Renewal

"Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil." - Jerry Garcia

Thursday was a slow day at work. I attended a webinar and did a little research. Mainly, I had a lot of time to think. That is when I get into trouble, thinking. There was one other time in my life had I been at work (in VA) and just had my heart start beating like crazy. It was like I took a caffeine pill. I remember I told someone about it that day hoping for some empathy and they couldn't care less, like I was making it up for attention. I learned from that moment that I need to deal with this on my own. I did. Not a good feeling.

My first real job paid me through direct deposit. Each night before payday at midnight the money was wired into my account and I was paid. At first I didn't like it because I didn't have a check to hold in my hands. It didn't feel real. Then I got used to it and learned to appreciate it. My last two jobs have been paid through paper checks. Today, as I went to the bank for my bi-monthly ritual of depositing my paycheck, I thought about how much I missed direct deposit. At least it gives me an excuse to get Subway.

Thursday night there was a lot of rerun TV for some reason. I love my Tivo btw, and have found some kick ass uses for it other than recording all my shows in HD. I can watch instant view netflix movies on it, rent Amazon movies, (YouTube, which I don't use much), download a movie online and transfer it to tivo. Now this might seem like silly, but now I watch dvds on it. Here is my problem with DVDs. Sometimes I'll start watching a movie and I'll want to pause it and pick up another day or another time because something is coming up or I want to start another DVD. Well DVD players are great, but I can't be leaving a movie paused for days. So what I do is transfer my DVD to my computer and upload it to my Tivo. Then I can watch, pause and come back to watching the movie like any other TV show. It is a small difference, but for me it is much better than all the DVDs I have lying around that are unwatched. All the good ones are watched already, but the possible secret gems, they are just lying around. Also, once I'm done watching the tivo dvd, I delete it from the Tivo and my computer and I get the space back (have lots of space.) I don't watch movies more than once for the most part so I'm not starting a collection. Maybe this will help me get through my netflix list as well, though most movies on it are not in the top 100 since I've seen all of those, so when people see the list they wonder what type of taste I have. I think my watched list says more about me than my to be watched list.

So there was this one movie I had been wanting to watch for a long time. It came out in 2001, Life as a House. A girl I used to date told me about it and that she really liked the movie and recommended it to me. I added it to my netflix list back then (which was our list at the time). Well later, in the split she got the netflix list, so I started over with my own list. I added that movie to my list as well. I kept moving it down the list and it was always at about 89 or so with new movies always skipping in line in the top ten, so it never really moved much over the years. Well I decided to watch the movie last night with my now nightly cocktail routine. The movie isn't great, but I think it was good. (46% on the Tomato meter reviews). I liked it though, but then again my dad has a half built house so that kind of hit home. A friend of mine actually posted an entry yesterday about a family working on building a house. I LOVE My Job! -Mini Home Remodel (It comes at the end of the entry.) So, all in all, I'm glad I finally saw the movie.

In a similar follow up, here is my goal, to own a house. I've mentioned it before, but all this mortgage talk on the news keep me thinking about it. Talk about a time to have that goal. I could just marry into a house right? Find a person who has one and bam I'm done, but what kind of plan is that. So I'm working on my credit to get it to a place where I'll qualify. I'm hoping the lessons of the sub-prime mortgage crisis will help me and I'll find something I can afford at a rate I can afford. I should probably set a date certain for my deadline on this goal. Latest, May 2010. My lease will be ending and that seems like enough time to see if I 'earn' the right to have a home. There are so many steps to take, a lot of luck with be involved, but I'm hopeful. I don't know why, but I feel like I need a home to complete my illusion of stability. An education, a car, a home, a job...then you can really start life right? I know they are distractions, but distractions I need.

