My version of speed is drinking a coffee really fast and using the resulting energy to be productive for about an hour or so. So, by that lame ass definition, I'll be getting completely hopped up on speed tonight to finish a report I've been working on.
If, by pure chance, I end up being strung out and addicted to the legal stimulant that is white chocolate mocha w/o whipped cream, you will be seeing a nonsensical rant of a post tomorrow or late tonight. Who knows, maybe it will be insightful, maybe it will be a video (because I'm lazy), or maybe it will be a complete waste of space.
In the best interest of time and energy, I'll let this post end short and go purchase my coffee/crack and go write a paper. I would like to add that the easiest tip for filling space in said paper is to explain the "basics" or essentials to understanding the topic. You may think that the basics are self explanatory, but it looks as if you have a greater understanding of the topic if you do so.
Long live coffee drinks at late hours, and I wish you all luck in finding your own personal completely legal speed.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
11.30.2009
11.29.2009
Your teacher's full of snot!
It's a Wonderful Life.
To explain the title, in the 90's animated show Rocko's Modern Life, they ended an episode with a young girl saying, "Daddy, teacher says, 'every time someone finds a gas cap, an angel gets it's wings.'" Her father replies with, "Your teacher's full of snot!"
Now obviously, Frank Capra's classic is high on many christmas movie lists. This one for me didn't enter the conversation until I was old enough to understand what was going on. Not only is this a good christmas movie, it's a great movie involving the depression and the stock market collapse in 1929.
It's not often people my age watch black and white films, let alone enjoy it, but I would put this movie in my top 10.
I give this one 5 drunken pharmacists out of 5. I highly recommend this one if you haven't seen it. And if you haven't... where have you been?
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
To explain the title, in the 90's animated show Rocko's Modern Life, they ended an episode with a young girl saying, "Daddy, teacher says, 'every time someone finds a gas cap, an angel gets it's wings.'" Her father replies with, "Your teacher's full of snot!"
Now obviously, Frank Capra's classic is high on many christmas movie lists. This one for me didn't enter the conversation until I was old enough to understand what was going on. Not only is this a good christmas movie, it's a great movie involving the depression and the stock market collapse in 1929.
It's not often people my age watch black and white films, let alone enjoy it, but I would put this movie in my top 10.
I give this one 5 drunken pharmacists out of 5. I highly recommend this one if you haven't seen it. And if you haven't... where have you been?
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Holiday Classic
..Jingle all the Way!
This week I'm reviewing my favorite holiday films. No particular order here, just mentioning some of the great ones.
Now of course Arnold is no oscar winning actor, but my god is this film hilarious. The fact that he beats up Sinbad (who wears a postal uniform the whole time) over an action figure in the mall of america really just warms the christmas spirit for me.
Favorite scene for me might be Jim Belushi and a warehouse full of santa claus impersonators laying the smackdown on Arnold while midget santas do somersalts to avoid the police raid.
I give it 7 bulging forehead veins out of 10.
Well check it out and have a good outrageously long "holiday season".
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
This week I'm reviewing my favorite holiday films. No particular order here, just mentioning some of the great ones.
Now of course Arnold is no oscar winning actor, but my god is this film hilarious. The fact that he beats up Sinbad (who wears a postal uniform the whole time) over an action figure in the mall of america really just warms the christmas spirit for me.
Favorite scene for me might be Jim Belushi and a warehouse full of santa claus impersonators laying the smackdown on Arnold while midget santas do somersalts to avoid the police raid.
I give it 7 bulging forehead veins out of 10.
Well check it out and have a good outrageously long "holiday season".
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
11.27.2009
Leftovers
Another thanksgiving, another day of re heated turkey and mashed potatos.
Leftovers in general are awesome. For me, and probably everyone else, cold pizza takes the cake. Cake is good too though. And chinese food.
Today it was sweet potatos, stuffing, turkey, mashed potatos, a biscuit, and of course gravy. Pumpkin pie to top it off.
Hope everyone had a good holiday and if you went shopping, let's hope it was after sunrise.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Leftovers in general are awesome. For me, and probably everyone else, cold pizza takes the cake. Cake is good too though. And chinese food.
Today it was sweet potatos, stuffing, turkey, mashed potatos, a biscuit, and of course gravy. Pumpkin pie to top it off.
Hope everyone had a good holiday and if you went shopping, let's hope it was after sunrise.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
11.26.2009
Thanksgiving
No post today, just wanted to say go eat food and have fun.
Oh yea and enjoy this video: NSFW and NSFgrandmas.
Oh yea and enjoy this video: NSFW and NSFgrandmas.
11.24.2009
A greater appreciation for concept albums.
I've written about music quite a lot on this blog, and tonight is no exception. Can you blame me? Music kicks ass.
Specifically I'd like to talk about concept albums. You may or may not know what that is so let me explain. A concept album is an album released by a single band or singer or musical act that entirely has one theme. It could be love, loss, celebration, fear, or any other combination of or one single emotion or thought provocation.
Some of the more popular concept albums were released over 30 years ago by Pink Floyd or The Beatles. This would suggest that the popularity and frequency of concept albums have declined since then, which is partially true, but I believe this was intentional for several reasons.
Today, concept albums aren't as obvious as previously produced. This may be because a lot of music produced in the last ten years is planned more with singles in mind and the rest as filler. A good album, in my opinion, is solid throughout, all songs on the album are great. It's a shame that this view has changed, but thankfully not all albums have strayed away.
An example? Well there are too many to name all. Given the vast number of genres out there (many of which I do not enjoy), it's hard to say who falls under the "good" and the "not so good" categories.
If I were to give any example, it would be in my narrow view of music. Transatlanticism by Death Cab for Cutie (released 2003) would be one example. This album may not be your preferred type of music, but it is mine.
One important thing that many albums need to stress is song transition. It is my belief that concept albums have nailed this trait pretty well. If you listen to Dark Side of the Moon from start to finish, you often don't know where one song ends, and another begins. So when listening to an album, like Transatlanticism or Dark Side of the Moon, I hear the transitions, and they're somewhat seamless. I'm almost positive any album Lady Gaga has released does not have this characteristic. This is what I mean by having a "greater appreciation" for concept albums.
I guess this all stems from the main purpose of music for me; being able to have background noise for mundane tasks; doing homework, driving, walking to class, sitting in a boring lecture, writing a proposal for research, etc. Sure all of these tasks are important, but not really entertaining. You may argue that not everything has to be entertaining and you'd be right, but the important thing to remember is what's the point of life if not to enjoy your time here?
So as not to move towards a too serious of a discussion, I'll leave with one thought. Music is a great background noise. It's a great foreground noise, but sometimes that's not feasible. Enjoy the things you have to do, and you'll have a greater appreciation for the things you want to enjoy.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Going Home
Got to talking with a good friend last night over hot wings, he had just gotten home this weekend from WVU. Eric was telling me that coming home for him is weird in that it's so different from everything in Morgantown, but it's exactly the same as he remembers it when he left. Sure the shopping centers have changed stores, there's a new restaurant next to Wal-Mart, and that intersection looks like it has new traffic lights, but it feels the same.
From what I gather of our discussion, it's like coming home to not only a place, but a memory of a feelings. You remember what that gas station smells like on the inside, you remember the glares on your windshield when you drive down the parkway at a particular time of day. It's the familiar things that make it home, not so much the locale.
Eric's story becomes even more interesting when he mentions that his family recently moved. So driving home for Thanksgiving, he has to use map-quest to find his house. An interesting twist to the story if you ask me. That familiarity is gone, yet everything else to him feels the same. A new bedroom, a new driveway, a new mailbox. Any of these things on their own is nothing but to have all of it, and a new address kind of brings it all to perspective.
Then I got to thinking of when myself and those my age begin shopping for a new home of their own. Already there are plenty people I know living in apartments but knowing that these residencies will last for only the next 18 months kind of cheapens that "home" image. I'm talking about after college. After med school and grad school. All of my friends will be buying furniture and paying electric bills. Their mail will be sent to their new permanent address in states far away from "home" and they may live the rest of their lives at that address.
Stuff like that interests me. Who knows where I'll be in 10 years. Will that be my last home or my 10th home? or Both?
From what I gather of our discussion, it's like coming home to not only a place, but a memory of a feelings. You remember what that gas station smells like on the inside, you remember the glares on your windshield when you drive down the parkway at a particular time of day. It's the familiar things that make it home, not so much the locale.
Eric's story becomes even more interesting when he mentions that his family recently moved. So driving home for Thanksgiving, he has to use map-quest to find his house. An interesting twist to the story if you ask me. That familiarity is gone, yet everything else to him feels the same. A new bedroom, a new driveway, a new mailbox. Any of these things on their own is nothing but to have all of it, and a new address kind of brings it all to perspective.
Then I got to thinking of when myself and those my age begin shopping for a new home of their own. Already there are plenty people I know living in apartments but knowing that these residencies will last for only the next 18 months kind of cheapens that "home" image. I'm talking about after college. After med school and grad school. All of my friends will be buying furniture and paying electric bills. Their mail will be sent to their new permanent address in states far away from "home" and they may live the rest of their lives at that address.
Stuff like that interests me. Who knows where I'll be in 10 years. Will that be my last home or my 10th home? or Both?
11.23.2009
Back to the Future
First, I must say it is one of my favorite movies. The whole series, not just the first or the third, I like all three together. I feel leaving even the third out cheapens the entire story arch, so the full thing is just great. But after a case of beverages and a really fun game of watching the movies later, we began wondering how the hell all of this is going on simultaneously. How many timelines are there in this thing? I've come up with a brief but precise image of what we may be dealing with here.
Now obviously we have a lot going on here at once, so let me attempt to explain.
Here, we have Einstein's trip to 2 minutes into the future. Soon after, Doc leaves Marty with the car and Marty goes to 30 years in the past while trying to escape Libyan terrorists. While there, he creates an alternate time line (the dashed line) and after fixing the events in the first movie, he travels back to 1985.
As Marty returns home, the 2015 Doc comes back to tell him that he has seen the future, and Marty's kids must be helped. It's at this time that Marty, Doc, and Jennifer go to 30 years into the future. While there, Biff takes the Delorean and goes 60 years in the past to help himself become rich. This creates an alternate timeline that Marty sees when he returns to Hill Valley, 1985. He realizes what he did when he talks to alternate rich 1985 Biff, and goes 30 more years back to the past in 1955. This time, he avoids running into himself and fixes the issue. While here unfortunately, 1985 Doc gets sent to 1885.
Now moments later, Marty is approached by a Western Union Man, who was told to give Marty a letter at that exact moment. The letter was from Doc, from the year 1885. Marty then takes the Delorean that was left in a cave since 1885 and meets with 1955 Doc to try and fix it. By the time Marty gets to 1885, he sees Doc has made a name for himself as a black smith, and by saving the school teacher, and pissing off Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen (or old west Biff, as I call him) has created an alternate timeline. By allowing the Delorean to be pushed by a train, Marty reaches 1985, as it should be.
Then Doc comes from nowhere and appears on the train tracks in a big ass train with a wife and two kids.
My god that's a lot of time warp mind-screwing going on.
Update from last week's post:
New addition to the E(x)hausted rule. Apparently, adding "d" to the end also adds to the amount of tiredness, as seen here.
Now obviously we have a lot going on here at once, so let me attempt to explain. Here, we have Einstein's trip to 2 minutes into the future. Soon after, Doc leaves Marty with the car and Marty goes to 30 years in the past while trying to escape Libyan terrorists. While there, he creates an alternate time line (the dashed line) and after fixing the events in the first movie, he travels back to 1985.
