tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74368332024-03-07T20:53:10.675-06:00For Your IrritainmentFarky's Big Blog: Making America proud (though not as enthusiastically as he hoped) since 2004Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.comBlogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-1241105861117478542012-01-03T20:40:00.000-06:002012-05-18T21:04:13.697-05:00Top 10 songs of 2011 that you shouldn't not be listening to.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, this is really happening. Mainly, I just felt like telling you about music. Then I remembered I already had this blog set-up and...<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; line-height: 16px;">voilà</em></span>! New blog post. Yes, it's weak. Yes, it's short. Yes, it's basically just a list. But it's better than nothing, no? Whatever. Anyway, I think I just killed the "things I don't understand" meme(is it a meme if it's just me?), but you'll live...probably. So, without out further ado, here's my Top 10 songs of 2011. In order. Maybe. I believe these were all released in 2011, and they all in some way bore themselves into my brain. Some are popular, most are not. I'm guessing there's several you've never heard of. Some are deep or depressing or meaningful or uplifting or just flat out catchy (despite their troubling topic. See: Foster the People). But I think they're pretty, pretty good. Here's a <a href="http://open.spotify.com/user/jfarky/playlist/1W5XLghhAAajnZIpS7GgCJ" target="_blank">Spotify link</a> of the whole list for your listening pleasure.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlP6i-XK8IirterdhXMzO1wivK14c74BtzBEERYTPaDRFvkFLqJFp8iKeiM2wfdKQ2hCHb6VX3P33ajUjn9LdrTcpbhF7GpzO7iFAXuP-MzaD5eM-D3Jm9-OzLG1j8Cy_a47z6w/s1600/fosterthepeople.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlP6i-XK8IirterdhXMzO1wivK14c74BtzBEERYTPaDRFvkFLqJFp8iKeiM2wfdKQ2hCHb6VX3P33ajUjn9LdrTcpbhF7GpzO7iFAXuP-MzaD5eM-D3Jm9-OzLG1j8Cy_a47z6w/s1600/fosterthepeople.jpg" /></a>10. <a href="http://open.spotify.com/track/7w87IxuO7BDcJ3YUqCyMTT" target="_blank">Pumped up Kicks</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050VI5SI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0050VI5SI" target="_blank">Foster the People</a><br />
This song took over the world. Only some people stopped to realize what it might be about.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6Vl-EmcegWcAHZSgCjRo8ePxriFzC0ufHKk2-VHrrglnqtQzWnwOPeXz1Y1Cz96vVwS9wuQAyPEWTBUinBO9PDJuFkgF8Mo-00bn0tAjL2WYltaUDPUXaWWiEjt9WTz5UimVuA/s1600/apache+relay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6Vl-EmcegWcAHZSgCjRo8ePxriFzC0ufHKk2-VHrrglnqtQzWnwOPeXz1Y1Cz96vVwS9wuQAyPEWTBUinBO9PDJuFkgF8Mo-00bn0tAjL2WYltaUDPUXaWWiEjt9WTz5UimVuA/s1600/apache+relay.jpg" /></a><br />
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9.<a href="http://open.spotify.com/track/4KvZlpnNh2vMVFvd10Vepb" target="_blank"> Mission Bells</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RWEHJW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004RWEHJW" target="_blank">The Apache Relay</a><br />
This is one of those bands that I just happened upon. They may even be Christian. Despite that, this is just one of those swelling, soaring songs that get me.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Bkp0AIGP1vtj5d8GEp3fflgh2p7Vts5IdIYOVhm63UxD5aewbeiUMRlBFCTPGM7Trfj8QZjK0bgsl2eIbTYmfVTPdJdxQ6VvnWQ8n05X53itHAkzjr0Y2rnUR261ZLxT6X8nSA/s1600/fleet+foxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Bkp0AIGP1vtj5d8GEp3fflgh2p7Vts5IdIYOVhm63UxD5aewbeiUMRlBFCTPGM7Trfj8QZjK0bgsl2eIbTYmfVTPdJdxQ6VvnWQ8n05X53itHAkzjr0Y2rnUR261ZLxT6X8nSA/s1600/fleet+foxes.jpg" /></a><br />
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8. <a href="http://open.spotify.com/local/Fleet+Foxes/Helplessness+Blues/Helplessness+Blues/303" target="_blank">Helplessness Blues</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004X0XA82/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004X0XA82" target="_blank">Fleet Foxes</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawsbJrJTWd6QS7l7Al6JLzWrUm5yTcRuVGGy5hrUiNmrVgsT-AAu2pvzad7r_eVv6uJv6a61OM7i-zl7SL6oRhC9gU5j0QoBG0-LEleC-2bKpgr5lzBVxPm_7yC4Lqn7ebG08Rg/s1600/NEEDTOBREATHE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawsbJrJTWd6QS7l7Al6JLzWrUm5yTcRuVGGy5hrUiNmrVgsT-AAu2pvzad7r_eVv6uJv6a61OM7i-zl7SL6oRhC9gU5j0QoBG0-LEleC-2bKpgr5lzBVxPm_7yC4Lqn7ebG08Rg/s1600/NEEDTOBREATHE.jpg" /></a> I don't know. I just like it. And I think it says something. And in a way that's very listenable. It might be my anthem. Hell, in one way or another all these songs are probably my anthem.<br />
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7. <a href="http://open.spotify.com/track/5IChepDidVaL8UkG6PuzB2" target="_blank">Keep Your Eyes Open</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005LD1J4W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005LD1J4W" target="_blank">NEEDTOBREATHE</a><br />
More Christian. Like for real. So making decent music is not completely beyond the genre. Which is good to know...I guess.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4Ie-fOwJWRjzRBWYcIWKIPCbKn01Xi39xzqOFQdPKVTiyI52Cd7r8iXGW1PxH53XsELvZ-7hVH9s7N8NBqJiS2ZySIPJ2aXKkKky9P0vo4eEAGnaoETecUzJ1FTPqOWew8qC5w/s1600/submarines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4Ie-fOwJWRjzRBWYcIWKIPCbKn01Xi39xzqOFQdPKVTiyI52Cd7r8iXGW1PxH53XsELvZ-7hVH9s7N8NBqJiS2ZySIPJ2aXKkKky9P0vo4eEAGnaoETecUzJ1FTPqOWew8qC5w/s1600/submarines.jpg" /></a><br />
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6. <a href="http://open.spotify.com/local/The+Submarines/Love+Notes%2fLetter+Bombs/Birds/261" target="_blank">Birds</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004T6OCPA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004T6OCPA" target="_blank">The Submarines</a><br />
I saw this duo open up for Eels at The Grenada this summer. This song was embedded deep within my skull for a good while.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pSwOfLEnX5UlKogLANP4x7KKfaPCwzhGN5-_u1zBPDoP59LLvpcQS7eXfHh_M_OmDMvOz8lDw0bF4mSNEIeHTELwIvB5-mpSNGeuxHjQNmS_UFJ7pvO-PWchyPDYjCvngEsUKg/s1600/antlers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pSwOfLEnX5UlKogLANP4x7KKfaPCwzhGN5-_u1zBPDoP59LLvpcQS7eXfHh_M_OmDMvOz8lDw0bF4mSNEIeHTELwIvB5-mpSNGeuxHjQNmS_UFJ7pvO-PWchyPDYjCvngEsUKg/s1600/antlers.jpg" /></a><br />
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5. <a href="http://open.spotify.com/local/The+Antlers/Burst+Apart/Putting+The+Dog+To+Sleep/347" target="_blank">Putting the Dog to Sleep</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004WEIA4S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004WEIA4S" target="_blank">The Anlers</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6__izK_UpOFIqtnbX18HmEm06JwRDFSFq41FoQ4bvKC6kUJTVefhclph10Dx06ZfcNGxvMUVAWpZ0DZ0oMooGzPpe_5QyuWih82ws2fq0Ai-gCzjGlOHSTmYll5VRym_iwSCZA/s1600/florence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6__izK_UpOFIqtnbX18HmEm06JwRDFSFq41FoQ4bvKC6kUJTVefhclph10Dx06ZfcNGxvMUVAWpZ0DZ0oMooGzPpe_5QyuWih82ws2fq0Ai-gCzjGlOHSTmYll5VRym_iwSCZA/s1600/florence.jpg" /></a> I really love this song. It's one of those I listened to, thought it was good, then looked at the title and thought, "What?", then I listened about 50 more times. It's really about that. But is still awesome.<br />
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4. <a href="http://open.spotify.com/track/4lY95OMGb9WxP6IYut64ir" target="_blank">Shake it Out</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005RAO0GS/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005RAO0GS" target="_blank">Florence + the Machine</a><br />
A very late edition, but another one I could. not. stop. listening. to. Plus, Florence kinda does something for me. I'm convinced that she's the quirkier, artsier version of Adele. Which I like...more than Adele. Also, I feel there's a pretty strong religious angle working if you listen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOqQK_SrmnmNamY69XlhriTuTlwqLlkwFdqpJ32OLw2HmNezYFn0JHx_wbCRa4p6l160Esx1pRQ_ogVtpI1Nh89tsG_hYeBBwSVjl6MUepW1KYBD0wJg_aW5M0KaahQwtRvK70g/s1600/headandheart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOqQK_SrmnmNamY69XlhriTuTlwqLlkwFdqpJ32OLw2HmNezYFn0JHx_wbCRa4p6l160Esx1pRQ_ogVtpI1Nh89tsG_hYeBBwSVjl6MUepW1KYBD0wJg_aW5M0KaahQwtRvK70g/s1600/headandheart.jpg" /></a><br />
3. <a href="http://open.spotify.com/local/The+Head+and+the+Heart/The+Head+and+the+Heart/Coeur+D%27Alene/261" target="_blank">Couer D'alane</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ID9KGU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004ID9KGU" target="_blank">The Head and the Heart</a><br />
Technically, this one came out in 2010 but only 2 weeks before 2011 started so it's in. Saw these guys this spring. It only confirmed what their record seemed to suggest. Awesome. Honestly, it was hard to pick just one song off this album. Any of the last three artists really. But that's what I do for you, "...the things people will do for the ones that they love."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg8rrCM2UHrNzNx6qPi-vErIvW5dNnhhBtR9JINRQjqZzxbR2hKCDptDOrArwEEiYaSI3w8tITa615g4h5ILUZ9qFrDYtTOSlY5FlunoL_Nf1lFO4yfK0CNvDmZ7xXTRumZW2Jw/s1600/civil+wars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg8rrCM2UHrNzNx6qPi-vErIvW5dNnhhBtR9JINRQjqZzxbR2hKCDptDOrArwEEiYaSI3w8tITa615g4h5ILUZ9qFrDYtTOSlY5FlunoL_Nf1lFO4yfK0CNvDmZ7xXTRumZW2Jw/s1600/civil+wars.jpg" /></a></div>
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2. <a href="http://open.spotify.com/local/The+Civil+Wars/Barton+Hollow/Poison+%26+Wine/219" target="_blank">Poison & Wine</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FZMTKU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004FZMTKU" target="_blank">The Civil Wars</a><br />
To say this duo exploded in 2011 would be an understatement of epic proportions. Plus, they've got it. Whatever it is. Music is good.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcio4bdNo1gmdoTKIBVRPhLWRQrmVwUZF1g7T7g8ghP6ADvD2D1Jg_-NbZlziYkh7PXYNIeBHA8vuhFI3VH4KnMkI3k8u09Em9Da6P_y3H9jZMR3s5n0hekX1OOn1EfYO8xMuoA/s1600/seryn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcio4bdNo1gmdoTKIBVRPhLWRQrmVwUZF1g7T7g8ghP6ADvD2D1Jg_-NbZlziYkh7PXYNIeBHA8vuhFI3VH4KnMkI3k8u09Em9Da6P_y3H9jZMR3s5n0hekX1OOn1EfYO8xMuoA/s1600/seryn.jpg" /></a><br />
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1. <a href="http://open.spotify.com/track/4yh8egPgGpr217I81MmZ4T" target="_blank">We Will All Be Changed</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HP8VJG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004HP8VJG" target="_blank">Seryn</a><br />
I listened to this song the first time in about March, bought their album...then proceeded to catch them live 5 times before the summer ended. Yeah. Like I said, almost any song on their album is worthy of this list. You should probably listen to it yourself...maybe 50 times. Not that I know what that's like...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com10Fort Worth, TX, USA32.725409 -97.320849632.5116785 -97.6367066 32.939139499999996 -97.004992600000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-79895005523818964142011-03-14T14:58:00.003-05:002011-03-14T15:03:54.433-05:00Things I don’t understand #82…<p>…Why I don’t observe Lent.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_til-pmTXHGI/TX5zbsyP6rI/AAAAAAAAAgg/u4gGHyVIDJ0/s1600-h/lent_6316c%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="lent_6316c" border="0" alt="lent_6316c" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_til-pmTXHGI/TX5zb2uh48I/AAAAAAAAAgk/zc5UHe72Txs/lent_6316c_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="238" height="244"></a></p> <p>Okay, this is not entirely true. I know about Lent. I’ve heard that literally translated it means “Spring”. As a Christian it’s hard not to “observe” it, but my level of participation has always been quite low. After all, (as I have often said) there’s a reason I’m Baptist. But as the days(and years) pass, I’ve slowly come to realize that I’m missing an opportunity here. Hopefully, it’s not an opportunity to to prove how sacrificial I can be (“I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full”) but to be drawn back to the one who made the ultimate sacrifice. </p> <p>It’s silly how silly we humans can be. We know that God came to earth, suffered, was tempted, suffered some more, and finally died on the cross as one final and definitive proof of his love. We KNOW it. But I wonder how often we remember it. I don’t. Instead I tend to dwell on all the stuff I already feel like I’ve given up in this life in the supposed name of my God and forget to recognize that no amount of forbearance on my part would even register on God’s scale. So after pleas from my <a href="http://citizenbezner.