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November 3, 2008

What we really think when we say…

You know how they always say if a girl asks you if she looks fat, you don’t even think or look at her. Just say no. It doesn’t matter what you think, what you feel, but you never ever say what you are really thinking, if you want what’s best for you. I have nothing to write about today, so will try to think of questions we commonly here, what we really think, and then finally what we actually say…

Here’s a picture of my baby, what do you think?–Were you drinking or smoking while pregnant? Make that, she’s adorable!

I like this girl a lot, what do you think about her?–Other than the fact that she’s boring as hell, and not as cute as you say she is? She’s nice.

What can I do to make your workplace ideal for you?–SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!! But I guess I’ll settle for a supportive environment, nice coworkers, reasonable deadlines and expectations, little or no overtime, flexible schedules.

Can I have a piece of gum?–Go buy your own damn gum! I mean, sure, here you go. This goes for money too!

Can you help me move!–Don’t you have any other friends or family to bother? Besides, I’m busy that weekend.

Can you do me a favor?–NO!!! Or I guess, sure.

Do you like this girl?–Other than the fact that she’s so cute, I love talking and spending time with her, and I can’t ever keep her out of my mind? No.

How old do you think she/I look?–50. Ummm, I mean 21.

You guys wanna just split the bill evenly?–Sure cheapass, I’ll subsidize your two cocktails and filet mignon even though I just got water and a sandwich. Or….sure, that’s probably easiest.

I just cut my hair, what do you think?–You cut your hair??? That is, I mean, it looks so good!

I know this perfect girl for you. Wanna meet her?–Sure, how ugly is she? Make that, yeah, sure, I bet she’s nice so we can meet some time.

There you have it. All I can think of on a day that I can’t think of anything to write. Is a person mean for thinking such thoughts or nice for not actually saying them????

November 4, 2008

Election Day!

So, after months and months of campaigning, debates, interviews, advertisements, accusations, stumping, endorsements, name calling, rallies, pundit’s analysis, commentary, fundraising, and such, we have finally arrived at election day. I voted weeks ago, but the sense of finally arriving at this point is not insignificant. No longer does all of this have to dominate the air waves, newspapers, internet, water cooler talk, etc. It will all be over soon enough, if the race has not already been called by the time I post this.

Now, I’m not going to tell anyone who to vote for or what to vote for, just to tell you to vote if you have not already done so! You have no right to complain about anything if you don’t do so. Don’t tell me that your vote is insignificant and such. If McCain/Palin win or gay marriages become illegal in CA or it becomes illegal for a doctor to perform abortion on a teenage girl without first notifying her parent or legal guardian, I don’t want to hear one peep out of you if you tell me that you did not vote. What right do you have to complain? If it wasn’t important enough for you to vote, then its not important enough for you to complain about either.

So, get out there an vote. There is no right or wrong, just what you yourself believe in. Liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, etc. Millions and millions of dollars were spent on each candiate, proposition, etc, so make sure that money did not all go to waste and fill out your ballot. I already have and I hope that you do too.

November 6, 2008

Post Election Day Thoughts

It looks like we have the first black President in our history. That’s so significant I think, considering it was not too long ago that blacks were considered 2nd class citizens who didn’t even have any rights to speak of. So congratulations to him, and hoping he will be a great President. He can’t do that bad, can he? He is, after all, following the worst President in the history of not only this country, but maybe of all time.

Anyway, here are some thoughts I have on this election…

Honestly, I never thought we’d see a black President before we saw a female President.

I don’t know if any Republican candidate could of won this election or any Democratic one could of lost.

Why does everyone consider Obama to be black? I mean, isn’t he only half black? I never understood that. Same goes for Tiger Woods. All blacks always consider him to be one of them as well, but he’s not even 100% black. Same goes for Halle Berry, who if I’m not mistaken is part white as well. I understand that back in the day one drop of black blood in you and you were considered black and so you had no rights, but now it makes no sense to me.

