black and white

2005-12-16T15:33:00.000-06:00

This blog is on notice. I'm fairly sure no one reads it anymore and, seeing as how I'm not even interested in what I have to say anymore, it's going on hiatus.

2005-11-05T18:17:00.000-06:00

Look around you...
There are many things to see...
That some would say could never be...
These things I know...
It's true and I will tell you so...
They are there to see if you believe...

Trolls and Wizards
And Fairy Kings
Birds that talk and Fish that sing...
And if your heart is true....
Then you will find them too....

In every wish and dream and happy home...
You will find the kingdom of....
The Gnomes.

Get Rich Faster, Die of Starvation Sooner

2005-10-28T12:39:00.000-05:00

So the Oklahoma Lottery. As I'm sure you could probably all gather, I don't much care for it. To express my dislike, I would like to give an incredibly harsh generalization...

The lottery is for bassackwards white trash alcoholics with nothing better to do than beat their children, spend their money on beer and lottery tickets, and buy pants from Wal-Mart.*

That said, my biggest complaint is not with those people. My complaint is with the vast majority of Oklahomans who are enthralled with this new-fangled lottery thing. In fact, they are so excited about it, they come into Quik-Trip (or as I used to call it, Heaven), and buy their loaves of bread, 6.3 gallons of gas, carton of Marlboro Light's, but then decide, "Hey what the heck, let's buy 7 Oklahoma Gushers. I mean I have a decent chance to win." Yeah? Do ya really think so? I think you have a better chance of gettin kicked in the cherries for holdin up my "3 2-Liters for $3" deal.**

Yeah, so it's new and exciting. You know what else was new and exciting? American Slavery. Yeah you heard (actually read) me right. A bunch of WASP's (white anglo-saxon protestants) in America's past needed a get rich quick scheme, so they used unpaid, unwilling human labor to accomplish it. I like to think it went down a little something like this...

WASP #1: Hey, I need to grow tobacco so I can start a cigarette company. How can I accomplish making all this money with zero effort on my part, thus maximizing my profit as quickly as possible?
WASP #2: Well Mr. Marlboro, what if you were to take Africans and make them do the work for you?
WASP #1: God almighty Jonhson, that is brilliant!

Well something like that. Anyway, the lottery is as evil as slavery. There, I said it. "But Darek, what about the money for education and blah blah blah I'm stupid blah." Yeah well ya know what? I betcha those white land owners used the money from their slaves to pay for their snooty white childrens educations too so THERE!

Basically what this boils down to is that I do not enjoy waiting for a quick and easy soda purchase. I mean sure, if I'm going to buy the legendary 324 (formerly 313) combo, I can wait an extra second or two. But come on, do you really need to scratch your tickets RIGHT IN LINE while people are waiting behind you? Just step aside and do not make me suffer for your unrighteous evils ok? Anyway, that's really all I have to complain about. I don't like the lottery or slavery. Post over.

*It is important to note that this entire post is extremely exaggerated for emphasis.

**This comment is a joke. I do not and will never consider it okay or justifiable to kick ANY male in said cherries. That is not only a cruel form of punishment (no matter what the crime), but poses many potential detrimental health concerns. Consult your physician for more details.#

edt: Leto

EDT: The Darek
# OK so maybe kicking someone in the cherries is acceptable in certainsituations but DO NOT go about it all willy nilly. I mean seriously. It hurts.

Redneck Woman...get outta my face

2005-10-13T01:48:00.000-05:00

I put this on both blogs. So what? Get outta my face about it!

If I could write a note to country music it would read a little something like this...

"Dear Country Music,
I don't like you. Could you please get out of my face and stop ruining perfectly decent musical elements? Thanks."
-Darek
P.S. Don't let you dog crap on my lawn anymore. That's not cool."

So it's no secret, I don't much care for country. I find it repetitious and annoying to say the least. I respect its fan as far as I can, but I honestly cannot see why they enjoy it. I can see why people enjoy Fall Out Boy, Marilyn Manson, and even showtunes, yet country escapes me. I ran an off the cuff poll of country fans some months back to see what it was they enjoyed. None of them could give me a concise answer. Doesn't bode well for a correlation between country music and intelligence (tongue and cheek...tongue and cheek). Regardless, I feel that country takes certain musical elements with tremendous potential and somehow crams them into and unworkable and unpleasant formula. It's kinda like the swastika...go with me on this ride ok?

Now it's no secret that the swastika was not invented by the Nazis. It has existed as long as any symbol known to man. To the Chinese, it's the Wan, to the English, fylfot. The Germans know it as the Hakenkruez and the Indians (Gandhi not Squanto) call it the Swastika. And even the Greeks have their tetraskelion and gammadion. The Native American squadron in WWI flew under this symbol and it represent(ed) peace in India. But after official symbolic adoption by the Third Reich, this ancient sign cannot be used without brining to mind a horrible time in human history.

Now I'm not saying that country music is the Third Reich or that country fans are mindless Nazis...well I guess I kind of am. But that is NOT the point. I'd just appreciate it if steel guitars, a voice with some twang, or fiddles could be used for musical goodness without bringing to mind the pain and mind-numbing feeling of popular country is all. I suggest listening to a little tiny bit of Ryan Adams to experience these elements in proper tasty fashion.

Apologies to country music fans.

Things, they are a happenin

2005-09-29T22:11:00.000-05:00

So I am a very busy person...too busy. But the funny thing is, none of the stuff that sucks up my life is all that important. That is not to say it has no benefit or positive consequences, but when I consider these "things," I discover that, with the exception of only a couple things, they could be replaced and I would be no worse off. Example for confused people: instead of spending my time sitting at this computer trying to find ways to make my internet box more snazzy with different Operating systems and WindowBlinds to make it pretty, I could be out back playing volleyball, hanging out at a Pike party or even reading a Strom Thurmond biography. Yet while I'm here, I forget to turn my phone on or I leave AIM away and never check it. I'm not sure why, but I think I'd fare pretty well in some sort of "commune" these days where I can communicate with those I actually see and don't have to worry about the outside world. Anyways, that's just a explanation (not a justification) to those I blow off as well as those I annoy with persistence. Anyways, a few things on my mind in the form of a long post as an apology for my abscence...

#1. Products and advertisements. What is the freaking deal with products nowadays? I've told a couple of you my gripe about Febreze Scent Stories. Seriously...is this a joke? Fine, candles suck, but do you really think I am going to buy your product by claiming I can experience a STORY via scent??? Not possible people...not possible. I have an idea that makes as much sense though. What if instead of the scents telling us a story, we tell classic stories using scent huh??? For instance, smell the blood, mud, and decay while reading Tolstoy's War and Peace. Smell salty air and that permeable tinge of old man in Melville's Moby Dick. This is all absurd anyway. Scents as stories, no thank you. On a lighter note, if you have yet to see the Fruit of the Loom video, you are really missing out on, what I think is a cultural revolution.

