Rise and Shine '09

Happy New Year!!

Parody

My friends and I haven't been in 'the studio' too much until recently. Sadly, I haven't gotten on anything noteworthy, but they made some pretty hysterical tunes. Wanted to put the link in here so if anyone else wants to take a listen, you're more than welcome to. Hur'yo'go: Street-Beatz!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to Jesus!

The Eve

It's Christmas Eve! And aside from all the hustle, bustle, and other words ending in 'stle' I'm especially happy this year to be at least attempting to look at Christmas with different eyes. Eyes that really say, "Wow Christmas is the night my Savior was born so that he could give his life so that I may live." It's played over a million times, but when you really, and I'm mean really think about that line, it's an incredible feeling.

On top of it all, when people spread joy just because, that also makes me happy. Unfortunately, sometimes that isn't well received. I have this link here. It kind of makes me sad to see the responses, but equally happy to know that someone out there is giving for the sake of it.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Time Stamps

Something I've realized:

I've noticed this for a while, but just now had the urge to make it better known. The time stamps on here are WaAaAay off. Not even close. I make a post at 10:43 and the stamp say 4:27. I make a post at 9:10 the stamps say 11:12. Not as though its a huge deal, but it does irk me a little. I've examined and reset the time-zone feature a few times, it even had me questioning what timezone I live in for a few minutes. I've concluded that what I have is the correct zone, but to no avail.

I'm not sure why this was important enough to post, but too late now!

"Opportunity"

As I'm am sure anyone not living under a rock and perhaps some that are, interest rates have dropped drastically to accommodate for the faltering economy. So yesterday; My manager leaves us all this printout. The basic summation: After the completion of their transaction, you must ask every customer if they own their home and that we have an extremely low rate and if they would like to speak to a mortgage rep. Additionally, for everything single phone call you answer, you must say, verbatim: "Thank you for calling Sun National Bank today, where our current interest rates are at an incredible 40 year low, this is (insert name) how can I help you." Needless to say, I didn't partake despite it being 'non-negotiable'. Instead I watched everyone else try it and stumble and mumble and not make a lick worth of sense. Then, if the customer is remotely interested they ask further questions(90% aren't), they ask further questions that we couldn't answer if our lives depended on it. As you can imagine, someone trying to sell you a product/service that doesn't know what they're talking about, does not seem convincing.
Anyhow, that was all sort of a buildup to my overall gripe with this initiative. The bottom of the paper, specifically addressed to the reader says, "We have an incredible opportunity with rates being as low as they are and we need to capitalize on it right away." I have one GIGANTIC question. Who is 'WE'??? What exactly do 'WE' get out of selling hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans? Luckily, I have an answer. That answer, is NOTHING. But do you know who does have a tremendous "Opportunity"? The one who gets a big fat bonus check at the end of the month if he meets his goals? Yeah, that's right, my manager! Where I ask, is the incentive in that? And I'll answer that question the same way I did before, NOTHING. I think it's best not to build animosity among your employees. If you're going demand we bake the pie, well I'll put it to you this way; when it's all said and done, I want a slice.

Up and At 'Em

Today was my first official day of Christmas break! Could've slept as late as I wanted. However, I've been trying to not excessively oversleep lately. You know, going to bed at four and sleeping until... four. To be honest, it isn't so much the time I go to bed as it is the time I get up. I went to bed around 2:30 last night, which isn't early by any means, but instead of zonking right away, I set my alarm for eight hours, so 10:30. For some that might be late but it's a substantial improvement from a single digit number in the P.M.'s. I realized that by sleeping that eight hours I feel so much more rest than if I had slept until whatever time I woke up. The REM cycles match up and all that cool jazz. So my alarm went off and I felt great, but I still had a little of the grogginess, but not enough to go back to sleep. Instead, I lay in my bed for another fifteen minutes and soaked up the warmth and the joy of not having to get up for anything. When you're not rushed, man you enjoy the simple things in life.

Traditions

I was bored, so I stole the Xanga 'featured question' and I'm posting it on here. FQ: "What holidays traditions do you have or want to start?"

