Confusion and Frustration

Fresh Out of the Womb

2010-01-09T07:57:00.000-08:00

Remember when you where a child? When things seemed so much simpler and your parents made all the hard decisions? Then remember when you got a little older and your parents started giving you the whole "You older now, so we're going to treat you like it" speech. I sure do. In fact, I just got one of those speeches the other day. Not from my parents though. Then from whom, you ask? From my 3rd tier boss of course. It's only natural, once you leave home your boss assumes all parental responsibilities, right?

As a child, those speeches didn't seem so bad. In fact, they bought a swelling of pride. Finally, your parents were realizing how mature you had become. It felt good to finally here them say it. Though looking back on it now, those speeches were pretty condescending. After all, a speech that starts out with "hey there, big guy" can only go down hill. So understanding that, why in the world would someone want to bring that attitude with them to work? Last time I checked, I no longer need someone to make me lunches or do my laundry. So why would someone want to go to work and be treated like they just stepped out of the womb. Yet here I am being told that overly cussing is bad. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I learned that lesson back in the 1st grade, when Mrs. Flores told me that the F-word would not be tolerated.

The Bottom Line: If you treat your employees like pre-pubescent teenagers; eventually, they will become agitated, defiant, and start to recent you, just like a pre-pubescent teenager.

2008 US Presidental Elections: Time for a Change

2008-06-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Its June 14, International Weblogger's Day, and today's topic is change. Therefore, I will be focusing on the 2008 US Presidential elections.

Every American knows that the upcoming elections could mark a monumental change in US political history. The oblivious reason being that the long line of white, male presidents could be broken. The fact that a black man and white women are even in the running is incredible. Younger Americans such as myself might not realize it, but even a few decades ago a black or female president would have been unheard of. Yet the upcoming election shows that America is moving closer to racial and gender equality.

However, it is important to focus not just on the change of race or gender but on a change of policy as well. Now I don't think everyone should agree with my political views, but I do believe every American should develop their own well-informed political opinion and then take advantage of their ability to vote. Sometimes it might not seem like it, but every vote counts.

So I ask ever American to consider these questions during this election season; "What do I believe in?", "What direction should this country being going in?", and "Does this candidate support my views?". No matter what you believe in or who you support, be sure to take action. The power for change is in the hands of each and every person and it is up to you to exercise that power.

A Temporary Break

2008-05-21T14:58:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let my regular readers know that I unfortunately will not be making regular posts over the next few months. After today, my computer will be stuffed into a box and placed in storage until September. However, I will still be checking up on the blog, any comments, and possibly putting up a post on occasions when I am able to make it to a public computer.

Also I do have a nice post setup for June 14th, International Weblogger's Day, so be sure to check it out. Speaking of which, if you have a blog, visit the site and sign up to participate. Its a good way to get some exposure for your blog and promote awareness for change.

So long for now and I hope to see you back in September.

-E.J.T.

YouTube a Front for Terrorism?

2008-05-19T19:56:00.000-07:00

Recently Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman sent a letter to the Google Chairman and CEO requesting that Islamic terrorist videos be removed from the popular video hosting service YouTube. Lieberman claims that "Islamist terrorist organizations use YouTube to disseminate their propaganda, enlist followers, and provide weapons training."

I don't know about other people, but I don't go on YouTube thinking, "Today I think I'm going to join a terrorist organization." And I'm fairly certain that the number of terrorists recruited on YouTube probably isn't that high.

Its seems to me that politicians have forgotten about the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Also several of them seem to have the delusional belief that terrorism is something that can be combated with force and even more terrorism, or as some Americans like to put it, "liberation." I suppose this is just another instance of the belief that violence solves everything.

Unless everyone in the world chooses to lay down their weapons, join hands, and sing "Kumbaya," there will always be war, terrorism, and people that just plain hate each other. I'm not sure who in America started this whole "everyone has to like else or else" mentality, but it is clearly a ridiculous idea. But what do I know? Maybe Americans enjoy sacrificing their freedom just to gain an imaginary feeling of safety.

Bus Driver Attacked While Driving

2008-05-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

A bus driver from Milwaukee, Wisconsin was attacked by another man while in the process of driving his bus. During one of the stops, a man in a red shirt ran onto the bus and began beating down the bus driver. The attack continued while the bus was in motion. At one point, the attacker even stepped on the accelerator, which caused the bus to crash into a tree. The attacker then jumped off the bus and ran away. Police are still currently looking for the suspect. During this incident, eight other passengers were on board the bus.

What a terrible day for that bus driver. Its bad enough to have to drive a bus around all day, but then to get attacked as well, its enough to make a person quit. What I really find amusing is that none of those eight passengers tried to help the guy getting attacked, even when their own lives became threatened as the lunatic tried to crash the bus. I guess some people prefer serious injury in a car crash over helping a fellow human being.

The Guild - Episode 10: Boss Fight

2008-05-16T00:07:00.001-07:00

I think its about time for some guilt-free laughs and luckily the season finale of The Guild is finally here. It wasn't one of the series' best episodes, but it did provide a good ending to a fantastic first season. If you haven't already seen the show, be sure to check out some of the other episodes. For a web-series, this show some has some great acting, great production values, and genuinely hilarious material; especially if your familiar with MMORPGs.

Darfur: A Piece of Hell on Earth

2008-05-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

Today is the day that bloggers around the world unite for human rights. My little contribution to the effort will be focused on the crisis in Darfur, a region in western Sudan currently plagued by brutal conflict. Although this issue has earned global attention, the widespread murder, rape, abduction, and displacement of peaceful citizens continues.

There is a wide range of statistics from the tragedy in Darfur, but it is generally agreed upon that at least between 200,000 to 400,000 casualties have occurred along with another 2.5 million that have been displaced. These numbers continue to grow everyday and a great majority of those affected are not fighters, but civilians.

The conflict in Darfur began in 2003 after non-Arab rebels began to rise up against the Sudanese government. In response, the Arab dominated government began supporting an Arab militia known as the Janjaweed. Since then, this Arab militia has been systematically attacking the Darfur region which contains a majority of Sudan's non-Arabs population. The Janjaweed travel between villages; burning, pillaging, raping, and murdering any non-Arabs they come in contact with. Many of the people from Darfur has been forced to flee into neighboring Chad where they live in refugee camps waiting for the crisis to end.