#2. The Beautiful House...Ah yes, I'm sure you have all heard about Casa Bonita's closing...I'd link to it if our local news paper wasn't as capatalist as it is. Regardless, the place has some good memories for us all. But the real question is, are those memories worth the horror of eating the food, the horror of undisposed hygenical products, and the horror of post-Bonita affects (let's just say you will would never have needed bathroom reading material after the all you can eat enchiladas). So here's a couple Bonita memories in passing.
When I was 10-ish, I wanted a Gameboy. Not a color, advance, SP, or micro mind you, but the old 25 pound gray paper weight with the 35 second 28-AA battery life. Good times. Anyway, I didn't think my parents coud afford one so I pushed it aside. Well at Bonita, my grandma decided to slip me my present early. It was a copy of Tiny Toon Adventures for the Gameboy. So I was forced to sit there for like 4 days knowing a Gameboy was coming, yet not being able to play my game...NOT COOL GRAMMIE!
For my fifth birthday I received a large box from my aunt and several small boxes from my parents. Since I was a kid, I went for the large box. In it was a REG-U-LAR Nintendo with two controllers and the second gen orange gun, coupled with MarioBros./Duckhunt and Super Mario Bros. 3. I was stunned...and then I opened the small boxes. In them I found these...As the video shows, I gasped, tossed aside the stupid gray fun box and played with the Transformers until I passed out from pizza, cheese, and exhaustion. Oh wait...that wasn't Casa Bonita, that was Crystal's Pizza...nevermind. Same parking lot though right?

#3. I hate technology. My computer was eaten alive in two days ago and it has been nonstop repairs until earlier this evening. Not good times. So I have decided to be like every old person who refers to technological terminology as "gobbeldy-goop" (call me to hear that pronounced). Screw you future!

Absence

2005-09-18T13:57:00.000-05:00

Sorry sorry. I've been quite the busy bee(ver - depending on your organism of preference). Expect a post very soon about how I went into a test completely unaware of its existence. Yeah, 33% of my final grade was based on an essay test that I had no idea about...should be a good one...Yeah so that will be posted as soon as I get the my computer (or, more accurately, my Internet Multimedia Box) working again.

$Money$

2005-09-11T22:52:00.000-05:00

My problems and deep, gutwrenching issues have nothing to do with cashflow, but t seems like many of my gripes have to deal with these financial dilemmas.

$ Thing No. 1. - Car Debt - So I've got this sweet sweet Saturn to drive around. Now this is not a problem in and of itself. However, someone paid for this car...and that person was not me. Aaaahhhhh there it is. So I have 3500 bones worth of parental debt following me around like a tiger. But not like a fierce, bloodthirsty tiger. No, this is a tiny, annoying tiger with a whoopee cushion that you would do anything to get rid of but if you kill him then PETA gets all upset and then the government gets involved with all their extinction policies and legislation so you just try and pay the tiger off but you have other expenses so it takes you a couple summers worth of crap wire pulling jobs but then...Nevermind.

$ Thing No. 2. - Office Work - So I have this little job. And I work my casual 10 hours a week and get my measly paycheck. Point of note - I was given a raise, but I do quite a bit more work than last year so it all balances out. Anyways, so I have few hours and not much pay, but worse than that...I have addictions that need fed. I, Darek Latta, am addicted to music and gasoline. I enjoy driving, especially to SCHOOL. I also like not being bored while driving, so I listen to music. It seems as though most of my paycheck goes to deal with these addictions. Oh and food, cannot forget food.

$ Thing No. 3. - Charity - Now I love people. All kinds of people. And I feel bad for people who have it bad. SOMETIMES, I even feel bad for them when it's their fault! Generous to a T I know. But if you will check in with money thing No 2, you will see that what little spare money I have exists only to feed my addictions. I did not ask for this, but I cannot escape them easily either. So I think that if I have to fill the boot, fill the bucket, or fill the plate one more time in the next month...I'm going to lose it. Seriously, I know all you civil and religious organizations want to help. HELP IS GOOD! But this is a division two university folks. We didn't get into a real college. I mean we're either too stupid (which means we waste all our money), too lazy (which means we don't have a job), or just too poor to buy our way in. I can't give you any more cash, sorry.

$ Thing No. 4. - Currency - What's up with the new nickels? Jefferson has this dazed, carefree look on his face. The old coin featured a slightly pissed off Jeffersonian profile. Now I am not sure why we felt the need to change the nickel. Maybe ol' Jeff looked to angry. Maybe after all the controversy about his slave lover, we needed to present him in a better light. Well in my humble opinion, I think this new nickel sucks. You can take it, the stupid golden dollar, the 2-dollar bill (what the heck), and any enormous fifty-cent piece out there and SHOVE EM!

Let's Get Together, Yeah, yeah...yeah

2005-09-06T00:13:00.000-05:00

Interesting idea. Would anyone like to join a blog team or alliance of sorts. This way all of our group thoughts can get put into once blog with multiple contributors, thus giving us different perspectives on issues that we're all interested in. Por ejemplo, what if instead of me posting my sole ideas on Katrina we got opinions from many different places in life. Like a philosophic perspective, a realist perspective, an upbeat religious perspective, and the list could go on and on and on...Anyway, if anyone is interested in joining, changing the idea, or just interested in reading what we collectively come up with please let me know. Don't be scared to voice your opinion, it could be good times...

Oh yeah, read the post below this one too and if it applies to you, comment!

Straightforward, Non-Misleading Title

2005-09-04T12:14:00.000-05:00

Just to clear the air, I am not quitting the blog, although I can see how the previous title and post content could lead you to believe that. Basically I typed that post as I was thinking instead of considering what I wanted to actually to say and THEN converting it to blog format. I'll try to refrain from that in the future, as it seems to lead people to conclusions that are less than accurate by little fault of the own. Apologies for my miscommunication.

NOTE: This post will be temporary and will be removed when I feel the message has been received.

NOTE 2: I'm not very happy with you readers who read this blog, but leave no traces of yourself on the comments section. Are you ashamed to read my blog? Is it not cool enough for you to comment on? Even my crack staff of behind the sceners leave comments. So for you back in Sand Springs who just graduated from OSU, for my roommates who talk to me about this but never leave a message, and for all those people down in Norman who IM me about this...LEAVE A COMMENT OR NEVER COME BACK!!!