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">current pastor</a> and <a href="http://www.informedfaith.com/attachments/Lenten_Devotional_2011.pdf" target="_blank">former pastor</a> that I should consider giving something up for Lent, I think I might. </p> <p>I think one of the reasons I've been so slow to embrace this practice is that my past contact with those “observing” this aspect of Lent many times involved them “giving up” things that needed no giving up. Non-coffee drinkers giving up coffee, teetotalers giving up beer, vegetarians giving up meat, non-duffers giving up golf…so I thought, “What’s the point?” Well, hopefully I've found the point. I found something to give up. In doing so I pray it will cause me to remember. Remember Christ’s suffering outweighed my suffering. That his temptation outweighed my temptation, that his holiness, righteousness outweighs my feeble attempts at godliness and religion. That Jesus’ sacrifice outweighed any the world has ever known. And that God’s grace outlasts all of my silliness and folly. </p> <p>I hope that the process of “giving up” will result in not only remembering the costs but the reward. That at the end of Lent, new life can be found. You know, the hope of Spring. </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-26540778643433620052011-02-11T16:53:00.001-06:002011-02-11T16:53:31.263-06:00Things I don't understand #81...<p><img style="float: right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimq8rdpUTZ-9DLdr_2Ziq3KMflMQzf3q8R2Iqa0IbiT4zNNWJqnmZSBBaXp69iUjlCyzv1vGbaTkLwStbuTPNCI4KSgxSEOzDGgf_B_ChENhuMxnn_2_uzb7AoxVVlwhAhFZm8ng/s200/mine_s.gif" width="228" height="219"></p> <p>…What’s a good Valentines Day gift.</p> <p>So, it would seemed I dodged this bullet once again. (Hey, life’s a bitch.)(What? No, no. I said “life” and that’s what I meant.) But, I figured for all those poor saps out there staring down the proverbial barrel of the proverbial gun, I would try to help. It makes no difference if it’s a completely made up holiday or not, the clock for you is ticking like you’re heading into a ‘24’ commercial break. </p> <p>Anyhoo, you could get candy, but it’s lame. Pretty, pretty lame (Unless you’re 10…or attempting a little Valentines Day ironic humor). The default seems to be flowers. Do that, but don’t just hand them to her. That defeats the purpose. Sure, chicks dig flowers, but what they dig even more is their co-workers being jealous that they got flowers. I’ve made this mistake before, and well, look at me. So, flowers…delivered: check. Then there’s jewelry. Honestly, I feel like jewelry is too substantial a gift to give on a made up holiday, but I guess if you’re rolling in dough, go nuts. But I feel like I need to introduce you to a little concept called “managing expectations.” I also hear there’s those(married, of course) who go the lingerie route. I think I grasp the pros of this approach, but it also seems there could be some definite cons. I.E. the collective minefields of style and size (have you ever seen <em>Hurt Locker</em>?) and that fails to mention how the obviousness of your “motives” might be received. I wish you luck, but tread lightly, brother, tread lightly. </p> <p>It should be obvious that you also must provide a nice dinner. As to what a “nice” dinner might mean for you and yours, I cannot assist. But this is not the “Price is Right”, so it’s much safer to ‘go over’. Oh, and if you uttered the phrase <a href="http://farkyblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/things-i-dont-understand-12.html">“Valentines weekend”</a> at any point, I still want to punch you. </p> <p>You’re probably starting to get a sinking feeling that this post is actually going to be no help to you at all. That really shouldn’t shock you, though. I mean, just log on to the Facebook and check my relationship status. Exactly. Consider this your first installment in the “Managing Expectations” lesson series. You might also notice that I offered no suggestions for the ladies out there. I don’t really think this needs explanation, but I feel safe in assuring you it will require no monetary outlay.</p> <p>That reminds me, CBS Cares(my favorite PSA provider) has a gift idea that I somehow didn’t think of. Let me know how this one works out for you.</p> <p><object width="480" height="270"><param name="movie" value="http://www.cbs.com/e/_tRT2Dbyhgjup64R6XBbbDXLdHKRJGEk/cbs/1/" /></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed width="600" height="330" src="http://www.cbs.com/e/_tRT2Dbyhgjup64R6XBbbDXLdHKRJGEk/cbs/1/" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></p> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-65882533673424627692011-02-02T15:15:00.004-06:002011-02-11T15:42:56.858-06:00Things I don't understand #80...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BogjbHRJeDAPntQCmhImmPdtBjZ2gCbUo8jlQhSgHD2O9pke6hS3m77Xico4S8ab5TJMQONiHJi_bUMa23Qqu65gsOQzNpYA4SS5rDrYTcuIrl-1fD7CvWqVz00k-HpG7PZOJA/s1600/tcurb.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 228px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BogjbHRJeDAPntQCmhImmPdtBjZ2gCbUo8jlQhSgHD2O9pke6hS3m77Xico4S8ab5TJMQONiHJi_bUMa23Qqu65gsOQzNpYA4SS5rDrYTcuIrl-1fD7CvWqVz00k-HpG7PZOJA/s320/tcurb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569207187987265378" /></a><br />...Hey, it is what it is. And as I end one sort of disappointment I'll probably immediately cause another sort. Because the topic of this blog(my first in more than a year) is the only serial entry. That's right, the BCS...or lack of a play-off...or most inexplicable situation is sports. Period. <br /><br />The reason I'm still doing this some two months later than normal and 3 weeks after the college football season ended is two-fold. 1) I just read <span style="font-style:italic;">Death to the BCS</span>. You should check it out. 2) I think what TCU did does give us a whole new perspective. If you're new and still not sure what's going on, uh, just scroll down about three posts. (Yeah, it's that.) I know, it's been awhile. Sorry. (Hey, I said, "Sorry." Back off.) Anyhoo, what <span style="font-style:italic;">Death to the BCS</span> did was confirm all the things I believed might be true. It also revealed that the bowl system is more nefarious and ridiculous than I could have ever imagined. Basically, it steals money from institutions of higher education and provides "the man" outrageous salaries to put on one stupid game. What TCU did was confirm that the "little schools" do belong in the process of deciding a champion, which they currently are not. <br /><br />So now we're going to see what a play-off would've looked like this year. If you want all the criteria, just scroll down. Despite what you might have heard, I clearly don't have the time. (Clearly.) As you view the first round match-ups, just imagine how great, how exciting, how riveting this would be. And don't be so quick to dismiss all those "small schools", either.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Fictional 2011 College Football Play-off Bracket</span><blockquote><br />(1) Auburn (SEC Champ)<br />(16) Florida International (Sun Belt Champ)<br /><br />(8) Arkansas (At Large)<br />(9) Michigan State (At Large)<br /><br />(4) Stanford (At Large)<br />(13) Connecticut (Big East Champ)<br /><br />(5) Wisconsin (Big 10 Champ)<br />(12) Nevada (WAC Champ)<br /><br />(3) TCU (Mountain West Champ)<br />(14) Central Florida (Conference USA Champ)<br /><br />(6) Ohio State (At Large)<br />(11) Virginia Tech (ACC Champ)<br /><br />(7) Oklahoma (Big 12 Champ)<br />(10) Boise St. (At Large)<br /><br />(2) Oregon (Pac 10 Champ)<br />(15) Northern Illinois (MAC Champ)<br /></blockquote><br />This year was interesting on a couple of fronts. The first team out was LSU which was ranked #11 at the end of the regular season. I think the highest ranked team ever left sitting at home. Because of that, the WAC ends up with the same number of teams as the SEC and Big 12. Talk about "level playing field".Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-79163084139450659862010-01-03T21:51:00.004-06:002010-01-03T21:57:10.104-06:00Things I don't understand #79......What was so great about last year...<br /> <br /><object width="622" height="416"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/flash/player.swf" /><br /> <param name="flashvars" value="image=http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/media/images/main/s/mm/sth/sf/newyearsinspiration.jpg&file=http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/media/previews/s/mm/sth/sf/newyearsinspiration.mp4&controlbar=over&repeat=none&logo=http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/partnerships/whm/images/videowatermark.png" /><br /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><br /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><br /><param name="loop" value="false" /><br /><param name="quality" value="high" /><br /><br /> <embed src="http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/flash/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="image=http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/media/images/main/s/mm/sth/sf/newyearsinspiration.jpg&file=http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/media/previews/s/mm/sth/sf/newyearsinspiration.mp4&controlbar=over&repeat=none&logo=http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/partnerships/whm/images/videowatermark.png" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" loop="false" quality="high" width="622" height="416"></embed><br /></object><br /><br /><br />Happy <span style="font-style:italic;">NEW</span> Year!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-83063175962136629242009-12-22T10:00:00.002-06:002009-12-22T10:08:07.302-06:00Things I don't understand #78......if I should have let CBS make the Christmas list for all the women in my life.<br /><br /><embed src='http://www.cbs.com/thunder/swf30can10/rcpHolderCbs-3-4x3.swf' FlashVars='link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecbs%2Ecom%2Fcbs%5Fcares%2Fpap%5Fsmear%2Findex%2Ephp%3Fcid%3D1337443319%26pid%3Drpg0bK%5FFapIGJ2nsRzARsI1FISBu1YuE%26play%3Dtrue&partner=userembed&vert=Entertainment&autoPlayVid=false&releaseURL=http://release.theplatform.com/content.select?pid=rpg0bK_FapIGJ2nsRzARsI1FISBu1YuE&name=cbsPlayer&allowScriptAccess=always&wmode=transparent&embedded=y&scale=default&salign=tl' allowFullScreen='true' width='600' height='450' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer'></embed><br/><a href='http://www.cbs.com'>Watch CBS Videos Online</a><br /><br />Merry Christmas everyone!!!<br /><br />(And no, <a href="http://www.cbs.com/cbs_cares/pap_smear/">this does not appear to be a joke</a>.)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-21270652349252804542009-12-10T10:22:00.004-06:002009-12-13T23:34:18.180-06:00Things I don't understand #77...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9pcSHLI4thWPKCpFfshcTJDNOprc2IuraUAWh4f02Xqz45HlwfYruJthqnHU2COrFLddn29k_nA4LTAVUsfAXYRAnfeyAPLkfhv7V-hPODgg5k7yPYKwCckGqNjAN2cxMz-3dg/s1600-h/bcs+2010.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9pcSHLI4thWPKCpFfshcTJDNOprc2IuraUAWh4f02Xqz45HlwfYruJthqnHU2COrFLddn29k_nA4LTAVUsfAXYRAnfeyAPLkfhv7V-hPODgg5k7yPYKwCckGqNjAN2cxMz-3dg/s200/bcs+2010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413647974736299602" /></a><br />...and <a href="http://farkyblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/things-i-dont-understand-63_12.html">#63</a> and <a href="http://farkyblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/things-i-dont-understand-2.html">#2</a>. Oh the thing? It's the ability of people to proliferate utter nonsense in the form of the BCS(Bowl Championship Series). <br /><br />Yes, it's that time again. So everyone stand up, face the north, and feel free to salute in whatever way you see fit. It's the annual(6 years running!) look at "what the NCAA should actually do to decide a football champion and reduce Jason's reasons for bitching by one." If you have any awareness of my rooting interests, you might be left thinking that I'm perfectly happy with the final match-up that the BCS supplied us. In that respect, I guess I'm good. But as a wise man once said, fairness is not demonstrated in the result but in the process. And the process stinks. This year we had 5 teams finish the season with an undefeated record. So they did everything they could possibly do to win a championship, yet every member of three of those teams knows that they have zero chance of attaining that goal. <br /><br />We need a playoff. One where every team in every conference has a chance to win it all at the beginning of the season. So we need a 16 team playoff to allow every conference champion to get an automatic bid. Caveat #1: If that team has more than 4 losses, they forfeit their bid. (Sorry, but we are trying to decide a champion and if you can't get through a 11 game season without losing 5 times, then we already have a pretty good indication you're not championship material.) After the 11 conferences have their teams in, we use some BCS-style poll to get our at-large bids. Caveat #2: Each conference will be limited to no more than 3 teams. (This is just to ensure that conference biases do not take control. I'm sure there's some that would have 8 SEC teams in a 16 team field if they had their druthers.) We would then seed the teams by their ranking and then let the fun begin.