you can't kill the METAL

I just have to say that i love being a dad.

when Hudson came out of the womb, he didn't cry. not a sound. but i knew he was mine because he gave the doctor a very distinct 'Cope scowl.' they rushed him to a warming table where the nurses put a cold thermometer in his armpit. no sound. but a look that very much said: i don't like that, remove it at once! then they had to prick his heel to check his blood sugar. again, no sound. but the look that he gave the nurse actually stopped her for a second and she looked at me! (as though i have some sort of influence over this child! i couldn't even talk him into coming out on time...)

I was beginning to worry that my son would be a mute, because he didn't make any sounds other than sneezes for the first few hours of life. (we learned that he can scream... yes he can...)

but i learned the true extent of my son's status as a BAMF, when the pediatrician came back from the circumcision and informed us that he hadn't made a sound. my son is a straight up HARDCORE, METAL puma.

those of you that REALLY know me, will know how proud this story made me!

the end is nigh...

we have finally come to the conclusion that we will need to induce. so instead of having all my friends and family call me to say, in one form or another: wow, still no baby!

I will write it here.

the baby will be induced on Monday the 22nd. If by some miracle the little boy decides to grace us with his presence before then... I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW. and it will be great.

I also will more than likely be very busy in the coming weeks. if anyone that reads this blog cares at all that i don't post often, i am officially apologizing now. cause you wont see much for a bit. because of this, i want to wish all of you A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS/HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

most anticipated child ever... well 2nd most.

I am so fed up with waiting for my son to come. i was super excited for so long that now i just don't know what to do with myself... he STILL isn't here. he was due on the 1st of Dec. and here i sit at work thinking of nothing except that he still isn't here.

in my more delusional moments i even imagine that this must be what it felt like for the Nephites that were waiting for the birth of the Savior. Sitting around waiting for it... knowing that if the sign doesn't show up you are going to die... yeah... i know, a bit dramatic. but seriously! i am soooo ready for Hudson to come into this world! this anticipation just makes me think how much better life keeps getting! the longer i am alive the better things get! I love this little boy more than words can express and i haven't even seen him yet. :D

California is ruining me... or at least bringing out my worst.

so this morning a man collapsed on the train platform and everyone rushed to see if he was OK. it was apparent to the 2 doctors and 1 nurse that had run over to check on him that he was OK, within about 45 seconds. as he sat up under his own power and was able to answer all of their questions. here is where i began to realize that i am an uncaring individual.

the train didn't leave. it waited. for 18 minutes. and the whole time, i thought to myself. 'what a selfish jerk. stop talking to the train conductor. we have places to be.'

this thought reminded me of 3 months back. there was a suicide. a man jumped in front of our train. he was killed instantly. they made us wait for over an hour. and my first thought was: 'why can't this guy off himself in some way that doesn't inconvenience over 700 people?'

and again... a man jumped from the overpass and stopped traffic for over 3 hours.... same first thought. i think i am becoming a rather pessimistic and callous person... what do you all think?

I am going to Hell aren't i?

why can't people keep their holidays in Chronological order?

I do not hate Christmas! i love Christmas. i just don't like Christmas while i am working on a Halloween costume or preparing for another holiday. take them in order. as they come people!

I just want everyone to stop neglecting Thanksgiving. it is one of the best holidays by far! we get to binge and then pass out on the couch watching football while women go out and shop. could there be a more relaxing holiday ever conceived...? possibly, but it would be difficult.

while i am on the topic of holidays... why is it that last year the Christmas tree in Central park was changed to 'holiday tree'? i know they said it was to be politically correct... but that makes no sense. If you are celebrating Christmas, then you should be Christian. if you celebrate it and are not Christian then you should understand that it is a Christian holiday and hence the 'Christ' in the name of the celebration and calling the tree a Christmas Tree. changing the name like that is like telling people to call the Menorah the 'Holiday Menorah' to avoid offending others... wtf? you know? lets just leave it alone. if you celebrate a holiday that is not of your faith then realize it will have tenets that you do not espouse.

nightly reading.

I am of the opinion that it is never early to begin the education of your child. that is why i have recently found the 'History of Civilization' by William Durrant. it is a 11 part series that details civilizations advance, starting with ancient Mesopotamia and working his way to modern day. I found the whole series used for $11. it is the best find ever! I will soon begin reading these to my little boy. I also plan on reading him my finance books! he will be such a smart little bugger! future CEO and Scholar all rolled into one!

as i have said before... I am SOOOO excited for this little one!

numbers

I have been told that my son is going to be the 225th baby born to an Oaktree employee. Furthermore he will be the 26th this year.

in light of this i thought people might be interested in a few other numbers. he will be the 9th grandchild for my parents (as Matt and Mandy just had their 2nd yesterday!) and the 4th grandchild this year. he is the 1st grandchild on Kel's side of the family. he will be the youngest of five living generations. will be a 7th generation Latter Day Saint. and if i have my way he will be a first in many accomplishments on future dates. he is my first child and first son.

I am really excited to have this little boy here! this is going to be the BEST!

are you really that oblivious?

I hate the stupid rolling briefcases. seriously. what lazy sack of crap can't carry a brief case? how much stuff do you really need to take to work that you need a luggage suitcase to haul to work?

If you are a user of one of these completely obnoxious bags, here are a few pointers for your own safety. ignoring these pointers could result in me losing what little 'cool' i have.

if you are fat and you are wheeling this bag around cause you can't physically carry it. this is a sign that you need more exercise. go get it. being that large is NOT acceptable unless you have a glandular problem.

if you are using it because you don't want to ruin your posture or it is bad for you back to carry the bag on one shoulder. think that through. unless you are 5'2" the little extend-able handle is not long enough and you walk hunched over anyway. that, my mentally crippled friend, is far worse for your back!

lastly, if you still insist on using that Devil-spawn device, be aware of where it is. in a crowded train station or on an escalator they are REALLY in THE WAY! if i trip over just one more of them i will pick the damn thing up and throw it. (they aren't that heavy you see? i can throw the damn thing). it does not get to take the space of a person on the escalator. people on the left are trying to pass you, so move that bag out of the way.

fair warning....

the captain of a sinking ship.

so i have felt that this country is a sinking ship... from the war in Iraq/Afghanistan/N. Korea/Darfur/Iran(pending)/Pakistan to the economic breakdown, we are just in for a S*** storm.

keeping that in the back of my mind, i have decided that it really doesn't matter who the next president is. they just have to be willing to wade through all the crap and get their hands really dirty. there really isn't any other way to get things fixed. mechanics get dirty to fix a car, construction workers get dirty to build stuff... and the next president will have to get his reputation dirty.

good luck Obama (or in the less likely event, McCain).

this weekend was awesome

This weekend i got to go back home for a little while. it was really great seeing my family. i miss my cantankerous, curmudgeon father. I miss my obscenely intelligent older brother that wasted those brains on being a science teacher (OK, good for him, but he could have done anything). and i really loved seeing my mom. the reason for this? I am a big mamma's boy. always have been. and i am not ashamed in the least.

also i was able to see many of my friends. one in particular stole the attention for this post. he will know who he is, because this is the big thing that i remember. on our way to the Real soccer game (they won, 3-1, and are in the playoffs) i said something mean to a mutual friend and he gave me a pretty decent dead leg for it. however, on the way out of the stadium a couple hours later.... he made a little girl cry. and then we both laughed...

