give blood

2005-04-04T20:26:00.000-05:00

Baseball is here. And with that comes many illogical predictions. Test your foresight skills with the Opening Day Bracket.
AL West
1. Angels
2. Rangers
3. Seattle
4. Oakland

AL Central
1. Twins
2. Tigers
3. Cleveland
4. Chicago
5. Kansas City

AL East
1. Yankees
2. Red Sox
3. Baltimore
4. Toronto
5. Tampa Bay

NL West
1. Padres
2. Dodgers
3. San Fran
4. Colorado
5. Arizona

NL Central
1. Cardinals
2. Cubs
3. Brewers
4. Cincinnati
5. Houston
6. Pittsburgh

NL East
1. Braves
2. Mets
3. Florida
4. Philadelphia
5. Washington

World Series
St. Louis Cardinals win over the Minnesota Twins

2005-03-17T19:49:00.000-06:00

Nothing better on St. Paddy's Day than

a potato pot pie
a read in Angela's Ashes
Virgil's Microwbrewed Rootbeer
&

Veritas....Aequitas

2005-03-14T21:26:00.000-06:00

So, here I am back from Chicago, and fully inspired to enjoy this week of the Irish. We were lucky enough to be there on the exact day that they dyed the river green and held a St. Patrick's day parade. We were even more fortuitous to be staying two blocks from the river. This is a very good thing, seeing how I have never been so cold in my life. Calling it the windy city is a vast understatement. Nonetheless, everyone was out and I had never seen sooo many people into being Irish. Kick arse!!

By the way...O'Hare may be the worst airport.

So, the Chiefs did some more signing this weekend. They beefed up their secondary some by adding an outstanding player from the Miami Dolphins: Sammy Knight. This makes me even more excited. Even if both of our additions turn out not to do too much, I'll atleast be happy to know that Carl Peterson tried to make this defense better.

2005-03-08T18:50:00.000-06:00

EXTRA!! EXTRA!!: The Chiefs have made an attempt to improve their defense.

Just when you think that you'll watch another crop of free agents pass right by, your team goes out and signs Kendrell Bell. It seems that a light bulb has flashed in Carl Peterson's head: "Hey, I know, lets sign some defensive free agents." Maybe Gunther does have some say on what goes on. Granted, what we really, really need is a shutdown corner. But, they all wanted tons of cash, and the Chief's cash is tied up in their offense. Second on the list was a versatile linebacker...BINGO!! Good move. Of course, there is some cause for concern, seeing how Bell was out nearly all of last year with injuries. Here's to hoping he returns to his rookie level.

2005-03-06T22:10:00.000-06:00

69 points?!?! The Mavs have lost 4 of their last 5 games, and things are beginning to look dim. Van Horn started in Dirk's place today. He racked up a gigantic 12pts on 18 attempts. Some say that the team hasn't been the same since that trade.....could they be right?

2005-03-03T20:24:00.000-06:00

"Marge, it takes two to lie: one to lie and one to listen."

I've been watching alot of Simpsons lately. In fact, I'm working on finishing a 2nd season in 2 weeks! Man...what a genius show. I was 9 years old when I first caught a 30 minute segment of the Simpsons during the Tracy Ulman show....now I'm 25!!! Sixteen years of watching the "fun be put back in dysfunctional". 16 years!!?? How is that possible? Honestly, I don't know the answer, but a perfect mix of humor, philosophy, pop/sub-culture references, politics, creativeness, and obvious sarcasm might have something to do with it? Perhaps its that everyday I change, but the Simpsons are still the same? Who knows.

On thing I do know is that, in my opinion, the Simpsons is the greatest television show of all time. It'll be a sad day when they call it quits.

---
Work has been really busy this week. Its cool to go some place for 8 hrs and feel like the day just started. Of course, I'm really not use to working all day, so when I get home all I want to do is veg and sit on the couch. Though, I see that changing soon.

MY GOD!!! Lets skip baseball talk and move right into football. Wednesday started free agency in the NFL, and the biggest story, atleast outside of Dallas, seems to be the Moss trade to Oakland. I personally hate the trade, because Moss is a badass and now KC has to face him not once, but twice a season. I must say, though, I will enjoy hating him.

KC is targeting 3 positions in free agency and the draft. Not surprisingly, they are all on defense. They are trying to bag a veteran CB, LB, or DE, and pick up the remaining in the draft. They really want a CB, but that seems to be what everyone wants, and that means a hike in prices. Apparently, from my sources, they are looking at Patrick Surtain, Ty Law, Jeremiah Trotter, Fred Smoot, Ken Lucas, and Edgerton Hartwell.

Hot Sports Opinion: I think they should trade Priest. Don't get me wrong...I love the dude, but from a business perspective it just makes sense. His market value is super high, and we have Larry Johnson and Derrick Blaylock (free agent) who could definitely fill the role of RB (notice I didn't say "his" role, because they can't). I would risk the decrease in offense for a solid defensive player (maybe even two) and a draft pick.