As Marty returns home, the 2015 Doc comes back to tell him that he has seen the future, and Marty's kids must be helped. It's at this time that Marty, Doc, and Jennifer go to 30 years into the future. While there, Biff takes the Delorean and goes 60 years in the past to help himself become rich. This creates an alternate timeline that Marty sees when he returns to Hill Valley, 1985. He realizes what he did when he talks to alternate rich 1985 Biff, and goes 30 more years back to the past in 1955. This time, he avoids running into himself and fixes the issue. While here unfortunately, 1985 Doc gets sent to 1885.
Now moments later, Marty is approached by a Western Union Man, who was told to give Marty a letter at that exact moment. The letter was from Doc, from the year 1885. Marty then takes the Delorean that was left in a cave since 1885 and meets with 1955 Doc to try and fix it. By the time Marty gets to 1885, he sees Doc has made a name for himself as a black smith, and by saving the school teacher, and pissing off Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen (or old west Biff, as I call him) has created an alternate timeline. By allowing the Delorean to be pushed by a train, Marty reaches 1985, as it should be.
Then Doc comes from nowhere and appears on the train tracks in a big ass train with a wife and two kids.
My god that's a lot of time warp mind-screwing going on.
Update from last week's post:
New addition to the E(x)hausted rule. Apparently, adding "d" to the end also adds to the amount of tiredness, as seen here.
11.22.2009
A Bit of Stephen & Hugh
I don't believe i've mentioned it here before, but an absolutely fantastic show that I've been catching up on in between boring and interesting lectures is this show from BBC in the 80's, A Bit of Fry & Laurie. Starring, of course, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie. It has great wit and a young Laurie that everyone now knows as Dr. Gregory House. This sketch comedy show was brilliantly written and quite enjoyable.
I came across this show from a Netflix suggestion close to 4 years ago, and I've enjoyed it ever since. Some of it is terribly dated and to Americans, culturally irrelevant. However most of it (80 % or more) is stunningly hilarious. I'd recommend checking it out. If you have time, a link to the series pilot is here. Be patient as it is a long load, but the video is worth the look.
I came across this show from a Netflix suggestion close to 4 years ago, and I've enjoyed it ever since. Some of it is terribly dated and to Americans, culturally irrelevant. However most of it (80 % or more) is stunningly hilarious. I'd recommend checking it out. If you have time, a link to the series pilot is here. Be patient as it is a long load, but the video is worth the look.
11.21.2009
exhausted
Does the amount of x's after the letter e in the word "exhausted" determine the degree at which you are tired? If that's the case I'd say I'm about two x's. not too tired, but certainly more than normal. After running the circle and watching Mason blow it in the last 15 seconds of our game today, I was kinda worn out. Then I saw this on facebook. 
I wonder what they did that made them tired. Or is she just misusing the x's?
I wonder what they did that made them tired. Or is she just misusing the x's?
11.20.2009
Snag a video camera on Black Friday
Two things I believe I "need" in this upcoming shopping season; a camera, and a video camera. Hopefully I can kill two birds with one stone, but I don't mind shelling out the big bucks for two pretty good items as opposed to one item that does a task really well and the other really poorly.
The problem here, apart from my lack of self control when it comes to a personal budget, is the fact that I have NEVER shopped on black friday. never. I don't know what it's like, I don't know the secrets, I'm completely unprepared. Maybe I should think about these things before throwing myself into the throngs of madness next week.
Another thing I should consider is what I'm going to end up getting. Maybe I should figure out which is more important to me and go ahead and get a really good camera or video camera, not both. I just don't want to have to fight tooth and nail with some wily grandma in target.
[EDIT] -- 3:00 am 11/20
I'm going to start defriending those who have anything relating to twilight in their facebook status for the next 24 hours.
The problem here, apart from my lack of self control when it comes to a personal budget, is the fact that I have NEVER shopped on black friday. never. I don't know what it's like, I don't know the secrets, I'm completely unprepared. Maybe I should think about these things before throwing myself into the throngs of madness next week.
Another thing I should consider is what I'm going to end up getting. Maybe I should figure out which is more important to me and go ahead and get a really good camera or video camera, not both. I just don't want to have to fight tooth and nail with some wily grandma in target.
[EDIT] -- 3:00 am 11/20
I'm going to start defriending those who have anything relating to twilight in their facebook status for the next 24 hours.
11.19.2009
Final Exam Schedule
I found out that my final exam schedule looks like this:
I've already asked my Marketing professor if I can take the exam on another day, even the week before if necessary. Hopefully I can get that changed, otherwise it will be the worst day of my life so far.
(click to enlarge)
I've already asked my Marketing professor if I can take the exam on another day, even the week before if necessary. Hopefully I can get that changed, otherwise it will be the worst day of my life so far.
11.18.2009
Funeral for an inanimate object.
Yesterday was a sad, silent day for me; I lost a dear inanimate object that I take with me everywhere. My headphones. Sometime between the end of my Business Communications lecture and walking past the adjoining apartment buildings in my complex, the headphones stopped playing the sounds of Ben Folds.
So let me take a moment of silence while I throw away my old friend and take a week off of listening to the music on my phone in the memory of a fallen soldier. I'll wait until next week to buy replacements in the bookstore.
So let me take a moment of silence while I throw away my old friend and take a week off of listening to the music on my phone in the memory of a fallen soldier. I'll wait until next week to buy replacements in the bookstore.
11.16.2009
George Lopez and Wanda Sykes
Why on earth has Fox and TBS given these two "celebrities" a second chance at a primetime TV show? I was listening to Pandora today (if you haven't tried it, I would highly recommend) when the Sound of George's voice filled my headphones. I clicked over to that tab to see a large ad featuring his smirking mug and plugging his new show on TBS. 
But why does he deserve another shot at a show? I mean, I personally never saw what was so funny about his first show. Did he sleep with a producer or something? Yea that was a bad image burned into my mind.. sorry about that one.
But what is worse? George Lopez, or the ever so POPULAR Wanda Sykes? Yea I am being sarcastic. I have yet to meet anyone that has ever thought she was funny. Yet here we see ads of her on TV!!
I think the best part about these ads is when she's seen kicking away the "Cleveland Show", or "Brothers" saying, "get your own ad!" How perfect, place ads for terrible shows within an ad for a terrible show. Fox is guilty of marketing towards anyone watching any of these three shows as 3 parts retarded, 1 part easily brainwashed, and 1 part horribly underdeveloped. I challenge you to attempt to watch any of these shows and tell me what you think.
I won't even give George Lopez (and when I hear that name in my head, I think of how Cartman prounced this name in this clip, see around 0:53.) the benefit of the doubt because TBS shows are typically not great and as Chris Griffin says, his show only furthers the stereotype that George Lopez is funny.
But why does he deserve another shot at a show? I mean, I personally never saw what was so funny about his first show. Did he sleep with a producer or something? Yea that was a bad image burned into my mind.. sorry about that one.
But what is worse? George Lopez, or the ever so POPULAR Wanda Sykes? Yea I am being sarcastic. I have yet to meet anyone that has ever thought she was funny. Yet here we see ads of her on TV!!
I think the best part about these ads is when she's seen kicking away the "Cleveland Show", or "Brothers" saying, "get your own ad!" How perfect, place ads for terrible shows within an ad for a terrible show. Fox is guilty of marketing towards anyone watching any of these three shows as 3 parts retarded, 1 part easily brainwashed, and 1 part horribly underdeveloped. I challenge you to attempt to watch any of these shows and tell me what you think.
I won't even give George Lopez (and when I hear that name in my head, I think of how Cartman prounced this name in this clip, see around 0:53.) the benefit of the doubt because TBS shows are typically not great and as Chris Griffin says, his show only furthers the stereotype that George Lopez is funny.
Dirty Dishes
Problem with living in an apartment with three other guys is that no one wants to do the dishes. I haven't been here in three days and the sink is full. I'm not doing them, but I really want to eat a bowl of cereal. Can't dirty up any of my dishes unless I expect to clean the kitchen!
Settle for toast and jelly/butter. Cheers for waking up before noon.
Settle for toast and jelly/butter. Cheers for waking up before noon.
11.15.2009
Overpriced candles and hand-warmers
Getting ready for cold weather with pine tree scented candles from Giant (way overpriced) and free hand warmers to go along with a heavy jacket. Now I'd love to enjoy these things, but It was 70 degrees out today! I enjoyed wearing shorts and shades, but It's the middle of November? What is going on?
Good day today for football, Eagles are getting thumped and the Cowboys are down 10 as I write this, and the 'skins played like they are actually aware of how to play this strange sport everyone is calling "football" and won for once. Not that it matters, I've expected very little out of this team over the last three weeks!
Mid term exams coming up, as well as the trimester break for my brother! JD comes home this week. Christmas tree shopping for the apartment next week, then Thanksgiving with the family!
See ya tomorrow.
Good day today for football, Eagles are getting thumped and the Cowboys are down 10 as I write this, and the 'skins played like they are actually aware of how to play this strange sport everyone is calling "football" and won for once. Not that it matters, I've expected very little out of this team over the last three weeks!
Mid term exams coming up, as well as the trimester break for my brother! JD comes home this week. Christmas tree shopping for the apartment next week, then Thanksgiving with the family!
See ya tomorrow.
11.14.2009
Thinking about a few DIY Projects
First, a RARE link to a pre 2009 post on this blog here. I'd like to actually follow through on this. So far so good; I have a long sleeve shirt with BAUGH 33 printed on the back and 33 on either sleeve, much like the jersey here. All I need now is the stripes on the shoulder. The best option would be to screen print it, but I don't know how to do it very well. The next option is to sew strips of burgundy fabric on to the shirt. Hopefully more details to follow; but in the mean time, I will continue to enjoy my Baugh jersey/shirt.
Next, we have this. No I don't want to build a basketball arena in Denver and diabolically name it the Coca Cola Center, but rather I'd like to paint the 8 foot by 4 foot piece of ply wood in my basement like the McNichols Arena from the mid 80's and use it as my beer pong table. The unfinished Home Depot slab of tree bark is a nice look, but it could use a little more paint. You might be asking, "why the mid 80's Denver Nuggets?" My answer to that would be a simple, "why the hell not?" It's one of the ugliest uniforms in the NBA (not the worst, by a long shot) and the most colorful in the past 20 years. The first project is much more likely to happen, but it's nice to think about.
Next, we have this. No I don't want to build a basketball arena in Denver and diabolically name it the Coca Cola Center, but rather I'd like to paint the 8 foot by 4 foot piece of ply wood in my basement like the McNichols Arena from the mid 80's and use it as my beer pong table. The unfinished Home Depot slab of tree bark is a nice look, but it could use a little more paint. You might be asking, "why the mid 80's Denver Nuggets?" My answer to that would be a simple, "why the hell not?" It's one of the ugliest uniforms in the NBA (not the worst, by a long shot) and the most colorful in the past 20 years. The first project is much more likely to happen, but it's nice to think about.
11.13.2009
11.12.2009
Another douche sitting in the back row
At the risk of sounding fashion focused, I have to mention a few things that I've noticed over the last few weeks
Leaving class, I found myself facing a different kind of douche sitting in the back row than I have previously described on this blog.
This time, it wasn't the pink wearing sweat banded sideways fashion capped frat boy douche, no no. This time it was the P-coat rocking vampire looking skinny black jeans with chucks and a knit cap douche.