Well, lets see, first I'm going to limit it only to Christmas traditions. By saying holiday, technically I could include every single holiday throughout the entire year, so lets refrain from that. Done.
First part of the question: My family has a few holiday traditions. Every year the weekend after Thanksgiving we all go out as a family to purchase our Christmas tree. I actually mentioned this a few weeks ago when we did get our tree. Upon cutting the tree down, my brother and I drag the tree from where it was felled to the car. This has been going on since I was like... three? I have home movies to prove it. I must say, the whole draggin' bit has gotten a lot easier since I was a toddler. Anyhow, there's that.
Another tradition is that on Christmas Eve, we always stay home, and have a family devotion together. This is our attempt at maintaining focus on the real reason why we celebrate Christmas. This includes, of course, reading the Christmas story. As embedded as it is in our heads and culture, it's not bad doing an annual refreshing. Once that's concluded we all open one small gift as an appetizer until morning. Then, on Christmas morning, we don't barge down the stairs and proceed to tear apart the living room. There's a process! Only one gift is opened at a time. This goes in order, even Mom and Dad have to wait their turn! Doing this allows us all to savor the moment, and even draw it out for significantly longer than if we quickly unwrapped everything before falling asleep in the mountains of wrapping paper. Which, by the way, is yet another, albeit, unofficial tradition of mine.


I just answered this Featured Question; you can answer it too!

A Delicious Cycle

I have leftover Oreos, I'll grab some milk.
I have some remaining milk, I'll get Oreos.
Euphoric Bliss.

The Solution!

Mom and I were watching the news concerning the Auto Industry bailout the other day. Naturally, we began discussing our distaste for having to pay back thousands of dollars in taxes for a proposal we were certainly against. As is the common opinion, why should they get all this bailout money, are they deserving etc. And, if they don't, the feeling is that they'll go bankrupt which will further drive the economy into a recession.

Well, my ingenious, economically-swift-minded mother concluded this: The government is considering yet another stimulus check. So why not do this; instead of giving 'them' billions of dollars for free, and 'us' a lame $600 dollar check, why not give every American who wants it a $12,000 credit(which is how much it would costs every American) for explicitly purchasing or put towards the purchase of a car! It's brilliant! If 4/5 even 3/5 of every American bought a car from the Big Three, they would be 10 times the behemoths they already are! Not only would they be out of debt, the Americans would have cars paid off, and more money would be driven into the economy then a lousy $600 that people are depositing anyway! Why could this not work!? I need to call my senator. How come Congress hasn't thought of this yet? Clearly, they're a bunch of ninnies.

ABR

I trust in you for life to live, and air to breath.
Purity fills my lungs.
I no longer live in solitude.
No longer bound.
My heart beats with great devotion.
This is the start to a new beginning.
On my knees praying for mercy.
Hands raised high, humble and broken. Wanting your grace.
Wanting your security.
Memories of laying face down, motionless, with such a hollow feeling inside.
Soon I would end this life I was living.
I am just a man with a heart and sinful hands.
I am a fallen victim.
Lord, show me the way. I ask of you Father, let my words be your words.
Let my thoughts be your thoughts.
To you, I give my praise.
Show me the way. Take me in your arms. Never let me go.
Lord, show me the way, as I give myself to you.
Never let me go.
Hold me with your everlasting love.

Go ahead, do it. Tell me Metal isn't awesome. I dare you!

I'm just sittin' on the dock of the bay ...

... wastin' time, watching the tide roll away.

Yeah. That's my life.

I came home today, read for an hour. Fell asleep for three more, read for another. And now I've been since on here ever since. Doing N.O.T.H.I.N.G. I should have a ten page update for this, as much as I'm not doing anything else.

Baba ghanoush

Anyone seen that commercial where the guy references baba ghanoush? Well I wanted to know what it was, so I looked it up.

In case you were wondering too: Baba ghanoush: an appetizer or spread made chiefly of eggplant, tahini, garlic, olive oil, and lemon.

Yuck! And here's some Visual Aid.

