Election 2008

I know it's been a while since I've posted and it will probably be a while before I post again. Even with all the free time I have these days with my lack of work, that time is not necessarily "free" and I do fill my days with important (and not-so-important) stuff.

I did find time to go vote last Thursday though. Depending on which state you live in, you can take advantage of early (or absentee) voting but the time-lines do vary. Here in NC last Thursday marked the first day of early voting and I was there first thing in the morning to do my civic duty (and no, that's not to "bang the booty" for you CB4 fans out there!). I was still greeted with a line to wait in...something that I think is an excellent thing. People seem to be more passionate about voting this year than any and that's a great thing. This is one of the most important elections any of us will ever be involved in. and "involved" is the key word. Make sure you are involved and make sure your voice is heard.

Now I won't divulge who I voted for, though my friends can easily figure this one out. Let's just say I might as well live on the west coast...that has nothing to do with living in a certain state, but if you know your geography you can figure that one out as well. But that's not important. I don't care which side of the aisle you agree with, get out and vote! Do it now if you can...the lines on election day are going to be tremendous this year and you could save yourself a lot of time. you could also save yourself from getting to busy on election day to make it by the polls, or being "too tired" after a hard day at work to bother...excuses I hear every election. And please, don't stop with this year...you should vote every chance you get. I did miss the miss the primaries this year (but will try not to in the future), but as a US citizen I feel it is important for me to get out there and vote com election time.

Once last thing...as an independent thinker in most aspects of my life, I applaud those out there who want to make their voices heard in a different way. The only problem with this is that in our current system your voices are rarely heard and many think you are throwing away a vote. By all means, if you want to vote Libertarian or any other way (usually a write-in in most states), go right ahead. Maybe if enough people do, one day things will change and we will have more than two viable parties. Me personally? I feel this election is too important to make a statement vote. Though I have in the past and probably will again in the future do just that, I just couldn't bring myself to do that this year. But whatever you do, I can't stress strongly enough to get out an vote. And really think about what each candidate can do for you. Too often people vote without being informed, so arm yourself with knowledge and really take to heart who's fighting for you. And just remember this...just because a candidate says they won't raise taxed does not mean they will follow through on this promise. There was once a guy who's main campaign promise was "No new taxes" and we all know how that turned out don't we? We can only hope that whoever is our next president makes our lives better (kept promises or not) because right now we're in the worst shape we've been in a very long time.

Time for me to go cut some grass...I've been waiting for it to warm up a bit and the dew to dry. This should be fun!

This post is likely to be all over the place...

...but such is the way my brain works.

First, I suppose I was slightly misinformed, or maybe just ignorant, when it came to my last post. I guess you could say I wasn't spot on about where the funds that are raised go (in some cases anyway). Still, I'm no fan of the way school fundraisers are executed, but think it's admirable that they (at least in some cases) go towards the PTO and doing things in appreciation of the teachers. I think teachers deserve all they can get and I applaud anything that helps them out.

Now that that's out of the way, I'm glad football season is finally here and the preseason is over! the Panthers looked pretty damn good yesterday, actually reminding me of the 2003 team that went to the Super Bowl...especially 2 minute drill at the end of the game. Here's hoping that they continue to play that well...and hopefully improve on what they did yesterday. In other football news, my fantasy football team is off to a limp start, but that's not really news since it's par for the course.

I'm also glad summer's almost over ("almost" being the key word here), mainly so I can get a break from cutting grass and all the other chores that come along with hot weather. But it's not over yet...even though it's September, I've lived in the south long enough (um, all my life...) to know that we've probably got a few more weeks of 90 degree weather. Yes, the temps will drop occasionally, but we're not out of the woods yet. That doesn't mean I'm looking forward to winter at all. I love the fall and the spring, but absolutely hate cold weather. I'd actually rather endure the humidity and sweat my ass off than to deal with cold weather. If I ever move away from here (which is highly unlikely), you can be guaranteed that it will be farther south and not to the north.

