‘Wolves’ reign supreme in fashion

Staff Article, Quad City Times, July 18, 2009 [available online at QCTimes.net]

We've often waxed poetic about the Oracle of All Knowledge. (Psst, we're talking the Internet here.) There is so much information that it would take several lifetimes to see it all. And, truth be told, there are plenty of things on the Internet that are a giant waste of time.

This is where "The Mountain Men's Three Wolf Moon Short Sleeve Tee" comes into play. You see, it all began as an innocent ad for an innocent item of clothing on Amazon.com. A $17 T-shirt. But, as so often happens, things take on a life of their own.

The first customer review for the product came from "B.Govern" from New Jersey. The rest is Internet history. Here's the review:

"This item has wolves on it which makes it intrinsically sweet and worth 5 stars by itself, but once I tried it on, that's when the magic happened. After checking to ensure that the shirt would properly cover my girth, I walked from my trailer to Wal-mart with the shirt on and was immediately approached by women. The women knew from the wolves on my shirt that I, like a wolf, am a mysterious loner who knows how to 'howl at the moon' from time to time (if you catch my drift!). The women that approached me wanted to know if I would be their boyfriend and/or give them money for something they called meth. I told them no, because they didn't have enough teeth, and frankly a man with a wolf-shirt shouldn't settle for the first thing that comes to him. I arrived at Wal-mart, mounted my courtesy-scooter (walking is such a drag!) sitting side saddle so that my wolves would show. While I was browsing tube socks, I could hear aroused asthmatic breathing behind me. I turned around to see a slightly sweaty dream in sweatpants and flip-flops standing there. She told me she liked the wolves on my shirt, I told her I wanted to howl at her moon. She offered me a swig from her mountain dew, and I drove my scooter, with her shuffling along side out the door and into the rest of our lives. Thank you wolf shirt.

"Pros: Fits my girthy frame, has wolves on it, attracts women

"Cons: Only 3 wolves (could probably use a few more on the 'guns'), cannot see wolves when sitting with arms crossed, wolves would have been better if they glowed in the dark."

This one review prompted 171 comments about the review itself. One simply said this: "This is why we have the Internet."

His one review spawned enough interest in the shirt to generate 1,253 more reviews - an Amazon record. Various sites reported that sales for the shirt "were greater than expected" because of that first review.

Quadrants has created its own "wolves" shirt. To see its power, direct your browser to qctimes.com.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

You just know when your parents hand you a newspaper article, and say, "we immediately thought of you," you wince. See the whole story, as far as my parents and finding this gem, originated at work. Where we get bored. And also where we deal with some of the trashiest people, any of us, have ever met. Walnuts made the subtle observation a few months ago, that trashy people love wearing shirts with animals on them. Wolves. Moose. Skunks. Nascar digits. Unicorns. Deer. Fish. Its all really the same. Its comfort food to their wardrobe I guess. Normal people have that one shirt they like.... or maybe that super stretched out pair of underwear, that you should have thrown out, streaks and all, long ago; that you just like to put on. Anyhow, we make fun of it. We have to. Because its almost a race against society to find the must absurd and undignified animal on a shirt, then wear it to a Menard's just to show people how you really are. Eagles were popular. "Stars and stripes buddy." Anyways. Aside from finding people in tshirts with dates on them, this is the most fun we tend to have on a busy, trashy, weekend. Tshirts with dates? Thats more like bingo. People wear things with dates on them, that should long ago be paint rags. "Worlds Best Grandpa, 1992." Forget that the newborn's hand prints on that shirt, are now casually fondling breasts in COLLEGE!!! Or the "Moonlight Chase 1988" tshirt I cackle at every-time a certain contractor wears it. First off, he could run 4 miles in a day at this rate, second, that tshirt is as old as my brother. I'm happy to say that. "Your tshirt is as old as my brother." Again, I digress... Animals on shirts make the trailer park people go round. So it came up over dinner one night a while back with my parents. We did make the slow realization that we have relatives that do this. Yes. They wear wolf tshirts... or nastard digits on underwear.... or dreamy tie dyed native american shirts with horses running around them, and dream catchers printed on the armpits.... So that kind of became a running gag for awhile around my parents. Then this gem hit. THIS sparkling, refreshing gem. I feel so vindicated. Really, all you need to do, is read the bolded, italicized type. Its worth it. Now I can say, wolf shirts arent just for the trashy anymore!!!! And it came from Davenport.!

How was YOUR weekend?

Davenport police report busy holiday weekend

by Ann McGlynn [QC Times, available Online]

Two stabbings, a robbery, a theft at a car dealership and a large fight at a bar kept Davenport police officers occupied beginning early Saturday and continuing through early today, officials said.

The youngest person arrested in the string of unrelated incidents was 12 years old, records show.

"It was a busy weekend," said Capt. David Struckman of the Davenport Police Department.

