as i sit on the couch wrapped in a quilt that is a gift from carla's mom, i savor my day off.
knowing--because trader joe's follows the european calendar with monday beginning the week--today is a day off sandwiched between 8 work days, the next 5 consecutive.
knowing--because i didn't fall asleep until 5 am--today is a day wasted because i didn't get up until 1:30 and i haven't left the couch since then.
except for a bathroom break.
TOMORROW IS PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY DAY!!!
i hope that everyone gets out and votes.
democrat, republican, green, socialist, communist.
whatever.
just get out and vote.
for the democrats.
cuz they can't screw the country up more than it has been in the last 6 years!
and if you live in massachusetts vote yes on 1.
not only will it make it easier for you to get boozed up, it helps my company make more money, which means greater job security.
thank you for your support.
everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.--leo tolstoy
10.11.2006
is 26 mid or late twenties? please say mid.
thatt's right folks, on monday i turned 26. it has been 7 years since i came out to the east coast.
enough reminsicing. i have some complaining to do.
no, not really. i mean i could, but nothing grinds my gears right now.
instead i will share with the world, the uncurable disease i fight daily:
crohn's disease.
specifically crohn's (granulomatous) colitis as it only affects my colon.
this grand ol' website tells you all you need to know.
but a quick run down is this: uncurable, terrible, meds for the rest of my life, and fear of going #2.
if i miss a dosage of pills (3x daily), i have to worry if i'll exhibit symptoms, if i skip a whole day of pills, i know i am going to be in big trouble in the next couple days.
it all started this past spring when i noticed blood in my bm. that freaked me out. so i went to the doctor to see what it was. he thought hemorroids, but there was no evidence of, so i was shipped off to a gastrointerologist to see what was there. he couldn't figure it out in the office, so i was signed up for a colonoscopy.
so while i was waiting for the scope to happen, i'm looking up my symptoms on webmd and google and such, and i find i have crohn's, colietis, or RECTAL CANCER.
christ almighty, i am freaked the fuck out.
in may, i had the colonoscopy. my first. here's my most vibrant memory of the procedure. they give my the sedatives, not strong enough to knock me out, just enough to make me not feel my body, or quite be aware of the 3 foot tube up my ass. now, the doc is watching his work on a tv, and i am angled in such a way that it is all i can stare at. i hear the doc say that he is taking a biopsy from the colon wall (a biopsy is a small piece a tissue so they can test it for various things).
"that is my colon," is what i'm thinking. "he just ripped a piece of my colon off." my next thought. "i didn't feel a thing!"
the colonoscopy found signs of inflammation and evidence of coliteis, so we threw me on the meds i'm still on. asacol, 2 pills 3x daily.
next was my upper gi and intestinal series.
but we'll save that for the next installment of
reger: his health and why you should care
enough reminsicing. i have some complaining to do.
no, not really. i mean i could, but nothing grinds my gears right now.
instead i will share with the world, the uncurable disease i fight daily:
crohn's disease.
specifically crohn's (granulomatous) colitis as it only affects my colon.
this grand ol' website tells you all you need to know.
but a quick run down is this: uncurable, terrible, meds for the rest of my life, and fear of going #2.
if i miss a dosage of pills (3x daily), i have to worry if i'll exhibit symptoms, if i skip a whole day of pills, i know i am going to be in big trouble in the next couple days.
it all started this past spring when i noticed blood in my bm. that freaked me out. so i went to the doctor to see what it was. he thought hemorroids, but there was no evidence of, so i was shipped off to a gastrointerologist to see what was there. he couldn't figure it out in the office, so i was signed up for a colonoscopy.
so while i was waiting for the scope to happen, i'm looking up my symptoms on webmd and google and such, and i find i have crohn's, colietis, or RECTAL CANCER.
christ almighty, i am freaked the fuck out.
in may, i had the colonoscopy. my first. here's my most vibrant memory of the procedure. they give my the sedatives, not strong enough to knock me out, just enough to make me not feel my body, or quite be aware of the 3 foot tube up my ass. now, the doc is watching his work on a tv, and i am angled in such a way that it is all i can stare at. i hear the doc say that he is taking a biopsy from the colon wall (a biopsy is a small piece a tissue so they can test it for various things).
"that is my colon," is what i'm thinking. "he just ripped a piece of my colon off." my next thought. "i didn't feel a thing!"
the colonoscopy found signs of inflammation and evidence of coliteis, so we threw me on the meds i'm still on. asacol, 2 pills 3x daily.
next was my upper gi and intestinal series.
but we'll save that for the next installment of
reger: his health and why you should care
10.04.2006
twinkies down 2-0
it bothers me when people complain about the free enterprise system or capitalism.
well, more so when they complain about it being a terrible system and how its destroying the earth and society.
i'm pretty sure it's not the capitalism, but the inaction of the citizens that is destroying the world.
while academic and military research has started a lot of the major technical and societal changes we have witnessed (the internet, psychology, etc), it is when somebody figures out how to make a profit on it that is when it begins to make an impact on the regular person.
what company doesn't advertise it's website nowadays?
what person doesn't pay a market to make them a sandwich (which, beyond being the most perfect food, may be the easiest to assemble)?
it is inaction and lack of will power that lets corporations and the system get away with fucking us over.
take exxon mobil. i actively make sure that i do not fill up at a exxonmobil station. if i'm lost in conneticut and i've been on E for 50 miles, that's a different story. but for my everyday commuting gas, i refuse to give my money to exxonmobil.
