Technical Support Horror Story of the Day

What not to do when speaking to a technical support representative:

1. I really don't need to know about the events of the last 48 hours that lead up to your problem. Just get on with the issue at hand!

2. If you're not going to believe the advise I'm giving you then why waste my time and yours by calling in for support in the first place?

3. Sometimes I don't know why computers or programs do what they do (user error). Is the problem fixed? Great, then why do we have to discuss the how's and why's for 30 minutes? We'll cross (burn) that bridge when and if the problem becomes chronic.

4. No, I'm sorry but I cannot support Word Perfect for DOS. The program is 8,000 years old, not to mention we are a medical software company!

5. For the love of god, a right mouse click is one click on the RIGHT side of the mouse! Don't tell me nothing is happening when you're clearly clicking the left mouse button.

Bowling Team Name

Dann, Butters and myself are bowling on a fall league starting next week. I've asked the boys to consider what our team name should be but I've yet to hear back from them. I did some searches for bowling team names online today but they were all pretty lame. I did kind of like "The Three Striketeers". Anyone out there bowl on a league or have suggestions for a team name?

Quote of the Summer

"Keep your government hands off my Medicare."

There has been some great quotes and video coming out of all the town hall meetings our Congressmen have been holding over the summer recess, but I think the above statement takes the cake. When I read the quote I always think of it being said in a Charlton Heston over-the-top, over acting kind of way:

"From my cold, dead hands will your government get my Medicare!"

"Take your stinking paws off my Medicare, you damn dirty ape!"

He he...

New Link of Interest (3)

TFLN or txts frm lst nght. I'm a notorious drunk texter (is that a word?) and I usually feel guilty about it the next day. Not anymore! I ran across this site today and I haven't been able to stop reading, too funny. I should really do some work, you know, while I'm at work...

The Choirboys

I finished reading The Choirboys by Joseph Wambaugh the other day. I’ve had the book for some time but I never got around to reading it until now. I wish I had read it earlier, the book is fantastic. It was published in 1975 and takes place in 1974. The book centers around ten Los Angeles patrol police officers who’ve dubbed themselves “choirboys”. All the officers work the night shift and often meet late in the evenings when off duty for “choir practice” at MacArthur Park. Choir practice usually involves heavy drinking, some fighting, the re-telling of war stories and visits from a couple of local barmaids who would on occasion let the boys ride “the train”. Each chapter usually entails a story or two about the officers who are paired up as partnered units. The story culminates with a final and tragic “choir practice”.

The book is hilarious, sad, politically incorrect (putting it mildly by today’s standards), sick and superb. Wambaugh was a policeman who quit his job shortly before The Choirboys was published. I can only imagine if the antics from the book were pulled from his experiences. I like his writing style so well I plan to check out some of his other published works new and old. If you’re like me and usually don’t like police novels, do yourself a favor and read this book. You won’t be disappointed.

New Blog I'm Reading

Cake Wrecks (When Professional Cakes Go Horribly, Hilariously Wrong). I have no clue how I found this site, it looked interesting so I bookmarked it yesterday (I was probably doing some kind of food search on google). The content is hilarious!

Top Chef: Battle of the Sexes

Dann and I met up last night for episode two of Top Chef Las Vegas. The agreement was that we would take turns cooking every other week during Top Chef night. That didn’t last long. Dann wormed out of his commitment this week and brought food from Market C. I immediately forgave him when I found that he also brought two bottles of my favorite wine. I had lamented in a previous post about not being able to find St. Supery around town. Apparently Dann knows who to blow… The meal Dann purchased was molasses glazed salmon, loaded mashed potatoes, Caesar salad and chocolate cake (Dad is great! Give us the chocolate cake!). The food was really good especially considering it was a pick up and reheat meal.

Top Chef last night saw the very first battle of the sexes elimination challenge. The girls lost. Of the two groups I definitely think the boys are stronger. Something I found of particular interest was Ashley’s attitude toward the challenge. The challenge consisted of serving two groups of people, a Bachelor and Bachelorette party, where the boys team served the Bachelorette’s friends and the girls team served the Bachelor’s friends. Ashley got her panties in a twist a bit having to prepare food for a group about to get married since she's unable to practice the same ritual legally being a lesbian. I understand her point to a degree but this is Las Vegas, you would have to think marriage would play some kind of role in at least one of the challenges.

Poor Eve was sent packing last night. Eve was who I picked to make an exit last night before the elimination judging began. I felt kind of sorry for her the last two episodes since she never really stood out in anything she did, not to mention she was on the chopping block the first two weeks in a row. My three predictions from last week are still alive in the competition.

Anyone else over ceviche? The dish must have been made half a dozen times already in just two episodes.

The Daily Fish Wrap

The Daily Fish Wrap aka The Daily Disappointment aka The Daily Oklahoman (the worst newspaper in America according to the Columbia Journalism Review some years ago) actually had a piece of useful information in it today. Auntie Mame is playing at the Jewel Box Theatre. Too bad it’s not the musical.

I don’t know why I read The Daily Oklahoman but I’m sure as hell not going to pay for it. I feel bad enough visiting their website from time to time.

RIP Edward M. Kennedy (1932-2009)

Truly sad news. The "Lion" of the Senate will be missed...

For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.

Senate page
Huffington Post

New Blog I'm Reading

I came across this site, The best and worst of OKC from a link on one of the other Oklahoma blogs I follow. Just as the title suggests, it’s a collection of opinions on activities and eateries that Oklahoma City has to offer. Pretty good stuff.

Sunday Funday Monday

In an effort to continue to improve my writing skills (not to mention a way to post more often) I thought it would be fun to have a weekly column. A subject I can write about that has a similar theme but broad enough where I can encompass several different topics. What I came up with is Sunday Funday Monday. Every Monday I’ll try to create a post dealing with my favorite day of the week, Sunday Funday. Sunday Funday for those who’ve never heard the phrase is a day out of eating and almost always drinking that starts early in the day and usually ends in the early evening. I have no clue where the phrase was coined but I first heard it used by restaurant employees to describe going out usually in the afternoon after a brunch shift or after a long weekend working several shifts. It seems to be the restaurant industry’s “Friday night”. For me I can text a number of friends the words “Sunday Funday?” and they would know I’m asking, “What’s the plan today for brunch and drinking this afternoon?” Without further ado, Sunday Funday Monday vol. 1:

What's needed for a successful Sunday Funday? I’m no expert but I’ll try to compile a list based on my limited experience… OK, I’m full of shit, I am an expert!