(unless of course you want to come back and brings friends, in which case you are more than welcome)

POST OVER

Farewell Transmission

2005-08-29T17:19:00.000-05:00

So I'm finally settled into school and figured it could hurt no one for me to write an actual post, if for nothing but my own boredom. Anyway, I figure at this stage of the game no one really reads this for content anymore so, hey, what's the point? Oh well.

I've just been doing a lot of thinking about things I've done, decisions I've made, and the creation and destruction of various relationships. In a nutshell I've been incredibly reflective lately and I cannot help but feel like everything is gonna come back to haunt me in the end. Oh well. I'll just watch it all play out and sit back and chuckle. Worry not, I have yet to become a nihilist and am in a pretty pleasant mood.

So onto more normal blog type things.

I've been reading some Christopher Hitchens as of late as a few of you faithful know. If you don't know and don't feel like googling him, he's a stock writer for Vanity Fair and he's written a few novels, mostly political in nature. Anywho, I recommend picking up Love, Poverty, and War. It's a collection of essays and journals, relating to the three previous life situations, as well as Americana and quite a bit of 9/11 stuff. Pretty tasty oppositionist stuff for the most part. But it also has a decent amount of Pro-American ideal, patriotic junk, which is interesting, seeing as how Hitch is a Brit. Some of the more liberal of us might find him slightly more conservative than they can stomach, but he seems fairly balanced to me (assuming of course I'm not UNbalanced which is a legitimate concern).

NOTE TO RELIGIOUS READERS (and the interested, anti-religious cynics): You will more than likely find Hitchens appalling. Possibly even blasphemous. OK fine, there's also a chance you will refer to him as the Prince of Darkness, the Hellion, Angel of Darkness, etc etc. BUT there is also a chance that you may find him enlightening and this may affect you in a positive way. One description of his calls religion "the most toxic of foes...the most base and contemptible of all the forms assumed by human egotism and stupidity." You've been fairly warned.

anyway, check up on him and see if it's something you might enjoy. And remember that sometimes you can learn more from someone whose views are the exact opposite of yours than you can from someone who argues on the same side ignorantly.

edt: Leto

Oops

2005-08-24T21:16:00.000-05:00

Inspired by Katie, I was re-reading old blog posts. I just realized that in my Deepthroat post, I referred to the "Unknown Soldier" as Frank Black. So as many of my more astute readers probably picked up on, that is the name of The Pixies front man. This was completely unintentional and I would like to recover my respect from all of those people who thought I was trying to be subtly cool or fly. Post over.

Hello

2005-08-21T16:33:00.000-05:00

I like the way you're put together...

Death From Above Queso

2005-08-11T15:29:00.000-05:00

I just almost died. I kid you folks not. All I wanted was a little queso for my taquitos and it almost cost me my life. I began to open the microwave like I have countless thousands of times before, but something was different this time. Something was sinister. But hey what did I care, I wanted, NO needed queso to make these tasty beef filled delights oh so much better. So I threw caution to the wind, and the wind threw a GRILL SET back at my face. Not joking. Stop laughing. This was outrageous.

How did it happen you ask? I'm not sure...Sabotage seems most likely. I mean after investigating the scene of the incident, it appears as though the meat fork, spatula, and other utensils were laying haphazardly upon a sack of open straws on my water heating device. Now one must wonder, why would someone place sharp objects atop a sack of rolling objects on top of a swinging door that someone as lazy as I am was sure to use! I SMELL A CONSPIRACY PEOPLE.

But all is well. I walked away with only a few spilled straws and a slight spatula wound to the side of the head. I hope no person or cosmic force is trying to ruin my happiness cause I ain't goin out by fork. No sir...

Comment! NOW!

How wise I am now

2005-08-08T13:19:00.000-05:00

You bunch of wisdom teeth pansies. All I heard for the last couple weeks is "Oh mine went badly, blah blah blah, but hey I'm sure you'll be fine."

SO yeah guess what, I had my teeth literally CUT FROM MY JAW aboooooout...4 hours ago or so and I am sitting here with my stupid numb face posting a blog entry. IT was pretty interesting because I feel like I have had complete control of all my synapses the whole time. I can even tell you the conversation the nurses were having about their 45 year old boyfriend who lives with his mother. And get this, I remember his name to. So if you're reading this Steve, move out of your 82 year old mother's house dude. And get a job so that laughing gas nurse can settle down and be happy.

Anyways, I woke up, got an ice pack, offered to drive (my dad shut me down) and then we came home where I watched the Price Is Right with Daron, slept for a couple hours and here I am. Now my tongue is swollen or numb, my lower right hurts, and I have this stupid Ice-Pack on my head but I feel great. SO TAKE THAT!

Anyways, the same thing still applies to this post. If you have yet to comment, PLEASE DO SO!!! You don't have to be a member to add your name and you don't even have to add your name. Just hook a brother up aight? Catch ya when the pain pills wear off...

Some things quickly

2005-07-23T21:30:00.000-05:00

I realize now that when I think about something in the shower I should like, write it down or something when I get out. I was gonna write some sort of deep post about the difference between what people are really thinking and what they decide to show using this vacation picture

But I forgot what I was gonna say...oh well. You get the idea no?

Oh and one more thing. Could you guys do me a BIG favor. I mean I get random comments from people that say "The blog was funny as always" or "what the heck were you talking about yesterday?" And that is wonderful. Problem is, I don't even know who bothers to care enough to visit this stupid thing and spend their valuable time reading it. SO, onto the favor. If you read or have ever read this blog, could you just leave me a comment PLEEEEEEEEASE. All you have to do is click down below where it says # Comment(s) and say "Hey, I read/have read this blog." You can even just use your initials if you prefer ok?

SO COMMENT OR I WILL PUT ON THE PIRATE BANDANA AND STAB YOU! OK?

WORK PICS

2005-07-21T21:39:00.000-05:00

So here is the first blog post with work pictures and some commentary. More of the actual "work" experience to follow, but here is our Matlock cast of characters. Up there, you see a picture of a tired Darek at the beginning of the day

Exhausted and happy Darek at the end of the day. Note the loss of Matlock shirt.

Our lead tech Ryan. He's a good guy and pretty fun. You smoke those Black & Mild's big man.

This is new guy James. He's kinda...out there. I once told someone he's a 12 year old with alzheimer's in a 45+ year old mans body.

This is new guy/nice guy Dave/Davy/David. He caught on quickly and made up for James lack of skill, talent, drive, and overall incompitence.