those silly internet petitions that go around saying "today is no buying gas day," those would work if everyone actually listened to them and took part.
we could drive that company into extinction. if everyone really cared enough about it, we could make sure exxon never made another dime.
but we don't.
because we're lazy.
or with voting. voter turnout for the 2004 presidential election was 55.3%. that was the highest since 1968. where are the other 45%? if they got out and voted for one candidate? in '04 bush received 50.7% of the vote. that's 50.7% of 55.3%. do you know how much that is?
my calculator says just over 28% of eligible voters picked w.
isn't anyone else outraged by this?
this blows my mind and pisses me off.
i may not cast a vote in every primary (i do in governor and president years), or for county clerk, but i do vote.
but at least i am out there trying to make a difference. if an extra 1.5% of voters that didn't vote went out and voted for kerry in 2004, bush would have lost.
not even 1% would have made the difference in 2000.
how can people just not care?
well, more so when they complain about it being a terrible system and how its destroying the earth and society.
i'm pretty sure it's not the capitalism, but the inaction of the citizens that is destroying the world.
while academic and military research has started a lot of the major technical and societal changes we have witnessed (the internet, psychology, etc), it is when somebody figures out how to make a profit on it that is when it begins to make an impact on the regular person.
what company doesn't advertise it's website nowadays?
what person doesn't pay a market to make them a sandwich (which, beyond being the most perfect food, may be the easiest to assemble)?
it is inaction and lack of will power that lets corporations and the system get away with fucking us over.
take exxon mobil. i actively make sure that i do not fill up at a exxonmobil station. if i'm lost in conneticut and i've been on E for 50 miles, that's a different story. but for my everyday commuting gas, i refuse to give my money to exxonmobil.
those silly internet petitions that go around saying "today is no buying gas day," those would work if everyone actually listened to them and took part.
we could drive that company into extinction. if everyone really cared enough about it, we could make sure exxon never made another dime.
but we don't.
because we're lazy.
or with voting. voter turnout for the 2004 presidential election was 55.3%. that was the highest since 1968. where are the other 45%? if they got out and voted for one candidate? in '04 bush received 50.7% of the vote. that's 50.7% of 55.3%. do you know how much that is?
my calculator says just over 28% of eligible voters picked w.
isn't anyone else outraged by this?
this blows my mind and pisses me off.
i may not cast a vote in every primary (i do in governor and president years), or for county clerk, but i do vote.
but at least i am out there trying to make a difference. if an extra 1.5% of voters that didn't vote went out and voted for kerry in 2004, bush would have lost.
not even 1% would have made the difference in 2000.
how can people just not care?
9.23.2006
scrubs marathon on comedy central
the departed looks like a good film.
carla is cleaning up and organizing all our board games.
i do not know why and i do not question.
axis and allies
risk
outburst
sequence
backgammon
pictionary
scrabble
mindtrap
jenga
mancala
trivial pursuit (millenium edition)
trivial pursuit (pop culture 2)
dominoes
skipbo
balderdash
i want monopoly but not the new one where they updated the placenames and market prices.
like now, you get $2 million for passing go. and you can buy like time square and football stadiums and railroads are now airports.
you shouldn't mess with classics. there are things can be improved and should be improved (like a new edition of madden every year). but there are things that are the way they ought to be.
like monopoly. where $200 is a paycheck and taxes are only 10%.
i miss those days.
carla is cleaning up and organizing all our board games.
i do not know why and i do not question.
axis and allies
risk
outburst
sequence
backgammon
pictionary
scrabble
mindtrap
jenga
mancala
trivial pursuit (millenium edition)
trivial pursuit (pop culture 2)
dominoes
skipbo
balderdash
i want monopoly but not the new one where they updated the placenames and market prices.
like now, you get $2 million for passing go. and you can buy like time square and football stadiums and railroads are now airports.
you shouldn't mess with classics. there are things can be improved and should be improved (like a new edition of madden every year). but there are things that are the way they ought to be.
like monopoly. where $200 is a paycheck and taxes are only 10%.
i miss those days.
9.22.2006
one more shot
again, i shall be introspective on my use of this blog and the purpose it served in my life.
when i first started this, i was a 21 year old that had no idea what i was doing. neither on a long term scale nor a day-to-day basis.
but as we approach the 26th anniversary of my life, i find i'm much better on the day-to-day aspect of life. it is spending time with carla or it is work or occasionally it is friends.
the long term is still a bit hairy, but i least know what is going to happen, just not when. i will become a captain for trader joe's. i will buy a house. i will get married. i will get a dog.
but what about this blog? i have asked that question many times here. every 6 months or so, i get back on and give it a try. and i always claim that this time will be different. and everytime it isn't.
try and failing isn't as bad as never trying. but trying and failing a whole bunch of times is pretty close.
let's give it one more go.
when i first started this, i was a 21 year old that had no idea what i was doing. neither on a long term scale nor a day-to-day basis.
but as we approach the 26th anniversary of my life, i find i'm much better on the day-to-day aspect of life. it is spending time with carla or it is work or occasionally it is friends.
the long term is still a bit hairy, but i least know what is going to happen, just not when. i will become a captain for trader joe's. i will buy a house. i will get married. i will get a dog.
but what about this blog? i have asked that question many times here. every 6 months or so, i get back on and give it a try. and i always claim that this time will be different. and everytime it isn't.
try and failing isn't as bad as never trying. but trying and failing a whole bunch of times is pretty close.
let's give it one more go.
