The way things are (maybe?)

long time coming

2010-03-20T23:07:00.003-05:00

- So I don't write enough. I'm happier when I'm writing; mostly because I'm so bad at speaking. Not that it's not gotten better over the years, but I still periodically transpose words, go completely blank in the middle of my sentences, etc. Maybe I have mad cow. Or maybe the government has surgically implanted a chip into my brain that prevents me from becoming too influential.

- Been reading a lot of webcomics. I could totally write a webcomic. The art part would be difficult, but a lot of them are just stick figures anyway. Anybody doing a twilight parody? I'd probably have to read Twilight first, which I refuse to do. I think stick figures with pointy-teeth would be pretty funny. Maybe I'll do some sketches.

- Barack Hussein Obama. mmmmm-mm-mmmmmm! "First we show up, then we see what happens."

- Gathering Storm: Excellent read. Moved quickly, had some great character development. On the other hand, almost the entire Mat section was ridiculous. Like Superman's nemesis having 4-inch fingernails and using them to fight. I'm looking at you, Quest for Peace.

- Arthas is dead. Like when Vader died, it is really emotionally draining. I mean, how often do you have the same villain in your life for 7+ years? The whole thing seemed a bit anti-climatic, too, but I'm not sure how it could have ended differently. Who knew pixels could have so much depth? Fare thee well, sweet prince!

I'm kidding. More phat loots, kthxbye.

- Psych has been pretty good this season. I've been laughing pretty consistently. Love the Mentalist references. Still not sure how that flies. That'd be like me writing a book about moody, model-like vampires that love a mortal girl, and no one calling me on it. Cause if they did, they'd miss out on all the angst. Teenagers gotta get their daily helping of angst. That should be the tagline on the movie poster.

"Moody models. Angst for all."

- I want to see Clash of the Titans. Btw, who is Sam Worthington? Came out of nowhere. Like Han in ANH. You think he's gone, left with his reward money. You're all like, "Man, he's gone, ain't never coming back ('cause your grammar is pretty bad, obviously)." Then, BAM!!!!!! Out of nowhere! (also, the name of the card is "Out of Nowhere"; adds a destiny draw or something. Pwnd.)

- Been saying "Epic Fail" a lot lately. Not sure why. Gotta get back to "Pwnt!" Maybe a little bit of "newbsauce," and a helping of "roflcopter."

writing to an audience

2009-11-20T16:39:00.002-06:00

- So I wrote a Twilight parody on Facebook, and only two people seemed to get it was even a parody or why it was funny. WHich means maybe it wasn't funny, but the people who thought it was funny really like it. I thought it was funny.

It goes to support my theory that most people don't pay attention to the details of writing, though. I put exaggerated movements, I put dialoge contradictions that made no sense unless you were an uber-angsty character, and I used ridiculous descriptions multiple times. So either you guys must think I'm a terrible writer, or you weren't paying attention. ;P I'm kidding. I wrote it at 3am last night, so maybe it really wasn't funny.

Makes me wonder though, about what kind of audience I'm ever going to be able to get it I keep writing in my niche. It's what I like, so I don't think I'm going to try and change, but at the same time, i would like to, someday in the far distant future, be commercially viable.

Something for me to think about.

- New Moon came out at midnight. The hour of 12am to 1am was one of the busiest I've seen in a long time. Doesn't make a lot of sense.

more to say

2009-11-19T13:49:00.002-06:00

- SO I'm trying to hammer out an exerpt I can post on here so you can see what I'm working on, but it's taking longer than I thought. Plus, everytime I reread it, I like it less and less, and then I have to change it.

- A cop in Arkansas tasered an unruly ten-year old girl who was throwing a fit. I'm thinking this definitely needs to catch on. More tasering of unruly children.

- I'm really bothered by Sarah Palin's current popularity. She's popular, but once she starts running, she has too much baggage. Plus, there are people who won't vote for her because she's a woman, and others who won't vote for her because of Levi Johnston (who should be shot, or at least tasered repeatedly, on a daily basis). My point is not that I don't like her (which I don't, really, but that's more of a personal thing, rather than political), just that she can't win.

- Fox has Obama's approval at a new low of 46%. But that's Fox. MSNBC has him at 89% approval, with 11% hating black people.

- The Star Trek where the Enterprise gets infected and everyone devolves was on. I remember these from so long ago. The one where Picard draws a happy face in the cloud was also on recently. That was pretty good.

- The Lions are so bad. So unbelieveably bad. It's like trying to use Froggy suit on mario 3. Sure, it looks like it might have potential, but in 98% of circumstances it's going to get you hit by a koopa paratroopa. The Lions can't catch the ball, for one thing. They drop passes like no other.

- Tuesday got me watching Criminal Minds. It's actually quite interesting. It's different from other cop shows, because they are all about profiling the bad guys. It's interesting. Plus, the reruns have Mandy Patikin. And I like saying Mandy Patikin.

plots and settings

2009-11-14T12:37:00.003-06:00

- For the first time in a really long time, I have a plot for my writing, and a setting that I actually spent time to come up with, and it feels great.

Normally I focus on characters and stuff, and then a couple weeks later I have twenty pages of random dialogue but nowhere to put it. I haven't been this excited since they found sniffer dog!

Way to go, sniffer dog.

Anyway, I'm really excited about where this is going. Hopefully I'll stick with it. I give up way to often. I was reading Rothfusseseses' blog and realized how much I wanted that. Not envy, but definitely a goal.

november

2009-11-08T18:28:00.003-06:00

- Taylor Swift is not attractive, in the least. She looks like a china doll, a rather creepy china doll.

- I am a self-declared Brett Favre apologist. I read articles on ESPN about Favre. I care about him beating the Packers, and embarassing Ted Thompson. I will argue he is one of the best quarterbacks playing the game, edging Brady and Rothelisberger.

There is a lot being written about him "Betryaing" the Packers by putting on a Viking's uniform. Honestly, though, the Viking's fanbase has got to be just as guilty of being tunrcoats. We hated this guy! Whenever Favre's name came up, I'd reference his all-time lead in interceptions. I just think the whole thing is enormously entertaining.

- The new Robert Jordan book is out! I've got about an hour of reviewing ahead of me tonight.

- So... my writing has been really, really poor lately. I did some decent stuff Friday, which is the first in a long while. Everything else is either deleted or crossed out. I have an entire notebook (it feels like) of crossed out pages. It's really rough on my sleep.

alternate endings

2009-10-17T12:51:00.003-05:00

- I hate the concept of alternate endings. When I see a movie, I want to be able to talk about it with other people, operating under the same set of circumstances. What's up with all these alternate endings? Either the people die, or they live. Make up your minds, collective directors.

- Gerard Butler is making a lot of movies. It's like when Jude Law was making all those movies, only Gerard Butler is cool.

- Btw, if he's a boy, we're probably going to name him Malachi Davis, and if she's a girl, Grace Anne.

- I've been watching Star Trek: The Next Generation late at night. They really aren't that bad, considering the setting. Patrick Stewart is awesome. What I'm trying to say is, definitely Picard.

- Barack Hussein Obama! Mmm-mm-mmmmm!

- I was thinking of buying a ChiaObama for the Middle, but I think some people would find it disrespectful to the President (even though it's obviously meant as an honor, if you watch the commercials). It doesn't even look like him. It looks more like Michael Irvin. Or the psychologist from MASH. Yeah. It should have been named ChiaSidney.

- Go Vikings! And Lions! And, for this week only, Falcons!

new stuff

2009-09-11T20:44:00.005-05:00

- So about music.....

I am more and more coming to the conclusion that the idea that only our hymns are pleasing as worship to God is false. I don't think it is necessarily harmful, to some extent, as erring on the side of caution is often good, especially in terms of raising a family. However, in the broader spectrum of debate, the argument is not winnable if taking such an extreme position.

These thoughts occurred to me while watching Glory. In one of the later scenes, the all black Ma. 54th regiment is having a prayer/worship circle before the final battle. The music is not what we would be comfortable singing in our churches, but I cannot believe that such a prayer/worship service would be unpleasing to our God, if it were real, of course, and not actors.

- Saw the Quentin Tarantino movie. Liked it. Most of it, anyway. Very gruesome, some parts. Some parts dragged on. But the ending was terrific.

*Spoiler*

Seeing Hitler get his face shot up by a machine gun is somewhat therapeutic.

*End Spoiler*

- I had three days off in a row. AWESOME-SAUCE!!!

- Joe Wilson for President!

Okay, so there's an uproar over the way he did it. I think it's about time a Republican did it. If this were a TV show, he would have been set up for it by Republican leadership. Junior senator, popular, throws a punch that everyone wants to throw, but can't, and then gets "rebuked" by the leadership (who are really giving him atta-boys). This was on West Wing once.

The media is falling over themselves to praise Obama again, but I think Wilson helped us. I only hope Sharpton gets involved. Call Wilson a racist or something.

- NFL is BACK!!!! Woot! AND....... Chris Colinsworth is taking over for Madden! I'm not sure if we'll be able to handle lucid commentary with our Monday Night Football. It'd be like reintroducing Mighty Joe to the wild. As if the first thing Joe did wasn't to fall over a waterfall or something while prancing wildly through the jungle. "Be free, Joe! Oh, and try not to get malaria. Buh-bye!" Honestly, something that big is going to be putting down a lot of herbs with no built-up immunization. Way to go, Theron. And Guy-From-Twister.

- Every few months or so I go hankering for a new PC game. It isn't pretty. It's like when Chewie grabs the thing and they all get stuck in the net, only the payoff for me is never a legion of archer teddy bears. It's usually something that freezes my PC and causes seizures in small children.

- I hated CMU. It's been awhile since I've said that. But it's till true. But Mike, you say, hatred is not healthy! To which I reply, DIE, CMU, DIEEEE!!!!

Okay, not really. But I didn't like it there.

hey hey we're the monkeys

2009-08-24T13:37:00.005-05:00

- Two for the price of one.

- Tuesday is due April 21st. Yay! I am so happy and excited.

- So... what's up with you? I've been playing Guild Wars. It's free, which at this time is a huge advantage over WoW. Plus, it's different. You can play the whole thing solo. It's less about grinding. The gear doesn't make or break you, which is cool. WoW was always about gear. Guild Wars is more about your character build, which you can change for free at any town.

On the downside, the little things that WoW has are missing. Like an easy way to reply. It might be there, but I always have to scroll up and click the name. But it's okay. At least for me, right now. I don't think I'll ever go back to Warcraft. I was looking at Cataclysm, the next expansion. Ewww.

- Harry Reid might be in trouble.

That would be awesome. Then he can fulfill his lifelong dream of being on Dancing With the Stars.

- Favre is on the Vikings. This is horrible. I hated brett favre as a sports figure. Not as a person, I don't think about him as a person. He's a sports figure. And he played for Green Bay, and he often played the Vikings, and the announcers LOVED him. "Brett just threw another TOUCHDOWN!! He just has so much fun out there!" and "Brett is so experienced! Who else would have thrown the ball into an opposing players hands because they knew they'd get it back and it would make for great dramatic tension??" or even "Brett just flipped off the crowd. He just loves this game so much!!"

And now he's my quarterback. So now I am forced to reconcile my hatred with this desire he somehow becomes a rejuvenated ace that breaks all of his own records. It's not good on my psyche.

- Speaking of Psych, here is my "at least once per blog" plug for Psych. Watch Psych!!

- I was given the equivalent of 100(0?)g (I'm not exactly sure, it was 10,000 gold, which is ten platinum) in Guild Wars terms yesterday because I knew that a medieval musician was called a "minstrel." Woot!

- My brother's blogs are always deep about meaningful things. I put up webcomics.

- Mike V. for congress! I haven't been able to help out much, so if anyone wants me to start mudslinging or something, let me know.

- Did you hear Vern sacrifices puppies? Yeah! And he eats soup with a fork!!

(Got yo back, bro!)

friday

2009-08-14T11:16:00.005-05:00

- Work is work is work.

- Newt Gingrich is working with Al Sharpton to save our schools. Wasn't this the plot for Tango and Cash 2?

- Psych is on tonight. Which means I can watch it tomorrow on Hulu. Yay!! I was pretty excited with last week's episode. I'm worried every year that the show is going to suddenly fall apart, but last week was really good.

- Michael Vick signed with the Eagles. I don't like Vick. It has nothing to do with tha dog thing, which, of course, is quite bad, but his most famous highlight of running 60+ yards through 14 defenders happens to be against my team... the Vikings.
I don't like him for that reason. Also, The Michael Vick experience is a dumb commercial. Honestly, though, he's probably about two years from becoming a rapper. Maybe he can join Joaquin's band - "<(Mediocrity)."

- What's with Eric Bana? He's everywhere. Remember how in the Hulk, he kept getting bigger? No? Neither does anyone else, honestly. I mean, who would remember that movie.. most people have banished it to the deepest chambers of their mind along with Ghostrider and Jackie Chan movies. But go with the idea. Anyway, he's like a real-life Hulk now, growing everywhere, overtaking the world!!!! My wife says he's not a very good actor. I only remember him in Troy, in which everyone except Sean Bean acted badly.

ughh..

2009-08-07T00:49:00.003-05:00

- I can't believe it's been almost a whole month since I've blogged.

- We went to the Alma fair on Wednesday. I got sunburned but it was a lot of fun. The girls really enjoyed it.

- The new G.I. Joe trailers are scaring me. The dialogue seems cheesy. Like really cheesy. Like one rung above Jar Jar Binks in a Sam Bernstein commercial. That reference will only make sense to you if you live in Michigan and watch TV at those hours of the day that advertising is cheapest.

Snake Eyes looks cool, but the rest of it scares me. So we'll see. District 9 got 5 out of 4 stars. I didn't transpose those digits. It really got 5 out of 4. Peter Jackson made it. He is also writing but not directing The Hobbit. I wanted him to direct. Oh well.

And then that new movie with Brad Pitt looks good. Apparently the critics love it.

- My boss turns 35 this month, and on the birthday charts, someone wrote that number down. She had it scribbled out. SO today, I wrote "Happy 42nd!!" on it. She is going to fire me, probably.

- My car is fixed! Thank the Lord. That was an ordeal, but He provided and I think it's all taken care of.

- Baldur's Gte 2 has really good writing. A lot of RPGs have good writing, but Baldur's Gate took it to a new level, because the whole thing is good. The little tidbits that you have to play the game three times to even see are well written. Dialogue that takes place only after following a game-long sidequest that you could screw up at any minute is good, despite only people that use walkthroughs will be able to read it. I like it. Icewind Dale 2 has slightly better character customization, though. I already wrote about that.

- Sooooo.. reading the Salvatore books, cause a friend at work is buying them and letting me borrow after he's done. Made it through the first four, chronologically-speaking (story-wise). They're interesting, I guess. I don't like the characters. Drizzt is bland, and the others are caricatures. However, I really like the universe that it all takes place in. Planes, classes, monsters, the Underdark. All very established things that a writer doesn't have to explain from scratch when writing a D&D based book.

- Anyway, on to Drizzt, a favorite for many. Drizzt, if you don't know, is a dark elf, the only one of his kind not to be aligned evilly. He's actually good, and he's the only one. And when I say good, I mean very good. He's practically a nonreligious saint. Think Mr. Rodgers with a sword. Of course, to create angst, he can turn into a vicious killer when good things are threatened. Think Chuck Norris.

And here we find probably the major flaw of the D&D universe. Alignment. Drizzt is chaotic good. Therefore, he does good things. Otherwise, he'd be neutral, and not so uncharacteristically anti-drow. 'Cause drow are evil.

So once you define a character as such, he pretty much is only allowed to act within the borders of his alignment. Well, alignments can change. Yes, but then Drizzt is categorically no longer "good." Which is the only thing interesting/boring about him.

Make sense? Drizzt has to be broing, because he has to be good. Because if he's not good, he's like every other drow in the D&D universe, which makes him uniform and boring. But always being good? Also boring.

- Cash for Clunkers is out of money. Apparently, Democrats really didn't expect Americans to want to have more of their own money. It caught them completely by suprise. It's like when The Witch-King is all like "If it's red it's dead, newb!" and Eowyn's like, "JK! not a dood!" and the Witch-King is all like "no wai!!" and Merry's all "What's going on in this thread?" and Eowyn goes "LOLROFL, PWND!!!" I mean, Angmar never saw it coming, amirite?

- Speaking of Lord of the Rings, DM of the Rings is hilarious. Order of the Stick is pretty good, too. It started off better than it ended up being, but it's a funny comic. Give it a looky-loo if you're bored and like role-playing humor. Makes me want to be part of a D&D campaign. Some DMs give out XP for quoting movies in context of roleplaying.

Hi!

2009-07-12T20:30:00.002-05:00

- *snerk*

- I'm reading Lord of the Rings again. I haven't read through the trilogy in years. I'm very caught up on the lore, know more about Tolkie's intent, have spent hours on websites explaining Lord of the Rings mythos in-depth (from Tolkien's own letters), but I liked the movies so much that the books seem less grand.

Of course, the books are fantastic. They were the original that fantasy is based on today. And they are different. Gandalf is better in the books. I can't decide about Boromir. I love Sean Bean as Boromir, and the scenes where he shows his humanity and decency are among the best of the films. In the book though, he seems even more noble.

- My back hurts. Work was terrible yesterday. Power in Alma went down except for the street McDonald's is on, because we share a line with the hospital. And someone quit and so it was a bad day. But it's over. Woot.

- I'll try to be funny tomorrow. Goodnight!

so few things, so much time

2009-07-06T06:53:00.004-05:00

- Mike needs about 840 more signatures. I'm going to try and get out with him on Saturday. It depends heavily on my car being fixed. This is a big deal, though. For a long time a lot of us have talked about doing things but he actually is. Good for him.

- I just had a huge glass of Kool-Aid. Oh YEAH!

- Steve McNair was found shot four times. This has been a bad few weeks for celebrities. Although his girlfriend was killed too. Users of Oxy-clean - Beware!

- This was the first non-completely stressful shift I've had in awhile. It was nice. I doodled a bit. I drew a nine-tentacled monster named Spotty.

- I'm thinking I'll try going even if my car isn't fixed. I have to work at 3, so maybe I'll leave around 8am. It depends on how early he wants to go, I guess. Then I can get back home around 2, or 2:30, depending on how many times my car dies.

- Tuesday is sleeping behind me. She looks so cute!!

off to work this independence day

2009-07-04T20:54:00.002-05:00

- Let's hear it for our soon-to-be Federal Representative, Michael VanKleeck!! Way to go, bro.

- No fireworks for my family today. That's sad =/

- I'm off to work. Hope you all had a great day!

3rd of July

2009-07-03T17:16:00.002-05:00

- Not much to say today. I don't think I'm going to make it to the Tea Party. I was really looking forward to hearing Mike's speech. But 1-3 thousand people is 1-3 thousand people too many, and my car isn't the most reliable.

- I feel soo tired right now. I don't know why. I slept fine, and for a good amount of time. I have to work tonight, and it's draining the life out of me.

- Slow news day. Check out my wife's updated blog. Good stuff.

writings on writing

2009-07-02T17:42:00.005-05:00

- First off, let me say that I know I am not a great writer. I know I haven't published anything; I know that I will never have a great cult of readers who hang upon my every word and discuss which of my books are canon. I'm well aware.