It was like these three had a coke addicted love baby and their failed attempt to abort it left my Managerial Accounting classmate to sulk in the back of the room.
...It's not just me is it? I mean, I realize everyone has their own style but when given the option to choose said style, what made these people go that route?
Another thing I'd like to point out is the strikingly obvious similarities of 80% of the female student population's outfit this time of year.
Black north face
skinny jeans
big sunglasses
ugg boots
Again, when given the option to wear ANYTHING YOU WANT (we are all adults don't you know), these people choose to wear, on a daily basis, the same thing that every other girl is wearing on campus.
I'm not saying any of these looks, or ANY look for that matter is right or wrong, I'm merely stating that people need to find a sense of individuality. The problem with individuality though, is that you might end up looking like this fucking hipster.
Big thanks to Look at This Fucking Hipster for the images.
Leaving class, I found myself facing a different kind of douche sitting in the back row than I have previously described on this blog.
This time, it wasn't the pink wearing sweat banded sideways fashion capped frat boy douche, no no. This time it was the P-coat rocking vampire looking skinny black jeans with chucks and a knit cap douche.
It was like these three had a coke addicted love baby and their failed attempt to abort it left my Managerial Accounting classmate to sulk in the back of the room.
...It's not just me is it? I mean, I realize everyone has their own style but when given the option to choose said style, what made these people go that route?
Another thing I'd like to point out is the strikingly obvious similarities of 80% of the female student population's outfit this time of year.
Black north face
skinny jeans
big sunglasses
ugg boots
Again, when given the option to wear ANYTHING YOU WANT (we are all adults don't you know), these people choose to wear, on a daily basis, the same thing that every other girl is wearing on campus.
I'm not saying any of these looks, or ANY look for that matter is right or wrong, I'm merely stating that people need to find a sense of individuality. The problem with individuality though, is that you might end up looking like this fucking hipster.
Big thanks to Look at This Fucking Hipster for the images.
11.11.2009
11/11
Of course I HAVE to mention that today is 11/11. There's really no significance to it except for you're supposed to make a wish when the clock says 11:11.
I never make a wish, but I do think it's a little special to see the clock all one number like that.
I never make a wish, but I do think it's a little special to see the clock all one number like that.
11.10.2009
The Invisible Hook (continued)
Las we left you (Here)
So if you're interested in further discussion of Pirate Economics, here we go! If you are not interested in reading an economic discussion of pirates, I would skip this post. See you tomorrow!
Well that's all I wanted to say about the Invisible Hook. I hoped you enjoyed just a little bit of this. Please ask questions if you don't understand! I like to explain things so I would take great pleasure in talking to you if you're not sure about any of this or if you found it the least bit interesting.
So if you're interested in further discussion of Pirate Economics, here we go! If you are not interested in reading an economic discussion of pirates, I would skip this post. See you tomorrow!
Essentially, we can assume that everyone is self interested, and this self interest is subjective. To one completely selfish person, this would only include themselves and maybe one or two close relationships. To a more widely interested person, "self" interest would include themselves as well as their family and friends. This is a general assumption of economics.
Secondly, we can assume that all people act rationally in that they use the most efficient means to reach their ends or goals. Example being if I want to graduate with a degree in Marketing and a concentration in Economics, I will study Marketing and Economics. Third, incentives matter. People respond positively to incentives and negatively to disincentives or taxes.
So according to Peter Leeson in his text The Invisible Hook, pirates are not benefiting society by creating wealth like a rational human being would, but rather they are siphoning off existing wealth to benefit themselves and their Piratical society.
This society can exist only if people cooperate. Obvious obstacles to cooperation among crew members become apparent, such as the fact that they are pirates and therefore criminals. They have no property rights and they are incredibly violent. So, to offset these obstacles (amongst other things) they devise a set of rules or a "code."
So given the above assumptions, and given the piratical society was (and it was, this isn't theoretical) efficient, why would you choose to be a pirate? Because it is more profitable than the alternatives.
Let's look at the alternatives: a Merchant Ship was, at the time, the alternative to pirating. It was a legal use of the skills required to do both pirating and being a sailor. The problems with merchant shipping we're weighed against the costs of becoming a pirate for people at the time like people would weigh the problems with being a banker against the costs of becoming a bank robber. Sure one is much more beneficial, but it is a lot harder to do and get away with. The costs are hard to except for a rational person.
Other problems, from an economic standpoint, would be the hierarchy arrangement of a merchant ship. An absentee owner owns the ship, but a captain runs it. This disconnect created an incentive for the captain to shirk his responsibilities and slack off. Owners attempted to correct this problem by giving captains equity or stock in the ship and it's earnings. Kind of like commission based salary.
However the relationship between the captain and the crew would be strained much like the captain and owner relationship. In this situation, much like above, the crew would have an incentive to shirk their duties and slack off. To solve this, the captain is given higher authority. This absolute authority would lead to captain predation, or an abuse of power. Naturally, the captain abuses his powers and treats his sailors like crap because he can. He can keep more wealth for himself as well as keep rations and other benefits for himself. This led to conflict which ultimately means that this system of a Merchant Ship is flawed.
This power abuse brings up Madison's Paradox. James Madison wrote that a power strong enough to protect is a strong power. A strong power is strong enough to predate, or hurt, what it is protecting. The solution to this problem was realized by pirates long before the founding fathers amended the US Constitution that we all hold so dear today. The solution is constrained power. They devised a constitutional democracy that, at the time, was more liberal than our first constitution. By having a separation of powers, unanimous consent by members, and credible commitment and constraint on captains, pirates could successfully live amongst each other.
First, we have separation of powers. In pirate society, there are Captains and Quarter Masters. Captain decisions were restricted to battle decisions. Quarter Masters were trusted with the decisions to divide booty and rations for crew members, as well as acting as a human resources manager, only with a gun and a violent attitude. This separation of powers is much like the system of checks and balances we have now where there are three branches of government.
So, Peter Leeson writes that there were three keys to pirate success. First, pirates wanted to prevent conflict. Why? Because conflict was costly for everyone involved. How they prevented this was their constitution, their unanimous consent to rules, and most importantly, the fact that people could voluntarily enter or leave the piratical society. They did this because of "Tiebout competition". This states that there is competition within rules. If you have two conflicted ideas of governance, the "better" set of rules wins out. Naturally, people gravitate towards the place with the best rules. People preferred pirating to merchant shipping partly because of the rules of the pirate society versus the latter.
The second key to success was that pirates wanted to prevent negative externalities. A negative externality is a situation in which the private cost of an action does not outweigh the social costs of an action. An example would be pollution, the costs for me to dump oil into a lake is very little, but the costs for that action to the fisherman and the environmental committee are higher even though they had nothing to do with the action. So, on a pirate ship; drinking, fighting, having women on board, being loud, and smoking are all negative externalities. All of these actions may be very low cost for one person, but ultimately it is a high cost for the entire ship. All of them result to conflict within the crew which, in turn, result in bad voodoo for everyone, even if you aren't involved with the original action.
The third and final key to success is that Pirates could provide public goods when you could not do so on the market. A public good is a good that is non-rival and non-excludable in consumption. Non-rival means that one person using the goods does not reduce another persons use of the goods, like knowledge or national defense or listening to the radio. Non-excludable means you can't produce a good and keep other people from getting it, like air, listening to music or again national defense. So providing these goods in a market would produce a "free-rider" problem leading again to mutual gains from cooperation.
A few examples of public goods on a pirate ship would be the overall cleanliness of a ship, and having workman's comp. Also, to deter the "free-rider" problem, pirates implemented the policy that if you are caught free-riding, you get killed or left for dead.
The final point of discussion I'll go into here is how pirates used the Jolly Roger as a signal. The Jolly Roger, for those of you who don't know, is the pirate flag. It's many variations I will mention below.
So in using the Jolly Roger, pirates we're attempting to signal two things. One, they needed to approach their prey without the merchants knowing pirates were coming their way. Pirates would signal good intentions by raising a merchant flag (not the jolly roger), hiding their cannons, and by sailing slowly toward the vessel of choice.
Second, they needed to attack the merchant ship. The goal than becomes to minimize the costs (conflict) while maximizing profit (the booty). To do this, they raise the Jolly Roger. Now you may ask that just raising a flag is pretty easy to imitate. However, there was a separating equilibrium for flying the Jolly Roger. If any ship was found with the flag on board, the punishment was death by hanging. So obviously, if you had the balls to fly the flag, you had the balls to be a pirate and would probably hurt the merchants if it came to it.
The different variations of flags is how pirates differentiated between being weak and strong. Some pirate crews may have been too nice or too aggressive. The best pirates were the ones that struck a good balance between those, as the outcomes for being too nice or aggressive was that merchant ships would fight back. So, one crew would fly this flag and merchant ships would no how to react, as opposed to seeing this flag and pissing their pants. This is an early way of branding. One flag would be the coke brand and another the pepsi brand. Kinda cool huh?
Well that's all I wanted to say about the Invisible Hook. I hoped you enjoyed just a little bit of this. Please ask questions if you don't understand! I like to explain things so I would take great pleasure in talking to you if you're not sure about any of this or if you found it the least bit interesting.
11.09.2009
Potato Chips
I love snack foods. Gold fish, cheese balls, really anything to snack on. I even have a box of raisins in my bedroom for midnight snacking.
Most of all, I like potato chips. There are several types and varieties to speak of:
Potato Chips
Flavored Potato Chips
Cheese Curls/Balls
Corn Chips
Now the best kinds of chips, in my opinion, are the kinds that dip. Immediately you can erase flavored and cheese from this conversation. As much as I like Salt and Vinegar (so good) and Crab Chips, they can't be dipped. Too thin and it wouldn't go with anything. Cheese curls and balls don't dip well because of their density and, like flavored chips, don't match well with many dips.
But Potato Chips.. It depends on the brand and the density. Ruffles for one make FANTASTIC dipping chips. Just look at sour cream and onion dip. It's like it was made for ruffles. I have it every sunday in the fall, the perfect football snack food in my book. However the regular Lays potato chips, they don't work so well in this category.
Corn chips however are the king of the dipping world. You have tortilla chips which are salsa and queso compatible and you have Fritos that are also perfect for that sour cream and onion dip that I drool over.
Of course any conversation with Chips must include a mention of the dipping rules. There really are only two.
1) You do not double dip in a communal bowl. No exceptions. Break the chip into smaller pieces if you have to before dipping it in to begin with.
2) No cross dipping. If you have Salsa in one bowl and Sour Cream and Onion in another bowl, don't dip one chip into both bowls before eating. Again, this only applies to communal bowls. Not everyone wants your weird flavor combo.
If I was absolutely forced to come up with a perfect snack food for me? One that I had to eat if a gun was put to my head... It would undoubtedly be Lays Salt and Vinegar (not Utz, they pack too much air in their bags) with a Cherry Coke. Healthy option? Cottege Cheese and fruit. Yea I'd rather have the chips too.
Most of all, I like potato chips. There are several types and varieties to speak of:
Potato Chips
Flavored Potato Chips
Cheese Curls/Balls
Corn Chips
Now the best kinds of chips, in my opinion, are the kinds that dip. Immediately you can erase flavored and cheese from this conversation. As much as I like Salt and Vinegar (so good) and Crab Chips, they can't be dipped. Too thin and it wouldn't go with anything. Cheese curls and balls don't dip well because of their density and, like flavored chips, don't match well with many dips.