The first incident happened at 2:12 a.m. Saturday at 200 W. 16th St., when Shirley A. Smith stabbed her live-in boyfriend, Felipe Reyes, in the neck with a scissors, police said. He was treated and released from Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme Street, Davenport. She was arrested and charged with domestic assault with a weapon.

Also sometime early Saturday, a break-in occurred at Dixon Auto Sales, 1720 W. 3rd St. Thieves stole several sets of car keys and at least two cars, police said. Arrested and charged with third-degree burglary were George Douglas James, 12; Frederick Bernard James, 13; and Timothy Williams Jr., 15.

The James brothers, police said, have "extensive" juvenile records.

On Sunday night, a mentally challenged man was robbed of more than $200 in the 3300 block of Covington Drive. The suspects threatened the man with physical harm. Two people are charged with second-degree robbery: Nicholas Ryan Troxel, 17, and Keith Wilson Kelley Jr., 17.

Twenty minutes later, at 8:55 p.m., Darrius Ross, 31, was stabbed in the arm during a fight at 1124 Gaines St. During the fight, a resident of the house started having chest pains and a toddler ingested a bottle of pills. All were treated at Genesis. The child was admitted overnight for observation.

And finally, about 1:40 a.m. Monday, five people were arrested after a large fight at Las Bananas, a bar with a history of trouble at 1512 E. Kimberly Road.

Charged were Jose Luis Torres Sr., 40, for failure to disperse; Jose Luis Torres Jr., 22, for disorderly conduct; Deliah Berryman, 24, for disorderly conduct and failure to disperse; Emmanuel J. Berryman, 23, for disorderly conduct and failure to disperse; and Brandon Berryman, 21, for disorderly conduct.

--------------------------------------

Ok. So this isn't a Chicago or Detroit police blotter for the weekend. But for Davenport alone, this is pretty good. You've got a trio of car thieves, none of whom are old enough to be in drivers ed yet... You get some good old fashioned jail house neck shanking action. Top it off with the madhouse from hell, with a stabbing victim, someone else who wanders in with heart attack symptoms, followed by, a toddler needing attention dropping back a bottle of pills. Bring to a boil, then mix in a game of "mug the mentally ill." Lastly, let stand, and garnish with the Family Feud: Las Bananas Bar Fight Edition... where pops and junior v. chick + brother + other brother all go for the battle royale, where the

Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurvey SAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

YOURE ALL LOSERs.

What, the state lottery didn't want any of this?????

Rock Island mayoral race a tie, judge says

by Dustin Lemmon [QC Times, available online]

After two months of legal challenges, a recount and debates over which votes should count, Circuit Judge Mark VandeWiele has ruled that the Rock Island mayoral race ended in a tie.

At 8:30 a.m. July 15 the candidates and their attorneys will meet before the judge. Their names will be placed on sheets of paper, placed in identical envelopes, randomly mixed and then Rock Island County Clerk Richard Leibovitz will draw the winner, the judge ordered.

VandeWiele ruled that the final count was a tie with each candidate receiving 3,047 votes. Dennis Pauley, who defeated David Levin in the April 7 election with a count of 3,066 to 3,053, was seated as mayor in early May.

After taking a week to review the evidence from a court ordered recount that was completed last month, VandeWiele ruled that the ballots that weren't initialed by an election judge did not count. The recount also found a ballot that was mistakenly counted three times for Pauley only counted once.

With the numbers adjusted the election came down to two over votes. Voters on both had filled in the circles for both Pauley and Levin.

VandeWiele ruled that one with an "X" through the vote for Pauley was a "clear indication" that the voter intended to choose Levin.

The second ballot, which had a plus-like mark outside the vote for Pauley, did not count, the judge ruled. VandeWiele said a preponderance of the evidence, based on markings elsewhere on the ballot, showed that the voter likely intended to vote for Levin, but the statute calls for a "clearly ascertainable vote" and he could not make that finding.

Judge Mark VandeWiele ruled today that the Rock Island mayoral race ended in a tie and the winner will now be decided by drawing lots at a hearing at 8:30 a.m. July 15.

VandeWiele ruled that the final count was a tie with each candidate receiving 3,047 votes.

David Levin is challenging newly sworn Mayor Dennis Pauley.

-----------------------------------

Democracy, here we come! No its not the newest scratch game offered by Little Lotto. It isn't a tribal vote at the end of Survivor: Rock Island Mayoral Edition. It is, in fact, the way we get to install a new mayor, by the mandate of the masses! It if wasn't Al Gore trying to remake history, it was Al Franken. Unfortunately this character is not named Al. He is instead, by the luck of the draw, [pun intended], a 50/50 shot at becoming elected,errrr judicially installed, errrrr coin flipped into office on July 15th. Hello Quad Cities!!!!! What, match the white balls then a power ball to name a city council seat or two? Why not just have a bingo death match, no postage stamps.

