For Tiger:
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Where Is The Outrage?
So, two days ago, Brit Hume turned a round table of sports picks on Fox News into the 700 Club by going on national television and telling Tiger Woods that the only way that he'll find forgiveness is to abandon Buddhism and become Christian:
That was two days ago. Other than the occasional mention in the blogosphere (and three or four revisits by Andrew Sullivan), I haven't seen or heard anything about this in the mainstream media. Where is the outrage? Where is the call for boycott of advertisers? Why aren't there advertisers dropping from Fox News? Is this something that has come to be expected from them? If Tiger were Muslim, or Jewish, would that have made a difference? Am I not giving it enough time? This is ridiculous!
That was two days ago. Other than the occasional mention in the blogosphere (and three or four revisits by Andrew Sullivan), I haven't seen or heard anything about this in the mainstream media. Where is the outrage? Where is the call for boycott of advertisers? Why aren't there advertisers dropping from Fox News? Is this something that has come to be expected from them? If Tiger were Muslim, or Jewish, would that have made a difference? Am I not giving it enough time? This is ridiculous!
Dating Site Drops 5000 "Fatties" After Holidays
As further proof that the good looking ones are usually assholes, the dating site beautifulpeople.com dropped over 5000 of it's paying members yesterday after noticing they've added some holiday weight in their profile pictures. The majority of those that were dropped were from the U.S., Canada and Britain.
The move was reportedly prompted by other members of the site, who actually have a say as to whether perspective members are attractive enough to be allowed access onto the dating and social networking website.
When asked for comment, Robert Hintze, site founder said, (I'm not making this up)"Letting fatties roam the site is a direct threat to our business model and the very concept for which BeautifulPeople.com was founded."
Maybe I should start a site called beautifulfatties.com.
The move was reportedly prompted by other members of the site, who actually have a say as to whether perspective members are attractive enough to be allowed access onto the dating and social networking website.
When asked for comment, Robert Hintze, site founder said, (I'm not making this up)"Letting fatties roam the site is a direct threat to our business model and the very concept for which BeautifulPeople.com was founded."
Maybe I should start a site called beautifulfatties.com.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
My Social Security Appointment Is Tomorrow
I'm not as nervous as I thought I would be. I've had an 8.5 migraine for about 24 hours now, so I'm in a lot of pain and very irritable. 'Nuff said.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
My Life In The Last Decade
Looking back over the last ten years, my life has taken quite a few strange turns. I definitely would not have imagined my life being where it will be, come midnight on January 1st, 2010. I have had my share of ups and downs, most of them on a grand scale. This decade has seen me...
...become a man.
...consider suicide more times than I could count.
...care for a number of women, but fall in love with one.
...become a husband and father.
...make the greatest accomplishment of my life. She weighed only eight pounds, one ounce.
...have one family turn it's back on me and another open it's arms.
...search for faith and understand that I've had it all along.
...vote, care, and become politically active.
...become disabled.
...spend more hours in therapy than most people spend in traffic.
...realize that there are more important things in this world than myself.
...care about others around me.
...become a better person (thank you J).
...for the first time in my life, have hope in the next ten years.
Happy New Year, Everyone.
...become a man.
...consider suicide more times than I could count.
...care for a number of women, but fall in love with one.
...become a husband and father.
...make the greatest accomplishment of my life. She weighed only eight pounds, one ounce.
...have one family turn it's back on me and another open it's arms.
...search for faith and understand that I've had it all along.
...vote, care, and become politically active.
...become disabled.
...spend more hours in therapy than most people spend in traffic.
...realize that there are more important things in this world than myself.
...care about others around me.
...become a better person (thank you J).
...for the first time in my life, have hope in the next ten years.
Happy New Year, Everyone.