Fox Renews "The Simpsons," Setting TV Record
I don't care what people say about the show not being as good as it once was. I know that I can still watch it and each time laugh more any other show. This is my all time favorite show. I once gave a girl a "Choo Choo Choose Me" Ralph Valentine's Card and it had a picture of a train. I had a Simpsons quote a day calendar and saved one that I have laminated and posted on my fridge. It got me through college and law school. It has Bart and says, "Part of this D- belongs to God."

Matthews Slams Issa for Using the Term "Democrat Party"
This bothers me a lot and I've written about it before. As Matthews says, "they call themselves the Democratic Party. Let's just call people what they call themselves and stop.." the petty bullshit insults. It was funny when Barney Frank said, "Republicanistical Party."

A Completely Unscientific Pie Chart Of Who Uses Twitter And Why

I've tried to twitter, but I'm no good at it. I like blogging better than micro blogging, though I must say, blogging wise, I'm the type of guy who live blogs my lunch. Speaking of, I wonder what I'm going to eat for lunch today.


‘Crimmigration’ A new study by the Pew Hispanic Center reports that Latinos have now become the largest single ethnic group in the U.S. federal prison system. Nearly half of all Latino offenders were jailed on immigration-related “crimes”.


Now look at this graph. How can this not be a real problem?

I wish I had Spring Break coming up. I wonder what the weekend has in store for me. I guess I'm about to find out.

If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

Quiting on your Country

"The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think." - Unknown

So did you watch the President's State of the Union (well officially, address to a joint session of Congress)? It was an excellent speech. I thought is was clever, thoughtful and inspired. Not just a bunch of empty rhetoric or wonky policy details, but a grown up conversation with America on where we are going. The part of finishing high school really touched me. His quote about "quiting on your country" was a great way of putting it. I kept sitting there yelling at the TV - Healthcare!!! and when it actually came up, I was so very happy. "So let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year."

"We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before. "

MSNBC Cuts To Jindal With An Audible "Oh God" (VIDEO)(POLL)
This had me laughing so much. I called in Rino and Abram and made them hear it. I'm pretty sure it was Keith. He just said what I was thinking.

Bobby Jindal Is Kenneth The Page (VIDEO) Andrew Sullivan found that if you closed your eyes last night during Jindal's response to Obama, you were sure to see sweet Kenneth Parcell's face float through your head. Sullivan went on to say that he "can barely count the number of emails making that observation."
The speech was very amateurish. I was more flabbergasted about his use of Katrina as an example of why we shouldn't trust government. To me, Katrina was an example of what happens when you put people who hate the government in charge of the government.

Phil Hartman's SNL audition - This guy was very talented and his work on the Simpsons (YouTube Tribute) was amazing. I was always a fan. This video audition from the mid 80s is fun to watch.


(Via The Comic's Comic) - (Via TSOYA)

You know, I just have to share the Simpson's tribute. It really made me laugh.



Breasts Pictured Everywhere At Madrid Fashion Week (PHOTOS - NSFW) - I don't know a lot about Fashion, but is this really fashion? I admit, it makes me more interested in fashion, but this is not the clothes I'd want my wife, girlfriend or daughters to wear. I wish fashion models were attractive...that is just a personal note.

not knowing the truth

Parking

"I don't miss him, I miss who I thought he was." - Unknown Author

So sometimes I post an entry before it is done and then work on it throughout the day. With facebook notes, it only keeps the first version of what I posted, hence the - in progress - notes on some of my past entries. That sucks. I guess I shouldn't do that then.

I saw Real Time with Bill Maher this weekend. I'm glad the show is back after its break. It was a nice change of pace to have 3 female guests. They seemed to be more respectful when disagreeing than men or when there is a mix. His discussion with Ron Paul was great and his idea to end the Drug War (to save all the tax money wasted). I recommend seeing Religulous when you get a chance. I'm a chapter in on the God Delusion by Dawkins. I hope it is interesting. I shouldn't have anything to be scared of if my faith is really that strong. Thinking and reason are gifts that should be thrown to the side.