S.

Queen - Princes Of The Universe

ohhhhhh yeah! some mid 80's SciFi goodness... Christopher Lambert. Trench Coats. Sword Fights. and Queen.

DING DING!


We've got a winner!!!!

Davenport student gives classmates rat poison

available online: QCOnline.com [link. June 5 2009]

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A student at a Davenport elementary school brought rat poison to school and gave it to seven classmates, but all of the second and third graders are OK, an official said Thursday.

The students at Monroe Elementary School ingested a small amount of pellets before school on Tuesday, said Laura Bozarth, a spokeswoman for the Davenport Community School District.

The student brought the rat poison from home, she said. One student told a school employee, who told administrators.

'They did an all-building announcement and then teachers spoke to the students to try and determine who may have eaten it. If you did, they were sent to the office immediately, where parents were called,' Bozarth said.

The Iowa Statewide Poison Control Center was called.

'Poison control told us that the children would have to ingest an entire box to experience any poisonous effects,' she said.

Typical rat poison thins the blood.

Bozarth said some parents took their children to see doctors.

'None of the children have experienced any kind of concerning symptoms. As of yesterday, five out of the seven students were back in school. I don't know why the other two families didn't send their kids,' she said.

Bozarth said it's unclear why the student brought the rat poison. She declined to give details about the student or comment on the student's status.

Davenport police were called, she said.

A telephone call to police spokesman Capt. Dave Struckman on Thursday was not immediately returned.

Bozarth said the brand of rat poison was Contrac, made by Bell Laboratories. It's small turquoise pellets.

'What it has in it is a chemical that has a long-lasting anticoagulant. Basically, it thins the blood. A mouse or a rat that would eat this, it would thin their blood so much that they could have bleeding problems,' said Tammy Noble, a registered nurse and education coordinator with the Iowa Statewide Poison Center.

Noble said it would take a much larger quantity to affect a child — more than a mouthful.

She said if a human ingests a small amount, the body should tolerate it.

She said if a large amount of rat poison is ingested, the person would be monitored at a hospital to make sure the blood is not too thin.

Symptoms include nosebleeds and bruises, and usually appear after 24 hours.

The treatment is vitamin K, which helps the blood start clotting better, Noble said.


/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

of course this made national news. the LA Times, KC Star, etc etc, all ran various versions on the same AP article. go Davenport!

Stan Bush - The Touch

where are my manners?

no 80s off, can be complete without... tEh c@$h gr@b!!!!

and what bigger ass cash grab is their, than childrens cartoons!!!

by the way, i own this on cassette tape. still. and when the jeep had the tape deck, dont think i wasn't rocking this one when i was out selling copiers! Dare was a better song. Instruments of Destruction rules too. but only this one had a real music video.

by real music video; i mean...

torn jeans. jordache jacket effect. mullet. wailing guitar solo. and posing. eat it bitches. eat my lighting bolts overlaid on my frets, with my trim mullet fluffing, while i grab that coin, and make this video the theme song of every 8 year old in america!!!

you'll never get hit, when your backs to the wall!!!

Journey - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

EAT JOURNEY, BITCHES!

what really repulses me about this particular specimen of 80s goodness, are the bands hair cuts. haircut, i should say. because everyone is rocking the same, thinned out mullet. no one has the nuts to really free flow one yet. but the sleeveless shirts... the jordache effect... and the random 80s hooker in a white leather "power suit" jacket bring the ruckuss for me. so floss that up your 80s hatin' ass... floss it with the drummer's porn 'stache.

ring ring

"collusion"

an agreement, usually secretive, which occurs between two or more persons to deceive, mislead, or defraud others of legal rights, or to obtain an objective forbidden by law typically involving fraud or gaining an unfair advantage and can involve "wage fixing, kickbacks, or misrepresenting the independence of the relationship between the colluding parties."[1] All acts affected by collusion are considered void.[2]


per a descent, third party, definition: uslaw.com

why am i bringing this up? think about your cellphone. and that great deal you think you got.

450m 39.99 ATT Wireless
450m 39.99 Verizon Wireless
450m 39.99 Sprint/Nextel
450m 39.99US Cellular

900m 59.99 ATT Wireless
900m 59.99 Verizon Wireless
900m 59.99 Sprint/Nextel
900m 59.99 US Cellular

1350m 79.99 ATT Wireless
1350m 79.99 Verizon Wireless
1350m ----- Sprint/Nextel
1350m 79.99 US Cellular

Unlim. 99.99 ATT Wireless
Unlim. 99.99 Verizon Wireless
Unlim. 99.99 Sprint/Nextel
Unlim. 99.99 US Cellular


here is the one thing to count out... tmobile/iwireless [a regional affiliate in my area], are NOT major carriers. its big compared to everyone else below them, but really they are the cut line. other people that provide US cellular service, like Cricket, Boost, AMP, and the creme de la creme of crap; TracFone; simply buy airtime from one of these FANTASTIC FOUR carriers, and run it that way. which is why they have plans and pricing that are generally lower minutes, for higher pricing.


who cares?

