys in South Australia near Adelaide. Clara was about 1.5 hr drive north and a good distance away from the city.

Before leaving for the wine valley, we stopped off at a food market in the middle of the city. This was a must do in Adelaide. The market was wonderfully full of fresh food and meats. There were freshly baked pastries and every type of cheese imaginable. There were sausages as different as the number of stalls there. Sadly, we couldn't take too much, but we did manage to grab some great olives, a few slices of very delicious Italian cured meats, a few pastries, and some hot roasted peanuts (beer nuts) that was incredibly delicious. Never had fresh hot roasted peanuts like this before and y'all know I like the peanut.

It was a gorgeous drive once we left the city. It's amazing how quickly things change from city to rural in Australia, and it's especially evident here.

We had a booking for lunch at a winery, but we were in the area early so we decided to stop by a winery first. We first went to Taylor Wines. Taylor is a large producer of wine here in Southern Australia. We got to try a few different types of wines that we didn't typically see in the bottle shops, but for the most part, not that exciting as it's a lot of wines we typically drink anyway.

It was time for lunch and we went to Skillogalee Wines and Restaurant. We decided to do a little bit of wine tasting before lunch. The wines here were not too bad. A Riesling that was great. After tasting all they had to offer, it was time for lunch. We had a wonderful table outside looking at the vineyards. It was a perfect afternoon with the sun and plenty of cloud cover. We shared a bottle of the Riesling and had a great lunch. The service was pretty inattentive though. After lunch, we took a short stroll around the vineyards.

Now it was time to get serious on the wineries. I'll just list them.

Kilikanoon Wines - Wonderful wines here. Bought quite a few bottles. They had vines all over the valleys as well as getting some from France.

Sevenhill Cellars - This was a pretty interesting place. It was traditionally run by Jesuits. They started by producing the wines for the churches around the area. Now they have a cellar door for people to come in and taste. The wines were not too bad and very reasonably priced. Nice underground cellar that you can walk around.

During our visit, there was a senior/year 12 formal taking pictures there. Nothing of interest here really, just that they look so incredibly young and I was that creepy old dude watching them holding a box of wine.

It was getting late and the other wineries have all closed by now. We decided to go to the hotel and prepare for tomorrow.

The next day, we got up relatively early and was on our way. There are the other wineries we went to.

Annie's Lane - Like Taylor's this was also another massive winery. One thing about these massive wineries is that there are so many wines to try. This was all good as we were the only people there so it they were very attentive and we had great pours (I know you're suppose to spit it out, but I think that's wasteful so I was good and tipsy after just one winery). Got a couple bottles of Mascote. Great for a warm summer day/night. Very refreshing and a little bit sweet. Can't wait for this summer to drink this one.

Tim Gramp Wines - This was a small boutique winery unlike Annie Lane and Taylors. The wines were pretty good in my option, but they had the worst person selling the wines. Generally, they're nice and knowledgeable. They typically talk a lot to get you interested. Not this one though. It's a one answer per question limit for her. We got a couple bottles here because it was good, but I'm sure I would've picked up more if she was more friendly.

Clos Clare - This was another small boutique winery. This was a bit opposite of the Tim Gramp experience. I thought the wine was ok at best, but the person working there was great. Very friendly, approachable, and knows his stuff. We got a bottle just for that. I think after sitting this one for a while it'll probably be great.

After this we had time for lunch before heading to our last winery. Lunch was quite good at Cygnets at Auburn (name of town). Tess got a chicken pot pie which was especially good.

Eyre Creek wines - This was another small boutique winery. A very nice couple owned the place. They were not winemakers, but they did grow the grapes. I thought that whole dynamic was interesting. There were those that just made the wine, some that only grew the grapes, and some that did the whole operation. Never thought about all that when I'm drinking the wine.

The wine here was a hit a miss. There were some very delicious ones and some that were not really ready. We got 2 bottles at the end.

One great service that all the small boutique wineries did was ship your wines for you. No matter who you bought them from. They all said that the last place you visit would do this for you. This was such a great idea as there wouldn't be any way I would carry so many wines on a plane. Hence the wine shopping spree. The shipping was only about $11 per case which was awesome as well.

This will be a great winter with dinner parties and great wines!

2010-04-26T17:05:00.002-05:00

I'm Back... (Hopefully)

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted anything on here. Going to try to do a lot better in the coming months. Will try to get back on writing more of the fiction and stories instead of the usual political bashing as nothing ever gets changed on that front.

2010-02-04T16:15:00.004-06:00

Random Thoughts.

In a capitalistic society, money equals power. Wall street controls the majority of the money in the US society. Why don't people understand who is actually controlling all the power here? And yet, you keep blindly defending wall street like they needed your help or cared about you in return.

Society in most major developed countries has become soft and weak. I believe this is especially true in the US. If anything doesn't go perfectly in one's way, you'll hear complaints or even law suits. Listen jackass, things happen. Sometimes things happen that doesn't go your way. Honest mistakes happen. Just suck it up and stop being a damn 5 year old.

I CANNOT stand it when I ask people about politics and they say oh I just don't pay attention to it. What in the hell is wrong with you. This affects everything that you do. It affect the very society that you live in. All the rules and laws. Everything that your society stands for.
This is why democracy doesn't work. If people are not interested in politics, then you cannot allow the public to vote because they are NOT informed. If you do not have informed voters, all you have is a mob.

There are a lot of over privileged people that really needs to learn what it means to really be discriminated against. Just because others don't agree with your insanity doesn't make you the target of some kind of discrimination. It just means you're a dumbass.

2010-01-31T15:57:00.001-06:00

Where are the jobs?

Let me tell you a little secret. If you’re waiting for the old jobs that has been lost from the economic crisis to come back, don’t hold your breath because they’ll probably never come back. It doesn’t matter what the government does, or doesn’t do. These jobs will never come back.

The common folk will of course blame the government as they don’t really know any better. Meanwhile, wily financial and other large corporate companies will try to get some sweet deals from the government so they can increase hiring which they will have no intension of following through on.

So why is this happening you ask? Let me tell you.

Many corporations were forced to fire people as a result of the economic troubles. However, corporations did not just fire the necessary amount, but they fired as much as they possibly could. They took advantage of this opportunity to greatly reduce their workforce in order to reduce costs. They knew that they would be able to get the remaining people to do the work of 2 or 3 people, and they would be too frighten to complain. Companies also knew these people had nowhere to go as there are no jobs elsewhere. Hence, they’re able to push people to work harder without looking like the bad guy. At the same time, they will go back to their all mighty master (Wall Street) to report that they’ve done a wonderful job in cost cutting and hope to be rewarded.

So instead of facing this economic mess side by side with their employee to work through all the hardships, many corporations have taken this opportunity to make sure they come out on the other end looking good to the only group that they care about anymore. What’s worse is that this has become the norm for all corporations to behave because that’s what the culture has become on Wall Street. If your company doesn’t do it, others will and it’ll make you look bad.

Wall Street doesn’t care what the situation is around the world. It only cares that you reduce cost and increase profits any way necessary. If you don’t, you will be severely punished. End of story.

If corporations were to hire again, it would show in their bottom line that they have increased costs. Even though their employees are probably mostly burning out by now from the workload and stress, they know they’re still too afraid to complain to go elsewhere. The corporations know they can get the work done without hiring more people now, and there’s no way they would increase their operational cost at the fear of upsetting their master. You would be seriously mistaken if you think corporations care more about the well being of their employees over the views of Wall Street.

The bottom line. Making as much money as possible when given the chance without care for anyone involved. This is the mantra of capitalism. This is what happens when you believe corporations will simply behave and regulate themselves in the best interest of everyone. This is what happens when you believe uncontrolled and unregulated capitalism is good for society.

2010-01-17T17:10:00.002-06:00

Hero.

The world is in a mess and is in trouble right now. The amount of bad things that are happening far outweighs those good things. So much of the world seems to be coming apart at the seams. Some of which are uncontrollable, but many of which are controllable and caused by us.

What world needs is a hero now more than ever. It doesn’t have to be one person that saves the world at once. It can be a person that helps out one other person when they were in need, and that person helping another. With enough heroes, we can push back this encroaching darkness that seems to be spreading.

For 2010, be a hero. Do your part to help the world. Don't standby as violence, famine, injustice, suffering and misery grow around us. Don’t standby as the helpless falls prey to the darkness. Stand up and fight. Lend a helping hand, a smile, and show that you care. Fight for yourself and those around you. This is not a fight we can afford to lose. Do something positive for the world and for someone else. Always remember that we are all in this together.

Be a hero.

2010-01-14T01:45:00.003-06:00

You Sir, are Disgusting.

How could anyone, at this time of world tragedy, when so many of our fellow man needs our help, do you dare criticize those that are helping? How dare you criticize the president for having an immediate response to this tragedy? How dare you take this opportunity to falsely claim a country as having 'made a pact with the devil'? I cannot say how utterly you disgust me without filling this page with swear words, and so I will let Keith say what I think.

To all those that are in the front line or being sent to the front line to lend their help and expertise, all the best wishes to you. Do your best as you remind the world the best in humanity. Remind everyone that there are still those of us who think of others first and the fact that we help each other when in need. You are all heros to me.

To those who are suffering through this tragedy, I'm very sorry for your loss. Know that most of the world have you in our thoughts and wishes you our deepest condolences. To those that are still trapped or are awaiting aid. Help is on the way. Stay alive. We will find you.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

2010-01-10T15:10:00.002-06:00

What you should know right now

How ironic that with the spread of technology, and the ability to easily have information at our fingertips, I think more than ever, people avoid information and even more so, facts. Perhaps because there is just too much information and it’s too difficult for many people to filter through the noise, or maybe many people have the information, but lack the key ability to translate information to higher order ideas or see patterns. Maybe there're too many talking heads that are confusing everyone on what're facts and what's personal commentary. Maybe our society has become so complex that the average person is incapable of understanding most of what’s going on. Maybe we’ve all mostly just become so self absorbed with our own little worlds that so many have ceased to care about anyone else. Whatever the reason, I see people ignoring the big picture problems. Not the symptoms that so many are confused with, but the actual problems that’s plaguing society.

So to help you out, here are some for you to consider. Facing the new year and the upcoming new decade, these are the roots of all the major problems we will experience. It would be nice if you knew what they were.

Wealth Gap – Thanks to the global financial crisis, which funny enough, is caused by the greed of the very wealthy people on wall street to make more money on bad bets, has made the wealth gap around the world even worse than before. As is the case in most financial downturns, the rich will get exponentially richer because they have the resources to not only survive, but to take advantage of a financial crisis. They use their vast resources to take advantage of others while they are down. Basically, the rich gets rich when things are going well, and when things go bad, they get even richer.

This is not just a problem of having the top .01% of the population owning the majority of the wealth in the world. If you look at all the other issues in the world, most of it ties back to financials. As I’ll point out in the next few issues, it all ties back to this one. Next time a major problem pops up, don’t just look at the problem in isolation. Look at all the things that led to this problem. Looks at the ties it had. I bet the majority of times you’ll trace it back to financials.

In the US, so much emphasis has been put on Wall Street and how it has become this institution where you can make so much money without actual work. Sure, you talk with your fancy figures (that you make up, and deliberatly make confusing so no one understands), and your fancy words and acronomes, but in the end, you don't actually do anything productive. Wall Street is basically just a big casino where the rich always takes the house. Of course, I don't want to call Wall Street a big casino cause that would be an insult to casinos. In casino, there are actually rules that the house obides by.

I don't understand where this trust of Wall Street come from. Wall Street cares for one thing and that one thing is making money. It cares not for ethics, for doing the right thing, or for the greater good. It cares for making money however possible. It will do everything in its power, legally or not, to achieve their only goal, and that's to make money.

Human Trafficking – One excellent example of how the wealth gap is the root of so many other problems is in the case of human trafficking. Human trafficking is one of the most offensive and common problem that has arisen with the wealth gap issue. With the concentration of so much wealth lying in the hands of so few, everyone else is stuck with fighting for the scraps. When a situation like this appears, the scum of the earth will rise to take advantage of them.

Generating an estimated $32 billion dollars annually, human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal activity in the world today. It is also the most lucrative. According to a 2005 International Labor Office (ILO) report, just a single female held for sexual exploitation yields an average of $67,200 annually in Western Europe and North America.

Whether it is for manual labour, or at worse, in the sex trade, human trafficking is growing and will continue to grow. Human trafficking targets women and young children. Many times, they are lured and lied to about job opportunities, and sometimes, knowingly sold by their own families. This is how awful a wealth gap symptom can get. While there are hundreds getting multimillion dollar bonuses on wall street for gambling with the world’s money, others are stuck to live in a world they are bought and sold like animals in this ‘civilised’ world we live in. While a group of people thinks about what ridiculous mansion they should buy next, another lives in a hell every day of their lives.

The Military Industrial Complex – President Eisenhower warned in his farewell address that ‘we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together.’

Sadly, just like so many things, we are doomed because we ignore and lack the ability to learn from history. Eisenhower’s warning is exactly what we’re experiencing today. It is the norm now, to hear from the president, that his foreign affair decisions will be made from advice from the military leadership on the ground. This is exactly what the founders of the country wanted to avoid when they set up the government. The head of state/chief would not be someone in the military, but would be a civilian for the sole purpose to protect the country from becoming a military runned state.

One thing that people seemed to have forgotten is that the military exists for conflict. They are in the business of war. Their survival and continual growth depends on there being a conflict. Like any other self preserving being/group, they will never say that there is no longer a conflict for that would essentially end their own existence. No general in the military will ever suggest not using the military for that’s what gives the military their life and it’s what gives them their purpose. The military will always say that there is a military solution to any problem. To ask and rely solely on the advise from the military about foreign affairs strategies is against everything the founders of the countries wanted.

Along those same lines and back to the wealth issue, there is a lot of money in continuing conflicts and the use of the military for the private sector. It is estimated that in 2010, the budget for the military will be between $880 billion and $1.03 trillion. The lobbyist for wall street and the private sector who caters to the military no doubt will do their best to ensure that this country stays at war for as long as possible. What do you think Wall Street will do to the stocks of these huge corporations if there were suddenly peace all over the world?

One thing people don’t seem to realise is that the people and organisations who have become obsessed with wealth cares for nothing but money. People and organisations who profits off conflicts and wars doesn’t care who they’re selling the guns to. Have you ever wondered who these 'terrorists' gets their weapons from? They don’t care that by perpetuating conflicts, more people will continue to suffer, and more people will die. This doesn’t matter to them. What matters is that they continue to have huge profits to show Wall Street. Wall street has become the all powerful that everything bows down to. If it takes continuing wars and for people to continue to suffer and die, so be it. All is well as long as Wall Street is happy.

This combination of the military and the private section is what we were warned about. Together, they can and will create propaganda to make sure we perpetuate wars and conflicts. They will sell fear, and sadly, with the citizens of the US becoming less knowledgeable in the world, we will buy this fear. These companies will profit while the rest of the world will suffer the consequences of war.

Pandemic – I don’t think I need to say too much about this. There will probably be a pandemic soon, and there will probably be no stopping it. With the world becoming smaller due to air travel, the hopes of stopping a pandemic is quite small. Also, with the current global financial crisis, governments would not have the resources to respond to a wide spread pandemic.

I thought this was interesting. During the Swine flu scare during 2009, there was a great shortage of vaccines to go around. Health professionals were busy trying to vaccinate the high risk populations (kids, pregnant women, etc.). With the demand so high, many high risk individuals didn’t get their vaccines. It was then reported that firms on Wall Street was able to get the vaccines before hospitals was able to. This is how bad things have become. Even in a case like a pandemic, as long as you’re rich, you’ll be fine.

Climate change – there’s probably enough talk of this that I won’t go into it. There’s a country that’s going to disappear in a few years because of the rising ocean levels. Go tell them there is no such thing as climate change.

In case you're feeling the cold this winter and doesn't think there is a global climate change happening, let me remind you of the difference between weather vs. climate change.

Weather is "the conditions in the atmosphere in a certain place during a certain time. Weather is always changing."

Climate is "what the weather is generally like over long periods of time, such as years or decades in a particular area. A place that has little rainfall has a dry climate, and a place that has high temperatures has a hot climate."

Your insanely short attention span is probably getting in the way of anything useful you may have to add to this conversation.

Let’s give this a try in 2010. Let’s not just take care of ourselves this year, take care of those around you and those that need help. It doesn't just have to be the people that you know. We’re all people and we’re all in this together. Only by working together will we be able to get through this.

2010-01-01T18:53:00.005-06:00

2009 Year End Wrap Up

It's amazing. I probably say this every year, but where has the time gone? It seems not that long ago that I decided to move to Australia. Now, a year and a half later, I'm so settled and comfortable here. I would've never though that I'd be here, and I'm still a bit amazed by it every day.

In the last couple of years, I was hitting a bit of a wall in all parts of my life. There was a lot of the same ol' same ol'. I needed change and the opportunity came up. Pup and I packed up and moved around the world. Still amazed by that.

This year has been filled with so many new and exciting adventures. I've been staring at this post for quite a while now. Not quite sure what exactly to write about. I've gone back and re-read a lot of my old posts. Trying to find a continuing theme to write about or perhaps to get some ideas. None of which are really coming to me at the moment.

I understand this is probably not the best well thoughtout post.