The Lesson: i may be a bad person, but at least when i end up in hell... i will have my friends with me!

economy isn't so bad, it is the people...what is wrong with them?

These past few days have been exceptionally difficult for me. i have put in more overtime in the last 10 days then is healthy. my SHORTEST day was still 13 hours. I am tired. very cranky. last night i left the office at 11:30 and missed all the trains out of LA. So i had to call my wife and mother-in-law to come pick me up. i got to bed at 2 AM. i have one of those horrible headaches behind my eyes from lack of sleep and strangers on the train this morning (at 5:40 AM, so you count the hours of sleep i have under my belt right now) told me that i look 'haggard.' and frankly i was feeling rather run down.

until...

i got off the train and was walking to my bus, i was walking behind 3 people my age and overheard their conversation. they are teachers for the inner city schools. and one of them says with panic in her voice: 'he says if i don't give him at least a D he will slit my throat and rape my daughter!' it was with this statement that i realized that our world is hopeless and that we should just stop offering public education to ungrateful, violent, little shits that need a good ass whooping. i mean what sort of failure are you afraid of that you feel you need to threaten the life or your teacher and the virtue or her daughter (who couldn't be more than 5 or 6 based on the age of the mother). I hate the world someday. there ARE more pressing issues that need to be dealt with other than the economy.

ramblings of a discontent

i want to say that i am a huge believer in EQUALITY, but hate affirmative action. Supreme Court justice Thomas certainly thinks affirmative action is crap as well. (read just about anything he has authored).

we have so many people that receive undeserved position and power simply because of race, gender, or sexual orientation. "because they are entitled" to receive whatever it is. the problem is that they are not 'entitled' to crap. they need to earn it just like everyone else has to. (PLEASE note that i am not saying discrimination is acceptable. IT IS NOT.) we are beginning to see the development of a backlash. many people that have accomplished monumental achievements have then had them dismissed because it is assumed that they were 'given' the help or accomplishment as a 'beneficiary' of affirmative action. I even think that this is a part of the problem with Sarah Palin, she is defensive and says that people are sexist because they call into question her experience and credentials to be VP. maybe they are simply trying to determine if you fit the bill? maybe they want a QUALIFIED individual in charge of the country. and if you can prove to be that, then your gender has no bearing.

this little rant is my segue into Proposition 8 in California. it is the proposition that deals with marriage and how it is defined. at least that is what they have marketed it as. they say if this proposition is passed it will not allow gay marriage. if that is all that they were trying to do i would say 'can't vote for that.' as far as i am concerned everyone has the right to have half of their crap stolen in divorce proceedings. but it isn't about them being able to marry. it is about forcing their choice onto other people. i take issue with the part that will pass law that requires all churches to marry them, if they are asked to. that is forcing your beliefs and lifestyle on others that don't share that view. if you want to be married and the State says 'OK' and your pastor says 'no,' you should go get a civil union. you don't force your pastor to perform the marriage with threats of legal recourse. that is changing from equality to bigotry, just going the other way. the failure of the propostion also forces the teaching of homosexual sex as part of sex education in schools. The purpose of these programs is to promote abstinence if at all possible and to limit irresponsible sexual practices. i don't know about any of you, but they never told me how to 'do it' (i think most people are bright enough to figure that out), so we don't need to teach kids how to 'do it' differently.

equality, people, not reverse bigotry.

feeling sick...very sick

have you ever been called by your boss's boss's boss? and been called by name, and asked why you didn't do something that you were supposed to do? yeah that is about the most uncomfortable i have ever been. ever. it left me shaking in my office. lets say that i am only now beginning to fight down the panic. in this economy i do not need to screw anything up... i mean i work for an Investment Bank, this is a very bad time to hope that your mistakes aren't as bad as someone else's! i think i am going to be sick again....

I understand your point. I just disagree.

Brad left a comment on my last post. It was very articulate and well thought out. I just disagree.

the following is an article that i feel points out all of the sides to this economic situation. If you are in the first group that is mentioned (like Brad) then there really isn't any point to trying to fix anything and we are in this for the long haul. However, if you are in the second group (me) then we need to do something to organize our resources to mitigate the consequences as best we can. then there is the third group (i tend to lump most other people in this group) that feels that this 'bailout' is to save the rich from their own mistakes.

I apologize in advance for the length of the article, but please read it.

By George Friedman

Classical economists like Adam Smith and David Ricardo referred to their discipline as “political economy.” Smith’s great work, “The Wealth of Nations,” was written by the man who held the chair in moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow. This did not seem odd at the time and is not odd now. Economics is not a freestanding discipline, regardless of how it is regarded today. It is a discipline that can only be understood when linked to politics, since the wealth of a nation rests on both these foundations, and it can best be understood by someone who approaches it from a moral standpoint, since economics makes significant assumptions about both human nature and proper behavior.
The modern penchant to regard economics as a discrete science parallels the belief that economics is a distinct sphere of existence — at its best when it is divorced from political and even moral considerations. Our view has always been that the economy can only be understood and forecast in the context of politics, and that the desire to separate the two derives from a moral teaching that Smith would not embrace. Smith understood that the word “economy” without the adjective “political” did not describe reality. We need to bear Smith in mind when we try to understand the current crisis.

Societies have two sorts of financial crises. The first sort is so large it overwhelms a society’s ability to overcome it, and the society sinks deeper into dysfunction and poverty. In the second sort, the society has the resources to manage the situation — albeit at a collective price. Societies that can manage the crisis have two broad strategies. The first strategy is to allow the market to solve the problem over time. The second strategy is to have the state organize the resources of society to speed up the resolution. The market solution is more efficient over time, producing better outcomes and disciplining financial decision-making in the long run. But the market solution can create massive collateral damage, such as high unemployment, on the way to the superior resolution. The state-organized resolution creates inequities by not sufficiently punishing poor economic decisions, and creates long-term inefficiencies that are costly. But it has the virtue of being quicker and mitigating collateral damage.