3.29.2006
lost blew my freakin' mind!
to keep the theme of greatness and undisputed statements going, i offer this:
"all along the watchtower" by jimi hendrix is greatest rock song of all time.
stairway can take a back row seat to this.
it is not only the best cover of all time, it is the best 4 minutes of rock'n'roll.
period.
infinity period.
double infinity period.
the guitar work (especially from 2:00 to about 2:50) is beyond phenomenal.
not to disrespect my hometown boy of bobby dylan, but jimi plays--and sings--that song the way it was supposed to be done.
there's too much confusion; i can't get no relief.
such a powerful use of the double negative by dylan. it truly needed the smooth, yet smoky, vocals of jimi to bring the dire emotion of the song to the forefront of our minds.
that's total bull-plop, but you get the meaning.
the song is total kickass
even if you're not on acid or mushrooms.
"all along the watchtower" by jimi hendrix is greatest rock song of all time.
stairway can take a back row seat to this.
it is not only the best cover of all time, it is the best 4 minutes of rock'n'roll.
period.
infinity period.
double infinity period.
the guitar work (especially from 2:00 to about 2:50) is beyond phenomenal.
not to disrespect my hometown boy of bobby dylan, but jimi plays--and sings--that song the way it was supposed to be done.
there's too much confusion; i can't get no relief.
such a powerful use of the double negative by dylan. it truly needed the smooth, yet smoky, vocals of jimi to bring the dire emotion of the song to the forefront of our minds.
that's total bull-plop, but you get the meaning.
the song is total kickass
even if you're not on acid or mushrooms.
3.28.2006
realworld/roadrules gauntlet II was the lame
so i've decided that there is a perfect food and it is:
the sandwich.
now, my definition of a sandwich is going to incorporate a few other foods that you may have not put into the sandwich category. but once we begin examining the structure of said foods, then it may make sense. i ain't guaranteeing anything.
the reason for the sandwich being the perfect food?
there are two, actually.
1. it's handheld and self contained. a complete meal in a nice, neat, little package.
2. sandwiches can, and are, made with anything you want.
and i don't know if you can claim either of those reasons is more important than the other.
ok, the foods that may not be construed as sandwichs as of yet:
pizza. it is basically an open faced sandwich. layer of bread, layer of sauce, meat and cheese. which in my estimation, is a sandwich.
burrito. an open faced sandwich rolled up.
quesadilla. a mexican sandwich
basically anything with a tortilla. but not nachos. not tortilla chips. tortillas.
so sandwiches are the perfect food.
so go out and have a b.l.t. or a b.m.p.b. (banana/mustard/peanut butter) if you want.
the sandwich.
now, my definition of a sandwich is going to incorporate a few other foods that you may have not put into the sandwich category. but once we begin examining the structure of said foods, then it may make sense. i ain't guaranteeing anything.
the reason for the sandwich being the perfect food?
there are two, actually.
1. it's handheld and self contained. a complete meal in a nice, neat, little package.
2. sandwiches can, and are, made with anything you want.
and i don't know if you can claim either of those reasons is more important than the other.
ok, the foods that may not be construed as sandwichs as of yet:
pizza. it is basically an open faced sandwich. layer of bread, layer of sauce, meat and cheese. which in my estimation, is a sandwich.
burrito. an open faced sandwich rolled up.
quesadilla. a mexican sandwich
basically anything with a tortilla. but not nachos. not tortilla chips. tortillas.
so sandwiches are the perfect food.
so go out and have a b.l.t. or a b.m.p.b. (banana/mustard/peanut butter) if you want.
3.25.2006
while supersize me did have some moments of humor and insight, it was a ridiculous premise, and--as i thought--over-hyped
the world is black and white.
the research we are doing in biology, physics, mathematics and psychology is very important. it is going to lead us, eventually, to a set of first principles. every layer we peel back on the complexity and makeup of the universe will lead to an ever simpler explanation of why. and with enough desire and resources, we--as imperfect and mortal humans--will decipher the Ultimate Truth.
it may not be a neat little package like e=mc^2 or 42, but the Ultimate Answer will be something understandable. it will be a first principle upon which everything is built upon. this physical universe has laws and rules which it must obey. we will figure it out. humanity has an unquenchable desire to know.
i also believe that this truth extends beyond mere physical regulations. God has a moral component to itself. there is an Ultimate Moral Truth as well. whether it is a stand alone truth or that it, too, extends from the Ultimate Truth is yet to be seen (but i'll place all my money on that they are entwined in some fashion). but it means that there is a baseline moral truth out there. there is a right, and there is a wrong.
shades of gray are fine and dandy for the psychologists and the sociologists and the gen x parents that can't control their children.
but that doesn't make it correct.
in fact, i believe they are totally wrong.
there is right and wrong. and that's all there is.
am i saying that i am always right? i would like to think i am, but i'm wrong a lot. more so the longer i live, the more wrong i become; but that's a whole 'nother rant.
am i saying i know what is right and what is wrong? not entirely. i'm saying there is a right, and there is a wrong. we may not know what is right until we discover the Ultimate Truth. we may just be fumbling through ever darker shades of gray until we get to a point where God goes, "whoa, buddy, i think you got it. congratulations."
i would like to think that we are on the path as a species. are we slow as fuck getting there? most definately, but the universe has waited--what? 15 billion years--for us to get this far. i'm sure it can wait a bit longer.
actually, i'm a 100% sure.
cuz that's the way it is.
the research we are doing in biology, physics, mathematics and psychology is very important. it is going to lead us, eventually, to a set of first principles. every layer we peel back on the complexity and makeup of the universe will lead to an ever simpler explanation of why. and with enough desire and resources, we--as imperfect and mortal humans--will decipher the Ultimate Truth.
