Sunday, October 31, 2004
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Vote for Bush...Without Me
I thought I'd post instead of working on my honors paper...
It appears that I will not be voting in this election. I faxed my request for an absentee ballot long ago and still have not recieved one. Now if Kerry wins I will feel like it's my fault and will probably force myself to move to Canada, which really isn't a bad idea under any circumstances. America isn't all it's cracked up to be. After all, it's full of self-centered, obese, unintelligent people who don't know what they want as long as they don't have to work for it. That's my small, insignificant rant for the evening.
While thinking about my mother's upcoming 40th birthday, I realize that I miss me mam a lot more than I thought I did. I don't think people appreciate their mothers enough, or their families for that matter. My brother has been thinking about coming to UCA, and honestly I really hope he does. I know they say college is supposed to be a time to get away from everything that was before, but family should be one of the most important things in a person's life, not something you can just easily leave behind. Let this be a lesson to all of our young fans: Appreciate your family. You'll be away from them before you know it.
The Moonlight Serenade was a big success. Jazz Ensemble I was great, and Jazz Ensemble II was alright until a big mishap that I prefer not to discuss at the moment. I'm sure we'll get torn into Monday, and it is much deserved. I've decided I really need to take ballroom dancing for my P.E. credit. The Cap'n and I tried our hand at dancing, and I must say for having no experience whatsoever, we weren't that bad. It must have been quite a funny site. There was an old couple there that was awesome, and I just decided it was because they were around when people actually danced and listened to good music. I should have been alive in the forties. America was cool place to be back then.
Friday, October 29, 2004; Page A23 In the 1990s, Afghanistan was allowed to fall to the Taliban and become the global center for the training, Indoctrination and seeding of jihadists around the world -- including the mass murderers of Sept. 11, 2001. This week, just three years after a two-month war that destroyed the Taliban, Afghanistan completed its first free election, choosing as president a pro-American democrat enjoying legitimacy and wide popular support.
This represents the single most astonishing geopolitical transformation of the past four years. (Deposing Saddam Hussein ranks second. The global jihad against America was no transformation at all: It existed long before the Bush administration. We'd simply ignored al Qaeda's declaration of war.) But perhaps even more astonishing is how this singular American victory has disappeared from public consciousness.
Americans have a deserved reputation for historical amnesia. Three years -- an eon -- have made us imagine that the Afghan war was easy and foreordained.
Easy? In 2001, we had nothing there. What had the Clinton administration left in place? No plausible military plan. Virtually no intelligence. No local infrastructure. No neighboring bases. The Afghan Northern Alliance was fractured and weak. And Pakistan was actively supporting the bad guys.
Within days of Sept. 11, the clueless airhead president that inhabits Michael Moore's films and Tina Brown's dinner parties had done this: forced Pakistan into alliance with us, isolated the Taliban, secured military cooperation from Afghanistan's northern neighbors, and authorized a radical war plan involving just a handful of Americans on the ground, using high technology and local militias to utterly rout the Taliban.
President Bush put in place a military campaign that did in two months what everyone had said was impossible: defeat an entrenched, fanatical, ruthless regime in a territory that had forced the great British and Soviet empires into ignominious retreat. Bush followed that by creating in less than three years a fledgling pro-American democracy in a land that had no history of democratic culture and was just emerging from 25 years of civil war.
This is all barely remembered and barely noted. Most amazing of all, John Kerry has managed to transform our Afghan venture into a failure -- a botched operation in which Bush let Osama bin Laden get away because he "outsourced" bin Laden's capture to "warlords" in the battle of Tora Bora.
Outsourced? The entire Afghan war was outsourced. How does Kerry think we won it? How did Mazar-e Sharif, Kabul and Kandahar fall? Stormed by thousands of American GIs? They fell to the "warlords" we had enlisted, supported and directed. It was their militias that overran the Taliban.
"Outsourcing" is a demagogue's way of saying "using allies." (Isn't Kerry's Iraq solution to "outsource" the problem to the "allies" and the United Nations?) And in Afghanistan it meant the very best allies: locals who had a far better chance of knowing which cave to storm without getting blown up. As Kerry himself said on national television at the time of Tora Bora (Dec. 14, 2001): "What we are doing, I think, is having its impact and it is the best way to protect our troops and sort of minimalize the proximity, if you will" -- i.e., not throwing American lives away in tunnels and caves in alien territory. "I think we have been doing this pretty effectively and we should continue to do it that way."
Now, as always, the retroactive military genius says he would have done it differently. Yet in the same interview, when asked about how things were going overall in Afghanistan, he said, "I think we have been smart; I think the administration leadership has done it well and we are on the right track."
Once again, the senator's position has evolved, to borrow the New York Times' delicate term for Kerry's many about-faces.
This election comes down to a choice between one man's evolution and the other man's resolution. With his endlessly repeated Tora Bora charges, Kerry has made Afghanistan a major campaign issue. So be it. Whom do you want as president? The man who conceived the Afghan campaign, carried it through without flinching when it was being called a "quagmire" during its second week and has seen it through to Afghanistan's transition to democracy? Or the retroactive genius, who always knows what needs to be done after it has already happened -- who would have done "everything" differently in Iraq, yet in Afghanistan would have replicated Bush's every correct, courageous, radical and risky decision -- except one. Which, of course, he would have done differently. He says. Now.
I'm not really sure where to start. If this semms to ramble a bit, please excuse.
Well, the election of a litfetime is just 2 days away. I am excited and concerned at the same time. I have a good feeling that most of the country is intelligent enough to vote for George W. Bush. Unfortunately, these are the same people that make sure that the emails that promise to send you some of the African money if you will help them get their money out of the fictional bank, by providing your banking information... True!
So I noticed that a Colorado college student was kicked by a University professor for wearing a GOP sweatshirt. The violence by the democrats doesn't shock me. The other thing that doesn't shock me is the fact that this professor thinks they can do this and then just apologize. That seems to be the liberal mindset. They can do or say whatever they want, and then apologize. I see, thats how they feel about the terrorists. "Oh, they apologized for killing all those innocent people, we should just forget about it." That also follows John Kerry's belief that terrorism is just a nuisance. I tell you what is a nuisance, JOHN KERRY! He is a nuisance.
John Kerry's stepson, Chris Heinz, calls Bush a "coke head." HA! When asked about it, the 31 year old rich boy replys..."'I have no evidence. He never sold me anything.'" "He never sold me anything?!?!" So who is the coke head here? It looks as if little Heinz 57 has the same "running off" of the mouth that his ignorant Arian mother has.
Last but not least, Cherie Blair. This snaggle toothed, English tramp comes to Harvard and decides that during her speech she can go ahead and bash Bush. Naturally, she is concerned for the gays. I tell you, these English and their gays. The fact that she thinks she has a dog in this fight kills me. I think the English need to shut their mouth and count their blessings. I predict they will be asking us to help them protect their country again in the near future.
OK...I should stop. Most importantly, VOTE! More important...VOTE BUSH!
Thursday, October 28, 2004
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Jeff C's top ten reasons why college isn't THAT bad...
eRIc had to sell his first five, Seashell doesn't have time for them, and I'm just too lazy. Therefore, I'll keep this streak alive like a good episode of Family Guy and give you 1-5.