However, I know there are writers which do have some or all of these things that I am not worthy to judge, but I am going to anyway.

What bothers me most is the way humor is treated. If your book is going to be funny, please, PLEASE move past the tired cliches of a saturday morning cartoon. You know, the kind that makes 8-year olds go, "Haha! He's so cool!"

No more comment. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's probably because it's all in my head.

- By the way, Nickelback won a bunch of awards lately. I know who Nickelback is because they have about 3 songs that play every time I do an overnight. Anyway, their one song, I think it's called "If Today Was Your Last Day," ticks me off. I think I might have mentioned this in a note on Facebook, but for those of you who find that forum too "girly" (which makes no sense, honestly... hmm, that can be point 3), here it is again. The first line of the song is "My best friend gave me the best advice."

See? Professional lyricists using the same word twice in a single sentence, and not in a cool compare/contrast way. He just didn't want to have to work! The song isn't horrible, by Nickelback standards, but I can't get past the insanity that is the first line. It's not like he made up the song on the spot, in which case it's understandable. But he wrote, and rewrote, and then edited, and then had managers look at it, and production guys, etc. He WANTED to use the same word twice in the first sentence. If you hear it, you'll know what I mean about not intending the word to be some kind of link between the two phrases. He acts like "best friend" makes "best" unlike the "best" in "best advice."

I brought this up at work and the crew call me a snob. It's true, but Chad Kroeger gets paid a lot of money. The least he can do is some oratorical variance.

- Facebook. I've heard some say that "it's for girls." 2 possibilities. The people saying this truly believe that the facebook website is actually feminine, that staying in touch with people is for women only, that sending notes one facebook is like applying lipstick.... OR they don't know much about it, are too lazy to get their own account, and rather than learn/try/take time out of their day to do it, they make up an argument that has no meaning or validity.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go take a quiz about what kind of handbag accessory I couldn't live without...

thoughts on death

2009-07-01T20:09:00.003-05:00

- Michael Jackson, the Lady mom used to do her hair after, and the Oxy-Clean guy all died recently. One of each gender.

Some people are glad about Michael Jackson, some people distraught. The best thing I can say about Michael Jackson is that someone made an AWESOME WoW parody of its "Billie Jean." Also, it brought a lot of humor into this world with its baby-dangling exploits.

- Fable 2 is not as good as Fable 1, in my opinion. This is because I am all about characters. I spent more time creating characters and writing them biographies on Icewind Dale 2 (my all time favorite game) than actually playing the game. Fable 2 gives you a hideously disproportionate character (Jay Leno was obviously their model) that will be in his mid-50s to mid-70s by the end of the game. Fable 1 did that too, but thanks to cheats and trainers on the PC, I could fix that. My character still looks like a cool hero is supposed to look, while in Fable 2, he looks like a pirate that lived through the Depression.

- Back to death. When the wicked fall, should we rejoice? it seems classless, but at the same time, the fact that they WILL fall is a source of comfort and encouragement. So when it happens, are we suppsoed to feign regret/remorse, or maybe just pity?

2009-06-30T15:32:00.002-05:00

- Hehe.

- I was discussing religion at work. Nuance is important. People don't like to use nuance. I've noticed this before. When discussing religious topics, people say "show me a verse!" and then proceed to pick at each word of that verse, because it destroys their argument. Context, nuance, intent. These things matter. The context, the nuance of the words that are used are readily and openly understandable. You can't just ignore that because you want the verse to say something else.

Words have meaning. Often, multiple meanings. Because a word might mean something else, you can't discard it. You can't say "Just show me a plain verse that says it plainly!" because every verse contains a word with various meanings, and therefore can be argued with. Context and intent allow us to accurately qualify what is being said.

- I was recently in a discussion. I used a nuanced argument that required rational thought to reach its conclusion. The person I was discussing with Kept saying "Show me a verse!" Which I did, but the verse didn't say "Thou Shalt not Kill!" (i.e., the argument took the verse in its context to reach my conclusion, not a simple statement ). He discounted my argument because rather than come to the rational and logical conclusion based on the verse and its context, he demanded words without DUAL meaning.

My point being, you will lose in any sphere of public opinion using his type of rationale. You will lose if every argument you make is, "That word could mean something else!" or "You don't know for sure that's what it says!" People you are trying to convince don't go with that. I told the peron that we should go have the debate in front of people and see who they sided with because arguments that rely on "You don't know for sure!" are weak and foundationless and people who aren't stubbornly entrenched in a view simply for the sake of argument will adhere to logical and deductive reasoning.

- later, gators.

back in the swing of things

2009-06-24T23:06:00.003-05:00

- i know, i know; i've promised this before. But this time I'm really going to try and stick with it. Tuesday doesn't let me do much work around the house. She is an extremely diligent and doting wife. So in the interest of not playing video games all the time, I should definitely start writing again.

- I have ideas in my head for a new story. I actually made some decent progress on the intro, too. But then I wanted to make it darker, but i can't write darker. I need to stay in my niche, at least for now. I like dialogue, fast-paced and so on. Heavy stuff comes off very sappy from me.

- President Obama killed a fly. I'm conflicted. Not because he killed the fly. No, that was a undercover non sequitor. I'm conflicted about Strawberry Kiwi. More and more I am disliking the strawberry flavor (not actual strawberries, mind you. They are the nectar of the semi-demigods). But strawberry kiwi is DELICIOUS. How do you reconcile that?

- Mike better hurry up and get elected. I want to write his speeches. Obama's speech writer was on the cover of some magazine or something. He likes surfing, tofu, and commas. Umluats make him quiver, so he tries to sprinkle them conservatively.

- I never watched a lot of late night TV, but i always kinda had a soft spot for Jimmy Fallon because he seems so nervous while he's trying too hard. And I like him. He is doing a good job, imo. But I only watch him when Craig Ferguson is on commercial break. He's hilarious!! My only prior experience with him was on the brief minutes of the drew carey show until his (Ferguson's) appearance, which always heralded an extremely vulgar joke. So we turned it whenever he came on.

But he I find his show far funnier than any of the others on. I get home from work at 11:45, and then Tues and I stay up to watch him, and we both laugh and laugh. It might be because it's 12:35 at night and we're both tired.

- I love the "Sleepy Hollow" atmosphere. That's how my mind has always categorized it. A cool autumn day, with dark grey clouds covering the sky, no sun or blue to be seen, in a small village with cobble roads that are covered with fallen leaves. The wind is blowing with force, but not storm-like. You know what I mean. Sleepy Hollow always seemed to get it best. If it were up to me, every day would be like that. Not the decapitations part. Although that could solve a lot of problems. Every day would be an adventure! Until you died. But then your name could be chronicled. We'd have to have some book-keepers. Somebody named Albert could do it. Or possibly Thaddeus. There aren't enough people named Thaddeus around today. All the other apostles, except Judas, are somewhat popular today. Even Bartholomew. Or Barfolomew, if you're a mog. Which would be weird. But back on topic. Thaddeus is a boss in Naxxaramas, that is relatively tough to beat with pugs because one idiot can kill everyone. But other than that? Exactly.

- I love having a wedding ring. Sometimes I slip it off and pretend Sauron was watching me.

- The coolest thing ever happened to me this week. Monday night, I think it was, Tuesday and I were up late watchnig TV after I got home from work, and Mercedez came out still half-asleep. She wears these over-sized pajamas that make her look really funny. ANyway, she came out and said, "Hi, Mike," in a sleepy voice. Now, it was way passed her bed time, and she had been asleep for many hours. So I say," Hi, sweetie," not sure what's going on. And then she comes over and lays against me on the couch in an extremely natural way, like she always did that. 2s asked her if she had a bad dream, and she said yes. I asked her if she wanted me to take her back to bed, and she said yes. so i took her back to bed, and sat there while she fell back to sleep. It was the sweetest thing ever! I think she was half asleep because she asked her mom if it really happened in the morning. Anyway, that was the highlight of my week.

- Bye! Craig Ferguson is on.. ;P

Change I Can Believe In

2008-11-06T19:35:00.003-06:00

- Hey there, everybody! Can you feel it? I can! CHANGE is in the air! Ah, it's like a Febreeze in a can. Why I haven't been this giddy since George Lucas decided to make Liam Neeson talk to a Gungan.

So this is what happens when we put our trust in men. At least that's what I think. McCain would keep us afloat, Obama would cause more destruction than Chinese tanks at an Arts and Craft show; right.. How foolish we are. As a man turns a dish, so are these things in the hands of God.

Honestly, I haven't felt this relieved in months. Is everything going to come crashing down? Possibly. Is Obama going to make leagues and pacts with every Israel-hating nation out there? Probably. Is it for any reason other than God is making it happen? Of course not. i don't know about anyone else (well, I think I do, but go with the thought) but I was trusting in a man I didn't even like very much to save our country, and when he lost - and I mean LOST - it was a huge relief. Trusting in men can be stressful.

- WotLK is coming out in a week. And I've been dragged back. Just because it's really cool: I've run Karazhan 3 times; two times we killed Prince, and the last time we did it in about an hour. That's just cool. I skipped over the months of grueling pracice and got the loots.

- I miss Katie! She's in florida and I have no one to play cards with.

- I met Tuesday's father (her biological father) a few days ago. He looks like Tom Hanks. Like, a lot.

- Another good thing about the complete trouncing the Republicans got? We finally, after 6 years, get to go on the offensive! Ever since Bush dismantled the Democrats at the first midterm election, they've been gunning for us. Now the conservatives can strike back. Of course, we might not have a country in 4 years, but see my first point for that.

- Government is ready to flourish. Under the Democrats' control, we may very well see the institutionalizing of a dozens of Big Brother type agencies. President Obama - He Hears Everything!

(Get it? Hears everything? heh heh. Heheheheheh. Snerk... Sorry)

- Can the Lions do it? The "it" is up to you. At this point I'd settle for find the team bus.

3:10

2008-10-29T12:54:00.003-05:00

- Shards of Alara: Conflux. I'm going to make a deck around Progenitus and I don't even know what colors (probably all 5) or powers he has.

- I saw 3:10 to Yuma last night on my computer. It was highly recommended to me, so i tried it, and I was pretty impressed. I like the part where Crowe kills the guy with a fork. Normally, I'm opposed to redemption stories, 'cause they're lame, and even more faniciful than happy endings, but I think Bale pulled it off really well. Crowe didn't really redeem himself, which made it better (if he hadn't whistled for his horse, that would have dragged the movie way down). He wasn't supposed to; it would have been far too ridiculous.

Charlie thought of him as a father figure, as an idol, almost. And while thinking he was saving his (crowe's) life, Crowe kills him. And I'm sure everyone cheered and whatnot, but come on... what was going through that kid's head when Wade put the gun on him for the second shot?

- Gotta go to work. boo!

been awhile

2008-10-19T22:36:00.002-05:00

A couple things have happened since last time i blogged. So without further ado...

- I'm engaged! Yay!

- The court advisor is recommending Tuesday receive full custody of Mercedez. I am so excited about this. There are a lot of details that you don't need to know, but this was a huge answer to prayer (even though it was expected).

- The Vikings scored 41 points. And lost. To the Bears.

- Tues and I have been watching West Wing together. I think it's her new favorite show. And with good reason.

- Pete and Sarah and the kids were in church this morning. That was a neat surprise.

- So... McCain is probably going to lose. I'm disapoointed because I really, REALLY don't like the fact that this will galvanize the media into believing they get to pick the president (which I guess they do, if Obama wins). I hate the media. They're like the reporter on Die Hard, but we can't taser them in airplane bathroom.

- The original Max Payne wasn't about the apocalypse, right? Cause the Mark Wahlberg flick is throwing me. And why him? Couldn't they have found someone who looks less like they should be playing the overly-sweet boyfriend that is gonna get dumped for the girl's true-love in a remake of a romantic comedy and more like a street-hardened cop?

- I stopped at wal-mart, bought a few packs of Shards of Alara. Since it's Wal-Mart, the packs come thrice-layered. First the cardboard, then the plastic, then the actual card package. This is to prevent the psychics whose mental power is thwarted by an overabundance of material. Just think, if people knew which packs had the mythic rares... that's right, CHAOS!!! Elspeth might only be $28.00, instead of the - wait for it - $45.00+ she is going for right now. And then where would we be, right? Thank goodness for triple-packaging.

Anyway, I bought a couple packs, and pulled a Sarkhan Vol. I was so psyched. I made a sweet Red/Black/Green Deck I named *Planeswalker Delight* (Vol, Vess, and Nalaar). The stars (*) indicate awesomeness. Triple thick, like Neopolitan Ice Cream and Wal-Mart CCG Packages.

- Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama. But that's okay, 'cause this election is not about race. Powell has just always been in the Most-Liberal-Senator-For-President Camp. What, you didn't know?

- I bought a RPG PC game called Divine Divinity for $2.00 at target. You'd have to expect some pretty bad sludge with a name and price like that, but it's like a more in-depth Diablo. I was pleasantly surprised. On the other hand, Disciples II was like a poor man's Lords of Magic, which was already a poor man's game. So we're talking a third-world poor man's game. But with good graphics.

- I haven't watched the cartoon Star Wars movie, or the subsequent cartoons. BUT, I did get a Boba Fett bobble-head from McDonald's, so I'm thinking my fanship is still intact.

ouch!

2008-09-19T19:19:00.002-05:00

- Tues had three teeth pulled (wisdom and other) so she's been asleep for ever. The girls are watching "Swan Princess." I'm in the next room writing on my blog.

- Two weeks in and I've already lost interest in the NFL. Stupid Vikings.

- I soloed Dire Maul (Ogres and Plants) and Scholomance (although I didn't get to fight Gamling since rogues can't cast spells very well and there's that one room with the guys who get low and turn into wraiths that only take damage from spells, which rogues can't cast very well, so then it'd be like "oh noes! they be wraiths and I can't kill them with my Sinister Strike and/or Hemo!" and then I'd end up taking a durability hit). I didn't want to clear the BRD Emperor's room, so I attempted to take him out with 48 different elites hitting me (as soon as evasion ran out, I died; until then they couldn't hit me). I got him to 10%. I also couldn't take Balthazzar, in Human Stratholme, but he cheats. Like the Chinese.

- I don't think I said much about the Olympics. Could China be a more dispicable place? Communists are the worst. Except for Vegetarians. Who have smaller brains, by the way. ;P Kidding. Communists are worse.

- Second time throguh a game is tons more enjoyable. I'm playing Final Fantasy 12 again, and liking it WAAAAAYYYYYY more this time around. The writing is fantastic! And it's all old, and proper, like knights are supposed to talk. Anyway, I'm really, really liking it this time. I think the first time I played it, I thought Vaan, the "protagonist," was, in fact, the protagonist. Realizing he is not, but rather a catalyst to move the story, makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable. The first time it was like "okay... I get all that... but why am I (meaning Vaan) here?"

- I bought Katie a Sauron for her deck (I bought myself a different version; hers is way better). He's a 24 power, which basically says he can overwhelm anyone who doesn't have a buff, but then he gets power +2 per wound on him ("enduring"), and since my fellowship always, always has Legolas in it, it's an automatic wound during the archery phase. And to top it off, he's damage +2!! (Mine is damage +1, and does not have "enduring") Anyway, when she gets him down, it's like an automatic killing of two of my characters. Which leaves me, usually, with one left (plus Frodo). I run small fellowships. On the other hand, one of the recent games, Legolas, Gimli, and then Aragorn ALL defeated the Balrog. The cards fell well that day, I tell you.

- Mom got "Noble House" on netflix, a 6 hour or so miniseries starring Pierce Brosnan and John Rhys-Davies and some other people. It's interesting, despite the complete absence of logical expectation for that result. I think the Taipan is going to win, but that would mean his joss would have to change dramatically and the Americans would have to stick it to "Glimi" (as mom calls Mr. Rhys-Davies).

irregular apathy

2008-09-09T09:47:00.003-05:00

- have any of you seen the animation of richard on the "looking for group" website? It's not for the squeamish, but it's chillingly funny in a macabre sort of way.

- Work has been really stressful lately.

- I miss my siblings.

- I have a bunch of homework I need to get done by tomorrow so my boss doesn't get mad at me. I'll probably put it off all day and end up getting up at 6am tomorrow to do it.

- Jenn, I'm working on episode 14... don't hold me to a date, though.

hey hey, we're the monkeys

2008-09-04T16:38:00.003-05:00

- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-JrYa3u_2U&feature=related

really made me chuckle.

- So I know some people aren't all that happy that McCain picked a woman to run with him, but honestly, between Deborah and Egleg, I think the choice is pretty clear.

- I've been playing some Lord of the Rings TCG with Katie, and my Eomer/Elven Archer deck does suprisingly well against my expensive deck. The arcehrs shoot holes in the bad guys, which boosts Eomer's strength; throw in a spear and a horse, and he can take out the balrog. Well, no, not actually the balrog, but the Witch-King of Angmar, at least.

- Jenn is gone off to college again, and dave and kaylynn are somewhere in florida. florida and wisconsin are stupid places.

- Biden? Really? *snerk*

- I'm waiting for Tuesday to get out of work so she can call me.

- Issac and Tera came over with Sophie. She is very cute. Sophie, not Issac. Ooh, BURN! Just kidding, Issac. I'm in your corner, bro.

- Heroes is coming back soon. I don't know if I can risk getting into it again. I'm pretty content with Psych and West Wing reruns.

- A thought on mozzarella sticks: ... they are delicious.

- I need a new PC but I don't really want to spend money on one, since I kind of have more important things to do with my money. So here I am, stuck with a non-dvd playing PC.

- Sink the Bismarck was on the last cd I burned. So was Rye or the Kaiser.

- If I had more to say, I'd get on here more often. Just nothing much is going on.

- People keep quitting where I work, and that makes me sad. I like a lot of these people.

people and dead people

2008-08-09T21:32:00.002-05:00

- Bernie Mac passed away today. I never watched his show, or his comedy, but it still seems weird. He wasn't that old.

- What is wrong with girls? Not all girls, but a lot of them. There's this nice girl at work who is both smart and funny who is dating a guy who has cheated on her at least twice already, and she just found out he did it again. What makes girls do that? And everyone wants to yell at her and say "well duh! it's your own fault for still being with the guy!" but we don't cause she's really heartbroken about it. Tom said we (he and I) should beat the guy into the ground, if only, in his words, "he had my muscle and I had his lack of religion." Then he said that we'd probably be saving her life down the road 20 years, which would make it okay for me to beat the guy up, right? Heh. I didn't get into the whole "save a life" bit because I might need an excuse to beat the guy up if we ever meet.

- For some reason my internet is working right now. First time I've been able to get on blogger in 2 weeks or so.

- Burn Notice and Psych are both really good television, and they're both USA original shows. I didn't use to like the USA channel. No reason.

- Dave and Kaylynn left for Florida. Well-played, Matt and Yuisa. Well-played. Just wait until I cover your vehicle in tapioca pudding with Barry Manilow lyrics scrawled in the goopey, but delicious, mess.

- I need to finish cleaning up my room.

day off

2008-07-22T21:51:00.003-05:00

- today was my day off. I did nothing, and now it's over. Bleah.