it may not be a neat little package like e=mc^2 or 42, but the Ultimate Answer will be something understandable. it will be a first principle upon which everything is built upon. this physical universe has laws and rules which it must obey. we will figure it out. humanity has an unquenchable desire to know.
i also believe that this truth extends beyond mere physical regulations. God has a moral component to itself. there is an Ultimate Moral Truth as well. whether it is a stand alone truth or that it, too, extends from the Ultimate Truth is yet to be seen (but i'll place all my money on that they are entwined in some fashion). but it means that there is a baseline moral truth out there. there is a right, and there is a wrong.
shades of gray are fine and dandy for the psychologists and the sociologists and the gen x parents that can't control their children.
but that doesn't make it correct.
in fact, i believe they are totally wrong.
there is right and wrong. and that's all there is.
am i saying that i am always right? i would like to think i am, but i'm wrong a lot. more so the longer i live, the more wrong i become; but that's a whole 'nother rant.
am i saying i know what is right and what is wrong? not entirely. i'm saying there is a right, and there is a wrong. we may not know what is right until we discover the Ultimate Truth. we may just be fumbling through ever darker shades of gray until we get to a point where God goes, "whoa, buddy, i think you got it. congratulations."
i would like to think that we are on the path as a species. are we slow as fuck getting there? most definately, but the universe has waited--what? 15 billion years--for us to get this far. i'm sure it can wait a bit longer.
actually, i'm a 100% sure.
cuz that's the way it is.
3.13.2006
does anyone use baby oil on babies?
you ever see the fox commercial for the tv ratings and blocking the different levels so to protect your children?
the one where everyone has their rating above their head? TV-MA, TV-7, TV-14, etc.
the part i love is the dog.
he has a ? above his head.
does that mean the dog doesn't understand tv, or does that mean we can't figure out what is appropriate for a dog to watch?
either way, it's funny.
to me, anyway.
the one where everyone has their rating above their head? TV-MA, TV-7, TV-14, etc.
the part i love is the dog.
he has a ? above his head.
does that mean the dog doesn't understand tv, or does that mean we can't figure out what is appropriate for a dog to watch?
either way, it's funny.
to me, anyway.
3.09.2006
forward, forward, side, together
so carla and i went to our first ballroom dancing class last night.
for the next 9 weeks, i will be in agony every wednesday from 8-9.
just kidding, it's not that bad.
i even had fun. carla only got mad at me a couple times, which means i did better than i had feared i would.
in fact, i wasn't even the worst one there! there looked to be several guys in our class that were much worse off than i was.
which, those of you that know me, means those guys are royally screwed.
we started off with the fox trot, which is supposedly the easiest of all dances.
we are also going to learn the rumba, cha-cha, and waltz.
in all actuality, i think it will be fun and good for us.
mainly me, so carla won't kill me when we have to dance.
for the next 9 weeks, i will be in agony every wednesday from 8-9.
just kidding, it's not that bad.
i even had fun. carla only got mad at me a couple times, which means i did better than i had feared i would.
in fact, i wasn't even the worst one there! there looked to be several guys in our class that were much worse off than i was.
which, those of you that know me, means those guys are royally screwed.
we started off with the fox trot, which is supposedly the easiest of all dances.
we are also going to learn the rumba, cha-cha, and waltz.
in all actuality, i think it will be fun and good for us.
mainly me, so carla won't kill me when we have to dance.
3.01.2006
huh-ha!
i think this tax map from msn is misleading.
it shows the tax burden of each state counting in local, state and federal taxes as a percentage of income.
my current state of massachusetts ranks as number 5 in the nation after you count in federal taxes.
but the last time i checked, massachusetts ranked 2nd in per capita income (as of 2000).
i'm not a smart man, but i know that the higher your income, the higher tax rate.
ct is number one when it comes to per capita income, and it ranks in percentage of tax burden! imagine the correlation!
is there a correlation? 5 0f the top 10 tax burden states are also top 10 in per capita income (washington misses out at #11).
living in maine or wyoming is not good for your taxes. they rank 36th and 28th respectively in income, but they are 7th and 10th in tax burden.
7 of the 10 highest income states rank in the top 15 of tax burden.
so i guess the trend is that if you make more, you get taxed more. which i'm pretty sure is the point of our progressive tax brackets. but i'm no senator.
side point, has anyone else watched deal or no deal and had to wait for howie mandell to say his name to recognize him?
what the hell happened to his hair?
it shows the tax burden of each state counting in local, state and federal taxes as a percentage of income.
my current state of massachusetts ranks as number 5 in the nation after you count in federal taxes.
but the last time i checked, massachusetts ranked 2nd in per capita income (as of 2000).
i'm not a smart man, but i know that the higher your income, the higher tax rate.
ct is number one when it comes to per capita income, and it ranks in percentage of tax burden! imagine the correlation!
is there a correlation? 5 0f the top 10 tax burden states are also top 10 in per capita income (washington misses out at #11).
living in maine or wyoming is not good for your taxes. they rank 36th and 28th respectively in income, but they are 7th and 10th in tax burden.
7 of the 10 highest income states rank in the top 15 of tax burden.
so i guess the trend is that if you make more, you get taxed more. which i'm pretty sure is the point of our progressive tax brackets. but i'm no senator.
side point, has anyone else watched deal or no deal and had to wait for howie mandell to say his name to recognize him?
what the hell happened to his hair?