As I was looking back, I also noticed the number of posts has greatly declined over the last few years. I wonder if it's because I have less to write about? Maybe my ideas are drying up? Maybe just getting lazier? My theory is that I just have so much more other things going on now. Writing these posts were an escape for me for the last few years. Now, I'm in the place that I want to be, and I guess I just don't need to be in this space as much.

I do miss these posts though. I'm glad when people take the time to read these posts, but mostly, I write them so I can read them later. I really like reading the things I was interested in the past and if anything has changed. This is a good record of that.

I generally reflect on what happened the year before, but as I mentioned, there was a lot that happened. There were a lot of fun, a lot of dancing, and a lot of good times. The bad times were kept to a minimum. Overall, it was a good year for me.

Here are some things that I am looking forward to doing in 2010:

Make at least 2 major travel trips - Now that I have someone to travel with, I'll be sure to make some travel plans to visit some new countries. It's strange. Speaking with people here, it seems that everyone, and I mean everyone, has travelled more than I have. This is so different than in the US. It just seems people's priorities are different. I will also make these trips a bit longer. I've always been a bit nervous and amazed at others who take long holidays, I think I'm getting over that now. Think it's about time I take more trips for longer periods.

I know I say this every year, but I will finish the screenplays this year.

Most importantly, I think I'm going to work on enjoying right now. Right now is very good. I will try to enjoy it as much as I can and worry about other things as they come up. I'm going to focus on now, and enjoy it now.

Happy New Year everyone. Have a wonderful year. Take those chances, take the dive. Make it a year that you will be proud of.

2009-10-12T19:07:00.003-05:00

How dare you call yourself an American?

In the last few months, these are the atrocious things that members or supporters of the GOP have been doing:

- Publicly heckled the President during a speech to both houses of congress.
- Insisted that children stay home from school instead of listening to a short speech from the President on staying in school and doing well.

- Calling the President every name imaginable, including a Nazi for his plans to ensure every American has health insurance (my understanding of Nazis must be WAY the fuck off if universal health care was what the Nazis were trying to do).

- Continuing to protect large insurance companies' interests/bottom lines instead of standing up for the average American.

- Refusing to do anything to regulate the financial industry even after this disasterous economic meltdown. FYI - Risky loans are at an all time high again.

- Cheered when the US lost the bid to host the Olympics. Way to support the country you jackasses.

- Booed and jeered when the President received the Nobel Peach Prize.
- Having one of the most vocal right wing clowns (Rush) come out to say that he agrees with the Taliban and Iran that Obama did not deserve the award. Can you imagine if anyone on the left said they agreed with the Taliban on anything.

Who's side are you on exactly? It certainly doesn't seem like you're on a side that pro-America. It's one thing to have opposing views, but what you are doing is NOT just having opposing views. You are opposing the United States and everything the country stands for and is trying to do.

You sir, do not have the best interest of the country at heart. I suggest you leave.

2009-08-26T20:26:00.002-05:00

This is what/who you're fighting for.

You need to watch this. You need to know what you're doing when you argue against health care reform. This is the company and the person you're helping. Don't think for a damn sec that you're speaking up against some fictional govt takeover of anything noble.

All you're doing is keeping Millions of Americans without healthcare and making these bastards millions of dollars. They will keep raising the price of insurance on you and your company. That is a fucking fact because they need to keep increasing their profitablity. That is capitalism. That is what you're fucking fighting for. Uncontrollable health care costs.

Seriously. I beg you. Think. Stop being so damn paranoid and scared. Stop only thinking of yourself. Stop only listing to these bastards that are all paid by the insurance companies.

2009-08-16T09:15:00.003-05:00

Another Sunday Night

Sunday nights are tough sometimes. It's a time I dread each week. It's the last night before another week of work, another busy week of running around. Sunday night is your last chance to relax. It's your last night to mentally prepare yourself for another week of stress and onslaught from life.

I sit here on Sunday night. Drinking a nice cup of tea (Moroccan Mint this week). Thinking about last week, and thinking of the week to come. It's always the same. The routine that is.

I know life isn't scripted, nor should it be, but one thing I do think about on Sunday nights is how I'd imagine them to be, or perhaps how they should be. I imagine us making dinner. Afterwards, we would chat on the couch with a blanket if it's cold, or perhaps on the bench in the yard on a warm summer night.

We wouldn't talk about the coming week, for that will come when we go back to the real world tomorrow. No, tonight we would give our minds a rest from the real world. An escape from schedules, meetings and to-do lists. Our minds would be given the freedom to imagine. Tonight, on Sunday nights, we would talk about worlds beyond ours and dreams of what's to come. We would let our imagination take us away. We would talk about all the things that may and could be. Reality would not be barrier for us as we talk into the night.

Tomorrow when we open our eyes, it will be another week in reality. But tonight, when we close our eyes while I hold you in my arms, only our imagination will know where we'll be.

Yea, that would be a good Sunday night.

2009-08-05T08:46:00.002-05:00

Intermission.

Too cute not to post it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjbSx89Tt5Q

2009-08-04T00:17:00.003-05:00

Know Who the Real Enemies are in this Fight

As the health care debate goes on, there're going to be a lot of people saying a lot of different things against any type of reform. Mostly, these are the politicans and commentators from both sides of the political parties. For the most part, that's all the general public is going to know. Either you're against health care reform, and you'll be against the democrates, or you're for health care reform and you'll think the republicans are the enemies. They want to keep your focus on the political parties. That's where they want to keep your attention.

By they, I mean the real enemies in this fight. The only people who stands to lose if there is real reform in the health care system. The only people who cares more about profits than they do about people's health and well being. The real enemy here is the health care corporations. By health care corporations I do not mean the doctors and nurses who actually are helping people. No, these corporations have little care for the doctors and nurses, nor do they care for the sick. The only care they have is money and profits.

These insanely rich health care corporations (profiting off your sickness) have bought so many of your senators and congressmen/women (pretty much all Republicans and some democrates) and are using these puppets in congress to make up lies and spread fears about any type of reform. Your representatives no longer represent you. They represent the health care corporations.

By fighting or even agreeing to not have any type of reform and to keep the status quo, you're not helping yourself, you friends, your family, your neighbors, or your fellow Americans to have better health care. The only people you're speaking for are the health care companies who only cares that you're alive so they can make money off you.

One very obvious way to find out someone's true intents is to simply follow the money. Who's giving it out, and who's receiving it.

As you can see in the special comment from Olbermann, the links are simple as to who's getting money and who's speaking out against health care reform.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/32277034#32277034

Know your enemy and perhaps you will be able to make a better decision on who to listen to.

2009-07-28T01:46:00.003-05:00

How about checking your sources?

Just 3 quick points on the health care debate before my much longer and ranter post coming soon on this topic.

1. Listening to all the anti-health reform people in congress, they keep referring to a group called the Lewin Group as their source of reference. They keep repeating this study that the Lewin Group has conducted on how hundreds of thousands of Americans will lose their private health insurance if the country were to have universal health care.

Sounds scary huh.

One thing you might want to check is this Lewin Group. They just happened to be a part of Universal Health Care. One of the largest insurance groups in the US.

This is the same health group that has agreed to pay $400 million dollars for skewing data in order to pass on medical expenses to consumers. Don't they sound like they would have your best interest in mind?

I'm sure the study that all these anti-health care reform people cites was completely unbiased.

2. Congress has arguably one of the best health care plans in the country. Guess what? It's run by the government. So you have all these people in congress saying how they don't want the government to run your health care, but it's fine for the government to run their health care? Does that make sense?

3. The health care industry has been spending about $1.5 million dollars per DAY on fighting health care reform. They're not out there with another plan. They're out there only to stop any type of reform. $1.5 million dollars a DAY. Does that not raise any red flags that they would be spending SO much money on this?

Think before you just give into fear.

2009-07-26T08:35:00.002-05:00

The Guardian

This wasn’t where he wanted to be. He knew for certain he checked everything twice before leaving for a few minutes. This task wasn’t new to him. He’s been doing this for centuries and he wasn’t the kind of person that takes short cuts or make mistakes. He takes his responsibility quite seriously. Regardless of intentions or how careful he’s been in the past, the fact is, they were gone now. Both of them.

He was trusted with one task. Look over and protect the two children until the time comes. It seems like a simple task. He did not know the importance of his task when he first accepted it. No one told him before he accepted the task, to this day, he still doesn’t know, but he didn’t really care. He knew his duty was to protect the children and that’s what he was going to do.

He was a protector and a guardian, the best in the kingdom. There were none that could meet his skills in a fight, but that wasn’t why he was chosen for the task. The elders choose him for his will is strong and unwavering. He lives only to serve and complete his task. This is especially important in this task as a weaker man would be drawn to the temptations, and temptations would lead to disaster.

The children were gone. There’s no denying that. He grabs his weapon and rushed out the door. He picks up their scent instantly and begins rushing north into the forest. With him, the forest was a perfect guardian for the children, unyielding and never resting. The forest emits an unnatural sense of fear to anyone it senses as an enemy. This fear would be paralyzing and uncontrollable to all who falls within its grasp. Nothing, not natural or supernatural would dare enter the forest.

The problem now is that they’re not with him. The children have entered the forest by themselves and he doesn’t know what the forest will do, or how it’s going to affect the children. All he knew now was that he had to find them. He has not failed them in these centuries, he will not fail now.

He rushes through the forest. He knew every tree and every step. It almost seems as if the trees were pointing him towards the children as he ran faster and faster to find them.

Throughout the years, he’s seen everything come after them. There were creatures of good and evil, angels disguised as demons, devils disguised as honest men with the smoothest tongue, and creatures of every size and shape. They all wanted the children for these two were the key to the war. Having the children means winning the war once and for all for one side.

Countless creatures were sent to get the children, but they were never much of a problem for him. These creatures, natural and supernatural, were from the highest levels of heaven and the deepest pits of hell. They were creatures that imagination could barely grasp. Yet, one after another, they were all crushed. He would not fail at his task, and he would not fail them.

As he ran, he knew he was drawing close to the edge of the forest. If the children have been taken outside the forest, they would be gone forever. They children would not be protected outside the forest. Anything and anyone could take the children. The war would be over, and with it, everything would be over.

He wasn’t told any specifics when he accepted the job. He was definitely not told who the children were. He was told to protect and guard these children, and under no circumstances, can the two children be allowed to be taken from him either by force or persuasion. There were countless attempts during these centuries, each more complicated and elaborate than the last.

He reached the edge of the forest. The scent of the children pointed them further north, but as he looked up from trying to catch his breath, he saw the two children. They were standing in the middle of the large open field. He was so relieved for a second, but it was only for a second.

He looked up and he saw them all. This was not a figurative all, this was a literal all. Every creature from Heaven had gathered on the west side of the field and every creature big and small from Hell has gathered on the east. Both sides were rushing towards the children. The two forces were within seconds of reaching the children.

Even with all the commotion on the field, a scream like no other roared above the noise. This roar shook the very ground they were all on, and everything took notice. By the time the roar had died down, he was by the children with his weapon drawn. He knew he would not survive against these numbers, but he didn’t care. He was a protector and he would guard these children with his last breath.

The creatures from each side quickly recovered and continued their rush towards the children. This would be it. He has done all for the children, but even he doesn’t think he’ll be able to survive this. This would be the final battle between good and evil and they were trapped in the middle.

He mustered all his strength preparing himself for his final battle. As he readied himself, he saw the two children walk on either side of him. Just as he was about to scream for them to get behind him, the children held out their hand towards the attackers and turned their heads towards him.

‘Thank you for protecting us all these years’, the children said in unison. ‘Our mother knew you would be the only one that can do this. Above everything else, you protected us without regard. You did not ask what or who we were. You did not question the ones that came after us. You did not allow your curiosity to hinder your task. All you knew was to keep us safe, and for that we thank you.’

The creatures were now upon them. Beasts with fire from their breath, swords with blinding light, and claws and weapons of every form were about to crash upon him and the children. The children raised their hands in unison. As if time had suddenly froze, every creature stopped instantly in their tracks. All of a sudden, it all became quite.

‘I think you deserve to know before we leave’, the child with the dark hair said. We are the children of Chaos and Order. I embody the essence and purity of evil, anything and everything. Without me, there would no longer be evil in the universe. My brother embodies good, and the same goes for him. Without him, there would be no force of good in the world. After today, we will forget that we are brothers. We will forget all the good times we had growing up together. We will forget our love for each other and we will do everything in our power to destroy each other. We will forget, like all these creatures here, that there is something beyond good and evil.

Every one hundred eons, someone new takes over heaven and hell, but there is a period before we mature and can take over the throne. During this time, we are mortal and we can be killed. If one of us were to be taken by the other side, it would be a victory for one of the sides. Of course, being so focused on the goal, they don’t realize that without one, the other cannot exist. To destroy one side would mean the destruction of the universe.

By ensuring our safety, you have ensured that the universe will exist for eons come. The tides between good and evil will lean one way or another between my brother and I through the years, but it will never tip.

As he listened to the children he was speechless. He could not believe the words that were coming out of their mouths. The concept was too grand to handle as he stood there. He remembers the children as so young and helpless. He remembers their innocence as they grew up and played around him. It was difficult to conceive who they are and what they embody.

The two children gave each other a long loving hug. This would be the last time they would get to see each other for one hundred eons. They would not remember who each other was until their time was up. The children walk their separate ways into the sea of creatures and moments later, could no longer been seen by him. Slowly, the creatures went on their separate ways.

Within moments, all was quite. All was left was him.

2009-07-25T09:36:00.000-05:00

You and me against the world?

I'd love to take those odds.

2009-07-19T19:16:00.003-05:00

What the Fuck is wrong with you people?

All you people need to look at yourselves before you opening your damn mouths and saying things that you obviously have no fucking clue about. All you hypocrites are just fucking disgusting to listen to.

You get all up and furious that 2 adults that love each other and wants to be married just because they happened to be of the same sex. You cite all your ridiculous moral high ground reasons. You made something personal such as marriage into a public affair when it really is none of your damn business.

Oh but then when someone on your side cheats on their spouse, the topic of marriage magically becomes a personal matter. It becomes a matter no one is allowed to talk about even though the person admitting guilt is a member of Congress, admitted it on TV, AND fucking speak out on some sanctity of marriage shit. All of a sudden this becomes a personal and family matter?

No. Fuck you. You're the one who have brought marriage into the public arena. You are the one that should suffer in public for being a cheating SOB adulter. You did this to yourself. You can't choose who you're going to love, but you choose when you cheat. This is ALL your fault. You did this. You chose to cheat on your wife.

What the fuck is wrong with you people? How can you even look at yourself in the mirror? How rotten and disgusting of a person are you to speak out against people who actually love each other while cheating on your wife? Somehow in all this trying to make yourself out to be some great moral person? Who the fuck is you to be telling someone that they can't be married when you're cheating on your damn wife? Way to really support that hetero only marriage concept.

And where the fuck are all you fucking sanctity of marriage people when this kind of shit happens? All I hear is others of you supporting this asshat and saying that it's between him and his wife and you hope they work it out. What the fuck?! Why do you not have the same anger when someone cheats on their partner/spouse? Does your definition of the sanctity of marriage have some kind of 'it's not that bad to cheat' clause in there somewhere? Is cheating ok by you people as long as it's all hetero?

You people are disgusting. Don't EVER EVER talk about or tell anyone what love between two adults should be like cause you don't have a fucking clue.

2009-07-13T00:40:00.002-05:00

Open Markets

Open markets, where there are lots of stalls of people from all around the area to sell their goods. Whether it's all varieties of food, art, clothing, or other things. I've been going to a few of these markets lately. It's relatively common here in Sydney. Seems like most towns have one on the weekends.

I know this isn't a big thing or a new thing in most other countries, or even certain places in the US. I know in a lot of places around the world, this is the norm. There aren't giant mega malls or shopping centers or Super Wally-worlds. The time at the market seems to go a little slower. People aren't as rushed.

I'm really liking these markets. The more I go to them, the more I like them. I like the idea that if I'm buying food, more than likely, the dude standing in front of me is the person that grew it or raised it. There's not this big unknown chain of where did your food come from. It's the guy/gal in front of you, and they brought it from wherever they're from. Probably within a short driving distance.

If you're buying stuff, there's an even higher chance that the person selling it is the person that made it. They can probably make something else you like if you just ask. This is quite different than going to a store.

I also find people are really friendly in these markets. Both the people selling and the people buying. Since there's one in each town, it's mostly the locals. So every weekend, it's a place where people can meet or run into someone they haven't seen in a little bit. I like that idea. Actually meeting people that live around you.

As much as I'm online, you can't beat the live interactions. When you're online, for the most part, you're chatting with people you know. When you go somewhere, you could meet someone new. Just sitting around I talked to an old dude about the Health Care system in Spain and listen in on where the latest cool furniture is. I know that probably sounds quite uninteresting to most of you, but I have to stress, it's not always the topic that's interesting. It's the people that's talking about it.

I think people don't spend enough time meeting new people. At least, there aren't that many good avenues to really meet people. People always seem to have their guards up. I know there are good reasons for it as there are a lot of bad people out there. However, we can't forget that there are a lot of good people out there as well. If we keep our guards up so high all the time, everyone ends up isolating themselves. Instead of all of us world living in the same world, we're all just living in our own little world.

I for one, don't want to live in my own little world.

2009-07-04T19:43:00.003-05:00

Happy July 4th!!