1. Some friends: One really doesn’t want to celebrate Sunday Funday alone for a multitude of reasons. Brunching and bar crawling is definitely much better with a group so your chances of being the biggest fool of the day goes down depending on the size and drinking experience of the others in the group.

2. A restaurant that serves brunch: We’re really not concerned with the food menu as we are the beverage menu. A lot of restaurants that sever brunch also have mimosa or Bloody Mary specials. Drink liquor cheaply to start the day off with a bang or to get a little hair of the dog to help with last night’s festivities.

3. An early hour bar that’s open on Sunday: Though it is technically possible to drink at home or another social gathering on Sunday, it doesn’t turn into Sunday Funday unless you’re at a bar or maybe a cool ass restaurant with a patio. If you’re at home it’s a party that falls on a Sunday or it's the Super Bowl.

4. Self control: One part of the “experience” I sometimes lack. Crossing over isn’t always pretty but it happens to the best of us, it’s just more fun when it isn’t me! Know your limits if possible, eat some peanuts at the bar, switch to water for a while or pass on the seventh Vegas Bomb.

5. A ride: Trust me, no one wants to spend the night in County lock up or mangled in the hospital just because they thought they could drive home after binge drinking for nine hours. Call a cab, call your mommy or catch a ride with a sober/under the limit friend. Friends don’t let friends drink and drive, drink responsibly, only you can prevent forest fires, etc., etc., etc.

Sunday Funday

It also doesn't hurt to have your very own snazzy Sunday Funday shirt (thanks for mine Kim!). Because good friends don’t let you do stupid things… alone.

Inglourious Basterds

I just returned from seeing Quentin Tarantino's latest movie, Inglourious Bastards. Typical Tarantino flick, interesting story and dialogue with some violence mixed throughout played out by a superb cast. I won't spoil the film for those of you who haven't seen it but don't go in expecting to see a typical Hollywood WWII epic. Expect Tarantino style WWII storytelling, for example there isn't one military battle scene in the movie. Everything is condensed into smaller sequences that all come together in the end. If you like Tarantino's other works, you'll enjoy this one as well.

I was a little put off by the subject matter initially, WWII, Nazi's and the holocaust, but I got over it quickly as nothing seemed too tasteless. The only other nit I had was personal. My mom kept asking me what they were saying every time there was dialogue not presented in subtitles (only a small portion in German that doesn't amount to much). Prepare to be reading a good portion of the movie's dialogue this way. All in all I would definitely recommend this movie, probably my third or fourth favorite Quentin Tarantino film.

Drink of the Day: Wine

It's been a while since I did one of these posting but it came to mind when I came home with a couple of bottles of wine this afternoon. Today's drink of the day isFat Bastard Chardonnay. I love this chardonnay though I don't drink it too often, I usually stick with sauvignon blancs when drinking white wines. We sold the Fat Bastard brand the entire time I worked at Pearl's Oyster Bar and this is how I became familiar with the wine.

Tasting notes: Round in the mouth with white flower aromas and a long, toasty finish.

The unusually cool August weather we've been enjoying is perfect for sitting on a patio or front porch sipping this chardonnay.

I'd rather be sipping on some St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc! Who do I have to blow to find a bottle of my favorite wine in this town?

The Not So Long Read

I finished reading "The Long Walk" by Richard Bachman aka Stephen King this morning. I flew through it in less than 24 hours, nothing do to at work helped a lot! It's the story of 100 teenage boys that meet for an annual competition called The Long Walk. Winning the competition is easy: outlast everyone else. Stumble, fall, sit, leave the road or average a pace under 4 miles an hour and you'll get a warning. Get three warnings and you get your "ticket" out of the competition. A ticket means immediate death. Got a cramp? Too bad a warning. Got to take a shit? Too bad a warning. Well you get the drift... Outlast everyone and you are rewarded by the government with everything you could ever want.

The book was originally published in 1979 and it seems to be typical King writing, meaning much better than the drivel he has published today. With the book being so old some of the references are outdated but it doesn't really matter as the time the competition takes place seems to be in some sort of alternate reality from our own. The story doesn't really go in to detail about the origins of the walk but dialogue suggests that it's a huge event each year with billions being wagered on who will survive. There are also other vague references of America being a totalitarian or communist society (there are no millionaires) and World War II lasting as long as the early fifty's.

Has anyone read the book? I'd really like to see what others thought about the book, the premise and especially the ending. It was recommended to me by my cousin but I won't get a chance to chat with her until Monday.

Top Chef: Las Vegas

I love the Bravo channel. Many programs on this channel are about the only thing I watch with any regularity on TV aside from news programming on other networks. Last night was the season six premiere of Top Chef in Las Vegas. In honor of the new season I actually cooked a meal (something I rarely do) and settled in with a bottle of wine Dann brought over.

I thought it would be fun to predict the winners from the outset and see how those predictions turn out at the end of the season. A difficult task since I hardly know any of the contestants. Any readers out there (both of you) who watch the show, feel free to post a comment with your predictions for this year’s Top Chef and we’ll see who comes the closest.

My top three in no particular order:

Michael Isabella: The guy seems to be kind of an arrogant d-bag, but that has served other contestants well in the past.

Kevin Gillespie: Winner of the first elimination challenge, he reminds me of Bear Hugger from the Nintendo Punch Out!! series.

Ash Fulk: Dark horse. Just rooting for the gay guy!

Feed Me Seymour!

Dann and I went to see Little Shop of Horrors last night at the Civic Center presented by the Lyric Theatre. I’m always amazed at how good our local productions can be here in OKC. Little Shop of Horrors was no exception. Great staging, music and performances, particularly by Matthew Alvin Brown and Amy Eschman. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a stage production of Little Shop of Horrors so I forgot how fun it is and how it differs from the movie, most notably the ending. The production runs through the weekend so there’s still ample time to catch Lyric’s last show of the season.

The next couple of months sees the Oklahoma City Philharmonic opening their season on September 19th and “Lyric at the Plaza” opening their season on October 22nd with “Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” I’m going to try really hard to purchase season tickets to both series. I’ve been to more live performances than ever this year and it’s really got me excited for the upcoming seasons. Support your local arts programs, there’s a variety of programs that can please just about anyone, not to mention you’re stimulating your local economy!

Information on the Plaza District.

