And Now I Want A Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnut.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!! So... how was everyone's day? Well, we did the annual tradition of running around to two families for dinner. Becky's first, followed by mine. After dinner which again when unexpectedly smoothly we met up with Scott of the -wiches for some...fun(?) at the local cinema... seeing Twilight... right.

Alright, here's the thing I HATE TWILIGHT! And before I get any "HAVE YOU EVEN READ IT!?!? HOW CAN YOU HATE IT, DON'T YOU LIKE HARRY POTTER?? IT'S JUST LIKE THAT! STEPHANIE (I know she spells her name differently, but that's stupid and one of those things stupid 14 year old girls do to "be different" and that's some bullshit right there, so I'll use the proper spelling) MEYER IS SUCH A GOOD WRITER! ZOMG!!!" Yes, I have read Twilight, and I'm sorry but it's complete rubbish. First, the woman can't write dialogue, second she can't write plot, third she can't write characters.... honestly she should try a different profession. Then, no IT IS NOT LIKE HARRY POTTER, because Potter has a plot, it has well developed characters and finally it's not a book about a whiny little stupid girl who should be stabbed in the face with a bucket. But, that's a rant for a different blog... this is about the movie.

So, the best thing about the movie? A preview of Harry Potter during the Trailers... I didn't fall asleep, so that's good I guess (???) The acting... meh. The plot? Better than the book... I guess. However there seemed to be better character development for the non-lead people, so that was better. The dialogue still blew big donkey balls, and WTF!! Ok, Edward is supposed to drive a Volvo.... so out of Volvo's line of cars.... they gave him a hatch back soccer mom mobile Volvo C30... LAME! It looked like a lame, more expensive Focus hatch back. LAME! Totally not what I pictured. I would at least have gone with the Volvo S40, orBetter a Volvo C70... (P.S. It's a hard top convertible)

Next, DAZZLE?!?! OK WTF! I get it, Stephanie Meyer wants to be "different" so she decided instead of exploding when entering sunlight her vampires *SPARKLE!!!* The movie effect? Well, it looked like Edward got all sweaty and then they rolled him in some granulated sugar... he didn't look sexy, he looked like a doughnut. In fact, I got a sudden craving for a delicious cake doughnut ... covered with cinnamon and sugar..... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, doughnut........... Plus TOTAL CREEPER! This is what young girls want? A creeper to stand in your room and watch you sleep?? And who acts kind of shitty toward you?? CREEPER! Though, I guess he does get points for being glazed and covered in sugar.... mmmmmmmmmm, doughnuts..........

Alright, so I don't have a lot of good things to say about the movie, but it is kind of a sucky story. So, some good things about the movie... lovely scenery. Lots of foresty green, leafy goodness, hilly....glory (?).... It was pretty and made me want to visit the area. I really loved their house they lived in, lots of windows (I totally love windows, natural light and beautiful wooded areas etc.) Nice design. Generally I don't go for the modern look, but this worked and I enjoyed it. Uhhh.... that's about it for me I guess. So what... two things? Ok, I'll make it a nice even three (yes, I know 3 isn't even, but I hate even numbers) Alice had a nice hair thing going on. I don't generally like short hair... or messy hair.... but it worked, so... good job... stylists? I'm sorry, it was just a shitty movie! But, hey... it's paying it forward when we go see Star Trek in May, so it's all fair. Plus, I enjoy movies anyway. So, not an evening lost or anything. In addition it was fun to see Becky and Scott laugh at parts that really weren't funny because it was so terrible and/or silly.

Anyhow.... I'm off to bed. Happy Black Friday tomorrow (well today now) good luck with any sales you may be out for! HOORAY!

Lovely Hitler Grapes… Full of Death.

Now maybe I’m backwards in my thinking, perhaps I’m old fashioned, or maybe I’m just a grumpy old man. But it seems to me that the way of the world is:

Food is for eating, plastic is for NOT EATING!