2005-02-27T20:07:00.000-06:00

if only...

2005-02-24T18:10:00.000-06:00

So, yesterday was my 1st day of work. I know that most of you out there might think this a bit weird, but I really enjoyed it. My co-employees were very accepting and social, my boss is honest, I am finally going to have some health coverage, and if things get too monotonous I can always walk over to Chris's desk and give him the double finger. Oh, and I got a Dell Latitude laptop on my 1st day!! It came with 1G of memory, a sweet ass briefcase, and doubles of all the necessities. Not to mention, its only 1.2 inches thick. For a computer geek like me...that is gold!

2005-02-21T21:30:00.000-06:00

It seems as though I am never satisfied with the layout of my blog. In all actuality, I find it rather fun to create and re-shape. Unfortunately, I am unable to stop my mind from coming up with new ideas, so nearly every week you'll find some new alteration.
---
Tommorrow is my final day of complete freedom, before my long trip to the middle. I am going to begin by sleeping in, something I never get to do anymore. Then, I will procede to step 2, which is playing X-box the remainder of the day. Of course, I will break for an occasional act of grindage, and napage. I'll cap the day off with a live dosage of JEW. It'll be great!! One day I will look back upon these days and wish, but for now....I'll pass them right by.
---

See ya Greer. You will be missed.

Seriously people....NASCAR is not a sport!!

2005-02-18T02:04:00.000-06:00

The Mavs explode with 74 2nd half points, leading them to a 119-113 victory over the Suns. Finley's O is returning at exactly the right time. The Dirk/Jet combo, coupled with solid perfomances by Howard & Dampier have the Mavs wrapping up a 4-0 road trip, which visited three elite teams. Very impressive.

2005-02-16T23:53:00.000-06:00

There's a passage I got memorized. Ezekiel 25:17. "The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you." I been sayin' that shit for years. And if you ever heard it, it meant your ass. I never really questioned what it meant. I thought it was just a cold-blooded thing to say to a motherfucker before you popped a cap in his ass. But I saw some shit this mornin' made me think twice. Now I'm thinkin': it could mean you're the evil man. And I'm the righteous man. And Mr. 9mm here, he's the shepherd protecting my righteous ass in the valley of darkness. Or it could be you're the righteous man and I'm the shepherd and it's the world that's evil and selfish. I'd like that. But that shit ain't the truth. The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be a shepherd.

The 90's were a great decade for films. In fact, I would go so far as to label it "The best 10 years of cinema." Granted, there are tons of great movies from other time periods, but I find that most of my top 25 can be traced back to the 90's. I would like to think that this period flourished with great directors, unique scripts, and accomplished actors, but the truth is that this is the time when I began to understand ideas such as sub-plots, steady cam shots, irony, satire, aesthetics, cinematography, and metaphorical relationships. I grew up... with these films.

Pulp Fiction (94)
Swingers (96)
Forrest Gump (94)
Fight Club (99)
Rudy (93)
Goodfellas (90)
Seven (95)
Bottle Rocket (96)
Tombstone (93)
Groundhog Day (93)
the Usual Suspects (95)
Grosse Pointe Blank (97)
Immortal Beloved (94)
Reservoir Dogs (92)
Romeo + Juliet (96)
Braveheart (95)

...just to name a few.....man, there are tons more, but I'm tired.

2005-02-14T22:26:00.000-06:00

So, its been nearly a year now, but I finally got a job! Thanxxx to Chris I got hooked up with an accounting type job. True, its not what I was exactly looking for, but it will more than pay the bills. Plus, it will allow me some financial room to head back to school, see a doctor, and start putting away for the future. Most importantly, I will be given opportunity. I kept saying that all I needed was a chance.....and I'll show the world what I am made of. Opportunity knocks.

---

Watch out Mapquest...Google Maps has entered the game, and they have some clever ideas of their own.

2005-02-12T16:38:00.000-06:00

Revenge of the Right Brain
Logical and precise, left-brain thinking gave us the Information Age. Now comes the Conceptual Age - ruled by artistry, empathy, and emotion.

2005-02-10T22:07:00.000-06:00

Life is a process. Every change is simply a catalyst for another change. Unfortunately, there is no way to predict the direction, magnitude, interval, intensity, or timing of each change. Sure, there are a vast number of theories that attempt to calculate the possible outcomes of each function, but in the long run we are just players in a giant lottery.

Each day we pick our numbers, and the rest of the time is spent waiting....wondering what will be next. A lucky few will actual make themselves believe that they are in complete control of the path that they so confidentially walk down. Perhaps they have simply figured out which numbers to pick. Or perhaps these are the few that have come to terms with the nature of this fortuitous design. Either way, the keyword is "few"; leaving the rest of the world to face the wake.

How is one suppose to accept their own inability to control? When is the time to lobby change?

07 - 55 - 32 - 14 - 05

2005-02-07T23:05:00.000-06:00

Super Bowl thoughts:

- The score at halftime should have had Philly up by 2, maybe even 3 TDs. Alas, they only countered their opponents mistakes with mistakes of their own. In any game, much less the Super Bowl, you must win the turnover battle.