Dryness

So, normally I'm against any form of hand moisturizers because, well, I hate them. I'm slightly OCD about hand washing as anyone who knows me probably can attest to, but I'm not going into details. (Really I don't think I'm that bad, I just like being clean). Anyway, this winter season I've climbed to new heights in my refusal to use hand moisturizers. Because I wash my hands considerably more than the rest of my family, my hands get dried out so much so when I make a fist the knuckles crack open and begin to bleed. It's fun. Well this year, I've broken out in a red rash all over the back of my hands from abstaining from creams. I tried to scrub the back of my hands less vigorously and it helped alleviate and eventually rid my hands of the rash. It worked, but then they're not clean, so I have to wash them so they end up breaking out again. It's a terrible cycle.

Darnit!

What the flip! Why haven't I written in here for several days yet again! This has got to stop! ..or start? You know what I mean.

Christmas Tree!

As you already guessed, I(my family) got our Christmas tree today as it is yearly tradition on the week following Thanksgiving. Typically we go that weekend, but schedules got busy so it was postponed. Even so, that's another memory I'm rather fond of(speaking of memories on my Xanga). I enjoy those types of traditions however unexcited I appear about partaking in them. If they didn't happen, I would be very disappointed.

Mental note: Make lots of traditions when I get married. (Unfortunately, not with any kids. But that's my own choosing, so it's not really too unfortunate.)

Christmas is soon!

Neglect

I really don't write in this enough for all my claims how much I would use it for random thoughts that didn't fit into my weekly Xanga schedule. There is no ebb of random thoughts, but they constantly occur when I'm not at the computer, having the availability to include them in here. SO, I'm writing about how I'm not writing so that I've written something. Superb.

Uhh.. hopefully I have a better topic to discuss later. Yeah, that's it.

Thanksgiving Joke

A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's' mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistently saying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could think of to 'clean up' the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot. The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder. John, in desperation, threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep, was heard for over a minute.

Fearing that he'd hurt the parrot, John quickly opened the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out onto John's outstretched arms and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language and actions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."

John was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude. As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramatic change in his behavior, when the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?"

Cover Up?

If this is true, which I'm not certain it is, but if, this could be earth-shattering. Although I'm wondering, if it isn't in fact a fallacy, is the media then covering it up? Okay, so get this:

There was a rumor prior to the election that Barack Obama was not a natural born citizen and therefore could not be elected President. Well, most snickerings of that were dismissed as conspiracy theories from someone who just didn't want Obama as President.

Wrong.

Apparently, a Supreme Court judge has issued an order to the Democratic party that Obama must present his official birth certificate by December 15th. Previously, he had shown suspect copies of his birth certificate, and now the judge has ordered the real deal. Is it possible was born in Kenya? Do we have an illegitmate president!? And here's the real kicker; 1) If he wasn't born in the US this country and is banned from being president, there will be riots! And 2) that means another election is held, George Bush will mantain his presidency postion.. which will result in even more riots!

Take a second to let that think in.

Wow.

SNOW!!

Snow! Snow! Snow! I'm late on this, if you hadn't guessed, it snowed for the first time today! In all of history, yes. Ok, of this imminent winter season! Snow!

Yeah, and it was about 1/10th of an inch and lasted till noon before it was water, but you know what, it covered the ground, and looked cool, and I was giddy over it. I'll say, in fact I feel almost obligated to say, holy cow do New Jerseyians hate snow. It's so upsetting! I lost count of how many customers came in the bank today complaining in concern to the lovely, puffy, whiteness daintily caressing the earth. That is undoubtedly one New Jersey custom I will never assimilate to. And yes, I did just end a sentence with a preposition and follow that sentence beginning with an 'and'. Like a beautiful snowflake, I am not bound by the restrictions of a mold! Ok.. tangent over. Poem time:

The snow
falls
drifting
down
falling
forlorn
I taste
it
On my
mouth
And I
know
This is
the
First snow

Psalms 95

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our Salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song,
For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.
In his hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

My scripture and inspiration for the week.

Leaves

This is an excerpt from House of Leaves, where one of the narrators is basically going nuts, I thought it was hilarious, yet scary and perfectly encapsulated the idea of imminent insanity.