I did. when I was phone shopping in January, this about made me barf. why? because I DONT TALK on my cellphone. and while the 450 minutes isnt the problem; it was the price. because i really dont want to pay 40 dollars a month, for service i dont need. i used a whopping 162 minutes last month. of that, 78 minutes fell on a "nights and weekends" allotment from my carrier, which were not deducted from my "any time" minutes. whatever that means! "anytime" minutes, that aren't really used anytime, just sometimes.

any[way]time, i started to notice how much of a crock of shit this is. where is the spirit of competition in the market place, when it appears that the four big carriers, that probably hold 80 to 90% of the cellular network market share, are priced in the exact same tiers, at the exact same price. To the penny. Coincidence? In the same way that you get wet when it rains, i suppose. That's where the idea of price fixing and collusion enters my mind. to the penny.

while collusion does generally require a point of agreement among parties; [ie in fixing the price of crude oil, or *cough cough* adjusting the volume of production through quarterly meetings], i don't suppose that has to be the case. in fact, its called "tacit collusion." silent collusion. the whole mess of price fixing is sub categorized based on whom, and how the prices are set. but this still isn't the point, its artificial. why artificial? purists may argue with me; but we aren't passing a commodity. we are passing service. and service has no value, or all the value in the world market; dependent upon who needs it, and how bad they want it. commodities have a value. real or artificial, they have a value. its is traded, prices are speculative based on demands and inventory, or purity, or any other factor. what about service? again, I'd argue, that service has no value, or maximum value. nothing in between.

but we are sitting in the midst of a vast price war, that wont be fought. i suppose it isn't right to bang the honkies at the cell phone companies for charging what they do for their services. [see, not a product... a service]. but i have a very, very difficult time, believing that the true cost to their respective companies, and operable profit margins, dictate each of them to arrive at 39.99 for 450 minutes of service per month, to each individual user. to the penny. does that seem right to anyone? capitalism is driven by competition for money. nothing less. without out the true competition for dollars, greed, if you will, there simply is no more motivation to excell, to advance, to propagate.

[ and say what you want about nonprofit orgs; but even the Priest on Sunday morning passes the collection plates around, so lets be real about the money issue. and even so, the Rev. Soandso six blocks away will gladly take you and your offerings, if Father Doesntcare, wont. ]

so i ask outloud, for anyone that chooses to answer in their head; what the hell is the point? i suppose you are paying for differing access to service [coverage in their lingo], but hats a bleak point considering nearly any metro area has coverage from these four. i suppose you could be paying for quality of service; but that doesn't make much sense, voice transmission is the same in the end, especially now in the realm of digital transmission. so i guess you are paying money to a company to use a piece of equipment you like. is that what competition is really all about in the market place? no one seems to be taking any initiative in the industry, from what i can tell, to do anything different... no ways to provide cheaper technology, no guarantees of no dropped calls. no real changes in service. the only difference, is the shit you buy from them. and thats not even what you think it is. a blackberry is a blackberry. its on ATT or US Cellular, but its the same thing. the case is different colors. so what. does ATT's do your laundry? no. it makes calls and it recceives them. it sends messages, and it receives them. nothing more, nothing less. so to the penny, everything is magically the same, and it seems, no one else is all that interested in it. except me.

vroom vroom

this did catch my eye. the new 2011 jeep grand cherokee. do i like it? kinda. do i want it? no. but am i fascinated by certain features? you bet!

among the fun features:

a new ultra polluting Hemi V8 at only 360 horsepower, a new high performing 260 horse V6 [keep in mind, thats juuuust about what my V8 puts out!, with nearly a liter less in total displacement!]

an all new electronically selectable traction control setting; which is billed as a transmission control; but id bet it has more to to do with electronically controlled AWD function...

an all new air bag suspension system. this one interests me most! ride height is adjustable from 5 to 11 inches at the touch of a button, which is quite interesting... no springs or shocks... however, these things are notoriously awful at traversing hard terrain.

and last but certainly least in my mind, IFS and IRS. yikes. jeep is really flushing their heritage down the dumper with this. honestly, thats THE defining reason that i purchase my WJ; the solid axles, front AND rear. the current model WK went to IFS... this is just a poor decision in my mind. but whatever.


its a nice looking vehicle. but IMO it looks something like a buick suv now... definitively less jeep like.

[ pictures are all from JALOPNIK.COM ! plus they have a fairly detailed review of new features! ]

I have to say, that rediscovering things you had in life, really are a thrill... almost a big of a thrill, as the first time you came across it....


Leo Laporte.




