Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Da Vinci Code, Idiots and Vicodin



Hello everyone. It's been a while and it will be little longer I'm sorry to say. I'm currently on vacation. :) I've only had time to do the occasional quickie movie review over at Now On Video.
But don't fret, I have something for you. As some of you regular readers may know, I have been blogging for around 7 or 8 years now so I have compiled quite a collection. Most of them are lost forever on random websites. Luckily (for me, for you, I'm not quite sure) I still have access to some. I will be transferring a few of my favorites here to blogger on slow days like these. Some may still even make sense. Enjoy my very first blog on MySpace and MSN Live Spaces entitled;


"The Da Vinci Code, Idiots and Vicodin" (Originally posted on MSN Spaces and MySpace March 18th, 2005.)

There was a book I read many years ago titled, "Amusing Ourselves to Death" by Neil Postman. I found it very thought provoking. Neil wrote about how he believed that entertainment and education do not go hand in hand and that he feared that the line dividing those two would become irreversibly blurred in the near future.

Well, I think he's right but feel it's already too late to do anything about it.

There have always been movies that cover historical events and take a vew liberties with the artistic license in order to make it interesting. In an educated society this wouldn't be an issue. I think though, that it is safe to say that we do not live in an "educated society." How many idiots don't you meet everyday? How many people don't you speak to on a daily basis that massacre the English language? How many morons don't you hear argue that Marijuana isn't "really a drug" and doesn't do any damage?

These films and novels are released to consenting and supposedly "intelligent" adults that are supposed to find it easy to tell the difference between fact and fiction. The problem with this is that the retelling of certain events through entertainment media has replaced the actual facts within those idiot minds with a complete disregard for research into historical accuracy.

Don't tag me as a religious freak but Cardinal Bertone made a great point about Dan Brown's "the Da Vinci Code."

“I ask myself if a similar book was written, full of lies about Buddha, Mohammed, or even, for example, if a novel came out which manipulated all the history of the Holocaust or of the Shoah, what would have happened?”
Even the Holiest of followers does not have faith in the general intellectual capability of the social mass. Then again, historically religious groups have shown a great amount of skepticism when it comes to their own followers freedom of thought. In response to the Cardinal's complaint the book publisher Doubleday released this statement;

“The ideas put forth in ’The Da Vinci Code’ have been circulating for centuries; this novel explores them in an accessible work of fiction. Doubleday certainly respects Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican and their desire to clarify any factual errors they feel may have been made in ’The Da Vinci Code’.”
Everyday I hear more about people getting defensive when you wish them a Merry Christmas or say "Bless You" when they sneeze. It’s funny, foreign religions are coming into this country more “Typically American” then American’s themselves. “I have a religion, you better respect it and restructure your language and educational system to abide by it.”

Remember in old movies how they used to inform the viewer right at the beginning that it was loosely based on actual events in big bold letters? They don't even bother doing that anymore do they? Now it takes a Cardinal’s public complaint to get a week little letter a little over a week later. Would that disclaimer have made a difference?

Well, I'm almost done reading "Honeymoon" by James Patterson and while I'm recovering from my wisdom tooth extraction I will be reading the Da Vinci Code.

After all I am just another in the flock of Idiot Minds even worse off all jacked up on Vicodin. _______________

Turns out the dentist never gave me that Vicodin after all. My wonderful wife let me by myself a PSP though to keep myself entertained/distracted during the recovery. What do you think of the blog? A little out of touch and a bit spastic wouldn't you agree?

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Deals: 12-23-08

I found a few good deals today.




New Egg

PS3 DualShock 3 $43 with free shipping. Watch movies on your PS3? This will do.

Buy.com

16GB Sandisk Cruzer $30 with free shipping. This is a good deal, and a good brand if you need a flash drive.
CyberPower UPS $60 with free shipping. EVERY computer should have a UPS.
Whistler XTR-550 $60 with free shipping for all you speeders out there.

Dell Business

Dell has a 1.5 TB Seagate Hard Drive for $130 shipped. That is a HUGE deal for those of you that need plenty of storage space!
























GameFly Used Games
360PS3
DMC4 $13TimeShift $10
Ninja Gaiden II $15Haze $10
GTA IV $20NBA Ballers: Chosen One $5
Conan $8LOST: Via Domus $8
Fifa Street 3 $8Blacksite: Area 51 $10
LOST: Via Domus $8Dark Sector $10
Blacksite Area: 51 $10Enemy Territory: Quake Wars $10
Call of Juarez $10MX vs. ATV Untamed $10
Dark Sector $10The Club $10
Stuntman: Ignition $10Transformers: The Game $10
Univers at War: Earth Assault $10Lair $13
Unreal Tournament III $10Soul Calibur IV $22
Viking: Battle for Asgard $10Battlefield: Bad Company $25
Supreme Commander $10LEGO: Indiana Jones $25
Blazing Angels 2 $13GRID $28
John Woo's Stranglehold $13Warhawk $30
Dynasty Warriors 6 $15
Top Spin 3 $15
Ace Combat 6 $20
Battlefield: Bad Company $25
LEGO: Indiana Jones $25

Paid Forward?

As an eternal skeptic, I am VERY particular about those that I choose to help. Why help starving kids in Africa when there are starving kids right here?

I know that sounds evil but look at it this way. Either way, you are helping a starving kid. Chances are, unfortunately, that this starving local kid will survive to live a better life than those in poverty in 3rd world countries.

Why does this matter or why would it make a difference?

I think of it like grass growing on two lawns. On one side of the fence there is a healthy lawn with a small dry patch. On the other, there is dirt and rock with a small little patch of grass miraculously growing in the rough.

On the nice lawn there is a dry patch with a tiny little blade of grass. If I water that blade, it will grow and that blade, though it will never come in contact with the patch in the rough lawn, may eventually help improve the entire lawn that may spread and support that rough lawn in the long run.

I am not saying we should turn our backs on hopeless causes, I just don't think spitting at an inferno is going to make much of a difference. That and the off chance that someone might actually be making a profit off the suffering of these innocent people keeps me from sending money their way.

When I actually SEE change and good causes making a difference, then I make the effort. Child's Play for example. Children's Hospital's. You donate a gift and ship it right to them straight from Amazon. I have done my share of good deeds in the past but I usually restrained myself from any monetary donations. I just can't trust people. They can be so evil. This year though it was different. I found a charity I trusted and donated with the best intentions.

I am not really liked at work. Not on a personal level but because of what I do. It comes with the responsibility and I deal with it well. Oddly enough, the year that I do more than I ever have for others, this happens.

There is an employee that I deal with a lot. They are a...point of contact, so to speak. Just yesterday they asked me to come to their office. I expected a Christmas card or something like that and that is exactly what I received. I don't expect anything nor do I feel I deserve anything. But this time I was really surprised with what I found in that card. I opened it and my first surprise was the humongous amount of signatures in it. Nearly everyone in her department signed it. This struck me as amazing because these are the same people that I frequently have to lay the law down with. Aside from that, $80 in cash fell out of it.

XO

I was flabbergasted. What!?! Never in my entire career have I received a gift like that. Just for doing my job and doing a job that makes people dislike you sometimes.