- Now, I know this is McNabb's first Super Bowl game, and I think he is very talented, but his strength in completion percentage quickly became his weakest link. He was not calm, and it showed. Passes were high, short, and behind; which initiated some amazing catches. The Donovan jitters combined with a lack of running game lead to a great decrease in the variability of the offense. Of course, those two touchdowns passes in the middle of the endzone were perfect....perfect.

- Everyone has their theories on "how", but no matter what, the Pats just find a way to win. (his name was Deon Branch)

- The Eagles D was very, very impressive during the 1st half. After halftime they seemed to tire out, due to the inefficiency of the offense. I was really expecting the Eagles secondary to be a powerful force....what a let down.

- TO is the best receiver in the NFL. Oh, and Philly, please trade Pinkston for Rod Gardner.

- Remember when Super Bowl commercials were funny? What a waste.

- The halftime show was probably the best I have ever seen. Thanxxx Paul.

2005-02-04T13:19:00.000-06:00

someone get me this.

Sun is shining in the sky, There ain't a cloud in sight
It's stopped rainin' Everybody's in a play
And don't you know, It's a beautiful new day.

2005-02-02T15:07:00.000-06:00

"Its gonna be cold.
Its gonna be grey.
And its gonna last you the rest of your life."

2005-01-29T20:49:00.000-06:00

It's fast, secure, open source - and super popular. The hot new browser called Firefox is rocking the software world. (Watch your back, Bill Gates.)

2005-01-27T20:51:00.000-06:00

There are very few movies that I go into without having some preconceived notion of atleast, if nothing else, the cast....Thank you trailers. Most of the time this is a blessing, but, let me tell ya, it can definitely come back to kick you in the ass. As is true with the movie Finding Neverland. It seems that I am going to be forced to eat an entire stew of my own words. Instead of alphabet soup, it'll be dave soup, and in it will contain words like, "disinterested", "looks slow", and "Johnny Depp is better than this". Its true, the trailer didn't do it for me, but the movie was in so many words......genius. Not only was it a surprisingly interesting story, but the acting/casting could not have been better. The cinematography was so simple, yet very effective....love that. There were so many subtleties in Mr. Depp's performance, that often times I found myself laughing to silence. His Scottish accent is nearly flawless. Plus....he plays a pirate in one of the most brilliant scenes.

I really tried to make it difficult to get 5 stars....yet, here we are with two....sue me.

On a sidenote, does anyone have the cure for "Popcorn Addiction"? Thanxxx.

Google browser? Google OS? --- they just hired two Mozilla programmers.

2005-01-26T16:50:00.000-06:00

Someone please release the new Codeseven on vinyl

In Decemeber, I received a kick ass cd from some gracious friends. Unfortunately, I had already owned the cd. No biggie, the album is almost worth having doubles (ELO's Greatest Hits). Well, I chose to exchange it for the new Codeseven. The Best Buy (BB) in Lewisville only had one copy...whew..what luck!! So, I get home and open the disc only to find that it is cracked! Now, I can't take it back to the BB in Lewisville due to the fact that I have their only copy. So, I call around and find out that two more stores between here and Waco have a copy: Arlington and Irving. Over the next couple of weeks, I make my way to each store only to find out that yes, they do have a copy, but the cd is nowhere in the store?? What?!?! Alright, so I talk to a manager and they are unable to accommodate these simple requests:
1)order it
2)give me an online credit to order it
Now, completely annoyed, I give in and find another album to swap. So, we make the deal and as I am walking out the door I open the cd........the inside casing is broken, the insert is ripped, and there is a huge scratch on the cd!!!! Come on people... ever heard of bubble wrap?! Damn!

I would personally like to thank Equal Vision Records for slacking on the distribution of the new Codeseven......not having multiple copies of an album in one of the largest music stores is just down right idiotic.

In other news.....gas is $1.80!!!! fuck!

2005-01-24T23:36:00.000-06:00

Ya know...Sunday was one of those days where everyone was right (except me, of course). As if Nostradamus had said it himself...these words were uttered by many:

--Go with Brady, he is undefeated in post-season matchups.
--Don't the Steelers always choke?
--The Patriots have Dillon and Branch back.
--Vick can only beat you one way.
--Ben is a rookie.

There is one blatant fact that I have to come to terms with: the Patriots are a great team. I have been very reluctant to jump on the bandwagon, but they have proven that they know how to win. Their consistency in undoubtedly the hardest of the two conferences is amazing.

Nonetheless, I do believe the tip fairy has brought me a little something from the future...
Eagles by a field goal.

A few reflections on Sunday's matchups.

-Terry Bradshaw should never be given a microphone and put in front of thousands of fans. End of story.
-I am very happy that Fox does not own the rights to AFC games.
-Expect both the Steelers and Falcons to bounce back with a good season.
-Vick should take some lessons from McNabb, on when to run and when to throw.
-Hines Ward is quickly becoming one of my favorite receivers. (Note to Chiefs: GET HIM!)