5. Betwixt fall break and Flight Team, I've had nearly two weeks off.
4. I seem to have an understanding with most of my teachers, and I usually only attend one of any particular class per week.
3. Despite #4, I'm still passing with quite good grades.
2, I was quoted multiple times in our school paper today.
1. It's almost over.
So there you have it, some of us seem to have it made, but only in appearance. I do miss some classes though, I would love nothing more than to sit and discuss the nature of Poop and how Rene Descartes could prove whether or not it actually exists. (I poop, therefore I am?) Quite some fascinating stuff here. Maybe I should just drop this whole flying thing and become a philosopher. Do they still get to spend all day sitting in the town square getting fanned with large leaves and fed grapes by peasants? If so, sign me up. If not, but they even have a decent pension plan, sign me up. For that matter, just sign me up anyway for rainy days. Here's a little piece of advice straight from the Cap'n: "Don't base your entire income off of an activity that is entirely dependant on reasonable weather in a state like Oklahoma." Furthermore, don't base your income off of anything whatsoever. Just sell everything you own and head on down to the Carribean. Jimmy Buffett would be proud.
Why, oh why is my bedroom juxtaposed with that infernal Trans-Am?
I had to leave out 10-6 because as a music major there is no time for that many of anything. So here's the rest.
5. Gotta agree with eRIc here--Class
4. Protein deficiency. This comes from the fact that there is no decent meat in the cafeteria, unless of course you want your meat in the colours of Christmas. As for me, green chicken is a must not.
3. Gotta agree with eRIc again. Marching band is six hours a week and counts for one. WTF Mates!?!?
2. Vocalists.
1. It's too damn cold.
And speaking of poop, the farzzz and I just had an interesting philosophical conversation about just that. According to Sarte, we can give poop our own meaning. W.K. Clifford suggests that we need sufficient evidence to believe in poop, whereas William James would argue that we should base our belief in poop on subjective experience. Plato might call poop one of the forms. Percy would encourage us not to discuss the race car shapes we make lest we loose the creature. I'm not quite sure who I believe, but I'm sure each theory is worth a good ponder.
i went to a debate tonight between Senator elect Jim Holt (R) and Blanche Lincoln (D). i expected for me to hate lincoln and favor holt, just because of their politcal parties, but Jim Holt super sucks. I only went to the debate because there were extra points involved, and the first rule of college is never talk about fight club... wait no its not, its never pass up extra credit. anyways i havent posted in a while due to reasons not under my control... all ten of my fingers were broke in a snowboarding accident, ok it was actually a voting accident... alright alright... i sold my fingers so that i could pay my rent. anyways i dont have anything good to say, so i figured i would do a top 10 list b/c their always funny.
Top 10 things that suck about college.
(i had to pawn off numbers 10 thru 6 to pay rent so its only a top 5)
5. Class
4. People who ask questions in class, making a seemingly endless class last about 5 hours longer
3. Classes that meet for more time than you get credit for.
2. Questions on multiple choice tests that have the option of "B and C"
b/c you know B is right, but you have no idea what the word Neologism means and it seems to be the most important part of C and you dont know whether or not to just put B. So you resort to none of the above and you feel moderately satisfied, until you realize that you picked none of the above 17 times in a row.
1. The fact that we are graded on our performance... i mean i go to class, what more do you want. I'm listening, now hand me a diploma and ill be on my way. Pen and paper need not come into this transaction.
Designers show off the new Arrafat puppet set to star as "Gerald" in the new Michael Moore children's film "Gerald and the red Crayon: Israel makes me draw sad faces."The true story that Michael Moore, Alec Baldwin, Susan and Tim (Robins) Sarandon, the Taliban, John Kerry, the Rainbow Coalition and Green Peace want you to see about how George W. Bush and the Isrealli people are controlling the world. My favorite part is when Arafat, Bin Laden and John Kerry sit on a lily pad in the middle of Fallujah singing "The Rainbow Coalition Connection."
I think that it is a bit spooky that the Red Sox win the World Series (I was hoping they would), we have a red moon (total eclipse) and the election of a lifetime is just 6 days away. I believe that there are certain forces at work on this planet and definitely in this country that are about to make trouble for all mankind. Yeah, I know I spook easy. Most of the people that know me well know I am batting about a .492 though when it comes to "calling it." I have this gut feeling that John Kerry is going to *$&#* it up for everyone.
It's deja vu all over again. American troops are winning on the ground, but we are losing on the critical home front. And the man leading the effort to demoralize Americans and blind them to the success the military is enjoying is, once again, John Kerry.
I have friends who are democrats (which makes me wonder if they are really my friends...hehe) that have decided that John Kerry is NOT the man for the job. WOW! It took you that long to figure it out. There is no middle ground. You either go Left (gay marriage, abortion, dogs and cats living together, all of our tax money for the poor and lazy)or you do the right thing and go Right (world power, America, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, the purveyor of Peace and Democracy, the country WITH the BIG stick).Middle ground does not exist. Don't think that it does and come to grips with the fact that there will never be a middle ground again.
I knew it was the Russians all along... That "end of the cold war" thing really pissed them off!
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
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After the rain has fallen...
Man, I got around these past couple of days. And when I say that, I don't necessarily mean in the non-literal sense that manteca is snickering about at this very instant. I simply mean that I've done more than my share of traveling, and it's just about taken its toll on Jeff and his trusty Corolla. Really, anything more than a two hour drive is now simply unacceptable to anyone on my career track. The simple act of driving from Stillwater to Hope adds one hundred anf fifty miles of unneccessary traveling on what should be a 233 mile direct track. Conway to Stillwater? About a hundred miles of wasted road and four hours of ludicrous traffic. I learned my lesson, I'm aviating next time.
And now for something completely different. As I'm sure all of my fellow convoginators are aware, the semester is rapidly approaching a conclusion, presumably to take place somewhere in the month of December. (my sources are still unclear on that) As my fellow convoginators make their pilgrimage back to the land of Hope, it occurs to me that we need to have our second annual "Weenie Roast and Oil Change" It was such a hit last time, and now we'll have a bigger crowd... and eRIc can play his favorite game at Dos Locos Gringo's again... if he passes his background check.
Off to clean the house... oh, and just so everyone is clear:
This has got to stop! It is simply bad for my health and well being. No one should be put through as much pain as I am in at this very moment. If Apple doesn't stop coming up with cool stuff, we just might see my demise. They've got so many things that I need, but the money supply just ain't up to the demand. They've got two new extremely cool iPods. There's the iPod Photo, which has lots of space, lots of color, and lots of battery life. It's just too cool. Then there's the iPod U2 which is just really sharp looking and doesn't cost as much as I thought it would. Don't even get me started on the iMac G5 and all the cool new software. Sigh...
UCA is holding the Region Seven Marching Contest today, and of course we must march exhibition. After this we've only got one more performance to go.
I recently saw King Arthur and, well, it was alright. It was about the same level as Troy I suppose, but through the whole thing, all I could hear in the back of my mind was "I am Arthur, King of the Britons." "King of the who?" That's the best movie ever. (the Monty Phython one, that is)
There's a whole fleet of these roaming the UA campus. They're white though. They stand literally about four and a half feet tall, maybe less. I'd swear I saw one that had a joystick instead of a steering wheel. No lie.