- "Democracy encourages the majority to decide things about which the majority is ignorant." - John Simon

- Insane characters are always the most interesting. Mel Gibson on Conspiracy Theory. The Joker. The Irishman from Braveheart. Brad Pitt in 12 Monkeys. Hamlet. The Fool in King Lear. Insanity is entertaining. Insanity is intriguing. Because it is outside the realms of normality, it is strangely compelling. And usually funny, and always more frightening.

- Okay, so I've been reading this Baptist History book by Beller, a Christian and a pastor, and I really am having some problems with it. I don't like his style at all. The information is good... if I could trust it. I know that sounds bad, but Beller doesn't give evidence. He gives conclusions. This book would never fly in academic/secular circles, which is what I'm more or less accustomed to. It has great information, but I have no idea if that information is correct. He constantly addressing his topic in a completely noncritical fashion, and then makes statements rather than arguments.

On the other hand, Beller is (I would assume?) writing to a Christian crowd who is going to accept his ethos, rather than to secular peers of the field, so it's hard to say that his manner is weak. The majority of his audience probably doesn't want to hear conflicting reports about Roger Wiliams.

Maybe I'm just tainted, but for over four years now, I've been hearing that texts need to be read critically. People lie to their diaries. People lie on their taxes, in their letters, in their journals, so you cannot accept anything penned by a man as 100% fact. You read everything cirtically, comparing texts to texts to verified accounts. Again, Beller's book is focused on a different crowd, but I'm having a hard time accepting what I'm reading as truth. In other words, while he is giving me a lot of information, it is not something I'd feel at all confident is utilizing as evidence against a secular historian in a debate on the nation's religious origins.

- I have to go ring shopping soon. A friend at work told me her aunt owns a jewelry shop and that if I tell her (the aunt) that I know her niece, she'll give me a deal. I doubt it's true. Life isn't like TV.

- Why... so... serious?

no connection

2008-07-20T20:21:00.002-05:00

- My pc has no internet connection. Well it does, but it doesn't get any websites. It's some weird virus/firewall concoction that is likely to be the bane of human existence should it get out. I'm keeping it contained... by chopping off my arm with a CHAINSAW!! Heh, sorry.

- We saw Batman: the Dark Knight yesterday. It was good, and Heath Ledger was easily the best part. Not necessarily Oscar worthy, but then again, maybe. I felt myself continually waiting for the Joker to come back on. The fight scenes were kind of boring, but the part with the batcycle was sweet. I really liked the magic-trick. I liked everything about the Joker.

- I started reading a Baptist History book that I got for Christmas. And writing some more of my Isle story.

- Shop Smart. Shop S-Mart.

- I need a new game to play. I know, I say that a lot.

A few thoughts on drunken river-dancing

2008-07-05T23:42:00.004-05:00

- I think my uncle's a genius. He was telling me about his new manuscript and the vast well of ideas and creative ability that he posesses amazed me. He's like Stephen Hawking without the "Hunchback of Notre Dame" thing going. Seriously, could that guy be any more terrifying? He looks like a cross between Cthulu and Gollum and he makes up black holes, (objects of massive destructive power, in all honesty) and everyone belives him. What kind of ethos does that take?

- I worked a lot this weekend, but I still got to spend a lot of time with the family. That was cool. Jenn rode home with me and got to hear my "Super-Awesome Mix CD: Out Is The New In." I named it myself.

- I guess I should write the 14th episode to my little "show" (btw, my feet smell really badly right now; that's what you get from deep-sea bass fishing in lake taho; also, deep-sea bass). I know, everyone is wondering just What Will Happen to those loveable beings of peculiar parlance. I know I am. What would be a fitting conclusion? Kill off a character? Blow up ADTEO? Have them buy a restaurant ala Diagnosis Murder? So many options... Maybe I'll just kill a character by blowing up ADTEO and then the jobless survivors can buy a restaurant. Something quaint, but also a little daring. Like a Mongolian/Starbucks buffet-style lounge.

- Poor Tuesday has been so sick and so tired lately. She has a calcium deficiency and her bones and especially teeth are weak. So she chipped a tooth on a apple and now the medicine is making her nauseated. And the chipped tooth is making her hurt. Poor sweet baby. =(

- It's late, so I'm going to bed.

internet, shminternet

2008-06-30T23:13:00.002-05:00

- Our internet connection has been very sporadic lately. It makes spores. No, not really. It just isn't very reliable. In fact, there is a good chance that I will lose my connection before I'm done typing this sen

Just kidding.

- Blackmore's Night is a Renaissance band with some really cool music. I can't remember if I blogged about them already (since it's been like 52 years since I was blogging regularly). Anyway, the lead guiarist, Ritchie Blackmore, used to be a rock n' roll guy, and then he and his wife started a renaissance band and I think it's sweet. Some of their music gets a little rocky, but most of it sounds like something from Ultima V.... Stones, and whatnot.

- Final Fantasy 9 is way better than I remember it. I'm finally playing through it again, and I'm loving it. Hey, that's the McDonald's slogan! It gets into YOUR MIND and then it just lays there and burns...

_ I didn't blog about the NBA championships, but I really wanted the Celtics to win, and not only because "O.J. II" was on the other team. I wanted Kevin Garnett to get his championship. I always feel bad for those good athletes who get put on a rail because they didn't win the big game. Now he won it. And I've always like him when he played for Minnesota. Also, Bill Simmons has a way of making you root for his teams when you don't have your own to root for. I mean, what do I care about the Boston Celtics? Way more than I should, that's for sure.

- I've got a sweet MTG Mill Deck. It's so fun to play.

- I want to see "Wanted."

- I want to see "WALL-E."

- I want to see "Iron Man 2."

- I think Iron Man is probably my favorite comic book movie. Robert Downey Jr. was so fantastic and the Tony Starke character is perfect. He's better than Wolverine, and don't think that's easy to say. He's like a cool Brainiac (Brainiac's destiny number is Pi, btw. X deploy, Y forfeit, and then something about a square root for power. Look it up.)

- "Time flys. Especially sense I built a clock-a-polt. This Is the Colbert Report!" - Stephen Colbert

- I found the complete first season of Psych for $20! I was psyched! Hahahahaa! Get it? Eh? EHH?

- I had dirt cake for my birthday, and one of the red and yellow gummy worms was also half green and white. I named him Barack.

Isle of Aye

2008-06-22T08:37:00.001-05:00

A short story I'm working on. It's silly.

Isle of Aye

I wasn’t sure what it was, at first, but that’s only because my eyes were unfocused. And that was only because I had fallen forever to land on a downy mattress, fluffed with a dozen pillows. Anyway, after a moment, I recognized it as a tulip.
It glared at me for a bit, turning a purplish hue, before straightening up and impatiently demanding I move. I rolled over and fell off the Flower Bed, and the tulip chortled. Or at least I imagined it did. Having never heard a tulip chortle, I could only guess as to what that might sound like. And I guessed it sounded like this gentleman/vegetation.
I stood up and brushed myself off. The air was pleasant, the view was pleasant, the smells were pleasant, but something didn’t seem quite right. For one, I couldn’t remember my name, but the Wal-Mart sticker on my shirt had “Michael” scribbled on it in childish hand-writing; also, one of my shoes was missing. The later didn’t distress me all that much, since shoes are bound to be lost when falling out of reality. Or into it, depending on one’s point-of-view.
“Where am I?” I queried, not the least bit worried I was addressing a giant flower.
It swayed a bit, sizing me up (I assumed; what else would it be doing?). “The Isle, of course,” it meowed. Now, you might be thinking, as was I, that this was poignantly absurd - flowers don’t meow. Yet this one did, and who was I to argue?
“The Isle?” I repeated in a ponderous tone. It was a tone I preferred to use to imply the person (or thing) I was dialoging with had been too ambiguous. The tulip understood, for soon he continued.
“The Isle of Aye.”
“An eye?”
“Of Aye,” he corrected; and if you think it was embarrassing being corrected by foliage, well, you’re only on the first chapter.
“Whose eye?”
“Not an eye. Aye, as in a word of assent, agreement, or confirmation.”
“Ah,” I said, the concept being much more abundantly clear. The tulip was apparently bored with our conversation, so he climbed into his bed, and promptly fell asleep.
The Isle of Aye was a lovely place. Green grass, rolling hills, smooth mountain sides covered in dozens of waterfalls that ran down to form crystal lakes. Flowers and fruit trees populated the landscape. But oddly enough, the Isle was not surrounded by water.
“Why do they call it an island?”
“The Island,” growled Sergei. Sergei was a GroundHog. At that time, I knew very little about anything, but that this rodent was named Sergei, I was more than certain. He poked his head out of a little hole, chattered his teeth together and stared blankly.
“Where did you come from?” I asked, but only to be polite.
“From under the ground,” he said simply, and it all became clear to me.
“There is no water,” I explained.
“Are.”
“What?”
“Are no water,” he said definitively.
“Water is singular,” I argued.
“Nay, water is plural. You don’t have a ‘cup of a water.’ You have a ‘cup of water;’ like a ‘cup of monkeys.’”
I had to concede to his superior logic. “There are no water around the Isle.”
“Your point?”
“Why do they call it an island?”
Sergei sighed, which, frankly, is endearing in a GroundHog. “The Isle. Because it is not connected to land.”
I nodded. It most certainly wasn’t. Hanging in a pinkish-orange cloud-filled sky, absent of any support or means of floating (which it was), the Isle was reminiscent of a paradisiacal haven. Or a prison. A paradisiacal prison. “Do you really say that?”
“Say what?” he asked.
“’Cup of monkeys?’”
“Only when they all get out, of course.”
“Of course.” That only made sense. I began to walk away.
“Stop!” he bellowed suddenly.
“What is it?”
“You are walking on my ground!”
“I beg your pardon?”
“This ground is mine, and you are standing on it. It’s mine!” the GroundHog said.
“Shall I stand there?” I pointed to a small river bank.
“No! That is mine too!”
“What about-”
“Mine!”
I frowned. Sergei had issues. “Aren’t you supposed to help me?”
He looked dumbfounded, then hung his head. “You can stand there. If you must.”
I smiled. I counted that as a win, and defeating furry rodents in battles of wits was a prime source of self-satisfaction. “I have questions.”
“I might have answers. I might not. I’m only a subterranean rodent.”
“First, how did I get here?”
“Dimensional vortex.”
“Really?”
“No.” Sergei sighed again. “You are too gullible. Dimensional vortexes are green, fool.”
I bowed my head, a bit ashamed. Of course dimensional vortices are green. I was scared to ask my next question for fear of even greater embarrassment, but I felt that I must. “What is this place-”
“The Isle of-”
“-for?”
“Oh.” His tail bristled. “I can’t tell you that.”
“You don’t know?”
“Of course I know! I’m your guide, remember? I know everything.” He paused. “Well, everything I know of, that is.”
“Why can’t you tell me?”
He sat down and put up three fingers. “One, because it would not be prudent to hand out that information willy-nilly now, would it? No, it wouldn’t.” He put down his fingers and nodded twice.
“And?”
“What?” He looked at me with a blank expression and went back to brushing his tail.
“Well, what am I supposed to do?”
“Practically or theoretically?”
“What’s the difference?” I asked, but only because I thought he didn’t know.
“One I can tell you, one I can’t.”
“Oh. Practically, then.”
He grinned. I think. “You are supposed to leave.”
“But I just got here.”
“I don’t make the rules.” He shrugged and began digging in the dirt.
“Will you help me?”
“I suppose I must.” Sergei scratched the back of his ear. “Contractually obligated.” I mentally breathed an air of relief (which isn’t easy). Bound by paper, I had no doubts Sergei would follow through with his duties.

me, again

2008-06-20T22:18:00.000-05:00

- I doubt anyone still checks this. I wouldn’t, if I were you. Thank goodness I’m not. J/k. You’re all wonderful people.

- I finished my history class. I loved this class; the first one since my second freshman semester that I looked forward to. By the way, writing for history is so… gray compared to the writing I like to do. They want brevity and precision. They want structure. It’s great for my debating skills, and other stuff, too, I’m sure. It’s just a boring way to write. Oh, oh - I have a new record. I wrote a six-page paper in an hour, the morning it was due, and got an A. Woot.

- So, I’m planning on marrying Tuesday. We’ve talked about it a lot, and that part’s decided. I haven’t officially proposed yet, but it’s decided. She got Mercedez (her daughter) permanently (at least for now (see, I misused “permanently;” I can do that ‘cause this is a blog)). Mercedez is six. She is a beautiful, energetic, lovely young girl. She also has not been raised in a Christian environment and has a strong will.

I’m going to be her father, in a way. The responsibility of her being raised rightly is going to be on my shoulders. I’m going to have a six-year old daughter. It’s daunting. She has been staying here while Tuesday works (Tues works overnights) and has had trouble staying in bed. A new place, and all that. So tonight I went up there and almost spanked her. I probably should have, but it was too hard. So instead I got stern and threatened spankings. It worked, but I wonder if I would have followed through. I better get some resolve, and fast. I think I would have. I have to.

It’s all new to her. She had been living with her dad, mostly, for the past year or so. She wasn’t made to mind, she wasn’t given any structure. And now she is going to have to. But I don’t want her to hate me. I know, that sounds so petulant, but it’s true. It’s going to be tough for awhile, so pray for me, and Tues and Mercy. And Katie. She and I have always been so close, and this is hard for her to see another little girl taking a prominent place. It’s hard on me too, to see it being so hard on her.

- I almost cried again this past Sunday. I got thinking about Dan, and how Tuesday would never get to meet him, here on earth. Lots of memories. Pastor has been preaching a series on Heaven, and how Christians ought to long to leave this world to be there. Well, nothing reminds a Christian of how horrible it is here and how wonderful it will be there like the passing of a loved one. Thinking of Dan always makes me hate this place so much. I wish Tues could know him. I think she and Mercy are coming for the 4th, and I want to take her over to the cemetery. I used to feel so weird talking or writing about him. I hate that. When I go, I want you all to talk about me. I know, that’s shallow; but it’s true. I want people to talk about me. I want to have made an impact on you. Dan made an impact on me. Dan was incredibly important to me. Here I am, crying again. I wish he could have been at Dave’s wedding. I wish he could be at mine.

- I'll try to keep up on this a bit more. I guess no one knows what's going on in my life, so I'll try to share.

cause i cant say it vocally

2008-03-12T07:43:00.002-05:00

- I have the best family in the world. My parents provided me with the best home life; I never lacked anything. My dad has fixed my various cars more times than I can count; they both fix everything. Always have. Mom works so hard to make everyone else happy and so often we still complain. She's the best, though.

Those hiking and camping trips we went on, the ones you probably thought we were bored the whole time? I miss them. I miss putting up our tent in the backyard and having dad come out and tell us silly stories that scared me to death back then. A few days ago I was thinking about wrapping paper. A different ending could have been terrifying but instead it what probably our favorite story.

I miss driving in the car for hours on end; having to sleep in those seats; eating mushed up chicken salad sandwhiches. I miss playing Yoshi. I miss all my sibblings being together. I miss playing 500. I miss playing Hearts.

We grow up, and things change, and some things get better, and some things are missed. I miss my family, the way it was, and will never be again. I guess that's part of growing up. But I still want to say, Thank You, Mom and Dad. Thank you, Dave, and Jenn, and Katie. What a great life this has been.

race

2008-02-12T19:20:00.001-06:00

- CNN keeps talking about race as an issue in the primaries and were especially surprised that Clinto and Obama split the white vote evenly in Virginia, like white people weren;t gonna vote for a black guy. Well, CNN, you're a bunch of morons.

Guess what? The majority doesn't care about race. Minorities care about race, because they think their life is tough because they're a minority. Majorities don't care about race because they know their lives stink too. Of course, I'm generalizing. Race does play a part, usually in relatively new provinces/countires/papal states... (=P). BUT as a general rule for our country, race is not a major factor for whtie people. It is for Blacks, Hispanics, and most minorities.

- I don't think comedies about black families are funny. It's not cause I'm racist or anything, I just don't think black actors acting like black people is inherently funny. Movies about white families where the family is constantly yelling at each other are called heart-wrenching dramas. Movies about black families yelling at each other are HILARIOUS! (wha?) Being black (or white, or any color) is not inherently funny or entertaining. "Welcome home, Roscoe Something-or-other" is a the new martin lawrence comedy, btw. Find a trailer, imagine everyone is Asian or white or something other than black, and then tell me how it's funny.

- I think it's great Huckabee is still in it. McCain should be embarrassed. He should be getting shamed as conservatives flock to any candidate but him. So, now that Romney's out, I'm hopign Huckabee sticks around a bit to show McCain how much we don't like him.

losers

2008-02-07T16:03:00.000-06:00

- "It takes all kinds to make a world, but some kinds we could do without." - Charles M. Schulz.

Aye, Mr. Schulz. Aye. And we call them "losers." Are you or is someone you know suffering from loserdom? Here are just a few telltale signs.

A. You and your friend/co-worker/significant other are going through drive-thru and they order something off the dollar menu, and you make them pay for it. I don't know how many times someone says "we have two separate orders" and they're both under 4 dollars. Bunch of losers.

B. Guys who take girls out and make them pay for their own meal. Ticks me off.

C. Any group of 4 people who order 4 items off the dollar menu but can only pay by credit card. Not a single one of you in the car has a fiver? Really? (Our creidt card machine goes down for about half an hour every night to reset; I understand one or two people being out of cash, but there were four people in that car...)

D. People who really think it matters between MSU and UoM. I mean, a rivalry is nice, but if you're insane about it, that's kind of losery.

E. People who pick teams that aren't their own state (or somehow related to them through family, past residency, etc.), and then get sulky when they lose. Come on, they're not even your team! Disappointment is okay, but who outside of Boston and Boston-born people really cares that the Patriots lost? Apparently, people in Alma Michigan.

F. People who don't know who Charles M. Schulz is.

G. Not Conan O'brian, Jon Stewart, and Steven Colbert. That mock brawl they had was the funniest thnig I've seen on youtube in a long time.

super bowl

2008-02-05T12:09:00.000-06:00

- Heh. Heheheh. That was great. Yeah, I wanted the Patriots to win 19 straight, 'cause now it will probably never happen. But you just had to love them going down to the GIANTS. They seemed so arrogant.

After Moss and Brady hooked up for that touchdown in the fourth, you know all they said to each other when they put their helmets together was "Tom Brady/Randy Moss" like some bizzaro William Shatner bit. Every overthrown pass? "I'm Tom Brady! I can do whatever I want!" He had to be thinking it.

And Eli Manning has a superbowl ring. You have any idea how badly Peyton wishes he were an NFC quarterback? He'd be there every year!

- So this guy at work totally does not get teh whole 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week thing. He'll ask questions like "it's 5:30am right now, in 24 hours it will be...?" Or "seven days from the eleventh..., it will be the 20th, right?" (not kidding, that actually happened) So I've started to mess with him. I say stuff like "It's 7am, so 24 hours will be 7pm, tomorrow, right?" He stares for a minute, and I say "Yeah, okay," to myself, in a self-concluding way. And he says, "yeah." He's like my own personal Dwight.

- Hacking PC RPG games is fun. I know a lot of people say "but that takes all the fun out of it!" BUT THEY'RE WRONG! My latest is dungeon master. Giving your starting party 800 mana apiece is FUN. Get away from me with that "challenges are good" stuff. This is about establishing every kind of superiority over blue meanies and mummies!