2.27.2006
several comments on several topics
[bill murray movies]
i'm sitting on the couch watching groundhog day.
which is one of the top 5 bill murray movies.
the other 4, in no particular order:
stripes
what about bob?
kingpin
caddyshack
he's made many good movies, but those are the best.
ghostbusters and scrooged would make the top 10, but they aren't going to knock any of those 5 out.
i write the list in no particular order, because on any given day, you could argue for each of those to be the best bill murray movie of all time.
except for when it's groundhog day, because then you just have to go the obvious and damn all reason.
[politics I]
i just finished reading an old al franken book: rush limbaugh is a big, fat idiot and other observations. it was written about 10 years ago. i picked it up at the milford library book sale for a buck.
but the attacks on the republican party are still funny. mainly because nothing serious was going on in 1995. we had to deal with newt gringrich, limbaugh, and bob dole.
the good ol' clinton years. are we ready for some more clinton years? it could happen! karl rove even admits to the possibility.
[olympics]
the olympics are all wrapped up in a neat little package.
i thought they were good games. lots of excitement. favorites fell and underdogs triumphed. the best showed why they were. i felt the olympics this year really epotimized the true spirit of sport.
my beef about the games: american media. how the americans were a let down, not medaling in hockey, not getting gold in women's skating, bode bode bode bode, blah blah blah, yada yada yada.
never mind the positive: our dominance in the sport of snowboarding, the bronze by men's curlers, thrilling victories and finishes in speedskating, and--while i don't like watching it--our first ice dancing medal in 30 years.
but again, i have a problem with almost all of american media, not just bob costas and the bastards at nbc who had only a few hours of live coverage. at least that will get better in 2010. but i won't care what's on tv for the vancouver games.
carla and i have made a goal to save up enough money to go to the vancouver games. we figure a dollar a day til the winter games begin, should be enough for tickets and accomodations.
plus it's freakin' canadian money! it's like going shopping with a wallet full of monopoly money.
i love our frozen north neighbor.
[politics II]
i only have to say that i agree with jimmy carter--my second favorite president from my lifetime--about the whole port of dubai thing.
[a quote]
When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn't imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter.
i'm sitting on the couch watching groundhog day.
which is one of the top 5 bill murray movies.
the other 4, in no particular order:
stripes
what about bob?
kingpin
caddyshack
he's made many good movies, but those are the best.
ghostbusters and scrooged would make the top 10, but they aren't going to knock any of those 5 out.
i write the list in no particular order, because on any given day, you could argue for each of those to be the best bill murray movie of all time.
except for when it's groundhog day, because then you just have to go the obvious and damn all reason.
i just finished reading an old al franken book: rush limbaugh is a big, fat idiot and other observations. it was written about 10 years ago. i picked it up at the milford library book sale for a buck.
but the attacks on the republican party are still funny. mainly because nothing serious was going on in 1995. we had to deal with newt gringrich, limbaugh, and bob dole.
the good ol' clinton years. are we ready for some more clinton years? it could happen! karl rove even admits to the possibility.
the olympics are all wrapped up in a neat little package.
i thought they were good games. lots of excitement. favorites fell and underdogs triumphed. the best showed why they were. i felt the olympics this year really epotimized the true spirit of sport.
my beef about the games: american media. how the americans were a let down, not medaling in hockey, not getting gold in women's skating, bode bode bode bode, blah blah blah, yada yada yada.
never mind the positive: our dominance in the sport of snowboarding, the bronze by men's curlers, thrilling victories and finishes in speedskating, and--while i don't like watching it--our first ice dancing medal in 30 years.
but again, i have a problem with almost all of american media, not just bob costas and the bastards at nbc who had only a few hours of live coverage. at least that will get better in 2010. but i won't care what's on tv for the vancouver games.
carla and i have made a goal to save up enough money to go to the vancouver games. we figure a dollar a day til the winter games begin, should be enough for tickets and accomodations.
plus it's freakin' canadian money! it's like going shopping with a wallet full of monopoly money.
i love our frozen north neighbor.
i only have to say that i agree with jimmy carter--my second favorite president from my lifetime--about the whole port of dubai thing.
[a quote]
When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn't imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter.
2.21.2006
genisis
i've come to the opinion that having media taking part in a capitalist form of competition is bad for society.
having news programs and news channels competing for viewers and the subsequent advertising revenue, i think, leads to problems with the news.
for one, it becomes sensationalist. each story is overblown and drawn out to get as many viewers as possible to pay attention to the talki--screaming--heads that are blabbering about whatever. i point to the terri schiavo and recent cheney hunting stories as examples.
second, it leads to crap fluff pieces that don't count (in my opinion) as real news. like this piece i saw on this 33 lb cat in china. who gives a shit?
third, i think it leads to a corruption of the validity of the news. the ny times with jason blair and the dan rather debacle.
my solution? a radical leftist reworking of the news media.
establish a nonpartisan, independent news agency. one whose budget is established independent of who controls congress. a portion of network, cable, internet and radio revenues and maybe a federal tax on those services will provide the budget for said news agency.
also, we would abolish cnn, fox news, msnbc, cnbc, etc. they would be replaced with a national news channel, international news channel, economic news channel. it would be like cspan with more graphics and cute anchors.
we would get rid of the ridiculous local news shows that have tons of problems of their own, and they would be replaced with a half hour/hour of the national news channels local bereaus.
while this may piss of rupert murdoch and ted turner, i think it is important to remove the for-profit status of the news media.
it should lead to higher quality news with less fluff.