A little part of me feels that this happened because of the stuff I have been doing lately. A big part of me wants to donate it. This isn't my money. Another little part of me knows though, that we really are going to need that money soon. After speaking about it with my wife I decided just to be graceful and grateful. I can't help but feel I owe the world $80.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Movie Group is Now Online



Now On Video is Now OnLine. :) Have a movie to review? Drop me a line and you'll be added as a contributor. Like I mentioned before, NO RESTRICTIONS, NO TABOO GENRES. I only ask that you respect each others opinions.

http://nowonvideo.blogspot.com

If you would like to become a contributor, just post the e-mail address that you sign into blogger with so I could add you as a "team member."

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Maximize Your Mileage

I drive a Hybrid.

My car manufacturer recently sent me an e-mail with more than just ads. It had a list of helpful tips that really do work and I could see making a notable difference.

Now I know that gas has greatly reduced in price, but if you don't do it for your wallet, do it for the Earth and your children that have to live in it yeah?

Click to read these tips you really should follow.
  • When you drive a little faster, you burn considerably more fuel. Slow down and increase your vehicle's fuel efficiency.
  • Once you're out on the highway at cruising speed, use your vehicle's cruise control. You'll burn less fuel if you do.
  • Slow down for hills. Maintaining your speed up a hill means opening your vehicle's throttle, which burns more gas. On down hills, use gravity to help increase speed and improve fuel economy.
  • Accelerate only when you have to, and only as much as you need to. Avoid jackrabbit starts, bring your vehicle to speed with a light right foot, and maintain smooth progress on the road. In other words, never FLOOR it.
  • For slowing down or stopping, get off the gas as soon as you can. Use your brakes when you need to, but allow the other forces working on your vehicle to help slow you down. This one is hard to get used to but I have learned to do it a lot. Don't be competitive with other people. If you see traffic slowing down. Let go of the gas right away and let friction slow you down with time. You won't get there any faster if you step on the gas.
  • Whenever you can, keep your windows closed to decrease drag. For climate control, use your vehicle's air conditioning. It's the lesser of two evils.
  • Roof racks and rooftop containers have extremely negative effects on a vehicle's fuel efficiency. Remove them when not in use.
  • Tire maintenance is essential for a safe drive. Perform regular air-pressure checks and adjustments to help minimize tire wear and increase your gas mileage. Don't forget the spare.
  • Keep your oil clean. Change your oil and oil filter at the proper mileage/month interval. Remember to use the proper grade motor oil and a reliable oil filter.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Question to Followers



Remember that Monday Movie Meme I used to do?

Well I am considering creating a entire blog around movie reviews. New and old, but preferably old and obscure to bring cult favorites into the limelight.

My intention is to create a GROUP SUPPORTED blog where ANYONE who chooses to participate could post a review in WHATEVER FORMAT they like. If you chose to be active and the site grows in popularity you could even post a Google ads in your review to get some change tossed at you. (As long as the ads aren't overbearing.)

The key word here is participation. I can keep my part of the bargain. I will work hard to promote and maintain this blog if you guys will assist with the content and activity.

Will you?

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Simple Things In Life



Negativity comes naturally for me. I am not an intentionally negative person though. How does this make any sense you ask?

Well for one, I am not a bitter pessimist. I consider myself a logical pessimist. I am not the type that kills peoples hopes and dreams for the sake of doing it. I offer words of warning from life experiences and what I see as more likely to occur.

Like everyone else in the world, I have had my share of disappointments. I have taught myself to expect the worst. Yes, this can be extremely difficult and occasionally painful, but this is the way I have learned to cope. I expect the worst and I am never disappointed. In fact, more often than not I am pleasantly surprised by the results of whatever concern I had.

Its easier for me to be happy about a glass half full when I expect it to to be completely empty or even shattered.

Living a life like this is not for everyone. I don't recommend people try it if they are happy the way they are. It works for me though sometimes it takes its toll. When a series of unfortunate events come one after another and my negative suspicions are proven correct, the way I see the world gets very, very dark.

During these dark times I take little mental brakes. That is not a typo. I literally take mental BRAKES.

I stop.

I'm at work and I feel like I can't take any more so I just stop. Breathe. Then I continue. I'm driving to work and traffic is driving me insane. I keep driving but mentally, I stop my train of thought. I look around the world to see the beauty in all things surrounding us.

You mothers and photographers may know exactly what I am talking about. I find little things that I like to see and just envelope myself in them.

The oversize trailer hauling gigantic rubber tires that are wider than the lane the semi is driving on.
An interesting cloud configuration.
Huge tractors digging up Earth as if they were angry metal dinosaurs.
A lush green tree swaying in the middle of an urban jungle.
A flock of birds changing direction faster than humanly possible.
The little splashes of water that come off the back tire of a car in the freeway after a heavy rain.
The sound of the wind on a big, full tree.
The light of a huge planet shining down upon us as we trample people over a faƇade of a sale at Wal-Mart.
Sorry, sometimes a little bit of that negativity slips through. ;)

As we work through our week and struggle through our daily strife's remember that life is a gift that we must share. The world doesn't revolve around us. We revolve around IT.

Don't pass that red light because you're "in a rush."
Don't cut in front of a slow moving grandmother with a walker just because you can't wait.
Don't yell at the barista just because you were stupid enough to become addicted to caffeine.
Don't treat your kids roughly because they embarrass you at the mall.
Don't ignore them if they are throwing a tantrum annoying everyone else either.
Don't flash your lights at the car in front of you doing 85 mph just because you want to go 86.
Don't make someone do simple tasks for you simply because you are too lazy to learn how to do them on your own.
Take deep breaths, often.
Remind your loved ones of what they mean to you.


Don't wait to feel bad about not getting to say goodbye. Be around more often instead to say Hi.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Blurbs - The Truth in Numbers

My taught me this and I thought I would pass it on.

A curious blend of Psychology and Numerology I like to call Pnumchology. Yeah. Say that twice with a mouthful of milk.

  1. Pick your favorite number from 1 through 9.
  2. Multiply it by 3.
  3. Add 3.
  4. Multiply it again by 3.
  5. You will get a 2 digit number.
  6. Add both digits together then click on Read More to find out which of these historical characters your Psychological Profile is most like.



  1. Albert Einstein
  2. Nelson Mandela
  3. Gandhi
  4. John F. Kennedy
  5. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
  6. Maya Angelou
  7. Bill Gates
  8. St. Peter
  9. Jeffrey Dahmer
  10. Barrack Obama


Dahmer? Really? You are a sick, sick person. Perhaps you should speak to a therapist.

Meme: Phocus - Candy



UPDATED: 12-16-08 Thanks to everyone who played along. Click READ MORE to see the full picture. :)

OK, here is an easy one if you know me, tough if you don't. This is a crop of a photograph of a retail box of one of my favorite candies. :) I will upload the complete picture once enough people have guessed.



Click Read More to read the rules.

In this particular Meme you can do 1 or 2 things.

1. You can just play along and guess at what the picture is of in the photo above.

OR

2. You can guess and play along on your page too by taking a picture of something you find interesting, cropping it almost beyond recognition and uploading it with a small hint on your own page. Then just come back here to post the link to that blog so we can all play and get to know each other in the process.

Are you game?

Rainy Days



When I was a kid, I used to love the rain.