Maybe my memory's clouded, or maybe it's just perspective, but summers seem to have changed quite a bit since I was a kid. I'm not just talking global warming either. It's the little things...like fire ants. I don't remember having problems with fire ants in this part of the country when I was a kid. I do remember running into them when we'd head to the beach in the bad Carolina, but here in the good Carolina? Nope. We had ants for sure, but not fire ants. Now I have to dust new fire ant hills every single day. It seems with each one I get under control three more pop up. And what about fireflies? I still see them, but they're getting more and more rare every year. I'm sure if I went out in the country or in the woods I'd see more of them, but even in more populated areas I remember fireflies being in abundance when I was a kid. Are these things a result of global warming? Are we eventually going to have armadillos living in NC? Now that would be cool actually...but I digress. Once again, it could just be that my memory sucks...I already know my short term memory is bad, I'd hate to think my long term memory is going as well since I've always had a knack for pulling memories from many, many years ago. Memories that would make a good post for another day...

You know what really grinds my gears?!

School fundraisers! That's what grinds my gears!

Kids have been in school for three days now and almost all of them already have fundraisers going. I understand the need for fundraisers, but this soon? And every school at the same time? You get some guy come in, show the kids all the neat prizes they'll win if they sell 80 items and then expect them to compete with every other school out there who's done the same thing. How much over-priced wrapping paper do you expect one person to buy? And the kids can't even sell the stuff anymore. I remember when I was a kid, going door to door was somewhat acceptable, but now they specifically tell kids not to. It's a good thing for kids, but then the burden is put on the parents to sell 20 items so their kid can ride a limo to Ci-Ci's pizza, or 40 items so they can have a $8 remote control UFO, or 80 items so they can get an annoying bird that repeats what you say. Add to that having two or more kids, all of whom want this crap and are going to be disappointed when they get the level one prize that you could have bought them at the dollar store.


To the school system:

I understand that funds are limited. The state does not provide you with enough money to teach our kids. Every year the supply list grows and grows and includes such things as Ziplock bags, hand sanitizers ("Killing our kids immunity systems for over 10 years now!!", but that's a whole other rant) and cotton balls. I understand families buying their own paper, pencils, book bags, etc., but cotton balls?! The state can't supply these for our kids? Furthermore, why do you do the same lame fundraisers year after year? Isn't it time for some new ideas? Or at least co-ordinate with all the other schools in your school system so you're not all selling at the same time? And why so many, so soon after the others? It seems we get one done, then it's fall festival, then another send home brochure, then a pizza night...it's endless. Let's do less, yet higher quality fundraisers and try to raise more money at once.

To the state:

Yes, I realize that the cost of sending my kid to your school is substantially less than sending them to private school and for that I thank you...sort of. Truth be told though, if I could afford it they wouldn't even be in state funded schools (though private schools are just as guilty with the fundraisers). However, a couple of years ago our state started an Education Lottery that has generated millions upon millions upon millions upon millions (you get the idea) of dollars, yet every year we have more and more fundraisers, more school supplies to buy. Where is all this money going? And even beyond that, there's tax dollars that are supposed to be going into our schools. What gives North Carolina (and I'm sure I speak for other states as well)?

I understand, I really do...and I don't mind buying a bag of cotton balls for 98 cents to send with my kids to school. I also don't mind showing my parents and select other family members (most of them have kids or grand kids too) the fundraisers knowing they'll at least buy something, but I'm never going to bombard my co-workers (who, when I'm working, also have kids selling the same crap...or at least grand kids, nieces, nephews, neighbors, etc. who are) with pleas of helping my child's school out. I just wish there was a little more method to all this madness, that's all.

By the Way...

In case you're unsure of Rule #34, the fine folks at Urban Dictionary come to the rescue.

24 Days

Three weeks, 3 days...that's how long it's been since my last post. I know I'm slack about this blog at an alarmingly increasing frequency, but until it pays the bills...

The reason I did decide to post today was because I found this searching for Mythbusters images (don't ask why...I'm just a nerd like that) and thought it was pretty damn funny and worth preserving somewhere.

I feel exactly the same way...

More later? For now you can peruse these pictures from my latest beer fest adventure. No captions yet, but do you really need them?

If Stormtroopers were Spartans

Things are starting to settle back in...