New Blog I'm Reading

I found a link to Irritated Tulsan while reading The Lost Ogle this morning. Being an Oklahoma City boy, I’m not real familiar with Tulsa, though I do think it’s a great town... just not as exciting or fabulous as OKC!

New Link of Interest (2)

DVDFile is a website that I used to frequent almost daily many years ago to stay ahead of all the latest DVD release and technical information. It’s a resource I definitely plan on using sometime in the future when I decide to hop into the 21st century and purchase a high end television with a high definition DVD player and surround sound system. I could also just ask Dann as he seems to be averaging three new TVs a year!

Slip Sliding Away

It appears as though the public option in health care reform is DOA or dead on arrival. Rhetoric from the President and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this weekend seems to imply that the option is no longer a make or break factor in reform but just a small “sliver” as the President put it, in the overall package. I heard him say this watching his town hall meeting on TV Saturday in Grand Junction, Colorado! Apparently the talk on the news programs Sunday seemed to suggest that the administration is now willing to endorse a co-operative option. I knew we were headed to some kind of half-assed bill but I was still holding out hope that we would get something more robust from our strong Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate. We’ve been told by a multitude of Democrats this year and last during the elections that the public option for insurance coverage was needed in order to keep the private insurance companies in check and to control costs for the consumer. I guess we’re going to trust the private insurance companies to do the right thing again.

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., who is co-chairman of the Middle Class Caucus, said that "leaving private insurance companies the job of controlling the costs of health care is like making a pyromaniac the fire chief."

link

I know it may not be all bad if we can at least get some provisions which are sorely needed like stopping the insurance companies practices of denying coverage or dropping coverage for no reasons and denying coverage due to “pre-existing conditions”. I guess what I want to know from everyone out there is do we push forward with watered down legislation and declare victory or do we hold out for something better and try again next year or the following year?

I'm all for tabling the reform bill a year or two until we can have true health care reform but I'm not sure this is ever going to happen. I guess we can continue to try every 14 years or so. Change we can believe in...

Belly Bustin'

It appears that all my months of hard work have finally paid off! In April when I left bartending I was as thin as anyone I know. I attribute it to all the running around I did working as well as the limited meals. With limited activity since and an office job now I've packed on the weight. This is nothing new during the course of my adulthood as my weight has always varied in a range of 20 to 25 pounds up and down. I've gained 20 pounds since April and this has been a source of frustration for me but now I can attribute it to being on the cutting edge of fashion trends. The New York Times fashion and style page reports that the pot belly is the new fashion accessory for men. Oh good. So for the time being I can continue to enjoy Baskin Robbins and veg out on the sofa playing Wii.

“I sort of think the six-pack abs obsession got so prissy it stopped being masculine,” is how Aaron Hicklin, the editor of Out, explains the emergence of the Ralph Kramden. What once seemed young and hot, for gay and straight men alike, now seems passé. Like manscaping, spray-on tans and other metrosexual affectations, having a belly one can bounce quarters off suggests that you may have too much time on your hands.

Indeed.

Showin' off my belly in downtown Tulsa.

New Blog I'm Reading

The Oklahoma Gazette published their best of OKC edition this week. While reading it this morning I ran across the "Best Blog" section. How cool. Supposedly the best blog in Oklahoma City is The Lost Ogle. Check it out, if you're from these parts you'll love it. If you're from Punjab, India you may not see what all the fuss is about.

Technical Support Horror Story of the Day

For those of you who don't know I'm working a new job now, of sorts. I worked for a medical software company from 2000 to 2005, after which I toiled in the restaurant industry until April of this year. I'm half way through my second week back with the medical software company. They found out that I was looking for a job and asked me to come back. Luckily I've found that I remember more than I forgot so I've been able to hit the ground running for the most part but there are two important lessons I had totally forgotten about until today...

1. The first rule of tech support is this: the client is always lying. That's not to say they're doing it on purpose. It just seems you never get the correct or full information needed. Being told a claim form is printing misaligned is not the same as the claim form not marking the correct boxes!

2. The second rule of tech support is this: do nothing to a client's system unless you can get them back to the point they were at before they asked for your help. Changing something in someone's system without making a backup is not fun when you have to clean up the mess you created!

I experienced both today. Number 1 is always true and number 2 should be easy to follow. Luckily I was able to worm myself out of the problem I created. The details aren't important but always remember the rules must be obeyed!

New Link of Interest

I have added Urban Dictionary to my links of interest. I stumbled upon the web page through a completely unrelated web search. Interesting (as the title says) and humorous.

Hot Hot Hot

Ole ole - ole ole! Ole ole - ole ole!

Buster Poindexter was going through my mind this morning as I was trying to put out a small fire that broke out in my bathroom...

It all started last night after work with a trip to Old Chicago. I met up with Dann and Kim for some beers and pizza. We enjoyed a beef, onion and jalapeno pizza. Since we were in the neighborhood we decided to check out the new Buffalo Wild Wings down the street. We enjoyed some more beers as well as some mini corn dogs with medium wing sauce (classic wing sauce, comfortably hot) and some fried chicken tenders with blazin' wing sauce (keep away from eyes, pets, children: the hottest sauce they got). The blazin' wing sauce was warm but I've definitely had a worse fire in my mouth, most recently on my last trip to Sushi Neko. Anyways we drank a little more, called it a night after some minor crossing over and drunk texting of old boyfriends (you know, the usual).

What's this have to do with the fire in my bathroom? I guess the combination of onions, jalapenos and varying degrees of wing sauce was too much for my body to handle. My digestive system decided to turn on me when I got up this morning to get ready for work. Fortunately I wasn't hurt by the huge fireball that shot through the bathroom and engulfed my shower curtain! The curtain can be easily replaced but I'm not so sure about the melted toilet. The story did end on a happy note, however; I was somehow spared any heartburn which is usually present after a night of drinking and dining on spicy food.

Technical Support Horror Story of the Day

All I can say is wow! I was helping one of our clients with a log in issue through remote desktop. So, no problem we solve the issue (user error) and of course there are other issues that need to be addressed while they have me on the phone. I'm told that we did something to her screen because there is a box frozen on her desktop that has been there for days and it has our company information on it. Hmmmm. After a better description of the problem I finally realize that the client is talking about our web page! Oh my god really? Surely no one can be this stupid! I ask her to left mouse click on the red "x" at the top right corner of the screen. Naturally this closes the Internet Explorer page that was open on her computer. Just when I think I've seen it all some fool comes along and surprises me!