Perhaps you remember this article about nearly 13,000 Chinese kids who got sick because of Chinese milk tainted with Melamine. I remember reading about this and thinking “wow, that’s a load of horseshit!” Well, this article released today, says that trace amounts of this substance has been found in baby formula. That’s right, we’re feeding our kids substances that they really shouldn’t be eating. Ok, as the article points out, the amounts are VERY low. But that’s not the point, this is probably not intentional and possibly could have been from containers etc. The point goes back to the original story. See, this substance was added to milk. And I’m sure you’re all wondering, Why would they need to add this to milk? Well, that’s simple, see, when you add this stuff to watered down milk, you end up with milk that looks like it has more protein in it. So, some asshat, took a substance that can make you sick, and poured it into watered down milk to make it look better than it actually was.

Can we take people like this, shove and umbrella up their asses and open it?

SERIOUSLY!

This is the food supply people! This is what we need to STAY ALIVE! This should not be a “For Profit” enterprise. People do despicable things to make a buck, and when you’re trying to make profits on the things that keep us alive… well, you get fucktards pouring toxic chemicals in our food. You also get inhumane conditions, brutality towards animals, such as this article on the abuse of a sick cow (which has led me to give up beef entirely), or this article on the abuse of pigs. Here’s the simple fact. If you put all your trust into organizations that have the single goal of making money, they will do whatever it takes to make money. Oh sure, people will argue that there are ethics etc. but that isn’t the case. The system itself is set up on a lack of ethics when the only goal is profit. Is it ethical to shove 20 chickens into a cage? Is it ethical to use harmful chemicals in order to appear to have higher levels of protein? I don’t think that’s ethical. If your product is shit, well then perhaps you need a better product. If it costs a company more to let chickens roam, well that’s what chickens are SUPPOSED TO DO! If you can’t treat animals right, maybe we shouldn’t be eating them. But I digress…

The point is this isn’t some shoe, or dvd player, or kitchen appliance. This is life. I know when I’m getting fast food that I’m essentially eating a turd burger (so I don’t eat it), but this kind of shit is popping up EVERYWHERE! It’s like people are forgetting that food isn’t a commodity to make you rich, it’s what you eat to stay alive. You can’t trust anyone who’s only goal is to make a buck, because if they can make a buck selling you a turd sandwich, you’re gonna eat shit, and die.

Why the heck not.

So, I don’t normally do these things, but I’m bored, and though, why the heck not. And since Bobbie listed me as a “victim” I guess I should do it anyway. So I’m supposed to open the nearest book to page 46, and then write down the 5th sentence and then the following two to five. As it happens, I only have one book near me at the moment, so I will be taking mine from a book called “Last of the Red Hot Poppas” I know nothing of this book, it was given to me as a gag because the author is called Jason Berry. See… it’s funny… because that’s my name too. (the book does get bonus points for having a built in bookmark! WOO!) So, apparently, as the dust jacket tells me, the story is about the Governor of Louisiana, who sadly is found dead…. but with lipstick smeared on his thigh….(WTF?!) apparently we get to visit brothels and swamps (which of course is my favorite thing to do on a Saturday night… if only there was a brothel in a swamp…. or a swamp in a brothel….) but then there is some sort of oil broker twist, and toxic muck (which is way more interesting than regular non-toxic muck… that kind of muck sucks…) So, without further ado, page 46:

He offered her a ride. She sank into his Mazda, exhaling Scotch: “I’m divorced.”