This is Ben...he's weird. He has no chest plate so he has a chest hole. He is one of the hardest workers we have, but kinda testy too.

And here we have Nathan looking very photogenic as always. He's a good fella. You probably know him.

And finally here is my bro Daron driving us to the site. Right after I took this picture he said "Why do you have a camera?" And I replied "To take pictures." His next look was not so friendy...

So that is our crew, or was at some point. Look forward to pictures of us working. It is filled with dirt, sweat, and the blood of my hands...literally.

Past Week

2005-07-10T09:03:00.000-05:00

It has been a crazy few days. Just thought I'd keep you up to date as concisely as possible. All of these stories are kinda long so I will give you the abridged version and will give the full version on request.

Soooooo in the last week of work: I was almost killed in an elevator thanks to co-worker stupidity. I was also witnessed to the lamest crime ever. After a pretty crappy work week, I finally got a little bit of respect for the tech so that's nice.

In the last week at home: My father got an Atari flashback machine for his birthday (crazy huh), I slept wayyyy too little, and I actually enjoyed mowing the lawn in 90+ degree temperature's.

Outside of home and work: I spent time rekindling a bunch of old friendships, probably damaged some others, but most importantly spent some incredible time with some incredible people and I hope they feel the same.

So that is about it for now. As I said, I can fill you in on all the missing details of the week, but I do not have time as I need to leave. Have a good one and comment!!!

Ideology of Hate

2005-07-07T18:26:00.000-05:00

Here's a good ol' fashioned normal Darek topic, less personal, but equally emotional. The London bombings. What a horrid and tragic event. I really haven't settled on an opinion, but I will give some facts.

#1. As soon as the bombings occurred, the phrase "suicide bombers" appeared out of nowhere. This, obviously, makes the world cry jihad and anti-Islamic sentiments to arise. Now that seems kinda quick to be declaring something, especially since several noted British authorities have stated that "There is no indication that these were anything other than conventional explosives." I suppose all will be revealed in time though. Prime Minister Tony Blair (who is basically the head of both the executive and legislative branches for my non-political friends) seems to be handling the situation as the strong armed avenger of the people, while Queen Elizabeth II is playing her role as national mother to a T.

#2. A group calling themselves the "Secret Organization group al Qaeda Organization in Europe" claimed responsibility almost immediately via a website. OK first off, the guys are bastards. Whether they did it or not, I don't much care since they're claiming it. Also, what kind stupid middle school club has the word "secret" in the organizational title, but claims responsibilities for their actions ON A WEBSITE!? I mean I may be wrong, but I thought that anyone acting devoutly in the name of Allah was supposed to be revered and heralded for their works. Doesn't seem to be much reason to be secretive to me...but that's just my overly patriotic side.

#3. Pres. Bush of course used these tragedies to propagate his ideas of happiness and joy and love and compassion and blah blah blah. I think Bush's heart is once again in the right place, but I ALSO think he needs to broaden his horizons because if he wants to gain support, he needs to stop talking about how we will defeat an ideology of hate while our people and our allies people are being killed. It doesn't bode well of your "successes" when this can happen during the G8 summits.

That's all for now.

Like a metrosexual amishman

2005-07-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

Well this will be a bit like a Xanga post because I have no opinions or gripes to post about. Basically, it's another "life of Darek" post that I have chosen to title after a description of my beard. Perhaps I am too wrapped up in this beard nonsense. Oh well.

My parents were gone for a week, so I got to play adult nad take care of the house. I basically just sat around and hung out with the usual crew for the first half of the week. Good times as always. Roundabouts Thursday, Nathan and I decided to hit a movie. This turned out to be a lot of fun as we got to see folk we hadn't seen or hung out with in quite a while. Unfortunately, we had a couple who couldn't make it out. No worries though. Other than slightly poor organization and me being concerned that everyone was having a good time, it went very smoothly and I got to meet and get to know some people I never would have otherwise.

On Friday I went to Shawnee. Hung out. Ate food. Played games. Slept. Nice to see Ryan and Paul.

Fastforward to Saturday. Nathan sent me an invite to Ben's house for a shindig (that is correct, a shin-dig). I decided that would be enjoyable and deemed it worthy of my time. After talking to Erin I decided to wait for Nathan to get off work, so she, Pauly, and Katie joined me for some TV and Arby's before heading over to Benji's place. I had an incredibly good time getting reintroduced to friends I hadn't seen in a couple years as well as getting to know some new people even better. Fun times, good movies, nice hugs.

Sunday night. Horror movies, knife show, phone conversations. Those who know are in the know.

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd again JUMP forward to July 4th, the 4th of July. (Yes that was on purpose). Lunch at Aunt Rhondas. Gotta love Brisket. It's so tasty! I also ate waayyyyy too much strawberry shortcake stuff, not to mention the deep fried Oreo's. Geez. Well I went to Nick's that night. We ate many many forms of sausage and I declared that it was good. More cake, more phone calls, more fireworks, noticeably less horror.

So that's my update for now. I hope this again finds you all well, happy, and fulfilled. I hope that my coming updates find me more of all three. Pleeeeeeeeeeease leave me a comment. You don;t have to be a member I promise!

Update!!!

2005-06-25T11:34:00.000-05:00

OK so it's been a long time. I apologize. Here's just a quick update about what's been happening so I don't feel like a jerk.

#1. I'm still wearing the orange Mill Creek hat. Mostly cause I'm too lazy to dry, comb, and style my hair after my post work shower. I don't know if people like me wearing the hat...but I don't much care.

#2. I'm growing a beard. Not cause I want one, and not cause I think it will look good, but it was a challenge, and I can't turn it down. We'll see how it goes...I'll keep you in the know.

#3. My car is being lame. For some reason, the battery has decided that it doesn't enjoy being connected to the rest of the car and seemingly loosens itself while I drive...jerk car. It's done it twice now, and both times it's caused me an injury. I present to the jury my thumb, which now has red marks where I snagged it with needlenose pliers. There are more details, but they're not what you bring up in casual conversation.

#4. Since all I do is work nowadays, I feel it's only right to mention that the job is going OK. There's a lot of high school-ish drama amoungst the technicians, so we penos keep getting caught in the middle. Thank god I only have 4 weeks left...I, I will survive. Ohhhhhhhh as long as I know I need cash, I know I'll stay alive...
Sorry bout that.

#5. Full House is on. Is it weird that I still have a crush on Aunt Becky...

#6. The house is gonna be semi-empty for the next week. My parents and sister will be in Illinois for 7 days...Should be nice to have the house to Daron and myself. Kinda like college but quieter and less eventful.