Three Views of the Financial Crisis

There is a first group that argues the current financial crisis already has outstripped available social resources, so that there is no market or state solution. This group asserts that the imbalances created in the financial markets are so vast that the market solution must consist of an extended period of depression. Any attempt by the state to appropriate social resources to solve the financial imbalance not only will be ineffective, it will prolong the crisis even further, although perhaps buying some minor alleviation up front. The thinking goes that the financial crisis has been building for years and the economy can no longer be protected from it, and that therefore an extended period of discipline and austerity — beginning with severe economic dislocations — is inevitable. This is not a majority view, but it is widespread; it opposes government action on the grounds that the government will make a terrible situation worse.

A second group argues that the financial crisis has not outstripped the ability of society —organized by the state — to manage, but that it has outstripped the market’s ability to manage it. The financial markets have been the problem, according to this view, and have created a massive liquidity crisis. The economy — as distinct from the financial markets — is relatively sound, but if the liquidity crisis is left unsolved, it will begin to affect the economy as a whole. Since the financial markets are unable to solve the problem in a time frame that will not dramatically affect the economy, the state must mobilize resources to impose a solution on the financial markets, introducing liquidity as the preface to any further solutions. This group believes, like the first group, that the financial crisis could have profound economic ramifications. But the second group also believes it is possible to contain the consequences. This is the view of the Bush administration, the congressional leadership, the Federal Reserve Board and most economic leaders.

There is a third group that argues that the state mobilization of resources to save the financial system is in fact an attempt to save financial institutions, including many of those whose imprudence and avarice caused the current crisis. This group divides in two. The first subgroup agrees the current financial crisis could have profound economic consequences, but believes a solution exists that would bring liquidity to the financial markets without rescuing the culpable. The second subgroup argues that the threat to the economic system is overblown, and that the financial crisis will correct itself without major state intervention but with some limited implementation of new regulations.
The first group thus views the situation as beyond salvation, and certainly rejects any political solution as incapable of addressing the issues from the standpoint of magnitude or competence. This group is out of the political game by its own rules, since for it the situation is beyond the ability of politics to make a difference — except perhaps to make the situation worse.

The second group represents the establishment consensus, which is that the markets cannot solve the problem but the federal government can — provided it acts quickly and decisively enough.

The third group spoke Sept. 29, when a coalition of Democrats and Republicans defeated the establishment proposal. For a myriad of reasons, some contradictory, this group opposed the bailout. The reasons ranged from moral outrage at protecting the interests of the perpetrators of this crisis to distrust of a plan implemented by this presidential administration, from distrust of the amount of power ceded the Treasury Department of any administration to a feeling the problem could be managed. It was a diverse group that focused on one premise — namely, that delay would not lead to economic catastrophe.

From Economic to Political Problem

The problem ceased to be an economic problem months ago. More precisely, the economic problem has transformed into a political problem. Ever since the collapse of Bear Stearns, the primary actor in the drama has been the federal government and the Federal Reserve, with its powers increasing as the nature of potential market outcomes became more and more unsettling. At a certain point, the size of the problem outstripped the legislated resources of the Treasury and the Fed, so they went to Congress for more power and money. This time, they were blocked.

It is useful to reflect on the nature of the crisis. It is a tale that can be as complicated as you wish to make it, but it is in essence simple and elegant. As interest rates declined in recent years, investors — particularly conservative ones — sought to increase their return without giving up safety and liquidity. They wanted something for nothing, and the market obliged. They were given instruments ultimately based on mortgages on private homes. They therefore had a very real asset base — a house — and therefore had collateral. The value of homes historically had risen, and therefore the value of the assets appeared secured. Financial instruments of increasing complexity eventually were devised, which were bought by conservative investors. In due course, these instruments were bought by less conservative investors, who used them as collateral for borrowing money. They used this money to buy other instruments in a pyramiding scheme that rested on one premise: the existence of houses whose value remained stable or grew.
Unfortunately, housing prices declined. A period of uncertainty about the value of the paper based on home mortgages followed. People claimed to be confused as to what the real value of the paper was. In fact, they were not so much confused as deceptive. They didn’t want to reveal that the value of the paper had declined dramatically. At a certain point, the facts could no longer be hidden, and vast amounts of value evaporated — taking with them not only the vast pyramids of those who first created the instruments and then borrowed heavily against them, but also the more conservative investors trying to put their money in a secure space while squeezing out a few extra points of interest. The decline in housing prices triggered massive losses of money in the financial markets, as well as reluctance to lend based on uncertainty of values. The result was a liquidity crisis, which simply meant that a lot of people had gone broke and that those who still had money weren’t lending it — certainly not to financial institutions.

The S&L Precedent

Such financial meltdowns based on shifts in real estate prices are not new. In the 1970s, regulations on savings and loans (S&Ls) had changed. Previously, S&Ls had been limited to lending in the consumer market, primarily in mortgages for homes. But the regulations shifted, and they became allowed to invest more broadly. The assets of these small banks, of which there were thousands, were attractive in that they were a pool of cash available for investment. The S&Ls subsequently went into commercial real estate, sometimes with their old management, sometimes with new management who had bought them, as their depositors no longer held them.

The infusion of money from the S&Ls drove up the price of commercial real estate, which the institutions regarded as stable and conservative investments, not unlike private homes. They did not take into account that their presence in the market was driving up the price of commercial real estate irrationally, however, or that commercial real estate prices fluctuate dramatically. As commercial real estate values started to fall, the assets of the S&Ls contracted until most failed. An entire sector of the financial system simply imploded, crushing shareholders and threatening a massive liquidity crisis. By the late 1980s, the entire sector had melted down, and in 1989 the federal government intervened.
The federal government intervened in that crisis as it had in several crises large and small since 1929. Using the resources at its disposal, the federal government took over failed S&Ls and their real estate investments, creating the Resolution Trust Corp. (RTC). The amount of assets acquired was about $394 billion dollars in 1989 — or 6.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) — making it larger than the $700 billion dollars — or 5 percent of GDP — being discussed now. Rather than flooding the markets with foreclosed commercial property, creating havoc in the market and further destroying assets, the RTC held the commercial properties off the market, maintaining their price artificially. They then sold off the foreclosed properties in a multiyear sequence that recovered much of what had been spent acquiring the properties. More important, it prevented the decline in commercial real estate from accelerating and creating liquidity crises throughout the entire economy.

Many of those involved in S&Ls were ruined. Others managed to use the RTC system to recover real estate and to profit. Still others came in from the outside and used the RTC system to build fortunes. The RTC is not something to use as moral lesson for your children. But the RTC managed to prevent the transformation of a financial crisis into an economic meltdown. It disrupted market operations by introducing large amounts of federal money to bring liquidity to the system, then used the ability of the federal government — not shared by individuals — to hold on to properties. The disruption of the market’s normal operations was designed to avoid a market outcome. By holding on to the assets, the federal government was able to create an artificial market in real estate, one in which supply was constrained by the government to manage the value of commercial real estate. It did not work perfectly — far from it. But it managed to avoid the most feared outcome, which was a depression.

