Well, I can't even remember the last time I did this thing, and I suppose it's been equal parts busyness, laziness, and indifference. But, fortunately enough, all great things in life will find a way to prevail. Enjoy.
So the wife and I got to talking about movies, and she asked me what my Top 3 films were. I told her, and then she bumped up the question to my Top 10. It took me a little longer, but I came up with it. When I started to walk away, she told me to hold up, and wanted to know my Top 20 (yeah, I know this is ridiculous, but we're a couple of nerds and we love each other). So I got to thinking...it's been about forever and a year since I blogged, and what better topic to resurrect this thing on than Movies. So I decided to completely out-do all of her lists and post my personal Top 100 films of all time. Now this is totally my own personal preference, so there may be movies that some of you don't like, and others that you may think flat out suck, but frankly, I don't really care. If you want to let me know one that you feel belongs, by all means, or just write your own (albeit not as good) list. But I digress. So, without further ado, "The Matt Gooch Top 100 Films of All Time"!
1. The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
2. Fight Club (1999)
3. Jerry Maguire (1996)
4. The Dark Knight (2008)
5. Inception (2010)
6. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)
7. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
8. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
9. Se7en (1995)
10. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)
11. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
12. Pulp Fiction (1994)
13. The Lion King (1994)
14. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
15. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
16. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
17. The Usual Suspects (1995)
18. The Matrix (1999)
19. Aliens (1986)
20. Forrest Gump (1994)
21. Snatch (2000)
22. American History X (1998)
23. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
24. The Departed (2006)
25. The Incredibles (2004)
26. L.A. Confidential (1997)
27. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
28. The Prestige (2006)
29. Braveheart (1995)
30. Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
31. Heat (1995)
32. The Big Lebowski (1998)
33. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
34. V for Vendetta (2006)
35. The Fifth Element (1997)
36. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
37. Transformers (2007)
38. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
39. Jurassic Park (1993)
40. Iron Man (2008)
41. The Sixth Sense (1999)
42. 300 (2006)
43. The Hangover (2009)
44. Shrek (2001)
45. Ocean's Eleven (2001)
46. The Passion of the Christ (2004)
47. Mission: Impossible (1996)
48. Top Gun (1986)
49. X-Men (2000)
50. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
51. The Bourne Identity (2002)
52. Apollo 13 (1995)
53. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
54. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
55. Batman (1989)
56. First Blood (1982)
57. Superbad (2007)
58. Terminator (1984)
59. A Few Good Men (1992)
60. Good Will Hunting (1997)
61. Big Daddy (1999)
62. Die Hard (1988)
63. The Rock (1996)
64. Gangs of New York (2002)
65. American Beauty (1999)
66. The Ring (2002)
67. Borat (2006)
68. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
69. Dumb & Dumber (1994)
70. Traffic (2000)
71. The Hunt for Red October (1990)
72. Hook (1991)
73. The Last Samurai (2003)
74. Aladdin (1992)
75. The Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)
76. Tropic Thunder (2008)
77. Black Hawk Down (2001)
78. Ace Ventura (1994)
79. Interview With a Vampire (1994)
80. American Pie (1999)
81. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
82. Shakespeare in Love (1998)
83. Collateral (2004)
84. The Kingdom (2007)
85. Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
86. The Transformers: The Movie (1986)
87. Kill Bill: Vol II (2004)
88. King Kong (2005)
89. We Were Soldiers (2002)
90. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
91. Dazed and Confused (1993)
92. Gladiator (2000)
93. Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
94. Master abd Commander (2003)
95. Memento (2000)
96. Moulin Rouge (2001)
97. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
98. Munich (2005)
99. Predator (1987)
100. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Voila.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
A Thought on Whether or Not Extraterrestrial Life exists...
I watched a movie recently that really got me thinking on this subject. The was "The Fourth Kind" and was supposedly based on true events that occured in Nome, Alaska around the year 2000. It chronicled a psychologist's work with people who were apparently experiencing abductions and showed actual footage of some the interviews and events that the film was centered around. Now, this debate has been going on for decades, possibly centuries, with one side wholeheartedly against the idea, and thinking it's absurd, while the other fervently believes that there is intelligent life out there that readily visits our planet. Films, television programs, and books have all been released over the years with someone's interpretation of alien life, what they look like, and how they act.
The argument that most people use when trying to substantiate the existance of extraterrestrial life the evidence from past generations. They point to such structures as the Great Pyramids, Machu Pichu, Stonehenge, and the Nazca Lines in Peru, stating that it would have been physically impossible for primitive cultures to have created such large and elaborate structures. Also, ancient pictures and writings show images that could be interpreted as people interacting with and receiving things from aliens. Added to this is the fact that over the past years, over million people have either supposedly witnessed a UFO sighting, or have claimed to have been a part of some kind of alien interaction/abduction.
On the flip side of the coin, there are those who find the idea of other intelligent life in the universe ludicrous and absurd. Their biggest argument stems from the lack of evidence of those claiming that aliens do indeed exist. They equate a person's belief in alien lifeform's to a child's belief in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, stating it's more that people want there to be aliens and are fascinated by the possibility of them among us rather than actually having proof or having seen them.
My thought on the subject is that there is life elsewhere in the universe, but that aliens have never visited our planet. The are approximately one hundred thousand million stars in our galaxy alone...and there are millions upon millions of galaxies. Now, I'm no genius (gifted, yes, but not quite a genius), but that seems like a lot. And even if only a small percentage of those stars have solar systems of their own, I think it is a bit naive and possibly self-centered to think that we are the only life form existing in all of that! However, there just isn't enough evidence to convince me that any other life form has visited our planet from another. It just seems to me that with all of the technology we have available to us that there would be something a little more concrete to show us for sure that we actually have had 'visitors'. I mean, there are literally thousands of man-made satellites orbiting the earth. Wouldn't it be safe to assume that one of these would have seen something? It also just seems to me that all of the 'UFO sightings' and 'abductions' always occur in remote locations and are reported on by people of questionable mental stability and dental hygiene. There's also the mathematical aspect of it. If the technology ever became available for us to travel at the speed of light, it would take four years to reach the next closest star, and 50 years to reach the closest Earth-like planet. Now there is always the possibility that there is some advanced life form out there that can move from point A to point B instantaneously and can trick all of our technology so we have no record of them. But in that case, why would they come here? What could possibly be so interesting about us? There are of course two possiblities, both of which stem from a Sci-Fi movie of some kind: (1)We are some sort zoo to them, or (2) Their planet is dying and they want ours. Either way, whatever, I'll simply end with the phrase that I always use to answer if people ask me if I believe in aliens...I don't care. If they're out there or not, chances are it isn't going to affect me in the slightest.
The argument that most people use when trying to substantiate the existance of extraterrestrial life the evidence from past generations. They point to such structures as the Great Pyramids, Machu Pichu, Stonehenge, and the Nazca Lines in Peru, stating that it would have been physically impossible for primitive cultures to have created such large and elaborate structures. Also, ancient pictures and writings show images that could be interpreted as people interacting with and receiving things from aliens. Added to this is the fact that over the past years, over million people have either supposedly witnessed a UFO sighting, or have claimed to have been a part of some kind of alien interaction/abduction.
On the flip side of the coin, there are those who find the idea of other intelligent life in the universe ludicrous and absurd. Their biggest argument stems from the lack of evidence of those claiming that aliens do indeed exist. They equate a person's belief in alien lifeform's to a child's belief in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, stating it's more that people want there to be aliens and are fascinated by the possibility of them among us rather than actually having proof or having seen them.