This is the first time I've been out of the country on July 4th since I don't remember when. It feels a little strange as it's just another day here. In the spirit of things I threw a July 4th party. Here 's the food that I made for the party:

Chili
Ponzu Garlic Shrimp skewers
Seared Scallops on the shell (with Worschester, soy sauce and a dash of tabasco)
Deviled Eggs
Mustard potato salad
Fresh Salsa and Chips
Rice Krispy treats

I think it all came out really well, especially the chili. The seafood was really good as well. I discovered this morning that I'm only a 15min walk to the Sydney Fish Markets. That place is so great. All this seafood everywhere. I can't stop drooling every time I'm there. So much fresh seafood and all so close!

I can't believe no one here's ever heard of Deviled eggs.

They don't make rice krispy treats here. I think that's a bit odd. They make mix in chocolate with their rice krispy here. Also, they call them rice bubbles, not rice krispy. Oh the things you learn.

All in all I think it went really well. I had no left overs whatsoever. It was actually a bit embarassing as I did run out of food. That did make the clean up very easy.

2009-07-02T06:35:00.003-05:00

You're Wrong Dick.

I'm probably a few days late on this I know, but am just finding the time now to write about this.

Yesterday, US forces began withdrawing from major Iraq cities as part of an agreement signed by then president Bush. Almost immediately, Dick Cheney got on the air and vocalized their scorn for the withdrawl. A withdrawl that was agreed to by his administration and his president.

Once again using his old allies of fear and paranoia, he says that he is concerned that the insurgents may be awaiting “an opportunity to launch more attacks." He further exclaimed, “I would not want to see the U.S. waste all the tremendous sacrifice that has gotten us to this point."

Where was this concern when Bush made the agreement in the first place? Was all their talk of when the Iraqis stand up, we will step down, just talk? Does Cheney truely think we need to be there forever to babysit a soverign nation?

Ah, now there lies the question. What is his end goal? Does he really care about the safety of the Iraqi citizens? Does he really want to see democracy blossom? Does he really care about our men and women bravely fighting in Iraq? Is he just doing this to help the Republicans take a stab at the Obama administration? The answer to all those questions is no. I don't believe Cheney gives a rats ass about any of those things. If you think he cares about any of those things, I've got some nice beach front land in the outback to sell you.

Much like what he did to start the war, he will say anything to continue the war for as long as possible. It doesn't matter to him the sacrifices that are made by everyone involved. The pain and suffering of families that are broken up each day this war continues. That's not something that concerns him. What concerns him is him and his friend's ability to profit off this mess and misery.

Cheney has, and probably always will, be only concerned with one thing. That thing is money. Pure and simple. Directly or indirectly, this war he has masterminded has made some people very rich. The longer America and Americans are in Iraq, the longer he and his friends will have the golden goose.

Before we go, let me just quickly give you a couple of examples of when he's wrong.

"There's overwhelming evidence that there was a connection between al Qaeda and the Iraqi government."-- Cheney; Jan. 2004

WRONG!

"I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency."-- Cheney; Jun. 2005

WRONG!

Cheney stated for years that the position of VP is NOT part of the Executive Branch; all while seeking more "Executive power" for the position -- while simultaneously claiming he didn't have to comply with an Executive order on safeguarding classified information.

WRONG!

"...whatever the president does during war is legal."-- Cheney; Dec. 2008

WRONG!

You're WRONG Dick. You always have been. You probably always will be.

2009-06-27T10:08:00.004-05:00

Going Backwards?

I look at my life a year ago. I was living in my own 3 bedroom house by myself with a nice new hybrid car. I lived around my family and friends. I had several routines that I did like grocery shopping, the sunday routine, etc. The majority of my friends were married or married with kids. We plan weeks advance to go out together. When we talked, the conversation seems to always go to kids, finance stuff, kids, or something about the future and by future I means years ahead and the kid's future.

I look at my life now. I live in the opposite side of the world in a 3 bedroom townhouse with 2 flatmates. My flat once again has a beer fridge. I have not driven in almost a year now. When I say I live around my friends now, it means a few minutes walk. Not the 30-45min drive I used to do. I have no friends that are married and def none that has children. Going out is the norm. We plan weeks advance to have a night in. When we talk, the conversation seems to be about work, food, things to do, places to go. When we talk about the future, it is generally not about any longer than 12 months ahead.

I'm not sure what exactly is happening here. It seems that I've gone down the path that everyone goes down, but suddenly for whatever reason, I made a U-turn. I don't know if that's the right decision. I don't know what exactly what I'm doing now or in the future. I do know that I quite enjoy it now and I think that's what I'm going to do for a while. I'm just going to enjoy it without thinking that much more ahead. I'll think about all this deeper meaning crap later.

Hopfully, that's a sign that I'm actually moving forward.

2009-06-14T07:27:00.003-05:00

Haven't posted a photo in a while

I know it's a very cliché shot, but I don't think that's always a bad thing.

That's my footprints on the beach at Coff's Harbour.

Hopefully, I can take that shot again and there'll be more feet next time.

2009-06-09T07:39:00.004-05:00

Things on my mind.

There are so many things on my mind right now. I've been having problems putting together a post. I think I just have half thoughts or just undeveloped thoughts. It would start out well and then it would go away. So I thought I'd just start writing. This post will probably suck, but I'm writing, so that's something.

You know, Australia is great. I went away for a road trip this weekend up the coast. I got to experience some amazing scenery, got to ride a camel across a desert, hiked in a rainforest, walked on the beach, and saw a giant banana (really not that big).

I went to my first bed and breakfast. I don't think I like it. I feel like I'm intruding on someone's house (which I technically am). It's just creepy if you ask me. It was nothing against the people running it or the place. It was all lovely. The people were super nice. It's just strange that's all.

I need to figure out a way to make a lot of money. I think the island life is more what I need. This whole working all the time thing isn't working out for me. Anyone have a pyrmid scheme that I can get in early on?

I'm so glad I'll be moving next week. I think I'm very allergic to this apt I'm in. I'm always sneezing here. That and the new construction is making all kinds of bugs crawl out and that's freaking me out. I don't do bugs. They get dealt with extreme prejudice.

I could write about the thing that's actually on my mind, but not now. Probably not ever.

2009-05-26T02:49:00.002-05:00

What the fuck is wrong with you people?

You underestimate who we have in Arkham.

Even though the current administration is trying to right the mistakes of the last eight years, the biggest obstacle they’re facing seems to be the general public. A population so programmed from the last administration to react to fear, that they no longer understand how to live without being afraid of something or what it feels like to have a set of balls.

There’s a big debate going on right now about what to do with the detainees from Gitmo. A suggestion has been put forth that we put some of these detainees in jails here in the US. This of course is logical, but to the general public is when all hell breaks loose.

Everyone seems to be so afraid of these guys. So afraid of what they might do. Seriously people, what the fuck. It’s not like we’re setting these guys free in the US.

Most of you probably live in your nice quite little suburbia world, and probably have no idea what jails are like or who we have in our jails. You think the only people that are in jails are people who sell a little drug or do a little robbery? You think the only people that are in jails are the people who get arrested on Law and order or CSI?

No. Jails are fucked up and the people we have in jails are fucked up as well. We have people in jail that are ten times more dangerous and violent then these people will ever hope to be. These terrorists may hate America and want to do harm to Americans, but we have people in jail that hates everything and everyone. They would kill you for fun. They don’t care who you are or what your beliefs are. I dare any of these terrorist be put into general population of some of the jails we have. I’m willing to bet they wouldn’t last very long. I put my money on our home breed psychopaths.

If you knew more facts before immediately reacting with fear like a little bitch, you’d know the Gitmo detainee would probably be put into Supermaxs. NO ONE IN HISTORY has ever escape from a supermax. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen just the outside of a supermax, but it's pretty damn secure. Most of the people in our supermax system now would make most these detainees look like a fucking care bear.

The US has more people in jail than anywhere else in the world other than China. Don’t you think we know how to keep someone locked up? Aren’t you underestimating our ability to keep someone in jail a bit here?

The fact is. We have much more violent and psychotic people in our jails than these terrorists will ever hope to be and we keep them locked up quite well. Don’t underestimate our criminals and think that these terrorists are some super breed of bad guys that you should be so afraid of. They are no better. They are nothing. They’re just your common criminals. We’ve kept our psychos locked up quite well, and we’ll do the same with these people.

Stop being so fucking afraid of everything. It’s so pathetic that you cower to everything. Somehow you’ve been lead to believe that these guys are super villains or something and that no jail can hold them. Get this through you head. They’re not. We're not dealing with Magneto here. It's just another criminal like the hundreds of thousands that we have.

You have no idea what real fear is or what you really should be afraid of. These people are not it. They’re just like any other low life uneducated ignorant criminal out there. No better, no worse. Terrorist feed on fear. The more and longer you’re afraid of them, the more life you will give them so cut that shit out. Treat them like the common criminals they are and you will take away their most powerful weapon.

2009-05-20T00:33:00.004-05:00

Not my finest hour

This is not going to be a very good post. I can tell you that now. Not because it's not that interesting, but more because I can't remember that many details to share, and some of the details that I do remember, I'm def not sharing. Not even here.

Last Friday started like any other Friday. Had meetings, did some work, had my usual Friday lunch. Nothing unusual.

I had a party with some Ultimate (Frisbee) people later that night so I was taking it easy during the day. Those things tend to go very long. It gets to the end of the working day, and me and a friend decided to grab a couple of beers before heading off to the party.

I got to the pub on time, which by my friend's time, is about 30 min too early. Luckily, this was my pub and my fav bartender was back from her trip to the US. We caught up a bit, and I had a few drinks while I waited. I was thinking I'm going to be so far ahead of him by the time he got here. Boy was I wrong.

When he finally showed up, it happened that he had left work a few hours ago and had started drinking. So he's had not a few drinks on me, but a few hours of drinking ahead of me. So instead of getting beers, as soon as he came in, he was getting shots for us. I knew nothing good happens after shots.

After a few shots, we got on the Ferry to go to the party in Manly (about a 30min ferry ride from the city). By now, we're probably still ok. Not like able to drive ok, but still ok.

This was a BYO party, and I told my friend to grab a bottle of Jack for the party while I went to the bathroom. I can drink a lot of that without getting really drunk. When I came back he had a bottle of Vodka in his hand. Oh crap.

I can't do vodka. We're not in College. There is never a time for vodka in my book. Sadly, being that I've been drinking so much already, I just agreed and we went on to the party.

This is where things gets fuzzy. The party was great. It was a house party. Lots of people, lots of drinking, and lots of soup (the host loves making soup). The kinda neat thing about this party was that there was a talent show. People did all kinds of talents.

Two acts really stood out. The first was this older couple. They performed a flamingo dance. It wasn't the fast version you would usually see, but a slow more expressive version. There was a lot of foot stomping. It was so good, and so impressive being they're a bit older.

The other act that stood out was the last act. This was from the host. She did a stand up routine which in my book is one of the hardest things ever to do. It was hilarious though. It was about how her not working on Fridays is actually more difficult than those of us that does work on Friday.

After this is where things get really fuzzy. My friend and I had finished the bottle of vodka by the time the talent show was over. I texted my dancing friend who said she was at a nearby pub and was ready for some dancing. Of course, I immediately jump at the chance for dancing.

So after this, I really have no idea. I know me and my friend walked to the pub. The next thing I remembered was kind of dancing somewhere. My friend no where to be found, and I was dancing with some strangers. Great story huh?

What I found out later is this. We got kicked out of a few bars for being disorderly. I'm not a disorderly drunk, I'm more of a touchy feely drunk, so this part was strange. We then went to the place with the dancing, and my friend wanted me to go with him to the casino to meet up with some girls, but I wanted to stay with my dancing friend and dance so he left.

I remember dancing some, then leaving my friend for the wharf to catch the last ferry home. She repeatedly asked to walk me there, but of course I refused. Such a bad idea.

I got to the wharf and I had missed the last ferry. I think I then proceeded to pass out at the wharf. The next thing I remembered was waking up at home butt naked. I have no idea how I got home nor do I know why I was naked. I'm not a naked kinda guy. I'm more of a boxer/tshirt dude. So the naked thing is very strange.

I checked my wallet the next morning, and it didn't seem like anything was missing. I did find some of my clothes in the hallway to my apt. Apparently, I also made some calls to people that may not have been a good idea. Nothing seem to be amiss really.

I still have no idea how I got home.

Drinking is bad.

2009-05-17T06:38:00.003-05:00

Nothing

I'm sitting here on a Sunday night. Trying not to think about all the work that I still have to do. Instead, I'm staring at a blank word doc. I am so desperate to be able to write something. Anything. Even things like rants which I have never had any issues with, are not coming to me. As a matter of fact, nothing is coming to me anymore.

I'm reading over all the things I've written before. Both here on this blog and all the things I've kept to myself. I remember writing these. I remembered having so much to say and so many ideas that my fingers were having a difficult time typing it all into words. Now, nothing is coming to me anymore.

This probably sounds a bit crazy, but I used to get a lot of ideas from the different voices in my head. They all had something to say. They were connected to something bigger. Part of a collective conscientiousness perhaps. Whatever it was, it had ideas. It had things to say.

It has all gone quite now. No matter what I do, or what I try, I can't reconnect to that place. I can't hear anything anymore. It's all so silent.

2009-05-10T01:33:00.001-05:00

I had a dream
Strange as it seems
It was my perfect day

You were here
Standing next to me
This is my perfect day

This is what I’ve always want and always will want
You standing next to me
That would be my perfect day

I know this will never happen again
This is only a dream
My perfect day

I miss you.

2009-04-18T19:10:00.002-05:00

I don’t think the storm that’s gathering is what you think.

In case you’re still an ignorant and small-minded hate monger, let me give you yet another argument over the issue of same-sex marriage.

One of the primary purposes of the government is to keep records of its citizens and to ensure that transactions within society are done properly and orderly. As far as the government is concerned, the main purpose of marriage is to record the contract between 2 people. With a marriage contract, two people gives each other rights to many things such as rights to property, a say in medical decisions, taxes, etc. There are certain powers and responsibilities that each partner gives to each other once they’re married. This is what the government is concerned with knowing and keeping track of.

The majority of arguments out there against gay marriage has a religious tone / reasoning behind it. I would still argue the interpretation of your religious reasons, but for argument sakes, let’s pretend your religion is anti-love/happiness/gay marriage. If your religion does not tolerate gay marriage, then I do support the fact that you do not need to spiritually recognize gay marriages or perform gay marriages within your church/mosque/synagogue/religious building. That is your right as a faith.

However, one of the main principles that this country was built on, one of the main reasons that makes this country unlike those theocratic governments in the middle east and in other parts of the world, is that we believe in a separation between church and state. As far as the state is concerned, marriage is a legal contract. The state cares about the contract being signed, documented, and exercised properly. That’s all it cares about. All the reasons that the opposition puts out there against gay marriage are theocratic reasons, which a secular government should not care anything about.

Have you ever stopped to think what you’re doing by trying to influence the government with your religious small-minded views? You’re basically trying to change the government to a theocratic government. Is that what you want to see? That this country of ours be run by one single set of religious rules? Have you seen how other theocratic governments are like? Is that what you want us to be like? Because that’s what you’re trying to do by pushing such hate agendas such as banning gay marriages.

Along those same lines, what do you think the people in the Taliban, Al-qaeda, and other terrorist groups trying to do? In case you haven’t taken a second to figure this out, they’re trying to reshape all governments in the world by a set of religious rules. This is the same agenda as what you’re pushing. It doesn't matter what religous rules, but at the end of the day, both you and the terrorist groups want theocratic governments. So in case you haven’t realized this, you have the same agenda as the terrorists we’re fighting. You are helping their agenda to create theocratic governments. So don’t EVER talk about being patriotic if you support banning gay marriage because you’re not on our side. You have the same ideal and agenda as the terrorist.

In case you’re getting confused with what I’m saying here, let me put this really clear to you. The United States government is (suppose to be) secular. Meaning that it doesn’t have anything and shouldn’t have anything to do with religion. It doesn’t care who’s getting married as long as it’s between 2 people and they sign a contract (marriage certificate). You religious folks have the right to not recognize gay marriage within your religion and can refuse to perform any ceremonies that involve gay marriage. That is your right.

As longs as we keep these two things separate, things will be ok. For example, the government should not tell any religious group that they HAVE to perform a gay ceremony if they didn’t want to. That would be a violation of the separation of church and state. Along those same lines, religious group should NOT be lobbying the government to ban gay marriage because that is also a violation of church and state. Which technically if a church does lobby, they are now a political group and should lose their tax exempt status.

With so many problems going on around the world right now, how you could possible waste any time and resources on this utterly ridiculous issue is beyond me. All that shows is that you’re either not intelligent enough to understand what are the real issues in the world today, or that your main agenda is to push for a theocratic government which puts you in the same group as the terrorists.

2009-04-15T16:25:00.003-05:00

Mini-Post

Why don't these douche baggers realize that this whole idea of tea-bag party is not a grass root effort? This whole idea is well funded by Republican million and billionaires and sponsored by Fox News. They're looking to keep the tax cuts for the ultra rich, not for you. They are just using you. They could give a rat's ass about you and you will never become one of these people that will benefit from these tax cuts for the super-rich.

How absolutely ignorant and disrespectful can you be by comparing your idiotic little circus sideshow with what the founding fathers did.

Think what you're doing. Fighting for the super rich to keep more of their money. That's great. Really good cause you've selected there. Cause no one need help like those poor super rich people. They sure need someone to speak and fight for them.