Those not fortunate enough to escape become victims of the Janjaweed's brutal attacks. Rape has become one of the Arab militia's most commonly used methods of assault . Many women have been repeatedly raped in public by members of the Janjaweed. Furthermore, women that survive the assault are forced to live in shame and become shunned by their community.

This crisis occurring in Darfur is not only supported by the Sudanese government, but also other nations as well. Approximately 90% of the weapons shipped into Sudan come from China and Russia. China has also been accused of supporting the actions of the Sudanese Government due to their economic interests in the region. The majority of Sudan's oil goes to China and the money received for that oil is in turn used to purchase the weapons that fuel the conflict in Darfur.

This crisis shows no signs of stopping unless there is outside intervention, which is why people must call for action. You can show your support by asking your local politicians to put pressure on the Sudanese government to end the conflict in Darfur. Amnesty International also has more information on ways to help.

13 Year Old Gets Hookers to Play Xbox

2008-05-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

Ralph Hardy, a 13-year old from Newark, Texas, was convicted of fraud after stealing his father's credit card to go on a $30,000 shopping spree. The spree came to an end after Ralph was caught in a hotel room with two high priced hookers while playing Halo 3. Police were alerted to the boy's activities after a call from a delivery clerk. In order to get the prostitutes, Ralph claimed that he was a midget traveling with the circus. The escort girls became suspicious when Ralph showed more interest in playing with the Xbox than playing with them. Ralph's price for his fun? Three years community service.

I can't really blame the hookers for their lack of intelligence, their chosen profession speaks for them. I can't really blame the kid either, those raging teenage hormones can be dangerous. However, I would have expected the hotel to call the police before giving the kid a room. I guess they are just to lazy to care, or maybe they figured that the kid might as well have some fun before he faces his punishment. Although, I think the kid is better off playing Xbox. Losing your virginity to a hooker is probably something that haunts a person for the rest of their life.

Overweight Nude is Overpriced

2008-05-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

A 1995 painting of an overweight nude woman from London is set to go up for auction tonight in New York. The unusual portrait is expected to make between $25 million and $35 million, a record sale for a living artist. Apparently, the painting's "unique" look of beauty is what attracts buyers willing to pay such high prices.

I considered posting the image, but I don't want to frighten anyone. If you think you can stomach it, the article and picture can be seen here.

Now I'm not really into art, in fact I have no idea what makes something "art". So maybe this picture is something unique and beautiful in some strange way, but I seriously doubt its worth $25 million and $35 million. Instead of buying this picture, these rich fools should come visit my town. You can spot plenty of overweight women here; hell, theres plenty of overweight men too. I see them everyday for free. And I'm sure they would be willing to take off their clothes for a lot less than the price of that painting.

McCain Calls For Reduced Emissions

2008-05-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

Photo: Reuters

During a recent speech, probable republican presidential candidate John McCain proposed that a limit be placed on US greenhouse gas emissions. In his speech, the Arizona senator outlined his plan to steadily reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and cut that amount another 60% by 2050. McCain also encouraged global co-operation in an effort to reduce emissions worldwide. This speech was a clear criticism of President Bush's relaxed stance on environmental policy. McCain's plan for reduced emissions, while better than many other republicans, still falls short of Democratic goals.

It's nice to see that all of the presidential candidates realize the importance of protecting the environment, but the effort still seems to be moving a bit slow. The topic of global warming, along with other environmental issues, has been a concern for quite some time. Yet, people are still debating just exactly what should be done. Even if the next president does push for environmental change, who knows how long it will take before a plan of action is actually approved. I think its about time someone actually started doing something. Personally, I don't want to live in a world where the skies are black with pollution and everything is paved with concrete.

The Offspring: Free Single

2008-05-12T00:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not the biggest fan of The Offspring, but they do have some decent songs. There new single "Hammerhead," in my opinion, is probably one of their better ones. Currently, the band is offering the song for download for free at their site, so you can check it out and decide for yourself if its any good. At the very least, you will be getting a free song.

Hackers Try to Cause Seizures

2008-05-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

By exploiting a security breach of the Epilepsy Foundation's Web site, hackers attempted to cause epileptic seizures to visitors. The hackers found a way to bypass the site's security in order to flood the forums with posts containing flashing messages. Some of the sites visitors developed migraines and near-seizure reactions to the images. This incident was much different than usual hacking assaults since clearly the only purpose was to physically harm people.

Total jackasses, that pretty much sums it up. Why else would someone take the time to do this? These hackers certainly aren't going to be able to see any of the pain they caused. The only satisfaction they could possibly get out of this is by thinking "Well, I definitely screwed up somebody's day." One can only hope that these hackers are struck by a massive series of seizures which cripples them and prevents these idiots from doing anymore harm to the world.

Burma: America's Next Invasion?

2008-05-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

Photo: AFP

Lately there has been a lot of focus on the cyclone disaster in Burma, which there rightly should be. With several thousand dead already, it certainly deserves global attention. However, the relief effort sits at a standstill due to strict restrictions on aid imposed by the Burman Government. Some people are calling for a US humanitarian invasion of Burma with planes simply flying over the country and dropping supplies, whether the Burman Government approves or not.

Obliviously the people of Burma require aid, but an invasion might be going too far. The US has certainly made enough enemies around the world, I don't think Burma needs to be added to the list. Furthermore, the fact that people are calling for a US invasion should give Americans a pretty good idea of how the world currently views them. Also the American economy is in no position to be financing a full blown relief/invasion effort. I think its time for some other countries to step up and act as protectors of the world while the US plays a more secondary role.

An even better solution would be if the people of Burma revolted against their oppressive government. Personally, I don't understand why people in impoverished countries put up with these tyrannical rulers. I realize that life in those countries is extremely tough, but if I lived in that type of situation I would build up some support, start a revolution, and try to install a government for the people; essentially I would start another democracy (minus the corruption). Better to die fighting for your freedom, than to live in chains serving others.