At school, it meant indoor activities. Sometimes we wouldn't do ANY work and would just talk or play little games.

I remember even playing indoor spelling baseball. The teacher would give us a choice of difficulty level (1, 2, 3 or 4) and we would have a time limit to correctly spell a word on the chalkboard. If we got it right, we would go to another corner of the room depending on the difficulty of the word. If we made it home, we could pick a prize out of the "prize box."

The darkness outside would make the classroom environment exciting. Riding the bus as it blew through puddles and soaked the pedestrians was a great way to end a fantastic school day.

At home I would make origami boats and float them down the gutter until they got stuck under the tire of a curbed vehicle (most likely driven by someone's wife ;) or I would just sit in the kitchen watching the water pile up and splash in the corner of our backyard walkway.

I remember my mother's answer to my question regarding the origin of rain. She told me that it was God's tears. Even at this young age, that answer seemed highly unlikely and illogical. It only served to confuse me and I believe eventually played a significant part in the process that led me into the atheist life I would eventually come to lead in my teenage years.

The idea of a crying God devastated me. I locked myself in the bathroom, stood on the toilet and stared out the window. This was my safe place. Our bathroom window faced a wall and you could barely see the house next door. I like this window during rainy days because you could stare out of it looking up at the sky, protected from the raindrops by the screen. You could "smell" the rain. I distinctly remember the scent being a combination of grass and metal screen. I'm sure I ended up with a dirty nose more often than I can remember.

Now an adult, as a homeowner, commuter and family leader, my simple joys have been eradicated.

I still like the rain. I still like the smell as long as you aren't anywhere near garbage or pavement but I worry.

I worry about the roof on my home. Water erodes roof tile.
I worry about the flooded roads and hydroplaning. Water hates cars.
I worry about the driving skill of all those people in SUV's that pretend they can handle like sports cars. Humans think water is weak.
I worry about my dog. He doesn't really know how to take care of himself in the rain. Water likes plants, sill dogs, not so much.
I worry about my wife. She drives really well and very careful, but the people that work near her do not. Neither do the engineers behind the crash-happy Metro link trains that pass right by her work everyday.
I worry about my brother-in-law that has to ride the bus and walk for two hours every day. Water hates students.
I worry about those fancy houses on the hills. Their million dollar losses will mean increased fees for the rest of us taxpayers.

I worry about global warming. Who's igloo is this raining on me today? We must hate water to do this to the Earth.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Enjoy this Cackle on Me



My brother sent me a joke this morning and I thought it was worth sharing with some minor modifications. I hope you all have a great day!

Ralph came home drunk one night, slid into bed beside his sleeping wife, and fell into a deep slumber. He awoke before the Pearly Gates, where St. Peter said, "You died in your sleep, Ralph."

Ralph stunned, replied: "I'm dead? No, I can't be! I've got too much to live for. Send me back! PLEASE YOUR HOLINESS."

St. Peter said, "I'm terribly sorry but there's only one way you can go backeth and that is as a chicken."

Ralph was devastated, but begged St.. Peter to send him anyway, at least to a farm near his home. The next thing he knew, he was covered with feathers, clucking, and pecking the ground. A rooster strolled past and Ralph immediately tensed. "So, you're the new hen, huh?" he asked. "How's your first day here?" "Not bad," replied Ralph the hen nervously, "but I have this strange feeling inside. Like I'm gonna explode!"

"You must be ovulating," explained the big red Cock. "Don 't tell me you've never laid an egg before?"

"Never," said Ralph.

"Well, just relax and let it happen," says the randy rooster. "It's no big deal." Ralph did, and a few uncomfortable seconds later, out popped an egg! Ralph was overcome with emotion as he experienced motherhood. He soon laid another egg -- his joy was overwhelming.

As he was about to lay his third egg, he felt a smack on the back of his head, and heard his wife yell.....

"!!RALPH!! YOU DUMBASS, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SHITTING IN THE BED!?!"

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Digital TV Coupons

For those of you in the U.S. that have somehow missed the bombardment of advertising for the Digital TV conversion...

Go to DTV2009.org and apply for up to 2 $40 coupons good for the purchase of a digital TV to standard converter box. It can take a few weeks to get them so apply for them while you still can. I haven't heard anything about any expiration on the offer itself though the coupons DO expire after 90 days.

Get these coupons. Buy the box and hook it up to your standard definition Television (or even HDTV if you don't have cable or an HD antenna) and you never have to worry about missing commercials again.

Really, why else would you think they make it seem as if it would be a disaster if your T.V. went blank next year?

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Neither Lacking nor Slacking

If you have noticed that the quantity of blog posts on this page have slowed a bit, don't worry. I'm not out of ideas. I have too many actually. Some have unfortunately been lost forever by my inability to type whilst driving. :)

I have recently had an influx of responsibilities both at work and in the home. I will be back up to speed soon. I will continue to post just as I have been the past few days but don't expect to see 3 to 4 posts a day like a few months ago at least for a few more weeks.

My wife and I have some major projects at home, work has become increasingly hectic and I have also taken on a few side projects. So please don't stop following just yet. I promise to post a few doozies before year's end. ;)

Monday, December 8, 2008

Do You Play Spurts?


(This was originally going to be a really short blurb because its such a busy day then I couldn't stop typing.)

I was on the can. Don't picture that.

I was reading a newspaper like I guess men are supposed to when they are in the restroom. I wasn't touching the paper though it was just hanging on the handicap balance bar. Yes I used the handicap stall WHAT?!? You'll never see me parking in one of their spaces.

As I read the paper that someone left hanging there I read what I can only assume was the sports section. Surprised?

They were talking about a boxer named Oscar De La Hoya. Apparently they erected (*snicker) a bronze statue of him just outside the Staple Center in Los Angeles. The controversy was that he has never won a fight there and some people are complaining. I'm not even really sure if they hold fights in the Staples Center. There are two other statues there. Wayne Gretzky (a long time Los Angeles Kings hockey player) and Magic Johnson, the worlds most famous AIDS victim who also played for the Los Angeles Lakers Basketball team. Neither of those two sports greats ever played there in the Staples Center and no one seems to be complaining about them.

Apparently the company who paid for the statue and worked hard to get it erected (*snicker2) is associated with Golden Boy promotions which belongs to...Oscar De La Hoya. So, some of the protesters claim this is self promotion. Aren't they all though?

Personally I don't care either way but it got me thinking. Why don't people in L.A. like Hockey?

How does this possibly make any sense? Well the Los Angeles Times article claimed that the Hispanic community which is so proud of their (not our L.A.) "Golden Boy" overlook these little nuances because they are so in love with him. No mention of the millions of dollars he has given to charities and hospitals in the Los Angeles area. They also go on to say that Hockey will never be as popular as Basketball or Boxing in the Southern California area.

I'm not a fan of any but considering that Hispanic folk here in Los Angeles go ape-shit over soccer, I can't for the life of me understand why they don't like Hockey.

They have goals. Usually 1, 2 or 3 in an entire game. Just like soccer.
They have a guy who's sole purpose is to block the goals. Just like soccer.
They go back and forth incessantly. Just like soccer.
Fans are insane. Just like soccer.
The good players are all foreigners (ay Canada?) Just like soccer.
The players are known for fighting. Just like soccer.