Anyway, that's all for now. I hope this will suffice for now faitful reader(s). I hope this update finds you well and in good health. Please comment if you feel like it.

Muse-ack

2005-06-11T23:30:00.000-05:00

You know you need to turn your stereo/headphones down when you hear the girl at McDonald's say "Have a knife cake" or when your brother says "my waiter threw the roll like a baby."

So let's all be more responsible and turn it down a little so that you won't listen to your grandkids stories and respond with "WHAT!?"

Have you seen this? Have you heard about this?

2005-05-31T23:26:00.000-05:00

So they finally revealed the identity of the infamous Deep-throat whom you all know from the Watergate scandals of the Nixon administration. It was none other than the FBI's number 2 man, W. Mark Felt. So yeah that's it...real exciting...

No seriously, I think it's kinda lame. I mean where's there mystery, the intrigue, the secrecy now that we know? It's kinda like finding out that the "Unknown Soldier" is a fella named Frank Black that was a reservesman stationed in Milwaukee. It really just kills the majesty of the whole thing. Like maybe Deepthroat was an angel sent by God or Brahma or someone to relieve the world of the enormous evil that was Nixon and G. Gordon Liddy. Or maybe Nixon wasn't that bad, but some enormous conspiracy set him up and DeepThroat was the perpetrator. Nope, just some blue collar stiff in a garage trying to be much cooler than he was.

I'm very depressed.

2005-05-27T11:08:00.000-05:00

There's no earthly way of knowing
Which direction we are going
There's no knowing where we're rowing
Or which way the river's flowing
Is it raining, is it snowing
Is a hurricane a-blowing
Not a speck of light is showing
So the danger must be growing
Are the fires of Hell a-glowing
Is the grisly reaper mowing
Yes, the danger must be growing
For the rowers keep on rowing
And they're certainly not showing
Any signs that they are slowing

Check check check check a check it out. What wha wha wha what's it all about?

2005-05-24T21:12:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't updated in a few...I've been a busy kid! Let us see if we can catch up alright?

What's new with me you ask? Good question. Well, first off I had a decent school/work break there for a couple weeks. Sat around a lot. Hung out with the fellas way too late and slept in even later quite frequently. But that all ended at just the right time. Well, maybe it ended 2 days too soon since I didn't get to see Episode III or hit the pre-release with my chums, but that's life I guess. Anyway, I started working again for good ol' Matlock Security Services. Yeah that's right, the political science major who is VP of an Honors Society and some sort of officer in a few other nerd organizations is pulling wire for a summers living. Trust me, it's more complicated than it sounds, and, besides the dirt, it is also kinda fun and challenging. That sounded like a Sylvan learning commercial didn't it? Well, my first 3 days on the job they sent me down to OKC with 2 other helpers. All I did was work and eat while down there. In said 3 days, I worked approx. 36 hours! If you couldn't figure that out (note Sylvan comment above), it averaged 12 hours a day or so. Not much fun, but it also wasn't hard so what can I say.

So Friday night, I thought I was dying. I don't mean that in typical exaggerated fashion. I honestly thought I was gonna have to go to the hospital. Basically I think my lungs were full of dust, dirt, and hot air all day, and then I came into a <65 degree room and my chest cavity did not care much for that. What very very little sleep I got was sitting up and wheezing. Terrible times...

So that's about it for things of note. Now that I have a schedule down, I can post more and be mroe regular on my updates.

Oh yeah, and I have decided that I will wear hats again. Namely, an orange Mill Creek hat and Mountain Dew hat, both of which I stole from my father.

Hi

2005-05-12T22:52:00.000-05:00

For a brief post, here's a convo I had with a crazy old indian lady today while Daron was getting his teeth checked out.

Lady: So are you in college?
Me: yeah.
L: You skippin class?
M: No I'm out for the summer.
L: Oh good. I'm having my teeth replaced. I figure it's the best cause it's the most expensive.
M: Oh...yeah...
L: So if you loose your teeth will you have the remplaced or get dentures?
M:...not sure...hadn't thought about it.
L: hahahahahaha. Yeah...
M: Oh well here's my brother. I gotta go.
L: Alright sugar. Hey, you stay outta fights ya here!

Annnnnnnnnnnd SCENE. Yeah it was weird.

Sorry

2005-05-12T02:28:00.000-05:00

Apologies to the few of you who I scammed with my deceiving 48+ hour away message. Although, in my defense I am perpetually on the verge of getting food, so it technically was not incorrect. Anyway, I've been busy.

You know that movie Mr. Mom with Michael Keaton? Yeah? You do? Well, I have been living this movie for the last few days. I'm getting all of the negative's of the experience, with none of the clever life lessons. You know what that is? I think you do! LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME. But I press on, for it is for the propogation of the Latta name. I mean no one wants to mate with a man complaining of tooth aches all the time right? And let's face it, the chances of me mating are, let's see...Well let's just say the odds are not in my favor.

So yeah, please comment so I don't feel all like bummed out and stuff. OK? Please...

Back in Action

2005-05-08T18:56:00.000-05:00

Sorry dear readers (all 3 of you...), but it has been a crazy weekend. I'll take this time to fill you in, mostly because I have nothing better to write about right now. I'll try and keep this from becoming and internet journal. Let's see...

------------------------------------------------------

Well, Thursday started pretty slowly. My 9:00 AM final ended up being quite easy. Turns out I know more about foreign legislatures than I do my own. Maybe I can get a job teaching American politics in England or something. At work, I watched Stand By Me and ate candy. Nice job eh? Happy Meal Thursday ended up costing me 10 bucks as opposed to the normal 3 or so, but it was OK cause I got to have a friendly lunch with D-Rizzle and the DeGizzle, plus Nicole got our toys so she was happy. Anyway, that night we went out to Tenkiller Lake and threw a frisbee around, cooked hotdogs and ticked off a fisherman, who will here-on be referred to as SnaggleTooth McNastyPants. Basically what happened was SnaggleTooth was parked in the spot we had reserved, so, Daniel politely explained how we were there and going to be camping, but they could park there truck there. Well ol' McNastyPants decided that in return he would politely cuss out Danny. Not cool. Well after a fun night of other such events, Danny and I left the rest of the crew to camp and headed back towards The Quah. Unfortunately we took 82 south and not north which made for an interesting game of "Hey. Do you recognize that?" But we pressed on and made it back shortly after.