Social Networking Websites Harm Children's Brains, Says Top Neuroscientist (via HuffPost) Social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users, an eminent scientist has warned. Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans, encourage instant gratification and make young people more self-centred.

Every kid I know is addicted to Myspace and every college aged plus adult seems addicted to Facebook. This can't be good.

Did you know that the Average American Watching More TV Than Ever THE average American is now watching more TV than ever - more than 151 hours a month - according to the latest Nielsen research.

This seemed worth mentioning since I'm an American that watches TV. I worked my number out to be about 105 hours a month, but we both know I'm probably under counting. Did I do the math right...1hr RM show, .5 Daily Show, 2 hours (TV shows I follow) for 3.5 hours a day times 30 days. You have to assume I'm watching 3.5 hours on weekends as well (humm football season). Either way, it is way too much...coming from the guy who watched a whole season of a show this weekend.

the science of cute (via texan in the city) - cute video I think. I wish I found babies as cute. They just look fragile to me, like something I wouldn't want to break...oh and loud.

I feel like I want to do everything. I think I would be a great psychiatrist, but medical school at this point? Then I think, I'd be a great journalist. How about an FBI agent? A formidable chief of staff for a senator. A computer programmer, MMA fighter. A kick ass piano/guitar/drums player. A professional card player. An architect. All different routes I didn't take. So why not just be an awesome lawyer, well I'm working on it, but there are so many fields. I don't have problems making decisions, nor do I regret them usually, but what is hard for me is not being able to do everything. Then you throw in the bar I would want to own and I'm torn in so many different ways.

So why are manhole covers round? (my answer was the pragmatic one in Wikipedia: Manhole cover) Check out the list, I think it is good. Did you know that modern racing cars create so much vacuum due to their aerodynamics that they can lift a manhole cover off the ground?

Did you know laughing causes an ease of stress? I've had this argument many times, when people get angry that I may laugh right in the middle of a fight and they think I'm being smug or a jerk, but I'm really not. Goosebumps, Freckles, and Cracking Joints: 13 Body Quirks Explained (via HPost)

GOP Senator Connected To Prostitution Ring Calls For Burris Resignation
Pot, Kettle anyone? Wait, the kettle isn't paying for sex. Nice to hear the pot complaining about ethical shortcomings. (note: It is David Vitter btw from Louisiana)

Women Drivers...ok well Woman Parker.

I do admit I'm not the best parallel parker in the world, but over 3 mins to park with such a small car. It is almost out of a TV hidden camera show to see how patient the other people would be.

all the benefits, but none of the commitment...we may want that from others, but will not offer it

Doll

"The word 'meaningful' when used today is nearly always meaningless." - Paul Johnson

I finished watching the first season of the Mentalist this weekend. So far I like it, but it is not a show I'd recommend as must see. I hear it is a lot like Pysch, but I've never seen that show and right now don't have plans to. I'm glad it was only in for a season. I also have the first 3 episodes of Trust Me tivoed (this is a word now), but haven't decided if I'm going to watch that one too.


Another show I checked out last week and followed up on this week was Dollhouse on FOX. I only watched it because Whedon put it together and I was a big fan of Firefly. I once dressed up as a Browncoat for Halloween. I was disappointed with the first episode, but I could see what they were doing, trying to make it more about the plot and not about a girl dressed up in sexy outfits. I guess that they have a lot of time for that in future episodes. I feel like I don't know how I'm going to feel about a show where people are high tech prostitutes who can also be trained to do other cool things. But heart of gold right? I'll give it a shot though because I have faith in him. Dushku has a jacked up face I think (think it is the eyes) , but yet is somewhat attractive nevertheless. Maybe she will grow on me. It feels like Bourne Identity meets Quantum Leap.