90 Year Old Woman Left Dead on the Toilet

2008-05-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

The remains of 90-year Magdeline Alvina Middlesworth from Wisconsin was found by police during a search of her house. After a call from Middlesworth's sister, Sheriff Brent Oleson went to the home of the elderly woman to check in on her. At first, the roommate of Middlesworth, 35-year-old Tammy Lewis, claimed that the old woman was on vacation. However, Oleson eventually made his way into the house where he found the body of Middlesworth decaying on the toilet.

Apparently, Middlesworth's body had been there for over two months while Lewis burned candles and incense to mask the smell. Lewis and her two children continued to live in the house and simply avoided the bathroom with the rotting body. Lewis later stated that God had told her that if she prayed hard enough, Middlesworth would comeback to life. Currently, Lewis is charged with two felony counts of causing metal harm to a child.

Not only is this woman a lunatic, but she takes laziness to a new level as well. How hard is it to pick up a phone and call an ambulance? It would be so much easier to have some else remove the body instead of waiting for it to decompose. Plus, the smell must have been terrible. And would want to use a toilet after knowing that a rotting body had been in that same exact spot? If I was Middlesworth's spirit, I would be pissed and probably end up haunting Lewis and her entire family until the day they died.

Pot-Flavored Candy Made Illegal

2008-05-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

Starting July 1, the sale of pot-flavored candy to minors will be illegal in the state of Georgia. The ban is the result of a recently passed law which carries a fine of up to $500 for selling the prohibited candy to anyone under 18. Supporters of the law say that pot candy with names like "Kronic Kandy" and "Pot Suckers" promotes drug use to children.

The fact that the sale of certain candy has become restricted to children seems a little ridiculous, but then again, allowing the influence of drugs to take hold of young minds certainly isn't good either.

To me, this is another one of those "you're doing something, but you could be doing so much more" situations. Its nice that there are still people who strongly oppose drug use, but simply banning things is the lazy way out. If people really wanted to make a difference, they would try to educate children on the reasons why drug use is bad and not just settle for the "Don't do it because I said so" response.

But yet again my own childhood seems to prove me wrong. I remember during my elementary and middle school years all the students were bombarded with anti-drug messages. There would often be assemblies hosted by "D.A.R.E." and other organizations where speakers would talk about that dangers of drug use. But the fact that all most everyone in high school smoked marijuana shows just how much that effort was waste. Perhaps there is no way to prevent drug use and everyone should just stick some needles into their arms and stop resisting the inevitable.

Student Pokes Teachers

2008-05-06T18:09:00.000-07:00

A 15- year old middle school student from Ocala, Florida, was arrested for eight counts of battery after high-fiving students and teachers while having a tack stuck to his hand. After being arrested, the student told police that he was simply being playful.

First off, these teachers must have been new since they were stupid enough to initiate any physical contact with a student. Any experienced teacher would have realized that something suspicious was going on.

As for the student, involving the cops seems somewhat extreme. However, the idiot should face some sort of consequence, but personally, I think a good ass kicking from those that he pricked would be a more appropriate form of punishment. Pain is one of the most effective ways to teach common sense to a person.

Another Excuse for Fat People

2008-05-04T21:16:00.000-07:00

Yet another reason has been created to explain why being overweight is something that people just can't control. What is it this time? Genetics and Cells. So when that person told you it wasn't their fault they were fat, they were apparently telling the truth.

According to a new international health study, people establish a certain level of fat cells during their childhood. Apparently, this is the reason why overweight individuals can't keep the weight off after a diet. When losing weight, only the size of the fat cells is reduced, not the number. Therefore, people with more fat cells are more likely to be overweight. The results from this study could lead to new approaches towards weight loss.

Maybe this new study does point to the reason why certain people are overweight. Personally, I think its just another way to relieve some of that guilty sitting on all the fat-padded shoulders around the world. But then again, maybe I'm wrong and being a tad insensitive. However from my experience of living in one of the fattest nations in the world, I've found that people are overweight because they chose to be. People think that once they lose the weight after a diet, its gone forever. Then they go back to eating all their junk food and cry when all the fat comes back.

Also if fat cells are the cause of obesity, why are most fat people of the world in well-fed developed countries while most of the skinny ones are in poverty stricken countries?

Although, I can sympathize with those that are overweight because for most of my childhood I was a porky individual. However, I eventually lost the weight and not through any ridiculous schemes. I simply changed my diet permanently. So for any overweight individuals reading this I'm going to give a few tips on how to lose those extra pounds.

Drink Lots of Water. Other drinks, especially soda, have large amounts of sugar. Most soft drinks have at least 40 grams, or 3.5 tablespoons, of sugar per serving and that can really add up.

Stop Eating Junk Food or at the very least substitute for the healthier version. Many of today's food companies are very health conscious and produce their own lines of healthy alternative junk food, for instance baked potato chips. So if you can't completely give it up, reduce the amount that you do eat and get the healthier stuff.

Get Active. You can't stuff your face if your hands are doing something else. Picking up a new hobby is a good way to get interested in something besides food. Also being active can lead to meeting other healthy, active people that can help you stay on track in maintaining a healthy weight.

Yahoo Resists Takeover By Microsoft

2008-05-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Microsoft Corp. finally ended it's pursuit of Yahoo Inc. after deciding that Yahoo's price was just too high. Ever since Yahoo reported low earnings in January with even lower expectations for the year to come, Microsoft has been looking to acquire the Internet Company. While Yahoo was not completely opposed to a sale, they were looking for at least $37 per share, much higher than Microsoft's offer of $31. Talk surfaced of a possible hostile takeover by Microsoft as Yahoo continued to resist offers for a sale. However, it seems that Microsoft came to the conclusion that Yahoo just wasn't worth it.

Clearly, this is good news for Google. While they probably still would have continued to dominate the internet advising market, it would have been harder to maintain that stranglehold if two of their biggest competitors joined forces. Hopefully, Yahoo will be able to pull out of this incident and make a strong push in the future because competition is always a good thing for consumers. Also I can't help but smile whenever someone says no to Microsoft.