There have been many other federal interventions in the markets, such as the bailout of Chrysler in the 1970s or the intervention into failed Third World bonds in the 1980s. Political interventions in the American (or global) marketplace are hardly novel. They are used to control the consequences of bad decisions in the marketplace. Though they introduce inefficiencies and frequently reward foolish decisions, they achieve a single end: limiting the economic consequences of these decisions on the economy as a whole. Good idea or not, these interventions are institutionalized in American economic life and culture. The ability of Americans to be shocked at the thought of bailouts is interesting, since they are not all that rare, as judged historically.

The RTC showed the ability of federal resources — using taxpayer dollars — to control financial processes. In the end, the S&L story was simply one of bad decisions resulting in a shortage of dollars. On top of a vast economy, the U.S. government can mobilize large amounts of dollars as needed. It therefore can redefine the market for money. It did so in 1989 during the S&L crisis, and there was a general acceptance it would do so again Sept. 29.

The RTC Model and the Road Ahead

As discussed above, the first group argues the current crisis is so large that it is beyond the federal government’s ability to redefine. More precisely, it would argue that the attempt at intervention would unleash other consequences — such as weakening dollars and inflation — meaning the cure would be worse than the disease. That may be the case this time, but it is difficult to see why the consequences of this bailout would be profoundly different from the RTC bailout — namely, a normal recession that would probably happen anyway.

The debate between the political leadership and those opposing its plan is more interesting. The fundamental difference between the RTC and the current bailout was institutional. Congress created a semi-independent agency operating under guidelines to administer the S&L bailout. The proposal that was defeated Sept. 29 would have given the secretary of the Treasury extraordinary personal powers to dispense the money. Some also argued that the return on the federal investment was unclear, whereas in the RTC case it was fairly clear. In the end, all of this turned on the question of urgency. The establishment group argued that time was running out and the financial crisis was about to morph into an economic crisis. Those voting against the proposal argued there was enough time to have a more defined solution.

There was obviously a more direct political dimension to all this. Elections are just more than a month a way, and the seat of every U.S. representative is in contest. The public is deeply distrustful of the establishment, and particularly of the idea that the people who caused the crisis might benefit from the bailout. The congressional opponents of the plan needed to demonstrate sensitivity to public opinion. Having done so, if they force a redefinition of the bailout plan, an additional 13 votes can likely be found to pass the measure.

But the key issue is this: Are the resources of the United States sufficient to redefine financial markets in such a way as to manage the outcome of this crisis, or has the crisis become so large that even the resources of a $14 trillion economy mobilized by the state can’t do the job? If the latter is true, then all other discussions are irrelevant. Events will take their course, and nothing can be done. But if that is not true, that means that politics defines the crisis, as it has other crisis. In that case, the federal government can marshal the resources needed to redefine the markets and the key decision-makers are not on Wall Street, but in Washington. Thus, when the chips are down, the state trumps the markets.

All of this may not be desirable, efficient or wise, but as an empirical fact, it is the way American society works and has worked for a long time. We are seeing a case study in it — including the possibility the state will refuse to act, creating an interesting and profound situation. This would allow the market alone to define the outcome of the crisis. This has not been allowed in extreme crises in 75 years, and we suspect this tradition of intervention will not be broken now. The federal government will act in due course, and an institutional resolution taking power from the Treasury and placing it in the equivalent of the RTC will emerge. The question is how much time remains before massive damage is done to the economy.
This report may be forwarded or republished on your website with attribution

To www.stratfor.com

© Copyright 2008 Stratfor. All rights reserved.

Obama did what?

McCain says that the bill wasn't passed because Obama and the Democrats put politics ahead of the economy. pot calling kettle black? yeah....

It was both Republicans and Democrats that didn't support the bill. it was a big group of 'i want this passed, but you vote for it. I have an election coming up.' why can't we have presidential candidates that are intelligent enough to know that they don't know everything and that there is a reason we have 'advisers.' you don't have to think Bush is smart about the economy, but you sure as S*** better realise that Ben Bernacke and Hank Paulson are a couple really smart SOB's when it comes to money and Economic theory.

so McCain (and Obama for that matter) stop throwing mud at each other and start looking for people smarter than you to fix this crap. here is a list of really good ideas.

Mitt Romney
Howard Marks
Bruce Karsh
James Dimon

or you could just listen to Hank and Ben.

by default

it has come to my attention that this once personal blog, has now become the 'family blog.' this means i have to start talking about family updates. i am not so good at family updates. but i will try for the sake of those that claim they read this.

I have been sick this week and hate it. it is the worst kind of cold. the kind that is not bad enough to not go to work, but crappy enough that you wish it was worse. sadly, as i am recovering, my poor wife is coming down with it. and she can't benefit from the greatest medical discovery/invention since penicillin, NyQuil. I love NyQuil. love it so much that i would have made out with it under the bleachers in middle school. it seriously works better on me than most other people. i am out like a light in like 20 minutes.... so nice... and she can't use it.

the baby is growing super fast and he is super active. he keeps Kel up all night moving around. you can feel how strong he is. and the doctor says to expect him a bit early! so maybe he will arrive in November instead of Dec... that would be better for his future birthday presents.... cause otherwise he is getting birthmas presents! lol.

how was that?

addendum to the dilema.

addendum: There is no 'moral issue' in my head anymore. my emotions and my logic are now in complete agreement. when i found that i must attend driving school and that i must pay for that as well (another $65). I know that the state of California has no idea how to budget anything nor do they understand the proper functions of a healthy economy. (probably the reason they have the largest state deficit in history this year).

With north of $300 being the price of a standard speeding citation (running red lights are more by-the-by) it could most definitely cut into ones budget. so much so in fact that they would have to appeal to the state for social aid. and the state gives that aid to us. (look at that cool benefit to living in a liberal state. lol) and the aid that i will garner will be MORE than what the ticket is costing me... so let me get this right. they issue a ticket the puts undue stress on an already stressed populace, who then turns around and asks the same government that issued the ticket, to give them money... and they do. they even give more than the ticket is costing. no wonder there is a deficit. seems like they should open their eyes.... higher taxes is not the solution. just lower the penalty for speeding.