I watched some news coverage when I got home from the gym last night. Why does the media have this insatiable urge to call a state or call an election so quickly? I think they are doing a disservice to west coast voters when doing so. I know that they called the Presidency at 8:00 pm, when places like Cali closed their polls, but they were already saying on the air that it was all but a formality well before that time. What’s the point of announcing anything if there is even a chance that voters will not vote because of what you say? Its even worse for Hawaii, I’d imagine. I wish that some law was passed that said votes could not be counted until November 5. That way, we would not have this issue anymore.

Democrats are now fully in charge, with the Presidency and both the Senate and House. No excuses for them now. If the economy doesn’t turn for the better, I can see Congress leaning back towards the Republicans in two years.

Is Palin’s 15 minutes of fame over, or is this just the beginning for her?

Everywhere I read and every pundit I hear says that McCain ran a terrible campaign, and Obama an almost perfect one. Can an election really be won on how a campaign is run? How much of winning an election is based on this and how much is it actually on what the candidate stands for?

Obama spent tons and tons of money on this campaign, much more than McCain did. Doesn’t that strike anyone as unfair? I complain all the time about how the freaking rich buy justice by being able to hire the best lawyers and so can get away with their crimes. I always argue with people that in the courts, the prosecution and the defendants should both be able to only spend the same amount of money, or at least be a small percentage away from each other so that it really is a “fair” trial. Just like a guy who had a public defender against a world class prosecutor, did McCain really stand a chance when Obama spent so much more than him?

Proposition 8 passed in California, which I think is ironic given the fact that the first black President in our history was just elected. Talk about one step forward, and two back. I don’t know why anyone gives a damn what other people do with their lives. I mean, if I ever see two guys kissing on TV, I think its disgusting and I don’t want to see it, but if that’s what people want to do with their lives, then so be it. Who am I to judge. Which gets me to gay marriage. The religous right are such hypocrites that it frustrates me sometimes. They always preach tolerance and forgiveness, but there is no one more intolerant and stubborn than them. If you don’t believe in their ways, not only are you wrong, but you are going to hell. Its not like the religious right invented marriage, so what the hell do they care if gays want to marry. At least with something like abortion, where they say life begins at day one (which is BS, but whatever), I can somewhat buy the argument that they are against abortion because they are trying to save a life. I might disagree with it, but I can at least buy that argument. But, there is nothing at all to any argument that they can ever come up with that gay marriage is wrong. The only argument they have is that its gross to them. Seriously. That’s the stupidest reason I ever heard. Why not just ban marriage between an 80 year old and an 18 year old too, cuz that’s kind of gross. Why not just ban blacks from marrying whites, because there are still some who think that is gross too. How does letting gays marry affect anyone in any way whatsoever? Does it make their marriage more special because its now more exclusive? You trying to save marriage is not believable at all. Supporters of this proposition are doing nothing but using the “sanctimony of marriage” as a shield to hide behind the fact that they are bigots and discriminatory. Stop hiding behind shields and just admit you are nothing but a discriminatory person. At least that I can buy.

Countdown to Bush leaving office can now officially begin. Its not like I wasn’t counting down the days since the day he got re-elected, but at least the end is finally in sight now.

John McCain is actually a good person, I believe, and I always did like him. In fact, when he first ran against Bush in the Republican primaries 8 years ago, I wanted him to be the candidate and not Bush. He was much more of a maverick back then. I think he catered too much to the conservative right after he got nominated, and so that really turned me off from him because he then changed who I thought he really was. Would the real maverick of 8 years ago do the same thing had he been nominated back then?

Does “spreading the wealth” really scare people nowadays? I mean, seriously, that only hurts the wealthy. And the wealthy make up only a very small, small proportion of the voting population. If I was running for office, I think I’d cater to the vast majority over the small minority if I wanted to get elected.

Anyway, I actually have many more thoughts on the election, especially about the other propositions in CA. But, this post is long and I’m tired. Maybe another post, but probably not. I’d be more than happy to talk/debate with anyone about anything though.

No enthusiasm for class

Some of you know that I’m taking a C# class every Wednesday night. I’m auditing the class since my friend is teaching it. So, no credit, no grade, etc. I don’t take the tests, just leave the class when they are assigned. I’m not a programmer at all. As I take this class, I know that most of the kids in there, and yes they are kids compared to me now since I’m so old, would get better grades than me if I were taking this class for a grade.