<br /><br />Were there to be a playoff, I think there would be some obvious repercussions. First as I alluded to, regular seasons would be reduced to 11 games. That's what they were until about 5-10 years ago and I don't think it would be too big a deal to return to that. Plus, that would still limit the games the two championship contenders would play to 15. (Texas and Alabama will both play 14 games this year, so 15 is by no means an egregious amount.) Second, there would be no more conference championship games. It would only be a hinderance for a conference's top teams to play each other when they might not have to. Once again, we had 100 years of college football with out any such games yet always found a way to find conference champions so I think they can figure it out. I must admit, I believe that these conference championship games are one of the main barriers to getting a playoff. That's because they are such monumental cash cows for the conference offices and their commissioners. Those commissioners control the BCS, and why would they give up all that money(and control)? But a guy can dream, can't he? <br /><br />So, I've got this years NCAA Football Playoff Bracket. And based on all the factors listed above, it's a tad convoluted. Basically, I took into account the conference championship game to signify the winner of said conference be tried not to penalize the loser for a loss because I don't believe those games would be played. (I.e. Florida will get the #2 seed instead of #6.) Just in case you were wondering, the last team in is #13 Penn State. The first team left out is BYU(Sorry, Mormons). Behold:<br /><blockquote>(1) Alabama - SEC Champ (BCS #1)<br />(16) Troy - Sun Belt Champ (Unranked)<br /><br />(8) Ohio State - Big 10 Champ (#8)<br />(9) Iowa - At large (#9)<br /><br />(5) TCU - Mountain West Champ (#5)<br />(12) LSU - At large (#12)<br /><br />(4) Cincinnati - Big East Champ (#4)<br />(13) Penn St. - At large (#13)<br /><br />(3) Texas - Big 12 Champ (#3)<br />(14) Central Michigan - MAC Champ (#25)<br /><br />(6) Boise St. - WAC Champ (#6)<br />(11) Virginia Tech - At large (#11)<br /><br />(7) Oregon - Pac 10 Champ (#7)<br />(10) Georgia Tech - ACC Champ (#10)<br /><br />(2) Florida - At large (#2)<br />(15) East Carolina - Conference USA Champ (#26) </blockquote><br /><br />Despite the fact that this is the 6th year I've done this and despite the fact that it will never happen, I still get a little giddy when I stop and imagine the match-ups and the potential 2nd round games. I can't imagine wanting to miss one of them. Yet, every year, we do.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-34318724526488518542009-12-07T18:39:00.004-06:002009-12-08T09:19:30.060-06:00Things I don't understand #76<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBywzk9KoOBRW7GgHUuV9T9MvYs0UBcr0ApCsyYoCqWTTDp7hZryymXMgcuvKjXYNZ2a5xjXz1s_FalThVY-RggXhKKJ6fjv8AHJGeRKyYDWjVV32smpZieN9wiigYEGYc8fohTQ/s1600-h/christmas-carols.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 149px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBywzk9KoOBRW7GgHUuV9T9MvYs0UBcr0ApCsyYoCqWTTDp7hZryymXMgcuvKjXYNZ2a5xjXz1s_FalThVY-RggXhKKJ6fjv8AHJGeRKyYDWjVV32smpZieN9wiigYEGYc8fohTQ/s200/christmas-carols.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412659839344124018" /></a><br />...Christmas Music. Or at least everyone's compulsion to start listening to it in September. <br /><br />Music Monday? I like Christmas music as much as the next guy. At least, that's what I used to think. Then I started to discover that there were people roaming this great land of ours that thought that perfect chaser to All Hallows' Eve was a good rendition of "Silver Bells". I guess I just live too regimented a life, because the earliest I would ever consider spinning some "Winter Wonderland" was when the sun went down on Thanksgiving. I don't like to mix my seasons and I don't like to read ahead. As the Byrds once sang:<br /><blockquote>To every thing there is a season, <br />and a time to every purpose under the heaven</blockquote>Besides, isn't there a bigger issue here?<br /><br />That being that the catalog of favored and accepted Christmas songs seems to be somewhat limited. I mean, how many times to I need to hear "The Christmas Song" and "Silent Night" and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"?(NONE.) And even though I have 27 differing renditions to choose from, I rarely need more than a good Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole. All that being said, I'm now ready to join you. It's cold. It's December. It's time for Christmas (and the appropriately corresponding tunes). BTW, not that I intend to turn every Music Monday into a commercial for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMP3-Music-Download%2Fb%3Fie%3DUTF8%26node%3D163856011%26ref_%3Dsa%255Fmenu%255Fdmusic2&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Amazon.com</a><img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=foryourirra-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> but they are currently doing <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Ffeature.html%3Fie%3DUTF8%26ref_%3Ddm%255Fgw%255F25days%26docId%3D1000453281&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">25 Days of Free</a><img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=foryourirra-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> where you can get a free Christmas song everyday until THE day. (Warning! Some songs are a little more in the "Christmas Spirit" than others.) But I'm in. So let's go caroling, but you better hurry. Because when the calender reads "December 26" I'll be ready for the pages of the music catalog to "Turn, Turn, Turn."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-45963558979535584462009-11-16T15:38:00.016-06:002009-11-16T17:32:33.479-06:00Things I don't understand #75...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VGAO3Y?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002VGAO3Y"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e2bXKd0sj9yzJ-K8W3ueU2wfPTZVDCmaFFWB5xQzshUB8h898TbVdUhI4V03STP4FE1DGuQbO1TQmS2HVJ2o6m7eLmD5Qxrafa6pUdortUSX6xlrjc0k0KTd8WNi90tS1QoHug/s200/51L9fYU2NjL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404844954767665554" /></a><br />...How sex is used to sell almost everything.<br /><br />Welcome to "Music Monday", sort of. Today might seem a little esoteric, but you should try wondering through my mind some time. I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised to see the example I've chosen on the right. For an artist with the somewhat limited range and musical talent of Rihanna, not to mention her target audience, she probably needs to use every asset(ah-hum) at her disposal. See Britney Spears. See Lady GaGa. See Beyonce. See Shania Twain. Sex sells pop music. Sex sells R&B. Sex sells country. Got it. Got it. And got it. Now what I didn't expect was this.<br /><br />One day while perusing the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMP3-Music-Download%2Fb%3Fie%3DUTF8%26node%3D163856011%26ref_%3Dtopnav%255Fstoretab%255Fdmusic&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Amazon mp3 selection </a><img src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=foryourirra-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> I noticed their free download of the day was some opera number. I thought,"Why not?" Everyone could use a little culture, even me, plus the price was right. Sure, it probably won't take, but I've got a pretty big hard drive(if you know what I mean). So as I was downloading the song, I glanced at the "Customers Who Bought This Song's Album Also Bought" area that featured various covers from various classical and opera albums. Now, this it not pop. Or R&B. And definitely country. Those things are products of the music industry, this is art. This is the high-minded world of the hoity-toity music lover. Surely, they wouldn't fall prey to the basest of instincts in us. After all, they just care about the music...the opulence of a string section...the power of a well trained mezzo-soprano. Surely this crowd would not be swayed by a hot chick on the cover. Right? Well, this is just a sample of what I saw:<br /><blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1zf_7XZht8-Thj2Jkd2S2G7ZtzrQrOhEXF0NgFGcY7KGxhw9j_PzuJhXDQYJMoewEeivreez_JQTqaO8bf9AmjeZS08BaI1iMPBPYE8BAquk3sEMmelifBfMykootpuMg4KvAQ/s1600/518I4ahiVmL._SL500_AA280_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1zf_7XZht8-Thj2Jkd2S2G7ZtzrQrOhEXF0NgFGcY7KGxhw9j_PzuJhXDQYJMoewEeivreez_JQTqaO8bf9AmjeZS08BaI1iMPBPYE8BAquk3sEMmelifBfMykootpuMg4KvAQ/s200/518I4ahiVmL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404829703870202626" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBiNl5TVQFM1n-IZCgofk-Ez10mOM3j3aONpqVDMg28FNxqGk5MOqXiH06BWEaYYJ36YLIqMmcUGUG5VnQLbGJUp5YnBx6BU7XDSGwpdmeFzwdKRScKPj-fmIzY8uMfnhnrlpwQ/s1600/51m5jFuNiKL._SL500_AA280_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBiNl5TVQFM1n-IZCgofk-Ez10mOM3j3aONpqVDMg28FNxqGk5MOqXiH06BWEaYYJ36YLIqMmcUGUG5VnQLbGJUp5YnBx6BU7XDSGwpdmeFzwdKRScKPj-fmIzY8uMfnhnrlpwQ/s200/51m5jFuNiKL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404831126751954962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBi_co7z0DuLjcLB7fnbt02qbzDdwDEVlYZf-l3u999IQsoNhARVr0bbcHEExMyMPqjfsfoDGREg9Flf6myjUZAHooaVatOf086FgtJjM9fXIkfVHSwiry2tsUIy11AuZZ6WogcQ/s1600/51wDi6qV3yL._SL500_AA280_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBi_co7z0DuLjcLB7fnbt02qbzDdwDEVlYZf-l3u999IQsoNhARVr0bbcHEExMyMPqjfsfoDGREg9Flf6myjUZAHooaVatOf086FgtJjM9fXIkfVHSwiry2tsUIy11AuZZ6WogcQ/s200/51wDi6qV3yL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404833069446848354" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk-W5f9GQFLAEfHyGnbThhEjSMN0bg_7iuiDlASZLYJpCyeON4hDVDdtkLQWkKEjBwK1M2nlEg3cQzSwtNXLN9veVs56cWdd6VI8jCsIrBx-uRA8cg4a3dT7kFDWfCv8UVgtcEw/s1600/51FMKaPkDDL._SL500_AA280_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXk-W5f9GQFLAEfHyGnbThhEjSMN0bg_7iuiDlASZLYJpCyeON4hDVDdtkLQWkKEjBwK1M2nlEg3cQzSwtNXLN9veVs56cWdd6VI8jCsIrBx-uRA8cg4a3dT7kFDWfCv8UVgtcEw/s200/51FMKaPkDDL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404833764314746194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapmxn2mRFoP_jcozlI1bnSQNC3-h0LUCbaIkVFMM_8OHAhCWZvefmr6G50TV5jXN-TOBUNCwKTsgVt2VZCVdKFMDiEXwY0_eKIGNcLslDFqTgt4ofT9nLwzSQaOQy0ILuFy2FdA/s1600/51Ryj3sn1eL._SL500_AA280_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiapmxn2mRFoP_jcozlI1bnSQNC3-h0LUCbaIkVFMM_8OHAhCWZvefmr6G50TV5jXN-TOBUNCwKTsgVt2VZCVdKFMDiEXwY0_eKIGNcLslDFqTgt4ofT9nLwzSQaOQy0ILuFy2FdA/s200/51Ryj3sn1eL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404835275674418274" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjku_rCjtmm8Sp9nBZLzBjpC990jSYtXbSn0PecdbebMRsTNdQoKOZxpYOtksKrCoeV7KGSBPA-u9nICiywcCqNKDIQUAO9YaQiq4791WhyphenhyphenUPwMWmM2JLjEVQTOTsYw7H2v_ooVXQ/s1600/51OQD2eJejL._SL500_AA280_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjku_rCjtmm8Sp9nBZLzBjpC990jSYtXbSn0PecdbebMRsTNdQoKOZxpYOtksKrCoeV7KGSBPA-u9nICiywcCqNKDIQUAO9YaQiq4791WhyphenhyphenUPwMWmM2JLjEVQTOTsYw7H2v_ooVXQ/s200/51OQD2eJejL._SL500_AA280_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404835489828270210" border="0" /></a></blockquote><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Okay...So we all have our weaknesses. Sure, no one's wearing a barbed wire bikini, but I'm not overwhelmed by a sense that we're focusing on the music here. I really don't know why this struck me so(ok, I probably know one reason), but it just seems so odd to me. The juxtaposition of, "Hey, you should be listening to these really important works of art...and you can know this because they're performed by hot chicks." Isn't that basically Bud Light's strategy? And we all know what Bud Light tastes like. Now <a href="http://www.stpauligirl.com/home.php">St. Pauli Girl</a>, that's a beer.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-44655798266301377412009-11-04T16:57:00.001-06:002009-12-08T09:20:07.828-06:00Things I don't understand #74...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRmMBiSB3fYKUbGX2HgR-nl5cQf5mq61AjrfKXWwjiIlSDMSG6iROCIgG6ibc2PMoWMwK7aHwbxc_9huSKSHTP3L9UKkDRrrBLr9SYMXjqAZj0TsgPmc2LkvOJiMb4I5tvEq-ow/s1600-h/v_for_vendetta.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 136px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRmMBiSB3fYKUbGX2HgR-nl5cQf5mq61AjrfKXWwjiIlSDMSG6iROCIgG6ibc2PMoWMwK7aHwbxc_9huSKSHTP3L9UKkDRrrBLr9SYMXjqAZj0TsgPmc2LkvOJiMb4I5tvEq-ow/s200/v_for_vendetta.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398471899598617794" /></a><br /><br />...Why we don't:<blockquote> Remember, remember the fifth of November,<br /> The gunpowder treason and plot,<br /> I know of no reason<br /> Why the gunpowder treason<br /> Should ever be forgot. </blockquote><br />That day is fast approaching, but it seems it did get forgot. I don't know about you, but I really had no idea about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes">Guy Fawkes</a> or his day until I watched the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/"><span style="font-style:italic;">V is For Vendetta</span></a>. The "Gunpowder Treason" could be described as an "overreaction" by some about the lack of Catholics in Parliament. What Guy Fawkes and his band decided to do was basically fill the basement underneath Westminster with gunpowder and then let'er blow during the opening day. Obviously they were found out, since tours of Parliament can be undertaken without one being submerged in the River Thames. And even though he failed, we can thank Mr. Fawkes for the fact that "Guy" is a generic term for a man. (Yeah Guy!)<br /><br />Despite it's notorious element, it would seem that Fawkes legacy has become one of a revolutionary out to thwart tyranny. And that would be the theme of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/"><span style="font-style:italic;">V is For Vendetta</span></a>. In this case "V", decides to take on the whole of the futuristic, fascist British government while dressed in a black cape and wearing a Guy Fawkes mask. And in the process it has become one of my favorite movies...of all time(echo, echo, echo). So much so, that I've instituted my own tradition of celebrating Guy Fawkes Day by watching said motion picture. Feel free to join me. Showtime is tomorrow at probably around 8 p.m., my place. There might also be chili (not because of any sort of tradition, I just like chili).