As a few of you already know, me and my wife have made amends and are now living together again, happier than ever. We've come to a good understanding of what each of us need out of our relationship, the things that make us happy, the things that bother us and the things it's going to take to make this work long term. We both admit to our past mistakes and vow to not only make up for them, but to keep them in mind and make sure we don't repeat history. I little bit of understanding goes a long way. I've still been quite absent from the Internet both in this home and my other stomping grounds, but I do intend to continue on...though maybe not in the magnitude as in the past. It's a good thing really...this Internet thing kind of sucks the life out of you at times. Maybe a break is all I need and I'll be back to my regular shenanigans, or maybe not (after all, it seems a break was all I needed to realize what was truly important to me in life and to come full circle with the marriage). At the moment I have a lot of stuff to get accomplished and will show up here (and there for those of you who know where "there" is...for those who don't, it's not hard to find out if you just look for the clues) from time to time, but it's still going to take a while. And once school becomes a factor, my time here will be less and less. Growing up is not as bad as it sounds, but eventually my lively hood will come from the Internet in one way or another so my absence will be temporary and sporadic until that day. Thanks to all of you who have supported me, not only in the reconciliation, but in the time leading up to it.

Koopa Troopa Revolution!!!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Star Wars vs. Rush Hour

I have seen the Star Wars movies (duh. They practically rule my life). I have not seen any of the Rush Hour movies. I like Jackie Chan, I do not care for Chris Tucker. Still, this is funny.

I promise...I will return!

Once again, time for a little apology. I still don't know how many readers I have...a few, but not too many. I know of one constant and a few that come here from time to time. I'm sure there are others who never comment and that's fine. What I do here is rather slack blogging. I find things, usually through other blogs, "linkdump"-type sites and occasionally by just typing in certain key phrases in youtube and pass them along. I have not forgotten about my band history, but it may be a little while before I pick up on that again. Also I sort of want to get away from the direction I've taken this thing in...but I've been saying that for a while. My life is a whirlwind right now and I've been a busy guy. Soon though, things will get back to "normal" for me and I shall return...hopefully with a renewed vigor...to amuse and make you think. I would like to do more of the latter, as well as write more daily observations. Though for the past few months I've been pretty much a shut in. All this should change in the near future. As a matter of fact I have an outing planned thisSaturday and hopefully will have some pictures and stories to go along with it. Look for me to pick up the pace on posting next week...maybe not much, but at least a little. The T-Shirt of the Day may return, or may not. It really didn't add too much to the blog. I would like to continue showcasing my collection, but it may be on a less frequent basis (or the betterscenario would be to move it to it's very own blog and keep it daily and possibly post more than one a day). I do tend to ramble when I write...ifyou can't tell already, but I need to focus more on original content. I know I sound like a broken record in this regard, but I honestly feel like my lfe is getting ready to lend itself to such. Just hang tight and your regularly scheduled programming shall return...

Update on why my blog sucks
lately...

I've been terribly busy, or
at least occupied. While unemployed I'm watching my girls for the
summer and between that, trying to get ready for a yard sale and also
reconciling with my wife, I just haven't had the time to devote to this
blog lately. I do plan on picking up the pace again soon, but for the
time being that will mean less posting of the strange things I find and
no T-Shirt of the Day posts...I may still post one from time to time,
but not on a regular basis for now. I am going to continue to post a
video from time to time when I find something I like, but even that may
not be everyday. Some days you may see more of me on here than others,
but for the next couple of weeks anyway I will be mostly absent.

With that said, I do want to share this with you...

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height="344">

Beef and Cheese

This is just plain weird. Oh, and I realize I've been slacking on my duties here the past couple of days but I will try to play catch up soon...

Fett Dance

Happy 4th of July

I'll probably be taking a break tomorrow and over the weekend. Here's some dumbasses with fireworks in honor of the holiday. Do not try this at home...but if you do, be sure to catch it on video and put it on YouTube so people like me can laugh at your stupidity!

T-Shirt of the Day

Sorry, this one's a little wrinkly, but I didn't have an iron handy! This one was a birthday gift from my kids and wife and features Milton Waddams (played by the incomparable Stephen Root) from Office Space, the awesomely funny Mike Judge comedy. I think it was bought at Target, but I'm sure you can find them elsewhere on the Internet if you were so inclined.

Wu Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck

I have abandoned the daily music posts, but I will still post a video I like from time to time. This is one of those times....

Christopher Walken's Three Little Pigs

Somewhere Over the Rainbow (backwards and backwards reversed to forwards?!?!)





And here's how she did it...



Visit Tara Busch's blog here!

Game & Watch

I had some of these when I was a kid and played them for what seemed like hours. These days I would probably get frustrated withe them pretty quickly. Still it's a nice walk down memory lane!

Another Interesting Wikipedia Find

List of problems solved by MacGyver