I used to watch his shows on TechTV for years. Then came the college move. Then came the G4TV buyout of TechTV and the dump of nearly everyone on air. So. Pass several years, then, last week..... DING! I find Leo is still around! Still around and kicking! In case anyone is interested; Leo hosted several shows on technology; including the flagship "The Screen Savers," program, among others [like "Call For Help"]. Why draw to him, with so many talking heads? Leo first of all, is fair. Fair in points of view, fair to technology streams, and fair in approach. Granted, he is a Mac/Apple junkie. BUT he is a linux honk. But he has no qualms with the Windows world. He is fluent in all of the above, to the point of talking people through technology problems. Second, Leo is interesting and "soft" in approach. Interesting points of view are just that; it takes a secondary "softer" magnetism to bring in viewers and incorporate them into the views. Leo just does that. Third, Leo is funny. Anyways... Listen in, the podcasts of his shows are free on iTunes. Which is a huuuuuge bonus.... since I have these pushed to my phone now.


Leo Laporte [personal site]. The Tech Guy [the Show Website]. PODCAST LINK [will open iTunes].

Why Why Why Why

WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY? ? ? ? ?


That's the only question anyone seems to be asking me lately.


Why do you feel such pressure to get a real job?

Why can't you be content with going to a wedding single?

Why is it you can't be happy for someone else?


I hate answering questions like this. But sometimes its all related. This is potentially one of those times, as luck might have it. Potentially, I did say. Because, I myself, don't know the root of all three answers, in as much clarity, to know for sure myself. Remember, that all this space is designed to do, is vent the thoughts I wish to vent. It can't make sense all the time. AND it certainly can't even make sense to me 100% of the time.

Why can't I be happy for someone else? That's loaded. Waaaay beyond loaded. Granted, its the only question I'm not getting asked regularly. There is a sharp reason for that: very, very few people know to ask it, and where it reflects. I kinda of bends back to a certain someone. A Someone, if you will. And with so many to choose from, I wont elaborate any further, than to say, different people, from different times of my life, will all think this answer points back to them. That's the likely answer. It does, in large respect, come back to each of them. Yes, I can be happy with them. But no, anymore, I can't be happy FOR them. Because that's dropping away a lot of things from my own sense of humanity, to make it palpable in the blandest of servings. Especially to me. In short, I have to do this because I know that its a way to heal myself from everything everyone else has done over the years. Its my way, of making myself, choke on the medicine, I need to take. I could sit and feign happiness, but i wont know it myself. As just as that might be, its not very honest. To me, part of this revolves around my failed sense of being honest with myself. I've lied. I've cheated. I've been extraordinary difficult to deal with. All to myself. So to be happy for someone else, means I have to forget everything I ever did.... to separate the happiness I had from them and from myself. Right now, that's what I'm driving at.

Secondly; Why can't I be content going to a wedding single? Well. See the last question. See my answer bleeding through? Because its about to bleed across to the third question as well. See, I need to move on. I need to have a life. I can't be me. I can't be, this ridiculous excuse for Scott, indefinitely. One, civilized step forward in the rest of my life, is the big step. At 28, nearly every friend I had or have; is married. Or closely in route. I'm here. I'm the biggest joke I know. I struggle with the fact that I can't make it happen. Not marriage. That I can't make a relationship work. Because it's obvious to everyone that's known me for several years, that's part of the problem. The second part of the problem is the Scott in question. But this is it. I can't be who I am forever. I can't, and I don't want to be. And now, that I'm at this juncture, I can't change it. I can't seem to do a damn thing about it. So I have to do something to set my motivation in order. I have to give myself a reason. I have to know in my mind, that I need a deadline. So when everyone asks me, Why the date? Because I have to show myself, that I'm not a worthless, nearly 30 year old, about to burn out on self esteem. I guess, I have to motivate myself to show everyone, that I'm not that guy. So I'm struggling to find something to work from, as is painfully aware.

So then, Why do I feel such pressure to get a real job? Because all those years ago; that was the dream I always had for myself. My great plan for life, depended on my ability to make some money. Filthy fucking piles of money. So I could escape. So I could end up being Scott to whatever extent I wanted myself to amount to. Because, subconsciously, even then I knew it was going to be such a struggle to find anyone else out there for me, I forced myself to prepare for the days alone. My plan for life still hasn't changed. To cash out. To drop totally off the grid, so to speak, at a relatively young age, and just go off. To Ted Williams my life.... To hit a home run in my last at bat, and walk right out of the stadium when I do it. To keep the whole thing a complete surprise to everyone. That dream, revolves around my ability to set up that whole scenario. So I can't wait forever. And right now seems like a great time. The people around me are great. But I'd be lying to myself again, if I said that I knew... deep down... that I wasn't capable of more than this. I think everyone else would too.