<br /><object width="650" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8XKa8VE7ILI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8XKa8VE7ILI&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-63179954395496491782009-11-02T09:27:00.004-06:002011-02-02T18:33:33.094-06:00Things I don't understand #73...<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=foryourirra-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B0013DA5XK" style="float: right; width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />...If the Old 97's would teach me how to write songs.<br /><br />Welcome to Music Monday! My path to becoming an Old 97's fan was a bit of a circuitous one. Because they are a Dallas band and I grew up near there, I had heard of them when I went off to college. But because they were what would have been considered an indie band, I had never really come across their music. Until one fateful day in Abilene when scouring the used CD bins at Hastings I came across <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UPT89O?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000UPT89O">Wreck Your Life</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=foryourirra-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000UPT89O" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> for $3. Done. I then promptly put it in my CD player, listened to it once, and...didn't really think about it much after that. Weird. <br /><br />But then about four years later, in another used CD store, I stumbled upon the album you see above. After giving it about a 10 second listen at the store,<span style="font-style:italic;">Too Far to Care</span> was mine and I was Old 97's (too gay?). I thought the entire thing was one of the best records I had ever heard (still do). I then went back and listened to <span style="font-style:italic;">Wreck Your Life</span> and realized what an idiot I had been and just missed it the first time around. <br /><br />What I had missed was some great turns of phrase in the lyrics. Lines like:<blockquote>I've got my wife, the other women, and the whiskey killing me.<br />The first two make it so that I see red. The third one makes it so that I can't see. </blockquote><br />and<blockquote>The way she tossed 'em back<br />I would've had a heart attack.<br />But as it is I let her drive my car.</blockquote><br />We can't forget<blockquote>Every other day is a kick in the shins<br />Every other day it's like the day just wins<br />But you make it all right, you make it OK<br />You make me sorta glad that I waited till today</blockquote><br />And probably my favorite<br /><blockquote>If that phone don't ring one more time,<br />I'm gonna lose what's left of my mind.<br />You made a big impression for a girl of your size,<br />Now I can't get by without you and your big brown eyes.</blockquote><br />I mean, come on, even <a href="http://bit.ly/fEBGg">Phil Jackson quotes them</a>. They my be one of the few bands that I can quote, to some degree of accuracy, almost every song in their catalog. Anyhoo, they released a new album this year. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00171U678?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00171U678">Blame It On Gravity</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=foryourirra-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00171U678" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> was good. Probably their best album in a while, but there was one song that made me jealous. It was so good that it made me wish that I had written it. It's a fairly simple country song sung not by their lead singer but by bassist Murry Hammond(which would seem to indicate he wrote that particular ditty). But despite all the clever wordplay and rollicking tunes that fill their catalog, I think this might be the best song they ever wrote. Maybe the perfect country song. Oh, it's called "Color Of A Lonely Heart Is Blue". So give it a listen and tell me why I'm wrong and my jealousy is misplaced. (I'm not and it isn't.)<br /><br /><object width="399" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /> <param name="wmode" value="window" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23370121&style=metal&p=0" /> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="399" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23370121&style=metal&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window" /></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-62074942504067349072009-10-30T13:30:00.004-05:002009-11-02T10:44:12.307-06:00Things I don't understand #72...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUEoDzrn2meh1z6J24riYnfkp00DdFo_U8OCNED1Qh0gKBEoTTtEScjCQAZMCHOfCAlu1a2zeeCVkhEvDc0J7sz0h4q8VEb5VpLXeawqFTNkqzvyx4jaDC01MMXhhXKSF13TSTQ/s1600-h/jack+o+latern.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 193px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUEoDzrn2meh1z6J24riYnfkp00DdFo_U8OCNED1Qh0gKBEoTTtEScjCQAZMCHOfCAlu1a2zeeCVkhEvDc0J7sz0h4q8VEb5VpLXeawqFTNkqzvyx4jaDC01MMXhhXKSF13TSTQ/s200/jack+o+latern.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398465353152008914" /></a><br />...Why Halloween has to be an annual thing. <br /><br />If you follow this blog closely(and I mean really closely) and have a good memory(and I mean a really good memory) you might recall my stance on All Hallows' Eve. Obviously, it's not in the affirmative. Seriously, couldn't we all just do without this? The pranks. The bad candy. The begging for said candy. The over 5 billion dollar costume industry. The "haunted houses". How do we get a referendum going? I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority here, but some things never change. As this post from five years ago can attest. <br /><br /><blockquote>...I feel compelled to say,"I hate Halloween." Not for any sort of religious reason. I actually think the whole "we'll call it Fallfest, or Harvest party, or some other obligatory church/school creation with a name that draws attention to the color of the leaves and makes every attempt not to use the word Halloween in any form" to save the children from the "evil" effects of All Hallows' Eve is a little silly. Kids can understand make believe. I grew up calling it Halloween and still did not feel compelled to worship Satan. Or trees. Nor do I think any human can fly on a broom. Speaking of growing up. I hated Halloween as a kid, too. The same drama seemed to play out every year as I would decide I was not participating in the Trick...or Treating while my little sister grew more impatient as my mom attempted to remind me of all I would be missing. I would then capitulate, but only so the tension would end... and for the candy. I still hated it. I hated dressing up. Still do. Costumes hold no allure for me. Plus, I wasn't fond of having to beg for the candy either. Not much of a beggar. I really wanted to just look up at the patronizing adult and say,"If you want to give me the candy, you see the plastic pumpkin. If not, fine. I don't really need your candy." But I didn't. I played the part. Smiled and took my wages for looking like a fool. Sister happy, Mom happy. Halloween another 364 days away. Man, I hate Halloween.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />But hey, Happy Halloween!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-23261961172828504842009-10-26T18:54:00.002-05:002009-11-02T10:43:43.132-06:00Things I don't understand #71...<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=foryourirra-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B001TOF3Q2" style="float: right; height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />...Why I don't get invited to parties like this(see video at bottom). <br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I get invited to parties(Lots and lots of parties.). But not parties that feature very intimate settings with live bands. So yes, I'm gonna talk about music again. It's Monday. It's Music Monday. Go ahead, test me on this. Come back next week and see if I not talking about music again.<br /><br />This week it's a band that I pretty much stumbled upon all on my lonesome called The Love Language. And I get the feeling no one really knows about them, yet. At least, not any of the sources I usually consult. In fact, they're so big their only internet presence comes in the form of a <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thelovelanguage">myspace page(Go ahead, give them a listen).</a> But the kids are good. And having fun. They're a little more lo-fi than I usually prefer, but I found it impossible not to like their stuff. You may find it possilble not to like them, but I dare you to watch/listen to the track below and not have some involuntary toe-tapping going on. Impossible! (Added bonus: While watching the video[1:40 mark], feel free to compare and contrast the energy levels of the tamborine/keyboards chick and the bass player. Bass players: The hall monitor of the rock world.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><object height="300" width="550"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7185528&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=7185528&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/7185528">"Lalita" - The Love Language</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1623752">Sitcom Serf</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-11657077262639210612009-10-19T17:18:00.000-05:002009-10-19T17:18:52.169-05:00Things I don't understand #70...<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=foryourirra-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002SDSDEW" style="float: right; height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
...why you're not listening to Lyle Lovett.<br />
<br />
Yeah, that's what I said. If you just snickered, I hate you. Ok, hate's a strong wrong. I severely despise you and heavily question your ability to make aural judgments. I know I might have <a href="http://farkyblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/things-i-dont-understand-68.html">made some promises</a>, but we're talking about Lyle here. I'm from Texas. He's from Texas. Yes, he's got kinda of an odd look. But when's the last time you married Julia Roberts. I thought so. Despite what ever you might think, he's a genius. He's what should have happened to country music in the 90's and 00's instead of Toby Keith and Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts and all that, well, crap that Nashville spewed out instead. <br />
<br />
I haven't heard his new album yet, but I'm pretty comfortable saying you should go buy it right now.(Oh wow, look at that. There's a handy link right up there so you can do that. Neat.) Whether live or in a recorded format, he never disappoints. So do what's right, do it for America, and do something good for your heart and get you some Lyle Lovett today...whether you're from Texas or not.<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KQoXnz3h_FE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KQoXnz3h_FE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-88063883914249035162009-10-16T12:03:00.006-05:002009-10-19T17:22:24.753-05:00Things I don't understand #69...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY6A6xOYAk4DuttgY3uVnoXl20rY6pVkNOgDPuiQgSDwfu5j2BGjjk-GoT6n7rhaLWsrxGaUI26x6diEeQwF0FmnEgxLwZa5e0UKN5j_fok4LjIxhmOrPI28N_QAptTdY2ch-jw/s1600-h/michelin-man.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393245692640137986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY6A6xOYAk4DuttgY3uVnoXl20rY6pVkNOgDPuiQgSDwfu5j2BGjjk-GoT6n7rhaLWsrxGaUI26x6diEeQwF0FmnEgxLwZa5e0UKN5j_fok4LjIxhmOrPI28N_QAptTdY2ch-jw/s200/michelin-man.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 124px;" /></a><br />
...Why the Michelin Man is white.<br />
<br />
Seriously, he's made of tires. My lifelong experience with tires would suggest two things. One, they're made of rubber. Two, they're black. Do any color-association with a three-year-old and I'm pretty sure it would play out like this. <br />
<blockquote>- "Apple?"<br />
- "Wed!"<br />
- "Grass?"<br />
- "Gween."<br />
- "Tires?"<br />
- "Back!"<br />
</blockquote><br />
You know what I mean, though. And while I may not understand why <a href="http://www.michelin.com/corporate/front/templates/affich.jsp?codeRubrique=99&lang=EN">Bibendum</a>, creation of O'Galop at the behest of the French tire company, is white; I think he probably helped to make you racist. <br />
<br />