“Ah - ”

So there you have it… a book by some guy named Jason Berry… First, he's driving a Mazda... so I'm going to assume it's a Miata, which is a total midlife crisis mobile. You know, the bald fat guy in the little bitch car, and he's all "Look at me ladies, surely you will want to have sex with me and my cute girly little car..." that's because in this book he's all "hey there drunk lady, need a lift" and she's all "I'm drunk and lost my BMW (aww midlife crisis smack down, she wins with the BMW, but hey, thanks for playing). Anyhow, I think that’s kind of a strange reaction. She’s all “I’m divorced” (and apparently drunk) and he’s like “ah” Ah?? Is she a doctor and is checking his tonsils? And a few sentences later she’s all up ons. And then something about frozen taffy… which makes me think, how many people freeze taffy? Why would that be a relevant use of imagery. I assume that taffy gets brittle when frozen, but it seems to me you could come up with something more clever, or at least funny. Perhaps next time try: it broke like the condom that brought us my unexpected sister.

But hey, what do I know, I’m not a writer.

Support The Arts!

Tonight the Lincoln High School Theater Department kicks off their 13th season with Calamity Jane, a musical western! Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students! Performances will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:00, and Sunday at 1:00, at the Lincoln High School Auditorium (7425 Willis Road, Ypsilanti).

Can you lend me a Fiver, Judey?

So, there’s been a lot of talk about the “bailout” of the “Big Three”. Though it seems like a loan and a bailout are completely different things, but hey, what do I know.

Here’s the thing. The way I see it, we used to drive land boats…. Big old buggers that were “family cars” and not so good on the gas. Well back in the 70s some oil producers were all,“Hey, fuck you buddy”, and we were like “Now wait a minute, Guy!” And then Japan was like “We present, most honorable fuel efficient car” and everyone was totally like, “SOLD”. Well, flash forward 20 years. Gas is under a dollar a gallon, and along comes the SUV. And everyone was like “MMMMMM MORE POWER!!!! *SPOOGE*, well then some guys were like “Hey, fuck you buddy” and we were like “Now wait a minute, Guy” and Japan was like “We present, most honorable Hybrid”.

Well, that seems to be how it went. Now, gas is back down to the luxurious $1.90 a gallon, and the domestic auto makers are not doing so hot. And people were buying more small cars last month than trucks and SUVs (BTW, first time in many years that a month has shown more car sales than truck/SUV sales). So, it seems that $4 a gallon is totally sad pandas. And everyone was buying fuel efficient. Heck, you can’t swing a dead cat around here without hitting a Prius. And the Japanese automakers have been doing the Hybrid thing for like 8 years now. Ford has A hybrid, and it’s a SUV. I don’t think GM has one, but I could be wrong.

So, now everyone’s talking about if we should “bailout” the automakers. I’m not sure what I think about it, because one, they were worried about those PROFITABLE SUVS, and not planning ahead, but on the other hand it could be really bad to lose that many jobs. A lot of people are saying “let them go bankrupt” but others think that’s a bad idea, and could hurt the economy even more.

So, what to do? Well, I found this article talking about the issues relating to the “bailout”. And it seems to me, if it’s a loan to get them through some tough times, and they start looking ahead and producing cars that people will want when gas goes back up to $4 a gallon, because it’s a finite resource, we’re going to run out eventually, and the price is going to go back up… Well, if they do that, then let’s loan them some money, and attach strings so that we know that they’ll do it.

Well, that is until I read this article. It’s an interview with the CEO of Ford… Now, My family has worked at Ford for years and years, and I don’t want them to go under because it would be financially devastating to people in my family. However, this guy is an example of why they’re in trouble. Here’s the tid-bit that kind of drew my attention.

Interviewer: General Motors has got an electric car coming out. It's not going to come out until 2010, 2011. Does Ford have a fully plug-in hybrid vehicle coming?

Mulally: We are working on that also, but let me just share with you the Ford plan about that. Our No. 1 priority is to improve the internal combustion engine, and that's why the turbocharging, the direct fuel injection, we get a 20 percent improvement in fuel mileage and a 15 percent reduction in CO2, but we get that across all of the engines, across all the vehicles. Then we move to more electrification with the hybrids as you mentioned, and we are very excited that the next step after that will be full electrification. Now we're tied into the grids, and we really have moved to an energy independence solution.

