Satan Turtle... band name!

Here is another short and uneventful post on my blog. Found this online. Thought it was funny.... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7234407/?GT1=6305 That's all!

Things to ponder...

1. The last few snowpiles left next to our driveway look like dead people.
2. I wonder what people would look like if eyelashes grew as fast as hair.
3. Sammy Hagar was wrong. There are approximately one hundred and sixty-two ways to rock.
Discuss.

My letter to the editor...

Visit moveonpac.org to write your own letter. I did my part to try to convince friends that a vote for Bush was a vote for Hitler, but it didn't work. This is my letter that will be sent to a couple newspapers through MoveOnPac.org:

"America is a democracy. For now. This country was founded on fair and just democratic principles that seem to be fading away with every decision the Bush administration makes. We cannot let one party have complete control over the Supreme Court. It would be the first step in a downward spiral of injustice. I used to look at the American flag and feel pride at the great accomplishments this country has made, but now it's getting harder and harder to think positively. As I wait and see if the "Nuclear Option" actually succeeds in overturning 200 years of progress, I've got our country's flag in one hand, and a lighter in the other. I never thought it would come to this, but if our President lets our entire political system crumble starting with this decision, I won't be needing that flag anymore. And to those who will still believe there is hope behind that flag, just give it time."

You are welcome to copy and paste it, if you can't think of something to write. I know it's a little extreme, but maybe at least one paper will print it. If anything, go to the site and use the "pre-written" letters.

Band names.

Ever read through club listings in the paper and think to yourself "these band names CANNOT be real?" I got an email from 324 in LaCrosse (awesome club!) advertising a show featuring "Thundersnake" and "Snakeskin Machinegun" with former members of "AssChapel." haha... awesome.

Buncha stuff...

Here's my latest crazy endeavor on EBAY. I can't believe some fucker gave me NEUTRAL feedback a while ago. I just noticed it.

I saw Napolean Dynamite, finally. It was actually pretty funny! Normally I try to ignore the hype, so it doesn't raise my expectations. It didn't have a story, really. Just an amusing character study. The lead guy talks like a mix between a couple kids I knew in 6th grade. DANG!

I downloaded some stuff from AllOfMp3.com. It's pretty sweet. Got a kick-ass Social Distortion album, "Sex, Love and Rock and Roll." (Mike H, I think you'd like that one). It only cost 1.47 or something to download CD-quality mp3s! I've been pulling my old Scorpions CDs out again lately. No reason, really. Except that they rock.

Played some D&D tonight. It's fun. Someone was talking about a character called "the baker" and his wife. I said "Mrs. Baker?" and Erika and I busted out singing the old Rattbelly song of the same name. We've been doing a lot of the "saying the exact same thing at the exact same time" stuff lately. Maybe it's from her psychic power studies. Jameel and I used to do that, since we lived together for a number of years. Actually, maybe he still says the same shit as me, only I don't know, 'cause I'm 4 hours away.

My dad is getting married. That's cool. Cindy is nice and buys us kick-ass Christmas presents. My mom got married not too long ago, too. Her and Ken are moving to Albuquerque. The crazy thing about that is.. I know how to spell Albuquerque. Albuquerque is also the title of one of the funniest Weird Al songs ever. Did you know he recorded a version of "Peter and The Wolf?" Erika bought it for her mom on Ebay for a BUNCH of money, because it's out of print. I copied it, so if you wanna hear it (I haven't listened to it all the way through, but what I've heard is funny!) or get a copy, let me know. I know some of you are music teachers!

After proof-reading that last sentence, I realize it sounds like Erika's mom is on Ebay. I've gotta watch my syntax a little better. Seacrest out.

Space Lightning

Here's a cool tidbit of scientific information.. Apparently, huge lightning events in space called "Red Sprites" that stretch 30 miles each prevent the area around the Earth from having too much radiation. Without them, we wouldn't be able to orbit satellites. Awesome. Also, Space Lightning and Red Sprites are two good band name ideas.

Prader-Willi

I saw a show tonight on Prader-Willi Syndrome. It's a rare disease that basically damages the part of the brain that lets you know you're full. Without supervision, you literally eat yourself to death. I've heard of it before, but never saw or read anything extensive about it. Anyway, it was very depressing. It's one of those things that makes me wonder.. does someone or something not want us around? I'd like to believe there's a reason for everything, but other times I think existence is all just a big, sick joke. What could possibly be the reason for a disease which takes away the one thing that makes us human; our freewill? Technically, those with PWS are ABLE to make their own decisions, but the decisions they make regarding food are too dangerous to be made alone. So someone has to watch them every minute of their life. Imagine truly believing that you are starving to death, but having your loved ones tell you that you aren't. Of course, in your mind you know they're right, but that doesn't change the way you feel. I guess in a way a lot of people have what could be considered "PWS of the soul." Many people need guidance or they're completely lost. That's my opinion of most religions. Whether or not stories of God, Jesus, the Bible, the Koran, Buddha, etc. were made up doesn't matter. It's like Santa Claus is for children. It's NEEDED, for most people. Gives them hope when they otherwise wouldn't have any. One of my favorite songs from Screeching Weasel, "Science of Myth", has this line: "It doesn't matter if it's real or not, 'cause some things are better left without a doubt." Forget about all the corruption, evil, death and suffering that comes from organized religion (that's a whole different post), when it comes down to it, it's keeps people "good." Little kids behave all year for the promise of presents at Christmas, just like Christians behave for the promise of "heaven." Or "salvation." Another thought on religion - Have you heard of the "God Gene?" Supposedly, we "all" have a gene that makes us believe in a higher power. What I really think it is is something similar to the gene problem that causes PWS. Not saying that religious folk have a disorder or anything. Not at all. Just saying that I don't think I have in my brain any sort of small section of gray matter that tells me there must be a God. I can be at peace with myself and the world (even with many cynical views about certain aspects of it) without having to believe that it was created by some magical old guy with a beard who talks with a low, echo-y voice. (I don't NOT believe however, so for those of you who didn't go to public school, that's called agnostic). There are those in this world who pity me and this blasphemous way of thinking, but so be it. I'd rather question things until the day I die than be sure of everything and find out in the end that I'm wrong. (That last statement kinda reminds me of a certain election a number of months ago... guess I'm "wishy-washy"). If there is a heaven- Kick ass! I'm sure I won't be going, but if anyone who reads this thinks they will be (sounds like a hard place to get in, though), tell all the good guys "hi" for me. In some religious views, you only burn in hell (or purgatory) for a few thousand years, and then you have a magic "trial" or something, and get a chance to go to heaven. Sounds nice. Not probable, but nice.