So I have to put pressure on myself, because that's what its all about. ME. That's all I have at the end of the day. I go home to myself. I don't have a wife, that cares about me or my day. I don't have anyone that ever wants to know what I do. Who cares if I make dinner? Who compliments me if I decided to go out looking nice to work at a whim? No one seems amused by my jokes at night, in those last moment before drifting to sleep. No one needs me around to hold their hand when they cry, or to kiss them whey they see me leave. No one tells me Happy Valentines Day, and means it, and no kids bring me handwritten cards with sappy, miss-spelled phrases. I don't go to a job, and make decisions people respect. I don't have any part in doing much of anything I really enjoy. And I certainly don't do anything, anyone else couldn't do.

No, I don't have any of that. It was one of those promises I made to myself a few years ago, late at night, sleeping in my car, that I know I have to keep to myself. And I do intend on making it right. Even if I write the check, and cash to myself; someone has to know that. Everything that I thought I wanted, hinges on me moving on. Its just a job. Its just a date. Its just happiness. Why does it matter when I make a decision to move in that direction? Why does any of it matter to any of us?

Quite possibly the longest sentence I have ever encountered in my
adult life

"He bid me observe it, and I should always find that the calamities of
life were shared among the upper and lower part of mankind; but
thatthe middle station had the fewest disasters, and was exposed to so
many vicissitudes as the higher or lower part of mankind; nay, they
were not subjected to so many distempers and uneasiness either of the
body or the mind, as those were who, by vicious living, luxury, and
extracagancies on one hand, or by hard labor, want of necessities, and
mean or insurficient diet on the other hand, bring distempers upon
themselves by the natural consequences of their way of living; that
the middle station of life was calculated for all kinds of virtues and
all kind of enjoyments; that peace and plenty were the handmaids of a
middle fortune; that temperance, moderation, quietness, health,
society, all agreeable diversions, and all desireable pleasures, were
the blessings attending the middle station of life; that this way men
went silently and smoothly through the world, and comfortably out of
it, not embarrassed with the lahore of the hands or of the head, not
sold to the life of slavery for daily bread, or harassed with
perplexed circumstances, which rob the soul of peace and the body of
rest; not enraged with the passion of envy, or secret burning lust of
ambition for great things; but in easy circumstances sliding gently
through the world, and sensibly tasting the sweets of living, without
the bitter; feeling that they are happy, and learning by every day's
experience to know it more sensibly. "

Daniel Defoe "Robinson Crusoe"

Sent from my iPhone

So what's on my mind. ...

First and foremost is the Jeep surgery I'll be performing tomorrow.
For some reason that damn front bumper and fascia decided to rip off
on thursday and when it did, it decided to take some stuff with it.
That means my fog lights and their respective wiring. That means my
nifty chrome grill. That means it may take some work on my part. The
only thing I'm worried about are the plastic pieces and clips. Without
any time to survey the extent of the finite damage, combined with the
knowledge of Chrylsler engineering and the infinite wisdom of making
everything of brittle plastic; it could be an interesting day or an
expensive day. Mechanically it's moderately straightforward it's never
that clear of a process until I can put my hands through it.

Secondly, on a more random link; I've been thinking a lot about energy
useage and conservation. I say random because for me I don't care
much. However I am fascinated at how inefficient a regular
incandescent light bulb is. Drawing nearly 100 watts of juice to net
about 2000 lumens of light. While todays dollar store variety CFL bulb
replacements do the same 2000 lumen of light; but only draw 25 watts
or less and produce almost no heat. I started switching bulbs out when
I moved upstairs to electrical and about five months later I have
noticed a difference in energy useage. Fascinating. Just the idea of
applying a different technology to create such a noticeable effect
fascinates me. Little things I guess. And it's not the conservation of
energy that interests me; it's the application and resulting net
efficiency that fascinates me.

Sent from my iPhone

news day, fri days

Rapelay virtual rape game banned by Amazon

A PC game that allows players to gang rape virtual women – and then
force them to have an abortion – has been banned from Amazon.

By Matthew Moore [AVAILABLE Online: UK Telegraph
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/4611161/Rapelay-virtual-rape-game-banned-by-Amazon.html>.
Feb 13 2009]

In Rapelay, gamers direct a character to sexually assault a mother and
her two young daughters at an underground station, before raping any of
a selection female characters.

The game was intended for release just in Japan, but was on offer to
British buyers through Amazon Marketplace, the section of the online
store's website open to third-party sellers.

But Amazon has now withdrawn the game after complaints from users,
deeming it to be inappropriate. "We determined that we did not want to
be selling this particular item," a spokeswoman said.

Rapelay was developed by the Japanese production house Illusion, which
makes a number of sexually violent games for the domestic market. Their
other titles include "Battle Raper" and "Artificial Girl".

A spokesman for the company said: "We believe there is no problem with
the software, which has cleared the domestic ratings of an ethics
watchdog body."

Keith Vaz, the Labour MP for Leicester East who has previously spoken
out against computer games that promote violence, condemned the game.