- Playing Halo again, but ever since Halo 3 came out, there are hardly any players online for Halo 1. So that's sad.

- Can't wait for Dave's wedding. Yuisa better come.

- Mike and Emily had their baby. Congratulations to them! I hear she's beautiful, but for some reason still haven't seen a picture. Or the actual baby. But I guess that's akin to getting a picture of Johnny Depps' kids. Now that they're on easy street in Fenwick, they've become so elitist. Probably have their own milking cow, too! I'm kidding, in case the sarcasm was too realistic for you. I know, my tone wasn't giving any hints. Pay closer attention, eh?

- Psych is such a fantastic show. "Can you look up any John Does? While your at it, look up all the Does. Tae Kwan, Play, Cookie, Do Ci-" I love that show.

- Obama is such an inspirational guy. He's inspired me to do so many things, like boycott all things Obama. Barack Hussein. Hmm, a comic strip about a lebonese coal miner named Barack Hussein, who is desperately trying to find his lost donkey, could be hilarious. Or not; only time will tell.

2008

2008-01-04T05:47:00.000-06:00

- So this is the new year.... It's really not that bad.

- I threw my shoulder out somehow about a month ago; now it hurts, right at the joint. And it's moving into my elbow.

- I feel like I'm really busy all the time.

- My brother came home and is leaving tomorrow. He's taking Jen with him. =(

- So Huckabee won Iowa. Heheh. And so did Obama. See, here's what I think about Obama. I hope he wins the Democratic nomination. But I have this feeling that AARP isn't going to be able to convince its members to vote for a african-american so easily. Old people have the weirdest and most racist ideas, sometimes. The older people get, the less likely they are to vote for a non-white. It's bred into them. Now, some of them, the less senile, won't care, but many of them see a black person and will see someone whom should follow, not lead. It's not good or right, and hopefully I'm wrong about the number of older folks that are like that. Not that I want Obama to be our president; I'm just against racism. Way to take a stand, amirite?

- I had a very nice Christmas. I have the greatest parents in the world. I wish I said it more often.

- I also fell on a mopped floor at work and realy bruised up my shin and knee. It hurts when touched. So stop poking it.

- I guess one of my cousins was harboring a fugitive from the police. That's...cool, eh?

- I'll try to get back into the habit of blogging. My writing is rusty.

blogging for you

2007-12-02T06:45:00.000-06:00

- Weather and roads are horrible. Or were, last night. I think I made one of the managers cry. I called in before I went in, just to see if they needed me to come in, despite the ice storm, and she said she wanted me to, if I could (yeah, that was probably one of the worst sentences ever to be typed on this or any blog; I'm operating on little sleep here). So I did. When I got there, she came up and apologized and felt very bad; I guess she felt she guilted me into risking my life (which she did, in a small way... ;P). Later in the evening, I said "Yeah, and Jen (the manager, not my sister) almost got me killed today," and then she said she was going to go home and cry. And from what I know of her, she probably did. Then I felt bad. She said she was okay before she left, but I still felt bad.

- Our church moved to a new building, so I got to move a piano, organ, pulpit, etc. again. It wasn't too bad, and the other place was close by.

- My brother got engaged, but I still don't know the details. It's my own fault.

- One of the managers at work today (a middle-aged, overweight white guy) said that there's no way he's voting for a white guy to be president. He wants Barack or Hillary. I just walk away. It's not smart to argue politics with your boss, I don't think; especially since I'd win and then he'd be mad at me. Ooh, and the retarded guy I talked about earlier said "Well, I'm what some people call... an independent." That guy is great. Sometimes it's like working with the cast of The Ringer...

- It's chilly up here. I could be wearing warmer clothes, I suppose, but then I wouldn't be able to type this paragraph, and to be honest, I'm hurting for material. Maybe I should burn my hand again. I mean, you can only have so many teeth taken out, amirite?

- "Amirite" is one of my favorite things to type. I never say it when speaking. Only when I'm typing. I think it stems from my WoW personna. Man, I crafted that thing to the extreme degree (my WoW personna). And then i quit, and it's like I killed off a character in one of my many world-famous novels which stay atop the best-sellers list for 48 straight weeks until bumped off finally by the Oprah's-bookclub-suggested "The Butter-Battle Book." Hey, if Oprah suggests it, I read it. Who else would you trust to pick out the meeting of your literary needs?

Give Thanks

2007-11-22T08:38:00.000-06:00

- Thanks for reading my blog. Now that that is out of the way...

- jk!

- So I'm going to try and take lots of pictures today that I can put up here for those of you elsewhere. Don't let me forget.

- Every time I take Tuesday home from church or work now, we spend an hour in the car talking. (I know this because I undoubtedly get a call from someone asking me if I'm okay around the fifty-minute mark.) We talk about everything. I have so much fun with her at work. I love making her laugh.

After Joe preached, we (2s and I) talked about the mission field. She is more open to it than I probably am. That's a fault I have. I don't do well outside my comfort level, and my comfort level is pretty high. It's not Zimbabwe. But the Lord can fix that, if I am open to His leading.

- My brother isn't going to be here today. That's sad. I really miss him.

- I burned my hand at work. It's all blistered. I grabbed a searing hot metal handle. I'm kind of like the kun-fu guy, except instead of going out and falling in the snow, I got Aloe Vera.

- Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

- mtg article

I'd like to think I'm a changeling type player.

finally.

2007-11-15T11:46:00.001-06:00

Episode 13 is up on my other blog. Sorry it took so long after I kept telling you I'd get it done.

I'm really sick

2007-11-14T10:33:00.000-06:00

- I have a head infection or something. My head hurts, my throat hurts, my nose is running, by throat is clogged, my head is stuffed, and I feel all around awful. I was supposed to teach the Wednesday night service this week but that isn't going to happen.

- I had to go to school today despite my illness because stupid stuff is due and stupid teachers don't like electronic submissions. I want to go home.

- I was on facebook again, raising my jedi score. Don't know why.

- I don't know how people can still be playing WoW. I mean, the same game for what, 3 years now? That's insane. We all have cell phones, so the whole "family interaction" thing seems a little fishy. At the same time, I played it for a long time, and i'm sure plenty of people were saying that about me too.

- I'm too sick to write any more. Bleah.

stuff to say

2007-11-12T13:25:00.000-06:00

- I miss writing. I never have any time, and when I do have a few moments, I usually sleep or just lay around. I used to feel productive when I was writing. Now I don't feel very productive. I'd like to get back into it. Work tires me out, and school is a pain.

- Facebook is kind of fun.

- Really nice day out there. It's cool not to have to use the heater in the car.

- I have no idea what's going on with my brother. Joe came over last night, and apparently mom, jenn, and joe all think I'm being too hard in my... appraisal of the situation. They said I was cynical and pessimistic. We'll see. We'll see who's pessimistic when the world is overrun by zombies. We'll see!

- Manning threw 6 interceptions yesterday. Wow.

- So if you get a chance to listen to the Larry King/Jerry Seinfeld interview, you should. It's funny. Is it possible that King didn't know who Seinfeld was? I think so.

- Joe is moving, which is sad.

- Anyone else see the video of McCain and his mom being interviewed when she just starts bashing Mormons or something? And McCain has an embarrassed smile, and says something like "the views of this candidate's mother are not necessarily his." That's funny stuff.

- I miss Psych.

- One time, I hit a deer, and the thing went end over end into the air like the Meep's cover-stone on Quest For Glory 1: So You Want To Be A Hero. Just sharing.

- Speaking of hermits, I really should read or watch Henry V again. I feel like I'm losing my grasp on culture. It's one of the facets of my Renaissance personality. That and my goatee.

- I'm really hungry. I left the house without eating this morning. Why, you ask? Cause I wasn't hungry at the time.

Guess what I got..

2007-11-07T08:34:00.000-06:00

- If you guessed a salad shooter, you're wrong. I got a digital camera. My manager at work gave me a great deal, cause he's an awesome guy, and he thinks I'm awesome, and together we fight crime in Jersey.

- So this guy at work said to someone else at work (while I was nearby) "so, did you vote for the President today?" Now, immediately, you assume he's making some lame joke while silently pleading for him to be serious. "Please, please, PLEASE be so stupid that you think the presidential election was November 6, 2007." Well, it turned out he WAS that stupid, but it wasn't as fun as I thought it'd be. I mean, he's too dumb to make fun of now. It's like mocking mentally handicapped people. It's low and not really worth it. So we didn't say anything after we corrected his mistake. It was awkward. The worst part was that afterward, in an attempt to save some credibility, the guy says "Oh, rats. I wanted to get rid of Bush." He clearly doesn't know anything; he doesn't know who the other candidates are, since there's 237 of them right now. But he thinks he can score some points by bashing Bush. The other guy and myself just walked away.

- I don't know how long I have to wait before I can start dating Tuesday and have everyone be okay with it. I was going to wait until after she got baptized, but I don't know if that's long enough. Or maybe it's excessively long, since I know she's saved and making progress. I don't know how long before everyone thinks she's proven her motives are pure and all that. So I'm waiting. That donkey-beast of a donkey-beast was taking shots at Tuesday's character again, saying she was only going to church to get me. Made me mad, but it's the reason I'm still not dating her. People are cynical, people don't believe in God's working in lives (because they're not saved), people believe in it but don't think they're seeing it (because they've heard stories? I don't know), and other stuff. It's complicated. And frustrating.

- Got some new Playstation2 games. They're cool.

- I'm probably going to be taking a lot more pictures from now on, so hopefully I'll get some more stuff posted. It's fun. Hopefully Tuesday will let me take one of her. She doesn't like people taking her picture. So she's like everyone else I know.

- Oh yeah, I recently have been wanting to punch a select few people in the face. Not a great Christian response, I know, but pretend they're Nazis. See? Now I bet YOU want to punch them in the face.

- It's cold. I wore a coat to work last night. I know, zane-y!

- Some level 6 pirate attacked Joe today, so in retaliation, I attacked him with my level 4 ninja... and WON! I was so pumped. And it was a big win, too. 19 to 15, and he had two more dice! Take that, pirate scum! And leave my friends alone.

(title goes here)

2007-11-04T07:29:00.000-06:00

- I've been getting upset on behalf of other people lately. First my brother, and then Tuesday. Can I just say how blessed I am for the parents I have? Seriously, there are some nuts out there.

- Tuesday is really coming along well in her new Christian walk. She's not embarrassed to tell people about her faith. It's exciting to see.

- Finally found a flight simulator game for the PS2 and it is awesome. Ace Combat 5, I think. Maybe it's just cause my last one was the NES Top Gun (or Star Fox, i guess), but I really like this game.

- If I ever learned to play the guitar, I'd probably learn Green Day's Time of Your Life first. I love the guitar's part. And Jenn could play the violin part.

- Joe's interview is tomorrow.

- Pete called me last night. He has never called me before. That was cool. Of course, it was to get my brother's number, but still... ooh, I should call Matt.

- I had to work overnight last night. So daylight savings switcheroo just tacked on more work and less sleep: Booo!

- I heard it's going to snow this week: Brrr!

- This is what sheep say: Baaa!

- See what I did there?

couples

2007-10-31T13:03:00.000-05:00

- So, on campus, there are these couples. You see them around, and depending on appearance, they follow a specific formula. I thought since I was bored, I'd give a rundown.

a). The "friends." Usually an average guy and a cute girl. You know a "friends" couple by when the two meet or separate, the guy gives the girl a hug. A kind of "so good to see you again" attitude, and the girl always acts like she buys it.

b). The "misfits." A short, fat girl with a tall guy, almost always with zany hair, and ALWAYS wearing a long dark trench coat. These are the couples that you get the feeling have been made fun of their entire lives and now they have a huge chip on their shoulders. They are obnoxious in class, they're loud, they're always talking about other people, and they act like they don't care about much of anything. These pairs are nearly always just friends.

c). The "cheerful." Usually a black guy with a white girl. Both of them are outgoing, and tend to have a charismatic/easy-going atmosphere about them.

d). The "gross." Two ugly people who stand in front of the door to class making out, holding hands, and then when one has to go, the other will hold on to their hand and pull them back, to make-out some more. It's like they have to prove to the world that they're in love and happy.

- I got my computer working. Thanks, Mike, for the tips. Except Mike doesn't read my blog, so that was a wasted bit of gratitude.

- I think I'm going to come home early. I have no homework due, and my one class was simply going to the professor and making sure he approved what my paper topic was. And I'm really thirsty.

- Halloween is tonight. My thoughts on Halloween aren't that deep. I don't agree with the whole "dressing up as a vampire is bad" unless you also argue that pretending to be a robber in "cops and robbers" is also bad. I can't really say that going out and getting candy is a bad thing. At the same time, I'd rather churches had fall fests so Christian kids could be different from the world, and still get candy. But as for Scriptural basis to hate the day? I can't really find any. I mean, people who don't like it are probably safer and better off, but that's just an opinion.

- Mike was doing road construction in our town today and yesterday. He came over for supper and we played a lot of Magic. I really, REALLY like my Merrow deck, and my blue control deck, which only gets better and better. Planeswalkers are tons of fun.

- Okay, I'm gonna go home now. I hate this place.

i really don't like people

2007-10-24T08:45:00.000-05:00

- So this... donkey-beast of a girl at work (who has a crush on me) is bad-mouthing Tuesday when she's not around because she knows we (Tuesday and I) hang out together. It really bugs me. If she does it when I'm around, I might push her into the fry vat... not really, that'd be gross. Fried donkey-beast.

- I came to school early to write some papers. Bleah.

- I'm not going to get any sleep from yesterday at 6pm to tomorrow at 6:30 am. 36 hours; that's really not that bad. Work tonight might be ugly, but I can handle 36 hours.

- Someone told me the only advice they have concerning girls is not to settle. If things were to work out between me and Tuesday, I wouldn't be settling. She's smart, she's funny, I think she's adorably cute; she's like me, in other words. Anyway, she told me she's been thinking about baptism, so hopefully she'll say something to pastor tonight. I'm trying to not push her toward things (to see what kind of drive she has without prodding) while at the same time helping her as a new Christian. It's kind of hard to see where the line needs to be drawn. But I've been seeing changes, things that make me happy to see.

- Apparently I thought "Liberty or Death" was funnier than everyone else. Oh well; I'm still thinking it's funny.

- A new poll reports that 50% of Americans now say that they would never, ever vote for Hillary Clinton. Half the country, before the election year, has already decided they will never vote for you, regardless of anything that happens. That's amazing.

- Colbert might be getting into trouble for his mock-campaign. If he does, I'll rant against stuff. Colbert is awesome. He may be the most awesome liberal ever. I'd vote for him in South Carolina.

- "The Assassination Of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Crawford" seems like it's going to be why too depressing. First of all, Brad Pitt almost always makes his characters extremely likable (maybe not in Troy). And the movie clearly is going to establish him as the hero. The problem is, unlike other movies where you know the good guy is going to die, there are no backup characters in this. There is good and bad, James and Crawford, and bad/Crawford is going to win. We know this; it's history. I could be wrong, but it seems depressing to know Casey Affleck is going to kill Brad Pitt.

- I'm starting to get tired. I'd slap myself in the face, but there are people around and it'd be weird.

- Okay, so I'm gonna go now.

no connection

2007-10-22T10:28:00.000-05:00

- I haven't had internet for about a week, so that's why there hasn't been any communication from me. I use the school's computer every once in awhile, or my dad's (which still has connection), but I don't really miss it (internet) that much.

- Been busy at work. I can't wait to be done with school; it will make work days easier.

- The wedding was nice. Mike and Joe gave me a ride home; we had a good time. They came over yesterday afternoon, but I was sleeping. I do that at weird times now.

- Tuesday's birthday is this Tuesday. I bought her a nice study Bible.

- Peer review is the most retarded thing ever. Why would I want my peers reviewing any of my work? They're my peers! Most of them are a lot dumber than me, and the few that are at my level... are at MY level. I pay money for teacher's to review, not peers. Stupid, stupid, stupid....

- I slept for a long time last night. Felt good. I hope I'm not getting sick.

- Waiting for the net to get back up before I can post Episode 13. Sorry, I'm just really lazy.

feeling anxious

2007-10-17T11:22:00.000-05:00

- Have a couple papers due today. Not too much, already have most of them done, so I'm taking a break to blog.

- Tuesday hasn't txt'd me all day. Not sure what's up with that.

- There are some weird parents out there. I hear about and see other people's parents and realize how amazing mine are.

- Ashlie's wedding is on Saturday. I hope to see all of you there... Yes, even you.

- Heroes is back. I think the Nathan storyline has the most promise this time around.

- My manager at work watches Psych, too. He's like the only person I know outside of my immediate family that watches it. That makes him awesome. Sorry, i don't make the rules.

- The Patriots are killing everybody. (No, not Ben franklin and Patrick Henry. Sheesh. I mean the football team. Though, I don't think anyone doubts that Franklin and Henry would be a pretty unstoppable duo. Someone should make a buddy-cop show, where they both wake up after 200 years of being cryogenically frozen, and they become maverick-like lawmen who take on the gangs of los angeles. Better yet, I'll do it. "Liberty or Death: Back to Freedom" - Trademark of the Michael Schmidt Production Studio.) I'm glad. The whole "they cheated!" thing was way overblown. Now they're just killing everybody, and i think it's funny. Still like the Colts, and I hope they win, but i think the Pats are going to take it.

- Ok, going back to work on school stuff.

couple things

2007-10-13T18:27:00.000-05:00

- Pray for my friend Tuesday. She made a profession of faith last week. I believe it was sincere, but I understand the importance of maintained evidence. So pray for me too, that I will be wise.

- I was Arwen, and then Aragorn. I don't remember what I even changed. It was only one thing though, I think. Anywho, I'm going with Aragorn, 'cause he's cooler. Nyah.

- I want to play a big game of Magic. Mike came over on Sunday, and then Joe came over, but it was busy, and we never got to play. Mike and I and Jenn played a few, but we needed Joe. And Dave, and Pete, and Matt, and Andy, and Isaac, and Steve. And whoever else plays.

- Algore won the Nobel Prize. Because he brilliantly turned talking like a robot "hip." I'd have voted for him, too. Is there a more stoic guy that people think they are supposed to find charismatic? No, no there is not. Well played, Algore. Btw, there is an evil-looking lizard guy with a spear in Chaos Strikes Back named Algor. I'd also vote for him. Because he's an evil-looking lizard guy. With a spear.

- Interstingly enough, you don't get spears in Chaos Strikes Back.

- There's a stry about animal control workers who threw some pets off a bridge in Puerto Rico (my aunt is from there; her dog is still alive, as far as I know, but if it suddenly goes missing, we'll know why). I think we should keep this story alive for as long as possible. Not because it has to do with animal control killing animals, but because anytime you can use a real-life story to segue about the kids throwing Katz into the river, you should do it.

- Speaking of cruelty to animals, what's up with that lately? Vick beheads dogs, and now this Puerto Rican travesty? And we haven't even addressed the drunk guy in drive-thru who had a minature dauchshund under his shirt. That guy was simultaneously disturbing and ultra-disturbing. Not easy to pull off, let me tell you.

