Wednesday, March 09, 2005

A Few Thoughts...

...Notes on life if you will.
How many of you who read blogs on a regular basis who post comments go back and read the replies to comments? I notice many times when people make a comment that is responded to by the blog author and they never follow up. Weird. How many of you have a blog and didn't know that it has a comment section?
I am so sick and tired of people who are being disrespectful of the President. It is completely inappropriate. Yes, we should be critical of the things that he does; it is our duty as Americans. But there is a huge difference between being critical and being disrespectful. If I say that he has the worse foreign policy that this country has seen in many years, it is different than saying that I hate him, and that he is a filthy liar (as I saw on the back of a car on my way into work today). Come on people! It is time to stop taking our freedom for granted. Learn to use your brain, and affect change in an effective manner.
I was going to stop there, but I had to add that the blogger spell checker doesn't know the word "blog". Go figure. I'll write more about Bush haters later... Someone just had to go and get me started.

Sunday, March 06, 2005

The answer is...

The butler, with the candlestick, in room #7. Jen and Amanda get ice cream.

das ist nien eine...

This moment is brought to you by motion sickness and the tiananmen square massacre.
This has been a good Sunday. Deb and I slept in and skipped church. It was nice to just spend the morning relaxing. For lunch we met up with Ben and Amanda and went to Claim Jumpers to celebrate Ben's Birthday. Then we came home and I finished up homework and played video games for a little while Deb was working on her school work. Now I am writing my blog while Deb is working on school work and watching a movie.
I was playing Half-life2. It is by far my favorite game at the moment. The problem is that I cannot play it for an extended amount of time because I get motion sickness from playing it. It is a very annoying phenomenon that medical experts say should not exist. Basically it is written off as a psycological issue that cannot be explained. It does not effect a very large population, so I do not believe much effort has been put into finding a "cure". Correction, there has been more research put into it, there just isn't anything you can really do about it. Read Here, (link to study from first link) and Here.
I've had the song "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" stuck in my head all week. It is interesting how world events play such an important role in popular culture. This is one of the best songs ever written, about one of the most famous "http://larkspirit.com/bloodysunday/sad" events ever to happen. Makes you think.

Thursday, March 03, 2005

Social Issue #1

In this sad world of war and strife, we often focus on the issues that evoke the most violent emotional response; aids babies, disabled war victims, and dethroned financial tycoons are all frequent images that we see on TV. I am here today to tell the story of something that hits far closer to the heart, and nearer to home, than all these things put together. It is the devastating story of the poor neglected shopping cart.


We have all seen them strewn haphazardly across the parking lots of America. Sometimes they are given the dignity of a shopping cart coral, where they are able to gather together for warmth until they are brought back into the inviting openness of the store where they belong. Unfortunately it is all to often that they are alone and forgotten where the inconsiderate clod that last used them felt was appropriate.


The gentle helpers do not deserve to be left in the gutter!


Here we see a particular specimen who, starved for attention, opens itself invitingly to receive nourishment.


Truly, it is a sad site to see.


This poor soul is shown going beyond the call of duty, sharing helpful information for the care of human families. If only the humans would return a similar grace.


The shopping carts proudly display the mark of their owners, a brand if you will. Do their caretakers not even care?


Some of the carts find solace in resting in a corner; giving their tired wheels a much needed rest.


The wheels of burden; constantly spinning in a fevered effort to bear our loads.


Some carts, ashamed of who they are, will try to hide behind the bushes in an attempt to hide what they are.


We must tread lightly to get a closer look of a shopping cart in its less natural environment.


Here we find a nest where various species have huddled down for the night.


Abandonment knows no racial boundaries. All carts end up alone at one point or another, whether blue,


Silver,


or Black.


Perhaps the saddest image of all is that of abuse; the ultimate personification of being alone. Why must the violence of this world afflict these quiet beasts. All they have ever asked is to serve, and to be loved.


Fortunately, love between carts knows no racial boundaries. These two lovers have found a quiet moment alone in which to procreate.


Next time you are at a store and you use a shopping cart, please remember the neglect and abuse, and spare your cart from the world of hate. It could be you alone and afraid in the street next time.

Photomatography

I went for a little walk today (who am I kidding, I wanted Starbucks), and just for grins I brought along my camera. I hadn't done anything in black and white for a while, so I thought I would give the junky black and white setting on my camera a try. (it is stupid to shoot in black and white on a digital camera, you should shoot in color and convert to B&W afterwards). Hope you like one of these. Stay tuned for my photo essay on forgoten shopping carts.

Spring is in the Eyre


A Dog's Best Friend


Dear ol' Flag


Even Dearer ol' Flag


Uhhh...


More Spring


Boring Stares


I Give Up...

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

I Paine

So I went to the eye Dr. on Friday on got new contacts. I had used contacts previously, and didn't like them, but I thought that I would give them another try. This Dr. is actually quite a bit better than my last one, and he took the time to explain how to wear the contacts, as well as other misc. ins and outs. This set of contacts are extended wear; meaning that I can wear them for up to a week at a time. This is very appealing to me, as I hate taking them in and out. All was going well, and I had been wearing them since Friday, but today I woke up with my right weye being irritated. I made it through work, but I had to take the right contact out twice to clean it. When I got home I rushed to the bathroom to take out both. It felt good, but then started hurting again. I guess I must have scratched the inside of my eyelid or something. It is very annoying as I have a lot of reading to do tonight. I managed to get through one book though at least.
That is all.