2009-03-21T06:57:00.000-05:00

The night started out well enough. Made a nice dinner, had a couple of drinks. Got all ready to do some writing. So I’m sitting here in front of the computer with a blank page. I used to have so many ideas that I’d have trouble deciding which idea to go with. Tonight, I’ve got nothing. It seems that it’s been a trend lately. A trend of nothing.

This is quite a disturbing trend. I’m not used to not having anything creative in my head. Not sure what I did to lose it. Not sure where it went, but I seriously need to get it back. There are a lot of stories that I need to put into words. A lot of tales that I need to tell. I hope the words and thoughts come back to my head soon. I know the images are there. I just need the words to describe them, to tell their story. Come back soon.

2009-03-15T02:45:00.004-05:00

Sound Relief

After devastating natural disasters swept through Victoria and Queensland last month, a charity concert was held to help raise some money for the victims. In Victoria, multiple fires swept the state destroying thousands of homes and killing hundreds of people. These uncontrollable fires also consumed countless numbers of animals and wildlife. Just think about cute little koalas being too slow to escape the fires. :(

On the opposite end, Queensland was being drowned by massive floods across the costal areas after weeks of continuous rain.

An amazing lineup was put together for these relief concerts. There were 2 concerts being held at the same time. One in Melbourne and one in Sydney. A few of the artist flew to both venues so they can perform for everyone which I thought was cool. All of the artist, crew, advertising, and venue were all donated so that 100% of the proceeds could go to the charity.

Here’s the line up (in order of appearance):

Coldplay – Coldplay opened the showed at around noon. This was pretty surprising for a band this big to open a charity show, or as Chris Martin said ‘I thought our band was doing ok. Didn’t think we’d be the 15th opening band for Barry Gibbs (Bee Gees)'. As expected though, their set was amazing. They played ‘Fix you’ for their last song, which rocked as it’s one of my favorites. In case you were wondering, Coldplay had their own concert to perform that same night so they had to do this early. Props to them for taking the time out to perform with their concert schedule.

Wolfmother – I only knew one song from these guys. They rocked it. I couldn’t get over the fact that the lead singer looked like a non-steroid version of Carrot top.

I didn’t know the next few bands – Hoodoo Gurus, Little Birdy, Architecture in Helsinki, You Am I, Josh Pyke. I’m sure if I was more hip I’d know who these people are.

After that, Marcia Hines sang a song. This was interesting as she’s one of the Australian Idol judges. Interesting to see if an Idol judge knew what she was talking about.

Then the time came. The moment I was waiting for. Up next. Taylor Swift!!!! It’s embarrassing I know. I was singing at the top of my lungs during her entire set. I felt a bit bad for everyone around me, but not bad enough to stop. What I thought was a bit surprising was how excited the crowd was for her. I didn’t think she was that big outside of the US, but apparently she is. She performed much better than I thought she would (I thought her SNL and CMT awards performance last year needed a little bit of performance). She had a great stage presence and got the crowd all fired up (fired up enough where a fight broke out). She ran around the stage and was very energetic which was fun to watch. She is also as cute in person as on TV.

Eskimo Joe came on next. Nothing to report here.

Next came the 3rd of 4 bands I really wanted to see. Jet. They were quite good. Again, more fun singing with a stadium full of people.

After Jet’s set, came time for a special announcement. Sort of a reminder of why we’re actually there. Up on the monitor came 2 guys that I wasn’t expecting. Price Harry and Price Williams. They got quite a high pitch squealing welcome from the audience. They had a nice speech thanking everyone for their efforts, especially the firemen and emergency services people. After that, Kylie Minogue came on in Melbourne (live telecast). In case you didn’t know, they absolutely adore Kylie here. Kylie led a sing-a-long of ‘I still call Australia home’.

After the special announcement came the last act that I was there for. The Presets. I don’t think most people outside of Australia would’ve heard of them, but they rock (electronically) something hard. Just listening to the album is ok, but this is the second time I’ve heard them live and it’s simply amazing live. Everyone was up and dancing in the stadium. There wasn’t a person sitting.

Right before they started playing, the rain started coming down pretty hard. I don’t think anyone cared and it just seemed to just get people more excited as they all danced to the Presets in the rain. There were lightening everything. It almost seems as if the skies were dancing along as well and providing the light show.

After the Presets were done, about half the stadium cleared out. I had planned to leave after the Presets as well, but a certain someone was keeping me there. That’s for another time.

So I stayed and listened to the next band. Icehouse (not the beer). I don’t know who made the schedule, but to put Icehouse (who’s songs are older than most of the people at the concert) after the Presets is just silly. I knew one song from them.

Finally, the final act of the night came on. Barry Gibbs (Bee Gees). The first impression I had was that he looked really old. We heard a few songs, but then we decided to leave before he finished. I read today that Olivia Newton-John joined Barry to close the concert. I was a bit bummed I didn’t see that, but after 10 hours of concert, I was pretty done.

Other big acts performing in the Melbourne concert was Kings of Leon, Jack Johnson, and Midnight oil (very interesting to have your current minister of the environment be in a rock band)

Overall, it was a great concert. I believe it was the biggest concert ever in Australia. I was very happy to have been a part of it. I would say my favorites were easily Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Jet, and Presets. Objectively, I would say Coldplay had the best set followed by Presets, Taylor, and Jet. Personally though, I would say Presets (since I like dancing), Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Jet.

2009-02-28T16:59:00.003-06:00

Not that I'm suprised.

I just like to point out your own hypocrisy.

Porn in the USA: Conservatives Are Biggest Consumers
8 of Top 10 Porn-Consuming States Voted Republican in 2008 Presidential Election

from ABC News.

...
A new nationwide study (pdf) of anonymised credit-card receipts from a major online adult entertainment provider finds little variation in consumption between states.

"When it comes to adult entertainment, it seems people are more the same than different," says Benjamin Edelman at Harvard Business School.

However, there are some trends to be seen in the data. Those states that do consume the most porn tend to be more conservative and religious than states with lower levels of consumption, the study finds.

"Some of the people who are most outraged turn out to be consumers of the very things they claimed to be outraged by," Edelman says.

.....

The biggest consumer, Utah, averaged 5.47 adult content subscriptions per 1000 home broadband users; Montana bought the least with 1.92 per 1000. "The differences here are not so stark," Edelman says.

Number 10 on the list was West Virginia at 2.94 subscriptions per 1000, while number 41, Michigan, averaged 2.32.

Eight of the top 10 pornography consuming states gave their electoral votes to John McCain in last year's presidential election – Florida and Hawaii were the exceptions. While six out of the lowest 10 favoured Barack Obama.

Old-Fashioned Values

Church-goers bought less online porn on Sundays – a 1% increase in a postal code's religious attendance was associated with a 0.1% drop in subscriptions that day. However, expenditures on other days of the week brought them in line with the rest of the country, Edelman finds.

Residents of 27 states that passed laws banning gay marriages boasted 11% more porn subscribers than states that don't explicitly restrict gay marriage.

....

States where a majority of residents agreed with the statement "I have old-fashioned values about family and marriage," bought 3.6 more subscriptions per thousand people than states where a majority disagreed. A similar difference emerged for the statement "AIDS might be God's punishment for immoral sexual behaviour."

"One natural hypothesis is something like repression: if you're told you can't have this, then you want it more," Edelman says.

You people are pathetic and your views are utterly worthless. You are the problem in society. You are the social disease that's keeping the rest of us from moving forward.

How sad you can't see it when you look in the mirror.

2009-02-27T16:38:00.004-06:00

Here's your new up and comer.

Jindal Admits Katrina Story Was False

By Zachary Roth

Looks like the game is up.

Remember that story Bobby Jindal told in his big speech Tuesday night -- about how during Katrina, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with a local sheriff who was battling government red tape to try to rescue stranded victims?

Turns out it wasn't actually, you know, true.

In the last few days, first Daily Kos, and then TPMmuckraker, raised serious questions about the story, based in part on the fact that no news reports we could find place Jindal in the affected area at the specific time at issue.

Jindal had described being in the office of Sheriff Harry Lee "during Katrina," and hearing him yelling into the phone at a government bureaucrat who was refusing to let him send volunteer boats out to rescue stranded storm victims, because they didn't have the necessary permits. Jindal said he told Lee, "that's ridiculous," prompting Lee to tell the bureaucrat that the rescue effort would go ahead and he or she could arrest both Lee and Jindal.

But now, a Jindal spokeswoman has admitted to Politico that in reality, Jindal overheard Lee talking about the episode to someone else by phone "days later." The spokeswoman said she thought Lee, who died in 2007, was being interviewed about the incident at the time.

This is no minor difference. Jindal's presence in Lee's office during the crisis itself was a key element of the story's intended appeal, putting him at the center of the action during the maelstrom. Just as important, Jindal implied that his support for the sheriff helped ensure the rescue went ahead. But it turns out Jindal wasn't there at the key moment, and played no role in making the rescue happen.

There's a larger point here, though. The central anecdote of the GOP's prime-time response to President Obama's speech, intended to illustrate the threat of excessive government regulation, turns out to have been made up.

Maybe it's time to rethink the premise.

It's pretty clear and I really hope you can see this. It's not government that doesn't work. It's Republicans in government that doesn't work. Like Bush, who flew over the site days later, Jindal wasn't there till days later either. Worse yet, trying to take credit for something that he overheard. Disgusting.

2009-02-22T15:52:00.002-06:00

What the fuck is wrong with you people?

So the new administration recently announced a bailout plan for Wall Street in the sum of about a trillion dollars through various things. After seriously fucking everything up, and I really mean fucking things up for everything, they’re complaining they don’t like the plan?

Really? You don’t like that plan that’s going to put a trillion dollars into the market after you have single handily fucked it up because of your greed and utter incompetence? You have proven once and for all that capitalism doesn’t work without regulations because humans (and especially those on Wall Street) are inherently greedy and must be controlled.

The concept to let markets take care of themselves because they’ll be able to regulate themselves is a fucking joke. That’s about as good of a plan as giving a crack head a bag of crack and telling him not to use any of it. Only ‘someone you can relate to’ would EVER fucking think that way. This is why you are not fit to the president of this country. This is why you don't want an average Joe to be the president. Congratulations to all of you that voted to have ‘someone you can relate to’ be the president for the last 8 years.

I don’t think you people understand how badly you’ve fucked up everything because of your greed. All for what? So you can go buy another plane? You’ve fucked up people’s retirement plans. Plans they’ve been working forward to for decades. In a matter of a few years you’ve managed to destroy it all. You’ve fucked up schools and charity’s funds so they can’t help those in need. Not only have you fucked the present, but you’ve fucked the future as well. That’s nothing short of impressive.

You’ve made the average people poor, and poor people in dire need. Sure, those of you that has millions has lost money too, but you know what? They’re not starving. So you can’t buy another luxury car or maybe not being able to fly first class (oh no!), but you know what, at the end of the day, you’re not starving. Because of what you did, you are causing actual people to suffer. Most of whom had nothing to do with this. I’m sure most of you on Wall Street are too self absorbed to care, but you are directly the cause of pain and suffering of so many people. Congratulations. Hope whatever bonus you got years before was worth this.

You’ve fucked up people’s sense of security in financial institutions because of your greed and you set up some bizarre standard that each company must constantly grow in profits or be punished. With these expectations, there’s no wonder companies would do whatever is necessary to meet you asinine and pretty much random expectations of growth. Ok, that’s a rant for another day.

Just a quick flashback. Do you remember when a certain president was pushing that we put all our social security money into the stock market? That would’ve work out well huh.

What’s worse is that not only do the people on Wall Street not really get it (still paying out bonuses last year to executives and still trying to buy a private plane), but there are people in the government who defends how these top executives does things.

There has been for a while and most recently a call to limit the compensation of top level executives in these Wall Street firms. These fuckers who have driven their company straight into the ground because of their greed and lack of morality gets paid ridiculous amounts of money. Instantly, you have most Republicans lining up to defend their compensation. That’s great. Not only that, why has no one argued to remove all these dumbasses from their office?

They obviously suck at their job. Look at their job performance. Who else can suck so badly, completely and utterly fail and still keep their job? Do these companies really have no one better to run them? Are there really NO one in their entire company or elsewhere that they can find to do a better job? If that is true, you’ve got some real problems.

I have worked with this population. I’m not just blowing this out my ass. I have had many banking and financial firms as customers. I know how it is there. No one is worth that much money. Period. I have argued so many times that they need to evaluate how these people are brining in so much money for the company. Everytime, I'd get my hands slapped for wanting to 'bother' these people.

This is a sector where high functioning psychotics and sociopaths freely roam, are feared, and rewarded to enforce their deep clinical problems. Unlike almost anywhere else in society where these types of behavior are frown on and medicated, this greed driven sector promotes and nurtures these people.

The point is. For so many years, so many people have pushed Wall Street and ‘Capitalism’ as the cure all for all problems. So many people thought Wall Street would be able to control themselves. Even though most people didn’t understand how Wall Street and financial firms actually made money, they put their trust (and their money) into Wall Street. We all turned a blind eye as to how they actually made money, and we refused to regulate them because they made money (once again, no one knew how), but as long as the profits were coming in, people didn’t care.

What you see today is the result of not asking questions. Not caring how people and institutions made money as long as they were making money. This is what happens when you waste your time trying to regulate individual people’s personal lives instead of worrying about real problems in society. This is what happens when you trust greed to do the right thing.

2009-02-19T07:18:00.002-06:00

Cause if I put the post I really want up, it would be pathetic.

Instead, I'll give you this.

Peter: Hey hey I got an idea. Lets play "I Never." You got to drink if you did the thing that the person says they never did.
Cleveland: Oh I got one, I never slept with a women with the lights on.(They all drink.)
Joe: I'll go next, uh I never had sex with Cleveland's wife.(Quagmire and Cleveland drink.)
Peter: alright lets see uh, I never did a chick in a Logan airport bathroom.(Only Quagmire drinks.)
****About 33 drinks later****
Peter: God lets see what else is there um...I never gave a reach-around to a spider monkey while reciting the Pledge of Alligence.Quagmire: Oh God.(Quagmire takes a drink.)
Joe: I uh I never picked up an illegal alien at Home Depot to take home a choke me while I touch myself.
Quagmire: Oh come on!(Quagmire drinks again.)Peter: I never did the same thing except with someone from Joann Fabrics.Quagmire: Oh God this is ridiculous. You guys suck! (Drinks more and passes out.)

Auctioner: Our first item is a pair of panties confiscated from a prostitute.
Quagmire: Fifty bucks.
Auctioner: She had nine STDs.
Quagmire: Forty-five bucks.
Auctioner: And when we caught her she wet herself.
Quagmire: Fifty bucks.

Quagmire: Hey there sweetie, how old are you?
Connie: 16.
Quagmire: 18? You're first.
Connie: Mom!
Quagmire: I like where this is goin'! Giggidy, giggidy, gig-gi-dy!

2009-02-09T16:01:00.004-06:00

Burning.

To all those people and families that lost people, pets and/or their home in this fire. Our best wishes goes out to you.

To all those hard working fire fighters and other relieve workers that's been working endlessly to contain the fire and help those in harm's way, I say good on ya. Get a well deserved beer after we get this thing contained.

To all those that's donated time or money, thanks.

According to the news, the fire is just at a midpoint right now. There are still about 24 uncontrolled fires burning right now. There could still be a lot worse to come as the home and death toll keep rising.

Here's to hoping they're wrong.

2009-01-23T18:38:00.002-06:00

25 Things You Probably Already Knew About me

In case you don't, or in case I forget about myself.

In no particular order.

25. I will be the first to admit that I listen to some embarassingly cheesy music and watch embarassingly cheesy movies.
24. I LOVE 80s and dance music.
23. I'm addicted to playing Ultimate.
22. I am confused as to where I should be in life.
21. I miss my friends and family back home.
20. I will own a bar someday.
19. I love to dance.
18. I want to find someone that smilies and is excited when they see my mobile calling theirs.
17. I think one day we'll screw up the planet enough that Godzilla will wake up and kick our ass.
16. I think people need to relax about what's not important. It's not necessary to get that excited about trivial things. And yes, most things are trivial in the grand scheme of things.
15. There's a time and place for John. There's a time and place for Pup.
14. I never want to stop going to new places, eating new food, having new experiences, learning new things.
13. I love the water. I love watching it, listening to it, being on it, being around it. Just not being in it.
12. I love to sing along to songs but I'm a terrible terrible singer. Too bad for you I don't care :) 11. I hope I never say "I wish I'd......" when I get old.
10. Even though I work insane amount of hours, I work to live. I don't live to work.
9. I believe there will be a zombie uprising that will end humanity.
8. If I can choose a superpower, I would choose between time stop or being able to communicate with anyone and anything.
7. I have music on pretty much all the time. I think life is better with a soundtrack.
6. Smell is very important to me. I love it when things smell good. Especially people.
5. I love to people watch. I love making up stories about them. I could do that all day.
4. Roast pork on rice is one of my favorite dishes in the world.
3. I love to cook and have dinner parties.
2. I think sleeping is a waste of time.
1. I detest the idea of perfection. Perfection means you can no longer grow and learn anymore as you've can't get any better. If you can't become better and learn more, there's no reason to exist.

2009-01-20T07:35:00.004-06:00

I Pledge

I know this is a bit cheesy. It nevertheless sends a very good message. For too long have we only cared about only what's around us. For too long have we only cared about ourselves.