I too have a collection of great philosophers. You all know them. They include, but are not limited too, Shaggy (from Scooby Doo), Otis (from the Andy Griffith show), Floyd (Lawson) the barber (from the andy griffith show) and most definitely Seashell.
Why you ask those four? Well, Shaggy had many great philosophical ideas, but the best was his relating of life and the everyday shennanigans to food. I too can relate to that. Otis, well come on, this guy knew everything. When he got wasted, he still let himself into his jail cell. Otis wasn't a dummy. You never saw him drink and drive. Andy nor Barney ever had to give him a DWI. Floyd the barber is an easy one. Floyd could answer any of the worlds questions with a zippy one liner. His ideas were so profound, Andy, Barney nor Goober ever realized they were getting a crappy haircut. Oh yeah, and he was seeing Clara the phone operator on the side...yeah, it was happening!
That brings me to Seashell. She (being the only women in the list) is probably the most profound member of my selections. I quote her when she said
"I miss playing soccer. In fact, I miss doing anything that requires physical activiy, although I guess you could call marching physical, but for the sake of argument we won't."
or my other favorite quote:
"Your Face..."
These two, dare I say, insights into life, will keep me pondering my own existence for many minutes to come. Yes, Seashell, I will be 40 in 5 years, and you will be reaching your mid-20's. That's the pre-cursor for OLD LADY! HA!
I also must say I like Descartes also, he makes a great mustard! Or was that his car in "Back to the Future?" I can never get that straight...
Monday, October 25, 2004
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Where Oh Where Has My Chocolate Milk Gone?
No time for convogination! Twenty-four hours sounds like a lot, but obviously it's not enough time to get everything done that seashell needs to get done. I shouldn't even be posting for lack of time, but we wouldn't want that, now would we? As if the life of a music major was not busy enough already, I must now become all philosophical and write my second paper for Honors. We have two lists of philosophers, and we must write about one from each list. They are as follows: List I includes Kierkegaard, Plato, McCraken, James, and Marx, while List II contains Sarte, Darwin, Clifford, Shepard, and Percy. Och, aye! Where does one begin? In relation to the two philosophers I choose, I must address one of the following: the nature of oppression, the nature of evidence, or the nature of choice. There are so many possibilities, but very little time. I will accept advice from my fellow convoginators (or anyone else) about which topic and which philosophers to choose in relation to level of difficulty (low would be ideal) and time.
It has come to my attention that my mother will be forty years old in about two weeks! Oh how much fun I would have with that if only I could go home, but alas, my last game is the day after her birthday. Only two more weeks of marching band! What happiness! You know, it won't be too many years before manteca is over the hill. Then he will officially be old, very, very old. What fun! I shouldn't make fun though. I am already getting gray hair and must say that many days I feel thirty-nine, but not forty yet. That's reserved for you old folks.
So this little tidbit of news came to my attention:
A Colorado Springs woman recently received a call from someone claiming to be from Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign who expressed condolences about the death of her husband in Iraq. When the woman said she knew her husband was still alive, the caller said a vote for Kerry would help keep him that way.
The Kerry campaign said the stunt was so outrageous that it could only have been staged by someone trying to discredit the Democrat.
-taken from the Denver Post
So that is outrageous according to the Kerry Camp. I agree, that is as outrageous as say, someone saying that Christopher Reeve would have walked if John Kerry was president. Or someone knowing exactly what middle-Class America needs because he, and his billionaire wife, know best. Oh wait, as outrageous as letting the U.N. handle it for the American people. Outrageous as sitting down and talking to the terrorists. I'm sure John Kerry is right, had we sat down and talked to Bin Laden, he would have lied to our face and then flown planes into the twin towers. Outrageous! People...PLEASE!
Sunday, October 24, 2004
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Live...Saturday Style!
I have watched the Mr. and Mrs. Jessica Simpson show on MTV. I laughed. They are stupid and deserve each other. I also watched their variety show on ABC and got a real kick ou tof it. It reminded me of the old variety shows like Flip Wilson, Sonny and Cher and the Carol Burnett show. So when her little sister, Ashlee, debuted her album I was a little skeptical. I figured sis's money and fame hepled her get her gig. Then I heard some decent reviews about the album and I heard some radio play. Not great, but not bad. I was lucky enough to be watching Saturday Night Live when the worst thing that could happen, happened. Ashlee Simpson entered the atmosphere of stardom a little too fast, caught fire and exploded right there on the SNL stage. If you haven't seen it...I naturally have the video. Give it time and let it download (Mac people, CTRL click it and save, then watch).
In my carousing the world wide web, I encountered this
Who Needs Enemies, With Friends Like This Some dude gets in a fight with his buddy. Sits on a rock waiting to go home. Out of nowhere his buddy runs in and hits him in the head with a shovel.
Guy Body Slams Buddy Off Roof If their was a stupidity award here are your winners. A guy picks up his buddy and body slams him off of a roof and through a table.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
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New iPod..
OK, so I know I made reference to the iPod in my last post and it wasn't in a good light. I, like many convoginators, own an iPod. The rumors sites are a buzz about the new U2 ipod that will be released on October 28. Forbes has an article concerning it also. It seems this will be a black ipod. Exciting! Some website also have rumors of a color ipod and a 60gig upgrade on the capacity. We will see. At any rate, a black iPod will be pretty cool. I wonder if you can get iTazer in black
ON a personal note, I am REALLY glad that Phynerk is back. I was concerned about his "Health Scare," but am VERY glad that he is ok and back to his posting!
There are just some things I guess I'll never quite understand. Take fire ants and June bugs for instance. What on earth can they possibly be good for? Don't get me wrong, I'm not fussing over the grand design from our dear Lord; I'm just saying I don't understand it. For example, politicians are kind of like June bugs and fire ants. I can't see any reason for them either, but who am I to question their purpose. I said all this to actually have something good to say about them...politicians, not fire ants. Since they are people I have to give them that credit and respect (politicians....not June bugs). That's why a newspaper headline jumped out at me tonight. It read," Two Arkansas representatives got flu shot, four refused". At this we are supposed to be lead to the conclusion that the four who refused were our champions for leaving their shots for someone much more needy, and the two who took the shots were self-seeking leeches. I'm willing to bet the following scenarios would be true if they played out:
1) Alice Schmuck, an Arkansas representative from Blevins, refused her flu shot. Her constituents and half the media praise her for her great sacrifice of making her shot available for someone in need. Later Ms. Schmuck gets the flu and misses a week from her duties. Her constituents and the other half of the media blast her for being a "slacker" and negligent in her sworn duties to God and country (we can still say 'God', can't we?)
2) Joe Schramooza, an Arkansas representative from Emmet, chose to get his flu shot since he found one available. His constituents and half the media blast him for taking the shot from someone in need. Later Mr. Schramooza gets the flu and misses a week from his duties. His constituents and the other half of the media blast him for being a "slacker" and negligent in his sworn duties to God and country (we can still say 'God', can't we?)
I guess I'm not as touchy about politicians as I am the media. I swear, I have to laugh at the way so much is being made over the FLU SHOTS. I've heard everyone to blame from the President Of The United States Of America all the way down to my local doctor. I've even heard where this is supposed to be a reason that the outcome for the presidential race could be changed. All this blame going on from everywhere, but I haven't heard or read the first word about WHY the stinkin' medicine got contaminated in the first place. ( Did Mr. Bush leave it out of his refrigerator too long ? )....come on, the "blame" is on the medicine's manufacturer for goodness sake, not our government ( or even Dr. Dale Goins ) . Oh well, only in America ( God help us....please !)