2005-01-24T01:13:00.000-06:00

Newly acquired Firefox extensions:

FoxyTunes--
"Do you listen to Music while surfing the Web?
Now you can control your favorite media player without ever leaving the browser and more..."

ForecastFox--
"Get international weather forecasts from weather.com, and display it in any toolbar or statusbar with this highly customizable extension."

Genius.

2005-01-21T10:59:00.000-06:00

Well, its been months in the making, but the Jewish Princess of Sass has a brand spankin' new design.....watch your step kids...cuz its smoooth.

I also was able to hook up Bob Sturm with a kickin' new layout. And if you get a chance, catch out his show on 1310 the Ticket, 12-3pm.

2005-01-20T11:46:00.000-06:00

I absolutely love this artwork. It would fit perfect with my blog...might just have to borrow it sometime. For now I will just have to purchase the 7". In related news, it seems that Idlewild will be releasing another full length album titled, "Warnings/Promises". I can't wait to hear it.

2005-01-17T13:32:00.000-06:00

Strange.....this was a season of underdogdom, yet this weekend the top 4 teams in the NFL are facing each other. Just goes to show you that sometimes the playoff system works. Though, anyone have any thoughts on a multi-game series to replace a single game elimination?

4-0 this week!!

- I wonder if everyone is off of Manning's nuts now? The dude is not clutch....plain and simple. I don't care how many touchdowns you throw in the regular season, if you can't win against the same team in the playoffs all you will have are records......records that can broken.

- The Steelers almost squandered their season efforts......they got lucky.

- I'm impressed with the Eagles offense. I knew the defense would keep the Vikings in check (Moss got shut down)....but the offense wasn't horrific. Dude, the freak play in the endzone has to make up for all their bad luck this year.

- I think the Vikings should trade Moss for some defense. Actually...they should keep Moss and watch their team disintegrate.

- If the Falcons play like that....they will make the Super Bowl worth watching.

I'm really excited about this weekend. These are the match ups that we have been waiting for.....and I'm still not out on my Super Bowl pick.....though, I'm cheering for an all Pennsylvania bowl.

2005-01-13T01:20:00.000-06:00

So, lets say that the human species as a whole receives an average of 7hrs of sleep per day. I know its a hasty generalization, but humor me....there is a point somewhere. Ok, leaving out leap years, there are roughly 8,760 hours in a year. By using the aforementioned average we can calculate how many hours of the year we spend sleeping = 2,555 hours. Thats approximately 30% of the entire year! Crazy....but, it doesn't end there. What if I took that total (2555 hours)and multiplied it times my current age (25) = 63,875. Now, I'm going to divide that by the 8,760 to find how many years I have been asleep = 7.3 YEARS!!!!!

I feel like I'm 18 all over again!! Anyone who thinks they are old should participate in this exercise.

2005-01-10T22:58:00.000-06:00

So, I guess its time to address this week in football.

First of all, when it comes to playoffs (and really this entire season), it appears that I know nothing. I had a lackluster performance in my guessing of the winners and losers: a lousy 1-3. I blame it on the lack of offense. I figured the Seattle/St. Louis game would be close, but I seriously thought that the rest would be blow outs. Again, wrong...well, mostly. No problem....the 1st week is simply a weed out week.

Here are a few things I noticed about this weekend, and the next picks.

-"Every Single Week" will soon replace "Any Given Sunday"

-The Colts beat the Broncos this season by less of a margin than their playoff meeting last year.....still everyone is all up on their nuts like they are going to destroy the Pats...unfortunately, its Mr. Clutch vs. Mr. Choke.

-A three game sweep is fairly common in baseball, but not football....the Seahawks need to learn how to catch the ball.

-The Chargers were a big letdown.....though, they made a good run and I fear facing them next season.

-I have never liked Moss, so lets just say it would be sad to see Favre go out like this, but I doubt the Pack will improve much in a year.

Week 2 Playoff Picks
Patriots still beat the Colts
Steelers over the Jets
Eagles win out over the Vikings
Falcons kill the Rams

2005-01-06T23:21:00.000-06:00

Has anyone seen this movie? It is very strange. Its done in a psuedo-documentary style with touches of American Beauty-esque cinematography. Yet, at times, you find yourself asking the silly question: "how did they get the camera in that room?" The plot is very similar to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest, except with teenagers that have serious problems. Most of which seem to stem from the effects of bad parenting. Don Cheadle does a wonderful job as the mediating doctor. I wonder...could he be the most underrated actor?

and what happened to those awesome NFL commercials?

2005-01-05T01:19:00.000-06:00

So, another mediocre football season is coming to a close. As you can see above I have been so kind as to layout the matchups for this postseason. I will also, now attempt to make some playoff predictions.

1st Round
Indy over Denver
Chargers over the Jets
Packers beat the Vikings
Seahawks finally win against the Rams

I'll update each week as seen fit.