The mentality of the last 8 years was 'you're either with us or against us'. That type of thinking has corrupted this country and put this country in a bad light all around the world.

We have a chance now. A very good chance to change. What will make America great again is not how many bombs we can shoot off. It's not how many 'bad guys' we catch. What will make America great is to show the world the kind of people we are. The kind of people that cares about each other and others around the world. The kind of people that others can look up to as role models. We can become that country again that everyone around the world loved and respected. We can be that beacon of light again.

Don't wait till someone else does it. Be the change.

2009-01-17T16:37:00.003-06:00

Finally. The End is Near.

After 8 nightmarish years under this man, I hope this is last time we have to discuss how badly he's screwed not just the US, but the world.

Here to my support to Obama who has inherited the worse possible situation in US history (since maybe FDR). Here's to him cleaning up after your 'average joe/make decisions from his gut' that you thought could run our country from all the crap in the last 8 years.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

2009-01-05T04:56:00.004-06:00

Welcome Back Sunday

For the longest time, I've had a nice little Sunday routine going. I would wake up to a great radio show called 'Organic X'. I'd go downstairs and get the Sunday paper and a juice. Read over the paper, check out some ads, and cut out a few coupons. By then, it's time for one of my favorite shows of the week. Meet the press with Tim Russert.

I got really attached to this routine. It was a wonderful start to the last day of the weekend before having to go back to the mundane of work the next day.

Soon, things started to fall apart. The radio station that played Organic X no longer existed. Having been replaced by some top 40s station that replayed the highlights of the week's morning show. Not the same.

Then it totally fell apart when Tim Russert passed away unexpectedly. That totally destroy any resemblance of my Sunday. Meet the Press was the anchor of my Sunday. Tim Russert was the anchor of the anchor of my Sunday. Without him, it's not the same.

For months and months, I didn't know what to do on Sunday. I didn't have my routine. I looked for stuff to do. I tried doing different things. Some of it was quite fun, but it just didn't stick. It just wasn't my thing.

Well, I'm happy to report, I think I may have found a good anchor for new my Sunday down under routine. I found this place completely by accident. I was walking around with a friend when I heard some music coming from a pub. Not that I needed that much convincing to go visit a pub, we went in to check things out.

Then I saw it. There was a jazz band playing some great old time tunes. The average age in the pub was about 65. Yea, they're old, but they were rocking it. The band was really good. They had great sets (unfortunately, they had to take a break after a few songs, but that's understandable).

It was great seeing these old folks rocking out to the music. They were dancing and this week, they were singing. This is where the band was really impressive. One of the old ladies would walk up to the band and tell them a song, and they would know the song. Very impressive stuff.

So I think I'm going to make the visit to this pub part of my regular Sunday routine.

Here's to rebuilding my Sundays.

2009-01-03T18:31:00.002-06:00

Here's to 2009

Here's to getting not just what I want, but what I need

Here's to having less what if's

Here's to finding that light to lead me home

2008-12-29T23:35:00.002-06:00

2008 Year End Wrap Up

What a year this has been. So many big things happened this year. I don’t think I can remember a year where more has happened around the world.

After 8 years of being allowed to slowly destroy everything the US stood for, 8 years of slowing turning back the clock on progress and science, 8 years of us vs. them mentality, something wonderful happened. The public has finally understood that we need a person in charge that’s smart (and not just use gut feelings), that can bring people together from both sides (instead of ‘you’re either with us or against us’), and one that make us proud to say we’re American when we’re in another country. Believe me, living in another country, this was a really big thing.

In November of this year, Barrack Obama was elected the next president of the United States.

It’s sad that he has been given the worse job in the world though. With expectation of Obama exceeding those of superman, it’s going to be a tough road for him. 8 years of Bush has left Obama with 2 wars, a financial meltdown, huge unemployment, trillions of dollars in debt, the middle east more unsettled than ever, an environment that’s ever degrading, the country’s infrastructure eroding, kids not getting the education they need to compete in the world, and health care being ignored. We ask Obama to save the US, and in turn, the world.

2009 should be interesting.

Before we talk about this year, let’s see how we did with last year’s to-do list for this year.

Be in Summer league shape by the time Spring league begins – I’m going give this one a check since I didn't experience winter this year and got to stay in generally good shape all year. B
Finish revision of sci-fi Movie Script – Umm… 2009 re-revision! F
Finish writing romantic comedy movie script – Umm… 2009 re-revision! F
Don’t let the chances slip away. Take that chance, make something happen even if it doesn’t turn out – Depends on what you’re talking about. I’ll give myself a C on this one as I think I let a couple of good ones slip.
Do something new -personal skill-wise – I’ve taken sailing lessons as well as learned the Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive, and Salsa. I’ll give myself a B+ on this one.
Go out of the country - 2x if possible – Yay for Canada, China and Australia!! A for me!
Make a short term (2-3 year) plan by end of March – D’oh. F

So it looks like I did ok this year.

One big thing that happened this year was that I moved to Sydney, Australia. It’s quite a big move. Distance wise, pretty much as far as I could’ve gone. An opportunity came up and I took it. It wasn’t an easy decision as I’ve had to leave behind a lot, but I couldn’t be happier about the decision. I will never have a ‘I wish I lived in another country’ or something like that.

Recently, I got to see the great barrier reef which has been on that list of things I must do. I’m very happy I got to check it off. It was simply amazing and I’m pretty sure people will screw it up soon enough. I’m glad to have seen it when I did.

Living in Sydney, I’ve been without a car for 5 months now, and probably for the rest of the time I’m here. It’s quite nice really. I’ve never really liked driving. The public transportation is pretty good here and the walking’s been great. Even better, I’m pretty sure I’m totally carbon neutral or maybe even negative now.

Besides this big move to Australia, some of the more notable things included a trip to China which rocked my world. Don’t think I’d go back anytime soon, but it was very awesome and worth the trip. The Great wall and Great Barrier Reef, not bad for 1 year.

Another notable is the Zombie Vacation movie that I made with my friends (catch it on a local You-tube near you). I’m looking for a new cast for Zombie down under if anyone is interested. Just send a head shot and maybe what you’d look like as a zombie.

On a sad note, we lost Tim Russert on Meet the Press this year. I know this sounds silly, but he was Meet the Press. He's why I get up on Sundays. He was a part of my Sunday. With such an exciting presidential election, I know he would've loved to be part of it.

I know it’s silly to say this, but this is my favorite from all the posts this year.

“… There are so many people out there that just doesn't care. I understand everyone has their own problems and hardships. But the more people care only about themselves, their own situations, and nothing about the world and people as a whole, the less chance this world will have to get better. What the world needs is a hero.”

I believe that. The world is in a mess and is in trouble right now. The world needs a hero now more than ever. It doesn’t have to be one person that saves the world. It can be a person that helps out one other person when they were in need. With enough heroes, we can push back this encroaching darkness that seems to be spreading.

For 2009, be a hero. Don't standby as the darkness looms. Stand up and fight. Fight for yourself and those around you. Do something positive for the world and for someone.

Have a wonderful New Years everyone!

2008-12-28T15:19:00.003-06:00

The Great Barrier Reefs

It was beautiful and sunny the entire time we were there, but I thought I share this one photo cause I think it's cool.

In my first major trip since being here in Australia, I took a trip to the Great Barrier Reefs. Somewhere I’ve always talked about, but never imagined that I’d go to. Living in the southern hemisphere and especially in Australia has really opened up a lot of places that I didn’t think I would ever get to.

I book at room on an island called Daydream island with a friend that’s visiting me from the US. Daydream island is one of the 72 islands here in the reef. One great selling point of Daydream is that the island has its own rainforest. Can’t beat that.

It was quite an exciting arrival. We flew to a nearby island (Hamilton Island). One of the larger ones here that has an airport. We then took a ferry to our island after a nice 40 min ride. This was especially nice being that they serve beer on the boat.

We got a wonderful room overlooking the water. We’re on the ground floor so we can walk straight out to a little lawn area where we’ve seen tons of strange wildlife. Speaking of wildlife, there is an amazing amount of it here. Strange dinosaur looking birds everywhere. There’re also lots of cockatoos and some bats flying around everywhere. Even better, there were a bunch of wallibies that came up to us while we were sitting there drinking wine overlooking the water.

When it comes to marine life, there’re just no words to describe it. Every type of fish you see on videos can be seen here. Just walking into the water, you can see many types of fish swimming up to you. One fish in particular caught my eyes. It looked to have fluorescent colors of all types. It looked like it could glow in the dark. I called it the rave fish. I’m convinced it uses it fins like glow sticks. I started making bass sounds to see how it would react.

Words really doesn’t do this properly. Take a look at the photos. I think that speaks to the beauty of this place much better than any words I can put on here. Even photos only gives you an idea. Being here is a completely magical experience.

2008-12-24T15:03:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Wishing you all the best from Pup-land

2008-12-15T17:37:00.004-06:00

So What?

To make a decision that has pretty much single handedly destroyed the reputation of the US, weaken us as a country, and put us in harm's way both fiancially and physically, all Bush has to say is 'So what'?!

Really? So What?

So what that 4000+ US soliders and hundreds of thousands of civilians have died for your mistake? So what that we've spent billions and billions of dollars while bankrupting our own country and ignoring basic infrustrure and social needs? So what that you have proliferated terrorism around the world? So what that this world as a whole is a more unsafe and uncertain then ever before?

So what that you can so openly admit that you made a mistake but yet still stand behind your decision?

What am I talking about? In the below interview, Bush once again shows us his true colors and his lack of care or concern for what he has done. He just doesn't seem to realize the damage he has cause in his last 8 years. Even though he repeatedly said before the war that there was a connection between Saddam and al Qaeda, now he laughs off the lack of connection with a 'So What?'

This is the man you have put in charge of this country. Every single problem we have today is because of him and his Neo-cons. This is the decision that you have made and that you will have to answer for. Learn from this. Know that just because they say they're religious doesn't mean that they will do the right thing and that it certainly doesn't make them a good candidate to run the country. Know that just because they try to intimidate and scare you doesn't mean you have to bow down to them.

Please learn from this and never ever consider putting someone like this in charge.

2008-12-10T16:31:00.002-06:00

Those who controls the past controls the future

Bush has often times said that history will look back on his presidency with some good will. That what he did was right. However, after arguably one of the worst presidency in the history of the United States where he has put us into 2 wars, increased the rise of terrorism around the world, facilitated the biggest financial disaster since the great depression, put us in the biggest debt in history, oversaw the biggest wealth gap this country has ever seen, isolated the US from the rest of the world, and moved this country socially backwards a few decades, Bush is no longer leaving history to do the judging.

For a while now, Bush and his white house team has been out there trying to reshape history. Reshape how things have happened in the past. One of the most blatant items with Bush blaming intelligence as the reason why he decided to go to war with Iraq. Even though internal notes have shown that Bush, Dick, and Rumnsfeld had been planning this invasion before 9/11.

There are too many things for me to post everything here. I'll let Keith summarize it for you.

2008-12-08T21:22:00.003-06:00

It Doesn't Stop

I hope you realize the lasting damage you have done by voting and keeping the Neo-Cons and Bush in power these last 8 years. I'm sure you don't though. Must be nice to be so ignorant. It is after all, bliss to not understand things very well.

Here's another fun little tidbit for you.

The current head of the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Stephen Johnson that Bush has appointed believes that "It’s not a clean-cut division. If you have studied at all creationism vs. evolution, there’s theistic or God-controlled evolution and there’s variations on all those themes. "

Are you fucking kidding me? That's right folks, the person that's suppose to be protecting our environment can't or is unwilling to separate between God and science. Are we suppose to pray for a better environment? Can we pray to get back all the dozens of animals that goes extinct every year?

In a long line of unqualified people in positions that Bush has appointed, Johnson received his bachelor of arts degree in biology from Taylor University, “an evangelical, interdenominational covenant community committed to advancing life-long learning and ministering the redemptive love of Jesus Christ to a world in need.”

It's no wonder he has no need or care for science.

In a role that is suppose to uphold both the law and in the best interest of the environment, Johnson has continuously bow to polluters. At least 4 former heads of the EPA (including those from Republican administrations) has publicly critized the work that Johnson has done. This including trying to strike down the ability for the EPA to control carbon emissions from coal power plants. Think about it. The head of the EPA saying the agency doesn't have the right to control or put limits on carbon emission. What does he think the EPA is there for? Not only is he not helping the environment, he's actively trying to get laws repealled that are protecting it.

This is the kind of Neo-Cons you have put in charge and the lackys he chooses. This is the kind of world you want the rest of us to live in. A world where religion is used for blind and corrupted purposes. I'm not saying you're that way, but you've let religion blind you into voting someone into power purly base on what they say, not who they really are. Do you really think your God wants someone who doesn't care about the environment to be in charge of the EPA? Do you not remember phrases from the bible that says it's your responsbility to take care of this place and all the creature that live here? If you believe all animals are created by your God, and you voted for someone who doesn't care if these God's creatures go extinct, what kind of person does that make you? Also, please don't go saying 'all life is precious' in one event, and then allow other life to be destroyed.

Don't pick and choose as you so often like to do.

2008-12-07T15:16:00.004-06:00

Ultimate Down Under

Here are some of my impressions of Ultimate in Australia

There is no drinking during or even after the games. Maybe I'm just on the wrong teams, but I don't understand ultimate games not involving drinking.

The game rules are a bit different. They play to a time limit instead of scores. A blow out could get ridiculously silly after a while. I know cause my teams have been part of these blow out. Not on the good side either.

As I'm suffering from right now, you can get sun burned without the sun being out, and it being a very cloudy/rainy day.

The teams are very big on spirit here. After the games, they get together in a circle and congratulate each other on a great game. Sometimes there is a game involved too. Similar to the cheers some teams I've been on still does for each other, but they do it after every game. I quite enjoy this.

Did I mention the non drinking? I'm still weird-ed out by the lack of drinking.

Playing with high school kids in the Australia is exactly the same as playing with high school kids in the US. That's all I'm going to say.

I'm trying to put together a club team mainly of ex-pats. It's turning out to be a really international team. It's going to be so much fun playing with people from all over the world.

2008-12-04T02:09:00.000-06:00

What the FUCK is wrong with you people?

Here we go again. Why do you people insist on making me write these things?

Since Obama has been elected to be the president of the United States, gun sales across the country has sky rocketed. Bucking the trend of this terrible economy. All you damn dumbass ignorant bastards are out there screaming oh no, Obama's going to take out guns away. I need to buy a gun for protection now more than ever! This along with the lines of, we don't need to put food on the table, we just need to go get us a gun.

What the fuck is this 'more than ever' bullshit I keep hearing? More than ever what?! That the asshat you voted for to be the president put us into the worse financial disaster since the great depression and still not admitting it's his fault? That the asshat you voted for has put us in 2 wars which he said would paid for itself and make us safe? How's that working out after spending trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives?

You CANNOT force democracy through the barrel of a gun. How ignorant and stupid are you that you can't figure this out?!!!!

That same asshat that you repeatedly voted for has done NOTHING to make us safer from terrorist in any fucking way imaginable and in fact has made us weaker. By creating more poverty around the world with this economic mess, you're creating more reasons for people to become terrorist. As I've described in other posts, this terrorism crap is mostly about money. Don't buy into that religious crap. That's just a good front. It's all about money. If you can't afford to provide for your family, you will do anything to get money. That includes joining crazy ass groups as long as they pay. The religion part is just icing.

That same asshat has moved us socially back decades and made us a laughing stock around the world? Is this what your 'more than ever' shit is about? Is this the reason you think we need even more guns out there now more than ever? After he's screwed things up SO badly?

You dumb fucks. Yes, more than ever, you are a stupid fuck.

Let's start with the 2nd amendment. Learn to READ you illiterate bitch. You are NOT a well regular militia. You are not owning your gun to protect this country. You do NOT have a constitutional right to own a gun.

I'm willing to bet money on this. If you look at all the people around the world. It's probably more likely that if you can't read, the more likely you'll have a gun. You want to join that population?

Why can't you get it into your head that guns has NEVER ever EVER solved anything? Look at some of the most violent places in the world, middle east, Africa, south America. Know what? There are more guns in those areas than the non violent places in the world. Is this a coincidence? No.

Let's not go into how much I despise guns and think that only cowards uses guns. Yes, all of you who use guns are cowards. I don't care what the reason is (only exception for zombie killing, but even then, guns are not the best weapon). You want to fight someone, man the fuck up. Knuckle up or even knife up. But oh, you can't. Inside you're all just little chicken shits aren't you? Have to hide behind a big bad gun.

I just read that the department of the interior has now allowed guns to be carried into national parks. What in the hell is wrong with you? You feel unsafe in a national park and need a gun? Think that deer or squirrel over there's going mug you? Think some crazed gunman is going to find a park to shoot up? There is nothing good that could possible come out of this. This administration just will not stop putting this country and her citizens in harms way.

How can it be that there are no places where a person can go where they would be no guns? Why must y'all think that it's necessary to have a gun to feel safe? Do you not believe in people that much? Are you that paranoid that you think everyone's out there to get you and your family? Do you think it's a good idea to expose children to guns? Because that's what going to happen. They're going to think it's ok. How well do you think these scenarios are going to play out?

The more you have these thoughts and feelings that you need a gun. The more you can't trust fellow citizens and the people around you. The more you arm yourselves. The more the terrorist are winning. Yes, you are doing EXACTLY what the terrorist wants. They have changed you into someone more like them. Someone more violent, someone less trusting of others.