The rules are pretty similar though for obvious reasons, like terrain and equipment, some specific ones had to apply.

You would think at least the brainwashed Americanized Hispanics would be mad into Hockey, but no. The last time I went to a Mighty Ducks game (years ago) I was the brownest face in the audience.

Weird.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Deals: 12-5-08

Fry's
Hamilton Beach 4.5 Quart All Metal Stand Mixer $100!
Sharp 1100 Watt stainless steel microwave $80

16GB Mark 2 Memory Stick Pro Duo for $70!!!!! This a GREAT effin' deal!

Sony Progressive scan DVD player $40

Samsung 1080p (32" $950) (37" $1,100)
Samsung 1080p (40" $1,300) (52" $2,300)
Samsung 1080p 120Hz (40" $1,600) (52" $2,500)
Sony XBR 1080p 120Hz (40" $2300) (52" $3,500)

Toshiba Laptop $450! Athlon 64 X2 Dual-core with 2GB RAM and 160GB HD Wireless/Bluetooth/DVD-R/Vista Premium
Sony Vaio $900 Centrino 2 with 4GB RAM and 320GB HD Wireless/Bluetooth/DVD-R/Vista Premium

LG 20X Dual layer DVD-R with Lightscribe $40

24" Samsung widescreen LCD 1080P for your PC $450

4th Gen 16GB iPod Nano $187

Logitech 5.1 X-540 PC surround sound speakers $60. I have these and they are great!

Games
360 Left for Dead $53
360 Too Human $35
360 Gears of War 2 $55
360/PS3 Call of Duty: World at War $55
360/PS3 Midnight Club: Los Angeles $40
360 Last Remnant $55
Wii Sonic Unleashed $45
Wii Skate it $45

360 Wireless network adapter $90

360VA UPS Battery Backup $40! EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ONE OF THESE HOOKED UP TO THEIR PC'S!!!!
GameStop
360/PS3 Star Wars: Force Unleashed $40
Wii Sonic and the Secret Rings $15
Miscellaneous
Polk Audio floor standing loudspeakers $100
Griffin PowerDock 2 for iProducts $29

Used Games

XB0x 360 - Just Cause $22

PS3 Dark Sector $13
PS3 Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit $18
360 Frontlines: Fuel of War $13
360 Mass Effect $20
PS3 Need for Speed: Pro Street $15

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Meme: One Word



Dangit! You caught me on the can! I've been tagged. This one is pretty interesting.

Rules: You must answer each question with only one word.



1. Where is your cell phone? Pocket
2. Where is your significant other? Office
3. Your hair color? Miscellaneous
4. Your mother? Neurotic
5. Your father? Manly
6. Your favorite thing? Wife
7. Your dream last night? Bloggable
8. Your dream/goal? Success
9. The room you’re in? Lab
11. Your fear? Failure
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Climbing
13. Where were you last night? Class
14. What you’re not? Social
15. One of your wish-list items? Gears
16. Where you grew up? Ghetto
17. The last thing you did? Work
18. What are you wearing? Badge
19. Your TV? Crisp
20. Your pet? Smart
21. Your computer? Which
22. Your mood? Resentful
23. Missing someone? Wife
24. Your car? Smart
25. Something you’re not wearing? Panties
26. Favorite store? Electronics
27. Your summer? Hot
28. Love someone? Wife
29. Your favorite color? Blue
30. When is the last time you laughed? Meh
31. Last time you cried? Silence

Oh and I'm out of tagees so feel free to talk amongst yourselves. :) It's your party and you can play if you want to.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Foreign Lunacy


That title is in no way intended to insinuate that foreign countries are crazy. It is a play on the term, "Foreign Policy." See what I did there? Eh?? Nudge nudge.

Though this doesn't have to do with the way foreigners are, it DOES have a lot to do with our borders. No, don't shut our borders to them.

Shut our borders to their businesses.

Yes I understand this would cause many worldwide businesses to be up in arms at the anti-competitive American capitalist policies but we are dangerously close to a depression here.

The U.S. is a great consumer. Most of what U.S. citizens consume happen to be foreign products. We really need to match that balance or perhaps even surpass it.

How do we go about doing this?

  1. Tax the crap out of foreign companies that want to sell products in the U.S. Most foreign countries do the same to ours which is one of the reasons why American businesses fail on foreign soil. *coughJapancough Tax the import, sale and even production of these brands here in the U.S. Money is being sucked out of the country by these corporations. We need to slow it down before they bleed us dry.
  2. Tax the crap out of our own companies that want to look to foreign countries for employment. American companies should NOT legally find it financially feasible to hire cheap labor. Make it MORE expensive for them to do so. This would FORCE them to hire American workers who would keep the money in the U.S. and spend it here feeding the Economy beast.
  3. Give tax breaks to those companies who abide by those policies quickly and provide affordable alternative energy vehicles ready for mass production. Not "in the works" plans or other B.S. delays that GM has tried in the past.
  4. Give tax breaks to citizens who purchase American products.
  5. Readjust purchase tax. Readjust? The most dramatic of all changes would be this one for the tiny little products you buy every day. COMPLETELY REMOVE ALL GOVERNMENT, CITY AND STATE TAXES OF ANY AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS. How could you possibly compensate for the loss? Toss the difference onto the already lower price of the foreign products. Its not as much as you think, less than a dollar for every 10 but it might just be enough to make a difference.


...and so on. I'm sure you can imagine many similar perks along this same train of thought.

Deleting YOU


I have an address book. I have many actually. Until recently they were spread out across many different mediums. My PDA, a spreadsheet, my e-mail client at work, a web e-mail client and address book for each e-mail address I had and one on my cell phone.

Until recently (thanks iPhone & Blackberry) I consolidated.

This is just the way I work. I don't forward text messages or e-mails that I don't first edit, change or at the very least reformat for the viewers ease. With these relatively good habits I have one that people seem to dislike. I tend to delete people.

When I do this, there is no animosity or malintent. (I seriously thought that was a word!) I use MySpace (or used to use) for MySpace reasons. I would post blogs and comment on others. I would upload pictures and comment on others. I would create and moderate groups. Basically, I would participate heavily.

Many people would add me, then never say a word. This would annoy me to no end. The whole point of MySpace, Facebook, Friendster and other social networks like those was to communicate with each other. A majority of people though, would only use it for their own entertainment. They would snoop around your stuff, add you to see your pictures and never acknowledge your existence or even respond to your direct questions.

I wouldn't get mad. I would simply delete them. Why invite someone to the poker table if they aren't going to play? Imagine a 4 person bridge game with one of the players not participating and instead just staring at you, crunching on ice and wiping orange Doritos on your tablecloth.

So here on blogger the day has come for me to do the same. This is not a threat and there aren't any hard feelings. If I write things that don't interest you, no problem! I'm not hurt or offended in any way. I don't want you to be stuck or feel obligated to continue following me. I know we are all busy adults and when pressed for time, there truly is only a small circle we can truly dedicate ourselves to.

This habit is what has traditionally helped me maintain a sense of community in whatever group or blog I create. Some of you who have followed me for years know exactly what I am talking about.