Friday, 10 AM-ish.
Dear Diary, I slept on the couch again cause it's cooler in the commons than in my room. Stupid broken AC...The campers returned and woke me up and were just loud enough to keep me from going back to sleep. Oh well. We'll see how the day shapes up.
11 PM. What's up Franklin? You don't mind me calling you that do you diary? Well, Daniel went home. Adam came back. Not much else happened. Time for sleepin.

Saturday Night-ish
Dear Franklin, finally made it home. I wet the bed at school last night. Hope no one noticed since I moved out. Anyway, got the room set up and am ready to report my summer happenings and thoughts as they occur. Daron gets wisdom teeth pulled on Monday, so that should be some laughs. One last thing...I love you...

---------------------------------------------

OK so that's it. I guess it did turn into a diary didn't it...hhhmmm. And yes I was a bit liberal on the facts of that last entry, and no, there is no Franklin...maybe. Catch ya later!

Lost on an island or lost from our savior?

2005-05-04T20:24:00.000-05:00

I was just watching the hit TV show LOST and I was thinking about some semi-obvious religious parallels I was seeing. So I thought that today I would write some of my theories here for your reading pleasure. If you watch the show, skip down two paragraphs and save yourself the trouble. If not, I suggest reading them. This post is kinda long, so bear with me.

First, a brief update for non-LOST viewers. The show begins with an incredibly horrific plane crash that would seem to have no chance of survivors. It then cuts to the island where, of course, there were survivors (it’d be tough to have a show without them). Anyway, over the past couple of months, we’ve come to know the characters on the show a little more personally. There is Jack, resident protagonist and MD. Also, we have Kate, the former criminal and island “hottie.” Next up is Charlie, former member of Brit-rock sensation Drive Shaft (that’s right). Michael and Walt make up our newly reunited father and son duo. Married couple, Jin and Sun, adds an interesting language barrier (that was quickly overcome). Boone and Shannon fill the role of brother and sister with a secret past. Sayid is our retired Iraqi torture expert. And rounding out the heavy hitters is John Locke, the mysterious elderly gentleman with the hardcore scar over his eye.

On to recent important plot points. Locke and Boone have been off in the jungle supposedly hunting for boar. What they were really doing was unearthing and trying to open some sort of hatch they found in the jungle. At some point they found the body of a priest in the jungle, but he was packin heat and loads of cash, so the odds are he wasn’t quite as holy as he appeared. At another point, Boone got angry with Locke and stormed off, only to discover a small plane on the edge of a cliff. Locke’s legs stopped working (odd neh?) and so Boone climbed the cliff into the plane. He discovered it was full of heroine in statuettes of the Virgin Mary and so the priest was probably a smuggler. He tried to use the radio, but the plane tipped and fell off the cliff and Boone died. So, the whole camp thought Locke killed Boone etc etc because he ran off and didn’t tell them what happened. For a more indepth episode guide, check http://abc.go.com.

OK finally we can get to the religious parallels. I’ll give it to ya straight: John Locke is God. Plain and simple. Shelve the “man in the state of nature” theories and go with me on this one. All throughout the first fifteen episodes or so, every time there was a lesson to be learned or a ghost of the past to overcome, Locke would suddenly appear to help whatever character was the focus of that episode. Two quick examples: 1). Charlie had a drug habit that no one knew about, but Locke somehow did and inspired him to beat it. 2). He knows exactly what to do to create a bond between Michael and his recently found son Walt. At one point, Sayid was locating a signal from a crazed Frenchwoman (long story) and someone hit him over the head and stole his transceiver. We come to discover that this was Locke! So why did he do it? Well, Locke (God) new that this woman would only bring pain and suffering to the people of the island and had to save them from themselves, even though they didn’t understand why. Eventually Sayid found the Frenchwoman and she tortured him and he learned very little from her. God, in his infinite wisdom, tried to protect man from himself, but man strayed from God’s plan and was caused pain. Next is the possibility that Boone is Jesus. This one is definitely a stretch, even in comparison. When they found the plane, Locke’s legs wouldn’t work, so Boone took the responsibility and went into the plane and fell to his death with the heroine. So best I can figure is that God could not take the sins of the world (the heroine?) onto himself (hence the legs not working), and so he was forced to send his son (or son like figure) out to be sacrificed. Boone’s death led to the hatch being opened, which I feel confident will bring about the saving of the island’s people, much like Christ’s death brought about the salvation of mankind.

BAM! There it is. The show is about God and life and mankind’s sins. So you can stop watching now and just read the Bible OK? More to come as the show unfolds. Thanks for stickin' with me.

edt: Leto

Let's Get It On

2005-05-03T21:16:00.000-05:00

I couldn't help it. I had to post on what I'm watching. The last 45 minutes or so of my evening has been dedicated to a Republican love fest being aired on C-SPAN. Not surprisingly Democratic presence was sparse, since Republicans had the floor and a stellar cast in line. The line up included Republican representatives, such a Phil Gingrey (R-Georgia), Virginia Foxx (R-N. Carolina), Jack Kingston (R-Georgia), and Michael Conaway (R-Texas). I am writing about the Republican tactics in politics solely because I have the opportunity. I could (and probably will) do the same with the Democratic party, but this is a prime example in three parts. My purpose here is for you to see through the spin that parties put upon political issues. Come on out of the cave won't you?

- Gingrey (who looks suspiciously like John C. McGinley in Identity) commented on the "hokey pokey" politics of the Democrats. He focused directly on Majority Leader Tom DeLay's (R-Texas) "threats" about judges answering for their actions following the Terry Schiavo case. DeLay was quoted as saying "the time will come for the men responsible for this to answer for their behavior." Basically, he was saying that DeLay meant they were answering to God for their ethical actions and did not consider this a threat. In fact, he referenced Alabama's If You're Gonna Play In Texas, calling DeLay "the fiddle in the [Republican] band."
- This is a pretty straightforward tactic. I agree that this was no threat on behalf of DeLay. It's fairly obvious that his intention was not to get even or get justice on behalf of Schiavo. The Republicans are again trying to portray the Democrats as dangerous paranoid madmen, bereft of any moral sense. And you wouldn't want heathen, amoral barbarians watching your back, now would you? Seems painfully obvious doesn't it?

- Foxx spent most of her time discussing the new congressional budget, as well as supporting the repealing of the Death Tax. She stated that the prime directive of government is the defense of the American people.
- Now how is the spin functioning here? Well, Democrats have widely publicized that a large bulk of the 2006 budget (about $500 billion is being spent on defense). This is a simple spin. Foxx claims defense is the number one importance, thus spending this much on defense is legit. Fine, but notice that she doesn't point out what is sacrificed. We are taking this money from Education, Veteran Health Care, child care, job training, and health resources (http://www.house.gov). These cuts, along with a $106 billion tax cuts, are cutting government down even more, while keeping defense the same. So I ask you to consider: IS the government's main job our defense or is it our quality of life?