Top 25 Movies of the Decade
This one was tough. There are a number of movies that I haven't seen that I'm sure are quite good(Avatar, Inglorious Basterds, District 9). With that said, I am saying that the following are, in my opinion, as of this moment, the top 25 movies of the decade. In chronological order:
1. High Fidelity - 2000
2. Almost Famous - 2000
3. Billy Elliot - 2000
4. Memento - 2001
5. Hedwig and The Angry Inch - 2001
6. Donnie Darko - 2001
7. Lost In Translation - 2001
8. Kill Bill Vol. 1 - 2003
9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - 2004
10. Kill Bill Vol. 2 - 2004
11. Shaun of the Dead - 2004
12. The Machinist - 2004
13. Garden State - 2004
14. March of the Penguins - 2005
15. V For Vendetta - 2005
16. The Departed - 2006
17. Children of Men - 2006
18. Michael Clayton - 2007
19. Across the Universe - 2007
20. No Country For Old Men - 2007
21. The Dark Knight - 2008
22. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - 2008
23. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - 2008
24. Milk - 2009
25. Up - 2009
1. High Fidelity - 2000
2. Almost Famous - 2000
3. Billy Elliot - 2000
4. Memento - 2001
5. Hedwig and The Angry Inch - 2001
6. Donnie Darko - 2001
7. Lost In Translation - 2001
8. Kill Bill Vol. 1 - 2003
9. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - 2004
10. Kill Bill Vol. 2 - 2004
11. Shaun of the Dead - 2004
12. The Machinist - 2004
13. Garden State - 2004
14. March of the Penguins - 2005
15. V For Vendetta - 2005
16. The Departed - 2006
17. Children of Men - 2006
18. Michael Clayton - 2007
19. Across the Universe - 2007
20. No Country For Old Men - 2007
21. The Dark Knight - 2008
22. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - 2008
23. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - 2008
24. Milk - 2009
25. Up - 2009
Preserving The Sanctity Of Marriage
The New York Times printed a graph today showing two maps of the United States. The first one shows the states in which gay marriage is legal as of 12/31/2009. The second...shows the states in which it is legal TO MARRY YOUR FIRST COUSIN as of 12/31/2009. Unfortunately, I live in a the latter. Way to go Republicans. In twenty years, you'll have 27 states full of inbreds, but at least they'll be heterosexual inbreds. Unbelievable!!
BTW...Iowa...You guys kick ass!
BTW...Iowa...You guys kick ass!
Top 25 Songs of the Decade
My OCD kicked into overdrive on this one. Here are my picks for the top 25 songs from 2000 through 2009...in chronological order, of course:
1. Moby - 'Natural Blues' 03/28/2000; From the album 'Play', which was actually released in '99. The single wasn't released until March of the next year, so it barely made the list.
2. Daft Punk - 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' 10/13/2001
3. Bad Religion - 'Sorrow' 01/31/2002; This song is rumored to be about the Bible book of Job, although it does have many modern references. The song was influential in me questioning a number of things that I was taught as a child.
4. Johnny Cash - 'Hurt' 11/05/2002; Cash's last single released while he was still alive, this cover of the Nine Inch Nails classic took on new meaning in his hands. Stunning and touching video. He died 10 months later on 09/12/2003.
5. Justin Timberlake - 'Cry Me A River' 12/28/2002
6. Blue Man Group - 'Exhibit 13' 04/22/2003; Released as a tribute to the victims of the World Trade Center, the song's title comes from the words found on a piece of paper that floated into a Brooklyn neighborhood on the morning on September 11th.
7. Outkast - 'Hey Ya!' 09/09/2003
8. Gary Jules - 'Mad World' 12/15/2003; A cover of an old Tears For Fears song, Mad World wasn't actually released as a single until more than two years after Donnie Darko, the movie the song was in, had hit theaters. The cult following of the movie had demanded the commercial release of the single.
9. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth - 'Defying Gravity' - 12/16/2003; From the Broadway musical 'Wicked', 'Defying Gravity' was the climax show and became the song that brought the masses back to Broadway...
Watch in | View More
10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - 'Maps' 02/10/2004
11. Muse - 'Blackout' 03/23/2004; I've said this before...please play this song at my funeral after I die. It's beautiful.