But, here’s what I have discovered more than half way through the class now. I cannot effectively learn when I’m auditing a class. Call it psychological or whatever, but I just can’t do it. I think the competitor inside me will not let other students get better grades than me. I mean, call me arrogant or whatever, but back in the day I was a good student and got good grades. However, take away the grade factor, I just don’t care as much. These students nowadays who ask questions just annoy me more than anything. And honestly, they can already be programmers while I am not, but if I was taking this class for a grade and actually trying, I’d mop the floor with them. I’ve never gotten lower than an A in any class at IVC, and I would not of started now. Pride would not let me.

However, all that pride is taken away when I just audit. I mean, I took this class to learn how to program. That should be enough, shouldn’t it? That’s why I think its just psychological. I took 4 Chinese classes at this school too, for pass/no pass. And there’s no way in hell I’d ever let myself fail a class, so I did my homework and studied my ass off in that class. The class was a lot of work!

Its not like I don’t do the homework in this class, cuz I do. I’m learning, but its definitely not as effective as my Chinese class was. I think I’m just lazy, and using the no grade in the class as an excuse for being so. I think its also partially that programming doesn’t come as easy to me. I spend hours doing the homework for stuff that could take programmers like 10 minutes. So frustrating to me. I think after this class, I can say that yes I’d be able to write an extremely basic program, but I’m just not showing the passion to learn it as I probably should. Lazy ass.

November 10, 2008

Role Models

This was actually the first movie I’ve seen in a long time. I had not heard of this movie, and I saw Paul Rudd on the Daily Show promoting it. So I said, what the heck. And gave it a shot.

Basically, its about 2 guys who work at a dead end job and who get in trouble with the law. They are both required to do community service by joining an organization which pairs you up with a kid, kinda of like big brother, little brother. Seann William Scott gets paired with a young, foul mouthed black kid and Paul Rudd with a teenager who is really into a Dungeons and Dragons type fantasy game, to the detriment of him interacting with the real world. Well, obviously the relationships start off rocky, but eventually the two kids force the adults to grow up and take responsibility of their lives. That much is clear to anyone who plans on watching the movie. But is it funny?

I thought the movie started off pretty slowly. And the plot, was rather predictable in that you obviously know how it will end. That being said, I thought the movie was pretty funny. While it was R rated, its not as raunchy as some of the other comedies that these guys have been in, like Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, American Pie, etc. There are a few crude jokes, but for the most part, its R rated because of a couple nude scenes and the language. Not at all raunchy like those other movies. So, if that’s what you are expecting, I don’t think you will enjoy the film. That’s not to say though that the film is not funny or good. Like I said, I did laugh while watching the movie. The interactions with the stars and their “littles” as they are called in the film were funny, yet often touching, though at different times. Everybody is forced to be buddies through the community service program, but after spending time with each other, those relationships become more than forced. Overall, the movie was not the funniest I’ve ever seen, or the most touching, but I had fun and enjoyed it.

November 11, 2008

Another Random Whatevers

Don’t have any one topic in mind, so gonna ramble randomly…

If Obama ends up being in office one term and is considered the worst President in history, would that actually set back the civil rights movement? I mean, will people be saying stuff like how the blacks were given their chance, look what came as a result, and so blacks will get the blame and thus be more discriminated against than if Obama never got elected?

If the US really is attacked under Obama’s watch like all those right wing nuts think, will they blame Obama for it? I mean, 9/11 happened on Bush’s watch, but I bet he isn’t blamed one bit.

For those that do not live alone, do you still close the door to the bathroom when you are at the moment home alone? I live with people, but even when I’m alone, I still have to close the door. I don’t know why. Habit I guess?

Does anyone know what the point of making your bed is? I never understood and and I don’t think I ever will. You are just going to sleep in it again that night. Don’t give me the argument that you can say the same thing about what’s the point of washing your car cuz its going to get dirty again anyway. Its not the same thing. People see your car when you go out. I think that’s the only time I ever make my bed, when I know a guest will be over and will see my room.