Sorry I haven't posted in a bit but I've had a big health scare of late that set me back a bit. For those that showed your concern...Thanks. To the rest..no problem, you probably didn't know.
By the way, I was happy for the Grand Poo Bah's report on enima as I didn't know this nice young man was so astute of worldly matters.
Friday, October 22, 2004
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Speaking of rappers...
I went on a cross country flight with a student of mine last night/this morning to Addison, TX (near dallas). I'm not quite sure why, but they gave us a Jaguar as a courtesy car. We met my brother there, and the conversation went something like this:
Rob: What's up, Joo? You guys got a car?
Me: Yeah, it's that white Jag over there...
(silence)
Rob: Who's idiotic idea was that?
This thing was loaded. Leather, sunroof, dual climate control, only 8,000 miles, and a moving map GPS that gave audible directions to anywhere in the yellow pages. Not quite a conversation, but it went something like this:
GPS: Approaching hard left turn.
Justin: This thing is sweet.
GPS: Hard left turn.
Justin: Oops!
GPS: Turn missed.
Justin: I know!
GPS: Turn missed.
Justin: Shut up, bitch!
Quite hilarious. We partook of a small but enjoyable culinary experience and headed back to the aeropuerto. Upon arriving, the lady behind the FBO counter told us that "Fat Joe" was due in any minute now. Rob and I had quizzical looks, as did my student's girlfriend, but Justin knew exactly who this guy was. Nothing like watching about ten thugs pile off a twenty-million dollar jet airplane. We walked right through the lot of them and the body guards (I assume) started heading our way. I just gave them a "who the F are you?" stare and proceeded to our trusty Wichita-born steed. I love making famous people not feel famous.
So the famous rapper Reese's Pieces, I'm sorry Skittles...wait...M&M (Eminem) has now weighed in on the election.
This reject from the trailer park (if you live in a trailer park, pay your taxes and have never lived off the government, I apologize) decides that he knows everything there is to now about world events. HA! This is a classic example of the ridiculous ramblings of the young and stupid in this country. I know, there are several young and intelligent men and women out there, but the majority can't decide whether to buy a new ipod or get drunk...and that is the extent of their life.
I have obtained this snip from Drudge. I highlighted a few of the assanine comments that Skittles makes and inserted a few comments.
Rapper Eminem bodyslams President Bush in the upcoming edition of ROLLING STONE, publishing sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.
President Bush is "like dog chasing its tail," the Hollywood-bound Eminem tells the magazine, set to street during the first week of November.
RS: You get deep into your feelings about President Bush and Iraq on “Mosh.” Do you think the Iraq War was a mistake?
E: He’s been painted to be this hero and he’s got our troops over there dying for no reason. I haven’t heard an explanation yet that I can understand (oh yes, M&M is a big watcher of the C-SPAN and keeps the national news running 24/7. IN fact, they have to tell him to turn off the news in the studio). Explain to us why we have troops over there dying.
RS: There is no good answer (Rolling Stone weighs in...).
E: I think he started a mess. America is the best country there is, the best country to live in. But he’s f**kin’ that up and could run our country into the ground. He jumped the gun, and he f**ked up so bad he doesn’t know what to do right now. He’s in a tailspin, running around like a dog chasing its tail. And we got young people over there dyin’, kids in their teens, early twenties that should have futures ahead of them. And for what? It seems like a Vietnam 2. Bin Laden attacked us and we attacked Saddam. We ain’t heard from Saddam for ten years, but we go attack Saddam. Explain why that is. Give us some answers. (Unfortunately Mentos, you wouldn't understand it if I did explain...for that matter, you wouldn't understand it if the host from Blues Clues explained it with a large poster board and some crayons.)
RS: Are you voting?
E: This is the first year I’ve registered to vote. And I’m gonna vote. Bush is definitely not my homie, but I’m still undecided. Kerry has been known to say some things that’s caught my attention, made a few statements I’ve liked, but I don’t know. Whatever my decision is, I would like to see Bush out of office. I don’t wanna see my little brother get drafted. He just turned eighteen. I don’t want to see him lose his life. People think their votes don’t count, but people need to get out and vote. Every motherf**kin’ vote counts. (Hmmm...there is no draft, your brother has a bigger chance of getting' shot by one of YOUR HOMIES than he will of ever being drafted. Also, you are "...still undecided" and yet "...would like to see Bush out of office." Who is the Dog chasing his own tail now?)
I know, Now & Later may come to my house and beat me up...he likes the white boy rapper violence thing. Good, bring it on. This is America, the greatest country in the world! If he breaks into my house or just violates my person (that didn't sound right), I would love to watch the local sheriff's department fill him with holes. I could also then sue his estate for everything... I would rather kick his butt face to face... Wouldn't that make me as stupid as him?
Thursday, October 21, 2004
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Come Forth, Friday
I now have a claypot turtle of my very own. Last night I went to Tau Beta Sigma's open house at Dr. Lamar's house. I must admit I had a lot of fun. Their mascot is a turtle, so all of us prospectives got to make turtles after eating food that didn't come from the cafeteria and talking about a special thing to us. Of course my special thing was something Irish.
meh.
Carap and I must have inspired some people because I've noticed a lot of people are wanting to play soccer, not that I read anybody's xanga or anything. I miss playing soccer. In fact, I miss doing anything that requires physical activiy, although I guess you could call marching physical, but for the sake of argument we won't.
I hope everyone has seen the pumpkin stencils on homestar. I think I'd like a jack-o-lantern with Homestar's mug on it.
I should study a little for my harmony test, or not...
seashell
During the Clinton Administration I had an extremely good and Well paying job. I took numerous vacations and had several vacation homes.
Since President Bush took office, I have watched my entire life change for the worse.
I lost my job.
I lost my two sons in that terrible Iraqi War.
I lost my homes.
I lost my health insurance.
As a matter of fact I lost virtually everything and became homeless. Adding insult to injury, when the authorities found me living like an animal, instead of helping me, they arrested me.
I will do anything that Senator Kerry wants to insure that a Democrat is back in the White House come next year.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
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Do We Really Love Our Children?
The youth of our nation contiunally loose intelligence. It seems Nickelodeon had 400,000 children and teens vote on who they wanted to be president, and 57% voted for Kerry, while 43% voted for Bush. Of course, most children's beliefs come from their parents. Let's hope that quite a few of those that voted for Kerry have different views than their parents. I simply don't understand why anyone with any wits about him could even consider voting for Kerry to lead our country. I thought that was a great article that manteca shared with us. I only wish we had more fans so more people could see it. To those few fans and/or visitors, I strongly urge you to put some thought in your decision for this election. This will truely be a decisive election in the future of or country, not to mention the lives of our children, grand-children, and so on.
Republican State Senator Gilbert Baker gave a High Table today for Honors. His lecture was called "Looking Right." The "Looking Left" lecture will be given next Wednesday by Arkansas Democratic Chair Ron Oliver. I think it will be very interesting to compare the two. Baker talked about how politicians run their campaigns, and he said that they shouldn't talk about their opponents because they would be admiting that there are not enough good things about themselves to talk about, which I thought was a great point. He also said a lot of other good things that I can't remember at the moment.