Lindsay Lohan Unhappy About Drinking Ad

2008-05-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

The above ad from the American Beverage Institute appeared in today's issue of USA Today. The ad was published in response to numerous states recently passing bills requiring drunk drivers to have an ignition interlock system installed, which allows only sober drivers to start the car. Of course, Lohan was not pleased by the ad portraying her as an uncontrollable drunk.

Well Ms. Lohan, if you don't like being thought of as a reckless alcoholic, maybe you should stop driving drunk. Personally, I will never be able to understand how the hell these celebrities get so many DUIs. They certainly have enough money to hire someone to drive them around. I guess they just love all that attention, even if it is negative, or maybe all that pride and over sized ego just won't fit in the passenger seat.

Also I have a solution for the American Beverage Institute and all those people concerned about ignition interlock systems. Its actually quite simple; all you have to do is not drink and drive. But I guess its hard for people to realize that when their brain is saturated with alcohol.

Teen's Text Message Catches Robbers

2008-05-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

Lauren Durnbaugh, a 13 year-old from Canal Winchester, Ohio, helped catch two robbers that broke into her home by using a text message. On Tuesday morning, Durnbaugh sent a text message to her mother stating that intruders were inside the house. Immediately after receiving the text message, Durnbaugh's mother rushed home, calling 911 on the way. While the intruders were in the house, Durnbaugh hid in a closet with her cellphone. The robbers were quickly apprehended as police arrived at the scene.

This particular story caught my attention because it relates to a previous post about text messages. Just wanted to point out that text messaging does have it uses, especially during an emergency. Also have to give credit to the teen for keeping a cool head. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there, especially teenage girls, that would have froze and broke down crying. But I guess the robbers were also somewhat lucky that it was only a frightened girl; because, if it had been me in this situation, I probably would have just shot them.

Man Tries to Cash $360 Billion Check

2008-04-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

Charles Ray Fuller from Ft. Worth, Texas was arrested after he walked into a bank and attempted to cash a $360 billion check. Of course, the bank tellers were a little suspicious and contacted the check's owner, the mother of Fuller's girlfriend. She stated that she had not given the check to Fuller. After his arrest for fraud, Fuller claimed that he needed the money to start his own record label. Not surprisingly, at the time of his arrest he was carrying some marijuana and a gun.

This guy must be incredibly bad with numbers or very uninformed about money; either way, he's definitely an idiot. My guess is that he was probably high when he came up with the idea and wrote that ridiculous check. Stupidity seems to be a common trait among criminals. But then again, maybe that's just because all the smart ones get away with it.

People Addicted to Text Messaging

2008-04-29T00:13:00.000-07:00

It seems that lately texting has become very popular. I'm not exactly sure why, but I guess it has something to do with society's growing fear of personal contact. In my opinion, texting is a complete waste of time. These days people are so afraid of making a mistake that they need to repeatedly read what they are trying to say in an attempt to craft the perfect message. And even if you know what you want to say, it's a pain to type out the messages; unless of course, you spend all your time texting. It is so much easier to simply make a phone call and say what you have to say.

Also texting creates all those ridiculous acronyms that are continually working to destroy the English language. Occasionally, I will overhear a conversation that is peppered with things like "OMFG" and "LOL." Seriously, "LOL?" When the hell did it become so difficult to laugh? I'm beginning to think that eventually people will get to the point where their communication is based solely in code.

However, what really pisses me off about people that text is the fact that they do it all the time. At work, in school, while walking, even while talking to another person. For me, walking around campus has turned in a game of "Dodge the idiot that's texting." It got to the point where I can hear the endless clicking of phone keypads in my dreams.

Now, I'm going to go beyond my usual rant and offer a few tips of advice to anybody that feels attached to their text messages.

First off, every time you think to write a text message, ask yourself "Would it be easier to simply pick up the phone?" or "Do I even really need to say this?"

Next, reduce the use of acronyms; the fact that you actually have to type out each word may discourage you from making so many text messages. At the very least, it will prevent you from further butchering the language.

Lastly, and mostly important, consider the people around you. Ask yourself "Would I be angry if I had to listen to some idiot type on his cellphone all day long?"

Skank Searches For Easy Money

2008-04-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

Ashley Dupre, the call girl that recently became famous due to her relations with former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, is suing "Girls Gone Wild" for $10 million. During the 2003 Spring Break, Dupre was filmed for the series; she claims that she was only 17 and drunk. "Girls Gone Wild" creator, Joe Francis, stated that he has videotaped proof of Dupre giving consent and showing identification. Previously Francis had made a $1 million offer to Dupre to appear in a "Girls Gone Wild" video. Of course, that was before he realized that he already had footage of her.

I find it amusing that a slut is crying about being portrayed as a slut. Clearly the only reason Dupre is suing is because she lost her original deal. She's just another lazy person looking to make a quick buck while getting famous. This incident reminds me of an age old saying, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?" Maybe this will teach her to keep her clothes on, but then again I'm reminded of my own personal words of wisdom, "Once a skank, always a skank."

Illegal Immigrants Die in Crash

2008-04-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

A truck carrying illegal immigrants crashed early Sunday morning resulting in the death of 4 people and injury of several others. The crash occurred along the Arizona border near Phoenix. The truck was believed to be transporting as many as 60 people; many of them fled into the desert after the incident. Apparently, crashes such as these involving illegal immigration are not uncommon.

In 2003 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security estimated that 700,000 illegals cross the border every year and many other organizations claim that the number is much greater. But even if 700,000 is right, that means almost 2000 people illegally cross into the U.S. every day. Clearly this is a problem that the government needs to address. Although I'm not a strong supporter of McCain, one policy of his that I agree with completely is the crackdown on illegal immigration.

Now I'm not going to say that these people deserved what happened to them because I'm certainly not in a position to judge who should live or die. However, I don't feel bad for them. Maybe incidents like these will help to convince immigrants to come into the country legally and not break the law.

Prank Letter Promotes Sex and Alcohol

2008-04-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

Official looking letters were sent out to families of a Portland Public School District High School advising parents to provide a place for kids to have sex and drink alcohol on prom night. Apparently these letters were part of an elaborate prank. The letters included the official school letter heading and also enclosed in the envelope were a couple of condoms.