My thought on the subject is that there is life elsewhere in the universe, but that aliens have never visited our planet. The are approximately one hundred thousand million stars in our galaxy alone...and there are millions upon millions of galaxies. Now, I'm no genius (gifted, yes, but not quite a genius), but that seems like a lot. And even if only a small percentage of those stars have solar systems of their own, I think it is a bit naive and possibly self-centered to think that we are the only life form existing in all of that! However, there just isn't enough evidence to convince me that any other life form has visited our planet from another. It just seems to me that with all of the technology we have available to us that there would be something a little more concrete to show us for sure that we actually have had 'visitors'. I mean, there are literally thousands of man-made satellites orbiting the earth. Wouldn't it be safe to assume that one of these would have seen something? It also just seems to me that all of the 'UFO sightings' and 'abductions' always occur in remote locations and are reported on by people of questionable mental stability and dental hygiene. There's also the mathematical aspect of it. If the technology ever became available for us to travel at the speed of light, it would take four years to reach the next closest star, and 50 years to reach the closest Earth-like planet. Now there is always the possibility that there is some advanced life form out there that can move from point A to point B instantaneously and can trick all of our technology so we have no record of them. But in that case, why would they come here? What could possibly be so interesting about us? There are of course two possiblities, both of which stem from a Sci-Fi movie of some kind: (1)We are some sort zoo to them, or (2) Their planet is dying and they want ours. Either way, whatever, I'll simply end with the phrase that I always use to answer if people ask me if I believe in aliens...I don't care. If they're out there or not, chances are it isn't going to affect me in the slightest.
Monday, May 10, 2010
A Thought on Low-Rider Pick-Up Trucks...
Well, if you noticed the title, you can probably guess what I saw while driving to work today. Are you kidding me? It took me a moment to take it in and let my brain register, but yes, that's what it was. Now, all low-riders are stupid. They serve no purpose, and for all of you that have or want one, allow me to let you in on a little secret: They don't look cool. Cars, okay, I get it. They're already lower to the ground, and for some reason, you had an aneurysm or something and want it lower. Whatever. Even smaller pickups (i.e. S-10s, Frontiers, etc.), I can kind of almost see in a sick, twisted, half-retarded way. But not this guy. He had a Dodge Ram, man-sized truck almost scraping off the pavement. Come on dude. Seriously? This is what you want to spend your hard earned money on? I'll be completely honest, I was so dumbfounded at the lunacy of this inbred mongoloid's decision-making process, that only one word crossed my mind as he passed me going the other way: Idiot. So take comfort, guy, that 90% of the English speaking population that sees you thinks you're a moron. Congratulations. Your parents must be proud.
So a little piece of advice for all of you out there: If you really feel the need to be that much closer to the ground, do the rest of us a favor and buy a street luge. That way the people who drive trucks the way they're supposed to be driven can crush you into the asphalt if need be.
So a little piece of advice for all of you out there: If you really feel the need to be that much closer to the ground, do the rest of us a favor and buy a street luge. That way the people who drive trucks the way they're supposed to be driven can crush you into the asphalt if need be.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
A Thought on Taking Breaks...
I won't be posting a new blog today. One, because I have to work late again. But also because I feel that a post every day is becoming a bit taxing, so I'm gonna cut it down to 2-3 posts a week. My apologies if anyone is terribly distraught over this, or if this causes anybody an inconvenience.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
A Thought on Stopping Humor Due to the Death of Someone You Don't Know...
So, interesting story: As I'm pulling into work today, a coworker calls to inform me that he is going to be late because of an accident on the highway. He also tells me that two other coworkers, who happen to travel the same way, will also be in slightly tardy. I tell him that it's no problem, and I go into the office.
Okay, let me go back a little. So there's this guy that I work with...let's call him 'Tristan'. Now 'Tristan' has a reputation of showing up to work right on time. He doesn't show up late, but not really early either. Now I don't really see a problem with this, though some that we work with give him a hard time over it.
So anyway, back to the story. Another coworker and myself are at work...we'll call him 'Tommy', and people start showing up. Now you have to understand, at our job, people give each other a hard time about EVERYTHING. Seriously, there is no limit to what someone will make fun of someone else about. Now 'Tristan' is coming in, and 'Tommy' and I are see him, so we start joking around with him. I say, "Hey Buddy, it's nice of you to show up." And 'Tommy' says, "I thought you were gonna be here right on time today." (both of us were smiling as we say this of course. Well 'Tristan', who normally takes humor directed at him very well, takes umbrage. He says something to the tune of, "Oh that's real funny. Somebody dies in an accident and I've got to hear this shit from you guys." He then proceeds to enter our workplace and tell everyone else how we are stupid.
Hmm, really? Someone dies and all of a sudden you can't take a joke...seriously? Did you know this person? Were you too close? Did you have ice cream together on the weekends? Umm, no you didn't. This is just some random person who you didn't even know existed prior to this event. Let me enlighten you to something you may not be aware: PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY! Do we change who we are because someone somewhere perished. People in third world countries are being slaughtered by the hundreds daily under the rule of some tyrant. Do we stop joking around or change the way we act because of this? No. We certainly feel for them, but beyond that, we still joke around with one another and poke fun. I'm reminded of a quote from the film Collateral, starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. Foxx's character, Max, has just discovered that Cruise's character, Vincent, is an assassin for hire, and is noticeably upset after Vincent kills someone. Vincent gives him a hard time about it. The dialogue went as follows:
Vincent: 6 billion people on the planet and you get bent out shape cause of one fat guy?
Max: But who was he?
Vincent: What do you care? Ever hear of Rwanda?
Max: Rwanda? Yeah.
Vincent: Tens of thounsands killed before sundown. Nobody's killed people that fast since Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Did you bat an eye, Max? Did you join Amnesty International, Oxfam or something? No. I off one Angelo and you throw a hissy fit.
And this is how I see our situation here that we have presented before us. Did 'Tristan' stop on the side of the road? Did he look up the deceased's family to contact them to see how they were doing? Did he post a cross on the side of the road or join some 'Adopt a Highway' program? No. He came to work and a couple hours later was joking around with everyone else. But since a joke was directed at him, he felt the need to get all up in arms about the new dead guy. I'll tell ou what, if my wife or childen die, I will be sad. If someone else I know dies, I will say to myself, that sucks. However, if someone I don't know, have never met, and couldn't distinguish from Adam suddenly keels over or gets offed, I will, 99% of the time, not even give it a second thought. I understand that when someone dies, someone else will miss them and most likely be sad...just not me.
So 'Tristan', remove the preverbial stick from your ass, and take a joke. Oh, and by the way, I'd really appreciate it if you don't try and fight me at work. Thanks.
Okay, let me go back a little. So there's this guy that I work with...let's call him 'Tristan'. Now 'Tristan' has a reputation of showing up to work right on time. He doesn't show up late, but not really early either. Now I don't really see a problem with this, though some that we work with give him a hard time over it.
So anyway, back to the story. Another coworker and myself are at work...we'll call him 'Tommy', and people start showing up. Now you have to understand, at our job, people give each other a hard time about EVERYTHING. Seriously, there is no limit to what someone will make fun of someone else about. Now 'Tristan' is coming in, and 'Tommy' and I are see him, so we start joking around with him. I say, "Hey Buddy, it's nice of you to show up." And 'Tommy' says, "I thought you were gonna be here right on time today." (both of us were smiling as we say this of course. Well 'Tristan', who normally takes humor directed at him very well, takes umbrage. He says something to the tune of, "Oh that's real funny. Somebody dies in an accident and I've got to hear this shit from you guys." He then proceeds to enter our workplace and tell everyone else how we are stupid.