I would like to inform everyone about the Big Band Gala Dance Moonlight Serenade in the UCA Student Center Ballroom on October 30 from 8-12. If anyone is in the Little Rock/Conway area that day, come give us your money, uh...I mean dance some real dances to some real music. Both of our Jazz Bands will be playing (that includes yours truely) all your favourite jazz tunes, including the music of Glen Miller, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and many, many more. Too bad I haven't taken ballroom dancing...
The most important article that you will read this election season...
"Election determines fate of nation" written by Mathew Manweller... Central Washington University political science professor...
"Election determines fate of nation"
"In that this will be my last column before the presidential election, there will be no sarcasm, no attempts at witty repartee. The topic is too serious, and the stakes are too high.
This November we will vote in the only election during our lifetime that will truly matter. Because America is at a once-in-a-generation crossroads, more than an election hangs in the balance. Down one path lies retreat, abdication and a reign of ambivalence. Down the other lies a nation that is aware of its past and accepts the daunting obligation its future demands. If we choose poorly, the consequences will echo through the next 50 years of history. If we, in a spasm of frustration, turn out the current occupant of the White House, the message to the world and ourselves will be two-fold.
First, we will reject the notion that America can do big things. Once a nation that tamed a frontier, stood down the Nazis and stood upon the moon, we will announce to the world that bringing democracy to the Middle East is too big of a task for us. But more significantly, we will signal to future presidents that as voters, we are unwilling to tackle difficult challenges, preferring caution to boldness, embracing the mediocrity that has characterized other civilizations. The defeat of President Bush will send a chilling message to future presidents who may need to make difficult, yet unpopular decisions. America has always been a nation that rises to the demands of history regardless of the costs or appeal. If we turn away from that legacy, we turn away from who we are.
Second, we inform every terrorist organization on the globe that the lesson of Somalia was well learned. In Somalia we showed terrorists that you don't need to defeat America on the battlefield when you can defeat them in the newsroom. They learned that a wounded America can become a defeated America.
Twenty-four-hour news stations and daily tracing polls will do the heavy lifting, turning a cut into a fatal blow. Except that Iraq is Somalia times 10. The election of John Kerry will serve notice to every terrorist in every cave that the soft underbelly of American power is the timidity of American voters. Terrorists will know that a steady stream of grizzly photos for CNN is all you need to break the will of the American people. Our own self-doubt will take it from there. Bin Laden will recognize that he can topple any American administration without setting foot on the homeland.
It is said that America's W.W.II generation is its 'greatest generation'. But my greatest fear is that it will become known as America's 'last generation.' Born in the bleakness of the Great Depression and hardened in the fire of WW II, they may be the last American generation that understands the meaning of duty, honor and sacrifice. It is difficult to admit, but I know these terms are spoken with only hollow detachment by many (but not all) in my generation. Too many citizens today mistake 'living in America' as 'being an American.' But America has always been more of an idea than a place. When you sign on, you do more than buy real estate. You accept a set of values and responsibilities.
This November, my generation, which has been absent too long, must grasp the obligation that comes with being an American, or fade into the oblivion they may deserve.
I believe that 100 years from now historians will look back at the election of 2004 and see it as the decisive election of our century. Depending on the outcome, they will describe it as the moment America joined the ranks of ordinary nations; or they will describe it as the moment the prodigal sons and daughters of the greatest generation accepted their burden as caretakers of the City on the Hill."
Mathew Manweller
manteca
**This was brought to my attention by one of the smartest men on this planet...Dr. Ed Claybrook.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
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A farewell to wackiness...
I've noticed that we seem to be entering a rut once again. It seems like it happens every couple of months or so, and it's quite understandable considering that most of us have rather unforgiving schedules. All we seem to get these days is a random political post from Manteca, a poorly concocted post concerning my whereabouts, and the latest news from UCA courtesy of Seashell. The Johnson trio seems to be MIA, possibly because one of them has been without internet access for entirely too long. I realize that I'm just as much to blame as anyone, but I miss the stupidity, and the wackiness that was ubiquitous during the months of summer tech.
Perhaps we're all just too fed up with work or school to contemplate our true purpose of providing the reader(s) of Convoginators.com with the best entertainment on the web. Well, maybe not the web, but certainly the best entertainment that one could have with only a basic internet connection, no credit card, a jar full of discarded locust shells, and a coonskin cap. Can't we at least set something on fire?
Monday, October 18, 2004
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A Case of the Mondays...and Tuesdays...
Why do good weekends always have to lead back to school? I'm going to be soo busy this week. I really shouldn't have went to see Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood tonight, but they were hilarious! The book of 48 famous Ferling studies is waiting on me, but it will just have to wait until tomorrow morning.
Saturday after retrieving the Cap'n from the fine airport of Hope, we "journeyed" of to the place of the small stone to see the SuperBand. I must say that it was an awesome show! (And that's all I'm gonna say...) Props to the guy that created it. Where was he by the way? I saw quite a few people at the contest that I now go to school with and didn't feel like such a big dork, not that I would care or anything. Manteca's still got us all beat in that area.
Sunday travel plans were thwarted by weather, and I rushed off to almost get lost in Little Rock. That seems to happen a lot on the weekends, but this time it was dark...and creepy...and there was nobody for miles...except pilots...
Sunday, October 17, 2004
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Take the Long Way Home...
So I spent all week in Durant, OK (pronounced Doorant by local-yocals), and I must say I'm not sure what to think of the place. It could be Anytown, USA, but it also has that same quality that seems to attract the writers of horror movies. We were on edge the whole time, and refused to let anyone wander off to check out that funny noise in the hangar all by themselves.
Well, I won first place in Aircraft Recognition... again. I have a big, stupid trophy that will sit in my cubicle and collect dust. My navigator and I also placed fourth in the navigation event, and we didn't even try that hard. After the awards ceremony, a trip to Dairy Queen, and one more night in the Holiday Inn Express, I woke up and blasted off to Hope in the one airplane that didn't leave for Stillwater the night before. Friends dropped me off, Seashell picked me up and we drove to Little Rock to watch the band at contest. I won't make any negative comments, as I have presided over one of the worst shows in Superband history. I did think the music was quite good, and all of the solos were fantastic.
Ran into Josh and Berno (where was P?), and many-a-funny comment by Mrs. Manteca about the whereabouts of Manteca. Hilarity ensued.
Friday, October 15, 2004
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the happiest wednesday of my life...
so I learned wednesday that I, as a CSCE student of the U of A, am licensed to obtain any of a large list of software from Microsoft ..... legally. Said list apparently includes Windows Server 2003, Visual Studio, CE .NET, etc. Mwah hah hah haaaahh.
My little sister's GT class is doing a project on the presidential election. For their individual part, they each had to pick one of the presidential candidates, their wives, or the vice presidential candidates, and wouldn't you know she picked George W. Now around my house politics is a subject not often touched upon. My mother hasn't voted in years because she's been working like a dog since I was twelve. She doesn't really know about any of the issues because she's too busy trying to provide for her family. I'm sure my brother has an opinion, but he's not one to voice his opinions. Thus I really can't discuss politics here, so Mackenzie has in no way been swayed by her family. When we're confused about big desicions, sometimes all we need to do is listen to an unbiased, innocent child for the answer.