12. A Perfect Circle - 'Counting Bodies Like Sheep To The Rhythm of The War Drums' 09/28/2004; Essentially a remix of their song, Pet, this was the "anti" song of the decade. Anti-Bush, anti-war, anti-establishment, it was, in essence a middle finger to the Bush Administration in the weeks leading up to his reelection.
13. Plain White T's - 'Hey There Delilah' 01/25/2005
14. Imogen Heap - 'Hide and Seek' 05/19/2005
15. Green Day - 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' 06/13/2005
16. Coldplay - 'Fix You' 09/05/2005; I first heard this song at Coachella, in 2005, performed live by the band. Over the years, it has taken on a number of meanings. As an uncle, a husband, and a father. It has a wonderful message of recovery, of overcoming grief. With the events of this past decade, and especially Hurricane Katrina in the Summer of 2005, it was especially fitting.
17. Placebo - 'Running Up That Hill' 03/13/2006; Another cover on the list. This time of a Kate Bush song. This song does such an amazing job at getting under your skin, that it stays with you forever. Other covers come and go, but this one will haunt you in your sleep...
Running Up That Hill
Placebo | MySpace Music Videos
18. Gnarls Barkley - 'Crazy' 03/23/2006
19. Nine Inch Nails - 'Every Day Is Exactly The Same' 04/04/2006
20. Snow Patrol - 'Chasing Cars' 06/06/2006; This song is very special to me. It is "our song". Every couple has their song. This is ours.
21. The Beatles - 'Blackbird/Yesterday' 11/20/2006; Normally, I wouldn't put a 45 year old song on a top 25 list, but this is an exception. Taken from the 'Love' Soundtrack, from their Cirque du Soliel show of the same name, this track mixes together two of their classic tunes. Using technology that wasn't available then, and with a clarity that is only available now, producer Giles Martin creates a masterpiece that gives me a lump in my throat every time I hear this song. And to see it live....brings tears to your eyes. Listen for the high violin on the last verse. Awe inspiring...
22. Amy Winehouse - 'Rehab' 03/20/2007
23. Jason Mraz - 'I'm Yours' 02/12/2008; This song broke a record by charting on the Billboard Top 100 for 76 consecutive weeks. It has been downloaded on ITunes more than 4.4 Million times, making it the third most downloaded song ever. Not bad.
24. Coldplay - 'Viva La Vida' 05/25/2008
25. Lady Gaga - 'Bad Romance' 10/25/2009; I know, I know. Everyone reading this is going to disagree, but it's my list and I am allowed one guilty pleasure song out of 25.
1. Moby - 'Natural Blues' 03/28/2000; From the album 'Play', which was actually released in '99. The single wasn't released until March of the next year, so it barely made the list.
2. Daft Punk - 'Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger' 10/13/2001
3. Bad Religion - 'Sorrow' 01/31/2002; This song is rumored to be about the Bible book of Job, although it does have many modern references. The song was influential in me questioning a number of things that I was taught as a child.
4. Johnny Cash - 'Hurt' 11/05/2002; Cash's last single released while he was still alive, this cover of the Nine Inch Nails classic took on new meaning in his hands. Stunning and touching video. He died 10 months later on 09/12/2003.
5. Justin Timberlake - 'Cry Me A River' 12/28/2002
6. Blue Man Group - 'Exhibit 13' 04/22/2003; Released as a tribute to the victims of the World Trade Center, the song's title comes from the words found on a piece of paper that floated into a Brooklyn neighborhood on the morning on September 11th.
7. Outkast - 'Hey Ya!' 09/09/2003
8. Gary Jules - 'Mad World' 12/15/2003; A cover of an old Tears For Fears song, Mad World wasn't actually released as a single until more than two years after Donnie Darko, the movie the song was in, had hit theaters. The cult following of the movie had demanded the commercial release of the single.
9. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth - 'Defying Gravity' - 12/16/2003; From the Broadway musical 'Wicked', 'Defying Gravity' was the climax show and became the song that brought the masses back to Broadway...
Watch in | View More
10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - 'Maps' 02/10/2004
11. Muse - 'Blackout' 03/23/2004; I've said this before...please play this song at my funeral after I die. It's beautiful.