"It is intolerable that anyone would purchase a game that simulates the
criminal offence of rape," he told the Belfast Telegraph.

Rapelay, which was released in 2006, encourages players to force the
virtual woman they rape to have an abortion. If they are allowed to give
birth the woman throws the player's character under a train, according
to reviews of the game. It also has a feature allowing several players
to team up against individual women.

////////////////////////////////////////////

First off.... what the hell...

Second off... why am i just hearing about this game NOW, when i CANT GET
IT????

Third off.... how much more sexually repressed, but obsessively
extroverted can Japan get?

Fourth off...... when was this game really ever a good idea to market to
anyone, backed by any company?

Fifth off..... why can Amazon japan still get it, but not brittan? must
be some sort of translation issues, where it wouldnt make sense in
english i suppose.

Sixth off...... i think we all know what video game i want for Christmas
this year!!!!

read it. just let it ride.

via: The Smoking Gun Website, Feb 8th 2009.

Blow-up Doll Party

Floridian nabbed for public ménage a trois with plastic partners

FEBRUARY 5--A Florida man was arrested yesterday after he was spotted fondling and making out with a pair of blow-up dolls in a supermarket parking lot. Shoppers called cops when they spotted George Bartusek, 51, getting busy in the front seat of his 1998 Lincoln Town Car, which was parked directly in front of a Publix store. Evidence photos (seen below and here) showing Bartusek's inanimate partners were provided to TSG by the Cape Coral Police Department. According to a police report, witnesses told cops that Bartusek was "performing activity to two different blow up dolls in his vehicle that was consistent with masturbation and other simulated sexual activity." He was also spotted "aggressively" kissing the dolls. When confronted by police, Bartusek said that he was headed to Target to "get some clothes for his dolls." Bartusek, charged with breach of peace, was wearing shorts with a three-inch opening "in the crotch area." Of course, he "had no underwear on under the shorts," noted police. Bartusek is pictured at right in a Lee County Sheriff's Office mug shot.

well not a whole lot worth writing.

as well all know; sometimes thats what i say when i dont have anything to talk about.... but more often thats what i say when i really just dont want to talk about it. sigh.


i suppose it all started with me re-watching some Soprano's episodes a a couple weeks ago... in particular an episode in season 2, [Bust Out, for those keeping score] where Tony takes AJ out on the boat, and it plays out with them and Journey as the backing music. Journey will only bring a fucked up sense of reality to my life. every time i hear "donnnnnnt stop, beeeleeeeeeeeeivin'" all i can think about is the last episode of the Sopranos... so i was surprised i overlooked this 'gem' and forgot Journey made atleast one other musical apperance in the show.

journey. is sap rock. pure. 80s sap rock. but since i kept wanting to hear the songs, so closely associated with the moments in the show... i loaded it up on itunes and now its all i hear.... crappy journey songs in public. i look at this as having a field guide to birds; and now i notice specific birds among many, or notice birds where id never seen them before. fuckin journey. now i hear journey everywhere...

so that started it off. then everything else kept coming. random work related garbage. random family related garbage. random lack of love life related garbage. all in all, im blaming journey for this. then the kicker was finding someone on facebook whom; i should never, ever, have looked for. but i did. and found. and friended. and have now talked to several times. and im sure for them its like i never existed. but its not fresh anymore in my head. but its a long ways from being forgotten. but of course, a week from valentines day, it gets kicked up. god damn journey.

JOURNEY

the 80's hits rollllllll on! rollin like the

WHEEL IN THE SKY!

get out your dusty, stringy mullets, pinch off your testicles, and roll out with your skin tight jeans, and belt it out.....

ooooooooooooooooooooo the wheel in the sky keeps on turnin!

Dancing with Myself - Billy Idol

im bringing the heat people. im dancin with my [zombie????] self, self!!! so make a fist.... crook your arm.... pose that bleached hair do.... then roll out with some gay dancing action in the cut away leather vest....


ooooh


cuz im dancing with mysel-helf!!!!!

A So-real Chain of Days

I havent put up a real post of worth here in a few days.... i suppose im over due.

the last couple of weeks ive had alot on my mind. why?

work is what it is. its work. i still havent hit the stage where everything is easy, and down hill and butter coated yet. i still have to think when people ask me questions about stuff. i have to prepare a response. i have to actually consult a fucking paper catalog to get an answer. plumbing was so much easier for me. i knew it. i shut my brain off for days sometimes. i didnt need a catalog. i knew what companies made available. all i had to do was call for accurate pricing and stock notices. im not so lucky now. so it is work.