Well, thanks for reading my views here. Sorry about the stream-of-consciousness style of writing I sometimes use. Must be hard to read. I'll work on that. I wish more people would blog now. I'd like to hear what some people have to say. And it's safer than person-to-person dialogue, because there are no awkward moments or disagreements (until you post comments, that is!) and what I write here will never get back to.. say.. Grandma. Her heart is too weak to hear that her lovely grandsons aren't Christians anymore. For shame!

Well, time to go to bed. Tomorrow I'm going to wake up, eat a bowl of cereal, and thank whatever my equivalent of the Lord would be that I can end with a full stomach. We don't know how great we've got it.

A got a job... sort of

Well, it's only for two days, but it's a design job at a pretty sweet company. Hopefully I'll impress them enough that they'll wanna hire me. Looks like it gets busy enough around here that they could use another person. But if my graphic design skills aren't to their liking, I'll just sleep my way to the top!

Million Dollar Baby (with psychic powers)

I came across this on the "internet" tonight. It's a challenge by James Randi, a famous skeptic, to anyone who can prove the existence of paranormal activity. He and the "contestant" both agree on the rules of what is a success and what is a failure. He'll give you a million bucks if you win! Anyone wanna help me train and develop my Jedi mind trick? I'll split it with ya!

And this is pretty hilarious... something to do on those rainy days. Seems a little too corpsal to me. And if "corpsal" isn't a word, then I guess it seems "cadaveresque".

It says... "This Card Intentionally Left Blank"... But you see, IT'S NOT BLANK! It's a complete paradox and I'm worried that the space-time continuum might be disrupted by such things. Discuss.

Mister Roper...

Had another weird dream. I was sitting on a couch talking with Mr. Roper from Three's Company. Real nice guy. He was telling me about how he was moving to Florida. Strange.

All that's left...

Car trouble...

This weekend as I was driving back to Madison from Milwaukee (Spoof Fest practice), my car started to sputter. It jerked a little and then started making these "go-cart" noises. Before I knew it, the brakes went out. I spun out of control, frantically trying to regain control of my car before crashing into someone or something. Alas, my efforts were futile, so I opened my door and leapt out onto the open road, stealthily rolling away just as the car plummetted off the edge of a cliff, exploding into flames as it crashed into the valley below.

Okay, I lied. But it sounded exciting, huh? What really happened was my car is a piece of shit and has been for the past couple years. The windows didn't roll down straight, the right blinker didn't work, and the engine squeaked and howled and did things engines shouldn't do. So, somehow the oil and coolant systems got so fucked up that it was beyond repair. Well, at least beyond repair WORTH the money. So, I sold the thing to the Goodyear guy for 20 bucks. Dammit. Oh well, I didn't like it anyway. Here's all that's left of the sloppy jalopy...
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Dreaming of pancakes...

Here's the weird-ass dream I had last night...

Jameel and I went to a mall. The bank in the mall was too busy, so to get change for a 100 dollar bill, I went to a customer service desk. They gave me change for the 100 so I could get pancakes at the Denny's-like restaurant, also in the mall. They accidentally gave me a 495,000 dollar bill with my change. I didn't notice until after we'd walked away. At the restaurant, I ordered strawberry stuffed pancakes, and Jameel had blueberry. The service sucked. I’m done with my “appetizer pancake” by the time our order is taken. In my dreams they serve you pancakes before you order your pancakes. A sunburned Jan Hooks sat across from us, wearing a bright orange shirt. The whole time we're eating, I contemplated whether or not to keep the bill, and where would I redeem it? Wouldn't they trace it back to me? Plus, the girl at the customer service deck would certainly get fired.

Okay, this is where this shit came from. Jameel was there, because I'd just talked to him the other day. The contemplation about the 495,000 dollar bill was from the Sopranos. You know how they "move" stolen merch? Well, I was wondering, what if I found a bag of diamonds or something like that, just left on the street? In reality, I'd turn it into the police, just in case a group like the mafia was looking for it. But what if no one claimed it, and the police let me keep it? Not like that would happen, but what if? Where the hell would I sell it? I don't have any mob connections at all! I have a few Italian friends. Maybe I'll ask them. Oh, and Jan Hooks was in my dream because I put the Danny Elfman cd in my alarm clock, so I knew I'd be waking to the score from Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, which Jan Hooks is in. She's the one that says "There's no basement in the Alamo!" The pancakes were probably in my dream because I was hungry. Man, I think I'll make some right now!

Good deeds...

Did some good deeds last night. 22 to be exact. Don't know what came over me. But hopefully the recipients will pay it forward. :)