First off, I have to give credit to whoever took the time to actually pull off this prank. The fact that they invested a reasonable amount of money for the postage shows their level of dedication. What I find fascinating is the fact that everyone is focusing on the prank itself. No one; not the students, not the school officials, not even the parents, question the fact that kids will be going out on prom night to have sex and, more importantly, get drunk.

Now I can't really blame the students because teenager and stupidity are basically synonyms. Of course they're going to want to have sex and get drunk. However, I would except some parents to step up and try to prevent this behavior, or at the very least denounce it. It seems that some parents are just too lazy to do their job; hell, I wouldn't be surprised if some parents were the ones responsible for sending out the letter, and I don't mean as a prank either.

Arby's and Wendy's: A Match Made In Cholesterol Heaven

2008-04-25T00:07:00.000-07:00

After constant decreases in stock values, the fast food chain Wendy's gave in and sold itself to fellow fatty food peddler, Arby's. Wendy's was the third largest hamburger chain in the U.S. before the merger. Now after joining with Arby's they might end up giving fast food giants McDonald's and Burger King a run for their money. The new owners of Wendy's International Inc., Triarc Cos, intend to revitalize Wendy's by adding new breakfast items and further expanding the menu.

With all the health trends going around these days, mergers like this are bound to happen. Unhealthy fast food is a dying product. In the end I expect all hamburger chains will be owned by the same corporation. Now the new place to go is Subway, although I'm not sure how much better their stuff is. Personally, I almost never eat fast food since it tastes terrible. Plus, whenever I eat one of those greasy hamburgers I can just envision the fat wrapping itself around the walls of my arteries. But hey, maybe this new and improved Wendy's/Arby's will be able to convince people that being fat is popular again.

Obama and the Race Issue

2008-04-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

While Obama lost the Pennsylvania Primary, it seems that he may have gotten enough support to finally push Clinton out of the race. It had been assumed that if Clinton wanted to keep her campaign alive she would need a double-digit victory in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately for her, the number of the day was 9.2. Even though Obama looks to be well on his way to getting the democratic presidential nomination, the question remains; why can't he get significant victories? One of the most obvious reasons that is repeatedly being pointed to is the fact that he is African-American.

Racism in America? Impossible. America is a country where all people come together, share their beliefs, respect each other, and live a in peaceful co-existing manner, at least thats what some delusional people seem to think. Is the fact that Obama is African-American going to affect his campaign? Of course. Will it affect his campaign so much that it prevents him from becoming president? That has yet to be seen. However, I can answer the question of why blue-collar, white voters are reluctant to vote for Obama; they have absolutely nothing in common with him. His opponents realize this and continually point it out in an attempt to alienate Obama even more.

The problem with most voters is that they vote for whoever they can relate to the most. No matter how good a candidate's policies and beliefs are, if they are completely different from the voters their is a very slim chance they will receive any votes. People need to actually start looking beyond appearances and at the individual beneath, otherwise America is doomed to keep electing presidents that systematically destroy the country by pushing it further into debt and getting it stuck in unwinnable wars.

I Can Hear You, I'm Right Here

2008-04-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

The other day my roommate's girlfriend came by for a visit. I don't mind her visits, but she seems to have a habit of doing something odd every time she drops by (see my previous post "what's wrong with being single?" for another example). Usually I ignore the interactions between my roommate and his girlfriend; I figure its none of my business and I don't really care about it anyway.

However, during this particular visit, my attention was brought to their conversation. I wasn't sure why, but then I realized that they were talking about me. They even continued their conversation after I turned to look at them. Apparently, they were both irritated by the fact that I was in the room.

I can sympathize with their feeling of not wanting people hanging around when you want to be alone; but hey, I pay just as much rent as my roommate so I figure I have just as much right to the room as he does. Although, if they had simply asked if I could give them some privacy I would have happily obliged. What really stuck me as odd was the fact that they had the audacity to talk about me as if I wasn't even there, even after I looked directly at them.

I remember when I was younger my parents would have conversations about me even when they knew I was listening. At that I time I just figured whatever they were talking about was "grown-up business" and therefore no concern of mine. It just amuses me to see people that try to do this to adults. Furthermore, it really points to a person's ego when they think that they can get away with talking about someone in the same room as them. Personally, I show respect to everyone and directly address them regardless of their age or intelligence level; its just the polite thing to do. Also the direct approach is usually the best way to avoid problems. For instance, not being able to get intimate with your girlfriend because your roommate is around.

Blue Collar Hillary

2008-04-23T00:36:00.001-07:00

Funny political cartoon which I thought I would share.

Also brings up a good point about the presidential candidates.

It Just Keeps Getting Worse For Polar Bears

2008-04-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

Since today is Earth day, I decided to turn my attention towards an environmental issue; particularly the protection of endangered species, a topic I am very passionate about.

Already polar bears are being threatened by the continuing loss of their natural habitat due to global warming, something that President Bush doesn't seem to care about. But now it seems the government is not content with simply waiting the 40 or so years for the polar bear to go extinct on its own; now they want to go directly into the few remaining polar bear habitats and further accelerate the process in order to get a little more oil.

Recently a case was brought against the Department of Interior by a coalition of conservation groups after the Department failed to meet the deadline for a decesion concerning the status of polar bears. The conservation groups claim the delay is a tactic to protect oil leases from legal action. Assistant Interior Secretary Lyle Laverty responded to the lawsuit claiming that determining the status for polar bears raises "significant and complex factual and legal issues."

I'm sure the exact listing of polar bears does raise some important issues. I bet one of those "significant and complex" issues that the government is so concerned about is just how much harder it will be to drill for oil once the status of polar bears is finally declared. Maybe its time for the government to speed up the transition to alternative fuels. That way, in the future they won't be forced to choose between killing off a species or getting a little more oil.

If you want to learn more about how you can help to protect polar bears you can visit this site here. Also this site here provides several tips on how you can celebrate Earth Day and help protect the environment, not just today, but every day of the year.

Miltary Recruiters Get Desperate

2008-04-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

It seems that the army and marines have reached the point where they are willing to take just about anyone. Already they have lowered their standards concerning both mental and physical attributes. But now over the past few years army waivers for criminal offenses, particularly serious misdemeanors, have been steadily increasing. This includes looking past things like burglary or drug possession charges.