12. A Perfect Circle - 'Counting Bodies Like Sheep To The Rhythm of The War Drums' 09/28/2004; Essentially a remix of their song, Pet, this was the "anti" song of the decade. Anti-Bush, anti-war, anti-establishment, it was, in essence a middle finger to the Bush Administration in the weeks leading up to his reelection.
13. Plain White T's - 'Hey There Delilah' 01/25/2005
14. Imogen Heap - 'Hide and Seek' 05/19/2005
15. Green Day - 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' 06/13/2005
16. Coldplay - 'Fix You' 09/05/2005; I first heard this song at Coachella, in 2005, performed live by the band. Over the years, it has taken on a number of meanings. As an uncle, a husband, and a father. It has a wonderful message of recovery, of overcoming grief. With the events of this past decade, and especially Hurricane Katrina in the Summer of 2005, it was especially fitting.
17. Placebo - 'Running Up That Hill' 03/13/2006; Another cover on the list. This time of a Kate Bush song. This song does such an amazing job at getting under your skin, that it stays with you forever. Other covers come and go, but this one will haunt you in your sleep...
Running Up That Hill
Placebo | MySpace Music Videos
18. Gnarls Barkley - 'Crazy' 03/23/2006
19. Nine Inch Nails - 'Every Day Is Exactly The Same' 04/04/2006
20. Snow Patrol - 'Chasing Cars' 06/06/2006; This song is very special to me. It is "our song". Every couple has their song. This is ours.
21. The Beatles - 'Blackbird/Yesterday' 11/20/2006; Normally, I wouldn't put a 45 year old song on a top 25 list, but this is an exception. Taken from the 'Love' Soundtrack, from their Cirque du Soliel show of the same name, this track mixes together two of their classic tunes. Using technology that wasn't available then, and with a clarity that is only available now, producer Giles Martin creates a masterpiece that gives me a lump in my throat every time I hear this song. And to see it live....brings tears to your eyes. Listen for the high violin on the last verse. Awe inspiring...
22. Amy Winehouse - 'Rehab' 03/20/2007
23. Jason Mraz - 'I'm Yours' 02/12/2008; This song broke a record by charting on the Billboard Top 100 for 76 consecutive weeks. It has been downloaded on ITunes more than 4.4 Million times, making it the third most downloaded song ever. Not bad.
24. Coldplay - 'Viva La Vida' 05/25/2008
25. Lady Gaga - 'Bad Romance' 10/25/2009; I know, I know. Everyone reading this is going to disagree, but it's my list and I am allowed one guilty pleasure song out of 25.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Top 25 Songs of 2009 - Remixed
This is DEFINITELY worth a listen! Every year, DJ Earworm remixes the top 25 pop songs into one giant mash up. 2009's remix is amazing! Granted, I wasn't a fan of much of the pop music this year, but his remixing skills are second to none. In a matter of four minutes and forty five seconds, he was able to mix together, with video, samples of the following songs:
* The Black Eyed Peas - BOOM BOOM POW
* Lady Gaga - POKER FACE
* Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O’Donis - JUST DANCE
* The Black Eyed Peas - I GOTTA FEELING
* Taylor Swift - LOVE STORY
* Flo Rida - RIGHT ROUND
* Jason Mraz - I’M YOURS
* Beyonce - SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT)
* Kanye West - HEARTLESS
* The All-American Rejects - GIVES YOU HELL
* Taylor Swift - YOU BELONG WITH ME
* T.I. Featuring Justin Timberlake - DEAD AND GONE
* The Fray - YOU FOUND ME
* Kings Of Leon - USE SOMEBODY
* Keri Hilson Featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo - KNOCK YOU DOWN
* Jamie Foxx Featuring T-Pain - BLAME IT
* Pitbull - I KNOW YOU WANT ME (CALLE OCHO)
* T.I. Featuring Rihanna - LIVE YOUR LIFE
* Soulja Boy Tell ‘em Featuring Sammie - KISS ME THRU THE PHONE
* Jay Sean Featuring Lil Wayne - DOWN
* Miley Cyrus - THE CLIMB
* Drake - BEST I EVER HAD
* Kelly Clarkson - MY LIFE WOULD SUCK WITHOUT YOU
* Beyonce - HALO
* Katy Perry - HOT N COLD
Take a listen/look. It's quite impressive. If all pop music was bundled together like this for the masses, I would probably purchase more of it.