I actually had the idea for this particular post a couple of weeks ago when I saw a Michelin commercial and was immediately bothered by the same question that arose when I was but a wee lad. "If he's made of tires, why is he white?" I'm almost positive I drove at least one parent to the brink of madness as I laid out my case against the Michelin Man's inherent "tirey-ness". I finally was forced to console myself--after being assured that he was indeed made of tires-- with the fact that there must be some where in the world or in history where white tires were prevalent. So, while that could be true, shouldn't at some point this character at least gotten a tan?<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm currently reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blink-Power-Thinking-Without/dp/0316010669/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255717468&sr=1-1"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316010669?ie=UTF8&tag=foryourirra-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0316010669">Blink by Malcolm Gladwell</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=foryourirra-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316010669" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. In it there's a brief section that talks about the unconscious or implicit racism that we all seem to carry around despite what we choose to believe, say, and do. Basically, our environment and the various influences that make up our cognitive world secretly whisper, "White good, black bad." So much so that even black people can't escape it's effect. There's even a test produced by Harvard's <a href="https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/">Project implicit</a> you can take to see just how implicitly racist you are (I was moderately influenced, which I think is pretty impressive considering I grew up in small town Texas). And while I read this, the first thing I thought of was the Michelin Man. He may not have been created with any thought as to which color was more appropriate. But in the end, an iconic character known the world over might have become one more in the long line of influences that makes us react to people in ways we wish we didn't. <br />
<br />
So, to all my black friends out there, I would like to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry that somewhere far below the surface I might "think" something less of you than I should. (Please remember that this is in my subconscious and almost entirely out of my control. Please?) I'm sorry that your life might be harder at times because of implicit racism. I'm sorry that I liked the Michelin Man at some point. But know, as with most things, it's the French's fault.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-26361610876105676152009-08-11T15:46:00.006-05:002009-10-16T14:01:51.666-05:00Things I don't understand #68...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3mgSSvHO2HdYLaP_W-WaeBTWOqttFJnaQngCWt762Xyo-fF8kcyhiUx36za_doGKo01b-YGvgbTfTjP7vSwOy40TnPJK-BulAhVMG-lXNAerSqegOBq-4yevVo1p5qAZXX2Pog/s1600-h/cartoon-bunny-rabbit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 164px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3mgSSvHO2HdYLaP_W-WaeBTWOqttFJnaQngCWt762Xyo-fF8kcyhiUx36za_doGKo01b-YGvgbTfTjP7vSwOy40TnPJK-BulAhVMG-lXNAerSqegOBq-4yevVo1p5qAZXX2Pog/s200/cartoon-bunny-rabbit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368813473104591314" /></a><br />...The deal with bands that have rabbit in their name.<br /><br />I would like to apologize. Not for your boredom or the lack of activity here or my general uselessness. You see, I've realized recently that I'm one of those people. Not one of the people who says they'll help you move and then "forgets" to show up, or one of those people that mows and edges the lawn and then doesn't sweep the sidewalks(my grandfather would wring my neck). No, I'm one of those people who lets their own interest in a particular topic or movement override their decision making which causes them to continually attempt to proselytize their friends until they reach an appropriate level of enthusiasm. I see now that it's hopeless. And fruitless. All my suggesting at parties what we really should be listening to, all my non sequiturs about bad and/or overrated popular music, all my homemade sampler cd's, all my making fun of other people's musical tastes--ok, strike that one-- but all the rest are over. Done. <br /><br />You may be asking, "Well, what's this?" Well, this is my blog. You came here. I'm not shoving it in you face. Heck, if you don't care about music, there's a good chance you already stopped reading. Here, I can still tell you about bands you should probably be listening to for no other reason then I want to. And you can ignore it at your peril. So speaking of bands and rabbits. I've got two videos for your listening and viewing enjoyment. The first is from <a href="http://whiterabbitsmusic.com/">White Rabbits</a> of NYC. And then we have <a href="http://www.frightenedrabbit.com">Frightened Rabbit</a>. Despite the fact they're lyrics can be...challenging and sometimes laced with profanity, I really like what they're dealing. Maybe it's the fact they're Scottish. But I hope you enjoy this acoustic number. <br /><br />So you're welcome...and I love you...and I'm sorry.<br /><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4461483&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ffffff&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4461483&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ffffff&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="600" height="350"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/4461483">White Rabbits "Percussion Gun" Music Video</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/whiterabbits">White Rabbits</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iPvNyRLMxjo&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iPvNyRLMxjo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-19914002426060409052009-07-27T10:26:00.005-05:002009-10-16T14:02:21.797-05:00Things I don't understand #67...This...<br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.todaysbigthing.com/betamax/betamax.swf?item_id=1929&fullscreen=1" width="480" height="360"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" quality="best" value="http://www.todaysbigthing.com/betamax/betamax.swf?item_id=1929&fullscreen=1" /> </object><br /><br />So I stumbled upon this video and as I watched the questions just kept flooding into my mind:<br />1. What bride would actually go through with this? Sure, I've known some who had crazy ideas, but none of them ever had the guts to pull the trigger. And of all my friends, I can only think of one who would consider this lever of insanity.<br />2. How did she talk all the groomsmen into doing it? (And after watching, some of the bride maids must have been reluctant as well. At least they should have been) Had someone come to me at the rehearsal and said, "Oh, by the way Jason, we would really like it if you could shimmy, step, and strut your way down the aisle, you know, R&B style," I can't imagine my reaction would have affirmed either their choice in method of entry or groomsman. <br />3. Speaking of rehearsals. How many did this take?<br />4. What song is this? (It's <a href="http://lala.com/zz6S">"Forever" by Chris Brown</a>. Is that ironic considering his relationship "issues"?)<br />5. How is it that the short, pudgy guy always seems to be the best dancer? (At least in white circles) I knew I should have taken advanced physics in college.<br />6. Why can't I stop watching? (Yeah, something about white people and dancing for five straight minutes.)<br />7. Why couldn't I have been in a wedding where I didn't have to wear a jacket? Texas + summer + jacket = sweat. Lots and lots of sweat.(Did I mention the time I almost passed out during a wedding?)<br />8. What's the grandmother of the groom thinking?<br />9. Didn't the bride need to give us a bit more? I mean, c'mon Jill, after what you just put your friends through, everyone should be involuntarily induced into a <span style="font-style:italic;">Fame</span> flashback as you come down the aisle. Or at least think you shared a secret wish of being a featured dancer on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9n9rKKNc2A"><span style="font-style:italic;">Soul Train</span></a>.<br /><br />Also, I think there's a couple of things to be learned from this video.<br />1. Commitment to the bit, any bit, is vital to the success of the bit. The first guy down the aisle was all in, and that's the only way to make sure it doesn't go from funny to sad.<br />2. Most all of life is enhanced to the backdrop of a good dance beat. <br />3. Should I ever get married, watch out.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-45734711703215255662009-03-11T17:58:00.001-05:002009-10-16T14:03:18.783-05:00Things I don't understand #66...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ90nxDrkiI8bJrPyXOt4zYC2UaS_8Ov09n3fp2UTmEE6RTHGNQfV8_-GTXFA3ErxG_atEoTpZogB4S97-8_t5oJ3rC6_TCPXfRBtMij4QlAL0M7IgkCyXVjvStsmG8Uz-tIGKfQ/s1600-h/Check+out+local+girls.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 108px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ90nxDrkiI8bJrPyXOt4zYC2UaS_8Ov09n3fp2UTmEE6RTHGNQfV8_-GTXFA3ErxG_atEoTpZogB4S97-8_t5oJ3rC6_TCPXfRBtMij4QlAL0M7IgkCyXVjvStsmG8Uz-tIGKfQ/s200/Check+out+local+girls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312056091839888290" /></a><br />Why the facebook is so concerned about my dating situation.<br /><br />If you are familiar with the facebook, you're probably also familiar with the ads in the right side-column of each page. After some time, I noticed that they all were about essentially the same topic. I then asked around and found that no one I knew shared in my experience. Basically, that 75%-80% of the advertisements I see on there are in some way related to me getting a date and/or wife. Luckily, they can also be somewhat amusing(with the occasional shocking thrown in for good measure). What I find most entertaining is usually the photo and the accompanying headline. It seems that the facebook knows a little about me because they are at times personalized, as they mention my current location(Texas). They also seem to hit the Christian drum pretty heavily, too. Though, I don't know if that's because of anything found in my profile or just the general nature of guys wanting to date Christian girls(look it up, it's true).<br /><br />Anyhoo, I spent about 15 to 20 minutes clicking around the facebook and collecting a lot of the ads(though, not all) and will now share with you some of my favs. As of yet, I've been able to withstand the onslaught and retain my dating site virginity. But feel free to vote for your favorites, and maybe I'll take it under advisement. <br /><br />The picture above goes with the head line: Check out local girls - Find the largest collection of single women at Thirty Plus Singles. -- <blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">So, the facebook also knows my age and has already begun pigeon-holing me.</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ljyx7n5vXoaDeWORWeez7N1GnjJ-wda8sb34FoJZ1QBfq1PRtOfhVAwYakOhl4VM9P2lWwYtLJwSpfB-BvH1U6G8ud2nBXswjoUWdBPn1Anwvbmr-mxTSuAOD-bR4g_f7cMChA/s1600-h/Romance+over+30.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 107px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ljyx7n5vXoaDeWORWeez7N1GnjJ-wda8sb34FoJZ1QBfq1PRtOfhVAwYakOhl4VM9P2lWwYtLJwSpfB-BvH1U6G8ud2nBXswjoUWdBPn1Anwvbmr-mxTSuAOD-bR4g_f7cMChA/s200/Romance+over+30.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312061435113798914" /></a>Romance over 30 - This is your chance to meet and chat with 30 plus singles at Mate1.<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">So I'm still eligible for romance? Whew!</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4BNfWXic0jsOebbk2bqVuKoLewkfT7g4IVCePgnSPPV12e6qXkdC21DpU0OTF4pFC7u4gR9llBYv2yrBDndTY3bq-rNRdPZX4VVe2Y0WwyAtuvlWAVYFCMopOPcbmi9uJ5EamA/s1600-h/Meet+local+women.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 106px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4BNfWXic0jsOebbk2bqVuKoLewkfT7g4IVCePgnSPPV12e6qXkdC21DpU0OTF4pFC7u4gR9llBYv2yrBDndTY3bq-rNRdPZX4VVe2Y0WwyAtuvlWAVYFCMopOPcbmi9uJ5EamA/s200/Meet+local+women.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312062310163344242" /></a><br />Meet Local Women. - Connect with attractive local women at Thirty Plus Singles.<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">This is weird, but thirty doesn't seem as bad as it did about 10 seconds ago. Yeah, I don't get it either.</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD_vIsSBmV3y0GCITt4aE0B-hzoUVtaHzcSiBjL48q0IyO57pRGHoPRYVixBb7P22l7hEFNsLhyQX_FT30rW9dgTCV-yt5hFIq25shCN2ZOZCLLXOWnbem8jMqLfDieWQqhI8Kg/s1600-h/Single+women+over+30.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 106px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD_vIsSBmV3y0GCITt4aE0B-hzoUVtaHzcSiBjL48q0IyO57pRGHoPRYVixBb7P22l7hEFNsLhyQX_FT30rW9dgTCV-yt5hFIq25shCN2ZOZCLLXOWnbem8jMqLfDieWQqhI8Kg/s200/Single+women+over+30.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312063394774192066" /></a>Single women over 30 - Find sexy mature women at Thirty Plus Singles.<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Still thirty? Check. Sexy? Check. Women? Check. Mature? Didn't you just say thirty? Also, do mature girls really pose for pictures like that?</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoxrcC1B5uoNESLg_87fwwYf1CtNo7L0MVpH5dj7nr7l88-xZCOYs0Wdhbk3ORPRzpJxbMCGDP4Rmuo2Krzi1dSCpoLmS5TUe2Y4bKjMUFJXzEXa_z2br_lxdX5UUGj0o-js6mg/s1600-h/Meet+Elite+Mature+Singles.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 64px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoxrcC1B5uoNESLg_87fwwYf1CtNo7L0MVpH5dj7nr7l88-xZCOYs0Wdhbk3ORPRzpJxbMCGDP4Rmuo2Krzi1dSCpoLmS5TUe2Y4bKjMUFJXzEXa_z2br_lxdX5UUGj0o-js6mg/s200/Meet+Elite+Mature+Singles.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312064762419680194" /></a>Meet Elite Mature Singles - Dating for mature singles can be very difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Mature Singles Only believes that no one should be alone.