Women really have no clue. On Fox News they were talking about a poll women took about who would make the better boyfriend. Sixty percent said Kerry would make the better boyfriend, thirty-six went for Bush, and four percent went for Nader. They also asked these women who they would vote for, and it was about the same. They said that the three things women are worried about in this election are getting richer, feeling safe, and having a choice (abortion). I'd like to feel safe, but the others I don't think I'll ever understand. God help me never become like those women. I just want to know who's going to support convogination...
Thursday, October 14, 2004
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Wonder Twin Powers!
Ain't this just great? First President Bush kills Superman. He is going after the rest of the Justice League next. Watch out Green Lantern!! That's what John Kerry says, and if John Kerry said, then it is the almighty truth. I mean come on, John Edwards said that when Kerry is president, all known diseases will cease to exist. Water will miraculously spout from the ground on Mars. Shiites and Sunis will convert to Catholicism. Dogs and cats will live together in peace. Large, candy bearing monkeys will climb out of my butt and broker peace treaties for all warring nations. OH, and Dick Cheney's daughter will still be a Lesbian! And that my friends is the kicker! Since Dick Cheney's daughter is a Lesbian, we must acquit. Wait, I mean we cannot elect Bush as president, because he won't allow her to marry another woman and procreate the way God designed us all too. Wait, I mean since Dick Cheney's daughter is a Lesbian, the G.I.'s on the ground in Iraq cannot get the necessary equipment to fight the war, because John Kerry couldn't vote on the budget increase he did vote on, because Bush's oil friends were getting coupons from Haliburton to purchase the stem cells that caused the scientist to stop development on the wonder drug that would have saved Superman. See, it's a clear as the 18" concrete wall I get to drill through tomorrow...
I wish I had thought of making this presidential election the next reality show. MAN, I would have made millions. The only way I could have done that is to be allowed to tell John Kerry "YOU'RE FIRED!"
Peace, Love and remember...ONLY you can stop forest fires!
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
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Another Day, Another Traffic Delay
I don't understand why I can use MSN messenger everywhere except school. This is sooo dumb. Anyway, I'm back in Hizzope, so lock up your kids and take the cats inside cuz...whatever.
I got my midterm grades today, and I must say that I can live with a B. When I say a B, I mean a B, as in singular. I think a B in Ear Training is pretty darn good. Ok, maybe I'm just trying to make myself feel better, but I do believe I can live with a 3.867...
I missed the debate, AGAIN. Somebody give us a review. I must say that I do not believe the rumor about Bush. He's just a good ol' boy from Texas. It's simply not in him, however, I could see Kerry pulling a dirty trick like that, but that wouldn't be controversial, now would it?
I'm am now going to sleep until I wake from natural causes.
I must agree, animals are expensive... You know how much a good steak costs these days? Outrageous! And let me tell you, if you order pheasant at a nice restaraunt, you are gonn apay plenty. I wonder why cat is so cheap in China? I hear it taste like badger! Which tastes a lot like chicken! The cat-on-a-stick at the Panda in Hope is pretty good. I think the trick to making good cat is always in the marinade!
There, I have officially offended Seashell, Marissa and the rest of the crew at PETA.
manteca
**Oh yeah...here's a nice movie (2.3mb - WMV) about Matthew!
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
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Animals Are Expensive
Marissa just cried while watching The Fox and the Hound. I'm sure many of you who know her can picture it right now. She seriously has an obsession with animals. The pictures of her cat Boner have taken over our room, and in a desperate attempt save our humble abode, I throw as many things on the walls as possible, such as SpongeBob and airplanes.
It's time for the efficiency tip of the day. Have you ever needed two towels with which to dry off? This applies moreso to those of the female persuasion, since many girls use an extra towel for the hair, but I'm sure anyone could find it useful, and you can tell your wives, girlfriends, co-workers, neighbors, people you wish you could associate with, etc. When you are done showering, instead of reaching for that towel with the linen-fresh scent that has ideally just been taken out of the dryer and is still warm, ring out your washcloth as much as humanly possible (this is easier for us strong types), and remove the excess water from yourself with said cloth. Then your towel will remain in a somewhat dry state longer and you can enjoy that dryer heat without being wet. Instead you'll be damp. It is also efficient to convoginate without a cup, but if you share a milk jug with others, you might end up with no friends.
"There are two times in a man's life when he should not speculate: when he can't afford it, and when he can." -Mark Twain
Monday, October 11, 2004
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John Kerry...right up there with Al Sharpton, Jane Fonda and other nuisances!
On the issue of terrorism, Kerry stated that "we have to get back to the place we were, where terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance."
This guy has no idea. He is not ready to lead this country. He doesn't even understand the role that terrorism and the United States response to it will have on the future of not only this country, but the world! A nuisance! A nuisance* is something that annoys...a lot like John Kerry. So I guess to him, the Oklahoma City bombing, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and 9/11 (from my memory) are annoying things? What an idiot. He then likened terrorist attacks to prostitution and gambling. Things that are illegal and we just will never get rid of. The sheer idea of a person with this mindset taking on the role of Commander and Chief frightens me and make me question the intellect of mankind.
He then goes on to discuss an acceptable level. AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL! There is an acceptable level of terrorism? What, there is a certain number of people who have to be killed? A certain way they behead a hostage? What does that mean? That's like dismissing a single car accident in which one person dies as acceptable and not tragic! What an idiot. Breaking the law is breaking the law. Murder is murder. Leave it to a traitorous coward and back stabber to suddenly think he can redefine what is acceptable in the eyes of not only the law, but morality.
Here is the statement about September 11th that Kerry made:
"didn't change me much at all," but merely "sort of accelerated, confirmed in me, the urgency of doing the things I thought we needed to be doing." What things? ''We need to engage more directly and more respectfully with Islam, with the state of Islam, with religious leaders, mullahs, imams, clerics, in a way that proves this is not a clash with the British and the Americans and the old forces they remember from the colonial days. And that's all about your diplomacy. . . .A new presidency with the right moves, the right language, the right outreach, the right initiatives, can dramatically alter the world's perception of us very, very quickly." requoted from powerline blog
That says enough for me. This guy is a loose goose! He is a big "you know what!" What a wimp and sissy boy. He would have the US kissing everyone else's hind end in this world. It's funny that he is only in the black churches now...I guess there aren't readily available mosques that he can go to and promise that he will make "Why you should embrace Islam" the new Sensitivity course of study in public schools. You know the one, the one that teaches us that terrorism is "Just a nuisance..."
{EXTREME SARCASM} I'm sure if we were a little more understanding of the Islam religion and the role of terrorism as "just a nuisance," then these beheadings and the murder of thousands of our fellow country men and women would be trite and of no cause for concern.{EXTREME SARCASM}**
JOHN KERRY AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL RUIN THIS COUNTRY!!
manteca
*nuisance 1. somebody or something irritating an annoying or irritating person or thing 2. illegal thing LAW something not allowed by law because it causes harm or offense, either to people in general (Public nuisance) or to a private individual
** I can't wait until {EXTREME SARCASM} becomes and actual HTML tag!!
"On a breezy day I'll look at the wind in the trees and realize what a great day it would be to be sailing in Maine," he told The AP as he looked out a window of his home. "Or I look at the puffy clouds and think, 'I'd love to be gliding again.' And sometimes I'll say that to somebody nearby. ... And then I'll let it go." - Christopher Reeve
Sunday, October 10, 2004
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Where's The Money?