Ok, here’s my problem with this. It’s like focusing on weight distribution on the Titanic while it’s sinking, rather than getting in the lifeboat. It seems to me oil is the old fuel, and other options are the new fuel. The Japanese are working on it, and heck, GM is working on it. But Ford want’s to improve the gas engine?

Now, I have a Ford, and Becky has a GM. I get about 23 miles to a gallon, so if it were to improve 20%, I’d be getting 27MPG. Wow… that’s helpful. Becky’s car gets on average 31 mpg. So, those improvements wouldn’t even meet what other makers are able to do. Much less the 40+ MPG that hybrids are getting.

This just seems to me to be another example of not looking forward. And so they’ll be rolling out Hybrids when Honda, Toyota and GM (if they’re even around) will be rolling out electric. If you’re not going to look ahead, then why are you even bothering. Because what’s going to happen is some guy is gonna be like “Hey, fuck you buddy!” and everyone is going to be like “See ya later, Guy, I’ve seen this shit before!”

Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll still get hit by the train if you don’t move. Seems like Japan is going to take it over if no one else will. Even if gas doesn’t go insane, the growing trend toward conservation, and the environment is just getting stronger. Ya gotta anticipate what the consumer wants next. And I’m afraid Ford isn’t going to do it.

Miss Knock Your Socks Off!

Well, it's Tech Week for Calamity Jane, so that means weekend rehearsal! Good times for all! I mean, we've been doing Saturday rehearsals for a few weeks now, so it's not all that different really. What's different is that Tech is a much longer rehearsal. We started at noon, and at a quarter after 5:00 we were till about 5 scenes from the end, so at least another half an hour!!

Well, unfortunately we couldn't stick around to see the end because we had prior plans. What were those plans? Well we got to spend a lovely dinner with Momwich and Doughwich! It was quite tasty and good! Well after that we decided to go see Pioneer High School's production of Miss Saigon... yes, I will repeat that, a high school is doing Miss Saigon. Apparently, as per the program, this is the world premier of the High School Version of the show. What's different? I think they cut a few songs, but the DID NOT cut the graphic nature of the show, such as the prostitution, the swearing, suicide, etc.

So, what can I say about this show. Clearly this type of endeavor could either go well, or be a complete train wreck... well of course it was absolutely amazing!!! Seriously! If you have $12, GO SEE IT! First, it supports your community, but second, IT ROCKED! Of course there were minor issues here and there, but the leads were so talented, and the music (which is pretty complex compared to your standard high school) was breathtaking! Some highlights of the show were the scene during the fall of Saigon, The American Dream song, and really I hope the kids playing Chris and Kim are planning on going professional, because, WOW.

What a great show! I really wish some of the kids I work with could see it, it's good to know what other people are out there doing and give you an idea about how other groups work. It's helpful, I personally find it very motivating.

STUPID WB!

Warner Brothers SUCKS!   Because they friggin moved the release to June, and it looks AWESOME!!

To see the full screen click HERE!

7 Days!

Greeting from Crazytown!

Well, I haven't posted in over a week. Why is that, my friends? Well mostly because I've been crazy busy the past week! I mean, I'm usually super busy, what with school and work, but right now I'm CRAZY BUSY! First, I had a first draft of my stupid research paper due on Tuesday... lots of reading... lots of writing. But luckly I've already got about 9 of the 15-20 pages that it needs to have, and I've got a lot of information still to put in. So by the time I get my final product in a few weeks we should be fine! So that's keeping me very busy.

However, the crazy busy comes because I'm working with the Theatre Department at LHS, I think I'm the "associate director" for this play (not sure exactly what title I've been given but it's something like that), the show opens next THURSDAY!

It's really coming along! But, that's because rehearsals are running until 8 or later now. Last night, I didn't get home till 9:00! I'd imagine probably later tonight. The kids are great to work with, they have a lot of talent and it's been a pleasure being CRAAAAZY BUSY so that I could help them out!