I will never privatize this blog, but I do intend to keep my fellowship slim so I can give attention to those more active participants. I'm more of a conversationalist looking for a fireside chat than I am a public speaker at a conference never taking questions. (A fireside chat with the occasional verbal fist fight. ;) )

So if the day comes and you find yourself not being followed by me, please don't be hurt or angry. It just means I've noticed that you have been busy and I thought it would be best for the both of us to start reading other people.

We'll always have Salem.

EDIT: FOR VIVIENNE


Monday, December 1, 2008

Spammer McAsshole

Let me tell you about Spammer McAsshole. Mr. McAsshole is a guy in my contact list. I have never met seƱor Spammer. I don't know what this McAsshole looks like or what kind of car he drives. All I know is that he calls my phones from different numbers every day. McAsshole sends me e-mails from different addresses. Sometimes they repeat, sometimes they don't. S. McAsshole likes to warn me about my fictional warranty expiring on my car.

When they do repeat, my spam filter doesn't catch them or the Do Not Call list I signed up for years ago didn't do its job, then I add his information to this contact. That way, I recognize Spammer McAsshole for who he is and disconnect the call before I pick up to answer to an answering machine.

These machines Spammer McAsshole uses detect how long it takes you to answer, any background noise or if it is a data line or fax machine #. If you pick up, chances are you will get more calls from Captain McAsshole because he will know you are a live person on the end of that line. If you disconnect, I would imagine Spammy doesn't get any usable data.

Whether I change anything or not, its really gratifying when I see that name ringing on my phone. That gives me permission to file a complaint with the Do Not Call registry. If you get a call like this, file a complaint here. Do some good and don't be a McAsshole!

Here are two numbers I frequently get called from.

(215) 230-9706
(505) 986-8704

Deals: 12-1-08

Cyber-Monday!

Another great group of deals from Amazon. ALL WITH FREE SHIPPING!

If I wasn't saving up money, I would be broke.

Rock Band 2 is $43.95

Newegg also has some great deals.

XBox 360 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Game of the Year Edition $40 free shipping.
Turtle Beach Ear Force X4 Wireless Headphones for those nighttime gamers that don't want to wake up the kids. $140 with free shipping.

Here's one I would LOVE if I were a rich college student in a small dorm.

Sony Bravia Micro Home Theater System. $400 with free shipping. Considering this is from Sony, its a steal. That subwoofer alone...




Oh and I just found this one on the Best Buy website! Get it while you still can! A 1,000 Watt Sony 5-Disc XM Ready, Progressive-Scan Home Theater System.

$150. You read that right. $150!!! If you are low on funds...this is the one to get.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Deals: 11-26-08

If you are looking for some Black Friday deals, try Amazon.com.

They have some really great prices on stuff this year.


Katy Perry's One of the Boys album is available for download for $5!

Go soon, they have 49 other full album downloads for $5! This isn't old crap either its the newest music from groups like Metallica, Portishead, Moby, Lil Wayne, Mariah Carey and even classics like B.B. King and Al Green.

This list is updated hourly, I don't know if that means they take stuff off the list as well as add to it. If you're a fan of music like I am and are tired of getting viruses from programs like Limewire (like everyone who's computers I have to fix,) take a look at this list and pick up a few good albums for the holidays.

They also have your typical collection of electronics as well as perfumes.

Here are a couple that I recognized.

3.4oz Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely perfume $32 free shipping.
4.2oz Cool Water for men $33 free shipping.

Be careful though some the "deals" on electronics are crap! Research the stuff you're not sure about.

Christmas shopping gets easier every year. :)

AMAZON.COM

Priorities

Almost 10 years ago President Bill Clinton was impeached for lying to the public about his personal life of adultery.

President George W. Bush lies and thousands people die... nothing happens. What is going on?

I have no faith in politics. Can you blame me?

Read this article to find out what I am talking about.

Random@Random: David

I was digging through some old blogs I never posted and found one with this picture of David I dragged off the internet. I forgot what I was going to say about it but thought I would share it anyway.

Michelangelo's David if he were alive today.



True...so true.

Life or Deaf



(I wrote originally wrote this blog last year, it still references an interesting story so I decided to post it even though it is terribly old.)

There was a man named Donnell Williams. Donnell was in his tub taking a bath. He was relaxed and enjoying his warm bath. When he was done and got out of the tub, he was surprised to find guns pointing at him just seconds after wrapping a towel around himself.

"I ain't never been so scared," says Williams.

Kansas police, forced themselves into his home in response to a falsified cell phone reported shooting.

"I kept going to my ear yelling that I was scared. I can't hear! I can't hear!"

That didn't stop Kansas' finest from shooting him with a taser.

He was deaf, more than half naked and obviously unarmed. I don't need to tell you that Donell Williams is black. This kind of stuff only happens to poor minority groups and it is pretty sad.

We can sit here and claim that the police were scared for their lives in a bad neighborhood but the man was alone, he didn't make a move and was naked. They had many men, armed with guns. Because he didn't seem to respond they shocked him.

According to the story they have since apologized but really, what good does that do.

I can imagine myself listen to my earphones in my own home when people bust in and shoot me with a taser without provocation. This is the stuff that nurtures distrust and resentment towards the police departments of our local neighborhoods.

If they can teach cops basic Spanish words to deal with multicultural citizens, they can teach them basic hand signals.


Story Links.

Channel 12
Blog

Killer Kredit or Creditucation



Credit can make a break you. Many people are learning the hard way but who is to blame? My first instinct is to blame the parents for not teaching their children the basics of money management and credit building. Unfortunately they aren't educated on the issues themselves so can we really place the blame squarely on the shoulders of these parents who were never taught either?

Instead of making Geometry and Algebra II mandatory, I think we should build on classes like Economics. I was given only half a year of Economics my senior year and it was worthless. Sure it was funny playing "stock market" but I didn't learn anything that I would be able to use in daily life.

I feel classes like advanced Math, Chemistry, and Biology should be optional for students who intend to pursue a college education in those subjects. A mandatory class should include real life topics. How many times haven't you heard students argue, or argued yourself, that what is being learned in school isn't something they would ever use in life? I know I made that argument myself when in Geometry and you know what? I was right. I didn't know what I was going to do for a living but I knew I hated the subject. I did fine in the class, it was actually very easy, but it was a waste of an entire year for me.

Money management would have been something I know many of my peers would have benefited from.

As a child, I watched my father pay is bills and control his credit every single day. I learned early on that it was OK to get as many cards as I like. As long as I find one that doesn't charge annual fee's and I paid them off completely every month. Every, single, month.

I have over 700 credit now. I have never spent more than what I had in the bank to pay off completely and only used to credit cards to build credit. I didn't view those cards as mini-loans. I saw them as tools for a purpose. Compressed cash so to speak. If I didn't have the cash in the bank right now and a really good deal at Best Buy would be gone tomorrow, so be it.

Be wary of the suffering that comes from wanting nice things.


My credit is great because of it. Sure I didn't always have the nicest shoes and fancy clothes or cars like my friends did but now I have a home that is all mine, clothes that I can afford, a new car in the garage and they still live at home with their parents looking sadly at pictures of their beloved SUV that just got repo-ed.