Hmm, really? Someone dies and all of a sudden you can't take a joke...seriously? Did you know this person? Were you too close? Did you have ice cream together on the weekends? Umm, no you didn't. This is just some random person who you didn't even know existed prior to this event. Let me enlighten you to something you may not be aware: PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY! Do we change who we are because someone somewhere perished. People in third world countries are being slaughtered by the hundreds daily under the rule of some tyrant. Do we stop joking around or change the way we act because of this? No. We certainly feel for them, but beyond that, we still joke around with one another and poke fun. I'm reminded of a quote from the film Collateral, starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx. Foxx's character, Max, has just discovered that Cruise's character, Vincent, is an assassin for hire, and is noticeably upset after Vincent kills someone. Vincent gives him a hard time about it. The dialogue went as follows:
Vincent: 6 billion people on the planet and you get bent out shape cause of one fat guy?
Max: But who was he?
Vincent: What do you care? Ever hear of Rwanda?
Max: Rwanda? Yeah.
Vincent: Tens of thounsands killed before sundown. Nobody's killed people that fast since Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Did you bat an eye, Max? Did you join Amnesty International, Oxfam or something? No. I off one Angelo and you throw a hissy fit.
And this is how I see our situation here that we have presented before us. Did 'Tristan' stop on the side of the road? Did he look up the deceased's family to contact them to see how they were doing? Did he post a cross on the side of the road or join some 'Adopt a Highway' program? No. He came to work and a couple hours later was joking around with everyone else. But since a joke was directed at him, he felt the need to get all up in arms about the new dead guy. I'll tell ou what, if my wife or childen die, I will be sad. If someone else I know dies, I will say to myself, that sucks. However, if someone I don't know, have never met, and couldn't distinguish from Adam suddenly keels over or gets offed, I will, 99% of the time, not even give it a second thought. I understand that when someone dies, someone else will miss them and most likely be sad...just not me.
So 'Tristan', remove the preverbial stick from your ass, and take a joke. Oh, and by the way, I'd really appreciate it if you don't try and fight me at work. Thanks.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
A Thought on Homosexuality and Spiritual Salvation...
So the wife and I had a little debate earlier on about whether or not a homosexual individual can find a way into the kingdom of heaven. Now I consider myself a pretty devout Christian, and my wife is also believer in Christ Jesus, so would think that our views would be fairly in tune. However, she believes that since in the Bible, homosexuality is condemned by God (Lev. 18:22, "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination."), that a gay person cannot be saved. I, on the other hand, feel that even if a person takes Jesus Christ as his/her personal savior, acknowledges that he/she is a sinner, and asks God for forgiveness, regardless of sexual orientation, they can be saved.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't agree with a person's decision (yes, it is a decision to be gay...no one is born gay) to be a homosexual. And though I will not look down on a person or judge them for being such, I do believe it is a sin and against the will of God. However, since the Bible also states that all sin is equal (James 2:10, 1 John 3:4-5), it would be a bit hypocritical to think that one person who believes Jesus is our Savior and is not gay (but who is also is sinner), will go to heaven, while a person who is gay, and also believes Jesus is our Savior is condemned.
One of her chief arguments is that if a person is gay, and continues to pursue a homosexual lifestyle, even though they know it is wrong, than they aren't truly sorry for their sin and are not truly saved. I really can't argue against this point, because to a certain extent, I too believe that a person must see that they are a sinner and wish to be better. However, I believe the one true path to heaven is through faith in Christ Jesus, and if a person, regardless of who they are attracted too, honestly feels in their heart that Jesus died on the cross to wash away their sins, they will see the knigdom of God.
I know that I am a sinner. Through my thoughts, speech, and actions I commit countless sins every day. Now I know that I can't possibly remember to ask forgiveness for each individual one, but I ask God to take away all of my sins, and believe that Jesus died for me. I also ask him to take away any desire I may have to commit sin. Because of these things, I honestly believe that I will have salvation for all eternity, but I know I will always commit sin, because I have sinful flesh and am of weak mind and body. Now why can't this same situation apply to a homosexual? I am not under the belief that 'God hates gays' as some in the religious community think. He hates sin, and all sin is equal.
Now once again, I do not condone homosexuality in any way, shape, or form. I feel it is wrong in every facet, with sexual relationships meant to only be between men and women. Now am I right? Are they going to heaven? I don't know for certain. My wife may be entirely correct and there may be no remission for homosexuality. Frankly, though, it's not really for us to say. We'll all find our just reward or punishment in the end, when we're judged by God.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't agree with a person's decision (yes, it is a decision to be gay...no one is born gay) to be a homosexual. And though I will not look down on a person or judge them for being such, I do believe it is a sin and against the will of God. However, since the Bible also states that all sin is equal (James 2:10, 1 John 3:4-5), it would be a bit hypocritical to think that one person who believes Jesus is our Savior and is not gay (but who is also is sinner), will go to heaven, while a person who is gay, and also believes Jesus is our Savior is condemned.
One of her chief arguments is that if a person is gay, and continues to pursue a homosexual lifestyle, even though they know it is wrong, than they aren't truly sorry for their sin and are not truly saved. I really can't argue against this point, because to a certain extent, I too believe that a person must see that they are a sinner and wish to be better. However, I believe the one true path to heaven is through faith in Christ Jesus, and if a person, regardless of who they are attracted too, honestly feels in their heart that Jesus died on the cross to wash away their sins, they will see the knigdom of God.
I know that I am a sinner. Through my thoughts, speech, and actions I commit countless sins every day. Now I know that I can't possibly remember to ask forgiveness for each individual one, but I ask God to take away all of my sins, and believe that Jesus died for me. I also ask him to take away any desire I may have to commit sin. Because of these things, I honestly believe that I will have salvation for all eternity, but I know I will always commit sin, because I have sinful flesh and am of weak mind and body. Now why can't this same situation apply to a homosexual? I am not under the belief that 'God hates gays' as some in the religious community think. He hates sin, and all sin is equal.
Now once again, I do not condone homosexuality in any way, shape, or form. I feel it is wrong in every facet, with sexual relationships meant to only be between men and women. Now am I right? Are they going to heaven? I don't know for certain. My wife may be entirely correct and there may be no remission for homosexuality. Frankly, though, it's not really for us to say. We'll all find our just reward or punishment in the end, when we're judged by God.
Monday, May 3, 2010
My Beer Thought...
Ah beer...the cornerstone of any good American meal...or Canadian...or Australian...or German...or just about anywhere else in Europe for that matter. Beer has been a staple of our economy, our night lives, and our very existance for hundreds, possibly thousands of years. And I plan to give beer its just do this evening.
Beer dates back to as early as the 6th millenia B.C., where it is recorded in the history of ancient Iraq. The first mention of beer in what is now Europe was way back around 3000 B.C. It didn't gain real popularity in western culture until about the 7th century A.D., when it was brewed and sold by monasteries. Today, more than 35 billion gallons of beer are sold every year (God bless us), producing revenues of $294 billion (2006).
My personal favorite beer is Shiner Bock, brewed in the little town of Shiner, Texas. It is delicious. I think I could drink it during a workout it is so good. My favorite type of beer in general, though, is wheat beers (Hefeweisen and such). Beer is so good, that people batter food with it to make it taste better (Beer battered chicken, pork, ribs, etc.). It has also driven musical artists to write songs in its honor (Beer is Good by Psychostick, for example). Beer is used to help celebate holidays (St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day, and just about everything else we celebrate here in America). And let's not forget all those wonderfully entertaining commercials provided to us by beer companies (hilarious).
As you can probably tell, I'm a big fan of the brew. I don't drink it quite as much as I probably should, but I can enjoy a bottle, or a pint (or a twelve pack) every now and then. Nothing goes better with steak, pizza, chicken wings, football, rugby, baseball, or sex than beer. So here's to you beer, I salute you and continue to cherish your existance now and forevermore...and anyone who doesn't love you, is crazy (that's for you, Heath).
Just to finish up, I'd like to throw in a few quotes by some gentlemen who know and love beer just as much, if not more than me:
"Beer makes you feel the way you ought to feel without beer." -Henry Lawson
"Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world." -Kaiser Wilhelm
"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." -Dave Barry
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder." -Kinky Friedman
"Beer, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems." -Homer Simpson
"I'm allergic to grass. Hey, it could be worse. I could be allergic to beer." -Greg Norman
"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer." - Frank Zappa
"From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world." -Saint Arnold of Metz
"It takes beer to make thirst worthwhile." -German Proverb
"He was a wise man who invented beer." -Plato
And my personal favorite: "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Benjamin Franklin
Beer dates back to as early as the 6th millenia B.C., where it is recorded in the history of ancient Iraq. The first mention of beer in what is now Europe was way back around 3000 B.C. It didn't gain real popularity in western culture until about the 7th century A.D., when it was brewed and sold by monasteries. Today, more than 35 billion gallons of beer are sold every year (God bless us), producing revenues of $294 billion (2006).
My personal favorite beer is Shiner Bock, brewed in the little town of Shiner, Texas. It is delicious. I think I could drink it during a workout it is so good. My favorite type of beer in general, though, is wheat beers (Hefeweisen and such). Beer is so good, that people batter food with it to make it taste better (Beer battered chicken, pork, ribs, etc.). It has also driven musical artists to write songs in its honor (Beer is Good by Psychostick, for example). Beer is used to help celebate holidays (St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Independence Day, and just about everything else we celebrate here in America). And let's not forget all those wonderfully entertaining commercials provided to us by beer companies (hilarious).
As you can probably tell, I'm a big fan of the brew. I don't drink it quite as much as I probably should, but I can enjoy a bottle, or a pint (or a twelve pack) every now and then. Nothing goes better with steak, pizza, chicken wings, football, rugby, baseball, or sex than beer. So here's to you beer, I salute you and continue to cherish your existance now and forevermore...and anyone who doesn't love you, is crazy (that's for you, Heath).
Just to finish up, I'd like to throw in a few quotes by some gentlemen who know and love beer just as much, if not more than me:
"Beer makes you feel the way you ought to feel without beer." -Henry Lawson
"Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world." -Kaiser Wilhelm
"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." -Dave Barry
"Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder." -Kinky Friedman
"Beer, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems." -Homer Simpson
"I'm allergic to grass. Hey, it could be worse. I could be allergic to beer." -Greg Norman
"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer." - Frank Zappa
"From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world." -Saint Arnold of Metz
"It takes beer to make thirst worthwhile." -German Proverb
"He was a wise man who invented beer." -Plato
And my personal favorite: "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." -Benjamin Franklin
Sunday, May 2, 2010
A Thought on the New Arizona Immigration Law...
Recently the state of Arizona passed a law to help limit the influx of illegal immigrants into the state, as well as aid the arrest and deportation of current illegals living within the state's borders. Now this has caused quite an uproar in the media and with people all over the nation. The L.A. Times called it "illegal". On May 1st, May Day rallies popped up all over the country with hundreds of thousands of people showing up to protest the new legislation. A Facebook page has been started entitled "1 Million Strong Against the Arizona Immigration Law SB 1070". President Obama commented on the bill, calling it "irresponsible". Even Major League Baseball players have come out to speak against the law.
To be perfectly honest, I really don't see what the big deal is. The law states that "For any lawful contact made by a law enforcement official or agency of this state or a county, city, town, or other political subdivision of this state where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person". Now that doesn't sound so bad to me. Basically what it is saying right there is that people need to carry some sort of identification that shows they are in the country legally. And it's not like the police are just stopping people at random or without cause. Lawful contact has to be established first. The law goes on to state that if an illegal alien is convicted of a crime, after their sentence, they will be then turned over to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I also do not have a problem with this. In my opinion, anyone who is found to be in the U.S. illegally should be immediately deported anyway.
The bill also states how it is unlawful to employ illegals or transport them for monetary gain, but that's already been well known. Any claim made against an alleged illegal alien has to pass through the Attorney General's office for approval, so wanton arrests and subsequent deportations don't occur.
So why the opposition? This is what it says on the aforementioned Facebook page: "The new law makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally. Immigrants unable to produce documents showing they are allowed to be in the U.S. could be arrested , jailed for up to six months and fined $2,500. Other provisions allow lawsuits against government agencies thet hinder law enforcement immigration laws, and make it illegal to hire undocumented workers for day labor or knowingly transport them." Okay...so what's the problem? Are you people actually against this?! This is all common sense stuff for crying out loud. Why the hell should we be against the deportation of illegals from the country? You people make me sick. There is nothing stated here that is also not found in federal law. I'm done with you. I can't believe I even gave this page the time of day in the first place.
Now let's talk about these May Day rallies. In Los Angeles, where the largest turnout occured, police estimated the total number of protestors to be between 40 and 60 thousand. Rallies popped up all over the nation, but with significantly less numbers than the LA rally. People wore T-shirts and touted signs denouncing the new law. American flags waved fervently while chants of "Si, se puede" erupted from the crowds. Hmm. Si, se puede. Now, you would think that people trying to encourage a country that speaks English (I know we don't actually have an official national language, but come on, let's keep it real, English is the language here in the U.S.)to be open to allowing undocumented foreigners into its borders, would use said language during their protests. Oh yeah that's right, I forgot. We're the ones who need to change the way we live to accommodate them. They violate our laws by coming here illegally, and don't even have the common courtesy to learn the language. Freeloaders. I saw a sign at one of these rallies that read "Shame on you, Arizona". I beg your pardon, but shame on you May Day ralliers. At least the Arizona government has the gusto to stand up for its LEGAL citizens where the federal government, quite frankly, lacks the balls.
And let's just set the record straight about these MLB players. No one really gives a rat's ass what you have to say about anything. If you couldn't hit a baseball a mile then nobody would even know who you are in the first place. And quite frankly, you need to learn the language to. It makes me sick that there are decent human beings all over the globe who are willing to go through the legal channels to gain citizenship here because they know it's the greatest country on earth and they wish for the freedom it provides. But then you have some 17 year old Cuban refugee that can throw a 98 mph fastball, so he gets fasttracked because George Steinbrenner can pay for it. I'm sick and tired of seeing these interviews that take twice as long because everything has to go through a translator.
So just for the record, let's put some facts out there. An estimated 10-20 million illegal aliens (it varies based on what source you read) are currently residing in our country. Nearly half a million of those are in Arizona alone. This is a terrible burden on the taxpayers (in case anyone wasn't aware, illegals don't pay taxes). Schools, healthcare, welfare, and crime committed by illegal aliens costs billions of dollars annually. On average, 12 U.S. citizens are murdered by illegal aliens every day. On top of that, an average of 13 Americans die every day because of an illegal alien driving under the influence of alcohol. An estimated 80% of the drugs smuggled across the U.S./Mexico border is brought by illegal aliens. An estimated eight American children are sexually violated by an illegal alien every day. Now these facts were from a study performed in May of 2006. I can only imagine the numbers have increased since then.
Illegal immigration is a gateway for drugs, violent criminals, gangs, sexual deviants, diseases and terrorists. It creates a drain on our economy through education (there are scholarships available solely for illegal immigrants...unreal), employment, healthcare, and just about every other facet of the American infrastructure.
Now has anyone stopped to ask the people of Arizona how they feel about this new legislation? The latest poll numbers show that 70% of the people of Arizona support the bill, with the governor's approval rating increasing 17% after it passed. Arizonans have been very critical with the federal government's securing, or should I say, lack thereof, the Mexican border, and weight has been given to their criticism with increased drug violence in recent months.
It is my personal belief that state governments and federal government should use whatever means necessary to secure our borders and remove the illegals that are already here that clearly have no regard or respect for our nation and the laws we have in place for our protection. As it stands, we are unsecure. Thousands of people flood across our border every day illegally, either on their own accord, or by someone who makes a living in this endeavor. This new law in Arizona is definitely a step in the right direction. There is nothing discriminatory about it. An officer cannot simply arrest someone on suspicion of being an illegal. They have to be engaged in some sort of activity to illicit the officer's attention, and then, if on top of that, he feels the need to further investigate their proof of legality to occupy space in our fair, he can do so. As for the racial profiling, come on now. If there was a huge influx of white guys with brown hair that spoke English entering into the country illegally, I would not feel the least bit distraught about being asked for an ID. It would take about 2 seconds, and then I could continue on with my day. As it is, illegal aliens tend to be of hispanic heritage and don't speak much English. I have a hint for all you hispanics out there afraid of being profiled against: LEARN THE LANGUAGE! This is not only gonna make it easier for you with the law, but probably make life in general here in the U.S. much simpler. Besides that, this is the land of oppurtunity, and I welcome anyone who is willing to come this nation LEGALLY, learn the language, pay taxes, and offer some sort of contribution as a citizen. Anyone else, get the hell out!
To be perfectly honest, I really don't see what the big deal is. The law states that "For any lawful contact made by a law enforcement official or agency of this state or a county, city, town, or other political subdivision of this state where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person". Now that doesn't sound so bad to me. Basically what it is saying right there is that people need to carry some sort of identification that shows they are in the country legally. And it's not like the police are just stopping people at random or without cause. Lawful contact has to be established first. The law goes on to state that if an illegal alien is convicted of a crime, after their sentence, they will be then turned over to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. I also do not have a problem with this. In my opinion, anyone who is found to be in the U.S. illegally should be immediately deported anyway.
The bill also states how it is unlawful to employ illegals or transport them for monetary gain, but that's already been well known. Any claim made against an alleged illegal alien has to pass through the Attorney General's office for approval, so wanton arrests and subsequent deportations don't occur.
So why the opposition? This is what it says on the aforementioned Facebook page: "The new law makes it a crime under state law to be in the country illegally. Immigrants unable to produce documents showing they are allowed to be in the U.S. could be arrested , jailed for up to six months and fined $2,500. Other provisions allow lawsuits against government agencies thet hinder law enforcement immigration laws, and make it illegal to hire undocumented workers for day labor or knowingly transport them." Okay...so what's the problem? Are you people actually against this?! This is all common sense stuff for crying out loud. Why the hell should we be against the deportation of illegals from the country? You people make me sick. There is nothing stated here that is also not found in federal law. I'm done with you. I can't believe I even gave this page the time of day in the first place.
Now let's talk about these May Day rallies. In Los Angeles, where the largest turnout occured, police estimated the total number of protestors to be between 40 and 60 thousand. Rallies popped up all over the nation, but with significantly less numbers than the LA rally. People wore T-shirts and touted signs denouncing the new law. American flags waved fervently while chants of "Si, se puede" erupted from the crowds. Hmm. Si, se puede. Now, you would think that people trying to encourage a country that speaks English (I know we don't actually have an official national language, but come on, let's keep it real, English is the language here in the U.S.)to be open to allowing undocumented foreigners into its borders, would use said language during their protests. Oh yeah that's right, I forgot. We're the ones who need to change the way we live to accommodate them. They violate our laws by coming here illegally, and don't even have the common courtesy to learn the language. Freeloaders. I saw a sign at one of these rallies that read "Shame on you, Arizona". I beg your pardon, but shame on you May Day ralliers. At least the Arizona government has the gusto to stand up for its LEGAL citizens where the federal government, quite frankly, lacks the balls.
And let's just set the record straight about these MLB players. No one really gives a rat's ass what you have to say about anything. If you couldn't hit a baseball a mile then nobody would even know who you are in the first place. And quite frankly, you need to learn the language to. It makes me sick that there are decent human beings all over the globe who are willing to go through the legal channels to gain citizenship here because they know it's the greatest country on earth and they wish for the freedom it provides. But then you have some 17 year old Cuban refugee that can throw a 98 mph fastball, so he gets fasttracked because George Steinbrenner can pay for it. I'm sick and tired of seeing these interviews that take twice as long because everything has to go through a translator.
So just for the record, let's put some facts out there. An estimated 10-20 million illegal aliens (it varies based on what source you read) are currently residing in our country. Nearly half a million of those are in Arizona alone. This is a terrible burden on the taxpayers (in case anyone wasn't aware, illegals don't pay taxes). Schools, healthcare, welfare, and crime committed by illegal aliens costs billions of dollars annually. On average, 12 U.S. citizens are murdered by illegal aliens every day. On top of that, an average of 13 Americans die every day because of an illegal alien driving under the influence of alcohol. An estimated 80% of the drugs smuggled across the U.S./Mexico border is brought by illegal aliens. An estimated eight American children are sexually violated by an illegal alien every day. Now these facts were from a study performed in May of 2006. I can only imagine the numbers have increased since then.
Illegal immigration is a gateway for drugs, violent criminals, gangs, sexual deviants, diseases and terrorists. It creates a drain on our economy through education (there are scholarships available solely for illegal immigrants...unreal), employment, healthcare, and just about every other facet of the American infrastructure.
Now has anyone stopped to ask the people of Arizona how they feel about this new legislation? The latest poll numbers show that 70% of the people of Arizona support the bill, with the governor's approval rating increasing 17% after it passed. Arizonans have been very critical with the federal government's securing, or should I say, lack thereof, the Mexican border, and weight has been given to their criticism with increased drug violence in recent months.
It is my personal belief that state governments and federal government should use whatever means necessary to secure our borders and remove the illegals that are already here that clearly have no regard or respect for our nation and the laws we have in place for our protection. As it stands, we are unsecure. Thousands of people flood across our border every day illegally, either on their own accord, or by someone who makes a living in this endeavor. This new law in Arizona is definitely a step in the right direction. There is nothing discriminatory about it. An officer cannot simply arrest someone on suspicion of being an illegal. They have to be engaged in some sort of activity to illicit the officer's attention, and then, if on top of that, he feels the need to further investigate their proof of legality to occupy space in our fair, he can do so. As for the racial profiling, come on now. If there was a huge influx of white guys with brown hair that spoke English entering into the country illegally, I would not feel the least bit distraught about being asked for an ID. It would take about 2 seconds, and then I could continue on with my day. As it is, illegal aliens tend to be of hispanic heritage and don't speak much English. I have a hint for all you hispanics out there afraid of being profiled against: LEARN THE LANGUAGE! This is not only gonna make it easier for you with the law, but probably make life in general here in the U.S. much simpler. Besides that, this is the land of oppurtunity, and I welcome anyone who is willing to come this nation LEGALLY, learn the language, pay taxes, and offer some sort of contribution as a citizen. Anyone else, get the hell out!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
A Thought on the National Action Against Obesity...
Well anyone who knows me knows that my political views stray slightly right of the middle, so one would think that when reporting on a liberal group, such as the National Action Against Obesity (NAAO), I would be wholeheartedly against them. I mean, they would propose government intervention to keep toys out of Happy Meals at McDonalds to keep kids from wanting them so much. I, for one, would propose that government does not intervene in any part of our daily lives, but hey, what do I know? The government has only drastically failed at virtually every program it has attempted to fix or regulate (i.e. education, the postal service, border control, etc.). But I digress. Where I do agree with the NAAO is when they state the obvious fact that the majority of Americans are obese. Let me just set the record straight: if you are obese, for any reason other than diabetes, a thyroid disorder, or some other medical condition, I hate you. You are disgusting and everyone around you that has the common decency and self respect to take care of themselves is disgusted by you. Your 'condition' comes down to one thing: Laziness. Get your fat ass on a treadmill and get rid of those unholy layers of adipose tissue. Either that, or keep that rotund body of yours in the house so the rest of don't have to look at you.
But you know what the worst part about it is? That if, God forbid, you have children, you'll probably pass your repulsive habits on to them as well. This is what the NAAO calls Second Hand Obesity. It's where these chunky slobs are so apathetic and so inanely absorbed in the copious amount of trans fat that they themsleves absorb each day, that they can't think to have the human decency to feed their kids some fruits and veggies instead of that shit that they shovel down their own gullets. So you just end up this incredibly beefy family tree of fat.
Well, I guess this turned into more of a 'Fat Bashing' rant as opposed to a blog about the NAAO, but in conclusion, I'll just state that I agree with they're ideals, but think they should go about achieving they're goals in a different manner.
But you know what the worst part about it is? That if, God forbid, you have children, you'll probably pass your repulsive habits on to them as well. This is what the NAAO calls Second Hand Obesity. It's where these chunky slobs are so apathetic and so inanely absorbed in the copious amount of trans fat that they themsleves absorb each day, that they can't think to have the human decency to feed their kids some fruits and veggies instead of that shit that they shovel down their own gullets. So you just end up this incredibly beefy family tree of fat.
Well, I guess this turned into more of a 'Fat Bashing' rant as opposed to a blog about the NAAO, but in conclusion, I'll just state that I agree with they're ideals, but think they should go about achieving they're goals in a different manner.
Friday, April 30, 2010
A Thought on Combat Troops in Iraq...
As part of his campaign for presidency, Barack Obama stated that all combat troops would be out of Iraq by the summer of 2010. With the war becoming increasing unpopular, many people (especially those who voted for him primarily on that premise) are expecting him to make due on that promise.
It's interesting to note, though, that combat troops were sent to Iraq as recently as March 2010. And instead of a short trip and having those soldiers come home to their families by the projected deadline, I've been informed that combat units will instead simply be redesignated. For example, the '3rd Brigade Combat Team' from the 4th Infantry Division will be changing its name to the '3rd Advisory Assistance Brigade'. Their job will not change whatsoever. They will continue to conduct patrols and interdict enemy targets as a 'combat' unit would, only without the official title.
I don't see why I should be surprised. This is simply one more shameful act by an administration who clearly has no regard for the promises they make (and continue to break) or the lives they continue to rupture by their irresponsible actions and wanton careless, un-American policies. Hopefully the citizens of our fair nation will eventually see them for what they are and display their displeasure at the polls.
It's interesting to note, though, that combat troops were sent to Iraq as recently as March 2010. And instead of a short trip and having those soldiers come home to their families by the projected deadline, I've been informed that combat units will instead simply be redesignated. For example, the '3rd Brigade Combat Team' from the 4th Infantry Division will be changing its name to the '3rd Advisory Assistance Brigade'. Their job will not change whatsoever. They will continue to conduct patrols and interdict enemy targets as a 'combat' unit would, only without the official title.
I don't see why I should be surprised. This is simply one more shameful act by an administration who clearly has no regard for the promises they make (and continue to break) or the lives they continue to rupture by their irresponsible actions and wanton careless, un-American policies. Hopefully the citizens of our fair nation will eventually see them for what they are and display their displeasure at the polls.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
A Thought on Working Later Than planned...
Well once again, work went a little long today, so there will not be a mind stimulating blog post of stellar information from me today...better luck tomorrow.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
An Apology Thought...
Yeah, I know, that's lame, but sorry, no blog today, gotta work late tonight. I promise I'll make up for it tomorrow.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
A Quick Thought on Family...
So once again a long day equals exaustion equals a short blog post. Today was my 27th Birthday (on the 27th, yes I know that makes it my Golden Birthday, whatever the hell that means). And my wife is awesome. I had a long day at work and she still managed to cook me an amazing dinner that finished right on time...plus she got me a cake which was delicious (I love you, Sweetheart). Just so everyone is aware, I have a fantastic family. I have quite possibly the greatest wife in history (why she likes me so much I haven't quite figured out yet), and two absolutely GORGEOUS little girls who never cease to surprise or amaze me. In July, our son will be born and our family will be complete. I am blessed beyond measure.
In case you don't know, or if you don't have one of your own, family is great. It's not always easy, and at times you may contemplate homicide, but the good times far outweigh the bad, and your loved ones will teach you what true joy really is. Even if you don't have a family yet, or even if you're not even married, you'll know what I'm talking about when you find it. Just remember that you're not perfect. And whoever it is you're with, even if you think they might be at times, they aren't perfect either. But the question you have to ask yourself is: Are you perfect for each other? If you can answer that possitively, then you know you've found someone truly special (like I did).
In case you don't know, or if you don't have one of your own, family is great. It's not always easy, and at times you may contemplate homicide, but the good times far outweigh the bad, and your loved ones will teach you what true joy really is. Even if you don't have a family yet, or even if you're not even married, you'll know what I'm talking about when you find it. Just remember that you're not perfect. And whoever it is you're with, even if you think they might be at times, they aren't perfect either. But the question you have to ask yourself is: Are you perfect for each other? If you can answer that possitively, then you know you've found someone truly special (like I did).
Monday, April 26, 2010
A Quick Thought on Mud...
So this is gonna be short because it's late, it's been a long day, I'm kind of tired, and my wife might kill me if I spend too long on here instead of spending time with her.
But anyway, what's the deal with mud? I don't know if it serves any good purpose whatsoever...unless you like putting it on your face for whatever reason. But besides that, it royally sucks. It gets everywhere. It fits into little cracks in your shoes and gets under your fingernails. It's horrible to try to clean off of stuff, such as your carpet or your clothing. It also makes your skin feel all coarse and grimy.
So I'm at work today and we're driving, and the vehicle we're in is sliding all over the place because of the stupid mud...one truck even got stuck, although we eventually got it out. And walking around in the stuff is simply awful. Like the truck, I was constantly slipping, and after a few minutes of tromping around, it's like I'm wearing platform shoes because of the new layer added to the bottom of my footwear.
So seriously, what's the use? I mean, without even mentioning the millions of dollars in damage that mud slides cause those houses in California every year (I know, those people are retarded because they know that crap is gonna happen), everything else about it is just flat out annoying. Mud is like the mosquito of weather (I'll harp about mosquitos another day). Water, I like. And dirt has plenty of uses. But when you put them both together, all you get is mess.
But anyway, what's the deal with mud? I don't know if it serves any good purpose whatsoever...unless you like putting it on your face for whatever reason. But besides that, it royally sucks. It gets everywhere. It fits into little cracks in your shoes and gets under your fingernails. It's horrible to try to clean off of stuff, such as your carpet or your clothing. It also makes your skin feel all coarse and grimy.
So I'm at work today and we're driving, and the vehicle we're in is sliding all over the place because of the stupid mud...one truck even got stuck, although we eventually got it out. And walking around in the stuff is simply awful. Like the truck, I was constantly slipping, and after a few minutes of tromping around, it's like I'm wearing platform shoes because of the new layer added to the bottom of my footwear.
So seriously, what's the use? I mean, without even mentioning the millions of dollars in damage that mud slides cause those houses in California every year (I know, those people are retarded because they know that crap is gonna happen), everything else about it is just flat out annoying. Mud is like the mosquito of weather (I'll harp about mosquitos another day). Water, I like. And dirt has plenty of uses. But when you put them both together, all you get is mess.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A Thought on Purchasing a New Television Online
So, with the release of the Blockbuster Megahit, "Avatar" this week, my mother-in-law made the comment that my wife and I should upgrade our television (a 37-inch Olevia) to something larger (she mentioned something in the 52-inch range). Just to preface, we currently own three flat screen LCD TVs (the other two being 32-inchers). Now, anyone who knows me knows that I am always willing to spend a buck here and there, especially if it is for some sort of electronics upgrade. However, I was perfectly happy with the entertainment set-up that we currently find ourselves with. My wife, on the other hand, can be rather Jewish at times with money, but saw this as an oppurtunity get new furniture and redecorate the living room a bit, since a TV of any greater size would not fit in the entertainment center we have right now. Oh, and by the way, she absolutely loves selling stuff on Craigslist. So right away, she starts the process rolling, putting the current entertainment center, and the television from our bedroom up for sale (the plan was to move the Olevia up to the bedroom after the new TV is purchased), and she began hunting online for good TV deals.
Now, I'm sure that the majority of you out there have gone HDTV shopping before, but let me tell you, for people who aren't very experienced at it, it can get pretty hectic. Do I want to get LCD or Plasma? Am I good with 720p or do I need to get 1080p? And what the hell is the 'p' for anyway? What's the difference between 60hz, 120 hz, and 240hz? How many HDMI ports do I need? What does the contrast ratio need to be? Did you know that TVs these days come with the ability to show over one billion colors? One Billion! That's nine zeros! I didn't even know there were that many colors. I try to think of every color in the spectrum and the 64 crayon box that I used to have in third grade pops into mind. Do I really need Picture-in-Picture? I mean, seriously, when is there ever a time where I want to watch two shows at the same time so bad that I need to have them on the same screen...and of course, having one broadcast in silence? Is one brand really that much better than another? How long of a warranty do I need on one of these things? I'm under the disctinct impression that if I'm going to drop a cool grand on something that has the sole purpose of displaying images for my viewing pleasure, that it should be able to handle that task for some time...basically until I die or I replace it with something better.
Well, to make a long story short, we ended up finding a deal on a 47-inch LCD that came packaged with a DVD player and surround sound for a little over 900 bucks, which I thought sounded like a good. We debated for several hours between this, a 55-incher for $1400, and driving over an hour away to buy a 52-inch TV for about $1150. I thought that I was doing the noble, unselfish thing by going with the slightly smaller TV for a good deal. I was, however, chastised for this choice, being told that this size still isn't going to be big enough (I won't mention by whom, but this person doesn't even live with us). I mean, how big of a difference can five inches of screen make? Is it worth paying and extra $200 for? I personally don't think so, but I guess we'll find out when it gets here. I suppose we can always take it back if it just doesn't cut it and get something bigger.
Now, I'm sure that the majority of you out there have gone HDTV shopping before, but let me tell you, for people who aren't very experienced at it, it can get pretty hectic. Do I want to get LCD or Plasma? Am I good with 720p or do I need to get 1080p? And what the hell is the 'p' for anyway? What's the difference between 60hz, 120 hz, and 240hz? How many HDMI ports do I need? What does the contrast ratio need to be? Did you know that TVs these days come with the ability to show over one billion colors? One Billion! That's nine zeros! I didn't even know there were that many colors. I try to think of every color in the spectrum and the 64 crayon box that I used to have in third grade pops into mind. Do I really need Picture-in-Picture? I mean, seriously, when is there ever a time where I want to watch two shows at the same time so bad that I need to have them on the same screen...and of course, having one broadcast in silence? Is one brand really that much better than another? How long of a warranty do I need on one of these things? I'm under the disctinct impression that if I'm going to drop a cool grand on something that has the sole purpose of displaying images for my viewing pleasure, that it should be able to handle that task for some time...basically until I die or I replace it with something better.
Well, to make a long story short, we ended up finding a deal on a 47-inch LCD that came packaged with a DVD player and surround sound for a little over 900 bucks, which I thought sounded like a good. We debated for several hours between this, a 55-incher for $1400, and driving over an hour away to buy a 52-inch TV for about $1150. I thought that I was doing the noble, unselfish thing by going with the slightly smaller TV for a good deal. I was, however, chastised for this choice, being told that this size still isn't going to be big enough (I won't mention by whom, but this person doesn't even live with us). I mean, how big of a difference can five inches of screen make? Is it worth paying and extra $200 for? I personally don't think so, but I guess we'll find out when it gets here. I suppose we can always take it back if it just doesn't cut it and get something bigger.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Thought on National Day of Prayer...
Recently a group known as the "Freedom from Religion Foundation" filed a lawsuit against President Obama stating that the National Day of Prayer is a violation of seperation of church and state. On April 15, 2010, Judge Barbara Crabb ruled in favor of the group, stating that the day was unconstitutional. The Obama administration is planning to appeal the decision, stating that it is not merely a religious event, but a national tradition.
The National Day of Prayer was set into motion in 1952 when the bill passed unanimously in both houses of congress, and was signed by President Truman. The bill stated that every year the President would choose the date on which the National Day of Prayer would occur. In 1988, a new bill was ratified, declaring a set date for the event, placing it on the first Thursday of May, and each year since then, it has been so. This year, President Obama will declare the 59th annual (and possibly final) National Day of Prayer.
Annie Laurie Gaylor, the Foundation's co-president, was quoted as saying, "It is such a profound violation of conscience for Congress to direct our President to tell all citizens to pray, and that they in fact must set aside an entire day for prayer once year."
I personally believe that the guiding force for the Freedom from Religion Foundation can be summed up in one word: Ignorance. To think that the President is in some way 'forcing' the American people to pray is absurd. A 2008 poll posted in the Washington Post showed that 92 percent of Americans believe in God or some higher power, including one in five people who claim to be atheist and more than half of those who claim to be agnostic. So, out of the 300 million or so citizens of our country, 24 million of those do not believe in some sort of higher spiritual being...hmmm, I'm not sure but that seems like a gross minority. And I think I would be correct in assuming that only a small fraction of those believe as the Freedom from Religion Foundation, and even care if there is a National Day of Prayer.
Prayer is something that emboldens people. It comes from our very core and exposes the deepest nature of our being. Even the most astute, non-believing, secular being, when facing strife, might find himself inwardly asking for help and/or guidance. He doesn't know who he's asking, but something inside of him is reaching for an answer.
A National Day of Prayer isn't forced upon us. On the contrary, it's a benefit to living in a free country. The government isn't telling us that have to pray to any one being or even how we have to pray...in fact, the government isn't telling us that we have to pray at all. With a National Day of Prayer, we are simply recognizing the fact that our country and our constitution were founded on a set of principles. God and religion were paramount in the minds of our founding fathers while they set up the framework of our fair nation. Now, to be fair, I will point out that both James Madison and Thomas Jefferson both opposed an established National Day of Prayer, with the latter stating that "Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for (prayer)...". But as I stated earlier, this is not forced upon anyone, and for the majority of Americans, it's a glorious way to come together to celebrate what they believe. And it's not just for one belief structure, but for them all. The National Day of Prayer is for anyone who feels the need to pray, regardless of what they believe. I don't for one instant feel that everyone should believe just as I do. But there is nothing derogatory, invasive, or unconstitutional about a National Day of Prayer. I suppose next people will want to remove the celebration of Martin Luther King Day simply because we're not all black.