10 of the Worst Restaurant Names Ever

Click here for the list.

You Are the One

My current favorite Shiny Toy Guns song!
Click here to see it.

I try to digest my pride
but passions grip I fear
When I crawl into shallow vats of wine
I think I almost hear but it's not clear

I'm not missing seeing them here again, even if I have to go alone!

The Count... this is disturbing... thanks Dann!

Alice in Wonderland

Surely there's time for me and you...

Headed to Tulsa this weekend

So Dann and I are taking a road trip to Tulsa friday morning with the primary goal to see Wicked later that evening. I think we may also stop along the way to see the Aquarium in Jenks. It's been forever since I've been to Tulsa so I'm not really sure what else we'll get in to. Anyone out there (all two of you) have any suggestions? I'm all ears...

100 Reasons to be Gay

I found this online the other day (anything in bold would describe me)... Enjoy!

1. You truly don't care who Julia Roberts is sleeping with.
2. You understand the difference between 43 brands of imported vodka.
3. You can call anyone "honey" including pets.
4. You know someone who definitely was in the emergency room with Richard Gere and the gerbil.
5. You understand the immense importance of good lighting.
6. You can be at a crowded disco the size of two football fields and still spot a toupee.
7. You can tell a woman you love her bathing suit, and truly mean her bathing suit.
8. You can explain the nuances between steady date, boyfriend and lover.
9. You really have "been there, done that."
10. Your women friends will tell you everything you want to know about their boyfriends. And that means everything.
11. You're the only type of male who gets to say "fabulous."
12. You can have naked pictures of men you don't know in your home.
13. You can have naked men you don't know in your home.
14. You know how to handle the telephone like a Stradivarius.
15. You understand why the good Lord invented spandex.
16. You understand why the good Lord didn't intend everyone to wear it.
17. You know how to get back at just about everyone. And have.
18. You know that the most important part of a party's decor is the catering staff.
19. You only wear polyester when you mean to.
20. You can smile to let someone know you can't stand them.
21. You can freeze a troll from 20 feet away.
22. You're good pals with women other people can't stand.
23. You've always got an opinion.
24. You've read the book, seen the movie, done the musical.
25. You know how to dress strategically.
26. Your car has an amusing female name.
27. You're the only one at your high school reunion who looks a lot better than you did in high school.
28. You've got at least one framed picture of a pet.
29. If your mattress could talk, it would be Joan Rivers.
30. You know that sex complicates things. So?
31. You know that being called a "cheap slut" isn't actually an insult.
32. There's a married guy somewhere who is terrified of you.
33. Nobody tells you what to do in bed...unless you tell them what to tell you.
34. You have a medicine chest stocked for any occasion.
35. You have at least one movie musical on video.
36. You're not embarrassed to sing in a piano bar.
37. You're embarrassed by people who sing in piano bars.
38. You never hold a grudge for longer than a decade or two.
39. You know how to make an entrance.
40. You know when to make an exit.
41. You worry about people you don't even know - like Liza Minnelli.
42. You choose the most fabulous greeting cards.
43. You know how to program your VCR.
44. You've got sunscreen at every conceivable SPF level.
45. You have a cologne display worthy of Bloomingdales.
46. You understand, viscerally, Joan Crawford.
47. Some of your best friends are your ex lovers.
48. You know when to play dumb.
49. You know what to do for a hangover.
50. Yes, you do have a condom.
51. You've called someone "girlfriend" who is neither a girl nor a friend.
52. One or more of the following apply to you:
a) You adore Judy Garland
b) You hate Judy Garland
c) You hate people who adore Judy Garland.
d) You hate people who hate Judy Garland.
e) You don't give a damn about Judy Garland.
f) Who is Judy Garland?
53. You can supply the last names to the following list:
a) Bernadette
b) Chita
c) Barbra
54. You made Donna Summer a star.
55. You made Donna Summer a has-been.
56. Tanning salons were invented for you.
57. You've made sunbathing a performance art.
58. You know when the party's over.
59. You know where to go after the party's over.
60. You're fearless about fighting the elements, especially gravity.
61. When you hear "a stitch in time saves nine" you think of
a) Your grandma
b) Your face lift
c) John Wayne Bobbit
62. You know that pigs and bears are not necessarily rural wildlife.
63. Your roommate can be your roommate and not your "roommate."
64. You know that referring to someone as "a real lady" isn't necessarily a compliment.
65. Your favorite dinner accessory may also be your dinner companion.
66. If your cat is a female, you swear it's a lesbian.
67. If your cat is a male, you swear it's a lesbian.
68. You sing along heartily with songs that make most females cringe, like "Stand by your man".
69. You've been to a bris, a barmitzvah, a christening, a first communion and too many weddings and you have a carefully considered evaluation of the food after each.
70. You'll never have to hear your mother complain about your wife.
71. A two-seater convertible seems perfectly practical to you.
72. You have a favorite Disney character and it's usually a nasty one.
73. You've left someone totally speechless.
74. You've shaved something other than your face.
75. All your friends do not have to "get along".
76. You have large collection of anniversary pictures. They may be with different guys, however.
77. Your love handles are actually used as such.
78. When someone turns his back on you, you actually consider it an opportunity.
79. You've got a large assortment of movie-star biographies.
80. You've got the most interesting coffee table books.
81. You know where to find a meat rack and it ain't in your kitchen drawer.
82. You have a sexual persuasion with its own flag.
83. At some moment in your life you've envisioned having back-up girls.
84. You know your enemies.
85. After a workout at the gym, you feel like a new man. And he's right there in the shower.
86 You're Barbra Streisand's biggest fan.
87. You know that Barbra Streisand's biggest fan is Barbra Streisand.
88 Not only have you added spice to your life - sometimes you've added side dishes.
89. You know that "small talk" can be about spirituality or politics, and "important issues" can be about hair.
90. You've actually lived out some of your fantasies.
91. Unlike most straight women, you have no problem being treated solely as a sex object.
92. You have no doubts about the accuracy of the Kinsey Report.
93. You know, by heart, every line in:
a) All about Eve
b) The Rocky Horror Picture Show
c) Your face
94. You are ALWAYS ready for your close-up.
95. You have 412 ways to tell someone to get lost. 136 are non-verbal.
96. You can lip-sync to at least one Supreme's song.
97. You have a carefully selected Yiddish vocabulary.
98. Even if you're in Kansas, you're not in Kansas anymore.
99. You know exactly how many martinis it takes.
100. When throwing a party, you know how to put out quite a spread. Sometimes after the party too.