Super Bowl

Steelers over the Falcons.

2005-01-03T16:30:00.000-06:00

So, I was reading this article about the Mysteries of the Cosmos, when I had "what alcoholics refer to as a moment of clarity".

The premise of this article is to inform the novice follower of space science, like myself, of some new discoveries within and beyond our solar system. There is a lot of talk on how these other systems and planets could potentially lead to the discovery of extraterrestrial life. In the midst of all this written information I had a thought. What if life, in reference to the cosmos, moved in cycles? Perhaps each planet in our solar system takes its turn in the cycle of life; only to be followed by each solar system. Thus, there is an end to each civilization. History of the Earth has displayed for us, very clearly, a pattern. There are rises (dinosaurs, Romans, Germans, the dodo bird, the French, technology, the US, etc.) and falls. What would lead us to think that the metaphysical order of the cosmos is any different?

We would like to think that the human race is all but indestructible, because we have superior evolving capabilities. I beg to differ.

2004-12-29T22:32:00.000-06:00

< Resolutions from the sports world >

Saw Life Aquatic the other day.......I'm probably going to have to see it again to make a better judgment call, but initially it seemed too random. The thing that makes Wes Anderson's other movies, besides his special touch for scene symmetry, is the relationship between randomness/"natural humor" and the story. In Life Aquatic the storyline is lost in random and contrived dialogue. The music was a bit lackluster as well. Though, there are still plenty of classic Wes Anderson touches....and that alone makes it better than most movies out there.

2004-12-27T01:12:00.000-06:00

...mp3 player on random...

"Come Away With Me" ~~~ Norah Jones

--What a smooth song. When this jazz serenade is over you feel like you could woo anyone, because you are just that cool. Ah, the power of a small girl from Texas and a piano. Not to discredit Norah in any way, for I'm sure she has worked hard over her years, but how much of her talent is simply luck of the draw? Which begs the real question: how much of life is a lottery? Often I feel that this is the case. There are those who will reap the benefits of luck, those who will be cursed, and those who will be unable to participate in either. I love the name Casket Lottery.

"Young Pilgrims" ~~~ the Shins

---Ah, this song rivals, though does not surpass, "New Slang". This is probably my favorite song on "Chutes Too Narrow". The lyric that describes grabbing the "yoke" from the pilot and crashing into the sea reminds me of a scene in Fight Club; the one where Edward Norton wishes another plane would crash into his. I really hate planes. The benefit of quick trips are wonderful, though its difficult when you combine pessimism with the inability to control the means.

"In My Place" ~~~ Coldplay

---What a simple drumbeat....what a simple guitar riff....what a simple chorus.....what a hook. This song reminds me of older bands (the kinks, beatles, etc.)and their ability to grab you with a simple melody that is repeated throughout the song....not too much...not too little...just right. I can't wait until their next album. This may actually be one of those rare bands where I love everything they write.

"Ohio" ~~~ SunKillMoon

---I don't think I'll ever learn the words to this song...just the chorus. Perhaps that is all I need to know. Mark's songs fit into a few molds for me: winter, depression, writing, failure, and beauty. Lets just say I rarely listen to him in the summer when I'm happy. I am this way with many things...especially music.

"Love Will Come Through" ~~~ Travis

---Two Words: Garden State. I love this song, yet I hate the rest of their album. Wish they would just alter this song 12 times. Will love come through? What if it fails?

"You Remind Me of Home" ~~~ Ben Gibbard

---What a great voice! Not to be confused with the unmeasurable talent of say Jeff Buckley, but its not everyday you come across a singer who sounds this good with any medium. Acoustic guitar: check, Electric guitar: check, Piano: check, Electronics: check. I love the bridge....very clean. Home is such a strong word these days. With an eventual move that comes closer and closer everyday, so many thoughts and emotions rush into my head. I've lived on my own since I turned 17, but I've always been within a 2hrs drive of my mother. And what about my friends? Starting over at 26?

"Ali vs. Frasier" ~~~ Bane

---There is sooo much to say about this song, that I've dedicated my blog to it. The perfect song for this part of my life....like it was written just for me.

"Such Great Heights" ~~~ Postal Service

---Winner of the 'Best Headphones Song' award.

time for bed...

2004-12-24T17:17:00.000-06:00

Johnny Oates dies

"Johnny Oates, who guided the Rangers with a steady hand and a folksy twang to the only three playoff berths in franchise history, died early Friday, four weeks shy of his 59th birthday.

Oates, an inaugural member of the Rangers’ Hall of Fame, passed away in Richmond, Va., with his wife of 37 years, Gloria, and his three children at his side after a three-year battle against the most aggressive type of brain tumor. He had recently been hospitalized for lung problems.

"He was the best manager the Texas Rangers ever had and ever will have," said former Rangers manager Jerry Narron, who coached for Oates before succeeding him on May 4, 2001. "He was solid, organized and very prepared. I don't know if he ever really knew how good he was. And as good a manager as he was, he was a better man."