So, that being said...

COME SEE THE SHOW!

It's a fun western called Calamity Jane! Dates and times are on the picture below(you should be able to click for a larger image), but it's the 20th, 21st, 22nd at 7:00 and the 23rd at 1:00. Tickets are $8!

Perhaps Next Time, A Broom

Alright, people. I was reading the news when I saw this article about a guy in Georgia. And I'm sorry to all my Georgia friends, but people in Georgia must be stopped from breeding. This rocket scientist was cleaning cobwebs... on the outside of his house. But what happened you ask? Why is this a cause for the cessation of breeding in Georgia? Well, he was doing it with a blowtorch. And caught his house on fire.

Now, I seem to remember a MAJOR drought in Georgia too, so really, is playing with fire the best option? How about you try a broom, or some Swiffers, or heck, a stick with a sock on the end of it. But STEP AWAY FROM THE BLOWTORCH!

Anyhow, that amused me.

The Grand Finale!

Well, last night was something else! Obviously, I'm so very pleased with the way it turned out, and really last night was beyond description. I can't find words to express how I felt. It's been a long election, it's been a long eight years, and it's been very stressful. Of course, since I've written about it a lot, there was a lot of personal negativity around this election and with the people close to me. This divisiveness made me so irritated and so disappointed with so many people. So, I thought I would reflect on my beliefs, in this last election related entry, and consider what I think this election means, and what I hope for this country.

This election wasn't decided by hate, racism, or fear. People stood up and embraced a message of hope, good will, and a spirit that seems to have been lost for a very long time. I'm not just talking about the past eight years, it goes farther back than that. It felt like our country had lost our spirit, that sense that anything is possible if you work hard, or even the belief in hard work. That same spirit that possessed John F. Kennedy to challenge our nation to land a man on the moon, despite the seemingly impossible odds. The spirit that drove Franklin D. Roosevelt to take make bold decision, to say we have to try anything and everything to change the country for the better during the Great Depression. The Founding Father, Jefferson, Washington, Adams, Franklin, Monroe, Hamilton, and the numerous others who believed in the goodness in humanity, and embedded into our country the ideas of freedom, equality, the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And of course, the sense of community that holds us all together, and the sense of honor and integrity to do what is right. Like the sacrifice of our greatest generation to fight oppression and evil in Europe during the 1940s, Teddy Roosevelt efforts to reform, Lyndon Johnson's passage of civil rights laws, all those involved in the civil rights, and women's rights movements.

I feel that this spirit is being resurrected through out the country. There were so many who were involved and excited about the democratic process who had never been before, pulling away from the chains of apathy that hold us back from being better than we are. The images of the spontaneous celebrations last night from New York to Los Angeles, to Detroit, to the college campus at Eastern, looked more like New Year's Eve celebration than an election, and they give me hope that this American spirit is returning to us. The pessimism of the past must end, the feeling that mediocrity is the acceptable norm, must not continue. The ability to write off groups, or area, as never being able to be more than they are, they have no place in this world. During student teaching I have spent some time at Lincoln, and recognized this pervasive negativity that says, "well it's Lincoln" as an excuse that thing's can't be better and that failure is acceptable and expected. Things can be better, they should be better, and they must be better. This is true in every corner of this nation. America was founded on the belief that anyone has a chance, and we have proof that this is still the case in America. We must protect this American spirit of opportunity, and work to tear down the expectation of failure, and push each other, and our nation, into being everything we know they can and should be.