Shouldn’t marketing to little kids be banned? I was watching a kid network with my cousin’s 4 year old boy, and you wouldn’t believe the commercials I saw on there selling this and that and how excited he was to see all of them, saying he wanted each and every one of them. I know they say that the key to our economy is consumer spending, but that’s just ridiculous.

Can a dog really be your best friend? And if he/she is, is that sad?

Is there any person who has more random thoughts and switches to completely unrelated topics than me?

November 12, 2008

Things I’ve tried but will never again!

Ok, maybe never is a strong word, so I’ll say its not likely I’ll do again. But, I always tell myself I will always try something at least once before I say I don’t like it, whether it be food or whatever. Here is a partial list.

Coffee-I had this when I was like 6 or 7, it literally tasted like crap, and I have not had a sip ever again. Just the thought of it tastes gross to me, although the smell isn’t too bad. Actually, this is the only thing on my list that I might have to say I’m unfair on, since I was extremely young when this turned me off. It could all just be psychological. I’m more a tea person, as my dentist tells me everytime he complains that my teeth are freaking stained!

Chinese sausages-I just do not like the flavor of this. Most Asians I know love it, but the smell, the taste, just doesn’t do it for me.

Chicken feet-It’s like all skin and bones!!! Not only do I have to work hard to eat it, there’s like nothing on it!

Blood cubes at dim sum-I don’t know what the actual name of this is, but most Asians out there probably know what I’m talking about. I often see it served along with tripe, which I absolutely love. Too bad its also filled with this blood crap that I can do without.

Snail-Maybe it was the way it was cooked, but it was just super rubbery and tough and I didn’t like it.

Frog legs-This wasn’t really bad, but its not something that I’d prefer to eat. It was really salty when I ate it, and once again there was not a lot of meat. I think I’d prefer just a drumstick or something.

Skiing-I am very uncoordinated, and all I did was fall. Not my thing. Its not fun when you are on the ground half the time. I still have not tried snowboarding yet, but my friend tells me its harder, which doesn’t bode well for me. I’m done with skiing for sure, but if I follow my rule, then I guess I have to try snowboarding some time.

Camping-Sorry, but this sucked. I like my bed, my electricity, my internet, etc. Everything I can do camping, I can do much more fun and much more conveniently in the city. Hike? Isn’t that just a fancy word for walking long distances? Yeah, I can do that. Talk amongst friends? I can do that at home. Relax? My bed will be much nicer than anything I find in the campgrounds. And don’t even get me started on going to the bathroom.

Soda-Sorry, I just don’t see what the fascination with this is. Its just sugar water with bubbles. Why is this like the most popular drink in the world? All it does is burn my throat and gives me tons of empty calories, and I don’t even like the taste of it. Only way I drink soda again is with rum or something, and I don’t even like drinking alcohol! Even if I’m extremely thirsty, I’d rather wait for some water, and I’ve done that before. How can anyone drink soda after playing ball for a long time!!?? Gimme Gatorade any day of the week.

Liver-Ummm, the texture is odd, and it just plain tastes gross.

Buy a Korean car-I used to have a Hyundai Sonata. The piece of crap last maybe 90k miles and then had to junk it. Yes, yes, I know that they are supposedly much better now, and they have a 100k warranty. Tough shit. Already wasted 15-20k on that crap car, so if Hyundai wants to give me that money back, maybe then I’ll once again try a Korean car. Until then, there are plenty of other more reliable choices to choose from. My current Maxima has 105k miles and I’ve yet to have one problem with it. Knock on wood.

Reality shows-What in the world do people like about reality shows?? They are boring as hell. I don’t care what the topic is. When you put a camera in front of someone, it ceases to be reality!! Just think about this, if it really were “reality” why do they need writers for these shows??? Cuz its not! Give me a crappy scripted show anytime.

Do stupid things for cute girls-Ok, this is more wishful thinking than reality…..:)

November 13, 2008

Me? Arrogant??