RIP Michael Jackson

So unless you're living in a van down by the river I'm sure you've heard that Michael Jackson, "the king of pop", is dead at 50. While I was never a big fan of his work I can appreciate what he accomplished with his career. He definately died too young but even more tragic than that may be the bizarre ups and downs his life took over the years... In honor of Michael Jackson, my picks for his top three songs:

Keep it in the Closet
Smooth Criminal
Man in the Mirror

Happy Independence Day!

Today we honor our declaration of independence as a colony from Great Britin. Here are some interesting facts about one of our most important holidays:

The Second Continental Congress approved a resolution of independence on July 2, 1776.

The Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776, though most delegates actually signed the Declaration on August 2, 1776.

Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two founding fathers and the only two men who signed the Declaration of Independence to become president, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the United States' 50th anniversary.

President James Monroe died on July 4, 1831.

Source

While I was aware that three Presidents had died on Independence Day, I did not know the interesting facts and dates surrounding the resolution of independence and the signing of the Declaration. Dad brought the July 2nd date to my attention which I researched tonight. Interesting stuff. I hope everyone had a safe, fun and patriotic 4th of July!

Palin to resign as Alaska governor!

I guess this all has something to do with basketball. It is "time to pass the ball for victory". That is if the GOP hopes to have any future! I guess now instead of fulfilling her elected duties as the top executive of Alaska, she can go out and make speeches and money (for herself). Or maybe she'll have time to grab a beer with Joe Sixpack, or even with some of my friends, Joe Twenty Drafts, Five Shots and an Eight Ball. Farewell governor Palin... I'm sure this isn't the last we've heard from the former Republican Vice Presidential candidate. In the meantime, you won't be missed!

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Death Becomes Her

I'm a bit of an Animal Crossing fanatic. I've been playing some or multiple versions of the game since the first one was released in the fall of 2001. I took this picture last month playing Animal Crossing: City Folk on the Wii online with my neices Brandy and Casey. I love how the axe swing is right at Casey's throat! Ahh family...

Pet Shop Boys Live at the Brit Awards 2009

I love the Pet Shop Boys so I really dig this video. I especially like the appearance by Brandon Flowers and Lady GaGa.

Clicky Clicky

Fuck you... fuck you very, very much...

OK, I found something of interest to say... :)

Oh! Happy fourth birthday blog! Wow!

Oh My God!

The End

This will be my last posting on this blog. I've found that I really have nothing of interest to say anymore. I want to thank everyone (all three of you) that's been reading over the last four years. It's been a real slice!

Thunder Dome

Two teams enter one team leaves... A view from the cheap seats at the Ford Center. The OKC Thunder pulled off a rare win against the New York Knicks.

What's in a Name?

I was thinking the other night while trying to go to sleep about all the nicknames we have for each other at work. It's interesting how one person can start a naming trend, how it takes hold and how it spreads. My nickname at work, David Bryan has slowly over time turned in to DB for short. While it's true that David is part of my name, Bryan is not. The origination of my nickname came from Cristina, one of the other bartenders. We opened the restaurant together and she had a hard time remembering my name and for a time she thought it was Bryan. Once she could finally remember David she continued to add Bryan to it. Suddenly everyone starts to call me David Bryan until it's been narrowed down to DB. Amazingly we have new servers that think my name is David Bryan or that simply refer to me as DB. What's worse is that I answer to both David Bryan or DB while working.

Here's some other nicknames for past and present employees:

Donkey
Cookie Monster
The Sprite
The Guy
Fagell
Tuna
Dora the Explorer
Pale Face
Chocolate Face
Halfbreed
Felicia Bryan
White Tuna
Herp (my all time favorite)
Charlie Brown
Chief
Wagon Burner

Anyone out there have some interesting nickname stories?

New Years Resolution?

Maybe not a resolution but a philosophy courtesy of the Dixie Chicks:

I'm not ready to make nice
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell and
I don't have time to go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should

Happy New Year!

Wow I can't believe it's already 2009! I'll be ringing in the new year at work... how wonderful. I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year and I'll see you all in 2009.

The quest for Las Vegas!

Last Thursday Mom, Dad, Dann and myself embarked on what was supposed to be a two-hour flight to Las Vegas for four days and three nights of gambling and drinking with the occasional break for eating and sleeping. The picture above shows us hanging out at the Will Roger's World Airport lounge shortly before out flight... then it was delayed and delayed and delayed and delayed again before finally being canceled! My vote of rescheduling the trip to spring was quickly killed as the majority decided it would be better to rent a car, drive to Dallas, stay in a hotel, get up at 2:30AM to catch an early morning flight to Vegas from Love Field with a layover in San Antonio. Oh joy! We did finally make it to Vegas with only one near death experience driving down I-35 on our way to Dallas.

Dann, Mom and myself in front of decorations at the Bellagio.

Chocolate fountain at the Bellagio.

Chihuly ceiling at the Bellagio.

Christmas at the Bellagio.

Big balls in cowtown!

Comming soon: more shots of the strip and downtown as well as a shrine for Timmy. Oh and let's not forget the wonderful trip back to Oklahoma City!

Happy 35th Justin!

Even though you're an old fart and a Sooner fan, I still love you! Wow do I look stoned in this picture...

One Week to Vegas!

Leaving for Vegas in 8 Days!

9 Days Until Vegas!

O Christmas Tree

Mom and dad's tree.

Elivis topping the tree.

My tree, more traditional with no theme.

As always, Pistol Pete at the top.

Did anyone else put up a tree yet?

Loralei

My niece finally gave birth to a bouncy baby girl named Loralei on November 26th. I think most babies are usually on the ugly side especially shortly after birth but this one does seem a little sweet... or so I thought.

Anyone that knows me can tell you I have a very low threshold for children. Sure I like to torment them and terrorize them (just like my ex-boyfriends) but once I'm over them they can go away. I've never wanted kids. Ever. Period. I'm that rare breed of asshole that wants to spend his time and money on himself! That's not to say that I don't love all my nieces and nephews, it just took me 16-18 years to want to "hang" with them for more than an hour at a time.