- Do people still go "Cool!" or "wow!" when Tiger Woods and Jeff Gordon win yet another championship? I don't. Then again, I never really did anyway. Why? Well, because it's golf and Nascar. I'd rather give myself papercuts than care about those sports. Or, at least, give you papercuts. I have sensitive skin.

glad tonight is over

2007-10-13T05:38:00.001-05:00

- I had to work with horrible co-workers tonight. Just, really annoying people. Anyway, I'm glad it's over.

- Sorry to those who read my stories. I meant to get it up thursday, but I ended up taking Tuesday to Grand Rapids to see about a car loan. Fun day, but I didn't get anything done.

- I think the song "If you're reading this" is one of the saddest ever. I like it a lot.

- My family is home. They're all sleeping, so I have to wait til later to talk to them. But at least they're home.

- I'm going to bed. I want to buy some Lorwyn cards, but I don't know when I can get to a shop.

Video Game Ending Guide

2007-10-11T03:15:00.000-05:00

So I decided to make a small guide to video game endings, pointing out what (imo) differentiates good endings from bad endings by mainly listing the basic forms that an ending comes in, and grading it. So here we go.

1. The Star Wars Ending.
- Basically, you finally win the game and your reward is a block of text slowly moving up the screen. Sure, depending on what the text says, it can be somewhat satisfying, and more often than not, some sort of pictures fill in the background to remind you of every primary point of your adventure. It's kind of like a nostalgic trip back over the last two hours, but it's definitely not worth seeing twice.
Example: Super Contra.
Grade: C-

2. The Literal End.
- Rare in these modern times, this version is one of the most dreaded outcomes to a hard fought victory. The screen fades black, and the credits roll, and then... "The End" appears on your screen. No resolution. No fancy art. Nothing.
Grade: D- (Yes, there is one worse on my scale)

3. The Result.
- Castles collapsing, buidlings blowing up, main male lead kisses main female lead. Basically any action/adventure game utilizes this ending.
Grade: B

4. The Epilogue.
- The Epilogue is resolution. Your character's(or s') fate is explained, the effect on the world is shown, and everyone feels good about themselves. Usually...
Example: Final Fantasy 6
Grade: A-

4b. The Cliffhanger.
- Cousin to the epilogue, the cliffhanger usually ends exactly with the same cheery tone as the epilogue, except a nasty surprise waits after the credits. Either the main villain remains, or an even darker threat is waiting to reveal itself. Sometimes exciting, sometimes annoying.
Zelda: Ocarina of Time (there are better exapmles, but it's late and I can't think)
Grade: B+

5. The Void
- Worst possible ending, usually to a long RPG. You work like crazy to level your guys, complete quests, collect gear, and finally slay the bad guy... and then someone tells your characters "You will have no memory of this adventure." Sure, you saved the universe, but no one knows; it's like it never happened. Is there any bigger let-down? I mean, your guys deserve parades, fame, honor, etc. Not only that, any friendships your characters formed are lost. Chrono Cross even has quests to reunite lost loved ones, but with the ending, it's all wiped away.
Examples: Chrono Cross, Zelda: Ocarina, Final Fantasy 1
Grade: F

6: Chrono Trigger
- Gets it's own level, since it has 10 endings, and almost all of them are better than most any other game. Frog's ascent to Magus, the new future, the Prophet's challenge of Lavos, the Quick Win scenario. All great moments.
Grade: A+

I'm sure there are more, and that you could break these down, but this is what I'm starting with. Feel free to post additions, revision, or comments on changes.

- FInished episode 13. Just need to upload it onto my PC. I have today off, so I'll try to get it done sometime. Check back for updates later on; i'll let you know when it's up, if you care.

today is not Thursday

2007-10-03T13:47:00.000-05:00

- So if you think it IS thursday, you're wrong.

- Living in a stacked deck. Something Linus says, but I feel that way. You get blamed for stuff that you don't start, but there's no way to convince anyone of it. It's stacked against you. Or something. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm talking about.

- My jaw still kind of hurts. I thought it'd be over by now.

- I don't want to go to work tonight. One of the overnight people quit, so we've been a man-down the last two nights, and tonight will be the same. That makes a difference when there's only four of you to start with.

- I left my phone at home. Feels weird not to have it right now. Like, my car might not start, and then I'm basically stuck. Or if I see a dinosaur, I won't have a camera handy. It's very disturbing.

- I need a stapler at the moment.

- I wonder if I should move out and try and live on my own. I'd miss my sisters, I think, a lot. Plus, I'd have to get my own towels and stuff.

- There's this old arby's flier next to the PC I'm at. It's making me really hungry.

- No one ever comments on my posts. It's hard to be motivated to write when no one is reading. I guess it's hard to read when no one is posting interesting stuff, eh? I can take a hint.

- I like my job, but I want to be making a lot of money. I don't know how. Writing is really hard. The more I think about it, the more I doubt I'll ever get a book done. There's always something else to do.

- I don't like my history class. It's boring and the teacher, while not as bad as the teacher I had last year, is kind of overly strict about stupid stuff. It's like she's endured years of people making jabs about history being a real discipline, and she's not going to take it anymore. History is relevant, by crackles! Because... something about the past... repeating mistakes... I don't know. It's not really that relevant for anything other than knowing history. I mean, sure, without history, Brett Favre passing Marino's record wouldn't have been celebrated, cause no one would have known about Marino's record. And other stuff.

Holyfield Grill?

2007-10-01T09:49:00.000-05:00

- Evander Holyfield has unveild his own grill to challenge the Foreman grill. That's spectacular.

- OJ Simpson is in jail. Only a decade too late, but you know... better late than never, amirite?

- Team Lazarus remade Ultima V with the Dungeon Siege Engine. Coolest thing I've seen in a long time. It's a lot harder than the original Ultima V because I knew that game like I know Final Fantasy. Now instead of being able to go North, South, East or West, I can go 360 degrees and it makes finding stuff harder. Still, absolutely fantastic. The music was revampedto infinitely better quality, the graphics are dungeon siege graphics, and the dialogue got spruced up, even though Ultima V had the best character development/dialogue in a PC game, ever. Well, maybe not ever, but it's still up there, even though the game is 15-20 years old. I'm having a lot of fun with that right now.

- I just rolled over my toe with the chair. It hurts.

- New MTG set looks cool. I like the elves. That reminds me... Matt isn't coming to Christmas. Cause apparently 50 weeks isn't enough for Yuisa. Noooooo, she needs 51 weeks of the year with her side of the family.. Whatever, says I. What-Ever. I'm gonna take back the Holyfield Grill I bought for them. That'll teach 'em.

- I feel junky. My jaw and cheeks hurt. I'm not supposed to drive while on those meds, so I'm off them today so I can go to school. Like I need to go to school. Bleah!!

- Lions scored 34 4th quarter points yesterday. That's kind of crazy. Packers are 4-0. I officially apologize to Brett Favre. Apparently he knew how much he had left better than I did. Imagine that. Or he's on steroids. Hmmm...

- I need to start work on my toast for Ashlie's wedding. And Matthew needs to let me know when they're measuring for tuxes. Time is running out.

- Pray for Tuesday. She knows she needs to get saved; we're going to talk today sometime, hopefully.

- That's it for now. I have to go to school or something.

key

2007-09-23T07:29:00.000-05:00

- My boss called me into her office and gave me a raise and a key-shaped pin today, because I'm "a key employee." I put the pin on my hat this morning and was wearing it around the house, and let me tell you, that thing is a power trip! I was like "I am an integral part of this situation. My sister's waffles rely on me in an important way. Without me, this would be a room of catastrophe." And then I took it off, you know, and it was a big let-down. It really was. I was all like "man... mom doesn't need me here for that blow dryer to work.... I am not involved in that conversation.... There are pastries being eaten without my participation."

- So, other news. Um... Everyone is warning me. They're like, "Mike, be careful." And I'm like "fo' show, my nizzles." No, not really. I appreciate the concern, and I'm paying attention to it. I'm being careful; if I wasn't, I'd have a girlfriend right now. I don't. I have a friend, and the Lord is giving opportunity after opportunity to witness to her. I'm not dating her, and I'm not going to date her as things stand, and even sometime after, should they substantially change. But I do appreciate the concern and prayers.

- School is the uber-bummer. Yeah, just thought it was time to reaffirm my hatred of all things Chippewa. That's the school mascot. The Chippewas. Yes, we're using American-Indians in the same capacity that other schools use talking skunks named Stinky. So, there's a point in our favor.

- Psych is still the funniest show on television. So there.

- Um... hmmm... haven't seen anyone in awhile. Mike is working like crazy, I hear. Joe is hot-dogging it on his mo-ped, as far as I know. People getting married, etc. Oh, I'm still getting teeth pulled this Friday. Definately looking forward to that... pain, and ... you know, blood filling my mouth. All right! I get myself so worked up and excited that I want to stick a screwdriver into my gums, just to taste the rush. Not really. That'd be gross. Eww.

2007-09-10T07:03:00.000-05:00

- Mick Jagger and Stephen King: Same person or just both really ugly?

- Not a whole lot to talk about. I still have a goatee. I should probably call stephanie. I haven't heard much from her lately.

- Labor day was a bust. No one came over. If Mike wasn't bigger than me I'd knuckle burn his head.

- I woke up at 6:20 am and couldn't get back to sleep. That's going to kill me this week. I have to work from 11pm to 7am tomorrow, then go to some dentist/quack who wants to cut my wisdom teeth out with one of those obsidian knives that the aztecs used. Then go back to work at 11pm again. I'm not going to sleep much in the next few days.

- "I like to eat rice. Rice is really good when you're hungry and want 2000 of something." - Mitch Hedberg

- We went bowling again on Saturday. My third game was horrible and now my thumb's all swollen. I blamed the game on the thumb and maintained a slight amount of dignity.

- I haven't talked to Matt in awhile either. I hear he's doing really well though.

- Itunes isn't working so I can't watch the new episode of Psych. That bugs me.

- "It would be horrible to be killed by an arrow. They would never solve the crime. 'Hey look! A dead guy.... Let's go that way.' " - Mitch Hedberg

Mmmmmm, a slush..

2007-08-31T15:06:00.000-05:00

- I have a cherry slush, and it is good. I'm betting none of you are drinking a slush while reading this, so I win yet again.

- Mitch Hedberg is hilarious. It's too bad he died. I mean, it'd be too bad he died even if he weren't hilarious, but it's worse because he was. And I'm a very shallow person.

- New guy at work that I don't like very much. My boss described him as a retarded puppy (not to his face, of course). I was thinking along those same lines, but wasn't sure I should say anything.

- So... a bunch of girls at work like me. I know 3 do for certain, and at least 4 more hint at it (or others hint at it about them). But they're all unsaved, so basically it's like I'm Ray Charles and have been asked to judge a homemade art contest. Yeah, just like that... Anyway, I know I'm charming and all, but it's a little much. Must be my goatee.

- I only have two classes this semester, and so far they seem easy enough. I'm happy with my English teacher. The last few have been older women who always seem on the brink of yelling at you or crying. This time it's a guy who generally seems to be in a good mood, so that's cool. My history teacher isn't bad either. She said she's not a raging leftist liberal, which is always a plus.

guilty

2007-08-16T00:52:00.000-05:00

- I harp on you guys for not blogging, and then miss 9 days straight. What's up with that?

- My brother brought Kaylynn home over the weekend. Very nice girl, though I can't figure out her hatred of grapes. That's just weird. Who hates grapes? Anyway, she saw ANH and ESB, so that's a good start.

- I sat down and remade my Star Wars CCG decks. I need an Echo Base Operations, if anyone has an extra. We couldn't find a single copy between Dave and myself. I need to play. Hopefully Mike will bring his decks sometime.

- I had to teach church tonight. Well, last night now. It's getting easier. I hope it wasn't only because I was tired, and therefore more relaxed.

- I have half of episode 13 done, but I am struggling for material, or drive, maybe. By the way, I know I've already said this, but Psych is really good.

- Wedding is coming up. I don't know who's going to show. I'll probably hang around Joe and Mike, like always. We're going to sing Mambo #5 instead of Hound Dog. And then after they finally let us back in, we'll organize a tango.

- Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee did well in Iowa, I guess. Which means nothing, but if CBS cares, than so do I, by crackles. Really, we have more than a year left on this. Who's idea was that? 'Cause I'm thinking into the briar patch for him.

- I got very little sleep last night, again. Either I'm going to start going to various support groups, or create an alter ego. Or maybe I'll just drink some warm milk. Actually, my problem isn't insomnia as much as a lack of hours in the night. And the fact that it's 2 am and I'm blogging. Something's screwy in my head.

- I downloaded Link's Awakening onto my PC, but the emulator keeps freezing up at bosses. And so I curse Basic Boy 2.03! Just, you know, fyi...

because no one else will

2007-08-06T17:20:00.000-05:00

- No one is blogging. What's up with that?

- Busy, busy week. Bible conference. Joe's graduation. Dave and his honey are coming over. Work. And so forth. And yet I blog. While the rest of you don't. That's just SAD. So again, for my second blog in a row, I say thee SHAME!

- I still like Romney. I look at the other guys, and don't like very many of them. I don't really know if the Mormon thing is that big a deal.

- I've been thinking a lot about how Christians approach things. If I were to tell an unsaved person that it is sin for them to swear, it implies that I am saying they could do right by not swearing, when even the plowing of the wicked is sin (I think it's plowing, it might be something else; either way, the Bible is saying that they are incapable of doing right). So everything they do is sin. Whether they swear or not, they aren't making any progress. Biblically speaking, the only times it is implied that Hell will be more severe for some over others is in terms of the level of denial of Christ/opportunity to repent.

Now, I'm all for preaching against individual sins in church and also with people who believe they are saved but show no outward evidence. What I wonder about is telling the lost that they need to stop drinking, etc. You know what? If they get saved, they'll stop drinking. That's a Biblical fact. What good does it do them to stop drinking and not get saved? Nothing. Just some thoughts.

101

2007-07-31T03:26:00.000-05:00

Some quick notes since it's very early in the morning.

- This is my 101st post. Go me.

- There is not a single Bon Jovi song that doesn't sound like it should be played as the training montage music in a Van Damme movie. Double negative. Total truth.

- I think I liked Icewind Dale 2 better than Baldur's Gate 2, although some of the dialogue in BG2 is pretty good. Some of it isn't.

- My feet hurt.

- I came home and ate a bunch of tuna salad. I feel good about myself, and the people I encounter. Yes, I do believe the two are related.

where is everybody?

2007-07-29T08:26:00.000-05:00

- I haven't seen Joe or Mike and Em in forever. I'm sure they will throw the "busy" card out there, but I think we all know that's a sham. Sham, I say! And with the subtle addition of the letter "e," I might also say Shame! As in, shame on them. Because it's not my fault. Obviously.

- Dave is coming home and bringing his girlfriend's family with him. Well done. I am very excited, personally. There is a comfort in knowing that you can have very little if any effect on something, and therefore can behave outrageously. Yes, the "outrageous" in the previous sentence was intended to be read with ze French accent. So was "ze."

- The last Harry Potter book came out. I'm sure my favorite auntie has already read the thing. I, understanding that it is important to be kept up to date on everything in order to appear more knowledgeable, read the spoiler. So if you want to know how Potter dies, just give me a call. I'm kidding. He doesn't really die. Or does he? *Do do do do do dooooooooo*

2007-07-23T13:31:00.000-05:00

- I ordered Baldur's Gate 2 (with expansion) like 5 days ago and it's still not here. What's up with that?

- There is really very little to blog about in the summer. I suppose I could talk about little rubber ducks, or old pick up trucks. Or slow moving trains. And rain.

- My boss keeps asking me who the bands are that play these rock songs on the radio. Last time I thought for a second, then said "the Righteous Brothers." He laughed. Btw, it wasn't the Righteous Brothers. It wasn't even the Morally Challenged Brothers.

- So, I think a few of us need to start practicing are harmony for when we sing "Goodness Gracious! Great Balls of Fire!" at Jessica's wedding. (Jessica Foutch. That sounds weird.) Unless Joe gets all moral on us and makes us sing something less offensive. Like "Hound Dog."

- If I were the kind who gave free drinks of wine to people, I'd give one to my brother right now.

- I wonder if Devil Went Down to Georgia would be inappropriate... I think it has a good spiritual message behind it, and a catchy tune, personally. And Charlie Daniels is a "Christian." And Republican.

All sovereign

2007-07-16T15:29:00.001-05:00

- I've heard it said (from Calvinists) that God "does not micromanage." So even though none of you want to hear this, here is yet another rant. I hope it will be my last for awhile.

Yes, God does micromanage. All sovereign means he controls everything, including where each drop of rain falls. Read the passages in Job where God speaks, and it becomes clear how God "micromanages." Nothing that happens is out of His plan; everything that happens is in His plan.

God turns the hearts of kings as a man washing dishes. We all know that. We also know that with God, there is no respecting of persons. So what makes us think God controls the decisions of kings but not farmers, or teachers, or McDonald's employees? What makes us think His sovereignty has limits? If He is truly all sovereign, then that means everything (excluding not even the tiniest action) is by His pre-ordained decree. If God does not control where the rain falls, who does? Is it chance? No, no Christian would seriously lay anything at Chance's feet. Does the devil control the elements? No; to say so would be blasphemous, as we know the wind and waves obey Jesus.

What I don't get it why anyone would make the claim, then, that God does not micromanage, unless to give man some sort of control over his own destiny. It seems a wholly Armenian line of thought. Why say "God allows you to choose over the little things?" Little things? As if there are different degrees of difficulty with God? As if "all sovereign" only extends over things human beings perceive as "big deals?"

See, that wasn't that long. No one that reads this blog has said that God doesn't micromanage, as far as I know. So I'm talking to the choir, but I wanted to say it anyway. Okay, enough rants out of me.

pants, cards, and cigarettes

2007-07-13T03:10:00.000-05:00

- I was thinking on the way home from work tonight, so here it is. It probably won't be as coherent as it should be, but it's after 4am.

The church has lost its focus. We preach against things the Bible is silent on, and we ignore the fact that people blatantly avoid coming to church are still called "brothers." We condemn things we have no business condemning, and we don't mind that no one thinks the Bible is infallible.

We've lost our focus. Somewhere along the way, we decided as Baptists to lop of the dandelion's head rather than pluck it up by the root. Women wearing pants!!!??? That is really the cause of the church's current state of apathy and weakness? Playing cards? Cigarettes? Really???

The next time someone says cigarettes are sin, ask them about cheeseburgers. They will inevitably say the word "excess" if they have been taught anything. Then ask them where in the Bible I am given authority to judge excess for any other person. Where am I given reign to say "No!!! You've had one too many cheeseburgers already, Brother Munson. No more for you!" What is wrong with the church today, that we think that has anything to do with Christianity?

People don't know who God is. They don't know what is in His Word. They don't know what living separate really means, and for decades now, they've been hearing that Christianity is a list of rules. Don't drink. Don't smoke. And if you're a girl, don't wear pants. Don't play cards.

WHAT?

People don't respect the church anymore. They don't. They don't care what the church says. Do you think maybe that started when preachers stopped talking about sinners in the hands of a Mighty God and started talking about cigarettes?? I have a feeling it was.

Some will argue that the two messages are not exclusive. Okay, but one is Biblical, and the other isn't. One can be verified by verses and the other is cautioned flagged with "we think, because it's bad for you." Like cheeseburgers. And breathing without a mask. Honestly, we should all be mimicking Michael Jackson's phobia if we want to avoid "what's bad for us." What's wrong with us!? Cards, pants and cigarettes? Really.