My moral dilema

so i got a speeding ticket this morning. at 5:55 AM. now here is the problem as the argument in my head went.

emotion: there are very few people on the road and i am going with traffic.

logic: you were still speeding at 12 mph over the posted limit.

emotion: i was passing someone! of course i am going faster when i am doing that.

logic: you were in the left lane because you always go faster than everyone else. it is your own fault.

emotion: plead for mercy, tell him you are new to CA! tell him you are scraping by! tell him your wife is pregnant and due in 3 months!

logic: you should have thought about all of that before you drove like an @$...

emotion: what is Kelly going to say?!?

logic: refer back to previous answer... dumb A$....

all this went on in my head as i waited to see if he was REALLY going to give me the ticket.... then i got the ticket... and saw the fine.

$265

logic: that is extortion if i ever saw it.

emotion: oh now you are on my side? it was our own fault before... but now... it is extortion.

logic: you are correct... but if i had known the ticket was THIS expensive... i may have considered driving better.

emotion: i have heard that before.

in all, i feel that Tuesdays are the sux.

the many forms of sacrilege

sacrilege is the act of taking something sacred to someone (usually religious in nature, but not always) and RUINING it. in this particular case it is not religious and the person will not be condemned to Hades...but they should...maybe even to the 8th or 9th circles.

those that defile the masterful engineering feat that is collectively known as the automobile.

the first person that is on my list has been there for more than a decade. the douchetastic GM Executive that thought it would be 'OK' to put an automatic transmission in the Corvette. that is the antithesis of what the Corvette was SUPPOSED to represent. you can not have a car that is meant to represent the freedom of the American road... and spoil it with an automatic. if you want an auto transmission, go buy the mini van that you should be driving.

next, any idiot that lowers a truck. once again, that would be the opposing purpose for which the vehicle was designed. lowering your truck just means that you don't understand the fundamental purpose of having a truck and therefore should not be allowed to own said truck.

and lastly. Travis Barker. yes, that Travis Barker. he lives in my neighborhood and drives (among many other vehicles) a Lotus Elise. to which he put a Yakima bike rack on. WTF? do i really need to go into this? probably not. but i will. it is not that he has a bike rack, frankly more people should. then maybe they would ride their bikes and get off the road so that i can drive like i want to. it is more the car he has chosen for said rack. i mean... a Lotus? why not the Yukon Denali he has? or even the 760i BMW? (though i would frown upon that as well). the Lotus is designed to be one of the most light weight and capable track cars of all time. i mean for crying out loud it doesn't even have carpet in it! for this Travis, i dubbed you the Anti-Carist.

Batman and Bush

anyone that knows me (all 5 of you) or anyone that reads this blog (i think that is 2 of you, on a good day) know that i love Batman. I love the character for lots of reasons but one of those reasons is precisely because he is dark and cynical, yet he yearns to be hopeful. he wants good things to happen for his city. The Dark Knight was the best example of what i have garnered from the comic books that i collect for years. the raw, visceral emotions that you feel as you watch this movie left me feeling breathless and on edge. the portrayal of moral choices with unintended consequences.... simply amazing.

but here is the most recent Epiphany for me. i was reading in the Wallstreet journal (and if i was more computer literate i would put a link to the article "HERE," but i am not so look it up yourself) and read Andrew Klaven's article about what Bush and Batman have in common. at first i started to read cause i was pissed that my favorite person could be associated with someone that i don't think exceptionally highly of. but here is the thing: he has a point and it is a good one.

at the end of the film Gordon sends the cops after Batman because that is what the city needs. they need someone to hate, so that they can have that hope that was Harvey Dent. and only Batman can do that because he has the moral courage and fortitude to do what he feels is right regardless of what others think and say against him. could it not be similar to what Bush has chosen to do? he has stayed the course. he has fought on even when others have yielded to the easier path of compromise. frankly terrorism is a horrible pox on the human condition. regardless of race or religion it is a socially unacceptable behavior. reminiscent of a toddler throwing a tantrum to get what he/she wants. They don't like America or the Western culture, so they will throw things and curse and scream till someone gives them what they want. and the best way to cure a toddler of this behavior is to ignore it or punish it. any thing else only encourages the bad behavior. but some parents feel bad once they have punished a child and they re neg. we can't do that or they win. Bush seems to understand that. and he has chosen to have a country that more or less dislikes his decisions so that he can help them. even though they don't want the help. much like Batman can be the 'bad guy' so that Gotham can cure itself and have hope for a brighter future.

I may not have the best opinion of Bush, but he has certainly moved up a few spots on my list.

Earthquakes are awesome!

I just want to say that the 5.4 earthquake today was awesome. here is the reason why. i was on the 27th floor of the Wells Fargo building in downtown LA. that building is on rollers and so it just swayed back and forth like a tree in the wind. that is all. I want to say that being blessed to be in America where the buildings are engineered in such a superb fashion, is what makes earthquakes awesome.

I also know that if this same strength earthquake had happened in a less developed country it would have been seen as a disaster! but for So Cal... it was back to work as usual in about 20 minutes. it kind of left me with a disappointed feeling. kinda like the kid who hears that a blizzard is coming, but wakes up and is told that school still isn't cancelled.

the joy of public transit

I know that everyone thinks we should be more green. more Eco-friendly. and so i have been trying to do this. (though if i am honest it is more because it is actually faster to take the train than to drive in crap LA traffic). however, i have a few pointers for those that are going to attempt to be green.

one, if you happen to be a large person, take your own damn car or lose weight. because i can tell you this: if one of you fat asses sit on me again i will stop being polite and ignoring it. if you don't fit in your seat and need to appropriate part of mine than you need to take your own vehicle. (and for the large black lady that gave ME the dirty look when she sat on me, as though it was MY fault you didn't fit in one seat... i will say something distinctly rude. remember that i am NOT the fat ass. you are. maybe you should cut back on the Cheet-o's).

two, learn manners. i am not sure if it is no longer something that people learn, but manners are a good thing to have when you are in society. if you are a prick you will only inspire people to be a douche back. here is my case-in-point: it is a crowded bus, standing room only. i have a seat. an older lady is standing. I (having been raised in a decent home with a mother that would have beat me if i hadn't) offered her my seat. and the following conversation ensues.

the man next to her says: if you are giving up a seat i am taking it.

to which i respond: that is funny i didn't offer it to you.

man: well i am tired and she looks like she will be fine.

me (getting more annoyed at is behavior): well you look like a strapping man (though he was the very opposite), i am sure you can let the lady have the seat.

man: no i can't, so are you giving up the seat? or were you just pretending that you are polite?

me (very irate): not to a fat selfish bastard like you, I'm not. it looks to me like you could use a few more laps waddling around the track. (at this point i wanted to say something more, like telling him i would give him a purple nurple he would never forget, BUT i didn't. cause i have manners).

after this i stood up and barred his way and let the lady have the seat. now this whole story would have gone much better if 1) he had some manners are realized that i wasn't talking to him and 2) that an older lady should always get a seat before a man. his poor behavior led to my own.