and it should remove the bias that is so prevalent in today's media (both left and right).
add this to things to stump on in the reger2016 campaign.
having news programs and news channels competing for viewers and the subsequent advertising revenue, i think, leads to problems with the news.
for one, it becomes sensationalist. each story is overblown and drawn out to get as many viewers as possible to pay attention to the talki--screaming--heads that are blabbering about whatever. i point to the terri schiavo and recent cheney hunting stories as examples.
second, it leads to crap fluff pieces that don't count (in my opinion) as real news. like this piece i saw on this 33 lb cat in china. who gives a shit?
third, i think it leads to a corruption of the validity of the news. the ny times with jason blair and the dan rather debacle.
my solution? a radical leftist reworking of the news media.
establish a nonpartisan, independent news agency. one whose budget is established independent of who controls congress. a portion of network, cable, internet and radio revenues and maybe a federal tax on those services will provide the budget for said news agency.
also, we would abolish cnn, fox news, msnbc, cnbc, etc. they would be replaced with a national news channel, international news channel, economic news channel. it would be like cspan with more graphics and cute anchors.
we would get rid of the ridiculous local news shows that have tons of problems of their own, and they would be replaced with a half hour/hour of the national news channels local bereaus.
while this may piss of rupert murdoch and ted turner, i think it is important to remove the for-profit status of the news media.
it should lead to higher quality news with less fluff.
and it should remove the bias that is so prevalent in today's media (both left and right).
add this to things to stump on in the reger2016 campaign.
2.19.2006
foxwoods
at celtics game they have this contest where one person in the crowd tries to make a 3point shot for money from foxwoods and a half court shot for like 7g. well, if the person hits the 3pointer, then everyone with a ticket stub for the game gets a $10 food coupon at foxwoods.
well, i gots the stub.
and carla has tomorrow off due to president's day and the vast majority of the world has it off, so we're going to the 'woods to get our nickel slot on.
i'm going to pretend that it is an olympic event.
i'm going for the the gold in the nickel slots.
not the gold medal though, i want actual gold. a jackpot would be nice. i could use some more cash.
oh, God, nascar just came on the tv. i gotta go. i gotta change the channel before i freak out and break the tv.
well, i gots the stub.
and carla has tomorrow off due to president's day and the vast majority of the world has it off, so we're going to the 'woods to get our nickel slot on.
i'm going to pretend that it is an olympic event.
i'm going for the the gold in the nickel slots.
not the gold medal though, i want actual gold. a jackpot would be nice. i could use some more cash.
oh, God, nascar just came on the tv. i gotta go. i gotta change the channel before i freak out and break the tv.
2.15.2006
42
that's how many months carla and i have been together.
this has been the longest that anyone has put up with me.
she has been the most amazing woman to me in that time.
she is the one that got me to go back to school (though, it didn't last long, but it got me going in the right direction). she inspired me to my life back in order. she inspired me to lose 30 lbs.
i don't do near enough for her. i do massage her feet all the time, but that's not enough. she does all these little things for me that let me know she cares and she loves me, but i don't do that very well. and it's not that she wants me to actually do little things, like put her first on my links list, or take out the garbage on a regular basis. it's that doing those things, taking the couple minutes (that's it! just a couple minutes) lets her know that i care.
i love her more than i have ever loved anyone before.
she challenges me as a person to grow. she challenges me to show that i care. to be compassionate and passionate. she does so much for me. so much more than i think she knows.
i love you, carla, so much.
i know you feel the same for me, and, for that, i am most grateful.
i hope 42 months turns into 840.
i love you.
this has been the longest that anyone has put up with me.
she has been the most amazing woman to me in that time.
she is the one that got me to go back to school (though, it didn't last long, but it got me going in the right direction). she inspired me to my life back in order. she inspired me to lose 30 lbs.
i don't do near enough for her. i do massage her feet all the time, but that's not enough. she does all these little things for me that let me know she cares and she loves me, but i don't do that very well. and it's not that she wants me to actually do little things, like put her first on my links list, or take out the garbage on a regular basis. it's that doing those things, taking the couple minutes (that's it! just a couple minutes) lets her know that i care.
i love her more than i have ever loved anyone before.
she challenges me as a person to grow. she challenges me to show that i care. to be compassionate and passionate. she does so much for me. so much more than i think she knows.
i love you, carla, so much.
i know you feel the same for me, and, for that, i am most grateful.
i hope 42 months turns into 840.
i love you.
2.13.2006
he's got the counter, and now he's throwing the hammer
the xx winter olympics are fully underway, and i have the dvr working fulltime. between the time lag, job, and my regular shows, i'm recording a lot more tv than i can watch.
but the olympics only come every 2 years, and it's only every 4 years that i get to watch luge, bobsleigh, downhill, and curling--the grandmaster, in my eyes, of winter sport.
throwing rocks down the sheet for 10 ends is the way you are to utilize ice.
and because carla is such a wonderful girlfriend, we have tickets to the curling nationals in april in lowell, ma.
that's right. 3rd row seats to the national curling championships.
do you know how hard it is to get those kind of tickets?
you have no idea.
let's just say we had to shell out over $15 per seat.
but as much as i am excited about that, my heart is preoccupied by something else.
i have a stupid cat.
carla and i fear that our little boy, napoleon, is the feline version of forrest gump.
the little guy is affectionate and cute, as all cats should be, but he just doesn't seem that smart. he can't figure how to get to stuff, he freaks out at any loud noises, and he gets this look on his face sometimes that makes me think that his brain is completely off and the only reason he is breathing is because he's not smart enough to figure out how to stop.