I think anyone that is willing to volunteer to protect their country deserves some respect. Also I believe that people can change regardless of what they did in their past. However, it seems to me that recruiters are taking whatever they can get and may not be looking to see if a particular recruit is responsible enough to shoulder the responsibilities necessary of a soldier. Already there have been several accusations of misconduct in Iraq ranging from prisoner mistreatment to animal abuse. Yet, it seems the military is continuing to lower the moral standards for soldiers. This desperation for new recruits is just another reason why America needs to end the occupation of Iraq.

School Bombing Plan Discovered

2008-04-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

Ryan Schallenberger, a teen from South Carolina, was arrested after his plans to build and use homemade bombs to attack his high school were discovered. Apparently, Schallenberger had been planning the attack for quite some time. His intentions were discovered after his parents found the bomb making material and the journal describing the attack. Previously, Schallenberger was a top academic student at his school and was not known for causing problems. The purpose for the bombing appears to be hate motivated.

By now its no surprise to me to see something like this in the news. Its seems that more and more people are turning towards violence to vent their frustration which is unfortunate. Violence is almost never the answer and it certainly isn't the solution for simple high school problems, especially since high school is only a temporary thing. Although, I can relate because I experienced similar feelings during my time spent in high school. The turning point for me came when I realized that ending a few lives will not change the world. In fact, acts of violence usually only make the world worse. If a person is tired and unhappy with their life then they should make a personal change. After all, happiness is just a state of mind and the only thing stopping anyone from experiencing it is themselves.

How to Regain Lost Motivation

2008-04-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

The end of the spring semester is approaching which, for me, means two things. First off, I'm one step closer to graduating, and secondly, my motivation for being at college is almost completely gone. This seems to happen to me a lot, whether it be about school or just life in general; I often seem to lose the desire to do anything. Over time I have picked up a few ways on how to regain lost motivation which I thought I would share.

One of the best ways to recapture that lost feeling of purpose is to remember your goal. For me that means I keep remembering the fact that a college education is an essential part of my career plan.

Another powerful tool that motivates is emotion. For some people that can mean the love of something. Perhaps the thought of that special someone fills you with the energy to keep going. Personally, I've found hate to be my constant motivator. When I look around at the world and see all it's problems my mind becomes focused. I remember that if I keep moving forward, one day I will be able to make a difference and change the world for the better; because after all, sitting around doing nothing never solved anything.

Also a short break can be a helpful way to restore energy. Occasionally when I feel crowded by work I spend a day at the park and just relax. Or sometimes I will just spend sometime playing video games or watching movies. However, its important to make sure you don't spend too much time away because the longer the break, the harder it will be to get back to work.

Another Look At Why People Stare

2008-04-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

Due to the popularity of one of my previous posts, I decided to revisit the topic of why people stare. To do this I performed a sort of simple study and spent an entire day staring at people while I went around doing my daily business. For the purposes of this experiment I tried to maintain a completely neutral expression in order to not positively or negatively affect any of the responses I received.

The day first began with me at school. One of the first things I noticed as I went around campus going from class to class is that quite a few people fit into either two groups. There were those that walked quickly with their heads and eyes angled towards the ground, then there were those that walked slowly and looked at each person that passed them by. Its worth mentioning that a lot of the people in the second group seemed to be wearing flashy attire; however, those in the first group were mostly dressed in drab, plain clothes. As I conducted my experiment I found that it was very hard to make any eye contact with the fast walking, plain group. On the other hand, I received a variety of responses from the flashy staring group. A majority of those people responded to my stares with hostile expressions; however, a very small few looked at me with genuine smiles. Also I noticed that the people that stared seem to carry themselves with an arrogant self-confidence which was apparent in their appearance, expressions, and the way they walked.

As the day continued I eventually made my way thorough town to see what other responses I could receive. One thing I noticed while observing individuals in public was that some people seemed to look at everything around them or simply appeared to be staring into nothingness as they walked; none of them seemed to notice me staring at them. These individuals appeared to be either enjoying the scencery around them or contemplating some deep thought.

The high point of my experiment came towards the end of the day while I was back at school. One individual that I stared at actually confronted me and asked "what the hell [I was] staring at?" At this point I decided to have some fun and responded that "I was simply admiring [his] particular look, its not often that [I] see a person with such a unique facial structure." Of course I intended this as an insult, but as I suspected would happen, the person thought it was some sort of complement and, after a few seconds of tense silence, we continued on our separate ways.

So after some reflection on my simple experiment, I came to the conclusion that eventually people reach a point in their life where they simply do not care if someone is staring at them. They seem to have come to the realization that life is too short to worry about being stared at and they have a more "enjoy the scenery" approach to being in public. So if staring is something that bothers you, it is best to work towards adopting an "enjoy the scenery" approach. Furthermore, if you happen to be one of those people that stare, it most likely means you're conceited, and therefore you too should also work towards an "enjoy the scenery" approach.

Let The Executions Continue

2008-04-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

After a split 7-2 ruling, the US Supreme Court has declared that the current method of execution is not "cruel and unusual punishment." Following this decesion, it is expected that executions will begin to resume after a 7 month hiatus that began in September. The case was brought to the attention of the Supreme Court due to arguments that the current "3-drug" form of lethal injection could be extremely painful. Those presenting the case claimed that the pain of cardiac arrest could be masked by the paralysis resulting from the first administered drug. However the court, in their decesion, countered the argument stating that the method does not violate the constitution because it does not threaten a "substantial risk of serious harm."

Good decesion by the Supreme Court in this case. While executions should not be used for the purpose of causing pain, if it happens to be a side effect then so be it; sometimes pain is necessary. Also I doubt the thought of causing too much pain even crossed the person's mind when they did whatever it was that landed them in death row (assuming that they are guilty). Should executions be done in the most humane way possibly? Yes. But should people feel bad that there is a little pain involved? I think not.

Crazy Kids and Violence

2008-04-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

It seems that lately there have been a lot of these violent videos being made by lunatic kids. For some reason they seem to believe that it is alright to beat down someone else in an effort to get some attention. Of course beating someone down does generate and attract attention; a lot of negative attention. I think this is just another example of how society is teaching the wrong values to kids and, of course, parents are partially to blame.