Third, if you are going out in public learn what the term Whiskey Tango means and think about it each morning as you are contemplating what you are going to wear. a few days ago a woman in her 40's was on the train wearing high-heels and nice business dress slacks. a good combination. but the see through white shirt with a baby blue bra... not so much. that is a horrible choice... and the only ones that wear stuff like that are either White Trash, or prostitutes. and i understand that i am a man and hence may not have a complete understanding of 'fashion' but i am still quite certain that is a faux paux.

First Kick!

Kelly felt the first kick form the baby today! really excited about that!

not updating on my life.

i was informed by email that i am not updating my blog nearly often enough. (no surprise to most of you). in addition, i do not let people know what is happening in my life.

well here are a few things. I MISS MY WIFE. she is still in Utah finishing school while i am out here working an average of 11 hour days. plus the 3 hours of commute time everyday. all this makes for a very cranky kid. but no worries, i have the time to blog today.

why is that? because i am dying or something. i was bit by some kind of spider, though that may not be the cause of my malady. it could just be an ear infection. whatever the cause, i am very unstable when i walk and i hope the room will stop twitching. it is giving me a headache.

there is my update for now.

Is 1984 not required reading anymore?

so... I just read about the Dept. of Homeland Security's new(ish) memo to local governments. Has anyone else read this? I have to say, it makes me nervous....

The memo begins with "words matter." I agree, they do. This is probably why the Founding Fathers of America have "Freedom of Speech" as a FIRST amendment right. It is also why communist government in China restricts the search engines results, and newspapers. Why any self absorbed tyrant, in any position of power, will restrict the ability of free speech to the furthest extent of their authority.

However, as I continue to read... I can't help but notice how Orwellian it gets...

It then begins to limit our vocabulary. I mean this literally. They "discourage" the use of such words as "Islamist," "Jihadist," and such. I guess I can (sorta) understand that... but then they start into how we should change it from the "Global War on Terror" to the "Global Struggle for Security and Progress." Why change this? Is it because "war" is too harsh? Are we not attempting to fight Terror? I thought that was the whole point! And since they bring up words mattering... "struggle" brings to mind that we are simply working towards something, not shedding blood. (Even though we are). And I actually did laugh at "security and progress." Are we really willing to change the goal so much?!? From fighting Terror all the way to security and progress?

The last thing to make me blink was that they want us to stop using the word "liberty." Apparently it is too closely related to American hegemony. (I would imagine that it should be, as we were the first democratic nation that succeeded in espousing it.) What do they want us to replace this word with? "Progress." There it is again. Why have they chosen this? "Because all people want to support progress." Well this is where I have a big problem. You see, all people feel they are fighting for progress. Marxism and Communism view their movements as 'progressive.' The very essence of totalitarian rule is a restriction or outright denial of liberty, most often in the name of progress. So here is my question: what are we "progressing" to?

What about security? What sort of security are we looking for here? Let me think of some of the best track records for security from history. Nazi Germany, not many got away from notice. Communist Russia, people are still scared of the KGB. Mussolini, he more or less destroyed the Mafia in Italy. So, I would say that dictatorships have rather strong record when it comes to "security."

So again, WORDS MATTER! Now tell me why DHS is trying to limit my vocabulary? Why are they choosing more broad and generic words? Orwell called it "Newspeak" and said that it is the only language that gets smaller everyday. I think my good friend George would be pitching a righteous fit right now... and I think I want to join him!

why are there so many thieves in the world?

so i will begin this with a true story. when i married my wife she already had a car. it is a 2002 Jetta turbo. now those that have had the unfortunate opportunity to drive this heap of German crap (Nate) will attest to the fact that it is the most unresponsive car they have ever driven. it is like driving in Mario kart, the gas is on or off. there is no such thing as "easing the gas" it simply doesn't work. the brakes, likewise either scare the hell out of you or attempt to brake your neck with the clamping force.

now in addition to the unfortunate properties of this car, it is also a broken pile. in 6 months of marriage i have had to take it to be fixed 6 times. and the cheapest i have gotten out of there is $586.78 which really irritates me. this irritation is brought on by a few things.

one: i am really poor

two: it seems VERY improbable that the car would have to be brought in for the same complaint and have a different solution each time.

and three: the following conversation.

Me: so the car was in 9 days ago because the engine light was on and it cost me $600 dollars, why is it in again? and why does the car not work?

Richard (mechanic at the thieving Southtowne VW in South Jordan UT): well we don't check timing belts unless you ask us too.

Me: i am not a mechanic, that is why i pay you guys, if the engine has a problem i would imagine it would be ideal to check it all wouldn't it?

Richard (a really intelligent person... sorta): we don't check things like that.

Me: what sort of answer is that? why wouldn't you check the engine if i bring the car to you and ask you to check the engine?

Richard: the timing belt is not part of the engine

Me: huh?!? what are you talking about? will the engine run with out one?

Richard: no

Me: then i would say it is an integral part of the engine and should be checked.

Richard: a what part? we don't check that. anyway a timing belt is $500, plus labor.

Me: Richard i wasn't finished with our discussion, if you don't check that when i bring the car in for the engine. how come when i brought the car in last month for the brakes you guys found that my engine is misfiring and i needed to replace the manifold? why would you check the engine when i want the brakes fixed, but you don't check the engine when i want the engine fixed?

Richard:... i don't understand why you are upset

Me: and that speaks volumes. you are trying to rob me and my wife. you are dishonest and not even smart enough to hide it well.

Richard: are you calling me dishonest?

Me: was that an inflection at the end of that? are you asking me if i did? i thought my previous statement was rather explicit. what part was confusing to you? how can i help clarify? or maybe i should speak to your supervisor or manager?

Richard: i am the manager.

Me: that also speaks volumes... listen rich, or do you go by your more fitting nickname? i don't want you to touch that car. i will never pay you thieving bastards ever again. don't speak to my wife, just give her the keys and i will have a tow truck out there for her car in a few minutes.

Richard: she can't drive the car, it doesn't run.

Me: hence, the tow truck, genius! i mean what the hell? have you heard anything i have said to you? put my wife back on the phone!

(end)

I want to point out that this was all done in a rather calm voice because my wife said i can't yell at them.

so for future notice, never go to Southtown VW. they are not only dishonest. they are morons. how Richard was placed in a position of authority... it strains my ability to fathom...

so glad that is all over

well, i am sorry that this has taken so very long. so very much has been taking place. As many of you know, I just graduated from college. that means that the last month was dedicated to two things.

1. Make sure I pass all my classes, so that I can still have a real job!

2. get that real job.