So this Friday, be careful. Even if you see that T.V. that you really want at the lowest price you have ever seen it, if you don't have that amount and more already in the bank specifically reserved for the purchase of that television, DO NOT BUY IT. Rebuilding the countries economy starts with rebuilding your own. The credit companies wouldn't be in trouble if we didn't try to live beyond our means. As much as we want to put the blame on greedy corporations, it is really us who are to blame.

If we had been responsible with our own money, we would not be in trouble.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Good Sam Must Work Out

Yesterday as I was getting off the freeway I see this Guy pushing a Chevy Caprice.


For many years this was the vehicle of choice for the California police department. As I parked my car to go help this man I quickly found out one of the reasons why.

That is one heavy ass car!

I was running about 2 minutes late but saw the man struggling. Other people were just walking buy or staring at the guy trying to push this elephant. I stop, get out and start pushing. His wife was in the car and she was struggling with the steering so she takes us the long way around to the sidewalk where she wants to park.

We progress ever so slowly. I find it so interesting that you don't really notice how steep the edges of our roads are until you find yourself pushing a nearly 2 ton monster.

As soon as we're done I run back to the car to get to work, or at least I tried to run. My legs didn't seem to want to lift up off the ground high enough to effectively call the awkward dinosaur stomp I was doing in the middle of the street a "run." Still in a hurry, I change my strategy into doing what I could only imagine Frankenstein's monster would have done when he was in a hurry. I did this little hoppity swing thing to jump of one leg and onto the other. Very weird. As soon as I got to the car and bent my knees I was fine.

Age. It catches up to you when you least expect it.

Don't Come Begging



When I pull up at a gas station I quickly survey my surroundings. I see the man dog scoping out all the breasts in the area. I see the girl struggling to stretch the fuel hose to the opposite side of the car where the gas tank resides. I can barely see the gas station attendant behind the tinted glass trying really hard not to do any work. I try my hardest never to approach these attendants since they rarely speak any English.

The one person I pay the most attention to is the guy at the bus stop or the one pretending to be on the phone. As soon as I pull up in my shiny car I notice them notice me and they usually start making their way towards me. They spew their tragic tale of poverty and hunger which I can tell is an outright lie simply by the clean clothes they are wearing. I usually cut them off and say "sorry." If they persist I tell them I paid with a card, which I always do. I usually get the "Not even a couple of quarters?"

I hit the same gas stations on a regular basis so I have come to know them well. They too hit the same gas stations on a regular basis. It got to the point where I would reach into my pocket, pull out my wallet and hand them a business card to an employment agency.

If they can be out there in the sun all day, they can work. If my skinny butt can work in a warehouse when times were hard and survive, then they can too.

My ex coworker's father owns a bakery. My ex coworker knew that I absolutely love this cinnamon bundt cake that they use to make. For Christmas one year she brought one for me. I'm not kidding you the entire drive home I would look over at it sitting there decadently in the passenger seat waiting to be eaten.

As I exited the freeway there was a chunky homeless looking dusty blond smoker lady begging at the exit. So close to the holidays I felt terrible about her situation. She knocks on my window and I know I don't have change. I didn't make much back then. Then I glance over longingly at my delicious cinnamon bundt cake. Then back to her. Then the cake. Then to her.

*Sigh.

I lower my window. (It was a manual window in my little Honda Prelude.) I hand her the cake and drive away as the light turns green. I feel good about myself and look back through the rear view with smiling eyes. I see her rip off the top, stick her hands in it as if looking for something then throw the cake and the plastic covering into the street.

I don't remember getting mad. I just felt as if time stopped for me. I drove the rest of the way home in a daze.

my cake

Later I thought, "well, the good deed was done and that was what was more important." Whatever she did was her own doing. Whatever choices she made in life to make her that way were her own. It doesn't diminish the nice thing I did.

Of course that doesn't mean that I would do it again. I do try to help people but I am just very careful about what I do and how I do it. I follow a simple set of rules.

  1. If you come to my home, you're not getting a thing.
  2. If you can afford a commercial on television, you're not getting a thing.
  3. If you are begging across the street from somebody who is working for their money, you can be damn sure you are not getting a freakin' thing and should consider yourself lucky if I don't swerve to hit you with the car.
Where's my holiday spirit? Right here.

No, seriously. Right here.

What is Child's Play? Child's Play is a community based charity dedicated to fulfilling the wish lists of kids in Children's Hospitals around the world. Just click on the little game controller of your hospital of choice on the map displayed on their home page to check out their Amazon list. Be sure to select the shipping address of the hospital rather than your own. You can also buy a T-Shirt or Child's Play Greeting card of which 100% of the proceeds to direct to Child's Play.

Please, this is a genuine charity that I have researched thoroughly that couldn't serve a better cause this holiday season. They also accept PayPal or cash to;

Child's Play
12317 15th Ave NE #108
Seattle, Washington 98125

Please make a sick child smile this Christmas.

~HL

Monday, November 24, 2008

Ten G's



Wow! When I first created this blog I didn't expect results like these. I added the blog hit counter a few months ago more out of curiosity than any intention to keep track of the blogs popularity. As of this weekend The Silent Podium has received over 10,000 hits in less than 6 months! So for my 150th blog here at the Silent Podium I wanted to express my gratitude.

I want to thank each and every single one of you who have participated. I want you all to know that I truly appreciate the time you have taken in your day to read through my chaotic mess of a random blog. I understand how on occasion you may read blogs that just don't inspire a response so every time I get a comment, I am glad to know that you felt inclined to participate. Even if, no, ESPECIALLY if we disagree. You all know how much I enjoy a good argument!

Thank you.

I will keep cranking them out if you will keep reading them. :)

Now on to blog #151!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Meme: Tagback



You know the drill. No need to play if you've already played before or if you don't feel like it. Since I very recently tagged so many of you I will refrain from tagging anyone specifically. Anyone who wants to play, is more than welcome. Now, on to the meme!

eizzy.k is responsible for this bout.



Rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. List 7 random/wierd facts about yourself.
3. Tag 7 folks (IF POSSIBLE) and leave their links on your page.
4. Most importantly, let them know they been tagged and leave them a link to your tag post!

7 MORE random facts about myself:

  1. I play video games and occasionally lose intentionally so everyone can have fun. Winning doesn't mean much to me, its the social aspect that I enjoy.
  2. I have a bad habit. I bite my nails. Not to the point where they are bad but where they are short. I trim them I guess. Gross I know.
  3. I don't bite the pinkies. Why? OCD. Let me explain. I am aware of my bad habit and when I was in elementary school, I decided stopping the biting was a monumental task so I figured I would start with one finger. That's as far as I got. Now NOT biting them specifically is part of my "process." Weirdo.
  4. As much of a pessimist as the people who know me know that I am, there is a tiny little optimist inside me. He is too often disappointed though.
  5. Unlike eizzy, I think the 90's were terrible. They were an awkward time with terrible music, clothes and hairstyles. Polka-dots? There were the occasional diamonds but it was mostly rough.
  6. I don't believe the "end of the world" will come any time soon. Our presence in it? Who knows, but the Earth will be fine.
  7. I hate it when people talk at movies but lately have become accustomed to talking myself. I don't do it at the theater. My wife would find my comments entertaining so I just became accustomed to doing it.

OK. So its all up to you guys if you feel like participating. No obligation. :)

Lose 10 Pounds!

