Life of a Left-Handed Plebe

Al Coholic

When danger comes around, he'll drop a few down:

New Picture

I put up a new picture because I still miss Melvyn, even seven and half years later.

Playlists Galore

Today I've been listening to 8tracks.com. It's an music streaming site where people posts playlists so instead of some computer puking up random tracks based on your preferences, the playlists are coherently themed.

Give it a listen.

Labels: findings on the web

Wither Obama

I never did believe the overarching "Change" hype of the Obama campaign. By record, he was fairly cautious and moderate, which is what attracted me to him. After the recklessness of the Bush years and the closing of the American Era (1945-2008), I thought he'd be a good person to get the nation to take a deep breath and reassess what we were doing.

I was wrong, so let the buyer's remorse set in.

I do acknowledge that he inherited a terrible situation, one that will take time to fix. Yet the state of the economy isn't the source of my disappointment, but his solutions are. The stimulus was a waste of money that cost over $300,000 per supposed job saved. The cash for clunkers was useless and providing a huge tax break to buy houses when the real problem is that there are too many houses and too much debt. Fighting the crash of a bubble by trying to inflate another one was a main cause of the crash in the first place.

I've also changed my view of some things in the last few months. I think we can only make the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan worse just by our presence. I thought maybe we could do some good in Afghanistan, but my mind has been changed by this book. We've done the damage and we're not the solution. Even if I believed we had the best of intentions, and I don't believe we did, the road to hell is paved with them.

He's not all to blame as we have a joke of a Congress and too many people dreaming up death panels and the like, but I refuse to choose between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

With that note, I do appreciate the more dialogue driven foreign policy of late and I do admire his biography. But the problem is 70,000 soldiers in Germany 64 years after the end of World War II, trillion-dollar deficits funding nothing useful, and a rotting infrastructure both tangible and not. And that's only part of it.

We'll be forced to deal with all of this, but I'd rather do it now before my country is bankrupt fiscally and morally.

Wither all of it.

Labels: musings, politics, sinnsyk

Good Food

Today I had to cart* my father over to Milwaukee for a job meeting. It was at the new space for Gloriosos', an Italian Deli, we went across to the old one for lunch. The owner bagged our purchases. He's 87. His brothers and other relatives work there. So if you get to Milwaukee, go there.

*My father got caught going 26 over right where the speed limit drops from 65 to 55. Although the judge reduced it to 16 over, he suspended his license for 15 days. It's only the third ticket he has gotten in 52 years of driving. Stupidity incarnate.

Labels: stuff i did

Title of the Day

Irish priest kidnapped in Philippines released by MILF

Labels: findings on the web

Empire

Ever wanted to know how many soldiers the US has overseas and where. Here's the link. Why do we have 70,000 soldiers in German? Well over 100,000 in Europe. This needs to end.

Labels: findings on the web, politics

Up Next

So I've.... AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH "Love Me Do" popped up on my iTunes. I can't say I like the Beatles, but it's even worse as it is done by the Brady Bunch. Karma is a bitch.

Anyway I'm in a new mode for Winter: cooking and exercising. I need to eat better. Actually, I don't, but I want to, so I'll finally learn to really cook. It's going.... sort of.

I also need to start training for the rugby tournament next June.

Um, there.

Labels: musings, rugby

Under the Virtual Radar

So I deleted all of my legitimate and dummy Twitter, Facebook, etc. accounts.

Now I'm just a virtual apparition on the internet, so I guess that means I'm real. Sorry, I have no use for collective noise.

Labels: musings

In L.A.

So last night I drove to LA with Shaun. We met up with Shari and Michael and hung out on some hill. I don't remember much about this part.

The next part, the four of us plus my father were heading to some Disney attraction. We went down in the elevator into a large dimly lit room. A 18" raised state was in the middle of the room with a drum set on it. CC Deville, with his fluffy white hair, from Poison sat at the drums, which is funny since he plays guitar. A woman came out to sing and I asked Shari who it was. She knew, but I forget the name, and said she wanted to move over by the dance floor so Sophie could dance. I waved my father over, but he wanted to sit on a bench instead of the floor.

Then Poison came on and played "Talk Dirty To Me". I followed my father over to the doors. We waited and when it was done, the Disney experience continued. The doors opened and we were running through an obstical course made up of fiber glass rock. Fake machine gunners shot at us as fireworks or something popped at us. That hurt. I climbed up a, um, hill and hid.

The next part I as queuing to get on a train. I was in the line to get in, but needed to get a ticket using my credit card. I moved into another line to buy a ticket and found I was in another line to get in. Then I went to be the back of the line and eventually got my ticket. When I got in, some guy walked over, picked up part of the train and threw it into the desert. He kept picking up parts of the train and throwing them. I ran into the desert to make sure my friends were ok.