But Potato Chips.. It depends on the brand and the density. Ruffles for one make FANTASTIC dipping chips. Just look at sour cream and onion dip. It's like it was made for ruffles. I have it every sunday in the fall, the perfect football snack food in my book. However the regular Lays potato chips, they don't work so well in this category.
Corn chips however are the king of the dipping world. You have tortilla chips which are salsa and queso compatible and you have Fritos that are also perfect for that sour cream and onion dip that I drool over.
Of course any conversation with Chips must include a mention of the dipping rules. There really are only two.
1) You do not double dip in a communal bowl. No exceptions. Break the chip into smaller pieces if you have to before dipping it in to begin with.
2) No cross dipping. If you have Salsa in one bowl and Sour Cream and Onion in another bowl, don't dip one chip into both bowls before eating. Again, this only applies to communal bowls. Not everyone wants your weird flavor combo.
If I was absolutely forced to come up with a perfect snack food for me? One that I had to eat if a gun was put to my head... It would undoubtedly be Lays Salt and Vinegar (not Utz, they pack too much air in their bags) with a Cherry Coke. Healthy option? Cottege Cheese and fruit. Yea I'd rather have the chips too.
11.08.2009
The Box
The Box
Sigh...
Well I didn't realize the story took place in 1976 Richmond, VA. So that's cool...
But let me start by saying that this movie was based off a short story called "Button, Button" which was later made into a Twilight Zone Episode.
That being said, this movie ran about an hour and 55 minutes. Now if you try and make a short story into a feature length film, you run into a few problems.
First, you need to expand the story to fill the time. Usually, this can be a good opportunity to learn more about the characters and the back story. Also, you can become repetitive with development, as in showing the same basic concept over and over again. This may have been an attempt to drive the point home, but it becomes a farce after seeing it occur.
Now if you wish to see this movie, don't read the blocked spoiler section below. All I can tell you without spoilers is that it's a waste of $10.25 and I feel it's a sad experience when the audience breaks out into a fit of giggling during a serious scene AND it's opening weekend and their were literally (I COUNTED) 10 people in the 300 person auditorium.
SPOILER
END SPOILER
I've left the funniest parts out, so I'd recommend you see it only if you expect to make fun of it. No it's not scary, nothing jumps out at you or anything. It's a Sci Fi film that really could have been kept as an obscure Twilight Zone episode.
Good luck!
Sigh...
Well I didn't realize the story took place in 1976 Richmond, VA. So that's cool...
But let me start by saying that this movie was based off a short story called "Button, Button" which was later made into a Twilight Zone Episode.
That being said, this movie ran about an hour and 55 minutes. Now if you try and make a short story into a feature length film, you run into a few problems.
First, you need to expand the story to fill the time. Usually, this can be a good opportunity to learn more about the characters and the back story. Also, you can become repetitive with development, as in showing the same basic concept over and over again. This may have been an attempt to drive the point home, but it becomes a farce after seeing it occur.
Now if you wish to see this movie, don't read the blocked spoiler section below. All I can tell you without spoilers is that it's a waste of $10.25 and I feel it's a sad experience when the audience breaks out into a fit of giggling during a serious scene AND it's opening weekend and their were literally (I COUNTED) 10 people in the 300 person auditorium.
SPOILER
When faced with the opportunity from a fucking burn victim to have $1,000,000.00 and kill somebody, or $100 and nothing happens, which would you do? Take the damn $100 bill and walk away. Don't ever trust a stranger with the opportunity to kill somebody. Duh.
Now, if you DO push the button, what do you do? Well you were given a briefcase with cash and told that the next person will be a complete stranger to you, and you might be the next victim. Hmm... What do you do... Well for one, get on a god damn plane and get the hell out of Richmond, VA !!! You don't just sit around and wait for weird shit to happen!
and Why the fuck is it always about Aliens? Every god damn time that something "unknown" happens in movies these days, it's because it's fucking aliens. Why can't it be just a psycho? Why? I found myself asking "why" throughout this movie. and Now I ask "why" I even went in the first place.
At the end, the family is faced with a decision. Their son is stricken deaf and blind (why? I don't know. They never really say why). To save him, they have two options. The husband can shoot his wife in the heart, the kid gets his vision and hearing back, and they get the million when the son turns 18 (about 7 years from now) after it has gained interest in the bank. Option two, they don't shoot the wife, and the son stays deaf and blind and they keep the million. Why wouldn't you go with option two??
The film's main theme is a moral question, do you sacrifice personal gain for the greater good, or do you sacrifice the greater good for the personal gain? It works, but probably 1000 times better as a SHORT story. This film was so ridiculous that I already have a really good idea of how to turn into a drinking game.
END SPOILER
I've left the funniest parts out, so I'd recommend you see it only if you expect to make fun of it. No it's not scary, nothing jumps out at you or anything. It's a Sci Fi film that really could have been kept as an obscure Twilight Zone episode.
Good luck!
11.07.2009
In Friday's "Express"
The amount of dissent in this town is astounding to me. There are mixed messages from people within the organization and mostly negative reaction to the team from the outside.
"Dear Dan Snyder,
We would like to thank you for completely destroying our football team.
Happy Holidays!
Duffy's Irish Pub"
OH Danny boy...
11.06.2009
After School
It's weird to imagine it, but I, like my classmates and friends, are on the verge of graduating college. I've got a little over a year left. I registered for classes yesterday morning, and as I looked over the piece of notebook paper that lists my remaining courses, I got nervous of how close it all is. I'm down to my last fifteen classes. Three semesters left, or if I get complacent, three and one summer class.
You know when I was growing up, and my parent's ever said "back when i was in college" I always thought of being so old. The pictures in the yearbooks were these adults with futures, that and black and white photos with bad clothes, worse hairdos, and quotes about the bicentennial and the end of disco. But I don't see that today.
Today, I see a bunch of kids walking around campus. I kinda see myself from an outer perspective having these adult conversations with professors and I wonder who the hell that is and what happened to that kid with the bowl cut and braces that couldn't run hurdles for shit at Parkside Middle. What happened to borrowing Mom's car to go out and riding bikes around the neighborhood with my cousins and JD? What happened to playing "guns" JD?
I'm looking forward to growing up. Everyday someone in this apartment will say, "I can't wait to graduate and get out of this place!" For me, I'm stuck. Growing up means moving on and accepting that I can't claim ignorance, as much as it may be true.
So here's to the next 18 months. Because after that, well I won't be any different. I'll just have a piece of paper saying that I'm not irresponsible.
(It's all a lie)
You know when I was growing up, and my parent's ever said "back when i was in college" I always thought of being so old. The pictures in the yearbooks were these adults with futures, that and black and white photos with bad clothes, worse hairdos, and quotes about the bicentennial and the end of disco. But I don't see that today.
Today, I see a bunch of kids walking around campus. I kinda see myself from an outer perspective having these adult conversations with professors and I wonder who the hell that is and what happened to that kid with the bowl cut and braces that couldn't run hurdles for shit at Parkside Middle. What happened to borrowing Mom's car to go out and riding bikes around the neighborhood with my cousins and JD? What happened to playing "guns" JD?
I'm looking forward to growing up. Everyday someone in this apartment will say, "I can't wait to graduate and get out of this place!" For me, I'm stuck. Growing up means moving on and accepting that I can't claim ignorance, as much as it may be true.
So here's to the next 18 months. Because after that, well I won't be any different. I'll just have a piece of paper saying that I'm not irresponsible.
(It's all a lie)
11.05.2009
Strange Idea for a Terrible Super Hero
Ok so this guy has the power to aim his finger nail clippings when he trims his finger nails.
I know, it's genius.
The drawbacks are obvious, it wouldn't be able to do any actual damage to the foe, and on top of that, he runs out of ammo after about 10 clicks of the clipper.
Needless to say, I hope no one steals this idea out from under my feet, Kevin Smith has already contacted me regarding the rights to finger nail clipper man (the name is a work in progress, I thought of The Nailer but it was shot down). A movie deal is in the works. It's gonna be huge.
Also note the updated playlist, Highly recommended as always.
I know, it's genius.
The drawbacks are obvious, it wouldn't be able to do any actual damage to the foe, and on top of that, he runs out of ammo after about 10 clicks of the clipper.
Needless to say, I hope no one steals this idea out from under my feet, Kevin Smith has already contacted me regarding the rights to finger nail clipper man (the name is a work in progress, I thought of The Nailer but it was shot down). A movie deal is in the works. It's gonna be huge.
Also note the updated playlist, Highly recommended as always.
11.04.2009
After Movie Weirdness
I've talked about this with someone before, years ago I guess it was, but I really don't know if we're alone in this thought. You ever watched a movie and then feel emotionally different afterward? I'm trying to explain this as well as possible, but it's proving difficult.
Hypothetical situation, you see a movie and within that movie there is a character written so that the audience empathizes with them. Have you ever, after watching the movie and feeling this empathy, been unable to knock yourself out of that mood for some amount of time? I'm kind of in that state now. It's hard to describe, kind of like a different personality or mood but at the same time you're just feeling different.
I don't know, maybe I'm just not articulating it well. A good example of this is when I was young, say around 7 or 8, I saw a movie and the main character had a learning disability. Now I'm not saying I felt like I had a learning disability, but I certainly felt "ill" for some time after the movie. Another example is seeing a movie that you can describe as "bad ass" and all you want to do after is get in a fight or break something. It's a strange sensation and I'm sure I'm not alone.
Well tomorrow I have registration for classes, I'm looking forward to it as I've just recently declared a minor to go along with my Marketing Degree. Economics. Let's hope all the classes I want are still available!
Hypothetical situation, you see a movie and within that movie there is a character written so that the audience empathizes with them. Have you ever, after watching the movie and feeling this empathy, been unable to knock yourself out of that mood for some amount of time? I'm kind of in that state now. It's hard to describe, kind of like a different personality or mood but at the same time you're just feeling different.
I don't know, maybe I'm just not articulating it well. A good example of this is when I was young, say around 7 or 8, I saw a movie and the main character had a learning disability. Now I'm not saying I felt like I had a learning disability, but I certainly felt "ill" for some time after the movie. Another example is seeing a movie that you can describe as "bad ass" and all you want to do after is get in a fight or break something. It's a strange sensation and I'm sure I'm not alone.
Well tomorrow I have registration for classes, I'm looking forward to it as I've just recently declared a minor to go along with my Marketing Degree. Economics. Let's hope all the classes I want are still available!
11.03.2009
People who don't know what they're talking about.
By no means am I an expert at ANYTHING. There are few things that I can confidently say I'm really good at. By definition; an expert is someone with a high degree of skill or knowledge in a particular subject. So maybe I can say I'm an expert of bullshitting, but in reality, that is a stretch.
Last night a friend and I we're at the bar on campus, The Rat, and I overheard the bartender talking to some of the guys down the way. Given the Phils and Yanks we're on simultaneous to the Saints and Falcons, the conversation was sports. Lately, the main topic of discussion in the Washington D.C. area is how sucky the Redskins organization is. This particular conversation ranged from the quality of players on the roster, as well as the flaws in the team and with salary caps.
Now, obviously there's no "right" or "wrong" opinion, even on this matter. But when his opinion is, "If there we're no salary cap, they should just buy everyone. That's what they did the last time they won the Super Bowl."
First, my thoughts on this are pretty simple, and hopefully you can agree with me, but the ideas that he stated are flawed. If there is no salary cap, any team can buy any player ON FREE AGENCY. If every player we're available on free agency, then every team would be bidding on these players and inevitably, the market would be flooded with overplayed employees OR collusion by teams to underpay the players. There is no possible way any one team could conceivably "buy" all good players on the market, as no team would be able to afford this inflation.