In a moment of weakness I finally held the baby on her second night in the hospital. Four short hours later that night I was back at home reeling on my bathroom floor puking and shitting at the same time into the wee hours of the night. Coincidence? I think not. What started out that night in my bathroom (the most wretched experience I have EVER experienced) has mellowed into a weeklong offering of achiness, fever, soar throat, stuffy nose, and swollen glands. I felt so bad after work on Sunday I went directly to mom's house for some much needed titty. I returned home Tuesday night. Keep in mind that I'm 35 years old folks!

All kidding aside I think Nick and Casey have done a terrific job and I hope they have a long and wonderful life together as a family. I look forward to torturing "Lo" for many years to come as I still do to Casey, Brandy and her little beast Blaire. One thing's for sure, I won't be holding the baby any time soon just in case she really does have it out for me already!

Oh and in case you're wondering I'm not wearing a wig in the picture above, I'm just six months overdue for some Manicuring as Frank likes to say.

iTunes Top 5

Don't Cry Out - Shiny Toy Guns - 166 play count
You're Not Alone (Airplay Mix) - ATB - 159 play count
A Little Respect - Erasure - 158 play count
Go Your Own Way - The Cranberries - 153 play count
Rainy Monday - Shiny Toy Guns - 148 play count

What is everyone else listening to most often (at least on their computer)?

New Trek Trailer

The Great Promise

So I'm here feeling a little sorry for myself and this blog is the perfect place to vent since no one reads it. What the fuck happened to my life? I really did have a plan althought it might have only lasted a minute! I'm 35 years old and I've done NOTHING of any substance with my life. Oh well, life goes on.... I only wish I had the balls to NOT make it go on.

Yes we did!

Goodbye Bush! Happy days are here again!

Obama the Anti-Christ

I swiped the following post from the O-State message boards:

"This will make you re-think: A Trivia question in Sunday School:
How long is the beast allowed to have authority in Revelation?

Revelation Chapter 13 tells us it is 42 months, and you know what that is. Almost a four-year term of a Presidency.

All I can say is 'Lord, Have mercy on us!'

According to The Book of Revelation the anti-Christ is:
The anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40's, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, will destroy everything.

Do we recognize this description? ?

I STRONGLY URGE each one of you to post this as many times as
you can! Each opportunity that you have to send it to a friend or media outlet..do it!
I refuse to take a chance on this unknown candidate who came out of nowhere."

I got a good chuckle out of it. It's amazing the cooks floating around the internets especially in Oklahoma.

Oh Those Poor Tiger Fans!

I almost feel sorry for them... almost.

My Jury Duty Experience

Monday October 6th, 2008

8:00AM: Arrive and register
8:05AM - 10:00AM: Sit and wait
10:00AM - 10:20AM: Break
10:20AM - 12:00PM: Sit and wait
12:00PM - 1:30PM: Lunch
1:30PM - 3:00PM: Sit and wait
3:00PM - 3:20PM: Break
3:20PM - 4:30PM: Sit and wait

Tuesday October 7th, 2008

9:00AM: Arrive and register
9:05AM - 10:00AM: Sit and wait
10:00AM - 10:20AM: Break
10:20AM - 11:15AM: Sit and wait
11:16AM: Dismissed from jury duty

Wages lost from two missed shifts at work: $140.00
Money spent parking: $11.50
Lunch at Subway Monday: $6.00
Being sick during the whole ordeal: Priceless

The Election

It's all over but the crying for the McCain camp!

Shiny Toy Guns: Frozen Oceans

They'll be in town Nov. 2nd in Norman.

Joey baby...

Would you like some ranch with that?

What the fuck is the obession with ranch salad dressing? Is this an Oklahoma thing? I think not after doing some research at Bitter Waitress. Why is it that most patrons at a restaurant have to have a gallon of ranch with all food items?

"Can I get a water with lemon and a side of ranch?"
"I'll have the cheesecake for dessert with a side of ranch."
"I'd like the red snapper special along with a kiddie pool of ranch on the side."

FUCK.

One day I'll own my own restaurant and I intend to have a mini fridge at each table stocked full of FUCKING RANCH SALAD DRESSING so some poor server slob making $2.13 and hour doesn't have to run to the kitchen three hundred times a shift to get a side of ranch to go along with someone's FUCKING BURNT TO A CRISP WELL DONE STEAK WITH A-1 SAUCE!!!

Many thanks to the d-bags that have the common courtesy to request a side of ranch at the time their order is being taken! You've saved me a lot of time running my ass off for a 12% tip!

Sometimes food should be enjoyed without being slathered with salad dressing... another diet Pepsi?

New Trek Next Summer

Animal Crossing City Folk

Anyone else excited?

Heading to Louisiana for the Weekend!

I'll drunk call everyone from New Orleans!

Where have I been?

Apparently on Crystal's chest!

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Friday I'm in Love - The Cure

Lay All Your Love on Me

Erasure covering ABBA

Drink of the Day: Wine (again)

La Crema Chardonnay

"Fresh aromas of citrus, butterscotch and lemon peel open to appealing hints of jasmine and nutmeg. On the palate, rich buttercream, pear and citrus meld to create a plush, rounded middle, with toast and caramel adding richness and texture to the long, lingering finish."

Having a glas now thanks to Kim's birthday present. I love getting wine as a present! Click here for more information.

Thanks again Kim!

My Friends

I had a really great birthday all things considered! On my actual birthday I worked until 2 in the morning... I got up the next day and worked from 10 AM and didn't get off until 11 PM in the evening! My friends waited for me. I met up with Crystal, Kris, Ana, and Lindsey at Lumpy's around 11:30PM yesterday. We had some shots and beers... too many! The girls got me some flip flops for our forthcomming Mexico trip along with a nasty tee shirt. I'm so thankful for my old "Pearls" friends... without them life would be a little less fabulous. Thank you Crystal, Kris, Ana, and Lindsey for always being there for me through thick and thin... I love you all! Here's to another 35 years!

35!

I'm thirty-five years old today! What a crazy day it's been... Got up, ate lunch, did some laundry, and now I'm off to work! Weeee...

Drink of the Day: Wine

St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc

Wonderful aromas of ruby grapefruit, lime juice and honeysuckle join with a vibrant core of grapefruit, hints of pineapple, nectarine and lemon grass. The texture is inviting and supple with enough racy acid to keep it all focused.

Learn more here and here.

One of my favorite Sauvignon Blancs, though it's a little hard to find in the OKC area restaurants. Grab a bottle at the liquor store for around twenty bucks.