Then I was driving back with Shaun and had to do my homework. That sucked the most.

Labels: dreams

Would You Like A Puppy With That

McDonald's was doing a promotion where you could get a free pet if you spent a dollar. I was horrified by this and bought four items and received a dog, a parrot, and two other animals. I then stressed out on how to take care of them. I decided to take them to the Humane Society and give a monetary donation. The dream didn't take me that far.

I also was in a close-out store in a mall with Shaun and Molly. I couldn't find anything that I liked. I thought I would find a good shirt or something, but no. The next space over was empty and cavernous. They used to sell tv's and such and I remember them from an old dream. The other part was in it, too, but wasn't a close-out store then.

Labels: dreams

Happy 10th Fight Club

10 already:

Labels: findings on the web, musings

Counting Down

Not much is going on today, which isn't a bad thing as I was overly busy before. I'm just waiting for the end of the day so I can go to Toronto and play rugby.

Simple wish, really.

Labels: musings

New Picture

I try to change my picture at the New Year and not before, but this one is too perfect to wait for.

So it is!

Labels: findings on the web

Bio #14: Jan and Jace

Meet Jan and Jace:

Jan and Janice are members of the Saint James Episcopal Church in Hibbing, MN. Due to their prowess at making jello salads with pretzel bits on top and green been salads, yet complete inability to make punch without having three inches of sugar at the bottom, they were named the "Wonder Twins". It was at a funeral where they were serving the after-service meal that a writer for a new series "Superfriends" learned of them and incorporated them into the show.

Labels: bio

Stagnation?

The last six months have been ecstasy for my muddle mind. I've gained a clarity where the world is not longer intimidating and my anxiety doesn't shut me down. I'm busy with playing rugby, volunteering at WORT, learning to cook, and planning to find a cheap flight to Amsterdam in February. Yes, Amsterdam is cold in February but a downright Caribbean heatwave compared to here.

Which reminds me a my favorite quote: "If you ever feel a sense of great of contentment, don't fret; it will pass." I don't know where it comes from, but it fits. I'm 35, so I'm creeping towards middle-age. Would I be happy married with kids? Sure. Would I be happy married without kids? Maybe. Would I be happy not being married? I don't know. Right now I'm perfectly happy on my own but the last five years have flown by, so whose to say the next five won't.

I definitely won't do anything for the hell of it, but sitting around my my thumb up my butt would make the choice for me. God knows I won't be a middle-age white guy sitting in front of his tv in the suburbs, watching the latest crap fest. But will I be happy by myself?

I don't know.

Labels: musings, sinnsyk

Be Careful Who You Marry

He/She will control your estate when you die:

Labels: findings on the web

Random Babbling With Some Purpose

Those of you who have been (un)fortunate enough to be around me when caffeinated or, even more so, caffeinated and slightly drunk know my propensity to talk a mile a minute and switch from subject to subject. Although and I neither caffeinated nor drunk, I still have that mindset now.

Ye Be Warned.

So the past 3-4 months have been the most anxiety and self-doubt free months I've ever had. Strange really. I can't say anything really phases me anymore, at least not deeply. Such a vacation it has been.

If you want to catch a couple of movies, see District 9 and 500 Days of Summer. The former is a social commentary on racism & immigration. The main alien in it is the most humane CGI character that you'll ever see. Imagine Jar Jar Binks.... this alien redeems that. I didn't get too excited about the last third focusing on the main alien and main human, but that was more a personal preference of mine. It doesn't take away from the film at all in general. The second focuses on a brief romance or fling between two people. It roles through the light and fun of the start of a relationship to the bitter end, then resolve. There's a couple things the guy did that wasn't how I'd handle things, but it gave food for thought.

Ted Kennedy is dead. Next.

I'm working on a playlist called "Pornicopia". Yes, it will have one porn song in it, but mostly it's a collection of new music and some old that I've been listening to recently punctuated by audio of movies and such.

Rugby is going well and last night's practice burned my lungs. We're ultimately preparing for the international tournament in Minnesota next year. No broken rib, concussion, severed foot, or carotid artery will keep me from it.

Shaun moved out and into a new place with his girlfriend. It is strange to both Naida and me that he's not around. Tim has moved in a is a good presence. Unfortunately, his cat, Sophie, is very territorial and my cat is a complete wimp. We're working through the drama using gates and spray bottles.

Um, that's it.

Labels: memories, rugby, stuff i did

US Consumer: 1945-2008

Yep, it's a new direction for the country. Enjoy it for the next few decades.

Labels: findings on the web

Muddled Mess

I can't put a narrative my dreams last night, so here's the corporate solution: Bullet Points!