but i love him anyways.
but not like this guy loves cats.
on second thought, you might not want to click that...
but the olympics only come every 2 years, and it's only every 4 years that i get to watch luge, bobsleigh, downhill, and curling--the grandmaster, in my eyes, of winter sport.
throwing rocks down the sheet for 10 ends is the way you are to utilize ice.
and because carla is such a wonderful girlfriend, we have tickets to the curling nationals in april in lowell, ma.
that's right. 3rd row seats to the national curling championships.
do you know how hard it is to get those kind of tickets?
you have no idea.
let's just say we had to shell out over $15 per seat.
but as much as i am excited about that, my heart is preoccupied by something else.
i have a stupid cat.
carla and i fear that our little boy, napoleon, is the feline version of forrest gump.
the little guy is affectionate and cute, as all cats should be, but he just doesn't seem that smart. he can't figure how to get to stuff, he freaks out at any loud noises, and he gets this look on his face sometimes that makes me think that his brain is completely off and the only reason he is breathing is because he's not smart enough to figure out how to stop.
but i love him anyways.
but not like this guy loves cats.
on second thought, you might not want to click that...
2.06.2006
scared straight
i stopped going to the dentist 4+ years ago.
bad idea.
i returned to the chair after my hiatus to find that i did not do as good as a job as i could have.
i have the beginnings of a couple cavities. but the big one is:
gingivitis
so, they hooked me up with this power toothcleaner, a mouthwash to fight it, and lots of poking and stabbing with sharp objects.
oh, and, this mouthwash, if i don't brush and floss my teeth well enough before using it (twice a day!), it may stain my teeth brown!
but this is all my fault. it was my decision not to go to the dentist, so this is the price i must pay now.
mainly, i don't want dentures at 30.
ps
the only thing i really enjoyed about superbowl xl was that i had 3,7 on our squares board, and at halftime i won $30.
bad idea.
i returned to the chair after my hiatus to find that i did not do as good as a job as i could have.
i have the beginnings of a couple cavities. but the big one is:
gingivitis
so, they hooked me up with this power toothcleaner, a mouthwash to fight it, and lots of poking and stabbing with sharp objects.
oh, and, this mouthwash, if i don't brush and floss my teeth well enough before using it (twice a day!), it may stain my teeth brown!
but this is all my fault. it was my decision not to go to the dentist, so this is the price i must pay now.
mainly, i don't want dentures at 30.
ps
the only thing i really enjoyed about superbowl xl was that i had 3,7 on our squares board, and at halftime i won $30.
1.31.2006
thou and thee and all that
so, i'm a little behind the tiems.
i just finally watched sideways today.
good movie.
it peaks my interest in wine.
i just don't have the money or the time, or when it comes down to it, the desire--the drive--to really get into wine.
but the hype about being this huge wine movie--how it opened up the wine industry--i think, is a load. i hate sensationalism.
wine is really the vehicle for the story.
a man reaching a breakng point in his life, he approaches his rock bottom, but in the course of the film and through the adventures he has, the lesson, as always: life is there for the grabbing.
life scares the ever-living shit out of me on a continual basis.
mainly because it takes a constant, conscious decision not to blow it.
and until that constant, conscious attention becomes effortless--which, i have found takes a long time--life can be a struggle.
a daily grind that can wear you down.
but there is a purpose to it all: just do what you can to be happy.
and not just content. happy. a big difference that, i feel, is the biggest cause of misery and emotional distress this side of war.
ever notice how i keep saying this stuff all the time? i think this is what i write about the most. how to persevere. how to get it all together and live a life of fulfillment.
but for everyone that knows me in my real life, i am quite far from heeding my own advice. but, hey, i'm only 25. at least i know i'm screwed up.
steelers 31, seahawks, 27
and carla is the best scrabble player this side of the mississippi.
i just finally watched sideways today.
good movie.
it peaks my interest in wine.
i just don't have the money or the time, or when it comes down to it, the desire--the drive--to really get into wine.
but the hype about being this huge wine movie--how it opened up the wine industry--i think, is a load. i hate sensationalism.
wine is really the vehicle for the story.
a man reaching a breakng point in his life, he approaches his rock bottom, but in the course of the film and through the adventures he has, the lesson, as always: life is there for the grabbing.
life scares the ever-living shit out of me on a continual basis.
mainly because it takes a constant, conscious decision not to blow it.
and until that constant, conscious attention becomes effortless--which, i have found takes a long time--life can be a struggle.
a daily grind that can wear you down.
but there is a purpose to it all: just do what you can to be happy.
and not just content. happy. a big difference that, i feel, is the biggest cause of misery and emotional distress this side of war.
ever notice how i keep saying this stuff all the time? i think this is what i write about the most. how to persevere. how to get it all together and live a life of fulfillment.
but for everyone that knows me in my real life, i am quite far from heeding my own advice. but, hey, i'm only 25. at least i know i'm screwed up.
steelers 31, seahawks, 27
and carla is the best scrabble player this side of the mississippi.