We love rules, as Baptists. We like the "don't" list, because then we can say "hey, I'm doing pretty good." It's a sense of security, of accomplishment, of pride. But it's not Biblical!

House rules are different. You want to have a rule that says "no cards in my house" or "No cigarettes," then more power to you. Cigarettes are idiotic (costly, unattractive, costly), so I will never have them in my house. (But if someone asks you why you don't smoke, and you come back with "because I'm a Christian," you're not going to be able to back that up. You're not. Unless you're a vegetarian who uses gloves to open doors.) The problem comes when your kid asks "why don't we play cards?" and you say "Because the Bible says so" instead of "because I don't like them and don't want them in my house."

It's good to appear as lunatics to the world. We're supposed to be weird. The problem comes when we're weird for reasons that aren't Scriptural, and then we say they are. It's not in the Bible that women can't wear pants. Or tennis shoes. Oddly, Baptists don't usually have problems with the latter.

Anyway, that's my rant.

Psych!

2007-07-12T13:03:00.000-05:00

- Not sure if any of you ever watch the show Psych (it's on USA, which I don't get), but I finally made an iTunes account and downloaded it. It's a good show; very funny. Season 2 starts in a few days, but, like I said, I don't get the USA channel.

- I need to check, at some point, when my classes start this fall. I am so sick of CMU. Last week, I even bought a cauldron so I could put a curse on the place, but I got gypped ("gypped"= gypsies = gypsy curses? Bizarre!). The thing didn't come with instructions, and I ended up transposing the application of the eye of newt with the tongue of frog. I think I'm growing an unusually large, sickle-shaped talon on the second toe of each foot, not unlike the Dein0nychus (which was the model of the Velociraptor in the Jurassic Park films).

- I feel like I have money right now. I really don't, but I feel like I do. Some combination of uncashed checks and a credit card.

life as now

2007-07-07T11:13:00.000-05:00

- The week o' festivities is over. I still have all my teeth. Whenever I make it through festivities with all my teeth, I give myself points. Here, have some points. Thank you.

- Bunch of newbsauces neglected to participate in the water sports, but I refrain from shunning them. Because that's the way I roll.

- I have to take my G-ma to Flint today. I'm not good at finding places I've never been (although I was there once a while back). Chances are it will result in me discovering a land bridge between Alaska and Japan. I don't think I can handle Sushi.

- So the hotel where we all stayed had a pool, a full-size basketball court, some tennis courts, a batting cage, and a fully-equipped workout room. I watched the Weather Channel in my room. Kidding. It was a pretty cool place. That is, until my aunt got us all lost when we were trying to find the ice cream place. "Go past the Dirty Cow!" she said. But we weren't supposed to go past the Dirty Cow. And then there was the drive-in that wasn't. Crazy times. And my cousin got married.

- Speaking of married, there are still multiple weddings coming up this year. None of them mine, btw, because I know you were all thinking, "About time that wild buck settle down and raise hisself a family... Yee-HAW!" Okay, so maybe you weren't thinking the "Yee-HAW" part, but you should have been. Weddings are fun. For most of us anyway. For some, they are a grim reminder of how much having daughters costs you.

- Apparently, I'm a night shift guy, now. 7:30pm to 3:30am is my schedule. So no more late night expeditions to go Dirty Cow tipping. Auntie Yuisa.

pat robertson

2007-06-26T14:17:00.000-05:00

- Awhile back I said I would talk about Mr. Robertson, so here it goes.

Robertson is perhaps the most vocal and famous person to ever blame a natural disaster on sin, other than the disciples and the tower of Siloam. Robertson has become synonymous with assigning sinful causes to catastrophes.

Now we have a problem, because he is judging where and what he is not authorized by God to judge, and he is doing in under the guise of conservative Christianity. He believes he is told things directly by God Himself, and he believes that every bad thing that happens to someplace is due to sin.

Perhaps it is, and perhaps it isn't. But the whole point of Luke 13 is that we are all guilty and worthy to be killed in a catastrophe; that the 18 men were NOT more guilty than anyone else. Robertson is a fearmonger, and he is using the Bible and the guise of Christianity to give himself credibility.

I'm convinced the man isn't saved. I honestly don't see how he can be. His words have just enough truth-sounding things that it fools people, but he's basically spouting lies and illogical connections between things that aren't connected, and he's doing it while claiming the Bible is his source. He is harming Christianity, and the cause of Christ.

Now I have to be careful, because a lot of the anti-Robertson feelings out there are due to his stalwart stances against things that the fundamental Christian movement has always been against. Truth will bring persecution. On the other hand, Robertson is, like so many other "famous" theologians, about fame itself. He is preaching out of contention, but what's worse is his misrepresentation of who God is while he's doing it. Pat Robertson was NOT given special messages from God explaining why Ariel Sharon had a stroke. Pat Robertson does NOT know why new Orleans was hit by Katrina, and neither do the rest of us for that matter.

Robertson practiced faith healing. He predicted a time for the second-coming. He took a chapter out of Luther's book and said Methodists and Presbyterians had the spirit of the anti-christ. He claims to direct storms with his prayers.

The point of all this is to convey my belief that Robertson does not know the true God, and maybe, just maybe true Christians should stop looking to this guy for guidance of any kind. Hopefully we don't. There's my rant on Mr. Gordon "Pat" Robertson. Discussion welcome.

- I finally put up some links. If anyone else wants me to link your blog, let me know.

pixie sticks

2007-06-25T15:31:00.000-05:00

- cashews, and juice boxes.

- I don't like saying "nuff said." If it was really enough, then saying "nuff said" is superfluous. It's overkill. It also demeans from the economy of what you said (which you said for precise reason of being laconic). 'nuff said.

- Wait...

- Legerdemain means slight of hand or trickery.

- One of the managers at work was talking about how he bought cds and cologne because the person putting it on the market was attractive. See, I know there are people like that out there, but why would you admit to being "that guy?" I mean, why stand in the middle of McDonald's and tell your peers that you're so weak-willed that if a pretty girl asks you to buy something, you do it?

- Speaking of weak-willed, my brother - ....

- Yo-yo-yo-yo-yoda. Luke, stay away from the darker side and if you start to go astray let the force be your guide.

- So I found these hacker programs for the Icewind dale games. They aren't as challenging when you can give your guys 800 hit points.

- It's really hot here. Like if superman were flying around the house at super speed with his heat vision on full blast.

- Ghost Rider

2007-06-23T19:07:00.000-05:00

- .. hehe. That was one bad movie. I thought it might be alright when Cage was talking about his jelly beans and the chick asked the guy at the restaurant if he thought she was pretty and he said "meh." But that was it. The fight scenes were horrible. They weren't even fight scenes. And then Cage quoted The Grapes of Wrath at the end and ticked Mephisto off. Wow, was that a bad movie. I was really thinking it would be better than that. Maybe if he hadn't looked like Burton's version of Bane from Batman and been able to, you know, do karate. And actually use his chain as a whip. And the bad guys weren't complete wastes of time.

- I have to work from 11pm to 5am tonight. Eww.

- My brother drove to Wisconsin tonight to ask his girlfriend's parents if they could be a couple. But not hold hands. I told him not to do anything that would make them hate him. I think he listened.

- Is Lord of the Rings that big a deal? I thought it was, but Dave was like "she's seen Star Wars, so leave it alone." I mean, Lord of the Rings is better as a trilogy. It has better literary forms than Star Wars does. But Star Wars was our first love, so maybe he's right. Anyway, entertainment is just that, so in the long run, it's probably not important she know who Max Rebo or Celeborn are. Even though the woman I marry will.

- Road trip this Friday! Just me, Joe, Dave, Jenn and 56 liters of cola. And if anyone is smart, some cashews.

- I want to get the Baldur's Gate series. I played the Icewind Dale series, which is great, but there's no story and it's extremely linear. If something is going to be linear, it had better have a story. If there is no story, better make it like Elder's Scrolls.

- 11pm - 5am. Eww.

things we hear

2007-06-19T22:59:00.000-05:00

- I was listening to the radio on my way home from work tonight, and this guy was reporting on a study that found that kids who eat with their parents 5 nights a week are more than 50% more likely to abstain from alcohol and drugs than kids who eat with their parents 2 or fewer times. Then he said "so do something smart; eat dinner with your kids."

Maybe, just maybe the reason the kids are doing better isn't that they ingested food in the presence of their parents. Maybe (and this is a pretty small limb to go out on, I'm aware) they do better because the kinds of parents who make time to eat with their family 5 nights a week are also the kind of parents who have time for their kids for other things as well. Maybe these are the kind of parents who read to their children, and who spent time telling them not to do drugs and drink alcohol. So this guy goes on the news, and acts like dinner is the silver bullet.

Maybe I'm over-something about this, but are people really this dumb? Children who eat with their parents less than 2 times a week are 50% more likely to try alcohol and drugs. Well,yeah, what else are they going to do? Their parents don't have time for them, so why not find someone who does? The local dealer probably has plenty of time.

- Work is going well. I kind of enjoy this job. I really hated working at the fitness center, though, so anything would be a positive, I would imagine. I've been working at the grill, and I'm getting pretty fast and proficient. If they had olympics for people who were on the grill for only two days, I'm pretty sure I'd medal multiple times.

- Can't wait to go to the wedding and then have the fourth. Joe's going to be my wingman (or vice versa) at the wedding, so we'll pick up all the hot chicks.

- If O'Donnel replaces Bob Barker, mid-stream America had better march on Washington. And I don't even care about the show.

work tomorrow

2007-06-12T22:06:00.001-05:00

- my first real time behind the counter is tomorrow. I guess I'm gonig to get a bit of training and what not.

- Studio 60 is officially cancelled. Whitford came right out and said it's finished. I think three more episodes will air this summer, and that's it. It was no West Wing, but it's sad that Desperate Housewives and a hundred other reality/talent/game shows are still on. Our drama shows are crime and medicine (except for Heroes, thankfully). It's just sad.

Crime shows aren't about writing. They aren't. They're about mystery, and cliches. They're about the crime, and the sensationalsim of finding a new way to kill someone and a new way to cover it up. Sure, they might be entertaining, but I like characters. I like dialogue. I like smart banter, not David Caruso saying... anything.

They renewed Law and Order, apparently. I guess there is still someone left in New York that they haven't killed. I've never watched the show, but 17 seasons?

Speaking of long running, the Price is Right is needing a replacement for Barker. I saw Wayne Brady was suggested as a name. Honestly, I think a show that allows normal everyday people on television is a horrible thing. Why would I want to see some loser from Arizona win a dryer?

The only thing worse than having normal people on gameshows is having actors masquerading as normal people. Deal or No Deal should be burned to the ground, it's producers flogged, and Howie dropped into the Pacific with a life jacket and a pocket full of Mike & Ikes. And the banker? Well, Dante could think up something suitable, I'm sure.

So, what does that leave for the gameshows? Celebrities, of course. And I mean real ones, not "I was backup dancer in a Weird Al video" people. Like when Who wants to be a Millionare had David Duchovny and Jon Stewart on it. That was a good week. Or anytime Jeopardy gets Sean Connery- nevermind.

Speaking of Dante (sort of), it's weird that while violence will get you thrown into the 7th ring, fraud puts you into the 8th. Even more weird is how Pope Nicholas III is the the eighth circle. Dante was a complete freak but I have to love the way he throws the Pope into a deeper pit than Filippo Argenti (wikipedia gives a rather humorous position on why Dante found him there). Also, Muhammed is one section lower than Odysseus [both lower than Nicholas III, and both in the 8th ring (the rings have sections too)]. That's just awesome.

To sum up, bring back Firefly, Sports Night, Angel, and... I don't know, Dark Skies or Brisco or something.

one week ago...

2007-06-09T13:23:00.000-05:00

- ... was the last time blogged. Sorry about that for those who care.

- http://adteo.blogspot.com/2007/06/episode-12.html

I finally got my 12th installment done. I didn't read it over very carefully, so I'm sure there are mistakes. But there it is. Read it if you can. I appreciate feedback. This one was hard to write. I feel like I'm grasping for words, but luckily I had enough older material I hadn't used yet (that I liked) to supplement it.

- I'm wearing glasses now. I like how they look. And stuff isn't quite as blury anymore. He said I didn't really need them, and then only for reading and computer stuff, but I'm kind of getting used to them. We'll see how that ends up.

- I went in for orientation on Thursday. I have a feeling I'm going to think most of my co-workers are idiots. I hope I'm not a jerk in response. I'd rather be able to get along with them.

- I hope the Cavs beat the Spurs, but they won't.

- Sounds like the immigration bill might be dead. Good. I don't know what the Republicans are doing right now. I really don't.

- So I got Season 4 of the West Wing for my birthday. One of the better seasons. I think 2 and 4 are my favorite. Anyway, the scene where Toby and Will are reading each other's speech, and Toby tells Will to "Stop reading mine," is a great scene. I really want to be able to write, but I don't know enough, frankly. So I have to keep reading. I'm always trying to improve my vocabulary. It's hard to incorporate it into life though on a consistent basis. It's little easier when writing, but it still sinds a little forced. Anyway, that's my current hobby. Soporific, pusillanimous, and somnolence are my current three. Soporific is easy enough. So is pusillanimous. Somnolence might be tricky.

my birthday

2007-06-02T18:06:00.000-05:00

- I turned 21 today, and you know what that means - Road trip to Canada! To see the endangered lagomorphs and help the trees, of course. What were you thinking?

- I got a job at McDonalds today. That was a blessing from the Lord. So I'm feeling pretty happy right now.

- A friend mentioned buying me a castle with a moat for my birthday, but it didn't come through. It probably got held up in customs.

- The weather is finally turning cooler.

- So I really want this internship at the Alma Morning Sun paper. It wouldn't pay anything, but I have this idea that not getting paid to work somewhere you like for experience is noble. Or honorable. Something. The editor lady still hasn't called me back though, so I'm losing hope. Still, I'm going to stay upbeat, because good things are coming my way. I think.

- 21. I feel like I'm falling behind. I need to get a career going pretty soon.

- Btw, my brother? Totally twitter-pated. And the fact that I just referenced a horrible Disney movie doesn't even bother me.

- I'm going to go do somethin else now.

- I knew it!

2007-05-26T23:38:00.000-05:00

- Lohan was arrested on suspicion of a DUI. Go back a few posts and you will see I predicted her arrest as a given. Now, I know I shouldn't be gleeful at another's misfortune, and honestly, I'm not glad she might be going to prison, but... I called it! If I were Colbert, there would be balloons right know.

- I dove into a really cold 2 ft deep pool twice today. Me and my cousin Levi. We were obviously the coolest two people at the party. And Joe is pretty tough for such a wirey fellow. Not sure that's how to spell wirey. Wiry, maybe, but that looks wrong. I'm too lazy to go to dictionary.com, since it's 12:42am and I've been very active today, relatively speaking.

- I looked it up. It's wiry.

- I need to get to sleep.

- We played poker and I didn't do well. Then we played Street Fighter, and I started off really well, but then I hit this slump. I did win the last match of the night though. We also watched Monty Python's Quest For the Holy Grail, which is like the pinnacle of quality television.

- Apparently, my cousin was able to pick out that Future Jack was using a razor cell phone, and that such phones were not in existence prior to the crash in the timeline, so therefore he knew it was Future Jack. That's just creepy. Emily took the blame for his "ability" which I thought was big of her.

- I ate way too much. I'm getting fat and flabby. Better start some kind of exercise regiment or something.

- awww, hax!

2007-05-25T18:10:00.000-05:00

- Pirates 3 spoiler is now up on moviespoilers.com. I read the ending, but couldn't handle reading anymore of it. It doesn't seem to be getting very good ratings so far, which is sad, but the others didn't either.

- So I wrote a scene last night for my script, after I complained about not being able to. It wasn't fantastic, but I felt better after I got it down. Maybe I should focus on short stories or something, because I never have enough creativity to get 120 pages of dialogue. Except I'm not very good at description, and stories need that.

- I went in to a grocery store today to see about working there, but everyone in the building was a minimum of twice my age; some were 3 or 4 times my age. So forget that.

- I need ideas, people! I think this weekend, when people come over, I'll ask everyone for an idea, or what kind of stories they like. I don't need an entire plot, I just need some kind of catalyst I can work with. At this point you're all rolling your eyes, since I'm just a kid without a job and I'm going on and on about writing. I don't blame you.

writing (continued)

2007-05-24T23:31:00.000-05:00

- It's been awhile now since I've written anything that I'm particularly proud of. I can't make any progress on my stories since I don't know where any of them are going. I'll chew out a scene, and then it dies, because I don't know how to follow it up.

I guess every profession has ways of slumping, but this isn't a profession with me; it's just a hobby. I should be able to have fun with it, and I'm not really. It might have something to do with the stress I'm feeling, as well as shifting priorities, but honestly, I want to be able to write as a release. It's a great feeling to get done with 8 pages of stuff you hammered out and just be pleased with it. I really need to do that right now.

Video games are boring, TV is over for the summer, and it's hot. I'm not trying to complain, just clear up why I'm kind of in a non-exuberant zone. Some people are coming over this weekend; hopefully I'll be jolly... or at least witty. It's another stress-reliever for me.

I think a part of my problem is I'm not reading anybody I like atm. Since my job ended, I haven't read Simmons at all. Whedon is still off, and Sorkin is only-semi on. My mind feels mushy, like I don't know how to frame things humorously anymore. (some might argue I never did) Maybe it's all the time I'm wasting. I really do want a job, despite appearances.

- Pirates 3 is officially out. I really, really, REALLY hope that

* Spoiler*

Will doesn't become the next Davy Jones as I hear he will. Apparently, there are photos of him with a scar over his chest where his heart would be, while he is commanding the Flying Welshman.

*End Spoiler*

That would be a lousy ending, but we'll see. Anyway, the movies have been pretty cool so far.

- Starcraft 2 might be out soon. That would be cool. From what I've seen, the gameplay looks quite similar to the first, which is a good thing.

- Major congratulations to my cousin Pete and his wife Sarah on the birth of their third child, a girl named Eliza.

- until Fall

2007-05-22T10:41:00.000-05:00

- So my show is over for the season. It all ended too fast. They should have made the finale 2 hours. Or 4. Anyway, volume 2 looks to continue with the awesome. Btw, the samurai in blue? The fans are all saying it is Hiro's dad. The eyes did kind of look like him, but I wasn't paying enoguh attention. I guess not-aging would be his power. Kind of a bummer to get it at 70.

- I'm currently playing four different video games. This not working stuff? Not so bad. Well, as long as the checks keep coming in, and my parents don't start charging me rent.

- Not much to talk about with no school and no work. I don't think there's much to say about my writing that you'd be interested in.

- So I'm losing my support for Romney. My pastor had a good point about how his election would galvanize the Mormon movement, and also how he basically became conservative in the past two years. Before that, he was pretty liberal. So now what... Guliani is probably the most suited for the office, even if he's kind of whack on a lot of things. I can't stomach McCain at all, and the other guys don't have a chance. So either Giuliani or Romney. I think Giuliani would be a good president, because Romney is looking more and more like a fraud, but Romney is at least saying the right things. It's very... troubling.