- I was talking to my maternal grandfather.
- Jake "the Snake" Roberts was wrestling Hulk Hogan. He pile drived him on some big cushion thing a few times, then on the regular mat. He got his snake out, too.
- Kids were all facinated by the snake and ran over there. Jake put the snake back in the carrying case and some little midget kit was in there with a helmet and a battle axe.
- There was some South Park episode to do with Star Wars.
- I was in a valley, trying to solve a murder. It was more like a game than an investigation. I caught the murderer because she gave me an improbable travel time.
- A gun fight broke out between (I think) mercenaries and hunters. I had to slide down some mud into Chicago (all twenty square feet of it). I learned that 3 million of Chicago's residents lived on a boat in the lake.

So there you have it.

Labels: dreams

Sixty-Four Years

Sixty-four years ago, my country unleashed a new weapon upon Hiroshima. This was in addition to the fire bombing of Japan that the army had carried forth. There's a reason that all Japanese cities are made of new buildings. The fire bombing caused more carnage and disaster than the two hydrogen bombs did.

The difference is that the development of nuclear weapons changed the nature of what Theodore Roosevelt called "the big stick". With North Korea, Iran, Pakistan, Burma, and India all getting or developing nuclear weapons and many more having large stock piles, the world has an uneasy truce.

So I hope what Obama and the Hiroshima mayor wants, does happen.

Labels: musings

Uh, Yeah

Labels: findings on the web

Gein's Revival

Yep, something in the beer in this state:

LANCASTER, Wis. (AP) -- An attorney for a 23-year-old man accused of trying to dig up a dead woman in Cassville to have sex with her says his client only wanted to wanted to pose her in a "non-sexual way."

In opening statements, defense attorney Suzanne Edwards described Nicholas Grunke as a shy virgin who longed to have a girlfriend. When a 20-year-old woman died in a 2006 motorcycle crash, Edwards says Grunke wanted to "set up a little fairy-tale scenario."

Grunke is accused of attempted third-degree sexual assault, attempted criminal damage to a cemetery and attempted misdemeanor theft.

Prosecutor Tony Pozorski argued that Grunke intended to have sex with the body.

Pozorski argued that Grunke, his twin brother Alexander, and friend Dustin Radke were involved in the alleged scheme. The prosecutor says a van found near the scene contained shovels, a wrecking bar and a box of condoms.

Labels: Strange Wisconsin

Pop! Goes the Fetishist

Some people have interesting desires:

A Duluth man with a history of burglary to satisfy a self-professed sexual fetish for slashing large rubber exercise balls has been at it again, according to a complaint made public on Thursday.

I guess he was going for the double pop:

Court documents in the earlier cases indicate that Bjerkness told Duluth police he slashed the rubber balls to satisfy a sexual urge. He said he popped some of them with his hands. Experts in the field said that Bjerkness has a fetish or unusual attraction to inflatable exercise devices.

Labels: findings on the web

'tis But A Scratch!

So my right pinky is only sprained, not broken. I saw a sports medicine guy who plays rugby and he gave me some padding to put between my fingers.

So Oshkosh Pigfest is a go.

Labels: stuff i did

Facebook Stalking

So I've had some weird dreams lately full of people I've known from my past. It got me to thinking what I could have done if I wasn't consumed with anxiety while growing up.

Enter Facebook Stalking.

Although I'm not openly on Facebook, I created a profile for just these occasions. So I looked the pictures off all of those people from my past and realized that my life has ended up ok as I'm not 400 pounds, putting Sears Photo Studio pictures of my kids online, and generally looking like I'm waiting around until my kids graduate so I can get back to my life in the suburbs.

Yes, Virginia, there are fates worse than death.

Labels: musings

Kind of Not White

So I went through all of the Stuff White People Like and scored a 22 out of 126. Now does that make me not very white or does that make me 22 out of 126 whiter than an average person? I didn't bother finding out officially, so if someone has, please let me know. I really should have a 23rd with "Liking not liking being too white". I think that would qualify

Labels: findings on the web, musings, test

The 5th Wheel

I was a bit extraneous tonight. That shit gets old

Labels: musings

I Feel Mad, Damnit!

Actually, this is one of my favorite vintage Sesame Street cartoons. It makes me not mad:

Labels: findings on the web

Of Marches and Puppets

I'm a devoted citizen of this state, yet I occasionally find myself in first-time experiences integral to this state and city that most people do before finishing high school. Such was the case last Thursday when I finally made it to Summerfest in Milwaukee.

A friend who covers music for the local paper texted me that she had an open ticket to see Bon Jovi on Thursday. I kind of scratched my head as I'm not a big fan of them despite buying "Slippery When Wet" when I was 13. But then I thought why not as it gets me out of the house and I'll find a way to enjoy it anyway. My friend bought two tickets and then was comped two press passes.