Negativity was so frequently in the last few days, week, months of this election, but this is over, and we must move on. Words of two America's, a real America, and everywhere else, are over. We are the great melting pot, and we must stop dividing, and unite. There is only one America, the UNITED States of America, and we all love this country, and are thankful to be able to live in such a great nation. It is far from perfect, but it is our responsibility and duty to try to make this world, this country, and our communities better when we leave this world, than it was when we received it. We may have our different opinions, but that does not make us enemies. While we all see things from different angles, we all value this nation, we are all patriots, and as Jefferson said, "We are all Republicans, we are all Federalist." We are all Americans, let us unite and move forward, ending the division, pessimism, and apathy that has fallen upon us these past years, and become that gleaming beacon of freedom and equality and the bastion of hope, opportunity and goodness in the world. This is our responsibility, this is our duty, and together no one will be able to tell us it is impossible, and for those who try, say it's too hard, unattainable, or that we can't, to them we can say, "YES WE CAN!"

Election Update Part TWO! The Electorate Strikes Back!

Well it's nearly 11:00, and things are looking pretty good, but there's still stuff being counted, so who knows.  But I'm feeling more and more optimistic!  I'm so excited I could do something that excited people do!  

But there were a lot of other things on the ballot other than President, so there's other things going on!  We had a ballot measure about stem cells, which currently is looking like it will pass, but it's still too soon to call.  I'm kind of surprised because I didn't think that it would go that way, but it's looking good. It looks like they're going to legalize pot for medical purpose, which means a bunch of stoners are gonna be all "Oww, my eye hurts."  

UPDATE! CNN JUST CALLED IT FOR OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    I can't contain my excitement and joy!  HOORAY!  I FINALLY VOTED FOR THE WINNER!

I kind of wish I was in Chicago right now with all the crowds at the rally... that would be amazing!  

Uh!  SO EXCITING!

I voted!

Election Update!

So, I voted a little bit ago, and I was so surprised THERE WAS NO LINE!  I walked in all ready to stand in line for like an hour.  Last time I was in line for about an hour, but this time, I walked straight in and voted!  I love voting!  It's so fun!   So, now we just have to wait to see how it turns out!  Cross your fingers!!  

Happy Election Day!

Finally! It's Election Day!

As many of you know, I love voting! It's like second Christmas!! And I can't wait to vote later today! I'm so freaking excited!!

So, as a quick election update, this morning I drove past five polling places, and OMG! They were lined up outside the doors! In fact, the one location, a church down the road from me (but not where I vote), was lined up around the church, out to the road, and down the street a bit! In addition, the parking was INSANE! There were cars parked along the road for a good quarter of a mile and possibly longer. Now, I've passed this church on other election days and I have NEVER seen it that busy! It's INSANE! I was totally shocked! SHOCKED I TELL YOU!!!!

I'll be voting this afternoon, and I wonder how long the lines will be! Anyhow, just thought I'd post that update!

BE SURE TO VOTE TODAY!!!

One Day More!

Ok, here's the deal. Tomorrow is election day, and all the news sites, shows, papers etc. have stories about those people who are "undecided". Now, I hate to be rude, but these people should be sterilized because clearly they don't have the mental capacity to make decisions, and sadly that's going to be a drain on our gene pool.

This election has been going for something like 20 months! TWENTY MONTHS! So, it's not like someone just asked you yesterday "hey, who do you want to vote for". These guys have been in the news, making their case for months, and are on completely opposite ends of the political spectrum. At this point, what do you need them to say in order for you to make a decision?? That they can crap gold bars? That they can cure Cancer with their tears? That they're your father, Luke?

Seriously. At this point, you're just not paying attention. Either that or you're hung up on some stupid issue like race, abortion, or gay rights. But if that's the case, then again you should be sterilized. You've had months, tomorrow's the day. You can't be undecided anymore because you are going to get NO NEW INFORMATION! Seriously, what more do you need? Because I'm not quite sure what's left to say.

Perhaps they're waiting for the last minute attack ads, like the one I saw last night linking Obama to his "radical" preacher... Or perhaps one that will air tonight saying John McCain eats babies...

So, for that 5% out there that still are "undecided" get off the fence. Or as Stephen Colbert says "Pick a side, we're at war!"

Anyhow, Happy Election Day tomorrow, and DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!!