Now personally I do enjoy the occasion violent movie or boxing match, but random real-life violence on strangers is just wrong. Although I do laugh when I see some people get in a fight, but that's due to my unusually high level of hatred for the world. Also even when I do see real-life violence I understand that it is wrong. If everyone just went around beating the hell out of each other for attention then the world would collapse deeper into chaos. Its really up to the parents to guide their children's actions. They should not necessarily shelter their kids from the world but explain to them what is wrong with it.

What's Wrong With Being Single?

2008-04-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

The other day my roommate had his girlfriend over for a visit. He introduced me to her and she began asking me some generic questions. Eventually she asked me if I was seeing anyone. This didn't seem like too odd of a question to me and I told her no. Immediately a sad look appeared on her face and she proceed to apologize and told me not worry, that "Eventually I would find someone." That response was very confusing to me because I wasn't aware that there was something wrong with being alone. In fact I like having the freedom of being single.

I think it is sad that some people think there is something wrong with being single. Also I think that this is what causes so many failed relationships. Personally, I am waiting for that one special person to spend my life with and if they person never comes along then so be it. Unfortunately, with all the pressure society puts on being with someone else people began to lower their standards and take what they can get. Then when all their relationships are failures they begin to think that they are flawed. People need to learn to be satisfied with themselves and not to look for someone else to supply that acceptance. Otherwise, society is going to have a never ending supply of emotionally crippled individuals.

Happy Tree Friends - Read 'Em and Weep

2008-04-12T21:15:00.001-07:00

Thought I'd share a particular episode of a series that I think is quite amusing.

Stupid People and Alcohol

2008-03-02T23:07:00.000-08:00

Haven't posted in a while but I just noticed that some people are actually reading this so I figured I would put up a new post. Plus I've been noticing a lot of irritating things lately.

Now I know that underage drinking is common and I have no problem with that. People can do whatever they want as long as it doesn't bother anyone else. However, the other night I overheard a conversation going on outside my dorm room that really pissed me off. A few people were talking about all the partying they had done the night before. Then during the conversation one guy started talking about how he had to risk a 2nd DUI to drive home. I was completely shocked when I heard this; this guy felt no remorse over breaking the law and I could clearly tell that he was not evening considering the fact that by driving drunk he had endangered lives.

Then today I noticed a poster taped to the bathroom door warning to "alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks." The worse thing about the poster was the fact that it came from the University. It totally blew me away that a school would tolerate underage drinking as long as its in moderation. From what I've seen a majority of people under the age of 21 have no common sense what so ever, so putting up these kinds of posters sends a message that its alright to drink.

Now like I said earlier I know that a lot of underage drinking occurs, but that doesn't mean that people shouldn't try to prevent it; especially people in positions of authority. Where does it end, when there are posters warning not to drink more than your body weight in one night?

Why do People Stare?

2007-11-07T19:47:00.000-08:00

Why do people have the need to stare? Not just take a quick look or glance, but flat out stare. I see people doing this all the time when I'm out in public, particularly to me. Now you might think this is just all in my mind and that I'm imagining these things but I know that I'm being stared at. It's not hard to notice when some is looking directly at you while their eyes follow as you move. Then you might say that it's the way I look or act that is attracting the attention, but this shouldn't be the reason either. I look like the average person, not too ugly but not too beautiful either. I dress like the average person, jeans, t-shirt, etc, in normal colors. I walk like the average person, nothing to crazy or unusual that would draw attention. And these people don't just stare with a neutral facial expression, they look as if they think I'm the biggest mistake of the human race. I have no idea what could drive someone to look at a complete stranger with that kind of expression.

The other day I saw someone staring at me as if they wanted to kill me. At first I wasn't completely sure that they were looking at me, but when I took a second glance I saw that their eyes were still locked on me and the closer they got the angrier they looked. I had no idea who this person was, I had never seen them before in my life so I was totally confused as to why they were staring at me like that. Then when the person finally walked passed me they actually turned their head to continue staring at me. At this point I burst out laughing, the look this idiot had on their face was just too funny, this caused them finally turn away and rush off. Now that kind of thing isn't normal, usually it's just 5 to 10 seconds of staring, but still it happens to me all the time.

So why is that these people insist on staring? This is just a theory, but I think that they do because they are insecure about themselves. They need to know what everyone else looks like in order to make sure they look better or to make sure that they fit in. Then again maybe I'm wrong, maybe they just stare to be assholes. But one of these days when I finally say screw it to the world I'm going to fulfill a dream that I've had for a long time, I'm going to gouge someone's eyes out. I'm going to teach the first person I see staring at me a lesson and permanently blind them. So word to the wise, if you stare, stop doing it cause you never know when the next person you stare at might just finally lose it.

Life Sucks

2007-11-05T21:08:00.001-08:00

This brought a smile to my face.

Mirrors: Just a Reflection?

2007-11-04T23:46:00.000-08:00

Mirrors have always been something that I've found to be creepy, but I guess that's because I rarely look into one. Today I spent what seemed like an eternity looking into the mirror while getting a haircut. Halfway through the haircut the barber went to take care of some business and left me alone with my reflection. As I sat there staring at the mirror I began to wonder if that was really me looking back. The more I stared the more I got the feeling that it was someone else looking back, observing me, judging me.

I find that mirrors can also be intriguing, almost like a view into another world and instead of looking at myself I'm looking at another person. Any time I look at my reflection for more than a few seconds I get these weird feelings, I suppose it's my low self-esteem that causes me to personify what I see looking back at me, or maybe I'm just going insane.

The Guild: Episode 4 - Cheesybeards

2007-11-02T23:15:00.001-07:00

Thought I'd share the new episode of a show I personally think is hilarious.

Frequent Complaining

2007-11-02T22:24:00.000-07:00

Seems to me that people spend way too much time complaining and not enough time taking action. It's true that the world sucks but whining isn't going to change anything. Complaining is a total waste of time, it does nothing but spread the misery. Now I'm well aware that this blog is essentially one giant complaint but it's intended more as a way to share my thoughts, and furthermore no one is forced to read this. Normally I try make it a practice to avoid laying my burdens on others. I've spent most of my life listening to people bitch and moan so I understand how effective it can be at damping a person's mood.

