I'm in a Seinfeld kinda mood. This is the kind of stuff in my head, scary.
- Why is it that someone will almost cut you off to be first at a red light and then go 5 miles per hour when the light turns green?
- Ever notice that fast food places and supermarkets have the worse music playing? It's like they couldn't afford to use the good songs so they had to use the 'B' side of the album.
- I wonder if people had 'telegraph sex' in Abraham Lincoln's day. You know, one hand on the telegraph, sending out the signals, the other hand somewhere else while reading the signals coming in?
- And what's the deal with airline food?... Oh wait, that's Jerry's bit.
- Why must kids turn around in their seat in a restaurant and watch me eat?
- Why does Baskin-Robbins have 31 flavors when only 5 of them look edible?
- When you say hello on a phone, are you asking a question, or giving a greeting?
- Why does Radio Shack ask you for everything but your medical records when you buy batteries?
- When a cat sheds on the couch, is it correct to call them pussy hairs? - ha! I crack myself up
- You ever notice no one ever reads the help file when they can't figure something out on the computer?
- I wonder if the dark glasses that blind people wear have prescriptions in them.
- If someone can't find the remote, chances are they will watch the same channel, even if they hate the show that's on, rather than get up and change it.
- Why do some restaurants insist that their waitresses not write down food orders?
- How the hell can there be that many chickens around to lay eggs AND be part of dinner.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Monday, August 22, 2005
Catholic vs. Public School
Grade school is probably the single-most important thing in a child's learning development. Most of the things they learn in the first two grades are with them for the rest of their lives. I want my children to not only learn these things that they will need in life, I also want them to learn intangibles as well: discipline, respect, and a love for learning. I think the best place for my child to learn this is in Catholic school.
I'm sure there are many great public schools around. I'm sure that you think Catholic schools are over-rated, but standardized testing data says otherwise. I just think that when it comes to teacher-student attention and expectations on a student to succeed, Catholic schools just come out on top. As with anything else, where are you going to get better service, from a private company or a state-run company? There's no question.
My wife, on the other hand, doesn't see the same need as I do for it. I think her main point is money. She just does not want to make the sacrifice to send our kid(s) to Catholic school. My parents made the sacrifice. They didn't have a lot of money, but still got a loan to pay for my high school education. They knew how important a Catholic education was in terms of learning and discipline. There are less drugs and fewer teen pregnancies in Catholic schools. Her other point is the whole religion thing. I guess she thinks that the school will turn our kids into mindless drones preaching about God at the dinner table, and telling us how Sister Bethany told them to reject satan. This is just not the case.
Everything I learned in life is somehow connected to my time spent in Catholic school. Would I have to same education in public school? I doubt it. I'm not saying they teach different things, but if I didn't have the fear of getting in trouble with the nuns for not doing my homework or for fooling around, I probably would not have paid attention as much and learned a lot less. If I didn't have to memorize 20 vocabulary words a night or have to know every kind of structure for an English sentence, I would probably not have the communication skills I do today. My high school was an all-boys school. I couldn't imagine if I went to a co-ed public school when I was teen - I would get lost in a girl's cleavage every day!
I'm sure many disagree with me, and that's fine. I only know from my own experience. Many people who go to Catholic school can't stand it, but I think they have instilled values in me that I have to this day. Some people just hate the uniforms, but you realistically have to look past that. Maybe it's just that the public schools in my area are all horrible. I'm not saying that my kids should go to a Catholic high school, but certainly they should go for grades 1-8, then they can decide which high school to go themselves.
I'm sure there are many great public schools around. I'm sure that you think Catholic schools are over-rated, but standardized testing data says otherwise. I just think that when it comes to teacher-student attention and expectations on a student to succeed, Catholic schools just come out on top. As with anything else, where are you going to get better service, from a private company or a state-run company? There's no question.
My wife, on the other hand, doesn't see the same need as I do for it. I think her main point is money. She just does not want to make the sacrifice to send our kid(s) to Catholic school. My parents made the sacrifice. They didn't have a lot of money, but still got a loan to pay for my high school education. They knew how important a Catholic education was in terms of learning and discipline. There are less drugs and fewer teen pregnancies in Catholic schools. Her other point is the whole religion thing. I guess she thinks that the school will turn our kids into mindless drones preaching about God at the dinner table, and telling us how Sister Bethany told them to reject satan. This is just not the case.