(from your boobs)

You really need to pay attention to the small print in those ads. I was reading through one of my new readers' (Everyday Housewife) responses to the 9 layers meme and I decided to click on an ad for her. Because that's what we should all be doing for each other right? ;) And one of the links caught my attention. It was a before and after picture unlike any other I have seen before.

It was real.

I know sometimes you see those ads on T.V. with the girl all super fat wearing spandex and looking so sad. I wouldn't be surprised if they added twinky filling to her face using PhotoShop to show you how terrible life was for her before. No offense to Brain Twinkey.




Then in the after picture they have this OBVIOUSLY touched up shot of a girl that could possibly be her in a studio with make up and a new do. Cheap marketing tactics right?

Have any of you seen that commercial with the little cartoon couple that discuss the unfair advantage men have over women when it comes to weight loss? If not, let me quickly describe it to you.

Two chunky cartoons are on screen. The girl talking no surprise there. ;) So the girl is talking to the camera and complaining about their weight and how they are going on diet. As time moves forward you see visible weight loss in both. Only the man loses weight everywhere and the girl only loses her boobs. The commercial ends with her saying, "Now neither of us is happy."

Its pretty funny. All the female friends I have ever had have confirmed this to be true. Its never been more evident than in these before and after shots in the ad linked page.



Here is the link to the page. Not the best way to advertise your weight loss solution I'd say.

As an interesting side note; after I clicked on another of her ads, 'cuz I'm nice like that, I noticed another diet blog with an interesting title. See if you see what I saw. :)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Dangling Weiners & Ketchup

(This post is partly true and partly satirical. The actual event DID occur and the thoughts did cross my mind but as you have all experienced, sometimes the world isn't quite as you see it.)

Today at work they had a special luncheon. They had discounted the regular price of a certain lunch special of a tiny bag of chips, soda and a hot dog. There was an even discount on the second dog.

I don't eat much. I'm a small framed guy but I like deals. I bought the second dog. I figured I might as well get my money's worth.

Have you all ever seen those hot dogs that are too small for the bun? Or the wieners that just hang off the edge of the bread? I don't like that. The hot dog itself just tastes like crap anyway I mean its not even really meat right? So I don't want to taste it. I just eat it as filling food. The bread helps to dilute the nastiness of the blended horse hoof I'm scarfing.

I eat my dogs plain. Just ketchup. No mayo, no mustard, none of those little green poison cubes or tomatoes or anything. Simple.

Rarely do I sit in the lunch room. I'm not social and people don't really like me because of what I sometimes have to do. I sit at the only solitary, round table in the entire room. The sunlight actually breaks through while I am eating and shines a spotlight down on my lonely self.

I don't care. People suck anyway and I'm more concerned with accomplishing this challenge. Eat and keep this "food" down.

Unwrapping my aluminum foiled animal tofu, I prepare to take my first bite. Half way up I realize, "Hmmm, perhaps I shouldn't deep throat this thing."

Yeah. I'm pretty sure about my masculinity but something just feels inherently wrong about inserting a sausage into my mouth in any remotely perpendicular fashion. So what am I to do? I bare my teeth and very obviously bite the thing off sideways. Garrr like a caveman ripping at some raw mammoth meat...wait. I'm not helping my case am I? As a shallow man I have no choice.

Why must they continue to make phallic foods?






Even God seems to like to get in on the "gag." Pun intended.



Well, have a great day and a safe drive home if you're not there already. (Sorry about the formatting, I'll fix it tomorrow, I gotta go home!)

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Disorganized Thoughts - A Really, Really Bad Poem

Sometimes whilst walking,
I hear my my inner self just talking.
Random thoughts like conspiracy plots,
But with a grim face like I were stalking.

While at work or there at home,
I sit with friends or all alone.
My mind will wander to lands yonder,
About nothing more complex than a rotary phone.

How do people who wear diapers make it to Senator?
Or why does the rear end of a turkey look like The Predator.


(Yet still taste so delicious!)

Sometimes I'm lost in thought all day,
I'm quiet mostly with not much to say.
So I come here to Blogger to play,
Where my disorganized thoughts are fired away.

I'm no poet, for that I apologize but I just felt like jotting something down on a less than productive day here on blogger.

P.S. Thanks to Diva for the turkeypic! Check her blog for a GREAT Thanksgiving recipe!

Random@Random - Just Now

So I'm walking out to the gate at work and I pass the cafeteria. It's warm, sunny and the gardeners are cutting away. An older lady crosses my path and she is coughing up a storm. A little concerned that this gray lady may stop breathing I ask her, "Are you OK?"

She manages to clear her throat long enough to say, "I'm allergic to
grass." Without thinking about the possible negative reactions to me joking
about her age I respond, "The 70's must have been a nightmare for you."

She stops in her tracks and starts coughing even louder. She straightens up and says, "You just made my day, thank you for that." I work in a pretty uptight environment so this was not normal behavior for anyone.

Once in a while it's good to scratch the glass.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Meme: Phocus



UPDATED!! 11-19-08

This one is easy.

Rules:

1. Take a picture of a regular everyday item with your cell phone or digital camera that fits the theme of the current Meme.
2. Crop and upload a tiny but recognizable portion of it to your own blog.
3. Give people a couple of days to respond then upload the complete "un-cropped" photograph by editing the original post.

Are you game?

Today's theme: "Office Spaces"

Keyword: Tool


Too easy? Let me know and I will create a much harder one next time.



Please excuse the ugliest pair of scissors in our work area here. I couldn't find anything more "common" than that. Next time it will be a bit harder.

Meme: 9 Layers



9 Layers - A Gigantic Meme I copied from Leah Friesen.

A meme to peel away the layers of you.

LAYER ONE:
– Name: HektikLyfe. Yep. That's all you're getting.
– Birth date: Summertime.
– Birthplace: Hollywood. Seriously.
– Current Location: Somewhere in San Bernardino County.
– Eye Color: Brown.
– Hair Color: Brown.
– Height: 5'9"
– Righty or Lefty: Right-handed.
– Zodiac Sign: Meh.

LAYER TWO:
– Your heritage: Define "heritage." My blood comes from all over.
– The shoes you wore today: K-Swiss.
– Your weakness: Games and electronics.
– Your fears: Injured or endangered family. Poverty. Failure.
– Your perfect pizza: Thick bread crust, no oil. Ham.
– Goal you’d like to achieve: Like not likely. Duh. Rich. I would like to live my life not work it.

LAYER THREE:
– Your most overused phrase on messengers: LOL. People so rarely actually LOL.
– Your first waking thoughts: I wonder if I could sleep 5 more minutes.
– Your best physical feature: I have a terrible EGO. I guess my eyelashes. I don't like them but girls seem to compliment/hate them more often than anything else.
– Your most missed memory: I don't understand this question. If I miss the memory than it is gone. If the memory is gone how could I remember to miss it? Hmmm, I guess I wish I could remember what it felt like to not have worries as a kid.