Just about every day the "living" part of college really gets on my nerves. Last night during a much needed phone conversation, the fire alarm went off and forced all of us out in the cold. Of course, I didn't grab my jacket on the way out, and of course, we never found out what happened. Probably some stupid kid who's not near as busy as I am.
Also last night there was apparently a storm that I was not aware of. Some of the electricity was out in my dorm this morning, including the outlets in my bedroom, which means seashell woke up way too late. Some of the washers worked in the laundry room (however, the lights did not), so I did some laundry this morning, only to have my attempts thwarted when they turned off ALL the electricity and stopped my garmets mid-dry. It's a pain to do laundry here. There are only four dryers now because the first two eat money, and the change machine doesn't work. I got a quarter stuck in the bad dryer today and spent thirty minutes trying to pry it out because I didn't have any extras. This whole place is inefficient.
Sometimes I think more people should ask me for advice. Not to toot my own horn, but I have a lot of things figured out. Take for instance, money. Many places could cut down on a lot of expenses by using utilities less. I did not understand why the air conditioner was on in the cafeteria when it was sixty degrees out. That was at least a hundred bucks wasted in one day, not to mention all the money wasted on other such things. More to come on Seashell's Journey to Efficiency...
"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery." -Charles Dickens
Sean Penn has always seemed a bit taken with himself. I mean look at all the trouble that he has always gotten himself into. Married to Madonna, drugs, etc. He has made some excellent movies. I was intrigued by his new memo to the boys that created the new "Team America." He makes some valid points, but he comes off like he is a saint...hahaha!! I like the way he makes it look as though he is one of the biggest movers and shakers in Hollywood. Take a read... It's worth the laugh!
Saturday, October 09, 2004
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Surely it rained in Limerick...
I still can't sleep...
I wasted $9.99 on a poncho because I thought it was going to rain. With every inch of me I wished it would rain, and instead of rainning at the game, it rained during rehearsal. We actually won this game, and I seriously could not care less. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but my senior year of high school caused me to be extremely apathetic about a lot of things.
After half-time, this Asian guy cheerleader that I met in the cafeteria said hi to me. It's really creepy because that's not the first time that's happened, and somehow he remembers my name. Two minutes after he told me his, I had forgotten it. People who see me with Erica and Marissa all the time think it's weird. I know you're supposed to meet new people and make new friends in college, but I like the friends I already have, and hate being forced to make friends. Maybe I'm just stuck in my own little seashell world, but I happen to like it.
You know, it really is a small world. Does anyone remember Jordan White? We saw him at Romancing the Stone last night. He's going to school there in Little Rock. We discussed how college isn't all it's cracked-up to be. I think it's time to admit that I'm a bit homesick, but that won't last long. I'll get a few good meals, a few good chats with me mam, see the marching show, visit my dad and some old teachers, and I'll be ready to come back to Conway. If I can only get through Wednesday...
I found out about some more gay people today. It's so disappointing. I don't understand how smart, talented people can be so dumb. I don't know about you folks, but I am really enjoying being straight. I also enjoy being a "middle of the road independent," but we won't discuss that now.
It's cold out, and I do believe everyone should consider purchasing an "I'm cold" shirt from our store. We still need that company car, but I found us a different one. Yesterday I saw a VW van that was really creepy with something like the batman symbol painted on it. It might cost more than the little truck, so keep that cash rollin' in.
The band went to contest today. I guess it was a contest. It was in Arkadelphia, and everyone received a participation award. Anywho, I felt sorry for the band and the band directors. It rained. Not just rained and cleared up. Not a hard rain. Just that nasty wet rain, drizzle, mist, rain kinda rain. I understand they had to prepare and setup the pit equipment and the electronics in the rain. Luckliy it did not rain while they performed. I am also under the impression that the judge who clinic'd them after their performance was a bit harsh and not very "sugar coated." Oh well, it happens...
Anyways, I guess I should feel pretty bad about not having anything to do with the band this year... but I don't. I miss the kids, but I don't miss the head ache!
Nothing brings about bad weather quite like a NIFA Flight Team competition. I'm coming to you live this evening from the Holiday Inn Express in Durant, OK. We had to leave half our airplanes in Ada, OK because they weren't certified to fly in the clouds. Those of us qualified, and in proper aircraft had to press on and shoot instrument approaches to near minimums. This place is podunk-ville. We even saw a skunk at the airport here.
It's gonna be a long week, but should be a stupid, good time. Oh, we put a W '04 sticker on our club airplane... it's real classy.
Last night I pushed midterms out of the way and enlarged my long sock collection. I ate way too much at Vino's after eating almost a whole double doozie at the mall, and I watched Practical Magic at two in the morning. Saddly there was no convogination involved, but the chocolate cheesecake at Vino's made up for it quite nicely.
Wednesday afternoon starts my fall break, and it couldn't come soon enough. I'll be home just in time for a real meal from Martha's Kitchen. Those band kids better have a good show for me to see, cuz even if the game is away, I might still go. I just better not be disappointed.
"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in." -Robert Frost
Thursday, October 07, 2004
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(Irish?) Girls About Town
Och, aye. I am in great need of convogination, but I believe I could also go for the pint after a late supper of fish an' chips. Tomorrow I'm forgetting all of my responsibilities to have a night out with the girls and spend money I don't have.
There are too many gay people at college. I just lost a lot of respect for someone today.
No more he'll hear the seagull cry,
O'er the murmuring Shannon tide,
For he fell beneath the Northern sky,
Brave Hanlon at his side.
He has gone to join that gallant band,
Of Plunkett, Pearse, and Tone,
A martyr of old Ireland,
Sean South of Garryowen.
The wise gentlemen at Powerline enlighten us on the terroristic actions of the AFL-CIO and the Democratic party.
Nearly fifty members of Congress have written to Attorney General John Ashcroft to ask for an investigation of a series of coordinated attacks on Bush-Cheney campaign offices yesterday. The attacks were apparently carried out at the direction of the AFL-CIO. In one of the attacks, a campaign volunteer's wrist was broken. Here is the text of the letter:
Like I told you before, these people are uncaring and terroristic. They believe they have the right to tell the rest of us what to do and are immune to criticism...
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
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Politics Inflicted Stupidity
I can't sleep, so I'm gonna waste some time.
I was reading The Echo earlier and was very dissatisfied, because I've come to the conclusion that it's a very liberal paper. There was an article discussing the Ann Coulter and Michael Moore lectures that really tried (yeah, it didn't fool me) to make Moore look better than Coulter. I contained all of his more decent, less stupid quotes, while hers were ones that you'd really have to hear with her sarcastic tone to get the meaning. I disturbes me to know that my school newspaper is biased. This article was not in the opinion section; it was on the front page!
I'm really getting tired of politics. It has become merely a sport and turns people against each other as it brings out the worst in them. There has got to be some alternative. We're simply not intelligent enough to find it. I'm gonna be like Sartre and give all of this my own meaning. What that is, I don't know.