2004-12-21T19:24:00.000-06:00

Browser Wars

Are you sick and tired of Internet Explorer? Have you grown weary of the constant vulnerabilities and patches? Do you scratch your head at sudden program lockups and crashes? Are you dismayed that Microsoft hasn't lifted a finger to improve or enhance IE since it buried Netscape's Navigator browser at the dawn of the century?

2004-12-21T11:09:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I look around and wonder how everyone gets so caught up in daily living. Its easy to see from my angle, because I've been forced to adopt a new philosophy that helps me avoid insanity. Look left and you'll find two football fans still arguing a call made 2 months ago. And to the right you will see highly ranked religious leaders focusing their efforts on whether or not dancing is a sin. Still...the call will not be overturned, and a man with no legs can only dream of dancing. The effects of a society based on rule-governed behavior are easily seen in its people.

Sometimes I think people forget that they are in the forest.

2004-12-20T09:22:00.000-06:00

well.....that was pointless.

2004-12-17T11:50:00.000-06:00

hahaha

President George W. Bush and Office of Management and Budget Director Joshua Bolton (C) talk to conferees, above a misspelled sign, at the White House Conference on the Economy in Washington, December 16, 2004. The White House went all out to showcase the advantages of U.S. President George W. Bush's ambitious financial agenda this week, but in the end the 'challenges' proved too much. The word 'challenges' -- a main theme of a two-day White House economic conference that ended on Thursday -- was misspelled on a large television monitor that stood in front of Bush during a panel discussion.REUTERS/Reuters TV

2004-12-14T23:17:00.000-06:00

Ya know, I have always misunderstood those who carried with them chapstick everywhere they go, especially when winter has yet shown its face. But, tonite I really wished that I were one of those people.

Mavs blew another home game...they are so inconsistent. Atleast Josh was on the jumbo-tron!

I can't get over this weekend. I seriously had a lot of fun with my friends. Got to enjoy the good weather by playing some golf; which I for some reason got better at...how? I thoroughly took in some great food and good moods. Hung out with Gordo and Shalee....those kids are soo much fun, and they do a very good job of hosting guests. There are only two things I wish I would have been able to do: 1) see Danielle and 2) watch Chris put together his computer. Am I becoming more social? Yikes.

2004-12-10T01:45:00.000-06:00

here are a few things for ya:

1) Thunderbird 1.0 has landed. I see they have added built-in RSS/Blog support. This shall be fun. Yet another program that kicks Microsoft in the ass.

2) Lets talk about RSS for a sec. For those of you who don't know (and I didn't until today), this stands for Rich Site Summary. Basically, you download a program (or the Thunderbird mail client) that is built to recieve a daily, even multi-daily, news feed from any site that features RSS support. Now all your news goes to one convient place. Yeah, I know...its really lazy. But, why surf when you can just read. The real benefit here is for blogs, especially after you get back from the holidays. Of course if you would like to comment you still have to visit the site. Here is my url for XgivebloodX if you would like to subscribe: http://xgivebloodx.blogspot.com/atom.xml

3) This is hilarious!

2004-12-10T01:44:00.000-06:00

Only 7 more months!

Click on the poster for a teaser.

2004-12-08T17:34:00.000-06:00

It seems that i have alienated my blog for a bit. Guess there is not much to talk about. I do have trouble getting motivated to write, but that is half the reason I have this blog. Anyways, I do have some good news that just so happens to also play my alibi. I'm proud to announce the relaunch of Chris's blog:< go sit in the car >. Designed by yours truly. I'm actually pretty damned happy with the way it turned out. Feel free to leave feedback on it.

In other news, tonite I will officially become the best boyfriend ever...seeing how I will endure 2hrs of Jimmy "the fucking parrot" Buffet for my loved one. Man, I'm such a catch.

2004-12-02T18:40:00.000-06:00

"It's the biggest petroleum discovery of the past three decades: 13 billion barrels of crude in the Kashagan oil field under the Caspian Sea. The only trick is extracting it from beneath the shallow waters."

...and we will accomplish the task....because thats what we do. Reminds me of a memorable scene in the Matrix.

I'd like to share a revelation that I've had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area.

2004-11-21T01:13:00.000-06:00

...and so there is the story of Sisyphus, who it seems, will spend the rest of his time rolling a large boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down again. A great metaphor for the human race.

Have we really made progress?

2004-11-20T01:57:00.000-06:00

The city of Detroit is full of idiots!! Say goodbye to the courtside seats!

The look on that dude's face who threw the bottle at Artest was classic. dude fucked up.

2004-11-17T20:24:00.000-06:00

So, this morning I was getting ready for work when I had an asthma/allergic reaction that involved chest tightness, out of control coughing, excess phlegm, and some major wheezing. This kind of thing happens every year during the transition from fall to winter, but it usually happens when I'm in a room full of pet dander; to say the least I was surprised it occurred this morn. So, I took a Benadyrl and everything returned to normal, though it still hurt a bit to breath for awhile. This brings up a nagging question that has bugged me for many years. You see, I've lived with animals almost all my life, but the minute they were removed from my living area I developed a horrible allergy to pet dander. Its kinda like someone not becoming lactose intolerant until college. So, why this change? Had I built up a temporary tolerance?