LAYER FOUR:
– Pepsi or Coke: Coke. I miss it. I gave up on all caffeinated drinks. Pepsi was too sweet.
– McDonald’s or Burger King: Burger King hands down. McDonald's made me sick. Not thanks McFreezerburn burger.
– Single or group dates: Tough choice. I like practicing my social skills but I also LOVE spending time with my wife just laughing at the world. I like them both but prefer the time alone with my wife.
– Adidas or Nike: Neither. They are both over-priced. $80 for shoes, please! I'll stick to budget "last-years model" Lugz and K-Swiss.
– Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: Neither. No Tea for me.
– Chocolate or vanilla: Vanilla for ice cream, chocolate for candy.
– Cappuccino or coffee: Neither. No caffeine for me.

LAYER FIVE:
– Smoke: Never.
– Cuss: Every day.
– Sing: Only when I'm very, VERY alone and usually very overacted to the radio in a mockery of today's anorexic "artists."
– Take a shower everyday: Who doesn't? Please stay far away from me. Sometimes twice. (OCD)
– Do you think you’ve been in love: Now that I've been married, I know that I hadn't truly been in love before.
– Want to go to college: Not again. No thanks. I'll keep my money.
– Liked high school: Hated every moment of it.
– Want to get married: Only to my wife again.
– Believe in yourself: Not much.
– Get motion sickness: Only when I'm not driving.
– Think you’re attractive: Not at all.
– Think you’re a health freak: Not a freak but I am aware when I start to develop a ponch. No more In-N-Out!
– Get along with your parent(s): Mostly.
– Like thunderstorms: Not since we bought a home. Now I worry. Water erodes.
– Play an instrument: Not a real one. I can play the crap out of my Rock Band drums and pluck and my old acoustic guitar. (RIP)

LAYER SIX: In the past month…
– Drank alcohol: Haven't taken NyQuil this month so no.
– Smoked: Again, never.
– Done a drug: Only aspirin.
– Made Out: None of your business.
– Gone on a date: Of course.
– Gone to the mall?: Yes.
– Eaten an entire box of Oreos?: WTF? Who does this? Dang. Fat.
– Eaten sushi: Nope.
– Been on stage: Yes.
– Been dumped: I hope not.
– Gone skating: Not in the past month. Been a couple of years since we've been ice skating.
– Made homemade cookies: I don't think I've ever done this.
– Gone skinny dipping: Only in the tub.
– Dyed your hair: I don't plan on it.
– Stolen Anything: Hmmm, do tiny salt packets from restaurants count?

LAYER SEVEN: Ever…
– Played a game that required removal of clothing: Only jokingly. We didn't actually do the removal of clothing. It was strip Monopoly and no one removed anything. We just called it that.
– Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: I wouldn't say trashed but I believe I was 15 when I realized that perhaps I was too young to be drunk. That's when I quit alcohol forever.
– Been caught “doing something”:
– Been called a tease: Ha! No. Though I did make girls really chase after me. I didn't "play" hard to get. I was. Didn't mean to. I just didn't go out with everyone I had an interest in. If they weren't perfect (for me) I wouldn't give them the time of day relationship wise. I angered a few girls who didn't deal well with rejection. Especially since they didn't think I was anything special. Oxymorons.
– Gotten beaten up: Yes. Not by those girls though. One time an ex-boyfriend sent 6 of his "homies" to try who considered me responsible for his breakup. Nothing happened and I broke through the crowd of shorties.
– Shoplifted: Once as a teenage idiot and I paid for it dearly. I learned my lesson.
– Changed who you were to fit in: Everywhere I go. Not for the purpose of "fitting in" but to get along with people. I think we all do that to a degree. You don't talk about sex with your priest but you do it freely with your spouse. Unless they are one in the same and you are going to hell. ;)

LAYER EIGHT:
– Age you hope to be married: Already married and I believe we did it at the right age for us.
– Numbers and Names of Children: Zero - Thats the name not the number. (He's a dog.)
– Describe your Dream Wedding: The girl would be happy. I had it.
– How do you want to die: Want? I would prefer to die quickly, painlessly and in my sleep at the same time my wife passes away exactly the same way. I don't want her to suffer my loss and I don't want to suffer hers.
– Where you want to go to college: Not again. Never again. I hate paying people to teach you how to earn half of what you owe back.
– What do you want to be when you grow up: Rich, retired and likable.
– What country would you most like to visit: Italy. My wife likes it. Her mother loved it and I want to take her there.

LAYER NINE:
– Number of drugs taken illegally: 1. Alcohol. You're kidding yourself if you don't call it a drug.
– Number of people I could trust with my life: 3. Wife, Brother, Father.
– Number of CDs that I own: Way too many. I couldn't count that high in the time it would take to write this blog.
– Number of piercings: None. Don't think I will ever do this. Why? Human ornaments are a feminine thing I think.
– Number of tattoos: None. I like some of the artwork but I'd rather see it on canvas than on hairy, patchy, stretchy human skin.
– Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper?: 3 or 4.
– Number of scars on my body: I can think of only 4 tiny ones.
– Number of things in my past that I regret: About as many CD's as I own. My life is full of them. Sure we wouldn't be here having this conversation but if the world were perfect I would make SOOO many changes to mistakes I made.

If you are still here and wish to play along, click on Read More to get the blank pre-formatted one you can copy and post on your own blog. Don't forget to post a link so we can go read and get to know you.



LAYER ONE:
– Name:
– Birth date:
– Birthplace:
– Current Location:
– Eye Color:
– Hair Color:
– Height:
– Righty or Lefty:
– Zodiac Sign:

LAYER TWO:
– Your heritage:
– The shoes you wore today:
– Your weakness:
– Your fears:
– Your perfect pizza:
– Goal you’d like to achieve:

LAYER THREE:
– Your most overused phrase on AIM:
– Your first waking thoughts:
– Your best physical feature:
– Your most missed memory:

LAYER FOUR:
– Pepsi or Coke:
– McDonald’s or Burger King:
– Single or group dates:
– Adidas or Nike:
– Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:
– Chocolate or vanilla:
– Cappuccino or coffee:

LAYER FIVE:
– Smoke:
– Cuss:
– Sing:
– Take a shower everyday:
– Do you think you’ve been in love:
– Want to go to college:
– Liked high school:
– Want to get married:
– Believe in yourself:
– Get motion sickness:
– Think you’re attractive:
– Think you’re a health freak:
– Get along with your parent(s):
– Like thunderstorms:
– Play an instrument:

LAYER SIX: In the past month…
– Drank alcohol:
– Smoked:
– Done a drug:
– Made Out:
– Gone on a date:
– Gone to the mall?:
– Eaten an entire box of Oreos?:
– Eaten sushi:
– Been on stage:
– Been dumped:
– Gone skating:
– Made homemade cookies:
– Gone skinny dipping:
– Dyed your hair:
– Stolen Anything:

LAYER SEVEN: Ever…
– Played a game that required removal of clothing:
– Been trashed or extremely intoxicated:
– Been caught “doing something”:
– Been called a tease:
– Gotten beaten up:
– Shoplifted:
– Changed who you were to fit in:

LAYER EIGHT:
– Age you hope to be married:
– Numbers and Names of Children:
– Describe your Dream Wedding:
– How do you want to die:
– Where you want to go to college:
– What do you want to be when you grow up:
– What country would you most like to visit:

LAYER NINE:
– Number of drugs taken illegally:
– Number of people I could trust with my life:
– Number of CDs that I own:
– Number of piercings:
– Number of tattoos:
– Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper?:
– Number of scars on my body:
– Number of things in my past that I regret: