From Yahoo! News:
"A great deal is at stake in this matter," Bush said. "For ages, in every culture, human beings have understood that traditional marriage is critical to the well-being of families. ... And changing the definition of traditional marriage will undermine the family structure."
If by traditional marriage he means marrying only to procreate and/or please aging family members so they can die knowing they have grandchildren only to divorce later either because they were never really in love; for money; or for both, then by all means please protect the definition of traditional marriages. If he means marriage between strictly a man and a woman, well, I know about three--maybe five--gay couples who are married that will obviously be pissed off about it to the point where one of them will use his hunting and gunnery knowledge to their fullest advantage if he can't get him politically.
Oh, and on the subject of every culture understanding the would link to a family's well-being. Someone obviously didn't tell Bush that several marriages way back before we developed civil and individual rights were set up long before the child even knew what marriage was. Sure, it may be only with the royalties of the days when knights fought dragons, but hell, I bet even those families were never as good as the stories make them.
Call me crazy, but the traditional idea of marriage is lost in romanticism. Everyone believes that once you are married, it's like you're off to the happily-ever-after land that your mom told you when you were in bed. What he, and what I think most Republicans want, is nothing more than an idealistic view of what marriage should be as they see it written by, who else, God.
It was the second time this week the Republican president raised the subject of gay marriage as his campaign tried to focus on social issues, including the abortion debate.
Although Bush announced his support in February for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, he has rarely mentioned it until the last few days.
Oh, I wonder why? Maybe it has something to do with a certain election coming up.
Bush's presumptive Democratic rival, John Kerry, opposes a constitutional ban, saying the issue of whether to allow gay marriage should be left up to the states.
What this doesn't say is that Kerry doesn't like the idea of Civil Unions either. Neither party is winning my vote as of right now.
Also, as far as my state goes, they already made up their mind as far as what Kerry wants. Last I heard about the debate, gay marriages are a big NO in the state of Tennessee, as well as amendment to the law saying that out of state unions, both civil unions and same-sex marriages, will not be recognized in the state. That means there won't be any tax benefits or whatever else comes with marriage.
Can you tell I'm blindly ignorant with rage about this subject?
The constitutional amendment would need approval by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives and then would have to be ratified by 38 states. Even supporters admit they do not have the support of half of the 100 senators.
That's still too many for my liking.
This news report makes me so upset, I almost want to blow up all of D. C. just to feel better. And believe me, I know how to do it without getting caught. I might have published how to in this blog for all I know! (By the way, if I did and some idiot actually does end up pulling it off, chances are good it won't be me but I will be the indirect cause thanks to my leak of information.) I've never felt this much hatred to anyone before in my life, at least not to the point where I actually want to kill them and see them die.
Land of equality.
Bullshit.
Land of equal opportunity.
Fuck that.
This country makes me more and more sick the more I see news like this. The only thing that makes me wish I was dead is the fact that I can't do anything about it even if I was a registered voter.
Why?
Oh, I've seen how the world works first hand. Thanks to Andrew and Dan and James and Josh and Leo and Bill, I know just how it really works now.
The people that run the world are the rich and powerful. They are the ones that think they know what the people want, what the people need, but instead they give them what the people want to hear and only that! They go about bettering themselves to make sure they are on top and still in control any way they can, even if that involves underworld ties to the still-active-but-silent mafia and mobs that Hollywood loved to make films of. Oh, I know that all to well. The political campaigns where you buy votes from key organizations instead of having the people vote for who they feel will do the better job. Instead they vote for the person that lines their pockets with dead presidents.
Thank you, America. Thank you for making me a second-class citizen in a country that claims to be equal to everyone. Thank you for proving to me that blacks do belong in prisons and fast food chains. Thank you for proving to me that us "yellow-babies" belong in quickie marts and dry cleaners. Thank you for proving to me that the beaners belong in construction and auto mechanics. Thank you for proving to me that the women belong in the kitchen. Thank you for proving to me that only the rich and the cunning and the ruthless will get the American dream you promised so many people.
Thank you, America, Land of Oppression and Home of the Rich White Christians.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Talking to Myself
I can't continue living like this.
Continue living how?
With all these memories. I can't continue living knowing what I know. It hurts too much, and I'm reminded everywhere I look every time I almost forget. I mean, last night they were on CNN's PEOPLE In The News!
You don't know that. You didn't even get pass JFK's generation in the program. Hell, you didn't even get pass the 10 minute mark!
That's because it still hurts.
Well, it's like the monkey said. "The past can hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it." So which have you been doing?
I don't know.
You've been running from it. That's what you've been doing. You haven't learned a thing. You never will as long as you keep running away from your problems like this.
Who are you to tell me what I should and should not do?
I am the voice of reason. I am the one person that can tell the truth to the voice of the dreamer. As much as I don't like it, I'm the only one that can tell him what he does not want to hear. I hate telling him the truth because I know how much it will just hurt him in the end. I don't want to hurt him, but I have to be honest and show him that the world isn't as nice and fluffy as he dreams it to be. As much as I don't want to, it is my job to show him just how shitty the world really is. I am you. I am the side of yourself you don't use until you are down and out by yourself with no one to kick your ass around. But you don't listen to even me.
I'm sorry.
I don't care if you are or not. I love you still the same, but you don't know this. Why? You've set up defenses with yourself. Do you know how stupid that is? First you build a wall around us to keep everyone out that may hurt you, and now you build a wall between yourself and yourself. Has it really come to this? I don't want to hurt you, and I know I am saying these things to you, but I have to know why you have done this to yourself.
I don't know.
You just did, huh?
Yes...
It is times like these I wish I wasn't you so I could give you a hug.
Continue living how?
With all these memories. I can't continue living knowing what I know. It hurts too much, and I'm reminded everywhere I look every time I almost forget. I mean, last night they were on CNN's PEOPLE In The News!
You don't know that. You didn't even get pass JFK's generation in the program. Hell, you didn't even get pass the 10 minute mark!
That's because it still hurts.
Well, it's like the monkey said. "The past can hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it." So which have you been doing?
I don't know.
You've been running from it. That's what you've been doing. You haven't learned a thing. You never will as long as you keep running away from your problems like this.
Who are you to tell me what I should and should not do?
I am the voice of reason. I am the one person that can tell the truth to the voice of the dreamer. As much as I don't like it, I'm the only one that can tell him what he does not want to hear. I hate telling him the truth because I know how much it will just hurt him in the end. I don't want to hurt him, but I have to be honest and show him that the world isn't as nice and fluffy as he dreams it to be. As much as I don't want to, it is my job to show him just how shitty the world really is. I am you. I am the side of yourself you don't use until you are down and out by yourself with no one to kick your ass around. But you don't listen to even me.
I'm sorry.
I don't care if you are or not. I love you still the same, but you don't know this. Why? You've set up defenses with yourself. Do you know how stupid that is? First you build a wall around us to keep everyone out that may hurt you, and now you build a wall between yourself and yourself. Has it really come to this? I don't want to hurt you, and I know I am saying these things to you, but I have to know why you have done this to yourself.
I don't know.
You just did, huh?
Yes...
It is times like these I wish I wasn't you so I could give you a hug.
Friday, July 09, 2004
Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them - A Review of Harry Potter's (Used) Text Book
I was right. This was an interesting read.
I just finished reading the first of two of Harry Potter's text books available for the Muggle world to read. Forty-two pages in three hours. (What? I'm a slow reader!)
As far as content, the book is pretty much like a text book. It is in a very simple and easy to read format and organized as if Magizoology was an actual class. Out of context of the Harry Potter world, it also is a great quick reference book for all of the mythical creatures that are in both popular fiction and in the Harry Potter world.
I also found the notes of Ron and Harry very humorous. They were used accordingly with most of the key plot points in the books and films thus far from my understanding. My favorite note involves a conversation between Harry and Ron over what happened to Ron's Puffskein.
I can't wait for the History of Quiditch text book to come back into the library's inventory. If it is anything like this book, it will be just as entertaining, and probably just as informative.
I just finished reading the first of two of Harry Potter's text books available for the Muggle world to read. Forty-two pages in three hours. (What? I'm a slow reader!)
As far as content, the book is pretty much like a text book. It is in a very simple and easy to read format and organized as if Magizoology was an actual class. Out of context of the Harry Potter world, it also is a great quick reference book for all of the mythical creatures that are in both popular fiction and in the Harry Potter world.
I also found the notes of Ron and Harry very humorous. They were used accordingly with most of the key plot points in the books and films thus far from my understanding. My favorite note involves a conversation between Harry and Ron over what happened to Ron's Puffskein.
I can't wait for the History of Quiditch text book to come back into the library's inventory. If it is anything like this book, it will be just as entertaining, and probably just as informative.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Harry Potter's Text Books
Next time you are in your local library, look for these books.
They are text books that were assigned to Harry Potter. I kid you not. I found the one done by "Newt" Scamander and have the Quiditch book on order. Now, while I have not read any of the five books thus far, I am greatly interested in the two key features of Harry's world, the monsters and magical creatures and Quiditch.
This should be an interesting read, especially since I haven't read a book since PINS.
They are text books that were assigned to Harry Potter. I kid you not. I found the one done by "Newt" Scamander and have the Quiditch book on order. Now, while I have not read any of the five books thus far, I am greatly interested in the two key features of Harry's world, the monsters and magical creatures and Quiditch.
This should be an interesting read, especially since I haven't read a book since PINS.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
My Day with My Sister
Today, I spent the entire day with my sister. Quite on accident, I can assure you.
First on the list was a quick trip to Watkins to turn in my (late) forms. Thankfully, they didn't rip my head off for being late. While there, I thought I'd try get my registration date changed to an earlier slot, but Terry wasn't there to give him his scrawl of approval. So I'm still out of luck in that department.
The next stop was to pick up mom for lunch. Nothing special there that would promote any kind of interesting read or contribute to any on-going "plots" in my life as of right now. However, we did find what has to be the cheese dip from Heaven in a nice little Mexican restaurant.
After a miscommunication involving a car situation, we eventually got home, and I spent some time decorating my current Zoo Tycoon game, of which I'm still not done as far as building goes.
Then came the bulk of my adventure.
I spent the rest of my day with my sister at her work place. Yesterday, she told me that her boss was looking to add some color to the place, and I perked up like never before at the idea of a potential sale. (I later found out that there is a job in the art world called "Assignment Artist," which is pretty much anyone that creates art when people want it. Go figure that is where I seem to belong.) I went along to see what exactly the place was like and what it could need. I felt bad because they had some really nice old black-and-white photos from when this state was mostly a rural state with dirt roads. Still, there is very little to no color in the entire main sitting area. It is just white dry wall and bricks painted over with white house paint. It's rather ordinary. So, while my sister worked, I sat in the corner drawing and trying to figure out if I could even sell anything that had color. It was around this time that I found out my figurative worked sucked, and always have sucked. Meanwhile, my mathematical abstract and Cubism works looked more like art if nothing else. Around this realization, I remembered my only two colored pieces. So, tomorrow, I'll be bringing them over for my sister's boss to check out if he wants to buy them.
Given how my summer has been, this has been the most exciting day as well as most eventful so far. We'll see if tomorrow nets me any cash.
First on the list was a quick trip to Watkins to turn in my (late) forms. Thankfully, they didn't rip my head off for being late. While there, I thought I'd try get my registration date changed to an earlier slot, but Terry wasn't there to give him his scrawl of approval. So I'm still out of luck in that department.
The next stop was to pick up mom for lunch. Nothing special there that would promote any kind of interesting read or contribute to any on-going "plots" in my life as of right now. However, we did find what has to be the cheese dip from Heaven in a nice little Mexican restaurant.
After a miscommunication involving a car situation, we eventually got home, and I spent some time decorating my current Zoo Tycoon game, of which I'm still not done as far as building goes.
Then came the bulk of my adventure.
I spent the rest of my day with my sister at her work place. Yesterday, she told me that her boss was looking to add some color to the place, and I perked up like never before at the idea of a potential sale. (I later found out that there is a job in the art world called "Assignment Artist," which is pretty much anyone that creates art when people want it. Go figure that is where I seem to belong.) I went along to see what exactly the place was like and what it could need. I felt bad because they had some really nice old black-and-white photos from when this state was mostly a rural state with dirt roads. Still, there is very little to no color in the entire main sitting area. It is just white dry wall and bricks painted over with white house paint. It's rather ordinary. So, while my sister worked, I sat in the corner drawing and trying to figure out if I could even sell anything that had color. It was around this time that I found out my figurative worked sucked, and always have sucked. Meanwhile, my mathematical abstract and Cubism works looked more like art if nothing else. Around this realization, I remembered my only two colored pieces. So, tomorrow, I'll be bringing them over for my sister's boss to check out if he wants to buy them.
Given how my summer has been, this has been the most exciting day as well as most eventful so far. We'll see if tomorrow nets me any cash.
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
More Shit Hits the Fan
And I thought I was lazy.
Because I didn't understand what the hell my Student Loan forms were saying, I handed them to my mom, as those who keep up with this blog know already. Big mistake, as she kept them hostage until now.
Why until now?
Well, today was the day I was suppose to turn them into the Financial Aid office at Watkins.
And guess what?
I didn't.
Why?
Take a guess.
I hope Regina doesn't blow a gas pipe on me tomorrow.
Because I didn't understand what the hell my Student Loan forms were saying, I handed them to my mom, as those who keep up with this blog know already. Big mistake, as she kept them hostage until now.
Why until now?
Well, today was the day I was suppose to turn them into the Financial Aid office at Watkins.
And guess what?
I didn't.
Why?
Take a guess.
I hope Regina doesn't blow a gas pipe on me tomorrow.
Because I Like to Complain
Seventeen days without masturbating, and I've started to lose my interest in pornography yet again. All the hot guys in the world shoved into one orgy couldn't keep my attention long enough before their cum shots are filmed. In fact, thanks to Zoo Tycoon, the thought of sex in general rarely enters my head anymore. I'm distracted by problem solving questions like where to put the Rainforest Cafe I want to put into my zoo that I'm working on. If I'm not being a pervert, I'm off being an obsessive gamer.
I woke up this morning with a message to call back my mom. She called Watkins and found out that July 14 isn't the only day of early registration. She called me wanting to ask if I can call them to reschedule it so it would be all nice and convenient for her since she has that three day meeting that sandwiches my assigned day. Thing is, in order to do that, I need to go to Terry and get another form signed and dated by him and all this other red tape that would drive everyone up the wall. I opted for making it easier for them than making it easier for me.
I should blog more. I'm a bum as it is anyway. I do nothing all day! I haven't produced anything since I broke my own heart at the end of the semester. I haven't looked for a job. I haven't learned how to drive. I've done nothing but complain and sit of my ass enjoying the fact that I can blissfully shut out my own problems of the world and worry about something else like how much Gaia Gold I have to get before I can buy next month's Sealed Envelope. I don't vote even though I should register. I bitch about a country I know I have no voice in anyway. Right now, this entire blog entry is starting to become one big pity party.
My sister works. My sister drives. My sister has a social life. My sister has very admirable goals, long term ones in fact. My sister is perfect in every way I'm not. What the hell happened to me? What went wrong? And on top of it all, why can I do anything about it?
This isn't the way anyone should start their morning, so why did I have to start mine like this?
I woke up this morning with a message to call back my mom. She called Watkins and found out that July 14 isn't the only day of early registration. She called me wanting to ask if I can call them to reschedule it so it would be all nice and convenient for her since she has that three day meeting that sandwiches my assigned day. Thing is, in order to do that, I need to go to Terry and get another form signed and dated by him and all this other red tape that would drive everyone up the wall. I opted for making it easier for them than making it easier for me.
I should blog more. I'm a bum as it is anyway. I do nothing all day! I haven't produced anything since I broke my own heart at the end of the semester. I haven't looked for a job. I haven't learned how to drive. I've done nothing but complain and sit of my ass enjoying the fact that I can blissfully shut out my own problems of the world and worry about something else like how much Gaia Gold I have to get before I can buy next month's Sealed Envelope. I don't vote even though I should register. I bitch about a country I know I have no voice in anyway. Right now, this entire blog entry is starting to become one big pity party.
My sister works. My sister drives. My sister has a social life. My sister has very admirable goals, long term ones in fact. My sister is perfect in every way I'm not. What the hell happened to me? What went wrong? And on top of it all, why can I do anything about it?
This isn't the way anyone should start their morning, so why did I have to start mine like this?
Saturday, July 03, 2004
A Different Path
If there was ever a time where I wish I went down a different path, now is that time. I feel as if I never will be what I should be, and now is the first time were I see it as clear as day with eyes too scared to face the truth.
My mother will be attending an important meeting of some kind on the dates around my registration day. So, on July 14, when I register for the next semester, I will not have anyone with me to sign off a check let alone the forms I need to get my student loans. Those forms are currently being held by my mother because I didn't understand what they were saying.
This means that if I cannot get a check into the Business Office's file via my mom for however much I need to pay, I will not go to school. While this is good news for our financial burden, I still feel a bit worried and scared about the whole ordeal.
Sitting here, I cannot help but feel like I've made several wrong choices that are too late to fix. Driving, I can learn at any time. If senior citizens who were traumatized due to car crashes can learn how to drive, I have until the public transportation is dead in the ground in New York City before I absolutely have to learn how to drive. However, the financial shit hole I've put myself in is an entirely different story in itself. That's why most of the kids I went to high school with worked when they were 16. They were really the smart ones, excelling in a class I failed because there was no text book covering it. They knew that once they were able to be legal working age that they would need to get a job just to get higher up in the job market. They knew that tuition prices will continue to go up. They knew that the experience and the paychecks would help them get somewhere in the world if their education didn't.
In short, they and the rest of the world knew what I refused to accept as reality. As such, they are the better breed of my generation.
As for me and my lazy ass? Who knows.
My mother will be attending an important meeting of some kind on the dates around my registration day. So, on July 14, when I register for the next semester, I will not have anyone with me to sign off a check let alone the forms I need to get my student loans. Those forms are currently being held by my mother because I didn't understand what they were saying.
This means that if I cannot get a check into the Business Office's file via my mom for however much I need to pay, I will not go to school. While this is good news for our financial burden, I still feel a bit worried and scared about the whole ordeal.
Sitting here, I cannot help but feel like I've made several wrong choices that are too late to fix. Driving, I can learn at any time. If senior citizens who were traumatized due to car crashes can learn how to drive, I have until the public transportation is dead in the ground in New York City before I absolutely have to learn how to drive. However, the financial shit hole I've put myself in is an entirely different story in itself. That's why most of the kids I went to high school with worked when they were 16. They were really the smart ones, excelling in a class I failed because there was no text book covering it. They knew that once they were able to be legal working age that they would need to get a job just to get higher up in the job market. They knew that tuition prices will continue to go up. They knew that the experience and the paychecks would help them get somewhere in the world if their education didn't.
In short, they and the rest of the world knew what I refused to accept as reality. As such, they are the better breed of my generation.
As for me and my lazy ass? Who knows.
Spider-Man 2: Destiny Revealed
Hey, that's what I think should be the title given what happened in the movie at least four times! God, talk about being sloppy. But, I resist my urge to spoil it. If you've seen it, you will know what I'm talking about.
If you haven't seen it yet and is a fan of the first film, go! You'll love it! And make sure you get a theater that is showing a digital version of the film.
There were two points in the film that blew my senses away. There is a bass tone sound effect that you will feel in your chest if you are in a theater with at least Dolby Digital if not DTS. If you don't, you're missing out on something that feels so freaky yet cool in a movie where you are suppose to be a passive viewer.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a headache thanks in part to the humidity I had to endure walking outside.