1.26.2006
fleeting
well, debt, i told you we would be reaquainted.
now we are, for the tune of $15k over 5yrs.
but i now own a brand spankin' new mazda 3. in titanium grey.
american idol has started up again, and some article i was reading--i don't remember where--said that ai represents america, in our constant overdog vs underdog mentality that we show.
i think it shows, especially these tryout shows, another part of america: our blindness to our abilities.
here we think we are the best at everything. everything about america and everything in america is the greatest/best/most awesome/the shit. whatever superlative you want.
but do we know our limitations? all these people tryout that look and sound like they honestly believe that have talent. when very few of them have anything resembling talent! then they get upset and indignant when they are given an honest evalution of their abilities.
if you can't face your weaknesses and the things that are holding back and receive criticisim with an open mind, then you will not be able to move forward with your goals.
another thing, i can't wait to see who gets it when this whole lobbying thing plays out in dc. i hope a 100 politicians go down on this one. clean house! vive la revolution!
anyway, no matter what, i'm voting for 3rd party candidates in november.
the dems are going to win massachusetts anyways.
now we are, for the tune of $15k over 5yrs.
but i now own a brand spankin' new mazda 3. in titanium grey.
american idol has started up again, and some article i was reading--i don't remember where--said that ai represents america, in our constant overdog vs underdog mentality that we show.
i think it shows, especially these tryout shows, another part of america: our blindness to our abilities.
here we think we are the best at everything. everything about america and everything in america is the greatest/best/most awesome/the shit. whatever superlative you want.
but do we know our limitations? all these people tryout that look and sound like they honestly believe that have talent. when very few of them have anything resembling talent! then they get upset and indignant when they are given an honest evalution of their abilities.
if you can't face your weaknesses and the things that are holding back and receive criticisim with an open mind, then you will not be able to move forward with your goals.
another thing, i can't wait to see who gets it when this whole lobbying thing plays out in dc. i hope a 100 politicians go down on this one. clean house! vive la revolution!
anyway, no matter what, i'm voting for 3rd party candidates in november.
the dems are going to win massachusetts anyways.
1.22.2006
$15k of debt
hello debt.
we have known each other quite well over the last five years. you were always in my life. an addiction i could not get away from.
i started ignoring you. i wouldn't go to your parties. i even stopped saying hi when i saw you on the street.
that was probably harder for you than me. i was always so good to you, debt. but you did nothing but beat me down.
but i was getting over you. i was beginning to control your effect on my life, debt. you were no longer in charge.
then a freaking head gasket cracks on my car and now i have 3 options, 2 of which put me in some kind of debt.
1. spend $1500 fixing a car i bought for $1200
2. buy a $2500-3000 car with some money from the most wonderful woman.
3. buy a brand new car (a small sedan, probably) that will put me back $15000.
while, i don't think 1 is worth it. 2 is what got me in trouble this time, buying an old used car.
so it looks like option 3.
so today i will be going into worcester and looking at some cars.
say what you want about my choices of cars, but here are my top 2 vehicles i am looking at:
mazda3 4 door
saturn ion
so wish me luck, debt. you and i are going to be quite close for the next 5-6 years again, you bitch.
we have known each other quite well over the last five years. you were always in my life. an addiction i could not get away from.
i started ignoring you. i wouldn't go to your parties. i even stopped saying hi when i saw you on the street.
that was probably harder for you than me. i was always so good to you, debt. but you did nothing but beat me down.
but i was getting over you. i was beginning to control your effect on my life, debt. you were no longer in charge.
then a freaking head gasket cracks on my car and now i have 3 options, 2 of which put me in some kind of debt.
1. spend $1500 fixing a car i bought for $1200
2. buy a $2500-3000 car with some money from the most wonderful woman.
3. buy a brand new car (a small sedan, probably) that will put me back $15000.
while, i don't think 1 is worth it. 2 is what got me in trouble this time, buying an old used car.
so it looks like option 3.
so today i will be going into worcester and looking at some cars.
say what you want about my choices of cars, but here are my top 2 vehicles i am looking at:
mazda3 4 door
saturn ion
so wish me luck, debt. you and i are going to be quite close for the next 5-6 years again, you bitch.
1.17.2006
new year, new resolution, new round of failure
on new year's eve, my buddy ryan brought up that i don't blog anymore. he thought it was because i don't have a hook. and he's right.
when i was an unemployed college dropout hiding from creditors and responsibility, it was easy to write. i was looking for something to fill my life, and this was an excellent forum.
now, i feel that i have life pretty under control. i live in a nice place, i have a career, and i'm in love with a wonderful woman.
so what's my hook? talk about how rosy my life is? bitch about politics? write about sports? post daily haikus?
none of that. it really comes down to what made this so interesting to write--and hopefully read--before: my life.
all the little nuances and quirks that is being reger.
that's what i want to write about.
why i am the way i am, think the way i think, feel the way i feel.
blogger is my therapist.
i also know that in the past that i have made this threat and never followed through with it.
but again, that's me.
so if this is the only post you see for 6 months, so be it.
but if i end up blogging 2-3 times a week--or, christ, daily--don't be surprised either. especially those that know me personally.
peace. i'm out.
when i was an unemployed college dropout hiding from creditors and responsibility, it was easy to write. i was looking for something to fill my life, and this was an excellent forum.
now, i feel that i have life pretty under control. i live in a nice place, i have a career, and i'm in love with a wonderful woman.
so what's my hook? talk about how rosy my life is? bitch about politics? write about sports? post daily haikus?
none of that. it really comes down to what made this so interesting to write--and hopefully read--before: my life.
all the little nuances and quirks that is being reger.
that's what i want to write about.
why i am the way i am, think the way i think, feel the way i feel.
blogger is my therapist.
i also know that in the past that i have made this threat and never followed through with it.
but again, that's me.
so if this is the only post you see for 6 months, so be it.
but if i end up blogging 2-3 times a week--or, christ, daily--don't be surprised either. especially those that know me personally.
peace. i'm out.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)