- Kingston and Conaway (while slathering compliments on each other) focused on Social Security reform and taxes. They state time and time again that "no democrat has promoted a plan for social security," and that "the math is even easy for a Democrat to follow." But at the same time they claim the Democratic party is "formerly a party of the new deal is now a party of no deal," they also proclaim the party was going to raise taxes.
- Now I ask you, dear reader, if they have offered NO PLAN, as they specifically said, then how can they possibly claim this non-existent plan is going to raise taxes? I mean you can't claim the boogie-man doesn't exist, while claiming he's going to steal your soul. Yeah, that metaphor was way too long. So this one is pretty obvious. They are playing scare tactics, giving you the math they claim is "fact," showing how we're all going to be destitute in 40 or so years. They show you these horrifying facts while telling you the opposing opinion has no plan whatsoever to protect you. The democrats leave the chambers silent and your needs (see Foxx above) out in the cold. And if you think the Dems have a plan, it will raise your taxes and make you broke anyway. Generally, when their plans do nothing but hurt you, it's probably skewed information. But you could see that couldn't you?

OK so I went on way too long there. I just wanted you to be able to see through the fancy statistics and country-western references to what the Republicans have really said. When facts don't line up or are missing, the odds are, they are inaccurate. It's all just scare tactics and shoddy figures on both sides. But I'm rambling now...

edt: Leto

Mess up mix, mix up the mess

2005-05-03T18:10:00.000-05:00

A few requests for expansion of topics came in this last week. Fine fine fine. I mean politics do kinda govern your life and all...but whatever. Haha. Anyways, those who were interested can find my daily political insights in a soon to be created blog with a few other members...watch over there (---->) for the link in the next few days.

Ok, so I'd like to welcome Greg to the blog. I'm sure he'll be a great addition to the current crew of one. So far today, I have spent most of my time listening to Hot, Hot, Heat while playing Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II, which doesn't make for a very interesting post. So I thought I'd add some pictures of people who look strikingly like Emporer Palpatine from the Star Wars saga. Enjoy.

There you have it. The vast left and right wing conspirators in one place. Hope that's not to political. More to come later. Haaaaaaaaave a good one.

Post Response

2005-05-03T00:31:00.000-05:00

This was originally a response to a post by the one and only Paul Ellis (see link) regarding our geography exam. He writes that his day "finished with the mother of all time wasting geography/business quiz."

It really was a bit of a "mother of all time wasting geography / business quiz." For those who have yet to hear, it was all about universalizing religions (practical) and urban/market locational theory (impractical and geographically useless). I mean since when did geOGraphy (again and 8th grade shout out) become urban economics and public administration. I took a class on that already for my political science degree and it was not only more topical, but flat out more universally useful . Why do I need to know WHY cities are evenly spaced based on consumer accessibility? Is it not enough to simple know that they are. I mean, I see no reason that anyone taking GEOG 2243 is going to be out city planning any time soon. But, BUT, if they were, they wouldn't need to know how Von Thunen says they should space cities, because according to VT, they would do it instinctively. I mean serious, NOTE TO LIBERAL EDUCATION: it seems like college should be training me to perform a function within society, as well as giving me a rounded education. When we start taking a Gen Ed geo class and turning it into Macro-Economics, I think we may have strayed off course. I mean I didn't even learn where Saskatewan, Canada is...in my geography class. I feel like I didn't even get wet in the pool.

Interesting News

2005-05-02T14:39:00.000-05:00

Thought today, I'd just share a couple of my favorite headlines with you to give you a good take on the state of the nation.

1. Since I'm political in nature, I thought I'd share one of the greatest political ironies of the year. Last night on FOX News (go figure) White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card accused Democrats of being obstructionists and playing partisan politics. This following the passing of the congressional budget vote last Thursday, where there was VERY little aisle crossing on either side (see http://thejobey.blogspot.com/ for more accurate info). Seems odd to accuse the democrats of extreme partisanship, when there's very little they can do to stop the so called "Conservative Agenda." Anyway, Card also stated that "for the vast majority of our nation's history, judicial nominees have been able to get an up-or-down vote of the floor of the Senate and they have not been pushed aside through frivolous filibusters." Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vermont Democrat) said that "the president seems unwilling" to have true bipartisan negotiations...In a recap - the President and Republicans want bipartisan talks, but will not participate, and the Democrats ALSO want bipartisan talks, but are unwilling to compromise to achieve them. So for those of you keeping score, that's Democrats - 1, Republicans - 1, progress in democratic government - 0.

2. A bride-to-be suddenly went missing after a jog last Tuesday, prompting an enomous police and FBI search. When she turned up on Saturday, she originally reported that she was kidnapped and driven to New Mexico. After further questioning, she revealed that she got nervous and ran, making up the kidnapping to cover her shame. Well, everyone was wiling to forgive and forget...until it turned out today that Georgia investigators believe she had previously purchased train tickets and had planned this stunt long in advance. So apparently hours and hours of searching and huge forces of manpower were all just a huge waste for this girl's lavish prank or last hoorah or something. What kind of crazy...well nevermind. I hope she doesn't get credit for her bravery in returning or anything.

3. The only happy news I could find was about two teens, age 15 and 17, who were stranded on a boat for six days without food or water. It was like a summer blockbuster. They were almost sucked under by a barge, made makeshift tackle and ate jellyfish, and were even chased by sharks. They're back at home and are actually being studied.

Well, those weren't that exciting now were they? I'm glad I could find good news, instead of just keeping a running body tally from the middle east...

UPDATE: For all my Northeastern readers, there are free massages in the suites clubhouse tonight until 9.

It's the end of the world...and R.E.M. feels fine...

2005-05-01T16:07:00.000-05:00

Apparently some time in the last couple of days, North Korea performed a couple of new missile tests. These missiles all landed in the Sea of Japan without incident. Now, why does this concern us in the U.S. you ask? I mean haven't they tested missiles before? Yes, yes they have. BUT, these unscheduled tests come in the wake of President Bush's Thursday night news conference in which he referred to Korean leader Kim Jong Il, as a "dangerous person," and a "tyrant." Now this isn't to say that these tests are in preparation for some violent retaliation to this grave offense, but, Kim is obviously insulted and drawing further into himself. In a response, a Korean spokesman stated that "Bush is a hooligan bereft of any personality as a human being ... and a Philistine whom we can never deal with." Perhaps the most revealing thing is that North Korea "does not expect any solution to the nuclear issue or any progress in (North Korea)-U.S. relations during his term," according to the spokesman.