Second, if you can believe that a team would be able to afford this, than you must face the obstacle of having a roster limited to 53 active players as well as 8 players on the practice squad. With this as well as various rules each team must follow concerning what type of players each team must have (offense, defense, and special teams) there is NO possible way that ANY team can even consider buying up all the "good" players. This is the beauty of the rules the NFL has set up.
And the final part of this guy's argument I'd like to pick apart is his belief that the Redskins did this in the early 90's when they won the Super Bowl. No they didn't. It's as simple as that. They had some old ass players on their team as well as some younger guys that they had to settle for. At this time of the NFL history, they're we're a lot of new rules that restricted how a team could pay for and acquire players. Not going to get into it here, but this guy was wrong.
So, without getting into what the team is doing today with their current roster and management, I will end it here.
In closing, to all the bartenders at student run bars in universities around the country, shut your mouth unless you know what you're talking about. I welcome discussions about this stuff, I'm really interested in this stuff and I'd love to hear what other people have to say about it, but if you just don't know anything, don't talk about it. This is part of the reason that I rarely discuss politics; I don't know enough to hold up my end of the discussion.
Have a good Tuesday!
Last night a friend and I we're at the bar on campus, The Rat, and I overheard the bartender talking to some of the guys down the way. Given the Phils and Yanks we're on simultaneous to the Saints and Falcons, the conversation was sports. Lately, the main topic of discussion in the Washington D.C. area is how sucky the Redskins organization is. This particular conversation ranged from the quality of players on the roster, as well as the flaws in the team and with salary caps.
Now, obviously there's no "right" or "wrong" opinion, even on this matter. But when his opinion is, "If there we're no salary cap, they should just buy everyone. That's what they did the last time they won the Super Bowl."
First, my thoughts on this are pretty simple, and hopefully you can agree with me, but the ideas that he stated are flawed. If there is no salary cap, any team can buy any player ON FREE AGENCY. If every player we're available on free agency, then every team would be bidding on these players and inevitably, the market would be flooded with overplayed employees OR collusion by teams to underpay the players. There is no possible way any one team could conceivably "buy" all good players on the market, as no team would be able to afford this inflation.
Second, if you can believe that a team would be able to afford this, than you must face the obstacle of having a roster limited to 53 active players as well as 8 players on the practice squad. With this as well as various rules each team must follow concerning what type of players each team must have (offense, defense, and special teams) there is NO possible way that ANY team can even consider buying up all the "good" players. This is the beauty of the rules the NFL has set up.
And the final part of this guy's argument I'd like to pick apart is his belief that the Redskins did this in the early 90's when they won the Super Bowl. No they didn't. It's as simple as that. They had some old ass players on their team as well as some younger guys that they had to settle for. At this time of the NFL history, they're we're a lot of new rules that restricted how a team could pay for and acquire players. Not going to get into it here, but this guy was wrong.
So, without getting into what the team is doing today with their current roster and management, I will end it here.
In closing, to all the bartenders at student run bars in universities around the country, shut your mouth unless you know what you're talking about. I welcome discussions about this stuff, I'm really interested in this stuff and I'd love to hear what other people have to say about it, but if you just don't know anything, don't talk about it. This is part of the reason that I rarely discuss politics; I don't know enough to hold up my end of the discussion.
Have a good Tuesday!
11.02.2009
Mushy Talk
I have a friend who has been dating the same girl since high school. Whenever he's on the phone with her, he adopts this voice. The only way I can describe it is "mushy" or "whiny". I mean, I don't understand why he does it. Granted, it's obviously worked for him so far, he's still dating her. But it's weird.
For me, I've always just talked for the conversation. If I enjoy talking to this person, then I don't need to change how I normally talk.
This is an actual conversation: "Hey. Aw what's wrong? Aw... do you want me to come home? Aw... oook... You want me to buy you a hamburger? Aw..." I just don't get how anyone can listen to that let alone say it to somebody else.
I'm not perfect, but I could definitely not do that.
For me, I've always just talked for the conversation. If I enjoy talking to this person, then I don't need to change how I normally talk.
This is an actual conversation: "Hey. Aw what's wrong? Aw... do you want me to come home? Aw... oook... You want me to buy you a hamburger? Aw..." I just don't get how anyone can listen to that let alone say it to somebody else.
I'm not perfect, but I could definitely not do that.
11.01.2009
Ten down, two to go.
Well it's been ten months since I started this shin dig. Only 61 more days in 2009!
Glad you guys have stayed with me this long, I'm sure they're aren't a whole lot of you out there, but it is appreciated!
Not to disappoint, I'll try and continue my month long streak of consistent posting.
I'll see you tomorrow!
Also, this video is from Douglas, because everyone loves turtles. Happy day after Halloween!
Glad you guys have stayed with me this long, I'm sure they're aren't a whole lot of you out there, but it is appreciated!
Not to disappoint, I'll try and continue my month long streak of consistent posting.
I'll see you tomorrow!
Also, this video is from Douglas, because everyone loves turtles. Happy day after Halloween!
10.30.2009
Scream
I had this sinking feeling that I may have written about this before, but after a quick (but not thorough) use of the search bar to your right, I found nothing. Regardless! It is halloween! It is the time to watch your favorite scary movie! I, unfortunately, do not have the greatest success when it comes to being perfectly calm after a scary movie. Some people, like myself, start hearing bumps and creaks in the floor boards or start to see tricks in the light out of the corner of the eyes. No matter, I resolve to watch my favorite movie.
But which movie?! What genre? You could go with the classic Horror, with one of your basic slasher killers like Michael Myers or Jason Vorhees and his mother. How bout Freddy? You could go way back and see a classic such as Dracula and Frankenstein! There are so many to choose from as our fantastic blogger and film director James Rolfe has pointed out over on his site www.cinemassacre.com for the past three Octobers. Or, you could go with the psycho thriller. One of those weird supernatural flicks that keeps bending reality. Those freak me out. Grudge got to me pretty easily. Or, how bout the many Zombie movies out there? New or old, they tend to be pretty good.
Personally, I'm kind of a smart ass. I like to think that humor is a good way to calm the nerves, and what better joke then to pico on the thing that's trying to scare you! Try watching the grudge, it's scary right? What if they kids weren't creepy looking, but actually looked, acted, and sounded like Jim Carrey in the Mask. Now that's pretty stupid, but it definitely takes the scare out of it.
I like movies that know they're a movie. That's why I like the Scream trilogy. They whole time I watch it, I think about how the cop (Arquette) and the reporter (Cox) end up getting married in real life, and how Cotton actually is a bad guy in the end. We've all seen it, we all thought one way or another about it, I just happen to like it a lot.
Any good movie series stops after three. Sometimes they shouldn't make a second one at all, but this one needed to continue. Sure, like any, they kinda fall off the edge at the end but the beauty of it is that they all know that it's gonna be a surprise ending. The fact that all of the surviving actors returned time and time again made it a great series. Kinda sad that matthew lillard died in the first one, but I'll always think of him as shaggy anyway.
My one major beef with this series is the first ten minutes of the first movie. Without a doubt, it's a great scene. I mean who doesn't want to see Drew Barrymore running away in slow motion. My problem is the fact that she's on the cover! She dies before the main character is even introduced! Really? We see this again in scream 2 with jada pinkett, and I just don't get it. They had to have done it for marketing purposes, I'm sure at the time Barrymore was at the height of her popularity and she sold a few tickets. How would you have liked to have been suckered into that movie strictly because you found out Barrymore was a headliner. I would have been pissed to see her go so early! Then again it is pretty funny!
Anyway, Happy Halloween to everybody and if you're driving, be careful. There are kids out there and you need to be going slow. I'll hopefully be able to catch a moment to watch some of this series, but I might not get to it. The beauty of scary movies on DVD is that you can always watch them in the afternoon on November 1st...
..when it's light out.
But which movie?! What genre? You could go with the classic Horror, with one of your basic slasher killers like Michael Myers or Jason Vorhees and his mother. How bout Freddy? You could go way back and see a classic such as Dracula and Frankenstein! There are so many to choose from as our fantastic blogger and film director James Rolfe has pointed out over on his site www.cinemassacre.com for the past three Octobers. Or, you could go with the psycho thriller. One of those weird supernatural flicks that keeps bending reality. Those freak me out. Grudge got to me pretty easily. Or, how bout the many Zombie movies out there? New or old, they tend to be pretty good.
Personally, I'm kind of a smart ass. I like to think that humor is a good way to calm the nerves, and what better joke then to pico on the thing that's trying to scare you! Try watching the grudge, it's scary right? What if they kids weren't creepy looking, but actually looked, acted, and sounded like Jim Carrey in the Mask. Now that's pretty stupid, but it definitely takes the scare out of it.
I like movies that know they're a movie. That's why I like the Scream trilogy. They whole time I watch it, I think about how the cop (Arquette) and the reporter (Cox) end up getting married in real life, and how Cotton actually is a bad guy in the end. We've all seen it, we all thought one way or another about it, I just happen to like it a lot.
Any good movie series stops after three. Sometimes they shouldn't make a second one at all, but this one needed to continue. Sure, like any, they kinda fall off the edge at the end but the beauty of it is that they all know that it's gonna be a surprise ending. The fact that all of the surviving actors returned time and time again made it a great series. Kinda sad that matthew lillard died in the first one, but I'll always think of him as shaggy anyway.
My one major beef with this series is the first ten minutes of the first movie. Without a doubt, it's a great scene. I mean who doesn't want to see Drew Barrymore running away in slow motion. My problem is the fact that she's on the cover! She dies before the main character is even introduced! Really? We see this again in scream 2 with jada pinkett, and I just don't get it. They had to have done it for marketing purposes, I'm sure at the time Barrymore was at the height of her popularity and she sold a few tickets. How would you have liked to have been suckered into that movie strictly because you found out Barrymore was a headliner. I would have been pissed to see her go so early! Then again it is pretty funny!
Anyway, Happy Halloween to everybody and if you're driving, be careful. There are kids out there and you need to be going slow. I'll hopefully be able to catch a moment to watch some of this series, but I might not get to it. The beauty of scary movies on DVD is that you can always watch them in the afternoon on November 1st...
..when it's light out.
The Invisible Hook
The Invisible Hand is the theory of economics that explains the driving forces that people have that allows them to make decisions. As Adam Smith put it in his 1776 tome An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, in seeking to satisfy our own self interests, we're led, "as if by an invisible hand," to serve other's interests too. By this logic, the breadmaker cannot sew his coat and manufacture his car, so by seeking to satisfy those needs, he produces high quality and low cost bread to sell and be able to purchase a coat or a car. He indirectly has served the milk maid and sheriff by selling his goods to them, as they seek high quality low cost bread.
All of this you learn in your basic economics course, however today I'd like to mention what I'm learning in my current economics course, the economics of Piracy. What drives pirates to do what they do? Economics. Low costs and high benefits is what they seek, but they cannot meet their pirate ends without cooperating with other pirates. I'll hopefully talk about this again when I've learned more on the topic, I was just so excited about it from day one that I thought I'd share!
All of this you learn in your basic economics course, however today I'd like to mention what I'm learning in my current economics course, the economics of Piracy. What drives pirates to do what they do? Economics. Low costs and high benefits is what they seek, but they cannot meet their pirate ends without cooperating with other pirates. I'll hopefully talk about this again when I've learned more on the topic, I was just so excited about it from day one that I thought I'd share!