5 More Days: Mario Kart Wii

See you online!

We Are Piolts

Shiny Toy Guns... I LOVE this song...

"Holding close my secrets
Naked broken pieces-from the madness in what you do
The fingers point right back at you
What about my problems?
The people try to solve them
I guess I’m under the weather...
Since no one else belongs here, with me

Hello mother,
Some news for you
I’m really not that crazy.
Hello father,
I'm curious?
Why you think there's something wrong with me.
Sunday I cried all night...
And it hurt so bad
But if you try to understand--
This is who I am.

Color coated sweetness
Swords beneath my clean dress
I'm making sense of shattered dreams
Because I want you to be proud of me
What about my problems?
The people try to solve them?
I guess i’m under the weather
Since no one else belongs here with me...."

Drink of the Day: Pink Tea

Pink Tea

2 oz. Ciroc Vodka
1 oz. Pama Liqueur (Pomegranate Liqueur)
Build in a tall glass filled with ice
Fill with soda
Top off with a splash of 7-UP/Sprite
Garnish with a lime wedge


Yummie. It's also good to try it with Absolut Pears Vodka.

Dallas Cowboys '08 Football Schedule

Regular Season

Sun 9/7 at Cleveland 4:15 pm
Mon 9/15 Philadelphia 8:30 pm
Sun 9/21 at Green Bay 8:15 pm
Sun 9/28 Washington 4:15 pm
Sun 10/5 Cincinnati 4:15 pm
Sun 10/12 at Arizona 4:15 pm
Sun 10/19 at St. Louis 1:00 pm
Sun 10/26 Tampa Bay 1:00 pm
Sun 11/2 at NY Giants 4:15 pm
bye
Sun 11/16 at Washington 8:15 pm
Sun 11/23 San Francisco 1:00 pm
Thu 11/27 Seattle 4:15 pm
Sun 12/7 at Pittsburgh 4:15 pm
Sun 12/14 NY Giants 8:15 pm
Sat 12/20 Baltimore 8:15 pm
Sun 12/28 at Philadelphia 1:00 pm

They Might Be Giants!

Birdhouse in Your Soul. Anyone remember this from '90? Hello? Is anyone reading this blog?

15 Commandments!

I love Mel Brooks.

Minimize your own impact on global warming

WE has a list of actions that any individual can take to minimize their own impact on global warming that can be found here. This got me thinking, what other steps can we as individuals take to help minimize global warming as well as help preserve other aspects of the environment? Here's my list:

There are toilets on the market which allow a consumer to determine how much flush is needed... you know depending on what's in the bowl. If this step is a little out of your price range you could update the old toilet that dumps 40 gallons of water each time you flush it to one that only dumps 10 gallons of water per flush. If this option is still out of your price range you could adopt Timmy's favorite toilet philosophy: "If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down."

STOP DRINKING BOTTLED WATER! I'm serious. For one thing studies have shown that the contents of bottled water are no more pure than what you can simply drink from the tap (and it's REGULATED whereas the bottled water industry is NOT). Even more importantly it is estimated by the World Wide Fund for Nature that approximately 1.5 million tons of plastic are used in the bottled water industry every year. Now think about this, what is used to produce bottled products (a petroleum product)? Oil. What is used to transport bottled products? Oil. Where do most bottled products end up? In a landfill. I know it's convenient to purchase and carry bottled water but I think this is one luxury we should and can give up! Here's some other reasons to give up bottled water.

Purchase or rent "An Inconvenient Truth", it will scare the crap out of you. As the jacket for the DVD says: "watch it. share it. donate it."

Here in Oklahoma vote, contribute, and volunteer for Andrew Rice. He's running against Senator Jim Inhofe, embarassment to many Oklahomans for saying: global warming is the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people". Do a little research, there's a myrid of reasons this man should be thrown out of the Senate!

These are just a few suggestions by me. What do you think?

The dream is over...

For all those concerned, I am now employed again. I start on Friday, dark days are ahead...

We Can Solve It

We Can Solve It

Al Gore on 60 Minutes

For anyone that missed it 60 Minutes did a story on Al Gore last Sunday. I especially enjoy Gore's reaction to the current Vice President's beliefs on global warming at the 10:56 point. Enjoy!

Lyndon Baines Johnson

"I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president..."

Johnson uttered these words in a televised speech forty years ago tonight. How unfortunate that his legacy has been so severely tarnished (rightly so) by the escalation of the Vietnam War under his tenure as President. Let us not forget some of the good that came durning his Presidency: the "Great Society", the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the apppointment of Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court, the first African-American to be appointed to the high court, to name a few.

Click here to read more about LBJ.

How many could you take?

23

Dance Dance Revolution

Somehow Frank managed to talk me into buying Dance Dance Revolution today for the Wii. He's got until Mario Kart Wii is released (April 27th) to get it out of his system.


The collection, this and last generation.

How sweet this would be...

Click here for the story.

With Obama weakening and Clinton going off the deep end could Gore be the party's savior? Highly doubtful but one can dream...

Have I mentioned how much I love Al Gore?

Air New Zealand Pink Flight

"Quotes"

"If Tyrrany and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."

"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home."

-James Madison, 4th President (1809-1817)


"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

-Ben Franklin, founding father 1755


"It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government."

-Alexander Hamilton, father of capitalism and my favorite gay founding father

Smash Brothers!

A week from tomorrow Super Smash Brothers Brawl will be hitting the shelves for the Nintendo Wii. Here's a funny commercial for the original Smash Brothers game for the Nintendo 64.

Estoy Aqui

Nintendo Wii in 2008 Part 3: Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Wii is listed as a Q2 release but considering the limited amount of information on the game I wouldn't expect to see a release this spring. Most likely Nintendo will unveil more information on the game at this years E3 conference and move the game to a fall release just in time to cash in on the holidays.

Mario Kart games are simple. Race to the finish line on a variety of tracks against multiple Nintendo mascot opponents using an arsenal of weapons such as banana peels, heat seeking shells, and blocks. Choose from a multitude of racers with varying skill sets including weight, acceleration, and top speed. Player modes have included circuit racing, time trials, battle modes, and split screen multiplayer racing. The game has appeared on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), the Nintendo 64, the Nintendo GameBoy Advance, the Nintendo GameCube, and most recently the Nintendo DS sporting a great online multiplayer feature.