Everything I learned in life is somehow connected to my time spent in Catholic school. Would I have to same education in public school? I doubt it. I'm not saying they teach different things, but if I didn't have the fear of getting in trouble with the nuns for not doing my homework or for fooling around, I probably would not have paid attention as much and learned a lot less. If I didn't have to memorize 20 vocabulary words a night or have to know every kind of structure for an English sentence, I would probably not have the communication skills I do today. My high school was an all-boys school. I couldn't imagine if I went to a co-ed public school when I was teen - I would get lost in a girl's cleavage every day!
I'm sure many disagree with me, and that's fine. I only know from my own experience. Many people who go to Catholic school can't stand it, but I think they have instilled values in me that I have to this day. Some people just hate the uniforms, but you realistically have to look past that. Maybe it's just that the public schools in my area are all horrible. I'm not saying that my kids should go to a Catholic high school, but certainly they should go for grades 1-8, then they can decide which high school to go themselves.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
When did I become so ....blah?
"Both my wife and daughter think I'm this gigantic loser. And in a way, they're right. I have lost something. I'm not exactly sure what, but I know I didn't always feel this...sedated. But you know what? It's never too late to get it back." - Lester in American Beauty.
I can relate a lot to the dad in American Beauty. I mean, when did I become so...sedated? How did 10 years just pass right by me without even a chance to sit down and reflect? I'm so soft now: in my body, my opinions, and my zest for life. I feel like I've lost something, a spark, an attitude. I used to be this ultra-liberal, anything goes kind of guy, now my thinking is more conservative and my attitude has turned into 'ahh, who gives a crap' instead of challenging something. My panic disorder hit me really hard, it's a shame. He's right though, it's never too late to get it back.
I can relate a lot to the dad in American Beauty. I mean, when did I become so...sedated? How did 10 years just pass right by me without even a chance to sit down and reflect? I'm so soft now: in my body, my opinions, and my zest for life. I feel like I've lost something, a spark, an attitude. I used to be this ultra-liberal, anything goes kind of guy, now my thinking is more conservative and my attitude has turned into 'ahh, who gives a crap' instead of challenging something. My panic disorder hit me really hard, it's a shame. He's right though, it's never too late to get it back.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Quotes of my educated President
I can just imagine his speech writers beating their heads into the wall after he says these kinds of things. Hey, I didn't vote for him, I voted for Gore AND Kerry...
"Mars is essentially in the same orbit...Mars is somewhat the same distance from the Sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures where there are canals, we believe, and water. If there is water, that means there is oxygen. If oxygen, that means we can breathe."
"I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change."
"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is 'to be prepared'."
"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things."
"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future."
"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."
"Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it."
"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
"For NASA, space is still a high priority."
"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe."
"I have been asked who caused the riots and the killing in LA, my answer has been direct & simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame."
"The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century."
"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."
"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that George Bush may or may not make."
"We're all capable of mistakes, but I do not care to enlighten you on the mistakes we may or may not have made."
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
"[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system."
"I think we can agree. The past is over"
"I have learned from mistakes I may or may not have made."
"It was just inebriating what Midland was all about then." [An alky's Freudian slip for Exhilarating]
"It's clearly the budget. It has a lot of numbers on it."
"The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case."
"Will the highways on the Internet become more few?"
"Like your neighbor just like you like to be liked yourself."
"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" "Laura & I really don't realize how bright our children is."
"I was raised in the West. The west of Texas. It's pretty close to California. In more ways than Washington, D.C., is close to California."
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
"I propose that every city have a telephone number 119 -- for dyslexics who have an emergency."
"There ought to be limits to freedom." [said in support of his handlers' legal efforts to shut down parody websites]
"Mars is essentially in the same orbit...Mars is somewhat the same distance from the Sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures where there are canals, we believe, and water. If there is water, that means there is oxygen. If oxygen, that means we can breathe."
"I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change."
"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one word is 'to be prepared'."
"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things."
"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future."
"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."
"Illegitimacy is something we should talk about in terms of not having it."
"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
"For NASA, space is still a high priority."
"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe."
"I have been asked who caused the riots and the killing in LA, my answer has been direct & simple: Who is to blame for the riots? The rioters are to blame. Who is to blame for the killings? The killers are to blame."
"The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century."
"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."
"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that George Bush may or may not make."