I am proud to report that I finished school with a 3.4 GPA, and am now a resident of the beautiful state of California! currently employed with a supermodel (for those of you that get that) who loves me and has no STD's... the girl next door has been very hurt by my refusal to date her, and has now boycotted every resident of the state of Utah (sorry Eric).

Other than missing my wife terribly, life is going very well. now I just need to get some of the boys out here so that i am not really bored this summer. any takers?

un-professional? me?

so as many of you may know i have been interviewing at many different places to get the wife and myself an excellent job. (which i hope we have now found). however, at one of the interviews that i had, we had a uniquely interesting little dialogue, which i think needs to be shared.

Background: i am told that i have an interview at 2:30 in Provo. i work a normal schedule (8-5) in South Jordan (25-30 min drive form Provo). so to make this on time i very obviously have to leave my place of employment early.

when i arrived at 2:15, i am told that i can read the Wall Street journal while i wait. i already have read it. so i think to myself not a problem, it is only a few minutes. little did i know that i was about to enter a room, not for my expected interview, but to have a 2 hour introduction to the company. while i sat and tried very hard to be polite, my wife sent me a text message. that i did not check.

now after this presentation they began to lead us to another room. while moving to the next room i check the text and quickly respond. when i get into the interview room, they have the audacity to tell me that i was being "very un-professional." now, i know, that i should have thought a minute before responding, but i didn't. what resulted was ironic to me. i don't think i have ever been more arrogant in my entire life.

my response: i specifically waited until after your presentation and finished prior to reaching this room. if you feel that is un-professional, i apologize. however, now that you mention un-professional... i think it is un-professional to tell a candidate to arrive for an interview during the middle of a weekday, taking them from work, and then, instead of an interview forcing them to learn about your company.

them: it is very important that a person know about the company they are going to work for.

me: of course it is. that is why they should have looked all of this stuff up prior to an interview, if not before applying at all. if a professional has applied for a job and has not done this due diligence, then they are a bad candidate and should not be hired. so please do not waste more of my time.

them: you have a point... we are sorry.

now tell me that was not ironic? i was an arrogant, pompous, ass... and they offered me the job!

strange world, isn't it?

Back to California

has anyone other than me ever noticed that there are tons of songs about California? about the beach, the weather, the girls... as far as i can tell, everything in California is better than anywhere else. i mean when have you heard a song about Utah, Idaho, or Montana? everything about Vegas is about leaving it... but everyone loves California.

there was a time (about 6 months ago) that i hated that everyone loves that place. i kept thinking that the traffic sucks and the smog in LA is horrible. the people are all money grubbers and self centered, etc. however, i have been going down there far more often now that i am married. now i know what they are talking about. of course i want to live there. i mean it is almost April and we had a snowstorm. it was 77 degrees in Southern California while i was wiping snow from my windshield. that alone is worth the more expensive cost of living.

i can't wait to move down there.

i declare it to be so!

Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog, and a few solo albums. all the accomplishments of Chris Cornell.

I feel that he is now going to enter the annals of my history as a complete musical genius. he is now joining the ranks of the greats. in my minds eye, Zakk Wylde, in all his maned glory, is clapping Chris on the back. Dimebag Darrell is making a few choice comments. Randy is saluting him with a face melting riff! oh! the joy!

there is something about Mr. Cornell's voice and guitar that calms my very soul. that is all there is to say about it. the music that he has produced is Amazing! words fail me as i attempt to describe these things. he is one of the greats! i declare it to be so!

and the best part is, that anyone that has heard "black hole sun" can't argue against this.

Rock on Chris, rock on! The Metal Lives on.

why do we even try?

so the wife and i went to one of those timeshare explanation/sales pitch meetings. you know, so we could get the free gift. i am sure most people have probably made this trek at least once. so there we sat. saying "no" over a thousand times. we started nice and moved into defensive, to finally end in "really pissed!"

eventually they let us leave "with our 'free' gift" after 4 hours. yeah that is right, 4 hours. but hey we have a weekend Las Vegas for almost FREE!

that was our hope for spring break. the poor college kids were going to splurge and watch a show in Vegas. while staying in a free condo. except... we can't actually use it at anytime we want. moreover, it can only be used during certain dates. on top of that, the dates that can be used are not on any weekends... so it isn't really a free "weekend." it is a "free 2 night stay on dates that you will never be able to go." worst waste of time ever...

who are these people?

i keep getting spam email. i assume that most people do. however, i have a slight case of OCD that requires me to read the title of every single email sent to me, regardless of which folder it is in. this means that i have met (somehow) over 40+ Russian girls that are bored in a coffee shop and "found" my email. and somehow i am such a masculine figure in their imaginings that they want to know if i am up for some (i assume once again) casual sex. i have lost count how many people are looking to help me out by increasing the size of my unit. this seems counter intuitive because of all the russian girls that want me. but incase i am not wanting in these two departments, i have many phone and internet job offers ($5000 a week! how can i resist?!?)

all of these i think are rather standard, but i got one today that just made me stop and wonder "who are these people? and why do they think someone would want this?"

it was an offer for a free "hands on" sex lesson from a real life Porn star. my mind took a few minutes to process that information... before any of you ask, no, i don't know who he/she was. (Devine could be a guy or girl i think... but what do i know?). it was marketed as a relationship help... somehow your partner, that you would be cheating on, is supposed to find this both a "turn on" and see you as willing to improve your relationship... call me crazy, but i don't see infidelity as beneficial to ones relationship.

i think the world is a stranger place than i once thought it was...

strangest dream

i truely hope that no one that reads this takes it the wrong way... but i dreamed that i ended up working in the finance department for Playboy Inc. but wait! it gets stranger. apparently Heff and i become very good friends. so good, that he actually meets my wife and kids (i had FIVE with another on the way, holy crap!) i end up being a influence so that he ends up marrying Holly and breaking up with Brittany and Kendra. and then he and Holly even get baptised into the LDS church.

Strange? Very. Possible? um... no man knows the mind or will of the Creator of all things. but, i do think it would be a huge victory! lol!

i also think that my wife needs to stop watching "the Girls Next Door" cause it is messing with my head...