I also learned today that I have what is known as Rhinitis (an inflammation of the nasal passages most often caused by allergies or respiratory infections). Here is the interesting part about Rhinitis......did you know that you aren't really "allergic"? Apparently, "allergic reactions" are simply an overreaction by your immune system. They percieve microorganisms like pet dander, pollen, and dust mites as invading and subsequently harmful substances. Therefore, your body releases extra antibodies to fight these harmless substances, causing inflammation, water eyes, sneezing, etc. Guess the body is not perfect.

2004-11-15T18:35:00.000-06:00

So, this sunday I participated in my 7th day ritual of watching the Chiefs game at the Fox and the Hound. It just so happens that all the other games for that day are shown on TVs all around the room. So it is safe to say that I catch a fair amount of the games that go on every week in the nfl. Sadly, I've come to an unfortunate conclusion: I am very unenthusiastic about the state of football right now. To be honest, 50% of this feeling is simply due to the horrible play of the Chiefs.....such wasted high expectations. I have broken down the remaining 50% below:

Inconsistency --- The main focus here is team play. This all started with the Tampa Bay/Oakland super bowl. I mean..where did these teams come from? The next season we found out...and now they still suck. Same goes for the Carolina Panthers. But, the real issue here is the lack of consistent play from week to week. "Any Given Sunday" has now become "Every Single Sunday". Frankly, this bores me.

Penalties/Injuries --- These are getting out of control. Sure there are penalties and injuries that plague the game every year....but, haven't you noticed that there is no effect in their relationship? I mean, with every passing year penalties have become more strict with a means to protect the players....yet players left and right are going on IR. The only correlation there is increase the strictness in penalties and watch those bones break.

Challenges --- I'm not going to argue instant replay...we all know that it really is a blessing. However, the coaches' challenges are bringing the game down. I have two reasons: 1) "oh look, he threw out the red flag. guess i'll flip through the channels for the next 20mins." Penalties and injuries already add to the length of the game, but the big propietor are those 3 coaches' challenges. There has to be a more effecient way to get the calls right. 2) If ever there is a crucial fumble, or game winning touchdown catch, you can no longer cheer immediately. You must wait...and if there is a red flag thrown out, you must wait longer with the possiblity of retracting any cheering that might have been.

Or maybe it all has to do with how good baseball was this year.

2004-11-10T11:58:00.000-06:00

...being swept away by bigger and bigger waves of corruption, apathy, and red tape.

I was going to write this huge entry on the fearful globalization of the religious right....then I got depressed. I'm getting to the point where no news is good news.

On a more positive note, I have a connection into the Baylor Research Center. I am not getting my hopes high just yet, but things are looking brighter.

I've spent the last 7 months practically alone, and I've come to realize a rather sad truth: without a purpose, I am in shambles. You think mankind is autonomous......try subconsciously dependent.

2004-11-03T17:09:00.000-06:00

Well, I woke up this morning...it was raining and cold...my breakfast was stale...and all the TV could tell me was to expect another four years of right wing domination. And we keep flying in circles? Sad.....sad indeed.

There are just a few things I want to comment on:

1. Despite the overwhelming increas in voters this year, a war, terrorist attacks, moral idiocy, and a regress in government standards, it appears the country has not changed. Almost all the states that went for Bush in 2000, went for Bush in 2004. We have not evolved....and you know what happens to species that don't evolve.

2. Last election the number of voters between the ages of 18-24 was just under 10%....this year....just under 10%.

3. The balance of power is all but gone....it now resides in the hands of the GOP. They won the presidency, secured majority in the senate and house, and landed most of the governors. Bush's strategy to transform this country from a democracy into an "authoritative populism" has succeeded ten fold.

Fuck Ohio.

2004-10-31T22:19:00.000-06:00

Revenge is sweeter on Halloween!!

2004-10-28T01:12:00.000-05:00

Ya know....If you would have told me at the beginning of this season that the Rangers would have been in a battle for a playoff spot 3 days before the last game, Adrian Beltre was going to lead the league in homers, Ichiro Suziku would be the new single season hitting champion, I was going to attend 15+ games, and the Boston Red Sox would conquer their curse and come back from an 0-3 deficit vs. the Yankees and win 8 straight, including a World Series Championship....

...I would have laughed in your face...

...and I would have been terribly wrong.

I will never appreciate what Boston has done like those crazy, obsessed fans of Red Sox nation....but, I most definitely respect their accomplishment...

...and I got to watch it all.

I feel like I'm a kid again...collecting baseball cards and talking about the super speed of Rickey Henderson, or the high leg kick of Nolan Ryan.