"We're all capable of mistakes, but I do not care to enlighten you on the mistakes we may or may not have made."
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
"[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system."
"I think we can agree. The past is over"
"I have learned from mistakes I may or may not have made."
"It was just inebriating what Midland was all about then." [An alky's Freudian slip for Exhilarating]
"It's clearly the budget. It has a lot of numbers on it."
"The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case."
"Will the highways on the Internet become more few?"
"Like your neighbor just like you like to be liked yourself."
"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" "Laura & I really don't realize how bright our children is."
"I was raised in the West. The west of Texas. It's pretty close to California. In more ways than Washington, D.C., is close to California."
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
"I propose that every city have a telephone number 119 -- for dyslexics who have an emergency."
"There ought to be limits to freedom." [said in support of his handlers' legal efforts to shut down parody websites]
Monday, August 15, 2005
Cut or uncut - the debate
For those of you in or have had long relationships, did you ever get that feeling that somewhere down the road that circumcision was a fight waiting to happen? The whole circumcised vs non-circumcised argument is sure to happen in my household if we ever have a boy.
The Catholic Church, as well as many others, demands that all newborn boys be circumcised.
Jewish people make an event out of it. I know many of you can come up with several reasons for this (looks cleaner, better, etc.), and I can come up with as many reason not to, but as a man, I think that I should of had the option to say yay or nay on this one.
If God made everything, including sex organs, isn't it perfect already? Why are we chopping two or more inches of extra-sensitive skin away when the whole procedure is useless? Many people will say that it prevents disease. No, I don't think so. The disease comes with not washing that area right and letting the disease breed. I mean christ, what the hell did they do 5,000 years ago? I don't remember reading about an outbreak of genital warts among cavemen and women.
If a guy, say we start around 13 or 14, decides that he wants that piece of skin cut off, then by all means, he can get it done. But is it really right for parents to decide that for them? Whenever I ask my wife why she would want that done, she can't give a real answer, she just says that everyone does it and that he should be like his daddy down there so he won't feel different. Umm, that doesn't work for me. Plus, I happen to like the way an uncircumcised penis looks. I've never seen one up close, but I've seen enough porn to know the difference.
Look, you don't just fool around with a knife down there for no reason. One wrong slip and that kid has a scar there for life. I'm sure he'll remember to thank you while he?s self-conscious about taking his pants down for any reason. The truth is, this is just one big out-dated biblical passage that people took too seriously. Maybe in the time of Noah it was the style to be clipped, but I think it has worn out its welcome. This sort of procedure should be done personally, not religiously.
The Catholic Church, as well as many others, demands that all newborn boys be circumcised.
Jewish people make an event out of it. I know many of you can come up with several reasons for this (looks cleaner, better, etc.), and I can come up with as many reason not to, but as a man, I think that I should of had the option to say yay or nay on this one.
If God made everything, including sex organs, isn't it perfect already? Why are we chopping two or more inches of extra-sensitive skin away when the whole procedure is useless? Many people will say that it prevents disease. No, I don't think so. The disease comes with not washing that area right and letting the disease breed. I mean christ, what the hell did they do 5,000 years ago? I don't remember reading about an outbreak of genital warts among cavemen and women.
If a guy, say we start around 13 or 14, decides that he wants that piece of skin cut off, then by all means, he can get it done. But is it really right for parents to decide that for them? Whenever I ask my wife why she would want that done, she can't give a real answer, she just says that everyone does it and that he should be like his daddy down there so he won't feel different. Umm, that doesn't work for me. Plus, I happen to like the way an uncircumcised penis looks. I've never seen one up close, but I've seen enough porn to know the difference.
Look, you don't just fool around with a knife down there for no reason. One wrong slip and that kid has a scar there for life. I'm sure he'll remember to thank you while he?s self-conscious about taking his pants down for any reason. The truth is, this is just one big out-dated biblical passage that people took too seriously. Maybe in the time of Noah it was the style to be clipped, but I think it has worn out its welcome. This sort of procedure should be done personally, not religiously.
Friday, August 12, 2005
When I get old and losing my hair...