<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">No one? Ok, fine. But I'm not sure I want to date anyone who's already been officially labeled "Elite".</span></blockquote><br />Now we'll move the "Christian" category:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yWgWk0eOV9wMs1U1nUfAdJXsCfz4Cz-9u6ke_DlozCkjltGY0u80KAZ-0JOV2wmpPy3SU8pzipwR20ernvagm-vrU0RsdHvJocuc-0pmqb0fpGjdhYOiwixdo4e7iAOb7QXIVQ/s1600-h/Connect+with+Christians.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 110px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yWgWk0eOV9wMs1U1nUfAdJXsCfz4Cz-9u6ke_DlozCkjltGY0u80KAZ-0JOV2wmpPy3SU8pzipwR20ernvagm-vrU0RsdHvJocuc-0pmqb0fpGjdhYOiwixdo4e7iAOb7QXIVQ/s200/Connect+with+Christians.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312066346564941826" /></a>Connect with Christians - With ChristianMingle's scientifically designed matching system, we can introduce you to your soulmate! Try it now!<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Ah, bridging science to the soul. That's very holistic of you.</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIbWM-n7lCV6qGvpQEn9HtW_x2rPI7S7_ETW22rbSdjjuOCbq20NXC8rA6pgADuw0aiPfUZYbriApwvqR0WKeRLhAZrx-0zQ9UWzSvAGqL6gzR2OoSDJAVQN-ERRhzKZNwDrJZw/s1600-h/Want+a+Christian+Girl.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 109px; height: 76px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIbWM-n7lCV6qGvpQEn9HtW_x2rPI7S7_ETW22rbSdjjuOCbq20NXC8rA6pgADuw0aiPfUZYbriApwvqR0WKeRLhAZrx-0zQ9UWzSvAGqL6gzR2OoSDJAVQN-ERRhzKZNwDrJZw/s200/Want+a+Christian+Girl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312067030006690418" /></a><br />Want a Christian Girl? - Why don't you ask her out? It is easy to do it on Christian Mingle.com. Just send her a message. Try it free!<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">I think so. Why so demanding? Also, are there Christian girls that are less...frosty?</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsjGygqxuLPrFcS5hq5CXdY_pkW2VTpx8kOWysFotVYI1dFbCLnfCc9ZdPLyGa1axv1ZZhw5-8FPtK0vNRKHKXtZaTRkSwX5ResaW-EAktqAjft88NthWZkdkJqcMYCgjJm_j5Q/s1600-h/Fun+Christian+Singles.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 110px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsjGygqxuLPrFcS5hq5CXdY_pkW2VTpx8kOWysFotVYI1dFbCLnfCc9ZdPLyGa1axv1ZZhw5-8FPtK0vNRKHKXtZaTRkSwX5ResaW-EAktqAjft88NthWZkdkJqcMYCgjJm_j5Q/s200/Fun+Christian+Singles.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312067740124925810" /></a>Fun Christian Singles - Meet fun Christian singles in minutes! Start your free, no obligation trial of ChristianCafe.com. Email and IM free for 10 days.<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">It may just be because it's the only one that included a male in the picture, but this seems less fun than creepy. Seriously, dude, you're creeping me out.</span></blockquote><br />I'm assuming these are less "Christian":<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6k2uKwOl4udQxc2rM3Khg7LgtkFmau-VQE7XQPtMVQkH7dYxG1RhW_BqeHCuN-lYImfRn6CfWI7LGlJnhHe5cVbTY4YbOZOJqa1fSDvnilX0UqV6pIwcaaCL-0eyWP1RN08onTg/s1600-h/It's+okay+to+look.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 66px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6k2uKwOl4udQxc2rM3Khg7LgtkFmau-VQE7XQPtMVQkH7dYxG1RhW_BqeHCuN-lYImfRn6CfWI7LGlJnhHe5cVbTY4YbOZOJqa1fSDvnilX0UqV6pIwcaaCL-0eyWP1RN08onTg/s200/It's+okay+to+look.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312068438234347762" /></a>It's okay to look - Sign up and meet thirty plus singles today.<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Good to know. Ummm. Yeah. </span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z5zwJIx0uiVZX4lXIyslXYRn6FQ-Lw_OWMI86BJ_wEb4XkjzoKt45DIifPYpJoU_gySNPIcZXcIJcm9C0PRlAsbiPXEJQfRGOoursDodKLDBbzTgltpojPAZ44U_CrH9DBNJGw/s1600-h/Meet+Hot+Girls.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 80px; height: 79px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Z5zwJIx0uiVZX4lXIyslXYRn6FQ-Lw_OWMI86BJ_wEb4XkjzoKt45DIifPYpJoU_gySNPIcZXcIJcm9C0PRlAsbiPXEJQfRGOoursDodKLDBbzTgltpojPAZ44U_CrH9DBNJGw/s200/Meet+Hot+Girls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312069200292373986" /></a>Meet Hot Girls - Thousands of single girls are waiting for you now at FindingSingles, and you can join free today!<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">This seems overly simplistic. But I am a man, so I'm listening. Ok, so you did say "Hot".</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqN0qULnDWi-zYtJDveo1t9j_iWPR1Nyf243q-nnAUYRi_-uztVZrjjLrc9eNjKjtxNIzANCTAmvD6HXiLKfSf9kv7TUS4r_c9iF7znLyteGAU1S7Y0E6C7pz5BATTUxbwvsf0A/s1600-h/Get+a+Girlfriend.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 110px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqN0qULnDWi-zYtJDveo1t9j_iWPR1Nyf243q-nnAUYRi_-uztVZrjjLrc9eNjKjtxNIzANCTAmvD6HXiLKfSf9kv7TUS4r_c9iF7znLyteGAU1S7Y0E6C7pz5BATTUxbwvsf0A/s200/Get+a+Girlfriend.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312069888426372578" /></a>Get a Girlfriend - Tired of being single? Meet sexy, fun girls today at True. 100% Free.<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Once again, oversimplified. Once again, still a guy. It is what it is people.</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTFIKMQnqEyZjVVh07Dwy7D8EqZeFdjk8vH7CUsnzn8BTvmCxGAnDccZ35yol-MHaFLLL_WlG_i7bC4-yXc8l8nHOcOy1fAiCLYGrxmbQGe5-mDnep5e-Y-SV4xAuvwn1Nds5yw/s1600-h/Want+a+Girlfriend.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 110px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTFIKMQnqEyZjVVh07Dwy7D8EqZeFdjk8vH7CUsnzn8BTvmCxGAnDccZ35yol-MHaFLLL_WlG_i7bC4-yXc8l8nHOcOy1fAiCLYGrxmbQGe5-mDnep5e-Y-SV4xAuvwn1Nds5yw/s200/Want+a+Girlfriend.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312071426877809266" /></a><br />Want a Girlfriend? - Tired of being single? Meet sexy, fun girls today at True. 100% Free.<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Uh, no I think I'm okay. And I'm pretty sure they're not looking for boyfriends, either. At least not in the classical sense of the word.</span></blockquote><br />Now for what I'll call the "niche" sites:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oLxABWNGSoXrFuRuE0vIj-0QQPlEtsw6-oXt949i2TAfb4iUCXy39kFSO_nX_Enw6DDcOIk4FMGTxbvrTSPqWPDBV55bhDWKNONSJCYmdLUD6v86uD4o7f9lqaj-qd7Vyhi-Fw/s1600-h/Meet+Asian+Women.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 60px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oLxABWNGSoXrFuRuE0vIj-0QQPlEtsw6-oXt949i2TAfb4iUCXy39kFSO_nX_Enw6DDcOIk4FMGTxbvrTSPqWPDBV55bhDWKNONSJCYmdLUD6v86uD4o7f9lqaj-qd7Vyhi-Fw/s200/Meet+Asian+Women.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312072370049209506" /></a>Meet Asian Women - Single? Meet 1000s of Asian women in your area today at Asianpeoplemeet online dating. Browse pics and videos. Join free!<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Wait, should this offend me? I mean, it's not like all Asians are the same. Now Orientals...</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAW09NG22RCbC1MH7q4LfY9P3hw-XU1Sg2_sMF__hStLyk5UNDKCr7PpmfV4tkFBTLgXcujD25qrFsja81wPjEloI5-QOLgSOeQpMA_8qDFG71a569BtNDUtrNNgfwxEgiqm7Fw/s1600-h/Meet+Russian+Woman+today.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 73px; height: 79px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAW09NG22RCbC1MH7q4LfY9P3hw-XU1Sg2_sMF__hStLyk5UNDKCr7PpmfV4tkFBTLgXcujD25qrFsja81wPjEloI5-QOLgSOeQpMA_8qDFG71a569BtNDUtrNNgfwxEgiqm7Fw/s200/Meet+Russian+Woman+today.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312073208915460546" /></a>Meet Russian Women Today - Classy, educated, beautiful Russian Ladies for classy men.<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Classy...this entire process just screams, "Classy." Warning: could be a mail-order bride site.</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmiz2a10v_X2ArM501AjEa6dL_zdJ_juMdMq572tZcIHjJmdq2f82x0WBHpXX4-_zYe-ARS3InvBgcQmvpIf7rquFpBMTi5vETfOr9lgD_Q6Htc6Wf2fn4UOax6WFWd_pQ7Ednw/s1600-h/BBW+Personals.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 72px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmiz2a10v_X2ArM501AjEa6dL_zdJ_juMdMq572tZcIHjJmdq2f82x0WBHpXX4-_zYe-ARS3InvBgcQmvpIf7rquFpBMTi5vETfOr9lgD_Q6Htc6Wf2fn4UOax6WFWd_pQ7Ednw/s200/BBW+Personals.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312073763416462466" /></a>BBW Personals - Website for BBW singles and for those that admire them. Sign up for free to view photo profiles!<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Did I mention "Niche"? Warning: Do not enter BBW into google and press enter. Trust me.</span></blockquote><br />And finally the "Does anyone smell desperation?" category:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikkN-qSxsmZSrUdbVQ04WWyJBZu3bejnm8jJvBQhPvQ5abpQNYuD1Y4XVl0JSICvAnwvJpB08NXGVZdp2rGUd3bctkVRg2jhMRkDO1v1JCKIk4nblVuiEX3jx3s_3EoPFBX3uMA/s1600-h/Man+wanted+now.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 80px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikkN-qSxsmZSrUdbVQ04WWyJBZu3bejnm8jJvBQhPvQ5abpQNYuD1Y4XVl0JSICvAnwvJpB08NXGVZdp2rGUd3bctkVRg2jhMRkDO1v1JCKIk4nblVuiEX3jx3s_3EoPFBX3uMA/s200/Man+wanted+now.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312075419350893458" /></a>Man wanted now - Due to the amoubt of female response online at Perfect Match.com, we lack men responding to their needs for attention. Chat free now!<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">Now! "...their needs for attention." Where do I sign up? Plus, free chatting.</span></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGkObBic-BxGOqpTCke8e8DdvCR4VZNyyIRQ5x_K1p60gMEo8Im1bLTtjTDa3gDCAoZzNEWLJxJKnJuKjgh6FdSJu8ZvwI3da0tRqQP6PXO0yThR__E03sHRboHwbqxTmhr0FKw/s1600-h/Mail+Order+Brides+service.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 96px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGkObBic-BxGOqpTCke8e8DdvCR4VZNyyIRQ5x_K1p60gMEo8Im1bLTtjTDa3gDCAoZzNEWLJxJKnJuKjgh6FdSJu8ZvwI3da0tRqQP6PXO0yThR__E03sHRboHwbqxTmhr0FKw/s200/Mail+Order+Brides+service.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312076114867790130" /></a>Mail order brides service - For a man from Texas! Create a happy family with your Russian Bride!<blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;">When conversation is no longer an option, you can always turn to your credit card. Facebook and mail-order brides, what more does a man need?</span></blockquote><br /><br />So now all you married folks know what you've been missing. Jealousy does not become you.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-16655489918267435772009-03-10T12:02:00.004-05:002009-03-10T13:21:09.131-05:00Things I don't understand #65...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J_nMH3bJ9xar8eu4D9itTZJK_bGMghY2zK1fYYBgIqVrVpjzz7ZUIntDW4Jnf5g89AwGyqBLO9VItgEYcIwZfNl0zUsiyO55eHqUvDb0HIDPUc3zC3aXj85p3Q6mat5h7fjNTQ/s1600-h/facebook.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 179px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J_nMH3bJ9xar8eu4D9itTZJK_bGMghY2zK1fYYBgIqVrVpjzz7ZUIntDW4Jnf5g89AwGyqBLO9VItgEYcIwZfNl0zUsiyO55eHqUvDb0HIDPUc3zC3aXj85p3Q6mat5h7fjNTQ/s200/facebook.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311608360159329698" /></a><br />...the facebook.<br /><br />Ok, so I get that it's a "social networking" site, but do any of us know what that really means? And I even get how it works(to a certain extent), but most of my time spent on the site seems to involve me thinking,"Is this what I'm actually supposed to do?" I thought impersonal electronic interaction was supposed to remove uneasiness. Yet, it seems we've just added an entirely new category of social tension. I've had to institute a whole new protocol to ensure I maintain a respectable level of facebook etiquette. I.e., anyone who wants to be my facebook friend gets to be my facebook friend, providing they've supplied a profile picture(got to make sure they're committed). This rule had to be implemented because so many people who wanted to be my facebook friend where never actually, well, my friend. I currently have 96 friends on facebook(yes, I'm well aware I'm a loser), yet a quick survey revels less than half of those have ever been my friend at any time and at any loosely defined level. And of those, I have a current relationship with less than half. Now, some people who I don't really know I actually wouldn't mind knowing, but I don't...yet, we're "friends". It's all so confusing. <br /><br />There's also a myriad ways of communicating just via facebook. You can use "the wall", but there's also the inbox which works essentially like email. And there's always the status updates, which allow you not only to let people know what you're up to, but comment on what other people are up to. I've had conversations with people using all three methods, but what's the preferred method? (And sometimes people mistakenly leave a message on your wall about your status instead of just commenting on it. Talk about confusion!) And what do people want on their wall? I guess what I want to know is, how many of these methods can I use to ask a girl out? Ok, I want to retract that, or redact it, or something. I'm sorry.<br /><br />Plus, I'm having a little trouble reconciling this new social contract I've apparently entered into with the fact that everyone seems to agree that the facebook is a complete waste of time. Don't get me wrong, I love it. But I'm not sure why. Plus(and this is probably just something that effects me), haven't I just found another way to disappoint and offend people? It's a gift, I know. But I'm good enough at it when people can actually hear the inflection in my voice. I guess it's just another occupation hazard of always having to carry this acerbic wit wherever I go, but I digress. All I'm saying is, the facebook? Good...and well, bad...oh, and welcome to facebook week.