It seems pretty clear that we need to have some sort of nuclear talks with North Korea. Now, let me preface this by saying that I completely agree with W that we need multi-lateral discussions with this nation. I mean, entering into unilateral talks with Korea, even if Bush was not president, is way too dangerous. We need that Chinese support in this effort like old ladies need support hose.

Why are Bush's current dealings dangerous for us? Glad you asked. Well, since we seemingly want to resolve this issue with N. Korea, one has to ask, why does Bush insist on insulting the leader of the totalitarian government? I mean, do you try to negotiate the price of a used car by calling the dealer a snake? No. I mean, even if you tell your nagging wife and screaming kids that you think so, you don't broadcast it out to the world. Add to Bush's comments the insults of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, where she referred to N. Korea as an outpost of tyranny, halting the original talks.

Secretary of State - Under the Constitution, the President of the United States determines U.S. foreign policy. The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser.

Here we are left with an insulting president, an unapologetic foreign affairs advisor that demeans countries, and missile-testing, angry Koreans...I think you can see why I'm somewhat concerned...

EDIT: Here are some zingers from a speech made by Laura Bush, as posted by CNN.com. Forgive the paraphrasing.

The president sat down and she proceeded to note that he is "usually in bed by now" and said she told him recently, "If you really want to end tyranny in the world, you're going to have to stay up later. "
"Nine o'clock, Mr. Excitement here is sound asleep and I'm watching `Desperate Housewives', with Lynne Cheney. Ladies and gentlemen, I am a desperate housewife."
"I was the librarian who spent 12 hours a day in the library and yet somehow I met George."

Post edited by GJ

Happier Times

2005-04-29T12:23:00.000-05:00

So I'm pretty sure I aced my Latin final and my Hum II is shapin up to be an easy one. Plus, I just found out I have something like a 98.4% in GeOGraphy (that was an 8th grade throwback for ya), so this is all good news. So, while rocking out as much as you can to David Dondero, I have decided to post counter to last nights Final Thought and present you with the Top Ten Things I currently like a lot, complete with annotated links Chuck Ziehr style.

Free Scantrons from the BCM (http://student.org/ok.htm)
Jazz, Etc. and Paul Ray from KUT (http://www.kut.org/)
The Torch (I know everyone likes him, but that's OK. Search for the Fantastic Four game at: http://www.gamespot.com)
Fake buried treasure (http://www.cnn.com/)
Mission Impossible (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117060/)
Trashy Science Fiction and Pseudo-Fantasy (http://www.hatrack.com/)
MK Ultra (http://www.mkultra.com/index.html)
Communist Mario (http://www.aethiamud.org/communist_mario/)
Dictionary.com, coming soon to my linkbar (http://dictionary.reference.com/)
AND Finally, Flash Halo CTF (http://www.addictinggames.com/flashhaloctf.html)

So there you have it. 10 things that are accompanying my happy mood. Please post comments so I know if they are worthwhile or not and have yourself a merry little Friday.

Final Thought

2005-04-28T21:54:00.000-05:00

(This is something I will try to do whenever I have the chance. But, the fact that I realize that I'm temporarily addicted should also be a clear indication of the fact that soon enough, I will become unaddicted and posting will slow to a halt.)

So I've been sitting here for the last couple hours studying for a Latin Final (see below), not playing games, and not being cool cause our AC seems to be down again. The same ol' Mountain Goats album has been playing over and over again cause I can't bring myself to get up and change it. There are people playing volleyball outside and they seem happy. As for me, I'm bored, tired, and somewhat angry. So, for tonight's Final Thought, I have decided to post a list of things I currently hate for no good reason.

ABC New's John Stossel (rock on you dirty Libertarian)
Biodomes (waste)
Mr. Fantastic
Chemical Warfare
The fact that Dr. Livinstone and Dr. Pardoe are leaving
Whatever driving force led to the creation of Bill Maher and Bill O'Reilly
Ebola or ebola like substaces
Gaullism
Text Messages
and finally, Eve

So yeah, that's it. Don't ask me why, but I thought of Stossel and the rest just fell into place.

Articulo Latinas!

2005-04-28T20:51:00.000-05:00

Some of you may say, "Three posts in one day? That's crazy!" And to you I say...you're right! But this will help me to study for my Latin Final. So here are some of my favorite quotes of ancient wisdom. I'll post the translations sometime in the next couple days so that those in pursuit of scholarly things can try and translate them.

Quam quisque norit artem, in hac se exerceat. - Cicero
Cedant arma togae - Cicero
Quod sentimus, loquamur; quod loquimur, sentiamus. - Seneca
Hortatur eos ne animo deficiant. - Iulius Caesar
Bellum autem ita suscipiatur ut nihil aliud pax quaesita videatur. - Cicero (apparently W. was a big fan of this ideal)
Numquam imperator ita paci credit ut non se praeparet bello. - Seneca

So, there you have it. Some ancient wisdoms for ya...Since I'm so kind, I left out Quintillian's thoughts on food and glutony so you wouldn't have to deal with it. So, figure out what they mean...NOW!

America

2005-04-28T19:12:00.000-05:00

Some quotes from Bush's News Conference:

"If a president tries to govern based on polls, you're like a dog chasin it's tail."
"There are some in Iraq who don't want democracy. They wanna go back to the old days of tyranny, mass-graves, and darkness."
"I can only speak to myself."
"The price of crude oil determines the price of gasoline."
"In the long run...the way to defeat terrorists is to spread freedom and hope...but we're making progress."
"Let me finish with the TV people Ed. You're not a TV person...but I know you'd like to be."
"We can't trust the Iranians when it comes to enriching Uraniam."
(On Iran) "I kinda wonder why they need a nuculer program when they have all the oil."
"John Bolton's a blunt guy...Some people say I'm too blunt."
"Why should ownership only be allowed for rich people?"
"Don't politicize your military."
"Feels like we have plenty of capacity."
"Perhaps Kim Jung Il has the capacity to develop missles and wouldn't it be nice to shoot them down?"
"We're gonna do everything we can to protect us.
"I dont know about lawsuits. Im not a lawyer."

Up and Running

2005-04-28T17:04:00.000-05:00

Allllright well here it is. This is mostly so Jobles and I can post about each others stuff, but also cause a lot of people have been bugging me to start something they can keep reading (instead of my temporary AIM profiles). So this will be updated semi-consistently, depending on how the summer goes...so...yeah.