- a day without work

2007-05-17T15:38:00.000-05:00

- is a day without... ... I don't know; income, I guess.

- I've been lazy, but I'm admitting it, so it's okay.

- Jerry Falwell died. I don't know enough about the man, honestly, to give an opinion, and my opinions don't really mean anything anyway. Like a lot of these "famous" theologians, they tend to get worked up over things for publicity's sake, and it hurts them and their cause. Like with Monty Python's "Life of Brian" and the ensuing uproar. I've never seen the movie, but the "theologians" who attacked it hadn't seen it either, and they ended up looking like complete idiots. A similar thing happened with Harry Potter. A similar thing happened with teletubbies. It's like with Pennsicola CC. They focus on inane stuff that doesn't matter and their testimony is ruined.

It is more and more common for Christians to condemn things out of ignorance or out of a sense of self-righteousness. I've heard of a preacher who said DvDs were bad. That makes no sense at all. So we condemn Harry Potter, and we condemn this and that. Meanwhile, our parents don't know how to raise their kids, our deacons are trying to muscle out the pastors, and we live like the world except for on Sundays. Maybe the problem isn't Harry Potter, or Life of Brian, or even Mel Gibson's The Passion.

Certainly, calling sin what it is is required not only of pastors but all Christians, and Falwell's stance on homosexuality and other issues was the proper Christian stance. At the same time, going on Crossfire to debate it is more about publicity than the issue. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope he wasn't another Pat Robertson. I'll talk about Robertson some other day.

- The Force isn't real. Sorry. In the same vein, neither are Firaga or Quartr or X-Zone. It drives me crazy when people talk about the Fantasy world as witchcraft. This isn't voodoo, this isn't demonic consultation ofa Biblical perspective; it's fantasy, like superheroes are fantasy. It's no more sorcery than Babe, the talking pig or Charlotte's Web. For some reason, Sci-Fi gets a pass, while normal Fantasy gets barraged with claims of occultism. Drives me nuts. Ah, I yearn for people to be logical. (<- extremely arrogant statement, I know. I really am a jerk.)

- They should make a movie out of Final Fantasy Tactics. Zalbag would be a great part. The only downside is the main character is kind of a loser. But they could fix that.

- Going to try to have a poker game this Friday night. Give me a call if you're interested in coming. You all have my cell number.

- I'm listening to the Temptations' Sounds of Silence, atm. Charlie Daniels is the one on the guitar, and he pwns it.

- Ooh, ooh, now it's the Pirates' theme. Speaking of which, Pirates 3: Curse of the Dolley's Llama is out soon.

- How come more people don't use Duel of the Fates in their PvP videos? Or, you know, their weddings. Listen to it enough times, and you'll be able to speak Latin. Also, parts of it are straight out of the Ewok village level on Super Return of the Jedi. Wicket is awesome. Name someone else who could kill a chicken walker with his stick bow and arrows while simultaneously jumping on more of his arrows that are stuck in a tree. Go ahead, try. You can't, can you? See? Wicket is the best.

- The Cheat is not dead. Support the Municipality!

- jobless

2007-05-13T18:41:00.000-05:00

- So I'm a bum. Yeah, I ended up quitting my job of 5.5 years, and while it's kind of nice not to have to go back to that place, it would also be nice to have some income. It's weird; I don't think I'm going to miss it, really. As long as it's honorable, there is no such thing as work that is too low for a person; that's what I was told over the weekend, and I like the whole noble ideal behind that sentiment.

- It's hard to be funny when you don't have a job. I'm going to miss some people, I guess. We weren't even close; it's just that talking to them made things easier. Ah, well; that's life.

- I'm hoping I can get a job writing, but that would entirely be by the working of God. I have no experience, don't have my degree yet, and there aren't many opportunities around here for that kind of work anyway. So I'm praying in that direction, but I think it's important to stay open to whatever He brings my way.

- Did you hear about the teachers who staged a fake gunman attack at their school? Did they honestly believe they would be able to hold onto their jobs after that? Well, maybe they will, but that's pretty insane. Just wait until the Today show starts interviewing people involved, and Al Sharpton realizes that some of the kids may have been black.

- Favre is demanding a trade! Well, I didn't expect that. I guess he got tired of hearing people say he was washed-up and figured that he could blame his team, and maybe save his reputation. Still, way to alienate the only city you've ever played for, Brett. You understand how much Rodger Clemens is hated by Boston and Houston right now? We're talking about the one sport Wisconsin really has! Now, they supposedly worked it out, but come on, Fav-ray. Better to go out idolized by at least one city then detested by two (the poor team's that would acquire him and Green Bay).

- I think tomorrow I'm not going to do much except write and watch Heroes. My mind keeps going, and it's depressing me. Writing forces me to think about something or someone else, even if they aren't real.

Good news

2007-05-12T09:23:00.000-05:00

- No, I still don't know if I'll have a job next week. The good news is even bigger! Tim Kring changed his mind, and decided not to have the Heroes cast be a revolving door situation, where they kill off/get new Heroes every season. He said people liked his current cast so much, and he liked them too, so he decided to stick with them. This is good news, since I don't like the Survivor MO of constantly putting new people through the same stuff.

- Yes, my priorities are all out of whack at the moment.

- My boss is coming in today, and if he can't offer me at least what I could get at any fast-food joint, I'm going to have to quit. Which is a bummer. So I'm praying things go well, but I'm honestly expecting to be out of work soon.

- The vitamin water commercials are pretty good. Urlacher and Ortiz playing badminton (sp?)? Funny stuff. And then the sheep-tossing contest one, which is eerily like the early days of pig-mania. I also like the Vault commerical, where the guy is playing paintball and launches that rabid squirrel at the opponent.

- My birthday is coming up. West Wing Season 4, Sports Night Season 1, Heroes Season 1, and cashews. Oh, and because I'm masquerading as an intellectual, get me a book. Where's Waldo? or something. Dilbert is good, too.

- Mother's Day is tomorrow. My mom never asks for anything. So I have to guess about what she wants, and things turn out horribly, kind of like King Lear.

- Speaking of King Lear, the Fool is one of the best Shakespeare characters ever. Antonio and Sebastian in The Tempest are cool too, in that one scene. The rest of The Tempest is lame, but that one scene right after they land on the island, and Gonzalo is trying to cheer the king is fantastic. Read it, if you get time. And, yes, Henry V is the best Shakespearean character, but that's like saying "superman!" when someone asks you who the best superhero is. Have some imagination. And don't say Batman, 'cause that's stupid.

links!

2007-05-11T15:00:00.000-05:00

- Cool song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huRwBFmAx78

- Old link that I was originally shown by my uncle, I think: http://rinkworks.com/fnovel/

sub-link: http://www.rinkworks.com/said/insurance.shtml
(I laugh every time I read these)

- Something everyone should see once a day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSJ1liGPbW0

- Random Antonio Banderas video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8gYxguwLvc&mode=related&search=

- And the obligatory Weird Al video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xEzGIuY7kw&mode=related&search=

(for more good times, check out "Saga Begins," "Bob," and "Trapped in the Drive-Thru", all by Weird Al)

Yeah, that's Seth Green and Donny Osmond, which is great.

- Speaking of which, apparently Wahlberg and Co. are making the Brazilian Job. Because the first one was just so awesome.

- I'm getting bored, and I really feel like I want to write, but I can't make myself do it. That sounds weird, I'm sure. I have some plot points I want to develop, a few scenes I want to get down, but instead I listen to sogns on youtube and write blogs and stuff. And then I'm bored.

- I have to go to work in 20 minutes. Bleah. And I have to work Saturday too. I hope people come over this weekend.

may 9th

2007-05-09T14:27:00.000-05:00

- Heroes was kind of slow, but it was a setup episode, so that's to be expected. And it had some good parts, unlike Book 10 of The Wheel Of Time series. I'm still bitter about that.

- Alabamba Labamba was at a rally where he said that "over 10,000" people had died in the recent Tornado catastrophe, when really it was 12 people. Well... he still has clean, eh Biden?

- For some reason, Steph is not coming back to Michigan this summer. Nay, I say thee Steph. Come home. I'll buy you a penguin.

- The Scorpion King was on at work, and it was the first time I've seen it. Wow, was that movie horrible! The Rock still thought he was in in the WWE. Yeah, Arnold was Conan, and it was campy, but this was so much worse; Duane's facial expressions were just laughable. The conclusion was lame, and boring. The guy from the Green Mile was much cooler than the protagonist, and the bad guy dual-wielded flaming swords. But everything else was sad, as in "it's sad that they made a movie like this."

- That's all I have to say on the matter.

- Monday, 7th ...

2007-05-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

- ... or the day the new Heroes is on. No, I don't know why I get so excited about a TV show. It hasn't been like this since the 4th season of The West Wing.

- Colbert did a bit on the European Atheist society being started up, and how it's basically a church, with all the church functionality and methods, only their religion is "no religion." It was pretty funny.

- De la Hoya lost to Merriweather, and I don't know if I spelled either name correctly. But I think everyone knew De La Hoya would lose, even though everyone wanted him to win. Basically, De La Hoya wanted more money, and everyone else wanted to see what Rocky 2 would have been like if Rocky had lost.

- I threw a softball around for about 3 hours in the past two days, and I haven't done that for a few years. Now my whole right side is sore, and it's really hard to clean the tanners. So I don't think I will. Because, really, who doesn't enjoy lying in- nevermind, I better clean the tanners.

- I've noticed a lot of my comments in life and online don't make sense to people because I'm referencing stuff they aren't familiar with. Apparently, I'm a Dennis Miller routine.

- Due to recent events, I've been thinking someone should start odds on which "young hollywood actresses" will end up in jail in the next ten years. I don't think Lohan is eligible, since it's basically a given. Or you know, 1000 to 1 odds, at least. I'll put $50 on our next inmate being Mary Kate Olsen.

- It's 3pm. I'm just waiting for the people I don't like to come in.

- Dave is coming home this weekend, and I'm excited about that. That, and how I'll throttle him in Street Fighter.

- Shot some guns yesterday afternoon. Why? Well, because that's what we manly men do. We shoot guns, throw softballs, speak of video games. We also want to be bitten by radioactive spiders and have adamantium claws.

- Spiderman 3 is big! Just like I said it would be. You'd do well to heed my words.

- "Hey, there, old woman!"
"I'm a man."
"Oh, old man."
"I'm 42."
"What?"
"I'm not old, I'm 42."
"Well, I can't just call you 'man.'"
"You could call me 'Dennis.'"
"I didn't know your name was Dennis!"
"You never bothered to find out, did you?!"

That was from memory, so I could be off. Dennis is the best.

Heel-Toe

2007-05-02T15:02:00.000-05:00

- That's some bad hat, Harry.

- My new max is 330 push-ups.

- Vikings got Adrian Peterson. I think that's a good thing. Lions, surprise surprise, picked a wide receiver.

- I'm done with classes this semester, and it feels good.

- Heroes was spectacular last Monday. P. Petrelli went all Neo on those security guards. I'm actually not joking; I think Kring was going for a Neo-look there. He even had the trench coat. One of the best episodes yet, even though Bennet in the future got killed by Parkman, and Parkman should never have been able to do that. Bennet is too awesome. I liked how they could kill off anyone they wanted, and how everyone had this masterful control of their powers, because it's in a future they are going to prevent. I could watch that one a few more times.

- There was just a commercial on ESPN comparing soccer to basketball, saying "what do you love about basketball?" and they came up with "speed, athleticism, and desire," concluding that people are fans of soccer, they just don't know it yet. Um... scoring? The gang culture? Criminal behavior? Soccer still has way too far to go to reach the greatness of the NBA.

- You can write this down: Spiderman 3 is going to be big. (yeah, I was being Larry King right there.)

- Creepy Maxfield people keep coming by and looking for my boss. The Maxfield people are shady.

- The Black Donnelly's got cancelled. Just confirming it for you all, since I know you care. I'm going to do a little victory dance. I'll be right back.

*Turn around, now swtich!* Just kidding; I don't listen to Will Smith rap. Really.

- Mavericks are on the brink of elimination. Being a fan of the Sports Guy, I'm kind of swayed by his views on the matter: I want Cuban to win a championship, but I really really don't like Dirk Nowistlsitksityskotoskt. So if they get booted, I'll probably be happy. The Mark Cuban thing isn't because I like him, either. It's just that he's this complete black sheep, and Stern doesn't like him, so it would be cool.

- Watch Heroes. Best show on televison.

something...else

2007-04-30T08:04:00.000-05:00

- apparently my previous opening was already used by my brother, and not wanting to plagarize his homage, I changed it. Because that's the cut of my jib.

- One more exam today, and then one tomorrow evening. And a couple papers that shouldn't be hard. Then I have all summer to think about what I did. OR will I??

- Got a new car. new as in '92, but it's really nice, and in great condition. And it has in microwave in it, only without the actual microwaves. The beeping is there, though. Of course, it might be something else, but I doubt it.

- It's a good thing I slept pretty well last night, or who knows what horrors I might be unleashing on this unsuspecting world. Like, I might have linked that video of Ironforge Cossak. "Hey! hey! hey! hey!"

- So I have yet another idea for a writing project, but I haven't started yet. I'm hoping I get so bored during the summer that I am driven to pontificate through the written word. By the way, does anyone know if Hillary actually said she was a "linguistic polyglot" or was the Right just making fun of her? Because, if she said that, that would be, quite frankly, awesome. Like Southshore beach. And sand lobsters.

- I'm a linguistic polyglot. I'm going to make this my new description of myself. I better come up with an accent.

- So my cousins didn't know who Louis Armstrong was. I don't mind that they aren't familiar with early jazz musicians, I mind that apparently they've never seen a show where people do imitations. Wayne Brady does a mean Louis Armstrong.

- Heroes is on tonight. I'm psyched. Although, I've read some spoilers, so I know what the Hiro storyline is going to be. I can't help myself. I used to always read the end of books too. It may come in handy some day.

- Some family is coming over this weekend. I better prep the tiger cage.

- My little sister got a hamster, and the wheel that she runs in non-stop is extremely squeaky. I could hear it from my room upstairs if I left my door open. I think she's in training for the championship. "Showdown, goin' down, how ya gonna mess around, showdown, put your nose down, showdown!" You go, Mrs. Rosencrantz. Wagon-full-of-pancakes got nothing on you.

-return of good tv

2007-04-24T07:28:00.000-05:00

- Heroes was back, finally. I really missed that show. And then after it was over, that "Real Wedding Crashers" show as on where these five people are professional crashers, brought in by the bride and groom to crash the wedding. I only watched half of it. It wasn't horrible, but wasn't as good as I was hoping.

But back to Heroes. The fight scene between the two major powers was kind of lame. If you can turn invisible and use telekinesis, wouldn't you do something other than turn invisible AND turn your back to the villain so you can get hit in the head with glass? Maybe... I don't know, turn invisible, and then push a chalkboard into the guy, because he's impervious to everything but that? That's what I would do. The rest of the episode was pretty cool, though. Isaac kind of had a hard time, but I think he might pull through. I mean, having the top of your head chopped off and your brain eaten isn't all THAT bad.

They need to bring in a character that's like the Pretender. He can do everything any normal human can do; like perfect martial arts, marksmanship, any academic discipline, etc. just by seeing or reading or something. I think that would be a sweet power. Or, you know, you could bring in a Fantastic(!) character that - wait for it! - stretches! Because EVERYBODY lovers Mr. Fantastic.

Honestly, he never comes up in any conversation of superpowers. Superman, Spiderman, Flash, Batman, Wolverine, Professor X, etc. Never-ever the guy named "Mr. Fantastic." Anyway, I hope Peter, Greg Grunberg, and the Bennets form the Justice League. And Pretender. He can join too (This is not an endorsement of the show "the Pretender." I didn't like the show, or the guy who played the protagonist; I didn't like the female lead or the guy who played the "father-figure/villain"; I didn't like that he solved a murder by using spam; he was like the potential super-soldier who wasn't).

- The last episode of "Angel" gets better every time I watch it (unlike it's counterpart in the same universe). I hated it the first time. I think it helps knowing that Whedon has them living through it in canon. It's probably the only tolerable episode in season 5. And the puppet one. Heh.

- Almost done with the semester. I'll try to keep up with this thing during the summer; better than I have this past month, anyway.

- "Once you have two people disagreeing, you have a scene." - Aaron Sorkin. (I'm doing "research," and needed a place to put this where I wouldn't forget it.)

"Collaboration is about having smart people disagree with you. It's also about standing on couches and shouting at each other because you believe something is right." - Sorkin

zoinks!

2007-04-19T13:39:00.000-05:00

- So we're apparently going to be having a meeting at work on Sunday. They will meet my demands or fall into the depths of the Failed Business ring of Hades. You know, the one where you can't access the system/program website because the only guy who knew the password quit, and prior to quitting he also deleted the computer's hard drive? Yeah, that one. If it goes really badly, someone might break off a key in the office door; you know, theoretically. I mean, it's probably been known to happen.

- My car died. And my dog died. And we all thought Penny died, but then she woke up, and then she wasn't Penny at all! Lost was humorous, but to be honest, they live on an island, and Jin is like "Camping? Swweeeeeeet!" They live in tents. Camping. That would be like if House was on a plane and happened to come upon a difficult-to-diagnose in mid-flight, and... yeah. I would think writers could have come up with a better excuse than "camping," but I'm not going to complain.

- Could The Flash outrun Superman? Now I'm curious. I know on the one "Lois and Clark" he (superman) vibrates so fast that he demoleculizes and passes through a force-field.

- I saw Man On Fire at work a week ago. With Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning and Bruce Dickinson-, er, Christopher Walken. Yes, THE Christopher Walken. It's cool because he kills everybody. Washington, not Christopher Walken. Fanning doesn't kill anyone either, I don't think. But, like all Denzel Washington Movies, he *spoiler* dies at the end. Seriously, besides Much Ado About Nothing, does he ever live through anything? Now people are going to rattle off the submarine one, and the pelican one, and I'm pretty sure he lives in the one with Clive Owen and the diamonds, but he dies a lot for a main star, okay? Fallen (but really cool anyway), Training Day, Deja Vu (sort of), Malcolm X, Man on Fire, Glory. I've only seen three of those movies (and not even the whole thing of Glory), btw. And I'm guessing on the Malcolm X one. Hey, if they can kill off Professor, they can keep Malcolm alive.

- I just looked up a list of D.W. movies. He lives through a large majority. Who cares...

- I'm out of things to say. I need a car.

- Because I'm bored, some Colbert quotes.

On speculation that JK Rowling will kill off Harry Potter in the seventh book: "Wise move. He's a wizard; he should have been stoned a long time ago."

"We have barely recovered from the original Y2K. If you don't remember, seven years ago at the stroke of midnight, planes fell from the sky, the banking system collapsed and power grids caught fire from coast to coast. Or so I assume. I was locked in my underground shelter cleaning my zombie rifle."

"This teaches children a valuable lesson: Expect nothing and be happy you're not kidnapped."

"The NY Times wants you and your family dead."

"Equations are the devil's sentences!"

Colbert: [debating himself on torture] This is America. We don't torture. Respect for human life is what separates us from those we're fighting. If we stoop to their level, in a way, we've already lost.
Colbert: But if we don't stoop to their level, we might lose in a worse way... by actually losing.