10.29.2009
My never ending struggle... with applesauce jars.
Tuesday night, or Wednesday morning, around 1:30 am.
"Hey August, I need to get something off my chest. I have this problem that has really just confused me for many years."
"What is it?"
"It's this jar, it's not anti-gravitational right? I mean, the makers of this jar knew that the contents in this jar would be subject to gravitational pull."
"Yea, I guess."
"Well do you see how they have the bottom designed, a wide circle, you know so they can fit a lot of applesauce in there?"
Confused, "...Yes."
"THEN WHY THE F**K WOULD THEY MAKE THE HOLE AT THE TOP SMALLER! It doesn't make any damn sense! I can't fit my hand in there, you can't fit your hand in there, only an infant could squeeze their palm in there and not get apple all over their knuckles. This is bull shit! "
"Hey August, I need to get something off my chest. I have this problem that has really just confused me for many years."
"What is it?"
"It's this jar, it's not anti-gravitational right? I mean, the makers of this jar knew that the contents in this jar would be subject to gravitational pull."
"Yea, I guess."
"Well do you see how they have the bottom designed, a wide circle, you know so they can fit a lot of applesauce in there?"
Confused, "...Yes."
"THEN WHY THE F**K WOULD THEY MAKE THE HOLE AT THE TOP SMALLER! It doesn't make any damn sense! I can't fit my hand in there, you can't fit your hand in there, only an infant could squeeze their palm in there and not get apple all over their knuckles. This is bull shit! "
10.28.2009
Probability of going to class
My tuesday class schedule is my busiest day of the week, but by no means is it "busy" by any standard. I just don't happen to have any early classes like I have had in the past.
To start the day, I met with a group about a project we're doing for a business class. We scheduled it before class so we wouldn't have to miss anything. That class; SOM (Business Communications) 301, starts at 1:30 pm which lets out at 2:45. That class yesterday was cancelled at the last minute according to a member of our group.
The busy part comes about beginning at 4:30 and ending at 10:00 pm. Two classes, both of which are 2 hours and 40 minutes a piece.
The second class is Business Statistics, and usually I don't go, but we've been having random "quizzes" (he takes attendance for a quiz grade) at the end of classes so I thought I'd join in and get that free A.
So the first hour passed pretty quickly, I had my homework for this class due Thursday, so I thought I'd knock it out of the way. Then I had nothing to do. I sat and just listened to music. Bored. I decided to put the methods learned in class to practice and developed the statistical probability that I would go to class next week. Using weighted averages and a standard formula I did what I could to try and figure out mathematically if I'll actually go to this complete waste of time.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm a decent student. I say it's a "complete waste of time" because this class has two parts. 1) a 2 hour 40 min lecture with a professor who spends 30 minutes lecturing on material, 30 minutes practicing material, and an hour and 40 minutes telling "cute" anecdotes about the material at hand. All of this is spread evenly so one problem takes roughly 40 minutes that includes a combination of all three "items" on his agenda; talking about the material, doing the material, and talking about nothing. and part 2) an hour recitation where we practice the material learned and turn the homework.
Let me ask you which is more time efficient. Which would you skip? I thought so.
The probability I came up with last night was obviously not mathematically sound as their is extreme bias in the situation and I don't know what will happen between now and next Tuesday evening that would make me want to change my mind. The point is I spent the time in class doing fuzzy math for fun when I could've spent that time doing less fuzzy math (let's call it coarse) out of complete boredom. And I'd like to note we did not have a quiz, I could have left.
To start the day, I met with a group about a project we're doing for a business class. We scheduled it before class so we wouldn't have to miss anything. That class; SOM (Business Communications) 301, starts at 1:30 pm which lets out at 2:45. That class yesterday was cancelled at the last minute according to a member of our group.
The busy part comes about beginning at 4:30 and ending at 10:00 pm. Two classes, both of which are 2 hours and 40 minutes a piece.
The second class is Business Statistics, and usually I don't go, but we've been having random "quizzes" (he takes attendance for a quiz grade) at the end of classes so I thought I'd join in and get that free A.
So the first hour passed pretty quickly, I had my homework for this class due Thursday, so I thought I'd knock it out of the way. Then I had nothing to do. I sat and just listened to music. Bored. I decided to put the methods learned in class to practice and developed the statistical probability that I would go to class next week. Using weighted averages and a standard formula I did what I could to try and figure out mathematically if I'll actually go to this complete waste of time.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm a decent student. I say it's a "complete waste of time" because this class has two parts. 1) a 2 hour 40 min lecture with a professor who spends 30 minutes lecturing on material, 30 minutes practicing material, and an hour and 40 minutes telling "cute" anecdotes about the material at hand. All of this is spread evenly so one problem takes roughly 40 minutes that includes a combination of all three "items" on his agenda; talking about the material, doing the material, and talking about nothing. and part 2) an hour recitation where we practice the material learned and turn the homework.
Let me ask you which is more time efficient. Which would you skip? I thought so.
The probability I came up with last night was obviously not mathematically sound as their is extreme bias in the situation and I don't know what will happen between now and next Tuesday evening that would make me want to change my mind. The point is I spent the time in class doing fuzzy math for fun when I could've spent that time doing less fuzzy math (let's call it coarse) out of complete boredom. And I'd like to note we did not have a quiz, I could have left.
10.27.2009
Thoughts of the Day 10/27
I don't own a bike, yet I own two "Bike to Mason Day" T-shirts, given out to people who ride their bicycles to school on that particular day. Pooling equilibrium at it's finest.
I never thought I'd discuss the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 with my Dad and his wife, but last night I did. I feel mature yet nerdy at the same time.
Who would have guessed that doing a required research experiment for your marketing class would get you a phone number and a potential date. I certainly didn't see it coming.
I have a deep appreciation for anyone who can play their instrument of choice like this after hearing it on my iPod shuffle today. bravo.
Breakfast is definitely the most important meal of the day, except when you wake up at noon on a Monday and you live at school. That's when Lunch becomes the most important meal of the day. That and last nights dinner at 2 am.
As it turns out, borrowing stuff from girls in the next apartment is also a good possibility of getting a phone number and a potential date.
Driving home last night I saw a sign on rt. 123 that said, "Deer Breeding Season" and I thought, "shouldn't that be 'Deer Mating Season'? It's not like there's a deer breeder on that road or anything and he's got them going on deer races.." Is that just me?
This year I've used my discount coffee card at the Campus run coffee house more than i've used my student I.D.
I never thought I'd discuss the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 with my Dad and his wife, but last night I did. I feel mature yet nerdy at the same time.
Who would have guessed that doing a required research experiment for your marketing class would get you a phone number and a potential date. I certainly didn't see it coming.
I have a deep appreciation for anyone who can play their instrument of choice like this after hearing it on my iPod shuffle today. bravo.
Breakfast is definitely the most important meal of the day, except when you wake up at noon on a Monday and you live at school. That's when Lunch becomes the most important meal of the day. That and last nights dinner at 2 am.
As it turns out, borrowing stuff from girls in the next apartment is also a good possibility of getting a phone number and a potential date.
Driving home last night I saw a sign on rt. 123 that said, "Deer Breeding Season" and I thought, "shouldn't that be 'Deer Mating Season'? It's not like there's a deer breeder on that road or anything and he's got them going on deer races.." Is that just me?
This year I've used my discount coffee card at the Campus run coffee house more than i've used my student I.D.
10.26.2009
That time of year... House!
For the past three years I've watched the entire series of House. This year marks the fourth year! and let me tell you, it takes much more time now than it did back in the fall/winter of '06.
I don't know what it is but I always enjoy watching this show when it's cold out and I feel it's much more beneficial to stay indoors. I've really liked laying in a warm toasty apartment (or in the last three years, a random dorm room/my house senior year of high school) doing homework while a familiar episode of House plays in front of me.
Sadly, this year I will have to suffer through season 5, not the best year by House standards, but I definitely look forward to every one of the season finales. My personal favorite is this one from season 2. If I were to pick a favorite episode though... Three Stories, hands down.
and as an unrelated poke: if you're struggling with ideas for a second or third blog, how bout one about movies music or tv shows? sure it's not original, but what you enjoy seeing and hearing is unique to you and your perspective on it is certainly different than ours. See, people do read your blog.
I don't know what it is but I always enjoy watching this show when it's cold out and I feel it's much more beneficial to stay indoors. I've really liked laying in a warm toasty apartment (or in the last three years, a random dorm room/my house senior year of high school) doing homework while a familiar episode of House plays in front of me.
Sadly, this year I will have to suffer through season 5, not the best year by House standards, but I definitely look forward to every one of the season finales. My personal favorite is this one from season 2. If I were to pick a favorite episode though... Three Stories, hands down.
and as an unrelated poke: if you're struggling with ideas for a second or third blog, how bout one about movies music or tv shows? sure it's not original, but what you enjoy seeing and hearing is unique to you and your perspective on it is certainly different than ours. See, people do read your blog.
10.25.2009
Future kids
Do you think, in the future, kids will hate on us "old people" because we had it so much better? I've often wondered if it would have been more fun being born in 1970, close to 20 years before my birth. So who knows what the kids will be like when I'm 40 in 2029.
Will the technology be massively improved or have we hit a plateau?
What about politically, will there be a war waging heavily on our country? Others?
What fads will be revisited as cool from today's culture?
I think that everything is cyclical and adjusts to the environment in some way; so how will the 20 years from now until 2029 affect that year's ideals? Shit will I still be here? I won't think about that side of it, but it's a thought for sure.
I'll leave on a thought that's been gnawing my brain for some time: If someone offered to tell you what your future held, would you want to hear it? I think I'd say no. What's the fun in life if there's no surprise?
Sorry for the late post today, this month has been great with timeliness, but I slacked off! Only 5 days to go til November, it's been a fast year!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Will the technology be massively improved or have we hit a plateau?
What about politically, will there be a war waging heavily on our country? Others?
What fads will be revisited as cool from today's culture?
I think that everything is cyclical and adjusts to the environment in some way; so how will the 20 years from now until 2029 affect that year's ideals? Shit will I still be here? I won't think about that side of it, but it's a thought for sure.
I'll leave on a thought that's been gnawing my brain for some time: If someone offered to tell you what your future held, would you want to hear it? I think I'd say no. What's the fun in life if there's no surprise?
Sorry for the late post today, this month has been great with timeliness, but I slacked off! Only 5 days to go til November, it's been a fast year!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
10.24.2009
The Cereal Bowl
Yesterday, August, Zoe and I drove up to this place in Newark called The Cereal Bowl. It's pretty awesome. You combine as many as four cereals in one bowl with a whole bunch of different toppings. I ended up eating a bowl that had Life, Golden grahams, and cinnamon toast crunch, with strawberries on top.
I also had another bowl that had cocoa puffs, golden grahams, marshmellows, and bits of graham cracker. This place sounds like a kids dream, and let me tell you; it was F**king awesome. I made my own box and took it home. this one has fruit loops, fruity pebbles and trix in it.
This place is a chain with only two locations. The one we went to was the closest, the other being in Miami. We spoke with the owner and he was telling us the new location being built in DC is almost done. That's gonna be amazing.
My hat goes off to Anthony of the Newark Delaware Cereal Bowl, you were a great host and you sure know how to make a kick ass bowl of cereal.
On a side note, to all the people at the University of Delaware, i'm jealous that you not only have a cereal bowl, but you have a LITTLE CAESARS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
bastards.