Of course I was fine.
Except as I started walking down the sidewalk, I watched a truck veer from its lane, flatten a stop sign, desperately trying to slow, momentarily redirect itself, and then in spite of all the brakes on that monster, all the accompanying smoke and ear puncturing shrieks, it still barreled straight into me. Suddenly I understood what it meant to be weightless, flying through the air, no longer ruled by that happy dyad of gravity and mass until I was, landing on the roof of a parked car, which turned out to be my car, a good fifteen feet, hearing the thud but not actually feeling it. I even momentarily blacked out, but came to just in time to watch the truck, still hurtling towards me until it was actually slamming into me, causing me to think, and you're not going to believe this-- "I can't believe this idiot just totaled my car! Of all the cars on this street he had to trash mine!" even as all that steel was grinding into me, instantly pulverizing my legs, my pelvis, the metal from the grill wedging forward like kitchen knives, severing me from the waist down.
People started screaming.
Though not about me.
Something to do with the truck.
It was leaking all over the place.
Gas.
It had caught fire. I was going to burn.
Except it wasn't gas.
It was milk.
Only there was no milk. There was no gas. No leak either. There weren't even any people. Certainly none who were screaming. And there sure as heck wasn't any truck. I was alone. My street was empty. A tree fell on me. So heavy, it took a crane to lift it. Not even a crane could lift it. There are no trees on my block.
This has got to stop.
I have to go.
I did go.

Soda

Something random I was thinking about today at work(when isn't it?): Well wait, let me preface first; yesterday I went out to lunch with some of the guys and bought a fountain mountain dew soda in a paper cup. Then today at work I bought soda in a can instead. As I was drinking it I realized, "this doesn't taste nearly as good as it's sugary counterpart that I had yesterday." So why the disparity? Is fountain soda just better? Is it the can that somehow dilutes the taste? Is it all in my head? And even after this conclusion, I came home and had another fountain soda out of a cup, and it tasted great again! (Side note: Why am I not obese!?) It seems as if all I've been doing the last week is bringing up asinine topics(and drinking soda) and then just asking equally asinine questions concerning them to which no answers will be determined. Ugh, man, I need to go jogging or something.

Fill 'Er Up!

Who else feel like doing throwing their arms up in celebration every time they drive by a gas station and see $1.99 for a gallon of gas!? I sure do! Except I can't, because I'd take my hand off the steering wheel and probably crash.. but that's not the point! The point is, gas is plummeting and that's the one time where the usage of plummeting is a on a positive note as far as our economy has been lately. I filled up my car today for $25 bucks. I repeat, $25 bucks! I haven't been able to do that since junior year of high school. I even kept thinking the guy got it wrong. Heck yes!
However, this excitement does not come absent of skepticism. In the back of my mind I've began pondering precisely why this sudden and enormous drop in prices has occured? There has to be some explanation, and I want to know. Was the government just gouging prices to make some extra dough for a while? Is the economy in fact doing so terrible soon everything else will drop and we'll be in a second depression? Did we secretly discover vast oil fields? OR did we make amends with the Middle East and now they're sooo thankful we invaded their countries, enforced tariffs on them, established our own government system which we essentially forced them to use, and accidentally destroyed half their buildings with bombs that as a token of their gratitude decided to give us a couple hundred billion barrels for free? Yeah, so, if anyone has a real explanation, I would be all ears.

Power Naps

I took a "power nap" before work this afternoon and it dawned on me on how inefficient they appear to be for a couple of reasons. 1) Power naps are supposed to be 15-20 minutes in length. I am wholly unable to accomplish this, because I never feel rested in 20 minutes, usually resulting in taking a full nap which ends up being around two hours, and 2) for that matter how can anyone be rested in such a minimal time frame. What does 20 minutes accomplish? There's no restful REM sleep taking place. I think there's some underlying placebo effect going with that notion. 3) If you oversleep the night prior (or whenever you actually do sleep), does a power nap work then, assuming you're tired because you slept too much? Which is a weird concept altogether. I mean, how does sleeping to alleviate drowsiness due to too much sleep have any chance of working? Which basically goes back to my original statement that paper naps don't work. Which now realizing that I have two essays and test tomorrow, I need a nap. A long one.

Hacked

Anyone hear about this? The White House email, documents, something something getting hacked into by some rather cunning fellows in China. I mean seriously, how does that happen? They're probably going to blackmail the US by saying if we don't cease investigation into their underage Olympic gymnastic performers, they'll sell the government secrets to terrorists. Hah. Ok, jokes aside, that's not cool. Have fun with that debacle #44.