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-46515607745379753762009-02-11T17:30:00.001-06:002009-03-10T13:22:14.024-05:00Things I don't understand #64...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1OUaq1-CSB1A3Yprpr7g3s3UKXRp9v2-zFhtykTIZ1LeNS1oC79vGLh6SAII5T3k6gH8iCOWyJ_ystfVeBm2_rdDtRHMehPlft43ys3JMlpQEFpBCt9Wz6jEfWxIi0mYlehyphenhyphenUw/s1600-h/Texting+teen+behind+the+wheel500.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1OUaq1-CSB1A3Yprpr7g3s3UKXRp9v2-zFhtykTIZ1LeNS1oC79vGLh6SAII5T3k6gH8iCOWyJ_ystfVeBm2_rdDtRHMehPlft43ys3JMlpQEFpBCt9Wz6jEfWxIi0mYlehyphenhyphenUw/s200/Texting+teen+behind+the+wheel500.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301271691360138722" /></a><br />...People who think they have four eyes, three hands, and two brains.<br /><br />So I was out the other day during the later stages of rush hour. I was on Central Expressway, yet moving at a fairly un-expressway rate of speed(and in case you aren't aware, Central is a place of many lanes and going fast). Finally, the waters parted, and there was opportunity for all of us to collectively express our liberty by way of the accelerator...except for the car in front of me. I could see the lane preceding it and it's relative openness. Despite that, there was no increase in speed and there was even some random breaking. I began to question the heavens(and really, I wouldn't be surprised if other drivers might have heard me considering the volume of my query) as to why the car refused to speed up or remove itself from the roadways. As we parted ways, I was, for a moment, next to the car and was able to peer in on the driver to see if they were injured or truly(as I expected) mentally impaired in some way. As I gazed at her(no comment), I decided she was not hurt but decided to table the latter. For I then saw the true reason for her inexplicable driving habits. There was a cell phone...and she wasn't trying to talk on it. SHE WAS TEXTING!!!!<br /><br />Now I know there's some disagreement out there about whether it's possible to talk on the phone and safely pilot one's vehicle(it is), but I think we can all agree that typing coherent words and even sentences on a device while checking your work on a tiny screen should probably not be done at speeds above 10 mph. If you're at a red light, text away. But as soon as it turns green, PUT THE PHONE DOWN! And you sure as Hades better not sit there while the light is green. Even if you were to find yourself on the same freeway in stop and go traffic, if you wanted to broadcast a couple of "LOL's" during the stop portion, I'm willing to look past it. But we're not talking about those scenarios, we're talking about actual movement. And needing to be aware of your surroundings and other drivers while moving at a high rate of speed.<br /><br />So on this exact same trip, as I returned home, I got back onto Central. At this point, it was much more welcoming. As I merged onto the thoroughfare and accelerated, I was once again met with a dangerous obstacle. A car doing fifty in front of me. Now that might not seem dangerous, unless every other car is doing 70...which they were. I could tell you what happened or you could just re-read the first paragraph. Because it was the exact same story. No lie. A woman(no comment) texting on her phone. Apparently, God get's a kick out of sending me in to rage induced histrionics on our roadways. Good one, God, good one. Oh, and what I found most interesting was neither of these drivers were teenagers as one might expect. Instead, both were at least in their thirties, maybe forties; the elder being no younger than fifty. So apparently, this epidemic has no age-limits.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-59376495954414546332008-12-12T11:00:00.001-06:002009-03-10T13:22:47.330-05:00Things I don't understand #63...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIqvATbuPeF1kgLlIUt4IR3Hz9BzOHGrDBIGjH1u0hH4_xh_0x7QM6EJmFYuu7f7Sm5yuWSzPTWakH8aRZwyPjJ1CegQZKUwctOYQkm5pMPQCv8GeDeH6sLLzFUwWwYiHlxpnYg/s1600-h/8697478.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 105px; height: 105px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIqvATbuPeF1kgLlIUt4IR3Hz9BzOHGrDBIGjH1u0hH4_xh_0x7QM6EJmFYuu7f7Sm5yuWSzPTWakH8aRZwyPjJ1CegQZKUwctOYQkm5pMPQCv8GeDeH6sLLzFUwWwYiHlxpnYg/s200/8697478.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278654682286304706" border="0" /></a><br />...How many times, and how many ways, the BCS can screw up one of the greatest sports.<br /><br />I can't believe that after all these years, it's only getting worse. As a bonus, this year it was actually the team I support that got screwed (Yea BCS!). It's just almost too painful to discuss. But I'm going to go through it all, yet again. Main point: There should be a playoff in college football. Sub points: This is just really ridiculous; You've got to have 16 teams; All opposing arguments are completely ludicrous and are rendered void on a yearly basis. <br /><br />I got to thinking the other day about if you met a guy who recently moved to the U.S., and who also was a big sports fan. He recognized the huge popularity of college football, yet was confused about the process of finding a champion. Imagine in your mind that scenario and then imagine as you begin your explanation. How convoluted does it sound after 30 seconds? How foolish do you feel after 60? The BCS is basically like a boxing match going to the judges if most of the judges didn't actually watch the fight but just looked at the punching stats the next day and then combined that with the boxers' reputations. I imagine the foreigner replying with one word, "Preposterous!" And that's what it is. We need a playoff system. <br /><br />The playoff system should be 16 teams because there are 11 conferences and 120 teams. Obviously everyone can't play everyone else, so a weeding out process must be employed. I would eliminate any conference champion with more than 4 losses (just in case one of those "other" conference champs goes 6-6 or somethin') and then leave the empty slots to be filled with at-large bids. If you don't include all the conferences you leave a major problem unsolved. That being that every team in the top division should start the year with a chance at winning a championship. Currently, this is not true. Ask Utah and Boise St. And limiting it to 8 teams would still make that likely. Plus, you still risk leaving out teams with legitimate arguments. This year being a prime example. Either Boise St. at 12-0 or Penn St. at 11-1 would be left out of a 8-team playoff. And even with 16 teams, it is still one of the most exclusive post-seasons in sports. So 16 it is.<br /><br />Now a response to the various arguments for the current system (really, what are these people thinking...or whose dole are they on?). #1) "Each week is a playoff." Really? Like the week Texas played OU? Or the week Florida lost AT HOME to a pedestrian Ole' Miss? What about the week that Boise St. lost? Oh wait, they didn't. So they won their "playoff" yet somehow find themselves playing in the...(you don't even know what bowl they're in do you? You're never gonna believe this...) the Ponsietta Bowl. I bet you don't even know where it's played.<br />#2) "That would be too many games and these are student athletes." Seriously? If a playoff were introduced, the regular season would most likely return to 11 games instead of 12. That means the two teams that make it to the championship would play 15 games. OU and Florida will both end up playing 14 games this year. Plus, every other level of the NCAA has a playoff. So I think they can handle it. #3) "A playoff would make games less important or exciting." Sure, OU vs. OSU did have drama, along with Florida vs. Alabama. But what about all those good teams that had been eliminated from championship contention and were just playing out the string? And honestly, OU vs. OSU would have retained much of its importance because OSU would have been playing for their playoff lives instead of just hoping to ruin OU's title run. The same for Florida-Florida St., or Georgia-Georgia Tech, or Ohio St.-Mich, or Penn St.-Mich St., or BYU-Utah, or...you get my drift? For every game that the stakes are reduced there a multiple games, no, make that teams that all the sudden become relevant with the introduction of a playoff. So, as you can see, those objections are dumb. <br /><br />Now, we get to look at this year's mythical bracket. I decided to make it easier on myself and just use the last set of rankings and the winners from the conference championship games. This may seem like a no-brainer to you, but because I'm convinced that a playoff would mean the end of such games, I've ignored them in the past. But I'm going for less mental gymnastics and taking the easy way out. Sorry. Here we go. Just imagine how glorious it would be if instead of switching our attention to basketball this week we were gearing up for a tournament that sported this bracket of potential match-ups. FYI's: For the first time in 5 years, the Sun Belt winner actually qualifies, thusly Okla. St or Georgia Tech (depending on if there was a cap of 3 teams per conference) find themselves on the outside looking in. And the Mt. West conference gets 2 teams in while the Pac 10 gets 1 (ouch).<blockquote>(1) Oklahoma - Big 12 Champ (BCS #1)<br />(16) Troy - Sun Belt Champ (NR)<br /><br />(8) Penn St. - Big 10 Champ (#8)<br />(9) Boise St. - WAC Champ (#9)<br /><br />(5) USC - Pac 10 Champ (#5)<br />(12) Cincinnati - Big East Champ (#12)<br /><br />(4) Alabama - At large (#4)<br />(13) Va. Tech - ACC Champ (#19)<br /><br /><br />(3) Texas - At large (#3)<br />(14) E. Carolina - C-USA Champ (NR)<br /><br />(6) Utah - Mountain West Champ (#6)<br />(11) TCU - At large (#11)<br /><br />(7) Texas Tech - At large (#7)<br />(10) Ohio St. - At large (#10)<br /><br />(2) Florida - SEC Champ (#2)<br />(15) Buffalo - MAC Champ (NR)</blockquote><br />BTW, ESPN has a <a href="http://proxy.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls08/bracket">feature</a> where you can simulate a 16 team playoff. It doesn't have all the teams available, but it's still kinda cool to look at.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-81961109459280819392008-12-08T13:00:00.007-06:002009-03-10T13:23:36.015-05:00Things I don't understand #62<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9aqVAGJsAT1cZCkcLKOrsQZGNn4F4RMslik_upxUlzTe47DvSCkg9tefhEjdkO6Jzvu0OgSPiVrGls2cE7eju7sF3t8rR1ipyfi-ujwQ_rZ0wwZisFEXx8lCbWRCRAz5OXG7hQ/s1600-h/ashleymadison.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis9aqVAGJsAT1cZCkcLKOrsQZGNn4F4RMslik_upxUlzTe47DvSCkg9tefhEjdkO6Jzvu0OgSPiVrGls2cE7eju7sF3t8rR1ipyfi-ujwQ_rZ0wwZisFEXx8lCbWRCRAz5OXG7hQ/s200/ashleymadison.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277936919150410114" /></a><br />...How I can live in a world where this is an option.<br /><br />Not for me, but you know, for people in general. So, I'm sitting in front of the TV one night...actually, I was sitting at the laptop at the table with the TV in the background but in view. I had it on ESPN (shocker) and I'm guessing it was later in the evening. Anyhoo, I'm sure I was doing something really important like checking Facebook or looking for music or making vital fantasy football moves (not blogging, though; definitely not blogging) when some commercial caught my eye (I can also see my TV in a mirror so as to not have to do such exhausting things as turning my head). <br /><br />It started out showing a couple who were very obviously in the process of some very personal interaction. A phrase flashes on screen, "These people are married." More images of possible actions one might take if they found themselves in a hotel room with a scantily clad female, then a second phrase. "But not to each other." At this point, the commercial had my full attention. I sat there staring at the screen. Mainly, I was waiting for the punch-line. It had to be some joke, some funny beer ad. Surely, they couldn't be supporting one cheating on their marriage, breaking one's vows. But no punch-line came. Instead, just a <a href="http://www.ashleymadison.com/">web address</a> and then a slogan: "Life is short. Have an affair." I sat there dazed and agape. Despite the lack of a comical ending, I still thought this might be a joke...or more of an elaborate ruse. A prank. So I went to the site. And I quickly came to the conclusion that this was real. <br /><br />They claim to have over 2.3 million members of their "dating service". But alas, not many single ones (poor me). According to their faq(why do I find it so odd that they have a faq) if you're single, "you're probably going to have to try a little harder." You see, I don't have as much to lose and therefore can't be trusted...in a dating service for people looking to break one of God's "Big Ten". So I guess if you're making a list or reasons for me to get married or not, this can be added to both sides of the ledger. Sure, you're more likely to be cheated on, but now you find yourself eligible for additional "dating" options. So just in case you still think I'm making this up, I've added the commercial below for your viewing pleasure. Life is short...