I also had another bowl that had cocoa puffs, golden grahams, marshmellows, and bits of graham cracker. This place sounds like a kids dream, and let me tell you; it was F**king awesome. I made my own box and took it home. this one has fruit loops, fruity pebbles and trix in it.
This place is a chain with only two locations. The one we went to was the closest, the other being in Miami. We spoke with the owner and he was telling us the new location being built in DC is almost done. That's gonna be amazing.
My hat goes off to Anthony of the Newark Delaware Cereal Bowl, you were a great host and you sure know how to make a kick ass bowl of cereal.
On a side note, to all the people at the University of Delaware, i'm jealous that you not only have a cereal bowl, but you have a LITTLE CAESARS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET.
bastards.
10.23.2009
Gourmet McDonald's
All the fatty foods and non of the squished paper wrappers. I'd like to see it. I imagine it'd be set somewhere in New York or Chicago, some major city in the U.S. so it can be enjoyed to it's full potential. I also dream that they sell the McRibb and the Shamrock Shake year round. What a place that would be..
I've neglected a McDonalds for going on two years at this point, but if so
mething like this were to pop up, I'd give it a shot.
There'd be one of these things when you walk in, of course wearing a maitre d's outfit. I haven't decided on whether it'd be better if it was a plastic look-a-like or a full on guy wearing this get up and being the actual host.
It would be open from 6 am to midnight, and of course would serve breakfast. Outstanding. Who's with me. Franchise opportunities are available.
10.22.2009
Evil Twin = Mustache
Why is that?
Every evil twin in film and television has had facial hair. or a lack of facial hair if the hero already sports a beard. What does facial hair have to do with being evil? A lot of great people sported a mustache.
Hulk Hogan, Albert Einstein, Magnum PI... hell even Ned Flanders sported a stache. Why the discrimination? My dad has a goatee for god sakes and he's a teddy bear.
10.21.2009
Pencils
I personally perfer a mechanical pencil. The problem with these bastards is that they always seem to break. I happen to have had the good fortune of using these things since I started writing my name with out someone telling me how to spell it, so I'm able to fix them.
I like pens, they're reliable, but they just don't get it done in my opinion. To quote a cliche, pencils have erasers because man is not perfect. So why would I want to constantly write with something that is unable to fix said mistakes?
Wooden pencils with graphite are the original. They were around way back in the day and they're still used widely now. I actually went two semesters using only 8 wooden pencils and i made it through alive. But i hate them. They never stay sharp, so I had to keep a pencil sharpener in my bag, so that got full of partial pencil shavings... pain in the ass. And the erasers seem to disappear faster than free liquor at an AA meeting. I can never seem to keep an eraser on those things and when I try to put one of those pink erasers on the end, it ends up falling off somewhere along the line and then I'm screwed.
I just stick with mechanicals. sure they break or get jameed, but the eraser is always there and I never have to worry about it getting dull.
I like pens, they're reliable, but they just don't get it done in my opinion. To quote a cliche, pencils have erasers because man is not perfect. So why would I want to constantly write with something that is unable to fix said mistakes?
Wooden pencils with graphite are the original. They were around way back in the day and they're still used widely now. I actually went two semesters using only 8 wooden pencils and i made it through alive. But i hate them. They never stay sharp, so I had to keep a pencil sharpener in my bag, so that got full of partial pencil shavings... pain in the ass. And the erasers seem to disappear faster than free liquor at an AA meeting. I can never seem to keep an eraser on those things and when I try to put one of those pink erasers on the end, it ends up falling off somewhere along the line and then I'm screwed.
I just stick with mechanicals. sure they break or get jameed, but the eraser is always there and I never have to worry about it getting dull.
10.20.2009
Bugs the shit out of me: perforated edges
You know what really bugs the shit out of me? Perforated edges. Specifically, those damn spiral notebooks that have what can only be described as an "attempt" at perforations. You ever tried ripping one of these SOBs cleanly out of the notebook AND succeeded? I think not.
These edges are cut so weakly that you're better off bringing a pair of scissors with you wherever you go.
Here's a scenario; you're in class and the professor asks you to take out a piece of paper. You look at those stupid dots on the left side of the notebook and say to yourself, "why did I buy this instead of a three ring binder.." You inevitably rip the whole sheet out and now you're stuck with tons of little paper things all over the place. I find these stupid clips of paper in pockets when I'm doing laundry a week later and I get pissed off again.
To this I say, "no more!" I will never again buy these god forsaken things again.
And that is what really bugs the shit out of me.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
These edges are cut so weakly that you're better off bringing a pair of scissors with you wherever you go.
Here's a scenario; you're in class and the professor asks you to take out a piece of paper. You look at those stupid dots on the left side of the notebook and say to yourself, "why did I buy this instead of a three ring binder.." You inevitably rip the whole sheet out and now you're stuck with tons of little paper things all over the place. I find these stupid clips of paper in pockets when I'm doing laundry a week later and I get pissed off again.
To this I say, "no more!" I will never again buy these god forsaken things again.
And that is what really bugs the shit out of me.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
10.18.2009
Avoiding the rant and focusing on New Texts..
Rather than spewing out hate speak like all other "fans" at this point in the timeline, I choose to sit back and smile as all changes inevitably occur in the Washington sports scene. I smile, not because I contently welcome said changes, but rather to show disengagement from the situation so as to avoid getting hit in the face with a handful of monkey shit. I'm speaking, of course, about the recent goings on with the Redskins and all that mumbo jumbo. But as I said, I'm not going to discuss it because I choose not to do it through this medium.
So moving on.
Two new books arrived in the mail, along with a package from the McConnell Residence. Thank you sir.
Book one, The Birth of the New NFL How the 1966 NFL/AFL Merger Transformed Pro Football By Larry Felser promises to be a pretty interesting read; and, judging by the first 6 pages I managed to tackle upon opening the envelope it arrived in, it will be.
Book two, Glory for Sale Fans, Dollars and the New NFL By Jon Morgan focuses on the current expansions and moves (Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Carolina, and possibly LA). This one is really about the money and the motivation behind moves, such as where the populations lie and where the cash is flowing that could motivate a professional sports team to move. [As a uni note, it should be recognized that the image of Ray Lewis is from his rookie year, and that helmet has the original Baltimore Ravens shield logo that was removed after this lawsuit]
Pretty good stuff! Best part about both of these books is that they were published 1997 or newer, meaning I won't have to hear of talks of future occurrences and be frustrated because it turned out differently. All this, plus the Playing Hardball I mentioned previously should make for a busy fall!
On a side note, check out my Tumblr page for some pictures I've been uploading. Nothing too fun, it's more for my purposes but you may get a kick out of it.
So moving on.
Two new books arrived in the mail, along with a package from the McConnell Residence. Thank you sir.
Book one, The Birth of the New NFL How the 1966 NFL/AFL Merger Transformed Pro Football By Larry Felser promises to be a pretty interesting read; and, judging by the first 6 pages I managed to tackle upon opening the envelope it arrived in, it will be.
Book two, Glory for Sale Fans, Dollars and the New NFL By Jon Morgan focuses on the current expansions and moves (Baltimore, Cleveland, Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Carolina, and possibly LA). This one is really about the money and the motivation behind moves, such as where the populations lie and where the cash is flowing that could motivate a professional sports team to move. [As a uni note, it should be recognized that the image of Ray Lewis is from his rookie year, and that helmet has the original Baltimore Ravens shield logo that was removed after this lawsuit]
Pretty good stuff! Best part about both of these books is that they were published 1997 or newer, meaning I won't have to hear of talks of future occurrences and be frustrated because it turned out differently. All this, plus the Playing Hardball I mentioned previously should make for a busy fall!
On a side note, check out my Tumblr page for some pictures I've been uploading. Nothing too fun, it's more for my purposes but you may get a kick out of it.
Dear Sister
I had to post this after my cousin showed it to me. That and I've had this stupid song stuck in my head ever since!
10.17.2009
Delores
Thought about it, and I thinks about time my car has a name. Delores was meant to be.
I got Delores four new tires last weekend, and soon she'll be getting a new radio.
My question is why is it always a chicks name? I guess it would be kinda gay to name a big machine that you sit inside of everyday after a dude.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
I got Delores four new tires last weekend, and soon she'll be getting a new radio.
My question is why is it always a chicks name? I guess it would be kinda gay to name a big machine that you sit inside of everyday after a dude.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
10.16.2009
Flying Squirrels
squirrelsbaseball.com
So i looked it up, and here is some really interesting history of flying squirrels in Richmond Virginia.
Fascinating.
So i looked it up, and here is some really interesting history of flying squirrels in Richmond Virginia.
Fascinating.
10.15.2009
Textbooks and their damn hipness
My Marketing text book this semester cost me about $80. That's not what I'm writing about today, but I just wanted to point out that it is ridiculous.
What I DO want to say is that textbooks are attempting to be "hip" and it's pissing me off.
Ch 1. Google, Youtube, Facebook, and you.
That's directly from my book.
I'm not lying, here's the first page:
A picture of a spongebob video on youtube.
Why does my text book think that peddling to people who use youtube, google, and facebook will work? Because it will.
Sadly, this Marketing textbook is one of the better ones I've read, and trust me, I've read some Marketing textbooks. I may not like the hiptitude of Grewal and Levy and their personalized M&M's but it sure does work.
I like to think that everyone has their own free will and can stop themselves from being "won over" by manipulation in Marketing, but unfortunately I'm not one of those people. Maybe you aren't either. I don't know. But when I watched a commercial for kit-kat bars on Monday, I went out and and made a trip specifically for a kit-kat bar and then came home. Slave that I am.. but i enjoyed my kit-kat bar and I'll continue to enjoy my hip ass marketing book. ...as long as I end up with an A.
What I DO want to say is that textbooks are attempting to be "hip" and it's pissing me off.
Ch 1. Google, Youtube, Facebook, and you.
That's directly from my book.
I'm not lying, here's the first page:
A picture of a spongebob video on youtube.
Why does my text book think that peddling to people who use youtube, google, and facebook will work? Because it will.
Sadly, this Marketing textbook is one of the better ones I've read, and trust me, I've read some Marketing textbooks. I may not like the hiptitude of Grewal and Levy and their personalized M&M's but it sure does work.
I like to think that everyone has their own free will and can stop themselves from being "won over" by manipulation in Marketing, but unfortunately I'm not one of those people. Maybe you aren't either. I don't know. But when I watched a commercial for kit-kat bars on Monday, I went out and and made a trip specifically for a kit-kat bar and then came home. Slave that I am.. but i enjoyed my kit-kat bar and I'll continue to enjoy my hip ass marketing book. ...as long as I end up with an A.
10.14.2009
Music Mad Libs
When a _____ loves a _____
.......noun...........noun
Can't keep _____ mind on ________
..........pronoun..........noun
He'd _______ the _______
......verb.........noun
For the _________ thing he's found
........adjective
If _______ is ________, he can't ____ it
...noun #2...adjective...........verb
______ can do no _______
pronoun..........adverb
And ______ his ______ on his _________
....verb........noun...........noun
If _______ puts _______ down
...pronoun......pronoun
I came up with;
When a Tree loves a Bacon
Can't keep this mind on crack
He'd smell the fish
For the ugly thing he's found
If Bacon is rotten, he can't taste it
It can do no timely
And Run his Mouth on his sleeve
If Bacon puts Tree down
.......noun...........noun
Can't keep _____ mind on ________
..........pronoun..........noun
He'd _______ the _______
......verb.........noun
For the _________ thing he's found
........adjective
If _______ is ________, he can't ____ it
...noun #2...adjective...........verb
______ can do no _______
pronoun..........adverb
And ______ his ______ on his _________
....verb........noun...........noun
If _______ puts _______ down
...pronoun......pronoun
I came up with;
When a Tree loves a Bacon
Can't keep this mind on crack
He'd smell the fish
For the ugly thing he's found
If Bacon is rotten, he can't taste it
It can do no timely
And Run his Mouth on his sleeve
If Bacon puts Tree down
10.13.2009
Abe Lincoln, frat boy?