His top 25 for 2008 can be seen here.
* The Black Eyed Peas - BOOM BOOM POW
* Lady Gaga - POKER FACE
* Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O’Donis - JUST DANCE
* The Black Eyed Peas - I GOTTA FEELING
* Taylor Swift - LOVE STORY
* Flo Rida - RIGHT ROUND
* Jason Mraz - I’M YOURS
* Beyonce - SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT)
* Kanye West - HEARTLESS
* The All-American Rejects - GIVES YOU HELL
* Taylor Swift - YOU BELONG WITH ME
* T.I. Featuring Justin Timberlake - DEAD AND GONE
* The Fray - YOU FOUND ME
* Kings Of Leon - USE SOMEBODY
* Keri Hilson Featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo - KNOCK YOU DOWN
* Jamie Foxx Featuring T-Pain - BLAME IT
* Pitbull - I KNOW YOU WANT ME (CALLE OCHO)
* T.I. Featuring Rihanna - LIVE YOUR LIFE
* Soulja Boy Tell ‘em Featuring Sammie - KISS ME THRU THE PHONE
* Jay Sean Featuring Lil Wayne - DOWN
* Miley Cyrus - THE CLIMB
* Drake - BEST I EVER HAD
* Kelly Clarkson - MY LIFE WOULD SUCK WITHOUT YOU
* Beyonce - HALO
* Katy Perry - HOT N COLD
Take a listen/look. It's quite impressive. If all pop music was bundled together like this for the masses, I would probably purchase more of it.
His top 25 for 2008 can be seen here.
Funny A-Team/Star Wars Mash Up
I found this on another blog I follow this morning. It puts together two of my fondest childhood memories. I don't know who created this video, but, whoever they were, did such a good job at it, I couldn't help but share:
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Happy Boxing Day!
In all seriousness, this is easily the coolest holiday on Earth. Why do the Canadians and Australians get all the cool holidays and leave us with Columbus Day? Have fun shopping, mate.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Doing The Most Good
There is nothing that I hate more than religious commercials at Christmas time. It seems like there is always a religious organization or a political action committee out there that takes advantage of the backdrop of the holiday. I saw a commercial a couple of days ago that, at first, I thought was no different. But something struck me as odd. It was displaying what seemed to be Bible verses. The first one was Peter 10:17. I knew immediately that it didn't exist. There is no such thing as the book of Peter. There is either First Peter or Second Peter. Residual memories of my brainwashing. I continued to watch:
I was speechless. Finally, a religious organization that was preaching salvation, and not by a heavenly means. This is a group that is "saving" thousands of people a day. People of all faiths, creeds, and colors.
Speaking of which, something struck me in that commercial. One lady said, "When I was stoned". Obviously, this is conduct that the church and the Bible looks down upon. They helped her anyway. This could not be any more Christ like in my opinion.
As a Jehovah's Witness, we never donated to any organization that had ties to another religious organization. We never accepted donations from such organizations, either. We also did not donate or receive donations from the Red Cross, because of their work with blood transfusions. When the tsunami hit Indonesia a few years ago, I donated to the Red Cross and made a blood donation as well. My mother made a donation to her favorite charity: the Watchtower organization. She sent money to have help her "brothers and sisters" in need. She did the same a couple of years earlier when a massive earthquake hit Kobe, Japan.
I was always taught not to treat people differently because they were a different skin color. It was acceptable, though, to treat them differently, or to deny them assistance because of the god they chose to worship, or worse, NOT to worship. That's really a sad way to live your life. I promised myself that I would never be that way once I left that mess. I also promised myself that I would raise my child to give to everyone that needed help, regardless of whether you agreed with them or not. That's what I liked about this commercial.