If you haven't seen it yet and is a fan of the first film, go! You'll love it! And make sure you get a theater that is showing a digital version of the film.
There were two points in the film that blew my senses away. There is a bass tone sound effect that you will feel in your chest if you are in a theater with at least Dolby Digital if not DTS. If you don't, you're missing out on something that feels so freaky yet cool in a movie where you are suppose to be a passive viewer.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a headache thanks in part to the humidity I had to endure walking outside.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Hey, it worked for Disney.
I stumbled upon something interesting in Zoo Tycoon while trying to complete the Super Zoo scenario.
On a whim of some kind, I decided that the Yellow Brick Road you get from the start of the scenario would be different than how I had been organizing my zoos in the game. I would put most, if not all, of my gift shops near the front just after the admissions booth. Then, after that, anything else that charged an additional price of some kind. I put one restaurant there, the Animal Theatre which shows off animals of various kinds, the Merry-Go-Round, a couple of Photo Booths, and the Animatronic Theatre that you get when you download the Endangered Species add-ons (which reminds me, I need to put in a Kimono Dragon somewhere).
As soon as my first computerized guest came in, I started to notice a rather odd development. Having been forced pass all the shops and theaters, most of my guests went straight there before visiting any of the exhibits. The restaurant I can understand, since it is the one item in the entire game that refills your guests energy, lowers their hunger and thirst, and quenches the need to go to the bathroom in one fell swoop. I just found it odd that everyone bought their over-priced zoo merchandise before going anywhere else in the park. The others that visited would normally buy something from the gift shops I had there when they went to the restaurant for a bite to eat. As soon as my guest count got into the 300's, I lost track of who went where in this area.
Then it dawned on me. I've seen this set up before. It's the same set up Disneyland uses with Main Street. That is where most of their shops are, and before you get to any of the rides, you have to walk pass every last one of them.
The only thing that gives me the advantage is that in this tycooning game, everyone is a billionaire with money to burn. Roller Coaster Tycoon makes it a point to please everyone because of how many people have different budgets, but in Zoo Tycoon, everyone can afford everything (including all of my $22 meals at all my restaurants I have set up).
Still, though, I find it strange yet cool that a real life marketing technique works in a tycooning game just as well as it does in real life. Next time you go to Disneyland, take note of how things are set up. And make sure you people watch too. You'll see what I mean.
On a whim of some kind, I decided that the Yellow Brick Road you get from the start of the scenario would be different than how I had been organizing my zoos in the game. I would put most, if not all, of my gift shops near the front just after the admissions booth. Then, after that, anything else that charged an additional price of some kind. I put one restaurant there, the Animal Theatre which shows off animals of various kinds, the Merry-Go-Round, a couple of Photo Booths, and the Animatronic Theatre that you get when you download the Endangered Species add-ons (which reminds me, I need to put in a Kimono Dragon somewhere).
As soon as my first computerized guest came in, I started to notice a rather odd development. Having been forced pass all the shops and theaters, most of my guests went straight there before visiting any of the exhibits. The restaurant I can understand, since it is the one item in the entire game that refills your guests energy, lowers their hunger and thirst, and quenches the need to go to the bathroom in one fell swoop. I just found it odd that everyone bought their over-priced zoo merchandise before going anywhere else in the park. The others that visited would normally buy something from the gift shops I had there when they went to the restaurant for a bite to eat. As soon as my guest count got into the 300's, I lost track of who went where in this area.
Then it dawned on me. I've seen this set up before. It's the same set up Disneyland uses with Main Street. That is where most of their shops are, and before you get to any of the rides, you have to walk pass every last one of them.
The only thing that gives me the advantage is that in this tycooning game, everyone is a billionaire with money to burn. Roller Coaster Tycoon makes it a point to please everyone because of how many people have different budgets, but in Zoo Tycoon, everyone can afford everything (including all of my $22 meals at all my restaurants I have set up).
Still, though, I find it strange yet cool that a real life marketing technique works in a tycooning game just as well as it does in real life. Next time you go to Disneyland, take note of how things are set up. And make sure you people watch too. You'll see what I mean.