Months

I was at work yesterday when someone informed me that November has been dubbed 'Diabetes Awareness Month' by whomever dubs these sorts of things. That got me thinking, first, in a large scheme, how important is diabetes that we've actually labeled a month after it and, secondly, if we keep up this assigning of months, it won't be very long until we run out of available months (Universal dubbers out there, a reminder: there are only twelve). For instance, February is Black Heritage month, September is Hispanic Heritage Month, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and now November is Diabetes Awareness Month. I know there's more than this, and being unable to think of them currently is hurting my argument, but suffice it to say, we should all be aware this looming quandary no doubt exists.

#44

Barack Obama.

World Champs!

Phillies are the World Series Champions!!! 'Nuff said!

Tacos

So because Jason Bartlett of the Tampa Bay Rays stole a base during World Series game one, every person in America won a free taco from Taco Bell today. Well, I just drove by Taco Bell on my way back from the post office and all I have to say is, WOW. The place is packed! There were cars stuck in the parking lot because so many others had lined up behind drive through that there was no room to get out. This is at 2:30, not exactly a prime lunch or dinner hour, but man, people sure do love their free tacos followed by spending some quality time on the toilet. Bon Appetit!

Ten Things

I haven't been writing on here as much as I initially suspected I would. The set-up seemed much "cooler" and more refined, but it's tough adapting to a new system I suppose. There has been so much to write recently, yet I haven't had the motivation or time to get any of it down. There are two or three potential poems I have begun, but they remain unfinished as well as a great essay idea I've been conjuring up for the last week. The essay entails the title, 'The Ten Most Important Lessons I've Learned In Life,' or something to that affect. Basically describing the ten most substantial influences in my life to this point. I feel that it would be really interesting to write, not only from an outsiders perspective, but I believe that I may also gain some extremely eye-opening knowledge about myself. The most difficult process has been 1) finding the time, but 2) if I'm to find it, where to begin? These ten pieces require a lengthy duration of deliberation as I wouldn't want to make rash decisions on such monumental impacts. Maybe I just need to start instead of feeling too daunted to begin as that will surely get me no where. Hm, that last sentence could apply in many other areas of my life as well. That might well be one of the ten. Perfect!

Nickelodeon

Ever been curious where the TV channel came up with the name "Nickelodeon"? Well I did. I always thought it sounded cool, but didn't think it had any real origins. Alas, I was wrong! "Nickelodeons" were actually created by Thomas Edison. Say what!? They were those personal goggle looking contraptions that you click and they flash pictures that make up some sort of story. At the time, they didn't cost five bucks at K-Mart, and instead were extremely expensive so everyone paid a, go figure, nickel, to look inside. Who knew!? Why don't they teach us this stuff in elementary school? These are way cooler than a light bulb!

We're The Only Ones In Our Right Mind

So I found out another interesting piece of information last night during the debates. (Which this blog seems to consist entirely of those nuggets.) Nevertheless, I discovered that all but three or four presidents have been left-handed.
Good or bad, that now gives McCain an edge in the presidential race because he's left handed. More importantly however, this means I should run for president!! And why not? So yeah, if anyone wants to begin making contributions to my campaign fund, I'm accepting all donations.

Mispronounced Words 101

I'm sure everyone has heard of and/or used the word 'forte'. Am I right? Well as you may be accustomed to saying, "Such and such isn't exactly my for-tay" Yes? Well I have drastic news for, well, anyone who has ever used that word because you have been pronouncing it incorrectly as for-tay. It's a French word, with the root being fort or fortress, as in a strong point. Remember the days in first grade when we learned what 'silent E's' were. That's correct ladies and gents, forte is simply said as fort. Truly! Look it up.

Broadcasting

So far this semester I can with beaming confidence claim that I have discovered and learned some rather interesting knowledge. Albeit, that knowledge is not what I would perceive as beneficial to excelling in my courses. Today's tid-bit comes from Electronic Media. A class that it an enormous waste of my hard earned money, yet required to attain my degree.
Broadcasting; The term broadcasting, which we all know is commonly associated with TV, Radio, and other forms of media has its original roots in farming. Broadcasting was coined by farmers when technological advancements allowed the tilling of soil and planting of seeds at at high efficiency. The idea of broadcasting meant to sow(cast) seeds over a large(broad) expanse of land at one time.