The biggest problem I have is with people that complain to complete strangers, if I don't know you then I could care less about your problems. Now I realize that there are days when everything goes wrong and someone can't help but complain which is understandable, but it seems that there are a lot of people that abuse this idea and complain about anything and everything to anyone that is willing listen. I bet if these people really thought about their lives they'd probably realize that they don't have it that bad.

If someone really has problem then they should do something about, being lazy and complaining solves nothing. Whenever I find that I am complaining to much I stop and listen to Sum 41's "The Hell Song" which has a great message, "Everybody has their problems, it's just a matter of how you solve them." So the next time someone starts complaining to you tell them to shut up, get off their ass, and go do something about it.

A Conversation with Myself

2007-11-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

Earlier today while sitting in class I noticed that somebody was staring at me. Naturally I found this to be very irritating and when the person saw that I was glaring at them they responded, "Dude, you were just talking to yourself about what you would be eating later." And the person was right, that was exactly what I had been thinking about, except I didn't realize I was saying it out loud. Immediately I went from being angry to being embarrassed, so I tried to joke off the whole experience by telling them I was really hungry.

What creeps me out the most is that I was unknowingly doing this. Talking to myself is something I do quite often since I don't really have anyone to talk with plus I've found that it's a good way to organize my thoughts, but it's something I've always done while alone in my room or while walking alone late at night, never in public. Now I suppose the real problem is when you stop talking to yourself and start talking with yourself which is something I don't do, as least I don't think I do it. But how far away could someone be from taking that step when they're not even aware of what's coming out of their mouth.

Loneliness vs Conformity

2007-10-31T12:15:00.000-07:00

This is a topic I have been thinking about a lot lately. Is it better to be true to yourself and alone, or is it better to be fake but accepted? Personally I have chosen the former but the decision has made me as an outcast with only my thoughts to keep me company. If I tried I could change my style and my behavior to fit into some sort of wider social group, but if I did I think I would be more unhappy than I am now. Going day to day with a smile on the outside talking about things that I really don't care about and doing things I really don't want to do. While on the inside I would be burning with hatred until the moment I finally snapped and started to strangle someone.

Now it seems to me most people choose conformity in an effort to be more widely accepted and that is something I find to be really disappointing. The media pushes the idea that if you want to be happy and popular you need to act a certain way and dress a certain way. But diversity is one of the greatest things the world can have, variety makes life a lot more interesting. I believe it is much better to be yourself than to be just another look-a-like jackass. Maybe one day people will start to realize this and stop pretending to be something they're not. But until then I guess it'll just be me and my thoughts.

Book Review: Depths of Madness

2007-10-30T23:09:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd change it up a bit and talk about one of the few things I actually enjoy doing. I find that reading is not only a great way to learn new things, but it's also a fantastic way to escape the miseries of everyday life. I dare say it might even be better than drugs and alcohol, but anyway back to the review:

Depths of Madness is a book I recently picked up while browsing in the bookstore. The first thing that attracted me to it was the title, then when I saw who the author was, Erik Scott de Bie (wrote another book I really enjoyed called Ghostwalker), I knew I had to get it. The book starts off with a group of prisoners trying to escape an extremely large and mysterious underground dungeon. The story basically revolves around the group uncovering their pasts and trying to figure out which one is a traitor. There is a good amount of action with a little bit of romance tied in making this an overall appealing book, although the end does get kind of confusing.

The great thing about this book is that you don't have to know anything about the Forgotten Realms setting to be able to pick it up and enjoy it. Also the author does a great job of blending fantasy and mystery together to produce an interesting story. This book is a must have for a fan of either genre and I hope to see more of these fantasy/mystery novels in the future.

Wasted time

2007-10-30T16:59:00.001-07:00

Today seemed like it was going to be an alright day. I was suppose to be starting a new job this afternoon. I thought I had finally found some work giving me not only some much need spending money, but also an opportunity to get out of my room and away from school. Then as usual this plan fell to pieces and I had to give up the job after learning some overlooked details from the employer.

What's worse is that they chose to wait until they could tell me in person. This meant almost 4 hours of my time today was wasted on something that could have been told to me in less than 2 minutes over the phone. This leaves me back in my room alone, staring at the wall wondering how life plans to screw me next.

People That Don't Know How To Walk

2007-10-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

Walking seems like such a simple concept, something people learn to do when they're very young. Yet everyday I see people who still seem to be trying to master such a basic skill, people that are completely oblivious to their surroundings. They walk to slow, walk while staring at the ground, walk taking up as much space as possible, or simply stand in the middle of traffic completely impeding the movement of others.

All the time I see people walking at a leisurely pace at the time of day when sidewalks are overcrowded and everyone has somewhere to be. If someone wants to take a walk so they can have time to think or just to enjoy life good for them, but they shouldn't be doing it in the middle of the day, on a tiny sidewalk or hall, in a crowded place. Another problem is with groups of people that walk shoulder-to-shoulder four or five across through a narrow hallway or on a small pathway. This completely blocks the way for everyone else and I frequently find myself being pushed against walls or walking through the grass just to get by these morons.

The most annoying thing anyone can do while walking is too simply stop in the middle of a walkway, most of the time because they see someone they know and decide to start a conversation. Stopping to catch up on the latest gossip is fine, but these people need to move off to the side and get out of the way. Having to slow down and find away around a couple of idiots is very irritating.

When I see people doing these things it makes me want to break their legs. If everyone simply knew how to walk it would make getting around a whole lot easier, one more step towards a better world.

What Happened To Smiling?

2007-10-29T21:54:00.000-07:00

Whenever I go out in public and look around everyone I see is frowning, they all look they're having the worst day of their life. Then if they see that I'm looking at them they start to stare at me with a hateful glare. Being surrounded by all these unhappy people drags me down and causes me to frown. Why don't people smile anymore, are their lives really so bad that they hate every minute of it and let that misery spread onto their face for the whole world to see.

I think the world would be a lot more comfortable and friendly if people simply took the effort to smile, at least while out in public.