One thing I've learned is that a Cessna product can take a whole lot more abuse than my back can. I dread waking up tomorrow, knowing that after that first bad landing, I've got to say, "alright... let's try that again." Repeat about six times and you've experienced an hour of dual given.
It does have its moments though, like after five botched attempts, a student finally nails a maneuver. They look over at you and say nonchalantly, "Oh... now I get it." and I earned my money this hour by teaching, not by lifesaving.
Imagine my chagrin when I learned that teaching isn't as easy as most people, myself especially included, think. It kind of makes me want to go back to high school and apologize to half-a-dozen teachers. Not that I treated them poorly, or with any disrespect, but in my mind I couldn't respect them, and now I understand all to well what they go through on a daily basis. I have a bit of an advantage by only having one student to instruct at a time. I have a disadvantage in the fact that my classroom is suspended by an invisible force several thousand feet in the air and travelling at speeds that would be lethal should the aforementioned force be misused, abused, or dismissed altogether. Give me a class of thirty apathetic high school students and I would probably be jaded too...
I didn't get to see the VEEP debate tonight, I was out and about eastern Oklahoma. Did Cheyney eat him for breakfast? Did Cheyney just reach over and give him a noogie at any point? I'm going to bed, I want a college degree and a real job soon.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
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Grey Hair Cometh
Midterms, midterms, midterms. Did I mention midterms? Argggh. Why can't I want a normal career? Oh yeah, it's because I hate medical stuff, know nothing about computers, and have no people skills, not that music students wouldn't be people but...yeah, anyway I don't know what I'd do if I had to change my major. Or what if I lost my scholarship!? I should stop stressing in public, but I know someone out there has got to feel my pain...
A visit to Ireland would serve me well. In fact, a visit to any place outside of Arkansas would be great. I've always wanted to go to one of the New England states. They say it's really pretty in the fall, plus I've never seen the ocean, and that would be a great place to do it, although the River Shannon is probably better...I have no idea what that was all about. I wish I were in Oklahoma.
When all around a vigil keep,
The West's asleep, the West's asleep-
Alas, and well may Erin weep
When Connacht lies in slumber deep.
There lake and plain smile fair and free,
'Mid rocks there guardian chivalry.
Sing, Oh, let man learn liberty
From crashing wind and lashing sea.
So CNNfn (that stands for Clinton News Network fag news) had a full time audience reaction meter...interesting! I wonder if they had that entire audience wired?(I bet it was a seat mounted rectal meter) That's amazing! I watched, I didn't like... I found it funny that John "Senator Gone" Edwards (and John Kerry) kept saying that John Kerry and John Edwards will fight for America! That's funny..I guess that means that they would fight, unless it was Vietnam, any war, violence or actual backbone required. These liberals are on the march to screw this country.
I was excited that there wasn't any of the "Pageant" questions from the Presidential debate. "Senator Kerry, if you were a flower, what kind of flower would you be?" "Senator Kerry what would be your main goal for the U.S. and the world?" (I knew he wanted to say World Peace) I too want World Peace! I also am happy that John Kerry is for bringing back the swimsuit competition to the Presidential Election! For talent I hear that John Kerry is going to dance a shirtless number from the Broadway hit "RENT."
My favorite quote... "I'm at the Senate for lunch every Tuesday, and the first time I met you was tonight on this stage!" That statement came after Cheney pointed out that Edwards was NEVER there, and his home town paper even referred to him as "Senator Gone!"
Yeah, I ramble... My popularity rating just dropped 2 points...crap!
During the 80's Rodney Dangerfield made some pretty funny movies. One I always liked was Easy Money. Billy Joel did some of the music for this movie, and it was a big hit. Who can forget his part in Caddy Shack! Also, a great movie, Back to School This movie had Danny Elfman and his band Oingo Boingo Singins "Dead Man's Party." It also starred Keith Gordon (Stephen King's Christine) and Robert Downey Jr.
Monday, October 04, 2004
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Do the Irish have deadlines?
I'm very upset now. I did not realize that the deadline for absentee voting was also a month before the election. I'm not really keen on missing class on Tuesday, since I have my two hardest classes and symphonic band, which ONLY meets on Tuesday. What am I going to do!?!? When I turned 18 I did not have the typical thoughts of cigarettes and leaving home. All I cared about was the fact that I could vote and it's an election year. How lucky I am to have my 18th birthday in an election year! But it is to no avail...Rant over.
Now I'm resolved to try it,
I'll live on a moderate diet,
I'll not drink and will deny it,
And shun each alehouse door,
For that's the place they tell us,
We meet with all jovial good fellows,
But I swear by the poker and bellows,
I'll never get drunk anymore.
A man that's fond of boozing,
His cash goes daily oozing,
His character he's losing,
And its loss he will deplore.
His wife is unprotected,
His business is neglected,
Himself is disrespected,
So I'll not get drunk anymore.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
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Ladder 49
Back to the movie reviews... because I have nothing else to post about.
Well, my normal movie viewing company is a state away, so I had to make due with what I had around here... Not quite the same, however. Anywho, this is certainly one worth watching. I remember seeing this movie before, however, when it was called "Backdraft." I digress, Juaquin Phoenix is certainly proving himself to be quite the versatile actor, but he'll always be Emporer Comedus to me, and Russell Crowe will still be kicking his ass. The special effects are awesome, the plot draws you in almost immediately, and if I didn't have to pay 7.25 to watch a movie on a wall the size of a standard four person dwelling it would have been quite a worthwhile experience. I was particularly interested in the musical score, which seems to be a problem with movies these days. It seemed quite original, and not recycled as most action movies are. Furthermore, it seemed to be mostly Irish in inspriration. (Seashell, you'll have to see this one for the soundtrack alone.)
I won't give away the ending, but it will give you a booster shot of respect for our public servants. I know I'll be dropping a few bucks into the boot next time the SFD is sitting by the stoplight. And with that, I must retire.
Anyone figured out that space time continuum thing yet?
Jeff C.
Well, I have now been to a state that doesn't touch Arkansas, and I must say, I would have rather done it at a different time and in a different state. I could have been doing so many other things this weekend, like practicing for my many midterms or sleeping, which didn't occur much on the bus because it was extremely cold. I've never been so excited to get back to Conway, but now I'm stuck here all by myself and hungry because I'm afraid to go to the cafeteria on the weekends.
So I am one of Tau Beta Sigma's marchers of the week, and now they're trying to get me to go to their interest meeting Thursday. I'm actually thinking about it, but just because Dr. Lamar is the sponsor, and she's cool.
I just realized that the only times I'll end up going home this semester will be on holidays. I've only been home once, and that was labor day. The next time I'll go home will be fall break, the next will be Thanksgiving, and the next, well, the semester will be over and it'll be time for Christmas. Fall break is the 14th and 15th, so if any of you band nerds still read this mess, you had better have a good show cooked up or else.
The great Gaels of Ireland
Are men that God made mad,
For all their wars are merry,
And all their songs are sad.
Friday, October 01, 2004
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Football...band and all that is good...
So I finally went to a football game and a half-time show. OK...I actually just showed up for half-time. I picked up Spragdog and we went in for the festivities. I must say, the show was very nice. I think it is super entertaining, and the crowd really enjoys it. THe Bobcats were actually winning (final score 42-10). So everything was nice. I must say I don't really miss band, but it is exciting to be back there again... OK..I'm over it.