She picked up the press passes and her and another fried of her's took the press passes. She almost sold the extra ticket to some strange older guy and it's thankful she didn't as the press passes were to take photos of the event, not enter. Since I wasn't all hot to see Bon Jovi, they took the tickets and I thought about heading to downtown to hang out for a while. Then I remembered that she said the Meat Puppets were playing at 8. I had seen them last month as a +1 with my friend, so I bought the $15 general admission ticket and headed in.

The first stop was the Water Street Brewery booth and I promptly had two glasses of beer in my hand. I enjoyed walking around seeing the wares and food. The Meat Puppets were as good as they were at the Annex the month previous and crowd was really into it. I also realized my age watching all of the other aging Gen X'ers in the crowd. I also watched some of Matthew Sweet, but didn't stay for the whole thing. I tweeted on it here. I think I'll head back next year.

On Saturday I headed up to Pride in Minneapolis. On the car ride up, I caught up on all of the team drama of the last month from Stephen. I have to remember to use Priceline as Stephen got a room at the Hilton downtown for $50 a night. I think it's usually $150. We caught a little bit a Lorring Park, caught dinner with Michael, Shari and Sophie and then headed to the Eagle around 10. We didn't stay long at the Eagle as it was full of older, sweaty men and I didn't think Melissa, who I was catching up with and who would be only one of three women there, would much enjoy it. Stephen, Melissa and I caught a bar across the river whose name I forget. Then we dropped Stephen off at the Saloon and hung out for a while at Town Talk Diner. That was the first time in two or two and a half years that I'd been able to sit and talk with her, so that was great.

Sunday I marched in the parade holding one end of our banner. I'm thinking that I may be platonically gay given all of the stuff I do. So be it. We played about a half hour of rugby and even though it was touch, I managed to jam my pinky while putting the ball down. Ain't it pretty?

I caught dinner with Michael, Shari and Sophie again then headed home daydreaming all the way back.

Labels: stuff i did

Green for the Iranian Protesters

I've been meaning, as I often have done, to blog more. This will be short so:

1. Petition Google to change their logo for a day to support the Iranian protesters.

2. Andrew Sullivan has been covering it extensively at his blog on the Atlantic website. I'm sure there are other sites covering it as well.

Too often those in charge repress this kind of protest and I'm afraid it may end up like Tiananmen Square. This difference with the Iranian protests is that they are more cohesive and Iran has a far more engaged citizenry. Some change is on the way, I hope for the better.

Labels: politics

Chattanooga

This morning at about 4 am, I was married to a Chinese woman who was getting her masters degree somewhere. We lived in Chattanooga. We talked about the auto industry next to this man-made slope. She then cooked dinner for the two of us.

Then I was in some apartment with wooden floors that had just been refinished. A party started, then I woke up.

Labels: dreams

The Astounding World of the Future!

Labels: findings on the web

The Black Hole of Masculinity

Belongs to this guy. I'm no alpha dog-type and don't believe in this Maxim-style manhood, but this guy is pretty pathetic. She leaves him, probably because he decorated his bathroom pink, and then he makes this pile of dung? Does anybody (all two of you) really think this is beautiful like the people who commented on it? If this was me, I'd chop my balls of and stop pretending.

The Lifetime Channel's Pussy of the Year Award goes to:

BEN!

Labels: findings on the web

Jesse "The Mind" Ventura

Found here.

And another:

Labels: findings on the web, politics

Life of a Left-Handed Plebe

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Al Coholic

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

New Picture

Playlists Galore

Wither Obama

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Good Food

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Title of the Day

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Empire

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Up Next

Under the Virtual Radar

Thursday, October 22, 2009

In L.A.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Would You Like A Puppy With That

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Happy 10th Fight Club

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Counting Down

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

New Picture

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Bio #14: Jan and Jace

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Stagnation?

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Be Careful Who You Marry

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Random Babbling With Some Purpose

Thursday, August 20, 2009

US Consumer: 1945-2008

Monday, August 17, 2009

Muddled Mess

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Sixty-Four Years

Monday, August 03, 2009

Uh, Yeah

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Gein's Revival

Friday, July 17, 2009

Pop! Goes the Fetishist

'tis But A Scratch!

Friday, July 10, 2009

Facebook Stalking

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Kind of Not White

Saturday, July 04, 2009

The 5th Wheel

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

I Feel Mad, Damnit!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Of Marches and Puppets

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Green for the Iranian Protesters

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Chattanooga

Monday, June 01, 2009

The Astounding World of the Future!

Friday, May 29, 2009

The Black Hole of Masculinity

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Jesse "The Mind" Ventura

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