One of the fears I have while getting older is losing my hair. My dad is bald, and he has been since as long as I can remember. My hair contributes to about 60% of my total looks. Since I am 31 now, I know I will start losing hair eventually. So what do I do? I have many options to try out, since hair loss has been studied for hundreds of years. I don't want to take preventative medicine, like Rogain, because I fear it will somehow make my hair fall out due to some side effect or something, plus it will probably have some sort of smell to it. It's not only I think having a bald spot will make me look less attractive, but also much older. Would I wear a hair piece? I really don't want to, people can pick those out a mile a way and the person who has one just ends up being joked about behind his back. However, I know I would be desperate and try anything. I think I would have to go with the totally shaved look, going with the concept that if I don't have hair on top of my head, I won't have it anywhere on my head. I've been lucky so far, I could have gone bald long ago.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
I hate being a perfectionist!
The worse feeling in the world is getting a call or an email from your client saying that something was wrong with the work you just did for them. I take every call like that very personally, and I sit and worry that they will find more mistakes, or that my mistake has somehow led to extra work and embarrassment when my clients' clients find out about it. That's the bad part of being a perfectionist. It has done me no good being one either. It is a main cause of my panic disorder and is the reason why when I get home from work, I look at my work email to make sure there isn't any problems with something I just sent out. I wouldn't say I'm not confident in my work, I am for the most part, but mistakes sometimes shake my confidence and cause me to worry about stuff they may or may not have happened.
Everyone makes mistakes, and that includes the people I work for, but the feeling I have of somehow letting people down who depend on me to be right is something that is hard for me to shake. I guess the really scary part for me is that I wonder how/why I didn't catch the mistake in the first place. That's the part that always worries me. What if I've been doing that the whole time??, stuff like that goes through my head and breeds insanity constantly thinking about it. On a strange and related note, I had a dream last night where I'm at work and my office manager is doing some sort of calculation (something really simple) and I think it's wrong, so I do it my way. Then I see that in fact, I'm wrong, and I don't say a word, because I know that every single job I have every done was checked the same way, and it was wrong.
OCD and being a perfectionist is who I am, and something that even Zoloft can't change.
Everyone makes mistakes, and that includes the people I work for, but the feeling I have of somehow letting people down who depend on me to be right is something that is hard for me to shake. I guess the really scary part for me is that I wonder how/why I didn't catch the mistake in the first place. That's the part that always worries me. What if I've been doing that the whole time??, stuff like that goes through my head and breeds insanity constantly thinking about it. On a strange and related note, I had a dream last night where I'm at work and my office manager is doing some sort of calculation (something really simple) and I think it's wrong, so I do it my way. Then I see that in fact, I'm wrong, and I don't say a word, because I know that every single job I have every done was checked the same way, and it was wrong.
OCD and being a perfectionist is who I am, and something that even Zoloft can't change.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Things people do that annoy me
- People who make a left turn into my lane, causing me to stomp on the brakes.
- People who send spam emails.
- People who give up easily.
- People who say they are close to "ending it all" on here. Come on, there are people out there a lot worse off than you are.
- Pop-up and Pop-under ads.
- People who have no idea how to handle a problem.
- People who WrItE LiKE tHiS.
- People who drive slow in the left lane.
- People who don't give you a wave when you let them in.
- People who don't say thanks when you hold open a door.
- People who curse at me under their breath - hello, i'm right here, you got something to say, say it!
- Telemarketers
- People who have no clue what's going on in the world.
- People who don't want to improve themselves.
- Cashiers who don't say to have a nice day.
- People who have a half page signature on their emails.
- People talking on cell phones in the rest room. This flush is for you, I hope they can hear it.
- Snobby people.
- 12 year old hackers
- People who don't call you back or write you back.
- People who whine.
- People who make stupid lists like this.
- People who send spam emails.
- People who give up easily.
- People who say they are close to "ending it all" on here. Come on, there are people out there a lot worse off than you are.
- Pop-up and Pop-under ads.
- People who have no idea how to handle a problem.
- People who WrItE LiKE tHiS.
- People who drive slow in the left lane.
- People who don't give you a wave when you let them in.
- People who don't say thanks when you hold open a door.
- People who curse at me under their breath - hello, i'm right here, you got something to say, say it!
- Telemarketers
- People who have no clue what's going on in the world.
- People who don't want to improve themselves.
- Cashiers who don't say to have a nice day.
- People who have a half page signature on their emails.
- People talking on cell phones in the rest room. This flush is for you, I hope they can hear it.
- Snobby people.
- 12 year old hackers
- People who don't call you back or write you back.
- People who whine.
- People who make stupid lists like this.
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