I Tivoed the Oscars while I watched the weekend's UFC fight. I then watched it late on Sunday night, fast forwarding the commercials and the boring awards. Well I'm an idiot, I forgot Oscars are notorious for running long, and I didn't add extra time at the end. So when I get to best actress, it ends. It is now very late, but this is the main part. I have to go online to see the acceptance speeches for Actress, Actor, and Best Picture. I'm kind of glad Rourke didn't win. He did great and had he won it would of been fine, but if this is really a come back, hey do it twice, I mean you just played yourself it seems. I heard that the guy who was selling drugs in that movie got busted for selling drugs, but that was word of mouth. I'm happy for Sean Penn, Milk was a good movie. To be honest about the Reader, I feel that the actress should of been nominated for supporting actress...I wonder how they decide that. Best Picture of course was a lock. 'Slumdog' triumphs at Oscars (via cnn) There is no excuse to not see Slumdog Millionaire. I didn't know that main character guy was dating the hot chick and she left her man for him. That is awesome, you know since I can't imagine him not falling for her during the filming. I know, I could be more descriptive, but it is early and there is a lot of good Oscar talk out on the interwebs filled with great detail. I liked KungFu Panda more than Wall*e. The Joker moment was touching I think. Oh and the Pineapple Express intro was so funny. Make me think of: Legalizing Marijuana More Popular Than GOP Leaders (via HuffPost) The Best Oscar Speech Ever "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto" -- Kunio Kato, winner of best animated short, said it (via TMZ) Thank you very much right? , but Mr. Roboto is just about the song right?

Good Ole Fox News: Barnes: When Bristol Palin Said That Abstinence ‘Is Not Realistic At All,’ She Meant That It ‘Actually Is Realistic’
As ThinkProgress has previously noted, abstinence-only education has proven to be completely unrealistic. Federal studies have found that abstinence-only sex education “does not keep teenagers from having sex. Neither does it increase or decrease the likelihood that if they do have sex, they will use a condom.”
In November 2007, 10 leading scientists in the field of adolescent sexual and reproductive health warned that abstinence-only education withholds “information that may be critical to protecting the health of young people.” This past April, health experts told Congress that abstinence-only education programs “have not cut teen pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases or delayed the age at which sex begins.” (via ThinkProgress)
Don't forget your purity ring. How has experience not taught us better by now? Abstinence and "abstinence only education" are not the same thing.

I'm starting to read Outliers by Malcolm Galdwell. So far I'm really impressed. It has made me rethink a lot of things. Parts remind me of that quote about George Bush, "he was born on third and thought he hit a triple." The whole idea behind birthdays and how they affect outcomes is pretty impressive. Also, the 10,000 hour rule I had heard before, but had completely forgotten. I must be a master of sleeping.

I need more blogs to follow. I wonder which of my facebook friends have blogs that I don't even know about.

I haven't talked too much politics in a while, but there are things that are really bothering me. I get that we are in a terrible recession and something BIG has to be done. This article got me thinking: Sanford Offers Unemployed South Carolina Resident ‘Prayers’ Instead Of Stimulus Funds
I can't believe these Republican governers. You know the talking point, Bush inherited a budget surplus and a strong economy, and he left us with a huge deficit, two wars, (I'll ignore the list of failures I've mentioned in the past), but he still gave us HUGE tax cuts for the rich. So the conservatives got what they wanted, they ran it their way for 8 years and ran our country into the ground. Hey, we kind of elected them right. So now, progressives has the power and need to just go all or nothing with their ideas. I mean if they really believe in their principles, forget about working out deals to placate the conservatives, just do your best to make the BEST plan and push it forward. If your plan fails, you fail and elections will take care of that. But why water down your plans with conservative ideas that haven't worked in exchange for a few Republican votes. There are some great conservative ideas, some progressives agree with, that is the point of picking the best ideas, but I would rather them fail by doing the right thing in a big way than fail bigger by trying to water down their ideas. They need to be strong and since they said they could run this country better, well then do it, and don't let Rush get in your way. Stop worrying about votes, if the country gets better, that is all that matters. - Make them filibuster! I want to see it.

why?