i suppose id lie if i said my whole grandmother isssue isnt ever on my mind. it is. in different ways. we've had a series of not so good days. there is more medication now than i know about. physically, she is about where a 90 year old woman should be. mentally its changing day by day. we've had several middle of the night calls. in fact, most of the time when she calls my parents, its like we arent sure of who the person is thats calling. the voice we know. the things she says sometimes... the mood swings.... its very difficult. but then, there are some crystal clear days. after those days, ive walked out of the building asking my self, why is she here? she can be that good. names, pictures, events. even current events. we had some other pictures we found, wed never seen before. she could identify most of the people. THAT good of a day. then the thunder clouds come in... then you never know. its hard. really, shes the only grandparent ive ever had. sure, grandpa A was alive for a few years when i was really young. but even though i have memories of him, its not the same. not by a long shot.

of things on my mind. well.

potential.

really? motivational speaker tone? not so much. and yes im not really one to talk much about motivation or potential. however, i need to address it. i think, however, most people understand where im coming from and probably what i need to say.

i need to move on. and im struggling with doing that.

thats as plain as i can put it. because, i think i need to hear it too. the longer i wait, the harder its going to be to do much of anything. i have, about 4 weeks ago, turned 28; and i have ridiculously little to show for my life. its crippling me with fear, to know that i could be 30; still without a real job, still stuck living in the basement, while every one of my peers has jobs, is married, and has a family of their own. so please dont try to console me with the typical, "its not that bad" or the "you've got time" or the uninspiring "you're putting too much pressure on yourself" because its getting to me now. those are all defenses we make for ourselves, that i really dont want to make for myself. i guess, im more comfortable with the truth, although, markedly more embarrased by it.

it isnt anyone elses fault but my own. so try to read things with as little insult as possible, but without treading too deeply:

i work a dead end job. in all honesty. retail isnt going anywhere these days. its low, but steady pay. we also know there is no chance of me making descent money where i am, and even with moving its several years out. i havent been real excited about it, but its getting harder by the day to stay anwhere positive about my spot. ive been interviewing about. ive had some call backs. but i still havent gotten anything thats for an increase in salary, stature and mobility. which, really are three things im looking for.

i guess ive got to grow up. get a real job. use that potential. i have no clue where, or how. but i have to. i really dont want to be that guy that stays at this place in life for ever. i want to make more money. i want to have a more important job. i dont want to wear jeans and a glorified blue t shirt to work every day. no offense to anyone. i just dont think thats what i want for my professional life. i dont think thats why i went to college. i dont think thats why i did the things i did in college. right now im just chasing a pay check.

im chasing more than that. im chasing after things in my personal life i really dont think ill get. i said that i dont feel good about wandering towards 30. i dont. not in the shape im in. knowing that i have 2 friends left, that wont be married or have kids, or be on the way to either option. i never would have guessed that at 30 id be for want. i never knew id have it. but i never knew id be for want. i think to myself about my past relationships. about how i used to think i screwed up. how i made girls run out on me. how i pushed people out. how i couldnt pull them in. now. now i realize i am who i am. every ounce of me. its not about pulling in, or pushing away. its about not being the compatible type. someone slammed me this week in an email, because i talked at length, for spending my saturday photographing ducks and eagles on the frozen river. slammed me, because i bitch about being lonely, and single, and here i sit going on and on about ducks. i presume the link is; women dont care about ducks. they dont care about men that photography ducks. they care about men, trying to grab a tit in a smokey dance floor; or men who buy them drinks because they have cute friends. i talk about photographing ducks.

im not a serious photographer. she knew that. im not serious about saving the animals... or ducks per se. she knew that i make it an excuse. that i enjoy it. i dont enjoy being lonely. or single. or feeling like i really dont have a chance at what i want. but i guess, i enjoy myself. to go through the motions of the "ideal" courtship again, isnt something id enjoy. the bars. the money. the alcohol. the fake phone numbers. the bitchy attitudes. the lack of leads. i dont enjoy that. i guess, i sat in my chair, and i watched the ducks. i watched the trees. they sky. the sunset. i couldnt get angry about much of anything. i couldnt get angry by avoiding it and staying away from it all.

which all leads to interesting coversations we dont expect. people like to talk at me. not with me. obama, to oil. israel. wall street. football. i always find it crazy to hear them go on and on with thoughts and conclusions that just dont make sense. and when the coversation lends it, i leave a hint. i drop something on them, that makes them stop to think. but they never ask me about shit. so i walk away. then today, i got into a coversation up at the front end, coloring in a sign, while avoiding work for a while, about women and relationships. it was with someone i hadnt expected it to come from. and he kept putting me on the spot about what i want. about what im looking for. and the advice didnt really exist. just talk. but it made me think some. think about whom i would want to marry and have kids with. i cant come up with an answer any more. that troubles me. because, maybe... maybe ive drifted so far off the shore, i dont remember what the beach looks like anymore. maybe, ive become so self absorbed because of everything in my life, i know myself so well that i cant know anyone else now. it made me think about that today while we were talking.

just things i guess i should have talked about by now, that i havent really.

Respect the 'Cros

Our credo;

'cros before ho's

let's be honest here if you have to ask you'll never understand