The National Day of Prayer was set into motion in 1952 when the bill passed unanimously in both houses of congress, and was signed by President Truman. The bill stated that every year the President would choose the date on which the National Day of Prayer would occur. In 1988, a new bill was ratified, declaring a set date for the event, placing it on the first Thursday of May, and each year since then, it has been so. This year, President Obama will declare the 59th annual (and possibly final) National Day of Prayer.
Annie Laurie Gaylor, the Foundation's co-president, was quoted as saying, "It is such a profound violation of conscience for Congress to direct our President to tell all citizens to pray, and that they in fact must set aside an entire day for prayer once year."
I personally believe that the guiding force for the Freedom from Religion Foundation can be summed up in one word: Ignorance. To think that the President is in some way 'forcing' the American people to pray is absurd. A 2008 poll posted in the Washington Post showed that 92 percent of Americans believe in God or some higher power, including one in five people who claim to be atheist and more than half of those who claim to be agnostic. So, out of the 300 million or so citizens of our country, 24 million of those do not believe in some sort of higher spiritual being...hmmm, I'm not sure but that seems like a gross minority. And I think I would be correct in assuming that only a small fraction of those believe as the Freedom from Religion Foundation, and even care if there is a National Day of Prayer.
Prayer is something that emboldens people. It comes from our very core and exposes the deepest nature of our being. Even the most astute, non-believing, secular being, when facing strife, might find himself inwardly asking for help and/or guidance. He doesn't know who he's asking, but something inside of him is reaching for an answer.
A National Day of Prayer isn't forced upon us. On the contrary, it's a benefit to living in a free country. The government isn't telling us that have to pray to any one being or even how we have to pray...in fact, the government isn't telling us that we have to pray at all. With a National Day of Prayer, we are simply recognizing the fact that our country and our constitution were founded on a set of principles. God and religion were paramount in the minds of our founding fathers while they set up the framework of our fair nation. Now, to be fair, I will point out that both James Madison and Thomas Jefferson both opposed an established National Day of Prayer, with the latter stating that "Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the time for (prayer)...". But as I stated earlier, this is not forced upon anyone, and for the majority of Americans, it's a glorious way to come together to celebrate what they believe. And it's not just for one belief structure, but for them all. The National Day of Prayer is for anyone who feels the need to pray, regardless of what they believe. I don't for one instant feel that everyone should believe just as I do. But there is nothing derogatory, invasive, or unconstitutional about a National Day of Prayer. I suppose next people will want to remove the celebration of Martin Luther King Day simply because we're not all black.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Opening thought...
For anyone who is interested in listening,
I'm starting this blog today (April 23rd, 2010) to express my own personal views. Each day, I will attempt to get on here and put some thoughts down on 'paper'. Topics will range from politics to sports to hectic things that are going on in my life to basically anything that I feel like blathering about at that particular moment in time. No item will ever be taboo, and I will try to keep this as clean as possible (however, when I get angry or overly excited, some unsavory words tend be unleashed, so, there's my little disclaimer). Now I'm new to the blogging experience, so if something about this seems absolutely retarded to anyone, feel free to shoot me some advice...please do not get offended though if I choose to blatently ignore anything you say. Lastly, if any of my future posts offend anyone's delicate sennsibilites...well, no one is forcing you to read this.
So, without any further ado, I will get to my very first blogging topic (exciting!). Human-induced global warming has been at the forefront of discussion for years, and got a huge boost in esteem with the release of Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth". You can't listen to a radio talk show or watch a news broadcast throughout the week without hearing some sort of dicussion about it. Liberals wholeheartedly agree with it, while conservatives stauchly refute it. Obviously it is very popular to believe in man-made global warming, with everyone 'Going Green' and the boom of Hybrid automobiles, but that could all be clever market gimics. So the question remains: Is there such a thing as human-induced global warming?
According to CNN.com, a survey of more than 3,000 scientists was conducted, showing that 82 percent of them agree that humans have been a contributing factor to rising global temperatures over the past 200 years. However, scientists that disagree would state the majority of those who agree with man-made global warming study data while looking for proof that it is happening, instead analyzing the facts objectively.
Now, the only true way to see climate change is to review temperature records throughout history, and if you look at the records from about 150 years ago, temperatures have indeed risen with the increase of human industry...an entire degree! Now, this may not some like much to most, but think, if this trend continues, in about 3000 years, we could be in some big trouble. That is, of course, unless that one degree is a natural climate shift that the earth is going through since the earth temperature does wax and wane over time on its own. So, I am inclined to believe that it's a tad bit self absorbed to think something as small as we are could have such a significant effect on something as large as a planet.
It's difficult to look at the earth the way it is now and get a definitive answer. Earth's climate is very complex and unpredictable. You look at the one degree increase over the past century and a half, and compare that with the fact that air temperatures in the lower atmosphere having really been rising at all. While a recent discovery shows Greenland's ice sheet to be slightly thinning, the sea ice around Antarctica has actually been growing over the past 20 years. Now to me, that sounds more like Greenlandian Warming, as opposed to Global warming, but what do I know, I'm just a lowely army soldier.
I suppose the debate will continue over the years and one of two things will happen: (1) We will eventually burn up and all blow away as space dust, or (2) Nothing. Only time will tell.
I'm starting this blog today (April 23rd, 2010) to express my own personal views. Each day, I will attempt to get on here and put some thoughts down on 'paper'. Topics will range from politics to sports to hectic things that are going on in my life to basically anything that I feel like blathering about at that particular moment in time. No item will ever be taboo, and I will try to keep this as clean as possible (however, when I get angry or overly excited, some unsavory words tend be unleashed, so, there's my little disclaimer). Now I'm new to the blogging experience, so if something about this seems absolutely retarded to anyone, feel free to shoot me some advice...please do not get offended though if I choose to blatently ignore anything you say. Lastly, if any of my future posts offend anyone's delicate sennsibilites...well, no one is forcing you to read this.
So, without any further ado, I will get to my very first blogging topic (exciting!). Human-induced global warming has been at the forefront of discussion for years, and got a huge boost in esteem with the release of Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth". You can't listen to a radio talk show or watch a news broadcast throughout the week without hearing some sort of dicussion about it. Liberals wholeheartedly agree with it, while conservatives stauchly refute it. Obviously it is very popular to believe in man-made global warming, with everyone 'Going Green' and the boom of Hybrid automobiles, but that could all be clever market gimics. So the question remains: Is there such a thing as human-induced global warming?
According to CNN.com, a survey of more than 3,000 scientists was conducted, showing that 82 percent of them agree that humans have been a contributing factor to rising global temperatures over the past 200 years. However, scientists that disagree would state the majority of those who agree with man-made global warming study data while looking for proof that it is happening, instead analyzing the facts objectively.
Now, the only true way to see climate change is to review temperature records throughout history, and if you look at the records from about 150 years ago, temperatures have indeed risen with the increase of human industry...an entire degree! Now, this may not some like much to most, but think, if this trend continues, in about 3000 years, we could be in some big trouble. That is, of course, unless that one degree is a natural climate shift that the earth is going through since the earth temperature does wax and wane over time on its own. So, I am inclined to believe that it's a tad bit self absorbed to think something as small as we are could have such a significant effect on something as large as a planet.
It's difficult to look at the earth the way it is now and get a definitive answer. Earth's climate is very complex and unpredictable. You look at the one degree increase over the past century and a half, and compare that with the fact that air temperatures in the lower atmosphere having really been rising at all. While a recent discovery shows Greenland's ice sheet to be slightly thinning, the sea ice around Antarctica has actually been growing over the past 20 years. Now to me, that sounds more like Greenlandian Warming, as opposed to Global warming, but what do I know, I'm just a lowely army soldier.
I suppose the debate will continue over the years and one of two things will happen: (1) We will eventually burn up and all blow away as space dust, or (2) Nothing. Only time will tell.
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