2004-10-27T13:03:00.000-05:00

Check out the coverart for the new Codeseven album:

freakin' beautiful.

2004-10-25T22:39:00.000-05:00

A few pics to describe this weekend in Madison, WI:

A view from the top:

& then the bottom:

I have to say....Madison owns DFW in almost every category. All but food and winter weather.

I'll leave you with this: their bike paths lead from each neighborhood in the burbs to the city or an offroad trail.

2004-10-22T08:48:00.000-05:00

Ya know, I love fall in Texas...but, fall in the north is much more colorful. The high today is 52........a perfect day for camping.

2004-10-21T22:44:00.000-05:00

vs.

The Sox haven't been sine '86, and the Cards haven't been since '87. These two teams are very similar. Unfortunately, I fear that the Cards are too dangerous and the Sox are really worn down. But.....it shall be incredible to watch.

2004-10-21T01:32:00.000-05:00

Every Empire Falls!!!

A struggling Damon comes through big time! Its almost as if being down 0-3 to the MFY's, and turing it all around to win 4 straight games, is worth more than winning the World Series.

I started counting Yankee outs from the sixth inning on.....see it helped!!!

2004-10-19T23:23:00.000-05:00

Where would a Sox/Yankees series be without a Game 7?

My respect level has increased for two people/groups.

7 innings, 4 hits, and 1 run, all on a blood soaked ankle.

The umpiring crew overturned two bad calls. Its all about getting the call right. Good work.

Someone else also increases on the asshole level:
Assrod.

2004-10-18T23:44:00.000-05:00

Game time: 5 hours and 49 minutes. The longest game in MLB post-season history. Wow! Where would the Bo Sox be without Mr. Clutch....David Ortiz. These extra inning games are killing me to watch.

And how about those Stros throwing out a one hitter against the mighty Cards. Chris, I told ya they would win all of their home games.

Dude....Jerry Rice is now a Seahawk.

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New version of Adaware. Get it.

2004-10-16T01:15:00.000-05:00

Prepare yourself Garden State.....I ♥ Huckabees has challenged you. Its funny how the movie buisness works. For the past three years I have been living off the suspense of what the next LOTR movie will hold. Of course, there were a few other movies that really struck a chord, but they were sporadic. Until...this year. With no huge cinematic piece just waiting to be shown at the beginning of winter, I thought that this year's movies were gonna be flops. Instead, I am happy to say that I have been consistently surprised (consistent being the key word). Its only October and I have two movies that will most likely shoot their way into my all time list. Though the honorable mentions are many. Lets name a few: Miracle, Faranheit 9/11, Saved, The Village, Anchorman, Troy, Napoleon Dynamite, Kill Bill 2, Hero, etc. Not to mention that I have yet to see The Bourne Supremecy, Eternal Sunshine, Super Size Me. Plus still in the wakes is Saw, Grudge, the Life Aquatic..., Team America, the Machinist, etc. I think films have out done music this year.

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Anyways....back to the Huckabees; a laugh-out-loud, yet thought provoking cinematic experience. If you don't like philosophy or behaviors that defy the norms of this society, then you will hate this flick. Then again, if you like Jude Law, jokes about Jesus, psychological experiences that will fuck you up, and Jews, then you'll love it. Once you see the movie you will understand that I can't really explain it to you, except for the fact that sitting in front of a screen for 2 hours has never been more productive.

2004-10-14T11:52:00.000-05:00

So, Google has done it again. This time with the development of a web based email client that far surpasses yahoo, hotmail, and any others. Gmail has a limit of 1000mb!! It presents threaded emails like they were conversations on an instant messenger (the quoted text is optional). Gmail has the ability to show snippets of entire "conversations", as well as, a complete search system (find any email you want), and an unlimited spam control. Now, the most unique feature is undoubtely the Notifier. For DSL and Cable users this is perfect. It simply works like a desktop mail client would: a little box pops up in your taskbar that says who the email is from and gives you a small snippet. Goodbye yahoo and hotmail, these guys are simply smarter.
If you want to be invited let me know.
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Why can't I be in a lab doing research? All I want to do is wear a lab coat, look through a microscope, and study something. I'm trying to push the door open, but it refuses to budge.......Just give me a chance.

2004-10-13T22:24:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it....the Manager and Pedro did their part, but the sox's bats were silent? Why can't they put it all together?

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Check out this poll:

( When will you miss the NHL season? )

2004-10-13T15:09:00.000-05:00

Soooo....my reputation as a "Class A" blogger in LiveJournal cirlces has pushed me to gather my drafts and move on to the upper echelon: Blogger.com. Really, LiveJournal did its job, but it lacked in user freedom of design, so I fell into the whirpool of "non-interest". Now, I am motivated by far more than just writing, in which I discovered serious problems. I hope to keep the designs coming....and maybe one day I'll get better.

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In other news...I absolutely love Wired. Here is an interesting article that I read last nite. I think that it brings up a very valid point...that which both parties are completely missing.

( Our Kids Are in Big Trouble )

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Poor sox....