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlYIdR_nzOU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TlYIdR_nzOU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-52968619918264796792008-11-12T17:35:00.001-06:002009-03-10T13:24:15.725-05:00Things I don't understand #61...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq4GTUXImVQBZoJzjwluu8VMLG2z-rH3jWkGUhmTfKY26ZGKRh7UjcLzDJ_-_hbxW6QHf0VmTO1DZuRbUBZOPTCn1DVtZcJf9XVZVNajGThLmvX5evzPCDkFPeu_amLSqWzb-lA/s1600-h/CIMG0467.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 94px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeq4GTUXImVQBZoJzjwluu8VMLG2z-rH3jWkGUhmTfKY26ZGKRh7UjcLzDJ_-_hbxW6QHf0VmTO1DZuRbUBZOPTCn1DVtZcJf9XVZVNajGThLmvX5evzPCDkFPeu_amLSqWzb-lA/s200/CIMG0467.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264999667103772994" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLL-Y2z7r-d71MW9UYtSC_tRMM7UTmlxELXIpb9SKuYN16UHDn9sQNa580a3h1lAYaJva7cuv29FTkIXoksq0DnnU7lwH_lP9DSBtglBkE9IQRClDs7KaJw47uLKa8SJ6_eEzaQ/s1600-h/image0.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 69px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLL-Y2z7r-d71MW9UYtSC_tRMM7UTmlxELXIpb9SKuYN16UHDn9sQNa580a3h1lAYaJva7cuv29FTkIXoksq0DnnU7lwH_lP9DSBtglBkE9IQRClDs7KaJw47uLKa8SJ6_eEzaQ/s200/image0.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264999365445938306" /></a><br />...How both those pictures could possibly be me.<br /><br />Yeah, this. Throughout the life of this here blog, I've tried to stay away from this particular topic, for whatever reason. But after numerous requests from various sources(and the fact that topics sometimes are hard to come by) I decided to relent. Many of you know this story, as you lived it with me, but just in case...<br /><br />Both pictures are indeed of me. The first from about 8-10 years ago (I really don't remember) and second is much more recent. So yeah, I was a fatty. Bordering on morbidly obese (High Five, Wendy's!). About 7 years ago(maybe 8?), my roommate at the time (Eric) wanted to join a health club, but he didn't want to go check it out by himself. So I agreed to go with him. Next thing I know, I'm also a member of a health club. I think the high fees combined with the fact that earlier that year I had been told by a doctor it'd be a good idea to drop a few, ensured that I would actually use the membership.<br /><br />Use it I did, pretty much 6 days a week, at least. I'll spare you the stories of peeing blood, realizing the red stuff on my towel was coming from my shirt which was actually blood coming from me, and the like; but suffice it to say I did not do it half-heartedly. Now despite the fact that I was at the club 6-7 days a week, sometimes for up to 2 hours, I never grew to like it. Even though I run several times a week, I have never experienced "runner's high". And never have I looked forward to working out. The one thing I did like? The results. That I actually knew the efficacy of what I was doing helped a lot. So over the course of about a year and a half to 2 years, I went from (this is fairly embarrassing) about 320 lbs. to a low of 191. I now sit at a smidge over 200. Of course, the years since have seen me yo-yo a little. But as much as I don't know how I let it get that bad, I know I will never let it happen again. <br /><br />A couple of random observations from a guy who used to be really fat. One, after losing weight, you get treated better. I still remember one of the first times I was in a department store after a precipitous loss in weight. I had never been asked if I needed help that many times in my life. I actually looked around for hidden cameras, thinking it must be some sort of joke. It wasn't, that's how the non-fat(or I guess I should say less fat, because I'm still pretty big) are treated. Also, you've never seen disappointment until you've had to tell a person the bad news that the way to loose weight is to eat less and exercise more. Seriously, once someone finds out or just gets up the gumption to ask how you did it, they look at you like you're the Wizard of Oz (pre-curtain-pulling) because you've obviously been let in on one of the great secrets of the universe. But when they find out the uncomplicated yet difficult truth, they look like you just notified them of Santa's questionable existence. I now have a pat answer for when I get such a question. I warn said person they probably won't like it, and then I tell them, "I got off my fat butt, and stopped stuffing my fat face." Although, the more you're off your butt, the more face-stuffing you can still enjoy, but you know what I mean. <br /><br />Oh, and I should also warn you, since I once was fat I retain my license to make fun of fat people. I can freely roll my eyes when I hear excuses that include phrases like "poor metabolism" and "big boned". Sure there's some truth to them, but in the end, the thing on the opposite end of the fork from the food is you--a sentient, free-willed being. Oddly enough, I used to think I was big boned. Until I did the wrist test, and realized I wasn't big boned...I was fat. Finally, one last story of post-fatdom. Not being able to walk around a family reunion anonymously; or the time I ran into a guy I grew up with, and he just blew me off because he had no idea who that guy was who knew his name. No, this occurred at the aforementioned health club.<br /><br />At this point(year 3 as a club member), I had lost all the weight I was going to lose and was in maintenance mode. Well, as anyone who's ever been a member of a health club knows, you get to where you recognize the regulars, whether you're an introvert like me and do everything possible not to talk to them or not, you still find yourself exchanging numerous knowing nods. Well, on this day, one or the other regulars--a 50-ish guy in really good shape--who I had never shared a single word with approaches me at the water fountain and what resulted is the following exchange:<blockquote>Not me: Hey, doing ok?<br />Me: Yeah, good. How are you.<br />Not me: Fine. So you've lost quite a bit of weight haven't you?<br />Me: Yeah, you could say that.<br />Not me: Yeah, you're a bit of a rock star around here. Everybody's amazed how well you've done. How much did you lose?<br />Me: Well, actually it was about 100 pounds, maybe a little more.<br />Not me: Man! That's great! Yeah, you were a bit of a porker, but now you look great!<br />Me: (smile creeps across my face as I realize that the truth just leaked out) Yeah, I guess I was a porker.<br />Not me: Well good job man. I just wanted to let you know people noticed your hard work.<br />Me: Thanks. (Still wearing somewhat quizzical smile)</blockquote><br />That was the first and last time I ever talked to him. And now you know the famous "Porker story".Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-68910709492508311672008-11-11T16:02:00.003-06:002009-03-10T13:25:02.038-05:00Things I don't understand #60...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCggOHKIqAsda1uRAHwgzmL_DCJ3AeO1GCe1piyWIA_UHs1CTKRXMnK-ArU3VDMpMUg6631OJxNMpCVk_D2JvURMtMtfqhw1RLfpMg_mV0iJEapta1njpb8hDva9EkM0f6TPGsw/s1600-h/IMG_1800.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCggOHKIqAsda1uRAHwgzmL_DCJ3AeO1GCe1piyWIA_UHs1CTKRXMnK-ArU3VDMpMUg6631OJxNMpCVk_D2JvURMtMtfqhw1RLfpMg_mV0iJEapta1njpb8hDva9EkM0f6TPGsw/s200/IMG_1800.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267524119945890946" /></a><br />...How history keeps repeating.<br /><br />So we ran that <a href="http://farkyblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/things-i-dont-understand-42.html">dumb</a> <a href="http://farkyblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/things-i-dont-understand-43.html">race</a> <a href="http://farkyblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/things-i-dont-understand-58.html">again</a>. Obviously, someone brought a camera this time. Also, we ran a complete mile (Yeah us!). Two new people showed up (Andrea and Tommy). And two other people wussed out (Eric and Patrick). And we ran at a different track (J.J. Pearce vs. SMU). So all those things were different. But unfortunately, one important detail remained the same. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5U3wg7GpFRx-yKoQv3x8ZgLP5TsBsvEH6gZ5t323xwzYgIyOFVH2A3D0jP0Ltp2gaBbezHnPQ3AmO1sb_ezkL1M2uBpoOkCiMs50UnFx-PVYBCuljSf1BqJ0m94bB0gYybrgsA/s1600-h/CIMG1214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5U3wg7GpFRx-yKoQv3x8ZgLP5TsBsvEH6gZ5t323xwzYgIyOFVH2A3D0jP0Ltp2gaBbezHnPQ3AmO1sb_ezkL1M2uBpoOkCiMs50UnFx-PVYBCuljSf1BqJ0m94bB0gYybrgsA/s200/CIMG1214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202964796541785490" border="0" /></a>Bryan still won. <br /><br />I didn't let him get away until the second lap, though. So that's something. But get away he did. And I'm still a tad unclear how it happened, but that doesn't really matter now. It really bothers me that I continue to allow him to back up his braggadocio, but what's a big, fat, slow, white guy supposed to do? So here are the final times as precisely recorded by our official time keeper, Kurt (Andrea's husband):<br /><blockquote>Bryan - 5:53:68<br />Jason - 6:13:77<br />Andrea - 6:29.86<br />Tommy - 7:02:90</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436833.post-25664293872695821242008-11-10T17:00:00.001-06:002009-03-10T13:25:29.211-05:00Things I don't understand #59...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBFvxsJiRH0_2k79T0sFuj-sH0X6YYU0xCYRnUsTPGaVoFe1sHV1hbBWbroOqjawlgRaWaeV6dRh6IXJ-L_0ypjZQJNqm5IWCH3LS0_2W5rzDSIywbSq9M-NVhqkcfC5S8yO6Mw/s1600-h/img009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBFvxsJiRH0_2k79T0sFuj-sH0X6YYU0xCYRnUsTPGaVoFe1sHV1hbBWbroOqjawlgRaWaeV6dRh6IXJ-L_0ypjZQJNqm5IWCH3LS0_2W5rzDSIywbSq9M-NVhqkcfC5S8yO6Mw/s200/img009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265426021501368514" border="0" /></a><br />...How something that looks like that could be one to the most perfect dishes I've ever enjoyed.<br /><br />* Warning * Vegetarians Beware!!! * Warning *<br />What you are looking at is a dish named the "Belfast Burger Bomb", or just "The Bomb" to us insiders. Despite it's somewhat irreverent European name, it's birthplace is actually the very non-European suburb of Frisco, TX, at a very fake pub called <a href="http://irishroverpub.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8&Itemid=34">the Irish Rover</a>. This "burger" changed my life. I put that in quotes because its construction puts the categorization of burger into question. Here's how it's built. A bottom bun. A good quality patty of beef. Next(This is where things get tricked up a bit), comes a big pile of french fries. Yeah, I know. Then, it is topped with a very nice version of chili. And finally, cheese is added with no regard for human life and melted perfectly. Yes it is a heart attack waiting to happen. And yes, it is glorious. <br /><br />What seems to make it so perfect, is that it's the first chili burger that actually delivers on its potential. It seems almost anyone who likes burgers and likes chili has at some point succumbed to the raised skirt and perfumed inner thigh of the chili burger only to be disappointed. I think it's because the ingredients combine to overwhelm the taste buds in a messy, meaty overload. I think the key for "the Bomb" is the fries. It acts as the perfect mellowing agent and allows you to complete the dish...and then be overcome by a meaty euphoria. If you haven't had it, I'm sure you think I'm crazy. But this dish makes me want to open a restaurant just so I can make it and serve it to others. <br /><br />Oddly enough, it was discovered on accident. Bryan and I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5U3wg7GpFRx-yKoQv3x8ZgLP5TsBsvEH6gZ5t323xwzYgIyOFVH2A3D0jP0Ltp2gaBbezHnPQ3AmO1sb_ezkL1M2uBpoOkCiMs50UnFx-PVYBCuljSf1BqJ0m94bB0gYybrgsA/s1600-h/CIMG1214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5U3wg7GpFRx-yKoQv3x8ZgLP5TsBsvEH6gZ5t323xwzYgIyOFVH2A3D0jP0Ltp2gaBbezHnPQ3AmO1sb_ezkL1M2uBpoOkCiMs50UnFx-PVYBCuljSf1BqJ0m94bB0gYybrgsA/s200/CIMG1214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202964796541785490" border="0" /></a> were at the Rover as is our custom after many a FC Dallas game. He had mentioned he wanted to eat light, and I began scouring the menu. When I saw it, I suggested it immediately, knowing Bryan's true temptress, chili, and that the opposite of light had to be something called the "Belfast Burger Bomb". I figured he would just deliver a failed smile and order something featuring grilled chicken. Well, obviously he didn't because neither one of us has ordered anything different in the almost year since that fateful night when after taking the first bite he looked at me with tear filled eyes and said, "Thank you, this is great." So I guess I should thank God for Bryan's weakness of the flesh. <br /><br />P.s. Speaking of burgers. It has been decided that something will be brought back to life. Several years ago, my roommates and I embarked on a quest to find the best local burger place. Local being the Dallas area. After about 2 years of having a burger for lunch almost every Saturday, we stopped. Mainly because we felt we had exhausted all the possibilities. But now it has returned. So if the thought of massive quanta of burgers interests you (or just hanging out with me on a Saturday) you can inspect <a href="http://bestburgerquest.blogspot.com/">this site</a> for further info.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05741026642577506608noreply@blogger.com0