Just in case you were feverishly searching for a topic that would make you look cool a party, I've got you covered. And you're welcome.

Greg Laurie

I went to the Harvest Crusade tonight, where Greg Laurie was speaking and it was phenomenal. I didn't think I was going to be able to a single one(there's three this weekend). Yet now, I want to attend all of them if I can. I now feel so compelled to bring someone else and just let the God speak to their hearts, I'm really excited. Can you tell?

Bailout

The Senate bill has passed! Now we can all fork over thousands of dollars to the government! Hip-hip, Hurray! Hip-hip, Hurray! (And since three's a charm) Hip-hip, Hurray!

Anyone else a wee bit weary on this whole bailout shenanigans? Did you know that although our paper money is "backed" by gold, allegedly, all that gold no longer exists? Apparently, we've sold it all to foreign countries, which prompts the question, what exactly this now 850 billion dollars being "backed" by? Counterfeit anyone? Real fake money.

Ratatouille

Ra-ta-too-ee

1 eggplant, cut in cubes
2 tablespoons oil (olive)
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion
2 green peppers, seeded and chopped
4 zucchini squash, cut in cubes
4-6 tomatoes, cut in cubes
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons, parsley, chopped
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- grated salt and pepper to taste

If you're like me and upon watching the movie, ever wondered what on earth Ratatouille is made out of, now you know. Suffice to say, it sounds downright repulsive.

Behemoth Banks

Wachovia just got bought? Seriously? Dang. Now Bank of America, JP Morgan, and Citibank own practically half of all Americans investments. That's scary. Has anyone seen the movie Zeitgeist? Watch part three, it's really happening. I'm waiting for Congress to introduce the "Amero", then we're really doomed.

Ironic

Since I don't have to wait till Monday's, like I do with Xanga, (even though it is Monday) I wanted to just post an entry for the sake of doing so. Ok, so, here's today's tidbit:

During the presidential debate, the candidates were discussing Iran and the Iranians. (Prenote: Obama pronounces Iran like I-Ron, not I-Ran with the heavy 'A' accent. His version is probably more correct. Regardless..) McCain said his spiel and Obama opened up by refuting something that McCain mentioned by saying, "I think that the Iranians would find your claim very ironic." He said Iranians like Ironians and then said ironic in the same sentence. That the people of Iran would find his statement, Iran-like. Now that is ironic.

Sloth-Like

I am profoundly inefficient with managing my time. Of course this comes as no surprise, but I still marvel at how proficiently I waste hours on end. That statement in itself is ironic.

For example, instead of studying for two upcoming tests, I am whittling minutes away onto this exquisite site. Yes, okay, school work may not count, but I've accomplished nothing of value in the last eight hours. I could even be writing/editing/proofreading some of the newest pieces of written. Nay, I take that back, because I'm not, and with no explanation to follow. Well suffice that maybe I'm just terrible with time management. Wait, that sounds familiar? Dejavu?

Do college courses exists where one can learn how to schedule their time better? Maybe it's not offered at schools, rather its called, 'Stop being such a lazy son of a gun!' Ah, that's right.

Flipping the Bird

Yesterday in World Civ II, I finally discovered why I pay thousands of dollars to attend college. For knowledge like this of course:

• The middle finger was invented by the English during the Hundred Years War. The English had invented the longbows which could shoot considerably further than the French bows. If any Englishman was caught, and not killed first, his middle finger was removed to disable him from ever shooting a longbow again. During future battles, the Englishmen would proudly flail their middle finger at the despondent French. As if to say, I can still kill you.
• A second attribute to giving the finger is this: The ends of arrows were fitted with quail feathers, which in combination with waving their finger is where "Flipping the Bird" originated.

Officially, Official

Since I've finally decided on a name, which I might add took forever, I can go about this business of posting.

Moreover, I've concluded that I will write on this blog as well as my Xanga, but this one will take on a significantly more sporadic role. When I have a random thought, BAM, it's here. Unlike waiting a week to discuss any particular topic.

If I start picking favorites, I might eventually transfer everything over here.