Entitlements

I have been thinking quite a bit about the younger generation, my generation, and those old people that think so poorly of us. While this has been on my mind for a few weeks, and in no small way influenced by this post by The Big Bags, the catalyst is really a cranky old lady that said all the people that are under 30 are "rude, arrogant little S#!@s." This was said to me while I waited for my flight out of Austin on Sunday night. That statement bothered me.

Here is the thing. Yes, we have a feeling of entitlement. Yes, the generation that is even younger than mine feels even more entitled. Can this be a detriment? sure, but not always. Even the older generation feels entitled (they all feel entitled to respect that they don't always deserve, among other things). I mean, really, if we are rude it is because our parents didn't teach us better manners. I happen to know that my mother would STILL slap me if I didn't offer to help someone (anyone, of any age), or if I was rude to an older person. Probably even if I was rude to someone that was rude to me first. Most of my friends of my age are the same. So what 30-year-old pissed her off so much? Turns out, according to her, I am just like her grandson. Well, if her grandson didn't turn out the way she wanted, I would say part of that is her fault. But if her grandson really is like me, then she needs to calm down. Being sixty DOESN'T entitle you to skipping an entire airport line, just because. If you want to get through the line faster, then get a walker or a wheelchair. As long as you can perambulate on your own, then you can be an adult and wait in line like the rest of us. None of us want to wait in line, it is an airport after all.

And as a little note to these type of older people, I work really hard for what I have. I am not entitled to what I have, I have EARNED it.

A few things to get used to...

Well we came back from Texas. Generally we loved it. We met some of the best people ever that will be in the MBA program with me. Great family and they will be our neighbors as well. Beautiful country, the air is so clean compared to LA, and the prices of everything compared to SoCal is just... awesome.

But I will have to get used to the following things.

• people really do use "y'all" and "howdy" multiple times in every conversation
• Not only do people buy "bedazzlers" but they use them... ugh!
• There is a 2:1 ratio of Trucks (with a capital "T" to denote how freaking big they are) to cars
• They only seem to drink coffee or ice tea
  

But these things are definitely overshadowed by the awesomeness of:

• no State Income tax
  
• Mutton busting (which I think Hudson will be doing)
  
• no traffic
• great ward
• I can get a pair of cowboy boots and wont stand out
• Tex-Mex
  

What are you talking about GB?

Some one please help me. Why is this even an issue? The US census is part of the Constitution. It has been around since freaking 1790. Bachmann is a retard and I am questioning the intelligence of the people who voted her into office. She doesn't want *further* government intrusion? This is not further at all, the Patriot act was intrusive, but this is just par for the last 2 centuries or so.

To answer some of the questions that were posed:

Yes, the government needs to know how many people are in an area in order to determine not only Federal funding allocations, but also how many seats will be in the House of Representatives (they also use this data to determine the size and area of these districts).

No, they didn't include the question about legal residency because those that are not legal wont actually fill it out and return it. So I suppose this isn't the perfect time to find out how many illegal aliens are in the country.

No Glenn, don't be completely asinine, they can't use this information to take away your gun permit. The information in the census is information that you have already provided in order to legally own a firearm. This means that they already know who you are and where you live if you have a permit to own. Now... if you don't have the gun legally, that is different. But I still don't see how they could know that you have the illegal weapon from the questions in the survey, so they STILL can't use the census as a "loophole" to take away the gun.

Instead of trying to stir up trouble over something that has been done for centuries and has done little to no harm, try actually reporting the freaking news. I know that GB is an "opinion" show, can you have some logic in there somewhere? I mean, how did Glenn make the "logic leap" from "there are 3 people that live in this home" to "the government will take my gun"?

Each day I lose more faith in not only our politicians (there wasn't much to begin with) but our media are only a bunch of attention whores. They don't actually care about reporting anything worthwhile, only about what will get other brain dead people to watch. 5 minutes of thought would let you know that the census is FINE. Please for the love of all that is right in this world, fill out the census. If you choose not to, that is fine as well, so long as you have a logical reason for choosing not to. "I am lazy" works better than, "they will take my gun" or "they will know where I live."

Just a note.

I saw the psycho actually going through the trash can today and collecting something that a lady had just thrown away. It is times like this that I am legitimately concerned for the safety of people in Southern California. I mean, this guy is still allowed to take public transit and creep people (mostly women) out, even after he has had the LA county Sheriff's speak to him about this type of behavior. So, our law enforcement can't do anything about this type of behavior... but we have people in prison for 30+ years on a marijuana possession charge. Seems like we have priorities in order.

More Geniuses like this.

I work with a guy named Robert. He is a genius. I know that he must be, because he knows everything. I am not being facetious at all, either. This guy is like freaking Nikola Tesla! He does complicated math in his head, WHILE discussing the fundamental differences between an Internal Rate of Return (of an investment) and a Time Weighted Return (or other such insane feats of genius).

But I am not bringing this up because he is ridiculously intelligent. I bring it up, because he is also the nicest, most balanced guy I have ever met. Most people that I have met that are this smart, are just freaking strange, socially inept, mentally challenged in some other way. Not Robert, This dude has held conversations with me about everything from Comic books to the European Champions League (soccer) to Finance/economics. He has a pretty wife (who is also really nice) and they are thinking of having their first kid.

So why aren't there more smart people like Robert?

and one more thing...

There is a reason that The Green Lantern Corps is afraid of The Batman.

Oh My EPIC.

This is why Batman will always win! Bet you didn't know he was a Jedi...

as a follow up.

previously I mentioned that my Xbox 360 broke. This is a follow up, to point out why the Japanese sell more cars and electronics than America does. Cause it still works.

Wow...maybe they DO get it.

Awesomeness in all its forms is welcomed here.

10 year High School reunion

Yup, it is that time. I am getting old at an alarming rate! I can't seem to decide if I should attend my 10 year HS reunion. Is it worth it? Have I accomplished enough? Do I really want my wife to see these people that I once knew? What about my ex's and old flames? I wonder if they are still attractive? or did they 'get old' like me? Not to mention, I had a HUGE graduating class... I doubt many people would remember me from back in the day...

What do the interwebs think I should do?