My little girl is only 19 months old and she looks forward to going to Walmart so she can put a dollar into the little red kettle. Once the holidays are over, we will find another way to encourage her to get excited about giving.
The holiday season is almost over. People will still be hungry in February, in July, and in October. The bell ringers may not be in front of Walmart after next week, but don't forget the Salvation Army. They do a great job at saving people. They do it without requirements. They do it because they want to help. Please do the same. Merry Christmas.
Chapter & Verse from Eastern Michigan Division on Vimeo.
I was speechless. Finally, a religious organization that was preaching salvation, and not by a heavenly means. This is a group that is "saving" thousands of people a day. People of all faiths, creeds, and colors.
Speaking of which, something struck me in that commercial. One lady said, "When I was stoned". Obviously, this is conduct that the church and the Bible looks down upon. They helped her anyway. This could not be any more Christ like in my opinion.
As a Jehovah's Witness, we never donated to any organization that had ties to another religious organization. We never accepted donations from such organizations, either. We also did not donate or receive donations from the Red Cross, because of their work with blood transfusions. When the tsunami hit Indonesia a few years ago, I donated to the Red Cross and made a blood donation as well. My mother made a donation to her favorite charity: the Watchtower organization. She sent money to have help her "brothers and sisters" in need. She did the same a couple of years earlier when a massive earthquake hit Kobe, Japan.
I was always taught not to treat people differently because they were a different skin color. It was acceptable, though, to treat them differently, or to deny them assistance because of the god they chose to worship, or worse, NOT to worship. That's really a sad way to live your life. I promised myself that I would never be that way once I left that mess. I also promised myself that I would raise my child to give to everyone that needed help, regardless of whether you agreed with them or not. That's what I liked about this commercial.
My little girl is only 19 months old and she looks forward to going to Walmart so she can put a dollar into the little red kettle. Once the holidays are over, we will find another way to encourage her to get excited about giving.
The holiday season is almost over. People will still be hungry in February, in July, and in October. The bell ringers may not be in front of Walmart after next week, but don't forget the Salvation Army. They do a great job at saving people. They do it without requirements. They do it because they want to help. Please do the same. Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Update
Taking a couple of days off. Trying to compile a couple of lists for the end of the year. Looking for batteries for the baby's Christmas presents before we wrap them. Putting the finishing touches on a couple of Christmas presents that I am making. One of them is being ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT. When I finish it, though, I will be sure to post pictures. If it is as cool as what I am envisioning, it's going to be pretty damn awesome. New calling, perhaps?
Eating like crazy..the new medication I am on is making me gain weight like a mofo. So far, 18 pounds in just the first week. But, I'll get to that at another time. In the meantime, enjoy these next couple of days if you can. Try not to kill anyone if you have to go to Walmart.
Eating like crazy..the new medication I am on is making me gain weight like a mofo. So far, 18 pounds in just the first week. But, I'll get to that at another time. In the meantime, enjoy these next couple of days if you can. Try not to kill anyone if you have to go to Walmart.
Friday, December 18, 2009
RIP, Roy E. Disney
Roy E. Disney, nephew of Walt Disney, died 12/16/2009, from cancer at the age of 79. Other than Walt himself, Roy was possibly the single greatest influence and had the biggest impact on the Disney Company. He was a writer and a producer, but made his presence known as a shareholder more than anywhere else.
In 1984, he led a successful campaign to boot Walt's son in law from the company, and again, in 2004, he led a shareholder mutiny against Michael Eisner. With the removal of Eisner, he helped steer Disney back to it's roots. He was also instrumental in bringing the parks' focus back on the magic and wonder that his uncle Walt had envisioned over a half century ago.
Thank you Roy, for keeping his dream alive. You will be missed.
In 1984, he led a successful campaign to boot Walt's son in law from the company, and again, in 2004, he led a shareholder mutiny against Michael Eisner. With the removal of Eisner, he helped steer Disney back to it's roots. He was also instrumental in bringing the parks' focus back on the magic and wonder that his uncle Walt had envisioned over a half century ago.
Thank you Roy, for keeping his dream alive. You will be missed.
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