If you have a gun, getting a gun, or feel you need to have a gun everywhere you go. I don't EVER want to hear you say shit about the war on terrorism. You have made the decision to cross the line to join their side.

2008-11-27T23:16:00.003-06:00

Turkey Day

For the first time since as long as I can remember, I'm not going to be celebrating Thanksgiving or having turkey. I didn't think it'd be that big of a deal, but I don't know. It's quite odd.

There are so many things that were kinda part of my annual thing to do, like having the turkey meal, cooking fun things, planning my black friday trek, watching football and passing out in a turkey coma, etc. It doesn't seem that big of a deal, but it is a once a year thing, and I kinda miss it.

Well, it's only one year I guess. It's better to know what it'd be like to miss it then never had that experience.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

2008-11-24T06:53:00.002-06:00

Work Work Work

I'm a bit tired of always having to work at nights. This is not to get ahead of the game. This is just to keep a float. My billable hours are around 60 hours/week. That's just the billable hours. This is not including all the extra crap I do that I don't bill for.

When I was in the states, this is what I was doing. This is what burnt me out. This is one of the reason I wanted to leave the US for a while. Now, different hemisphere, same shit.

I keep thinking there will be a break soon with the holidays coming up. Most of my customers here have manatory shut downs (i.e., you can't come to work) which is really nice. I have a visit from a friend and a good trip planned to do some relaxing.

All this and I don't even get turkey this year. Boo.

2008-11-14T21:33:00.002-06:00

Dear Big 3 Automakers,

Go Fuck yourself.

In the last few days, the big 3 automakers have been crying for help in the face of possible bankruptcy. This Pandora’s box of corporate welfare that this government has began with the helping of private financial companies who have made horrible disgusting decisions in the past years has every corporation thinking that the government will bail them out. The idea of the government helping out private corporations goes against the very foundation of what one would call capitalism in which the smart and the strong survive. The stupid and weak, deservingly, perish.

I would like to first remind you that Bush been in charge the last eight years. This economic problem didn’t just pop up. Bush probably had something to do with this ‘worst economic fiasco since the great depression’ don’t you think? So many of you wanted an average guy that you can related to in the most powerful position in the world. Well, you have it. This is what happened. Let’s move on as that’s a moot point.

So many of you so easily threw out the word Socialism, or even Marxist during this last campaign. So you’re afraid of socialism huh? Do you remember voting for a guy name Bush for president in the last two elections prior to this one? Who do you think is in charge of all this corporate welfare right now? Bailing out corporations? What do you think this bailout is?

I’ve heard so many of you scream and yell about how you hate giving welfare to people. Do you think this is better? Welfare for corporations that obviously made dangerous decisions based solely on greedy. Now we’re suppose to help them out? Is that now ok? Helping big organizations instead of people? When the corporations were making record profits, were you getting a share of those profits? You feel any of that profit trickle down to ya? Can you connect the dots on why the wealth gap is at the biggest levels ever in history?

Back to my original point. For decades, the automakers have refused to evolve in their thinking and their car design. Even when they were facing stiff competition from more efficient, more reliable Japanese and German automakers, they held steady in their thinking. Instead of changing with the times to more efficient, more reliable, and more economical cars, they give us bigger and more wasteful SUVs. The only ideas they have is to make things bigger. That’s it. Bigger. And that’s what the fed the American public.

Along with their oil company buddies (ExxonMobile had the most profitable quarter EVER in US history in Q3 of this year. They made $11.68 Billion. That’s $1,485.55 per second. This is while the country and families everywhere was hurting from such high gas prices.), the automakers killed any projects that would make for more efficient cars. They killed any idea of having cars that used any other type of alternative energy other than oil. Ideas for hybrids or electrical cars were non existent.

In the last few years, while the only concept the automakers introduced the public to were bigger and more gas guzzling SUVs, the Japanese were bringing us efficient and economical cars and hybrid varieties. It’s obviously what type of cars people prefers today.

So now with sales down dramatically in the last few years, you’re asking the government for help as you’re near bankruptcy? It was your own stupidity in making large SUVs and refusing to make more sustainable cars that got you here. It was your refusal to look into the future. It was the bed that you shared with the oil companies that got you where you are today.

You drove off the cliff with your idiotic decisions. Now live with your own incompetence. It is completely your fault and yours alone. I see no reason why the government and the taxpayers should help you in any way.

Oh sure, you’re going to promise more economical cars, more green technology if the government gives you money. Blah fucking blah. You’ve had decades to work on this technology and not only did you not work on it, you actively prevented this technology to be developed. There is no reason why anyone should believe that you will hold true to your words now.

If the government does decide to keep these companies alive. They better damn well clean house before they do. It’s obviously so many people in Detroit are refusing to change their thinking, and it’s time they go or we’re just going to be back to where we are in a little while.

2008-11-12T06:44:00.002-06:00

Best Damn Commercial I've seen in a while

Not totally sure why I think this commercial rules, but it does. I get fired up everytime this comes on TV.

Enjoy.

2008-11-11T01:39:00.004-06:00

On Prop 8.

I had a post that I wanted to write on this. I will post it eventually. I have posted on this subject several times now. So for now, here's a much better worded version of what I want to say.

I don't understand people and their reason behind voting against love. I don't mean that literally of course. I've heard all of your arguments. Nothing you have said makes you seem any less of a bigot.

This thing we call love. This thing that so many of your God(s) claim to be (The whole God is Love thing). This is the fundamental concept you're attacking. You're attacking the ideal of love between 2 people. That one thing in this world that's so precious that it's worth living and dying for. Somehow you attack the concept of love and you think you're doing right?

What does it matter to you anyway? How does this affect you in anyway? No one is taking anything from you. No one is taking away your right or choice to love another. No one is making you love someone you don't want to. All you're being asked is to be tolerant enough that you share this love that you're allowed to have, and by all accounts should be an unalienable right to all people, with a population of people in our society that has somehow been left out.

Is that too much to ask for? Do you not think every person in this world deserves a chance at love? To love and be loved?

You think your God tells you to do this? To oppose love between 2 people? When you say God is love, is there a little asterisk next to it that isn't mentioned? If that is the case, if you God is against love, then perhaps you should contemplate if you're worshipping the right Lord.

2008-11-07T07:46:00.001-06:00

Now on to something much more important

Cloning from the grave: Scientists create new life from a mouse that has been frozen for 16 YEARS

You all laugh when I talk about zombies, but oh, it's coming. You just wait.

In case you're wondering, this is how it's going to happen.

Science will finally make a major breakthrough and reanimate a dead thing (could be a rat, or prehistoric dinosaurce or something). There will be quite the scientific breakthrough. Little did they know, this reanimated thing will be carrying a virus. The very virus that brought it back from the dead.

There will be an accident where a lab tech gets bitten.

The rest is history.

Just FYI.

2008-11-05T05:46:00.001-06:00

Thank you. Thank you so very much.

This is probably the best present a person could get on his birthday.

2008-11-04T07:08:00.001-06:00

Please make the right choice.

2008-11-01T04:11:00.003-05:00

What the Fuck is wrong with you people?

Seriously. WHAT the Fuck.

SUMTER, S.C. - A 12-year-old boy trick-or-treating with his family in central South Carolina was shot from inside a home Friday and killed, and his father and brother were wounded by the gunfire, authorities said.

The shooting suspect, Quentin Patrick, was in custody, a jail official said. Patrick, 22, has been charged with murder and three counts of assault and battery with intent to kill.

The family was headed home from a city-sponsored event downtown when they decided to stop at a few homes, Sumter Police Chief Patty Patterson said. The father and his four children approached a home with a porch light on about 8:30 p.m. local time while their mother waited nearby in a vehicle.

Being that Halloween is by far my favorite and most cherished holiday, this shit is not tolerable.

Is 'people hanging on to their guns' really an insult? No. Fuck you people with guns. Why the fuck do you people think you need guns? Arming the world is not the answer. Do you really think if everyone in the world had a gun there would be world peace? Look around the world. Where has there been conflicts where there were no guns? Guns are always the tool for violence. Not for fucking peace.

Don't you fucking realize guns made for only one purpose. It's not for defense. It's not to scare anyone off. It's made to kill. It is a tool for killing and ONLY for killing.

Don't give me that fucking 2nd amendment bullshit either. You are NOT in a damn well regulated militia and it's not necessary to the security of a free State. You therefore do not have the right to be armed you fucking jackass. Learn to read the damn constitution.

This kind of shit happens all the damn time. Happens more often than it should. Being that people are inherently stupid and irrational, allowing them free access to guns is just not a fucking good idea. This is one of those cases where a gun is something that's just too dangerous for a person to have and as a society and as people, we need to take this away.

Why the fuck don't people realize guns are bad?! How hard is that to get through your dumbass???

2008-10-30T15:55:00.003-05:00

This is Funny

That's funny. I don't care who you are. That's just funny.

2008-10-29T06:10:00.004-05:00

Teapot? Kettle?

In this most recent attempt of a long line of failed attacks, Palin has been repeatedly tried to accuse Obama of being a Socialist.

All this because he does not believe the majority of wealth in the US should be concentrated in the top .1%.

People, are you in this top.1%? Cause if you are, you have every reason to dislike Obama. BUT I'm going to guess you're not in this top .1%, and if you're not, why the fuck would you vote republican? You understand they don't give a flying fuck about you right? Unless you're making a crap load of money, they think you're just as bad as anyone else. Yes, they don't think you're any better than those damn liberal hippies your broke ass bitch.

Also, if you're not in this top .1%, why wouldn't a little redistribution of wealth be that bad? Are you doing that well right now? If you are, good for you, but most of the country is not.

Stop thinking you're in the top .1% you jackass. You're not now, and you probably will never be (barring a lottery win or freakish inheritance). I'm not trying to be mean or negative, just being realistic.

They don't care about your beliefs. They don't really care about your religion or what your values are. All they care about is how big your wallet is.

Know that.

OK, back to my original point of this post.

A few years ago, a certain governor said the following. I'll let you guess who said it.

"And Alaska - we're set up, unlike other states in the union, where it's collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs."

Hmm... we share in the wealth? Why, that sure does sound a little socialist doesn't it?

2008-10-24T17:11:00.005-05:00

Suck it Bird!

No, your eyes are not mistaken. No, this is not photoshop.

This is a giant spider eating a bird!! Oh, the circle of life here in Australia.

Terrorists my ass. This is what you should be fearing.

2008-10-23T06:01:00.003-05:00

I feel odd

I'm not sick, but I don't feel well either. I really don't think there's anything wrong with me. Nothing that I can tell anyway, but still, something doesn't feel right.

Is it the work? I don't think so. It's picked up a little, but it's nothing I'm not used to. I just got recognized last month and got a random bonus (good ol' cash). My customers so far are all loving that I'm in town and not 14 hours away.

Is it the social life? I don't think so either. I'm pretty much booked for the rest of the year. I have salsa lessons, ultimate, raves, and shows till the end of the year. I have cooking lessons and even a lesson to do 'Mix Medium' art which I'm not even sure I know what that is.

I really don't have anything to complain about. Yet, I don't feel right.

Hmm...

2008-10-18T05:25:00.004-05:00

How Low Can You Go?

This is just disgusting and pathetic. I guess when you're desperate, you're willing to do anything. Isn't there a point where Americans will stop tolerating a politician and his party's tactics that breeds nothing but fear and turn us against each other?

What I'm talking about is at the heart of an ambitious "robo-call" campaign from GOP nominee John McCain and the Republican National Committee, part of a $70 million get-out-the-vote operation underway in electorally important states.

"Hello. I'm calling for John McCain and the RNC because you need to know that Barack Obama has worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers, whose organization bombed the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, a judge's home and killed Americans. And Democrats will enact an extreme leftist agenda if they take control of Washington. Barack Obama and his Democratic allies lack the judgment to lead our country. This call was paid for by McCain-Palin 2008 and the Republican National Committee at 202-863-8500."

Let's forget the fact that there is really no facts in this message. Let's forget the fact that this is an almost perfect example of negative and fear mongering campaigning. Think about all the problems in our country and in the world. As someone running to be the most powerful person in the world, your strategy is to talk about some unbelievable link about someone your opponent was an acquaintance with decades ago? Really? Does that really seem very presidential to you or does it seem a bit high school to you?

For someone who claims they love this country, you don't seem to have a problem tearing the people apart and making them fear and distrust each other. That's not the type of president we need. We need a president that will bring the American people together, and bring the world together.

I hope you will reject this type of politics and tell the people responsible that this cannot and will not be tolerated. Tell them that we will no longer live under their fear mongering and toxic speeches.

2008-10-16T16:01:00.002-05:00

Women for McCain

This would be funny except what they're saying is true. I'm not trying to say what I know what's best for women, but if you are a woman voting for McCain, please seriously consider the following points that may concerns you.

- McCain does not believe that an abortion is ok even when the health of the mother is concerned (said this again during the 3rd debate).

- McCain and Palin are very anti abortion even in cases of Rape and Incest. I don't have anything clever to say here. This just seems absurd.

- In Alaska, Palin made rape victims pay for their own rape kits.

- In the next 4 years, whoever the president is will probably appoint 1 or maybe 2 more supreme court judges. Roe v. Wade could be in danger of being overturned.

- McCain is not for equal pay for equal work between men and women.

So before you vote for McCain and Palin in the election in the next couple of weeks, think. Do you want someone that will take away your ability to choose and impose their rules on you? Do you want someone who doesn't think you deserve equal rights?

Don't just vote for someone your family or husband or boyfriend said to vote for. Don't say oh I don't care about politics, politics is boring, or politics doesn't affect me. Find out about the candidates, find out the facts on their policy and make an educated decision.

2008-10-14T03:18:00.004-05:00

Let Me Clear My Throat

I've been hearing a lot of Anti-Obama people and groups saying that he will make this country a socialist country. Some even throw out the word communism.

First of all, please look up what these words mean before spewing them out. I am willing to bet you don't really know what you're saying or what it means to be in these types of government.

To these people who are spewing suggestions of socialism like it was some type of horrible disease, I bet you voted for Bush in the last 2 elections. In case you been under a rock, you might notice that we're under a bit of a financial crisis. The current president, the one that you voted for twice (probably), is hailing his economic stimulus plan of partially nationalizing major banks.

Think for a moment what this means. For the longest time, the banks were enjoying the profits for themselves and their shareholders. Now that they're in trouble, the current president is using yours and my money to help out and to buy a stake in them. Guess what this model of government is called? Anyone? Anyone? Buller?

That's right. This is socialism. By having the government have ownership in big banks and using the tax payer's money in these institutions, you're essentially federalizing banking in this country. Congratulations. You don't have to wait for Obama. The guy you voted for is way ahead of you. You know, that guy that's 'just like you', and that 'you can have a beer with'. That guy.

So, how does that make you feel? You think that whole socialism thing is a good argument against Obama? You're already part of the it. Like it or not. You voted for the guy that's starting this process. Once again, congrats!

Btw, both McCain and Obama is supporting this bailout plan. So if you're saying Obama is for socialism by supporting this plan, well then, so is McCain.

Also, as a side fact, do you know who the strongest economy is right now? or at least in a couple of years? That's right, China.

Guess what type of government they are? Huh? Anyone? Anyone?

2008-10-09T15:59:00.002-05:00

The Base

Is this the base that people keep talking about? This is the group of people voting for McCain? Is this the group of people you really want to be associated with?

I realize that there are going to be dumbasses on both sides, but this is just a bit scary. Guilty because of someone's name? That's what's motivating your vote? Not the fact that the Dow is around 9000? For all of you out there that thinks Obama's tax increase for the super rich will affect you, why aren't you caring about the economy instead of someone's name? And if you don't care about the Dow, you're probably never going to be in that super rich category.

If someone named Hugh Harry Richard could solve the current economic crisis, I would vote for him regardless of his name.

2008-10-05T16:30:00.004-05:00

And The Pile Just Keeps Getting Bigger

In response to her reponses durin Katie Couric's interview, Palin got on Fox news and had this to say.

Apparently, she was annoyed. Yes, that was her reason. Damn Couric for not just giving her an chance to say whatever she wants and to ask follow up questions.

Palin:
"In those Katie Couric interviews, I did feel that there were lot of things that she was missing in terms of an opportunity to ask what a VP candidate stands for, what the values are represented in our ticket. I wanted to talk about Barack Obama increasing taxes, which would lead to killing jobs. I wanted to talk about his proposal to increase government spending by another trillion dollars. Some of his comments that he's made about the war, that I think may, in my world, disqualify someone from consideration as the next commander in chief. Some of the comments that he has made about Afghanistan -- what we are doing there, supposedly just air raiding villages and killing civilians. That's reckless. I want to talk about things like that. So I guess I have to apologize for being a bit annoyed, but that's also an indication of being outside the Washington elite, outside of the media elite also. I just wanted to talk to Americans without the filter and let them know what we stand for."

I would think asking where you get your news, which Supreme Court decisions you disagreed with, why Alaska's proximity to Russia gave you foreign policy experience, and your opinion of the bailout package for Wall Street would be quite informative about "what a VP candidate stands for". But no, apparently, talking negatively about Obama is what she wanted to talk about.

I think that's pretty telling if she thinks that's what a VP candidate stands for.

It blows my mind how anyone could still even remotely consider voting for this ticket.

BTW, if you think she was great in the debate, here's what factcheck.org has to say.