I looked it up, and apparently Abraham Lincoln did not attend school, but educated himself. I wonder, had Abe Lincoln gone to college, would he be a frat boy douche?
First, let us define Frat Boy. There. Now that you're back from that, imagine Abe being "that guy" at a party.
McKendree University being the only possible school in his state at the time, would have been his school of choice. So going back to our definition, Honest Abe would ever so douchingly be wearing a purple bobcat visor with multiple popped collars and a smug grin on his face.
He served in the state government of Illinois after he undoubtedly won the job over a more qualified guy because he was in the same frat as the current governor. And that whole "President" thing was just a joke he played on his brothers who owned slaves in South Carolina.
I'll leave you with an image of our 16th president that I found in the archives of Illinois, taken approximately in 1829.
I'm totally kidding, I have no problem with frat boys.
First, let us define Frat Boy. There. Now that you're back from that, imagine Abe being "that guy" at a party.
McKendree University being the only possible school in his state at the time, would have been his school of choice. So going back to our definition, Honest Abe would ever so douchingly be wearing a purple bobcat visor with multiple popped collars and a smug grin on his face.
He served in the state government of Illinois after he undoubtedly won the job over a more qualified guy because he was in the same frat as the current governor. And that whole "President" thing was just a joke he played on his brothers who owned slaves in South Carolina.
I'll leave you with an image of our 16th president that I found in the archives of Illinois, taken approximately in 1829.
I'm totally kidding, I have no problem with frat boys.
10.12.2009
OK ...Never Write About That Again
[EDIT] Discovered myself on Comedy Central's Twitter Page
That would explain the heavy traffic. Who knew I'd make it there! Haha
[END EDIT]
Due to me writing about S#cret G____friend, my blog was bombarded by hits on Friday/Saturday. No doubt by weirdos but still, it was. One person was particularly interested in the show yet shared his comment with such negativity. His comment is here.
...To that I say;
It's a comedy show put on at 10:30 at night on Comedy Central. It aired directly after a cartoon where a dead Michael Jackson dressed up as a little girl (in a little boy's body) and won a pretty princess pageant. Are you really commenting on the production value and acting prose of this show?
Need I point out that this comment came at 2:00 in the morning. Why was this guying searching "Secret Girlfriend" or something of the like at 2:00 in the morning? Was he so disappointed he didn't find rude material on my site that he'd comment? poor guy.
In other news, hope everyone had a great weekend.
Make sure you check out Uni Watch for full coverage on possibly Best or Worst Uniforms (i'm not sure which they would be) of the decade.
That would explain the heavy traffic. Who knew I'd make it there! Haha
[END EDIT]
Due to me writing about S#cret G____friend, my blog was bombarded by hits on Friday/Saturday. No doubt by weirdos but still, it was. One person was particularly interested in the show yet shared his comment with such negativity. His comment is here.
...To that I say;
It's a comedy show put on at 10:30 at night on Comedy Central. It aired directly after a cartoon where a dead Michael Jackson dressed up as a little girl (in a little boy's body) and won a pretty princess pageant. Are you really commenting on the production value and acting prose of this show?
Need I point out that this comment came at 2:00 in the morning. Why was this guying searching "Secret Girlfriend" or something of the like at 2:00 in the morning? Was he so disappointed he didn't find rude material on my site that he'd comment? poor guy.
In other news, hope everyone had a great weekend.
Make sure you check out Uni Watch for full coverage on possibly Best or Worst Uniforms (i'm not sure which they would be) of the decade.
10.11.2009
Trouble in Richmond
I've noticed a strange similie occuring recently. This thing from the North East region is being moved down south to a town in Virginia. It's being mocked recently for being a bad joke. What am I talking about?
This or This?
Anyone else notice that? Or was it just me.
This or This?
Anyone else notice that? Or was it just me.
10.10.2009
Off-Brand Cereal
Who the hell decided that Kellogs and Post were so great? When did General Mills get so high and mighty? I'd like to see him in his private first class days. I bet he had no friends.
I buy the off-brand cereal from Giant.
Does that make me a bad person? No. I remember when they came in the Big Bags at the bottom of the aisle. My mom used to buy these and put them in a plastic container. Who needs boxes with little bags in them! I'm sorry i've just always been a believer in what makes the most sense, and buying the off-brand seems to make way more sense to me.
It's not just cereal too, I buy off-brand OJ, off-brand peanut butter and jelly, It all tastes the same anyway. If anything, it tastes better cause I know I saved a dime or two from buying the name-brand stuff. Think about that the next time you're faced with buying the right stuff.
I buy the off-brand cereal from Giant.
Does that make me a bad person? No. I remember when they came in the Big Bags at the bottom of the aisle. My mom used to buy these and put them in a plastic container. Who needs boxes with little bags in them! I'm sorry i've just always been a believer in what makes the most sense, and buying the off-brand seems to make way more sense to me. It's not just cereal too, I buy off-brand OJ, off-brand peanut butter and jelly, It all tastes the same anyway. If anything, it tastes better cause I know I saved a dime or two from buying the name-brand stuff. Think about that the next time you're faced with buying the right stuff.
10.09.2009
Secret girlfriend
New show on comedy central after South Park. I’m going to be honest with you, I thought it was gonna be stupid. I gave it a shot because I already had the TV on and I already had a cold frosty breverage in my hand, so why not enjoy or make fun of the show?
I gotta say, it was hilarious and interesting. The concept of the show is “you” (the viewer) is the main character. The side characters all look to the camera at you throughout the story. It makes for a more engaging experience, and it makes the show very watchable. It’s comical how this show seems to be written purely for the purpose of boosting the male viewer’s self esteem.
This show was probably written by guys, and definitely (I spelt def right!) for guys because every single female presence in the show is drop dead hot, and unrealistically cool. I mean it’s funny how ridiculous the scenarios are and the people in them are enjoyable but really? No 605’s? I mean I’m not complaining, but still.
If it wasn’t on after South Park, I probably wouldn’t have watched it. I’m glad I’ll did because I’ll probably tune in again next week.
I gotta say, it was hilarious and interesting. The concept of the show is “you” (the viewer) is the main character. The side characters all look to the camera at you throughout the story. It makes for a more engaging experience, and it makes the show very watchable. It’s comical how this show seems to be written purely for the purpose of boosting the male viewer’s self esteem.
This show was probably written by guys, and definitely (I spelt def right!) for guys because every single female presence in the show is drop dead hot, and unrealistically cool. I mean it’s funny how ridiculous the scenarios are and the people in them are enjoyable but really? No 605’s? I mean I’m not complaining, but still.
If it wasn’t on after South Park, I probably wouldn’t have watched it. I’m glad I’ll did because I’ll probably tune in again next week.
10.08.2009
Moneyball
Moneyball by Michael LewisGreat read. I can't stress that enough. If you even remotely like baseball, it's worth a look. I personally put it at 2nd or 3rd on my favorite sports list, and this book still kept me reading it for and hour or so at a time (as opposed to the average 15 minutes I spend reading a day).
Billy Beane is the General Manager for the Oakland A's Baseball Club in the Early 2000's. He has different methods than other GM's in the league, and he's not ashamed to use them to his advantage. The tag line, "How to win an unfair game" speaks the truth as 
Billy manipulates the "traditional" stylings of how to run a team and proves that poor teams can win in Major League Sports.
Billy manipulates the "traditional" stylings of how to run a team and proves that poor teams can win in Major League Sports. Quick Thanks to Doug for providing this book for me, as I now I have to go out and purchase my own copy for my collection. And to think, I could have spent that time playing video games or some stupid activity.
Up next on the book docket is Playing Hardball by David Whitford. Should be great!
10.07.2009
Busy Next Few Days
First; notice the new Search Bar at the top. Type any querie and it will comb through all my entries and show you what comes up. It's long overdue and I hope you have fun with it!
Well I have an exam on Thursday and an exam next Tuesday. Last night I had to write a presentation on something I don't care about for a class I have to take because of my Major, even though it is not related. I had to email my Marketing Group information on our Project that we are scrambling to finish in time and put together my schedule for things that need to get done to make sure the project is completed on time.
Today I have one class (Accounting at 1:30), but I need to take care of HW for that class (due next Monday) and study for that class, for which the exam is next Saturday. After class today, I need to study up for a Business Writing Meeting I have at 4:30 and come up with ideas for THAT group project (due three weeks from now as well). Afterwards, I'll need to finish the Homework for my Statistics Class, and then write a persuasive letter for my Business Writing Class (separate from the meeting) due Thursday at Noon.
Thursday (at noon) I'll have to present my speech and turn in my letter. After class, I'll need to go over my material for Statistics (the exam starts at 7) and begin studying for my Econ exam (Tuesday at 4). After my Exam ends, I head back home and try and get some reading (Econ) done for next week.
Friday I'm headed over to pick up my cousin Kenny (so pumped!) to head up to Erie and stay with my brother for the weekend. I won't get back until Sunday and I will surely miss the 'Skins game. I'm ok with missing it, as the entire season so far has been worth missing, but rest assured I will be wearing my Baugh '33' Jersey on the ride back from PA.
Sunday Night and Monday is all about studying for Econ and Accounting and possibly catching up on my blog here. Who knows.
Good luck to you all in your endeavors, I'm sure some of my readers have exams coming up as well. It's tough on all of us!
I need to get going for now, but I'll be posting as consistently as possible on here. I've done pretty darn well this month and I plan to keep it that way.
Well I have an exam on Thursday and an exam next Tuesday. Last night I had to write a presentation on something I don't care about for a class I have to take because of my Major, even though it is not related. I had to email my Marketing Group information on our Project that we are scrambling to finish in time and put together my schedule for things that need to get done to make sure the project is completed on time.
Today I have one class (Accounting at 1:30), but I need to take care of HW for that class (due next Monday) and study for that class, for which the exam is next Saturday. After class today, I need to study up for a Business Writing Meeting I have at 4:30 and come up with ideas for THAT group project (due three weeks from now as well). Afterwards, I'll need to finish the Homework for my Statistics Class, and then write a persuasive letter for my Business Writing Class (separate from the meeting) due Thursday at Noon.
Thursday (at noon) I'll have to present my speech and turn in my letter. After class, I'll need to go over my material for Statistics (the exam starts at 7) and begin studying for my Econ exam (Tuesday at 4). After my Exam ends, I head back home and try and get some reading (Econ) done for next week.
Friday I'm headed over to pick up my cousin Kenny (so pumped!) to head up to Erie and stay with my brother for the weekend. I won't get back until Sunday and I will surely miss the 'Skins game. I'm ok with missing it, as the entire season so far has been worth missing, but rest assured I will be wearing my Baugh '33' Jersey on the ride back from PA.
Sunday Night and Monday is all about studying for Econ and Accounting and possibly catching up on my blog here. Who knows.
Good luck to you all in your endeavors, I'm sure some of my readers have exams coming up as well. It's tough on all of us!
I need to get going for now, but I'll be posting as consistently as possible on here. I've done pretty darn well this month and I plan to keep it that way.
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