-checking out

2007-04-12T13:43:00.000-05:00

- I'm worn out, tired, beat, ready to be done, etc. I want school to be over and for work to make sense, but it looks like a few more weeks before either of those things happen. I wonder what would happen if I quit; or better yet, put off my "nice-guy" persona, and just yelled at everybody for awhile. Then I could quit, if they didn't meet my demands. (1. Bring back the play-station in the office...)

- I can't believe I actually spent four years of my life at this place. Some kid called me last night wanting to know if I would donate $50 to the senior scholarship fund, and if I did, I could get a signed brick to put in front of Warner Hall. What... in... the Tartar Sauce...? I told him I didn't really like CMU, so having a brick with my name on it wasn't a drawing point. A brick. Yeah, I can see me now, holding a brick... chucking it out the 4th story library window.... Hmm, I should call that guy back.

- Juliette is bad? Crackles! oh, right, we all knew that. Kind of like how we knew Prison Break: Season 3 wasn't going to be about "family time on a riverboat."

- I don't listen to Imus. I never will listen to Imus. But the fact is, Sharpton once publicly said that white people were still living in caves while blacks were teaching each other art and culture. When can we expect you to resign from your radio show, Mr. Sharpton? Hypocrites. Imus should have went after these guys, instead of cowering away, because now he's up the creek.

- My mom and two sisters are going to Wisconsin today. Dad is going to work, and poor Abby (our dog) died this week (not sure why, she wasn't that old; just got sick, I guess). So I have the house to myself. As if I'm not bored enough as it is. I really have no idea what I'm going to do. Watch the Office. Maybe watch Scrubs.

- Is "crikey" a cuss in austrailian? Just wondering, 'cause it's fun to say. Another good one is "bloody," but you can only use that in certain situations, like "I cut my bloody fingers with the bloody knife!" because I'm pretty sure that really is a cuss in Britain. And if someone's foot got caught in a door, one might have the opportunity to say, "I already told you: darn those bloody socks!" I think I need to set that up...

Edit: Drudge has up that Imus is calling out Sharpton to apologize to the Duke players now. About time he showed some backbone. Good move, Imus. Sharpton's a racist bigot; unlike, interestingly enough, Mel Gibson, who is not a bigot, and Michael Richards, who is not a racist. That's the crazy thing.

Confrontation

2007-04-10T12:43:00.000-05:00

- Had a great time over the weekend. A bunch of people came over on Saturday and Sunday. But now I've kind of been dwelling on the last major thing we talked about; namely, confrontation, and how some of the clan seem to view it as a bad thing. So I wrote out 4 or 5 pages during budget class yesterday, and there were still more things I wanted to address. When I finish, I'll type it out, send it to a few people I know agree with me for refinement, and then maybe mass email.

Confrontation is good. It's healthy. It refines. As Mike V. said, iron sharpeneth iron. All theology is, at its core, about the character of God. Nothing in the Bible is arbitrary. Therefore, for people to take a stand against what happens at out semi-annual meetings is completely... embarrassing, I think is the word.

Of course, the objections become more varied because no one wants to come out and say "who cares?" about theology, even if it's what they might be thinking. So it becomes an excuse like "well, we need to see more application" or "there's not enough love," both of which I address in my paper. Anyway, I might chicken-out, since sending "my take" to adults isn't something I feel comfortable doing.

- Next time you talk to Joe, tell him "I can't believe you told that joke!" and see what his reaction is.

- Turentin said that Adam's sin is the result of God withholding grace. Page 518 of volume 1, I believe. So we got into this big thing about that. Wish you could have been there.

- happy b-day, Jenn. She had the violin for a day and was already playing Twinkle Twinkle, Jesus Loves Me, and Enya's May It be.

2007-04-05T13:22:00.000-05:00

- Learned all about Custer in today's rousing lecture, especially how he became mythologized, and what really happened, etc. Apparently, Buffalo Bill had a huge part in making the legend. Cody was an interesting guy. Of course, we got to see a clip of "They Died With Their Boots On" starring Errol Flynn. I'm a fan of Flynn. Too bad he killed that one guy that one time.

Anyway, so Custer was a hero, but really a villain, but really an insane maniac out to kill Dustin Hoffman in Vietnam. I think they all got it wrong, actually. They should have called him Custard, because mmmmmm, boy. Who doesn't like custard? The terrorists, that's who. Support Custard, support our troops.

- I left my wallet at work. So hopefully I won't get pulled over tonight on the way home from school. I'm really tired right now. I don't have to work this weekend, however, so that means I can... stay up all night playing computer games...

- Work is going well, I guess. It's like there's a constant foreboding of trouble around that place. The minute something starts to go right, the ptb (powers that be, i.e., my bosses) decide we need to change something. I'm not kidding. If there's no drama, complaints, or problems of any kind, they will still decide to change something. It's impossible for them to not. Makes the whole thing a bit more stressful than a Regional Fitness Czar position should be.

- What say we take out all the flashbacks in Lost, change the location to Miami, and have Hurley and Sawyer learn a new life principle each week while experiencing all sorts of of adventurous hi-jinks, like alligator wrestling. Tell me that wouldn't be a better show. (Editor's note: Various forms of this joke regarding various TV shows have been used before; the author is not attempting to be original. Also, the concluding sentence is probably a registered trademark of the Sport's Guy.)

- Prison Break has a habit off killing off the only good characters. First the mob guy, and now Kellerman. I'm glad it's over for awhile. Too much ludicrous stuff going on over there. Of course, I say that while eagerly anticipating the return of a show where people fly and turn invisible.

Class

2007-04-03T09:28:00.000-05:00

- I don't have a lot of time, but I was just watching Stewart's interview with Bolton, and we all know Stewart is a liberal who has gone after Bolton repeatedly in his comedy, but Stewart is a class-act. Unlike Letterman and Mahr, who are classless and frantic (at least in political terms), Stewart (who takes his shots) comes at the whole thing with a level of respect and willingness to actually discuss things. Seriously, it would be great if more guys (liberal and conservative) were willing to apporach debate with the same level of class.

Stallone vs. Tarvar

2007-04-02T07:58:00.000-05:00

- I saw Rocky Balboa yesterday, and I thought it was pretty good. The fight was the only part I didn't really like. There's no way Tarvar could have taken as many punches of Rocky's force if he were really the cream puff they were making him out to be. Not that Rocky would have hit him as many times as he did, but if he got that many hits, Tarvar would have went down, imo. Anyway, it was kind of cute, kind of funny, decent enough.

- Stallone is making Rambo 4. Because the cry of the American public was too great for him to ignore. Thank you, Mr. Stallone, for making our dreams come true. By the way, the opening song in Rock Balboa was sung by Frank Stallone. I have a feeling that their relationship has to be weird. Sylvester got the zany name, Frank was called... well, Frank. Sly is a big movie star, Frank guested on Walker Texas Ranger; Sly makes a movie, Frank does commentary on VH1's "remember the 80s". And we're supposed to just assume there's no resentment there? I don't think so. Personally, I think if I were Frank, I'd blame my parents for the name. Sylvester had an advantage from the get go.

- I have this paper I have to write. I have six hours at work this afternoon/evening, so hopefully I can get a lot of it done then. I really need to work on my procrastination problem sometime...

- Looks like I'm not going to Florida. Which I guess works out, since work is kind of crazy, and school is getting busy, and i don't really have much money. But it would have been nice to go.

- My cousin and two of his buddies from flight school came over to the house yesterday after church. They sat at the table quizzing each other on these inane questions for some test they have to take. Looked wholly joyless. So we ordered pizza.

- Charlie Sheen is, in my opinion, the best potential candidate to take William Shatner's mantle. He's full of himself, he's already parodied himself in Hot Shots. He's got the mock intensity-thing going. I have high hopes that in the next five years he'll release an album. Think about it.

- I didn't do any good pranks for April 1st, but I still have the rest of the week. I wanted to call Ben and have him call people from the police station and say I was dead or something, but Joe said he probably wasn't allowed to do that. Plus, those things could conceivably go wrong (i.e., some one hears the news and decides to throw a party; because that wouldn't be cool; for me, anyway; the rest of you would get to go to a party, which is kind of cool, I guess) (I use a lot of semi-colons; it's because I don't like the finger position it takes to capitalize, which is necessary if I were to break things into separate sentences).

watch more television

2007-03-28T07:20:00.000-05:00

- Gypsies! Filthy people, we will speak of them no more! *spits*

- Show him there are no free lunches at a Friday night poker game.

- It hurts real bad!

- These are only a few of the movie/tv quotes I was able to properly utilize in normal conversation over the weekend. TV: It does your parlance good.

- "Humor is the great thing, the saving thing. The minute it crops up, all our hardnesses yield, all our irritations and resentments flit away and a sunny spirit takes their place."

- "A powerful agent is the right word. Whenever we come upon one of those intensely right words in a book or a newspaper the resulting effect is physical as well as spiritual, and electrically prompt."

- "Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot. "

- These are only a few of the many, many reasons why Mark Twain is my favorite author.

Support the Municipality!

2007-03-26T05:36:00.000-05:00

- I played football this saturday, and I sprained my finger. My brother twisted his ankle, my one cousin bashed his knee, and my other cousin's ankle popped. So I clearly got the worst of it all. But it's okay, because I have an enormously high threshold for pain.

- Starting today, I have a great deal of stress. A lot of tests and papers are coming due, and my pastor asked me to teach for him next Wednesday. I am FREAKING OUT. Whew; sorry, I occassionally panic and dream of running away to Soviet Russia. In Soviet Russia, the papers write you.

- It was almost 70 yesterday. I had a hard time falling asleep because it was too warm, and my fan blew up sometime last year. I know what you're thinking: "Why don't you put solar reflecting panels up all around the house?" Well, I've considered it; believe me.

- I have no idea what's going on in the world right now. I think Gonzales is still in trouble; I've never been as big a fan of him as I was of Ashcroft. Maybe if he pulled out some ninja moves right around now. Hey, that reminds me, was the Office a new one last thursday? Because I missed it. Because I was playing high stakes, do or die, no-limit texas hold 'em with a guy named Arnaud LaSou. It should go without saying that he defeated me. You can't beat those Irish at games of chance.

vacation

2007-03-23T09:32:00.000-05:00

- Not really, but I am going to see some family today; should be a fun time. I'm also going to be meeting the "boyfriend" of one of my cousins. Hopefully I won't have to take drastic action and throw him out. Or watch my cousin Mike throw him out.

- 290 push-ups in a single shot. That's almost as impressive as 300.

- I'm getting stressed out again. I have a major paper due the day before my pastor asked me to fill in for him. The next two weeks are going to eat at me like sharks on Robert Shaw.

- People's thoughts tend to be shaped by the thoughts of those around them. Duh, says you, but I'm going to continue anyway, despite your rude protest. It doesn't matter how ridiculous someone is, if they can get a few people to praise them for how funny, smart, interesting, etc., a whole slew of people will come along and take that exact same position. I think it comes from a desire to belong, which is really the only explanation for the Beatles.

The problem is the resulting vindication of par. We praise the normal, the trite, and the skilless as if they are something great, simply because others have done it before us. We don't reach for the stars, anymore. We are content with the mediocre and we can't really imagine anything better. This has to be why Saved By The Bell lasted as long as it did, and why CSI Miami is still on now.

this day is a rationalization of normality

2007-03-20T14:34:00.000-05:00

- I'm going to write a short play that I can actually finish, just so I'll know I can do it. Maybe thirty to forty pages, nothing big. I just really need to get something completed, and I think this would work.

- I'm at the school library, and the computer on the other side of the desk is empty, but someone left a chess game on the screen, so everyone comes over to take the seat, sees the game on there and leaves. I almost told the last person that it's been over two hours and no one's come back to it, but I didn't. Interesting, no? See, what makes this blog so successful is that I know what the people want and I give it to them.

- I was doing really well on my diet yesterday, and then my mom made me this awesome supper after I came home from work. And I ate it, and it was gooooood. I guess my point is, mmmm-mmm.

- I'm kind of tired, so I can't think of anything to say. Or maybe the well gone done run dry. You know, the well from which my wisdom doth come.

He remains an Englishman

2007-03-17T11:54:00.000-05:00

- At work on a saturday again. Bleah. On the bright side, I just found out we have this guy who is going to come in and clean the place daily in exchange for a membership, and his name is Oakie. It's like fate knew I needed a "pick me up" today, and threw me a bone.

- My cousin is going to be in either the Pirates of Penzance or the HMS Pinafore. I can't remember which, and "It's Surely To Their Credit" will forever confuse the two of them for me. "It's the one about duty." Anyway, I'm pretty sure I could write a play that would get a better response for at a college viewing. Then again, I'd actually have to have a plot, since people like the story to go somewhere. Ah, silly unwashed masses. It's the language that matters. The language, I tell you! I'm kidding, by the way. I couldn't out-write Sullivan and the other guy, obviously.

- One more hour of this. Then the crazies will go home. "People; they're the worst!"

- There's some trouble brewing at work, but it's not really my fault. However, I have an opportunity to either fix it or make it worse, or I could do nothing. It's kind of like when Pedro goes "Vote for me, and all your dreams will come true," and then Napoleon totally goes for it and saves the day. Or like when Curious George takes the balloons and flies to the zoo. Yeah, just like that.

march 15th

2007-03-15T09:27:00.000-05:00

- I ended up with 1050 push-ups. I expected to feel it more the next day than I actually did.

- "Woah! Suns and Mavericks went into double overtime, and they both have won a ton of games and it was such a great game and let's do 8 features on it! * labored breathing into a paper bag *" - ESPN guys.

- The two leading candidates for NBA MVP? Pale Euorpean dudes. I think Nash is European, anyway. He looks European. Let's just say he is, and go with it.

- I really don't want to go to school today, but I have to. Stupid attendance policies! It's like the teachers don't trust us.

- Not a single politician I can think of that I like. Just sayin'.

- I think I'm going to stop at BK and get a breakfast meal. Coincidentally, this is my fourth day of off of my thus-far four-day long diet. So, there's that.

march 13th

2007-03-13T14:13:00.000-05:00

- I did 800 push-ups before 10am, and now I'm falling asleep at the library. I still need to do another set to put me at 1000 before the day is over. Why do I do all these push-ups? Laudation, of course.

- So my one professor was really cool about me missing class two weeks ago due to weather. That's always an unexpected bonus.

- Do people still watch Hardball? Hasn't Chris Matthews basically become the voice of MoveOn.org? Wouldn't everyone have been happier if Zell Miller had pulled a Burr and shot him? Curse our laws prohibiting duels!

- Olberman and Matthews and the other MSNBC flunkies are constantly outraged that Fox is kicking them all over the map, ratings-wise. It's the needed "umph" that helps me through my day. Not unlike Red Bull. Or hard liquor.

- Hugo Weaving is probably the most exciting character to see in a movie, because immediately you start looking for ways to add "Mr. Anderson" to everything he says. Btw, I finished memorizing his monologue from that one movie, and can recite it pretty quickly now. And for kicks, sometime I throw in a few "Why, Mr. Anderson? Why? Why!?"

- What is up with the lyrics to songs nowadays not making any sense? Seriously, no matter how many times you listen to Snow (Hey, oh), you won't have any idea what they're talking about unless someone tells you. I mean, everyone knew the Beetles were singing about a yellow submarine, okay? Let's get some more sleepy lions in the jungle, some more jet-planes. Leroy Brown, anyone?

- Old joke, but you know why Elrond doesn't want Aragorn hanging around Arwen? "It's the smell!" That one always gets me. Good ole Hugo.

- Speaking of Hugo, a meteorite blew up his Rubber Chicken factory. Gonna' be one sad Independence Day around that neighborhood, let me tell you.

- I wanted to clear up something from an earlier post. Heroes is my favorite show now, and I was asked why, since a while ago I stated that i didn't like it very much due to some stuff. So here's a more complete answer:

1) they cut down on screen time for stupid characters
2) they started pulling the threads together, so now instead of like 8 different plotlines, 6 of them have converged into one big one
3) points 1 &2 inevitably lead to more screen time and character development for the cool characters

So my biggest problems with it were pretty much taken care of; also, because of the nature of the story, every week you know something awesome might happen (like P. Petrelli stopping time, flying, and using telekinesis all in one episode). The first few episodes, something rarely did. Now, as the characters develop, they are doing some pretty cool stuff.

march 12th

2007-03-12T15:09:00.000-05:00

- So I hammered out a paper this morning before I went to school. I set my alarm for 5am instead of the normal 6am, but I went back to sleep. So I kind of rushed the paper, but I said all I had to say, it met the minimum length requirements, and a lot of my professors are stressing brievity this time around, so hoepfully it will go over well.

- Will Roy kill Jim?! This year's biggest mystery has yet to be made known.

- Zephram Cochran was on MASH last night, and he came *this* close to getting BJ arrested. That'll do, Drunk Space Guy Who Discovers Warp Power. That'll do.

- Have I given my opinion on guys who come in to use the tanners? No? I haven't mentioned how I think they're emasculated girly-men? I haven't mentioned their eligibility in the WPGA? Really? Huh, okay.

- House faked brain cancer to get some happy drugs while in the same episode convincing a father to have half of his brain-damaged son's brain removed. Heh. House, Mr. Rodgers - hard to tell the difference sometimes.

quick notes and jottings

2007-03-09T16:00:00.000-06:00

- So I'm wearing this new Nike shirt. And feelin' fiiiiinnnne.

- March Madness...? OR Carefully Perpetrated Fraud on the American Public?

- "Voila! In view the humble vaudvillean veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. In truth, this visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestage of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished."

That's as far as I've gotten.

- Saw The Prestige last night. I liked the story, though it almost moved too quickly (and still was a long movie). I think it was better than the Illusionist, but I'm a big Michael Caine fan. And it had wolverine and batman. Throw in Chuck Norris and we have The Ultimate Showdown!

- To be honest, I would have bought my own copy of the film had Jackman's character said "Bub" just one time.

- I'm considering finding an extremly hard piece of music and mastering it. Only need one, and I can use it to impress everyone. I mean, as if the doodling I do isn't impressive enough....

- Then again, I could instead learn the banjo and then it wouldn't matter what I was playing because it's a banjo, and there's not a person alive who doesn't love the banjo. Same thing with the harmonica. And the Jewish Harp. Boing-boing-boing-boing-boing-boing-boing. Heh. Awesome.

- I'm never going to make it all those weeks without finding another show. And I'm not watching nor will I ever watch the Black Donnellys. That leaves me to jump into a show in the middle of a season, and I don't like doing that. *sigh* There's always my West Wing dvds. Or, you know, school work. .. ... ... HA HA HA. Man, I crack myself up.

- Just kidding there. Really.

today

2007-03-07T12:29:00.000-06:00

- I survived. The weather was actually pretty bad, and so were the roads, but I didn't get lost or anything. So give me back my stuff.

- Daylight savings this weekend. Don't forget.

- I finally saw the first 20 minutes of Gladiator last night. I'm still not impressed with that movie as a whole. It's like The Last Samurai in its pointlessness.

- So my cousin was telling me that The Pianist was a good movie. I told him that was unlikely, and then asked him to name a single good movie that had Adrien Brody (sp?). He said "Angels in the Outfield." I had to concede the point.