Palin mistakenly claimed that troop levels in Iraq had returned to “pre-surge” levels. Levels are gradually coming down but current plans would have levels higher than pre-surge numbers through early next year, at least.

Palin repeated a false claim that Obama once voted in favor of higher taxes on “families” making as little as $42,000 a year. He did not. The budget bill in question called for an increase only on singles making that amount, but a family of four would not have been affected unless they made at least $90,000 a year.

Palin claimed McCain’s health care plan would be “budget neutral,” costing the government nothing. Independent budget experts estimate McCain's plan would cost tens of billions each year, though details are too fuzzy to allow for exact estimates.

Biden wrongly claimed that McCain had said "he wouldn't even sit down" with the government of Spain. Actually, McCain didn't reject a meeting, but simply refused to commit himself one way or the other during an interview.

Palin wrongly claimed that “millions of small businesses” would see tax increases under Obama’s tax proposals. At most, several hundred thousand business owners would see increases.

Come on people. Seriously.

2008-10-03T21:00:00.007-05:00

Royal Randwick

Last week was the lawn party at the Royal Randwick. They Royal Randwick is a horse track here and last week was the first race of the season (I think), or maybe it was just a chance to throw a big party.

I wasn't too sure about this event as it was a pretty expensive event. The price of admission did include all you can eat and drink, so that along with a few friend's encouragement, I was there. Along with the horse race and booze, there was going to be 5 stages set up with DJs. Good ones, not glorified wedding Djs. That was also a big selling point. I haven't been to a big event here yet, so this will be a good trial. The event was also very cool in that every one had to dress up. All the guys were in suits and the ladies were all in nice dresses and hats. Big hats, small hats, feathers in their hair. It was pretty sweet.

We got there about noon, and for the next 5 hours, it was an open bar. Like I mentioned, this event was pretty expensive, so being the cheap bastard that I am, I tried to drink it all back. Yea... there was some serious drinking going on.

There were also lots of tents for food. There was an Asian tent that had stir fry and sushi, a curry tent, a fish and chips tents, and an Aussie food tent (meat pies, etc). I don't know if it's cause I was just drunk, but the food was pretty good.

In between the races, the DJs would start the beats. Apparently, the beats scares the horses, so no beats during race. Each stage was playing a different style. After a few races where I did terrible in the betting (if I chose a horse to win, the horse would come in 2nd, if I chose it to place, it would come in fourth. This happened in 3 races), I decided to concentrate on the drinking and the music.

I was loving the beats. It's been a while, and I sure miss good beats. I'll be the first one to admit this, I'm an incredible snob when it comes to dance music. I love dancing, but I will not dance to crappy music. Yea, get over it. With good music though, watch out.

So the beats were good and I got down. I must've been doing something right, or maybe just making a total ass of myself, but I got a lot of interest in the dancing which is always good. Had a few strangers take photos with me and got to pose for a few online magazines photos too (sadly, I was too drunk to remember which magazine they were).

It was a good day at the tracks. There was plenty to eat and drink and beats. Lots and lots of beats. I did bet on one last race and the horse did come in for me which even all of my other losses so it was all good.

Next week will be the first of the big dance events here in Sydney. Angels in White. Stay tuned for that, should be brilliant.

2008-09-28T20:00:00.003-05:00

Why you ask?

After all the blantant reasons why Palin is possibly one of the worse choices for this country, yet there are still so many people who like her. I too scratch my head every night about this. Why I ask? What is going on in all these people's head?

I couldn't find the words to articulate this, but fortuantly, someone has. I think this is the perfect summation/explaination of why people would vote for Palin:

She (Palin) is a natural product of mass democracy’s ongoing pursuit of charismatic mediocrity, in which voters not only seek someone with whom they can identify but also actively discourage politicians’ cultivation of expertise. Expertise grates against their egalitarianism, and so they try to avoid it in their political leaders.

For the full article, go here.

That's right. These people want someone as non knowledgable as themselves. Someone who can talk simple (mainly cause they don't in fact understand the issues and the details would confuse and scare them). These people voted for Bush for the same reason, and now they will vote for Palin. These people revolt against people who are smarter and has more expertise and knowledge than themselves. Somehow thinking they're being talked down to. Somehow thinking that someone who is smarter and has more expertise making a decision is a bad thing. That 'going with the gut' is the better decision making ability.

Don't be part of this group of people.

I promise there is a non ranty, non political post coming soon. There's just too much material here for me not to take advantage of.

2008-09-26T19:55:00.002-05:00

Blast from the past

I wrote this 4 years ago. The night I found out the country was gonna get screwed for another 4 years.

Please, I beg of you, don't let this happen again.

All of you thinking about voting for the McCain/Palin ticket. Please wake up. Please listen to reason. This country CANNOT survive another 4 years of McCain/Palin/Bush. The economy will worsen, we will socially go backwards, and we will probably get into a few more wars. We DO NOT WANT THIS!

Please don't make me have to write another post like this again.

http://pupbert.blogspot.com/2004/11/god-damn-fucking-fucks.html

2008-09-25T23:18:00.004-05:00

If you think these are good qualifications to be VP...

You probably thought Bush would do well with our economy

- Palin has never visited Russ (although claims she can see it) and until last year, never travelled outside North America. Her reasoning "I'm not one of those who maybe came from a background of, you know, kids who perhaps graduate college and their parents give them a passport and give them a backpack and say go off and travel the world. No, I've worked all my life. In fact, I usually had two jobs all my life until I had kids. I was not a part of, I guess, that culture." Great. That's who you really want to be VP. Let's forget about picking the best, let's just pick whoever!

- Palin has never met a foreign leader until her trip this week to NYC. You think this one week trip is good enough?

- When asked how Alaska's closeness to Russia enhanced her foreign policy experience, Palin said, "Well, it certainly does because our ... our next-door neighbors are foreign countries." Alaska shares a border with Canada. Wow, that's some foreign policy insight. That our next-door neighbors are foreign countries. Alaska shares a border with Canada? I believe that was also a question on 'Are you smarter than a 5th grader?'

You've royally screwed up this country and a lot of the world's economy. Don't you think you've done enough?

2008-09-23T18:28:00.004-05:00

So Much Crap, Where's My Shovel?

There is so much crap coming out of the McCain/Republican spin machine that I don't even know where to start or coherently group them. So, I'll just go with the list idea.

- McCain was voted the worst senator in 2007 by the children's defense fund. Their ratings were based on 11 key votes in the senate that had to do with education, children's insurance, and other children related topics.

- McCain vote No 3x since 2001 to fund the Head Start program - Even though in a recent interview he said he would be glad to fully fund it.

- McCain consistently voted to limit the amount of children that can participate in health care plans. Most recently, he support Bush's veto of the expansion that would give most children health insurance.

If you're a parent, is this the kind of person you want up in the White House? Can you really say he cares about you and your family?

- McCain has voted 19 times against raising the minimum wage. After 19 times, he did vote in the most recent bill to raise the minimum wage. That bill of course, was full of funding for the war.

- McCain is a big proponent of privatizing Social Security. Can you imagine what would social security looks like if it was privatized and people invested in wall street? Think that's a good idea now?

- McCain said at the beginning of the campaign that he does not and will not have a dirty mud slinging campaign. Obviously, that was before he got behind in the numbers. Way to keep your word.

- The McCain campaign has a new Ad out on Obama's connection with the former Fannie Mae chief Franklin Raines. Quite the nasty ad. Sadly,

The Washington Post reported -- with the kind of blind sourcing that suggests the source was Raines -- that Raines had "taken calls from Barack Obama's presidential campaign seeking his advice on mortgage and housing policy matters."

Raines said in the statement through the campaign, "I am not an advisor to Barack Obama, nor have I provided his campaign with advice on housing or economic matters."

Just another flat out lie from this campaign. Don't get me started on that ad about Obama wanting to teach sex ed to children crap. Aren't you all tired of this by now?

- Palin has been getting a crash course in foreign policy. This for a woman that has only left North American just once!. This for a woman that claims she has foreign policy credentials because she can see Russia from Alaska. This for a woman that is inches away from becoming the president of the US.

- BTW, where are all those cries of we don't need someone who needs on the job training?

- John McCain's presidential campaign has shielded the first-term Alaska governor for weeks from spontaneous questions from voters and reporters. Is this really the kind of VP you're looking for? Face it, if you're excited by her candidacy, you're not excited by substance, but just superficial crap.

- During the meeting Palin had at the UN, The GOP campaign, applying more restrictive rules on access than even President Bush uses in the White House, banned reporters from the start of the meetings, so as not to risk a question being asked of Palin. Photos of her and diplomats were available though. Isn't that nice?

- Let's talk about this 'Maverick' thing that many of you and McCain are so keen on. From several reports and from McCain himself, they will all tell you that McCain prefers to make decisions quickly and stand by those decisions. You know, make decisions by instinct or by the gut. In case you've forgotten, the current president also makes decisions the same way. See how well that works?

Making decisions quickly and by instinct is very important for a jet fighter pilot and perhaps is fine in the Senate where damages really isn't that big. However, it is not a good attribute for the presidency. When the president make rash decision, and then sticks by them, well, you get what has been going on the last 8 years. 2 wars and an economic recession. Is this what you all want to continue? This making decisions by the gut crap. This is NOT a good thing people.

2008-09-18T07:55:00.003-05:00

What the Fuck is wrong with you people?

Once again, what the fuck?

Unless you're trapped under a rock, you may have heard there is a major financial crisis going on in the world. What started in the US with the mortage crisis soon spread to every part of the financial world. Soon, companies that has been around for hundreds of years fell vicitim to this crisis.

Oh, but it didn't stop there. What happened in the US is spreading all around the world. The world is in one of the worse financial situations since WWII. There are millions that have lost so much from their retirement account. So many that have lost their savings.

Let me tell you how this happened. For as long as I remember, the Republican (most of them anyway) have waved the flag of free market. A free market where there were no rules, no checks and regulations. They believed the market will take care of itself.

At the forfront of this was John McCain. For the last 25 years, he has been carrying the flag of less/no regulation for the financial institutions. It was a bill that he sponsored that allowed the banks and investments firms to begin projects that would eventually lead to the housing crisis.

Today, I saw McCain on the campaign trail saying that he will put in regulations for the financial section to prevent these type of things from happening. Really? You want people to believe that you'll be working to put in regulations that you have been working to get rid the last 25 years you've been in congress?

Listen, I expected McCain to change his voice on this. Of course he would. He's running for the presidency. No, my WHAT the Fuck goes to all of you who are thinking of voting for McCain. What the fuck are you people thinking?

Don't you people ever think about things before you decide on something? You hear the Republicans talk about change. Do you not remember who's been in the White House and had the majority in Congress for the last 8 years? So what are they saying exactly when they say change? Are they admitting that they've been fucking up the last 8 years and that we need something different? Are they saying they need to get themselves out of office?

Oh, but the Democrates will tax the really rich. I could become really rich one day and I don't want to be taxed. I hear that a lot as a reason not to vote for Obama. Because he's talking about taxing the super rich and capital gains. First of all, if you're thinking is that you will become really rich one day, you're probably not going to be. I don't think you can fathom how much money some people in this country has.

You think you have a good salary making $100K/Year? You think you might be part of this super rich group? Try making at least 10x more than let's talk. Capital gains taxes? Are you a day trader or something? Do you have a lot of stocks that you move around that's not part of your 401K? No, I didn't think so. That capital gain tax has nothing to do you with.

As recent as just a few days ago, McCain is still saying the financial fundamentals of the country is great, and that its best days are ahead of us. Yes, if you're uber rich, this little crisis probably doesn't bother you too much. Unfortauntly, for the other 99% of the population, this is really fucked up.

Not only is it fucked up in the US, the effects are fucking up around the world.

This is the direct result of McCain's economic ideals, that the markets doesn't need any restrictions. He opened all the doors so wall street can collapse under its own greed. This is what he wanted and fought for the last 25 years. This is the result of his thinking and the extent of economic knowledge. 'Let's just let the market take care of itself' is NOT an economic plan.

Can you really vote for someone that's caused so much damage and hardship to so many millions of people around the world?

Seriously, what the fuck people? Look into these things before you just agree you want to vote for McCain.

I'll predict it now. If McCain wins, we will be even further in debt. There will be a global recession. We will be in another war. Oh, but rest assure. The top 1% who makes millions and millions of dollar a year will get their tax cut from McCain. Cause you know, they're the ones that really need it.

2008-09-16T18:23:00.004-05:00

Here we go again

The investigation into Sarah Palin's abuse of power case ran into resistant as the Republicans naturally want to end it or delay it past the election. Even Republicans who supported the "Troopergate" investigation now wants it delays.

Can you really tell me with a straight face that they're NOT doing this solely for political reasons? Screw the law, the law can wait, let's see if she becomes the VP first. What kind of irresponsible behavior is that?

This all from the party that's ran this country for the better part of the last 8 years. What have they done you ask? Oh you of such short memory. We're in 2 wars. Our reputation around the world has been dragged through the mud. We had one of the worst repsonses to a natural diseaster EVER. Our country went from a surplus in buget to the biggest deficit EVER (with most of our money owe to people who doesn't like us). Our financial system is in its worse shape in the last century. Companies that has lasted hundreds of years couldn't survive 8 years of this Republican administration in charge.

So half of you out there are considering voting for ANOTHER VP that wildly abuses their power in the office. Wow. You guys really don't learn do you.

2008-09-16T17:02:00.004-05:00

Ultimate Down Under

Last night was my first night of Ultimate Spring League here in Australia. I'm glad that I've been able to find ultimate here. Also, for the first time, I have a friend that went to play as well. I don't think since uni have I know people outside the sport go play with me. So yay for that.

One problem that I can already see is that it's played at fields around suburbs so it's going to be quite difficult to get there without a car. No train lines for me. I may have to learn how to use the bus lines. Bus line and Ferry line. Finally frontier.

I've played around with the idea of a car. They have the ones you can rent for a few hours at a time. There's one that's parked right in front of my apts. I'm still not sure about driving on the wrong side so I'll have to see about that.

Anyway, back to the Aussie ultimate. A lot of it was the same. We started late. The calling card of ultimate. There were a lot of differences though. Overall, I think the level of game play was not as high as it was in Atlanta. It could be that this was the first night or that this was not the big summer league which would bring in more of the good people. I guess this might be good. I looked pretty good out there and I haven't played in a few months.

One very big notable difference was that after the game, each team did cheers for each other. The league in Colorado I was in did that, but I haven't seen it anywhere else. The sportsmenship was very high with both teams huddling up and saying good stuff and cheers for each other. Took me a bit by suprise, but it was totally cool.

I'm going to have to figure out this transportation issue, but other than that, I think this is going to be fun playing ultimate here.

2008-09-08T06:22:00.002-05:00

Finally Caved

It's 4am and I can't sleep so I decided to create a facebook page. Yes, I know. I've been fighting it for a while. Well, when you can't sleep you do some stuff you might regret later.

So if you're on there. Let send me an invite.

2008-09-04T06:06:00.003-05:00

Why Waste Time When Someone's Already Done It Better?

I've been trying to figure out a way to verbalize this and to find examples of this. I've seen it, I've heard it. Just haven't had the time to find it. Well, thanks to Jon Stewart and The Daily Show, I think they's said it all.

Watch this when you have a bit of time.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=184082

See how fast the tune changes for the Republicans when they run into these issues that they so quickly cast judgement on before.

Can someone tell me what a VP even does?.. that was then. I accept your nomination for VP of the US.. That's now!

Pregger Teens? Blame the Parents, they're pinheads.. that was then. Respect their choice.. That's now!

Whinny female politicans? They should get out of politics if they can't handle the criticism. It's a step backwards for women when they can take a little heat.. That was then. There is a deep rooted sexism going on in the media and this country... That's now!

This government is broken and we need someone to fix it!.. That's now! Umm.. Republicans have had the white house and congress for most of the last 8 years.

How can you not see this well coordinated spin machine? I heard a person they interviewed after Palin's speech, she said 'I really liked her speech. She used small easy to understand words.' What the fuck is wrong with you?! How is that a reason to vote for someone? Why in the world do you want someone like you to be president? You're obviously not that great. Why would you want someone not that great in the White House?

What the hell is this obession with wanting someone 'just like you' or that 'can relate to you' to be the president? This goes to both parties. There are NO political people at this stage of government that's ANYTHING like you or can really relate to you. Unless you have millions of dollars in the bank, several mansions, or a private jet you can put on ebay (can't believe Palin said that in her speech and people cheered). What the fuck are you thinking? Oh, yea, that reminds me of the time I put my private jet on ebay to sell... oh wait. No, that was a used porn dvd. Nevermind.

They're not like you. We need someone that's better than us to run the government. Better is not a bad word, neither is Elite. I believe elite means something like the best. Don't you want the best to be running the government?

Listen. Don't think I just LOVE the Democrate's choice Biden either cause I don't. I've got some serious issues with him. I bet you didn't know this. Biden is on my shit list. That's right. He's one of the people that created and passed the RAVE act. Oh. Biden, you didn't think I'd remember did ya. You think I'd forget with all our brains damaged and no fluid in our spines. Nooooo... I remember. War on drugs my ass.

Still though. It's better than the alternative.

People. Please pay attention. Do your own research. Look at both sides and the real issues. Not just the talking points. Make a good decision Please.