733T Haxx0r

so anyone that knows me or reads this, it is fairly obvious that i am new to the whole blogging thing... and computers in general. however, i have recently learned that 733t is an actual language. AND IT IS AWESOME. so i have recently decided that i need to learn it. i will make it my second language. i will put it on my resume, i am that serious! on top of that i am going to become an ASCII artist. what do you all think about that? LMAO!!!!11

s19/\/1n9 0ff a5 teh uber L33t HAxx0r 1 wi5h i \/\/a5. 50 a11 u suxx0rz c4n l2arn 2 r34cl 7hi5

why can't they speak english?

any of you that know me, know that i am graduating from college this May. but in classic fashion for me, i have saved the crappy classes for last. that means all the managment classes.

so here i am sitting in Productions and Opperations Management and to my complete surprise i have an epiphany! every management class at the U of U is taught by someone that can't actually speak english. let me show you, these are all the mgt classes i have taken. i think you can see by looking at their names.

mgt 3440- Tariq Mughal
mgt 3620- Tariq Mughal
mgt 3660- Assay Manahaeh;fahjf;a;efha;
mgt 4260- Schael Barruch
mgt 3420- M. Hofeling
mgt 5700- Ming Piao

so why is it that we can't have someone that hasn't taken ESL? not that they are not intelligent, far from. they may arguably be the brightest people i have ever met... they just can't communicate well as a teacher. so why keep hiring them?

down the hill... from san fran

so here i am in the worst place on earth... a starbucks... in Oakland California. there may be some people that think i am being unfair. but i am here cause i am afraid that my laptop will be forcefully taken from me if i leave this little coffee shop. the men across the street look very unsavory, to say the least... how did i, a white kid from Utah end up here in Oakland? hehe... the pursuit of acadamia.

you see, i am here because i had to travel for a family "party" for my wife's family here in Napa Valley, where we (non-drinking mormons) joined the extended family to tour the winery covered valley and watch them partake of the many vintages. but little ol' me? i have to do business law homework. and i am very studious so i brought my laptop and planned on doing this at night while i am at the inlaws... until i found that they have no internet contection of any kind.... WTF?!? what century do we live in here? who the hell doesn't even have a freaking Dial-up? how do they even live? how do they shop? and most importantly... where the hell do i do my homework?

"the local starbucks has free Wi-fi, you can use that."

"is that so? where is that?"

"just down the hill"

and wouldn't you know what they mean by down the hill? F'ing Oakland. a place where a white kid does NOT belong.... now i wait for my impending doom. if you don't hear from me in a couple days... mourn my loss and forget about retrieving my body, it is far too dangerous.

once more into the breach dear friends!

i can't help myself

i want you and no body else... (other than kelly, my beautiful and amazing wife) i want my own personal jezebel. oh she is so sexy, such clean lines, such celestial styling, the dulcet tones that come from your throat... these things make me feel something unexpressable in the lower abdomen. (wink, wink) if i were as talented with words as some of my friends and collegues then i would write a poem to my 2nd most endearing desire. instead i am left sitting, waiting, wishing....

soon my dear, soon...

and then there was light....

so for those readers that have been wanting to me to post again i am dedicating this post to them. (of course readers means, Nate, since as far as i can tell you are the only one that reads this).

i have recently been seriously swamped between the imminent market crash, that some postulate will be the end of the entire world or the ushering in of the 2nd coming of the Messiah (depending on your religious views...) and midterms of my last semester of college, that writing a post about anything seemed to be completely beyond me. However, there is one person that actually reads these posts (up until he contacted me and asked why there are no new posts, i had been indulging in the thought this was just cheap therapy) and for that, i thank you. i will make an honest, concerted, forthright attempt to populate these pages with more posts.

sad news...the joker is gone

i will begin by pointing out that without the Joker there is no real reason for Batman to be in existence. they are juxtaposed in all aspects. from the Jokers wild colors and fanatical laugh vs the black ensemble and gravelly voice of the Batman. they are opposite sides of the same coin.

with this knowledge i wish to pay homage to what i am thinking was/is the greatest actor to play the Joker ever. when i first heard that Heath Ledger was going to play the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie... i had my doubts... until i saw the new trailer. all doubt left. they finally got the feel of the Joker in this new film. i was simply floored.

Mr. Ledger was found dead, a few hours ago in his apartment. he was age 28 and was the star of 17 Films (counting the not yet released Dark Knight). i am always saddened when i hear the news that talented actors that i admire have passed before their time. he will always be the best Joker in my mind.

Curious to know

some people have voiced a complaint that i put too much stock in comic book heroes and what they are supposed to mean to us. IF i am so strange, then please tell me...

what does everyone else think the point of a super hero is? why are they created and what purpose do they serve? i have seen it intelligently argued that the DC comics played a significant role in winning WWII. so we can't simply say it is for entertainment only, can we? superheros have been influencing pop culture for decades now. so why are they not important?

my climbing calluses.

calluses... they used to mean you were a man that made a living in a respectable way. they meant that you did an honest days work. nowadays, my wife complains that they are rough. i have apparently been laboring under the false idea that rough and rugged were a sign of manly attraction. this is very hard on my ego, you see i have some very gnarly calluses from rock climbing. even though i now put in a day of honest labor behind a computer, i still view these as a sign that i am a man that works hard.

however, i am now sure that the female readers (assuming i actually have some, lol) will tell me that i am wrong and that the ladies like smooth hands. and this brings me back to my first post... girls like superman too... he has no scars and no calluses. he doesn't have these signs of manliness because nothing can actually penetrate his skin. on the other hand, Batman has lots of them. (read the Batman: Hush storyline if you want to see how many. )

what is that smell... the elderly

so i have this friend of mine that mentioned that he is bothered by a certain smell. that smell is the elderly. at first i thought this was ridiculous, i mean the worst you can get with an old person is that "old lady perfume"... you all know what i am talking about too. that strange... not actually good smelling but not exactly nauseating smell. cloying is the word that comes to mind for me. this was the worst i thought of when i heard his complaint.

that was until now... i ran into an older lady that smelled like a hamster cage. we have all had the experience as children of having a hamster or two, usually as children. and because we were children we never cleaned the cage... so it lead to that horrible mixture of urine and cedar shavings...

this makes me wonder... who lets themselves get to the point that they smell this way and how do they ignore their own stench?

very few people will like this. lol

so i just thought i would start by letting everyone know that Superman is a sissy and he makes me very irate thinking about him. the only person in existence (sorta) that can beat him is Batman. which sorta means that everyone that is not Batman is a sissy. how do you like that logic?
here are some reasons why Superman is a wuss. he can't be hurt. that means he has no idea what pain is. did any of you know that when superman was created: the reason he can "leap tall buildings in a single bound" is because he couldn't fly. but think about him now? he can fly, he can do anything. i mean ice breath, eye lazers, turn back time, read DNA with his naked eye. i mean for crap sake! his one weakness is Kryptonite. what is kryptonite? it is the radioactive remains of his home planet Krypton, you know the one that blew up! over 700 Million Light years away... in all probability none of those remains would have made it to Earth. the very fact that ANY made it here defies logic and the laws of physics. so really superman sucks because he doesn't represent what a superhero is supposed to represent. the triumph of one over adversity. and nothing can really challenge someone like superman. so how is he a hero?