Rumor has it that the latest entry in the Kart series will go back to its roots featuring one racer per kart (Mario Kart: Double Dash for the Nintendo GameCube offered two racers per kart giving the gamer the ability to switch between racers depending on the situation). Also rumored is the return of the power slide ability for advanced racers (a must for time trials) and an online multiplayer option that will allow you to race with up to 12 people from all over the world all at one time. Finally the game is to be packed with a steering wheel accessory that will cradle the Nintendo Wiimote for a more immersive game play experience (I think I'll stick with a more traditional approach with the game using a standard controller). See the video below for an explanation of the steering wheel accessory.

Reggie Fils-Aime's Comments on Mario Kart Wii



Mario Kart 64 is one of my favorite games of any generation and I'll be in line to try out Nintendo's latest Kart offering later this year.

Nintendo Wii in 2008 Part 2: Wii Fit

One of the next big releases projected in 2008 is Wii Fit. The game is still listed as TBA 2008 but I would expect a release earlier in the year rather than later. The release in Japan in Decemeber has already yeilded over a million units sold. So what is Wii Fit? Again I refer to our friends at IGN:

"The hit combination of Wii Sports and the Wii Remote brought golf swings and tennis serves into people’s homes. Now Nintendo turns the living room into a fitness center for the whole family with Wii Fit and the Wii Balance Board. Family members will have fun getting a "core" workout, and talking about and comparing their results and progress on a new channel on the Wii Menu.

Lean to block soccer balls, swivel hips to power hoop twirls or balance to hold the perfect yoga pose. As users stand on the Wii Balance Board, included with Wii Fit, their body’s overall balance is tied to the game in a way they’ve never experienced before. Wii Fit also uses the Wii Balance Board for daily tests. These evaluate two key measures that a household can track via progress charts."

Sounds a bit bizarre huh? Those crazy Japanese!

Wii Fit Trailer


Will this kind of "gaming" go over here as well as it has in the land of the rising sun? I would be willing to bet that indeed it will given Nintendo's track record of reaching out to and capturing casuel gamers over the last year. Will this be a game and peripheral that I would purchase? Unsure; however, the prospect of leaning left and right on the Wii Balance Board heading down the ski slopes sounds promising.

Nintendo Wii in 2008 Part 1: SSB Brawl

Similar to what I did before the release of the Nintendo Wii last year I want to take a look ahead to the games of 2008. 2008 promises to be another banner "sold out" year for the Wii. It's hard to imagine that a new year can top the offerings of last with the likes of a Zelda game, a Metroid game, and a Mario game, not to mention countless other titles! We'll be discussing the projected major releases through the year in each post. First up, Super Smash Brothers Brawl.

Of course we have to start with what will be a monster release slated for March 9th. The third installment in the Smash Brothers series looks to be the biggest and best yet. If you're not familiar with the series it's basically a fighting game with a "king of the hill" mentality. Stay alive and deal as much punishment to your opponents to survive the round. Here's what IGN has to say about the title: "Super Smash Bros. Brawl is a brawling, battling, action-packed video game that features a varied roster of characters for four-player simultaneous melees! This Wii entry in the popular series features a number of new additions, including an Adventure Mode (with co-op play), a wealth of new characters and stages, and online combat for multiple players to face off against each other from anywhere!" So be prepared to round up some friends at home or online and duke it out using a completely customizable control scheme for your Wiimote, GameCube remote, or Wii classic controller.

You can brawl your way to victory with a wide assortment of Nintendo mascots including old favorites like Mario, Link, and Fox McCloud, as well as newly added brawlers like Pit from Kid Icarus who hasn't graced a Nintendo game in 15 years. What may be more exciting about the line up is the addition of characters not held by Nintendo, namely Solid Snake from the Metal Gear franchise and Sonic from the Sonic the Headgehog franchise.

The title has already released to long lines in Japan with an amazing sale through rate. The same should hold true here in the states where previous installments sold tremendously totaling over 10 million copies on the Nintendo 64 and the Nintendo GameCube.

Super Smash Brothers Brawl Japanese Opening Cinematic



Super Smash Brothers Brawl Japanese Game Play



More information can be found here on the Wii Brawl page or here at the Smash Bros. Dojo.

Al Gore's The Man

Click here to see why.

The GOP Needs a New Message

I used to be a political junkie. I remember when Clinton (Bill) was running for President in '91. I'd tune in to all the political shows every night before bed, especially CNN and C-SPAN. I couldn't get enough of the news from the campaign trail, debates, speeches, you name it. Maybe it was the excitement of my first Presidential vote or my naivety in thinking one person could change the country but I couldn't get enough of politics! I continued to follow politics throughout the years even during some (for me) very depressing times: the Contract with America, the Gore defeat of 2000, the re-election of GW Bush. This year I find myself not giving two shakes of a dead rats ass about the process. I'm probably not informed as I used to be simply because I don't have cable. The news I get now is what I can catch at my parents house, online, or from the Daily Fish Wrap (The Daily Oklahoman). I guess what drove home my increased apathy for our political process was the recent GOP debate in Florida. It's been years since I watched a Presidential debate either Republican or Democrat (and I couldn't stomach to watch all of it). What I watched could've been viewed during the '88 election, the '92 election or any other year! We need change. Change? Really? The party who controlled the White House and Congress for most of the last 16 years wants change? Um OK, whatever... a new direction or leadership from conservatives, I guess I can swallow that even if their 71 year old front runner isn't very fresh. What really irked me was the same old rhetoric I'd heard from years before! We need tax cuts. Tax cuts for the middle class, tax cuts for small business, tax cuts across the board! Wow. And the other side? Tax and spend liberals. Tax and spend liberals. Tax and spend liberals. I can't believe they're still beating this dead horse of an argument. Of course other issues were discussed but it always made its way back to tax cuts and staying the course with the war. I can't believe anyone would have the balls to utter the words "sustain the war" and "tax cuts" in the same breath. They're getting away with it! This is the only time in American history where we've lowered taxes while we're waging war! I'm all for lowering taxes (really, who isn't) but isn't a war a time for a country to sacrifice? To pull together and get the job done no matter the costs? Perhaps if the new Democratic Congress had kept their promise to start bringing troops home we could afford to spread a little money around. Ah well that's a blog for another day. I'll hold my nose and vote on Super Tuesday but I think I'll ignore the coverage until then. What do you think?

Shiny Toy Guns

I saw this performance in December with Crystal and Lindsey as well as others... man I really miss hanging with those girls!

Oh L'amour