2008-09-02T20:36:00.003-05:00

Just Cause I'm Not Living in the Country Anymore.. Doesn't Mean I Can't Bitch

On American Politics.

Funny enough, I get more news here than when I was living in the US.

So, the McCain and the Republicans nominated Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska to be the running mate with John McCain.

Seriously? This is your pick? And you can say with a straight face that this was chosen because she's the best person for the job and not purely for political reason?

Can you say you didn't pick her because she's a woman? The pro-Hillary and scared conservative suburban mom population that you're targeting?

Can you say you didn't pick her because she's insanely conservative? The Christian right that you're so desperately trying to get out and vote? The horribly misguided Anti-Choice population that you want to excite?

Can you say you didn't pick her because she's so pro-big oil and pro-NRA? The population that gives you all your money?

I don't think you say deny any of that.

McCain accused Obama of putting politics before the country first, but I think this choice in a VP truly shows which party could give a rats ass about the country as long as they win.

How about some facts about Palin.

_Palin sought pork-barrel projects for her city and state, contrary to her reformist image. In her earlier career as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Palin hired a lobbyist to help the tiny town secure at least 14 earmarks, worth $27 million between 2000-2003. McCain has touted Palin as a force in his long battle against earmarks. Really?

_Her husband once belonged to a fringe political group in Alaska with some members supporting secession from the United States. I believe there was a war that determined this is not legal.

_A private attorney has been authorized to spend $95,000 to defend her against accusations of abuse of power. The state legislature is investigating whether she had Alaska's public safety commissioner fired after he refused to dismiss a state trooper who had divorced Palin's sister. Yea, that's who we want in the oval office. Someone who will get someone fired for breaking up with her sister.

_She has acknowledged smoking marijuana in the past. Well. I don't give a rat's ass about this.

_Under her leadership this year, Alaska asked for almost $300 per person in requests for pet projects from Stevens, one of McCain's top adversaries. That's more than any other state received, per person, from Congress. Yea, you're really 'outside the system'.

_Bristol Palin's boyfriend, Levi Johnston, plans to join the family of the Republican vice presidential candidate at the GOP convention. Talk about the text book example of a shotgun wedding. Way to go on your Abstinence only education! See how well that works!!!!!!

_This is probably the most angering one. Palin opposed the U.S. government's listing of a variety of animals as endangered, including the polar bear and the beluga whale, both of which inhabit areas also rich in oil and natural gas. There is just no excuse for this. You want to hunt, go hunt a human. Leave these animals alone just cause you want to get rich off the oil that's in that space.

How well versed do you think Palin is on foreign affairs? Sticking up for Palin, a commentator on Fox News says that she governs Alaska which is really close to Russia. She must know how to deal with them. WTF? How are you still a channel?

"If you can take on Ted Stevens and that crowd in Alaska, you can handle the Russians," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, told ABC News this week. Do you even know where Russia is? Have you read anything in the news lately about Russia? They're going to overtake China as the scariest country in the world. They're no joke. They're the real thing.

You want to vote for someone like that? Someone that may have a good chance of becoming the most powerful person in the world? If you do, all these jokes I hear about Americans are probably all your fault.

2008-09-01T09:06:00.003-05:00

The Apt, the Apt, the Apt is on fire...

Here's a funny story.

I was doing laundry Saturday morning.

The laundry room is right next door to mine. I was going in and out all morning. I went out one more time to see if I left anything in one of the machines and as soon I went in the laundry room, I hear a click.

Shit.

I've been in and out all morning and the door's never closed on me. What the hell? I just locked myself out. To add to the problem, I just put something on the stove, so I've got something cooking. If I don't get back in there soon, I'm going to burn the place down.

I've lived here for a week, and I'm going to burn the place down. Great.

I wasn't sure what to do. I knocked on one of my neighbor's door. This old dude in a robe came to answer the door. I told him the situation. This is what he said as a solution in all seriousness. Is your balcony door unlocked? Good. Go up to the apt above and jump from the balcony into my apt. You can hang from the bottom of the balcony and then swing yourself onto yours. Just don't let go.

I'm like what? Are you insane? I'm 8 floors up! I'm not Jackie Chan.

He said fine, looking a bit disappointed.

I remember my realtor works on sat sometimes so I gave her a call. Luckily, she was there. She said to come by the office and grab the key. I was a bit relieved as I'm only about a mile away from her office.

Then I remembered. Since I'm doing laundry, I'm barefoot and in my pajamas and a white t shirt. For those of you that knows me, my usual outfit.

I didn't really have a choice, and time was of the essence with food on the stove. I just started sprinting up to the office. The office is on this section of the road that has tons of cafes. It's brunch time, and everyone's out eating on the patio. Brunch is very big here.

So everyone's enjoying their leisurely meal when up comes a half dressed guy sprinting pass them. I bet there was some good conversations that got started from that. You guys can probably all imagine what that scene looked like.

Good news is that I got the key and ran back and the place hasn't burned down yet. The smoke detector hasn't even gone off yet (I know the smoke detector is very sensitive cause I've set it off a couple of times already).

I'm going to go make a copy of my key and hide it somewhere. I'll tape it behind something along with a gun, passports, and some cash and be all James Bond like.

That was just what happened before noon.

Next time, what I was doing till 4am later that night. Just as a teaser, there were 4 bars, some crazy lady, and a random warehouse party involved.

Till next time!

2008-08-28T00:01:00.002-05:00

My First Domestic Flight in Australia

It's very difficult to do updates when you don't have Internet at home. Doing it at work and while you're sober is just not the same.

Well, here we go:

- I went to Melbourne this last weekend for work. I don't know, I think I may should've chosen that city instead. It's all nice and nature-y there. The vibe seems a bit better too.

- I had the best cab driver EVER. He was chatting away. Telling me where he was driving. All the local places, and some of the places we were driving by. Seriously the nicest drive ever.

- Went to a very cool bar without a name. There are many alleyway bars in Melbourne (unlike Sydney that only has super large bars). It was pretty sweet with the way it was set up and a live DJ. Then went to another bar named 'cookie'. It's pretty sweet. Even sweeter was our waitress. OMG. Seriously. We should clone her.

- Had probably one of the most fun flights ever on my way back to Sydney. Even though I was in the last row in the corner seat, it was still so much fun. What made it fun was the flight crew that sat next to me. They were hilarious. This was the crew that's working the flight back so they weren't working during my flight. Oh, it was just so much fun I can't even tell ya. They got me a bunch of food and beer to take home too.

- Beer and wine are free on flights here. Score.

- You can bring liquids on the planes. You don't have to take off your shoes either. Once again, score.

- All flights comes with food of some type, and not just the bag of pretzels. I got a cupcake, and these cheese and crackers. On my flight back, thanks to the crew I was sitting with, I got a steak sandwich and like a 6 pack of beer for the way home.

- I'm taking United on my way back to the states next week. Everyone here has grimaced when I told them that. I don't think it could be THAT bad. Besides, I have 16 drink tickets. I'll just make sure I sit on the lsle next to the bathroom.

- I saw all these things about Bali. I think I have to go while I'm here. Sadly, it's not one of those go by yourself kinda things. So... guess I better get a move on things.

Cheers mates,

2008-08-17T05:52:00.003-05:00

More Observations from Sydney

- One good thing about so many Asians around here is that there are a ton of arcades here. One bad thing is that there are so many Asians here. I can't play any games without getting my ass whooped.

- There were some crazy DDR action on Friday night. Who's doing a movie on this? It's sure to be better than most of the other movies made from video games'. Furdell, this one is for you. I saw a dude playing Crazy Taxi. I left to get something to eat, do some errands, maybe took a short nap. When I came back, he was still picking up passengers. Same game.

- I had yum cha (dim sum) today. I was there by myself and people gave me the strangest look being that this is supposed to be a big group of people kinda thing. Despite that, the food was super good.

- I just had the best cream puffs that were freshly made in front of me.

- I had a Russian cabbie today. He explained to me how the Georgians are the real terrorists in this conflict and that all this western propaganda is all evil. I thought this was really interesting to hear the other side's view on this. Made me glad I made my trip. The variety of people here is just amazing.

- They can say Shit on TV. Yet the world didn't end. How amazing.

- I think it's funny to say Rubbish instead of Trash.

- On the Bizaro front, there's a Delilah-ish show here that's hosted by a dude. Same type of stories and music though.

- So far, when I try to talk with an Aussie accent, no one has been able to understand me.

- While walking along the beach this Sat, I saw some whales. Yay whales. They were very cool and were just hanging out next to the surfers. I think they were judging the sufers or trying to decide if they should eat one of them.

- While on said beach, they had some loud dance music playing. Nothing beats beats on the beach. Nothing.

- I finally figured out how to text back to the states. That's right bitches. The texting is back!

- I'm set up to go to a Trance event at a dome in October. It's going to be sweet. Party goes from 10pm - 6am. Let's see how I do. In case you're wondering if what the event is: Godskitchen 'Angels in White'

2008-08-14T09:19:00.002-05:00

Maybe I'm more awesome than I thought.

To all you nay sayers out there.

Who move to a new country and in less than 2 weeks:

- Became a regular at a bar. You know what that means? People know my name there. I know the bartender's and the manager's business, and I get served drinks even after last call. That's right. suck it.

- Went out with a girl. Had a nice dinner and drinks. Less than 2 weeks. Suck it.

- Went out with random people that I randomly met.

I'll update you with more of my awesomeness later.

2008-08-12T06:51:00.004-05:00

Decisions Decisions

Ok folks, I need some help in making a decision on where to live. Here're the two scenarios I'm working with.

Choice 1:

Standard 1 bedroom apt.
Wonderful view of the Harbour bridge and the city
Fully furnished

Choice 2:

Share the apt with 2 girls
1 bathroom
A tiny room in an apt. Like really small/Can barely fit a double bed and that's it
Area for an office
Unfurnished room, so will have to buy bed
It's $520 cheaper a month + only 1/3 utilities
Have good friends that live across the hall. 2 guys and a girl. It's almost like a 'Friends' scenario.
They all go out and hang out together

Being that I'm in the city all by myself, and that my coworkers are pretty much non-existent. I can instantly have 5 friends. Very tempting. The room is so tiny though. Although I would save quite a bit per month.

Here's the other thing. The girls will be making a few more interviews and will decide by Friday. If I want that 1 bedroom, I'll have to act fast. The rental market here is ridiculous. The renters have said it's a quick turnaround so if I apply tomorrow, I should be able to move in by friday if all goes well. This is before the girls make the decision.

What should I do?

2008-08-10T05:59:00.002-05:00

One World.... One Pup

Does anyone else think the slogan of one world, one dream of the Olympic games is a bit ominous coming from China? Do you know what their one dream is? Yea, you should be concerned.

I'm currently watching my favorite Olympic sport. Woman's beach volleyball. Seriously, best spectator sport ever. In case you were wondering or have noticed that their bikinis has gotten smaller, it's not just a fashion statement. I heard this on the TV today. There was a rule change recently that said their bottoms could only be so big. I don't know who made that rule, but it's a fantastic rule.

Between every point, they play a short sample of a song. They just played 'Push it' by Salt n' Pepper. Sweetness.

Currently, Greece is playing Austria. Goodness, it's just all kinds of awesome.

During the formal timeout, 12 Chinese girls in bikinis ran out and help coordinate the wave. These even coordinators know how to throw a party.

Ring of fire? Wha? How's that an appropriate song to be playing?

Yay for butt patting!

Ha... they announcer gives instructions on how to cheer. That's funny.

Awww... it's over. Yay to the Austrians for a big upset over the Greeks.

----------------------
It's been interesting watching the Olympics from Australia. I've been able to see a lot of sports that doesn't normally get shown in the US because Americans aren't in them. For example, I watched Badminton today. That's not too bad.

They also showed the women's weight lifting in the 49kg class. Now there wasn't any Aussies in this. I think they wanted to show because the women didn't look like body builders at all. They looked like quite attractive women. Attactive women that can lift more than double their body weight. It was quite the sight.

Whoa. They're showing field hockey now. Cool.

I'm not sure how it is in the US, but it's non stop Olympics here.

I sure hope they show table tennis. I would sure love to watch some Olympic table tennis.

2008-08-09T09:06:00.003-05:00

Aussies/Kiwi - 2 Team Pup - 0

Once again I have failed in keeping up with the locals. This is quite sad as I thought I did quite well tonight. Nonetheless, I had to retire early.

Just to give you a condense version of the happenings today.

- Got a number. This time from a girl. That's right, no more dude numbers. This is going to be sweet.

- Starting to be a semi-regular at a bar. Oh, it's so on.
- Got a bunch of numbers from a bunch of older ladies. Don't know what that's about, but it just happened.

- Saw a bunch of rave kids in full rave gear on the train. I asked where they were going. I had no idea where they said they were going, but I doubt I could keep up. Good god I'm old. Getting old sucks.

- There was a drug bust of Ecstasy worth half a BILLION dollars here in AU. I'm a bit sad about that.

- I saw a bunch of punk ass kids on the train today. They thought they were hot shit. They were barely cold diarrhea. Seriously. The old crew of Tony, Ski, and Nikki would've killed these fools without blinking an eye, and they thought they would try to be tough with me? Shit. They don't know how I roll.

- Have I mentioned rave chicks in full rave gear is just totally hot? Well they are.

2008-08-07T07:01:00.002-05:00

Why Am I?

What am I so drunk you ask? Yea. Note to self. Don't try to outdrink a Kiwi, a Brit, and an group of aussies.

I was sitting in my hotel room all by me self tonight. I was thinking. I need to get out there. Meet some people and shit.

Where do I feel most comfortable even without my crew. A local dive bar of course.

So I went out and hit a few local bars. The first few didn't really click with me. Then I went to the 'Fortune of War'. Supposively the oldest bar in Sydney. Right away I struck it up with the bartender talking about Rugby. She was quite a cutie which really helped out things.

Then I talked to this german guy. He was pretty cool and I got his number. Weird I know. I have no issues getting dude's numbers. I need a crew.

After he left, this Kiwi and his girl came in. He was all kind of crazy. So funny. We started buying each other drinks.

Then this group of Aussie girls came in. It was great fun as we started doing Jager bombs. You know how everything goes down hill after Jager. These gals had been drinking before they came here. Within 30min, had more to drink than me in the couple of hours I've been at the bar, and were perfectly fine with drinking more.

Of course, the Kiwi was helping everyone out with drinking more and more. It was a grand ol' time.

At the end, they said they were ready to start drinking and headed to a bar called 'Three wise monkeys'. I can only imagine what that's all about. I was pretty hammered so I wasn't able to join them.

What a bummer. These were my kind of people.

Oh well, guess I need to work on my tolerance.

2008-08-04T05:17:00.003-05:00

More Observations from down under

- Cigarettes are the most amazing things in the world. What other product can you put a label that reads 'This product will KILL you' and people still buy it. How is this product legal?

- I just came back from an arcade in the middle of the city. With all the Asians here, you can imagine the competition. There were 8 Tekken 6 machines linked together. The level of play was pretty ridiculous. Of course, I had to give it a shot. That was probably the shortest game I've ever played.

- I watched these 2 girls play (and beat) house of the dead 4. They looked kinda like cartoon characters with the way they looked. If there's a zombie uprising down under, I'm hanging out with them.

- There are a lot of Japanese and Korean girls here that look like cartoon characters here.

- You can openly walk around and drink in most parts of the city.

- You haven't heard hot/sexy until you hear an aussie girl say 'panties'.

- I have watched so much Rugby in the last few days. Did you know there are different versions of Rugby? I didn't either. Apparently, it's like the NFL and AFL in the US. In one of the versions, teams can score over 100 pts. Odd.

- They may not have a Halloween here, but they have a pirate day celebration.

2008-08-02T01:51:00.004-05:00

Live.. From Down Under... It's Pup!!!!

Now that I'm on the other side of the world, here's a few things that I've observed.

Food is insanely expensive here. Like double the price of the US. You know how you can get a roasted chicken from the grocery store for about $6 in your grocery store? Yea, it's A$14 dollars here. You know what the exchange rate is? 1:1

Actually, everything is expensive here.

I've been watching a lot of Rugby. Still not 100% sure what's going on, but I think I'm getting the hang of things soon and it looks fun.

There are Aussie versions of 2 of my favorite shows. So you think you can dance Australia and Project Runway Australia. Sweet.

A new video game here costs A$85. That's just insane.

I was awake at 4am today due to jet lag. I started walking around looking for apartments at 8am. I walked by several clubs that were just starting to close. I later talked to a friend here who said she had an early night at the club last night. She left at 5am.

Driving from the right side is weird. Not getting hit by a car is a bit of a challenge for me right now.

I need to learn the metric system and to tell the temperature in Celsius. It's screwing with me when I look at stuff.

8 thin slices of hard Salomi costs A$6. Other cold cuts are equally expensive.

Going out tonight. Should have more interesting things to report tomorrow.

2008-07-30T00:07:00.002-05:00

I'm leaving... on a jet plane...

In about 12 hours, I'll be on a plane heading to the other side of the world. Don't know anyone there. Got no one to drunk text/dial. Quite a bit of a new start, but unlike all the other times where it's just a different state, this is somewhere far far away.

Even as often as I do this, there is always that fear. It's not like I'm doing this with someone. It's just me and Pup. He's probably just going to find a pub, but me, I've actually got to go out and set myself up with a crew. Find new people to be with.

We'll see how successful we are. We could be back after the year is over or there's always that chance..

Don't know if I'll come back again....