So I wrote this post a few days ago. I had nothing to write about that day, so was just trying to make something up. If anything, I thought the post was just about me being lazy again. However, that is not what my friend got out of it!

I’m minding my own business and she comes up to me, telling me she just read my blog. She’s like I just read your blog and you are so arrogant!! I was like what??!! Apparently, I said stuff like “I’ve never gotten lower than an A in any class at IVC, and I would not of started now. Pride would not let me” and “back in the day I was a good student and got good grades.” The kicker, apparently, was “And honestly, they can already be programmers while I am not, but if I was taking this class for a grade and actually trying, I’d mop the floor with them.” Haha. Actually, I read that last sentence right now and it does seem like I’m a bit egotistical.

Why am I writing about this? Well, the main thing is that I’ve never really been called arrogant. If anything, my friends tell me that I bug them too much because I downplay stuff too much, and am too modest. But, what exactly is arrogance? Back in the day, I used to hear all the time that Michael Jordan was not arrogant because he could back it up. I’m not saying that I’m MJ, but I was a good student back in the day. And fact is, I never got anything but A’s at any junior college class. I’ll admit though that the last quote I have up there seems a bit over the top. I honestly don’t believe I could beat those programming students, but I just like to write shit on my blog sometimes to make me feel better. Its my blog, and whatever I say goes!

Like I said, if anything, I think I’m actually quite the opposite of arrogant. Unless I’m am absolutely positive that I am good at something and can beat others at it, I have a very, very hard time saying good things about myself. It just doesn’t feel right coming out of my mouth, and just feels like bragging. But, for whatever reason, it didn’t feel like it when I wrote that post. Does that mean, deep down, that’s just truly what I believe?

I’m not saying that I was a freaking genius and the smartest student at any of my schools. Far from it. But I could definitely hold my own in any class I took and probably could always compete, if not win, the highest grade in the class. Yes, a geek I was. But arroant? I never was the most popular person in school, or dated anyone close to the prom queen, or scored 4 touchdowns in one game! or went out a lot. As I said, geek. SO LET ME HAVE MY GRADES!!!!

November 17, 2008

Quantum of Solace

The latest James Bond movie, and 2nd featuring Daniel Craig, came out this past weekend, entitled Quantum of Solace. This movie takes place right where Casino Royale ended. Bond is on a mission which so happens to also coincide with him finding the one responsible for killing his love interest in the aforementioned movie. He must find out who this mysterious organization is that no government in the world has ever heard from. The lead bad guy he is fighting throughout is an environmentalist. Yes, an environmentalist. How evil, huh?

I’ll be quick about this. I did not think this was a good movie. Casino Royale was tons better. The storyline in this movie, if you want to call it that, made absolutely no sense. Honestly, it just felt like this movie was just once chase scene after another followed by a few action fight sequences. Yes, these chase scenes, whether it be on car, boat, foot or whatever, were nice, and the fight sequences were not bad. But, like I said, it just didn’t make sense, just moving from one to another. And the climax of the movie was pretty lame as well. I just didn’t see the point of the movie, or realize what really happened. Is it just me?

The girl in this movie didn’t do anything for me either. Don’t really know what she added to the movie. I didn’t even think she was all that good looking, which is the point of a Bond girl, isn’t it? Vesper from Casino Royale was much more charming, and her involvement in that movie was much more integral. In fact, you might say that her involvment in Quantum of Solace is much more integral to this movie as well, even though she isn’t even in it, since Bond is looking for her killer and such. That’s gotta say something pretty bad for how relavant this Bond girl was for the film…

November 18, 2008

Dog Family Portrait

The other day, I was chatting with my friend from Taiwan on IM. She told me that she reads my blog, and I was surprised. But, she says that she usually doesn’t read all the words because she doesn’t understand everything, and that I should put more pictures up! So, in honor of her and on her request, I took some pictures of my dogs and have put them up. You have no idea how long it took me to get these pictures. The little dogs do not get along with the big dogs, so making them sit or lie still near each other was not an easy task. To my friend in Taiwan, hope you enjoy cuz I know you love dogs too!