Give me your best...

caption for this picture:


*This is not my photo, just something I found on the Internet.*

Click here to view larger.

My New Radio and Television Role Model, Petey Greene

Apparently Don Cheadle made a feature film not so long ago where he himself portryed tv and radio talk show host, Petey Greene. Being a dumbass, I paid it no mind.

And even after seeing the following, I'm still not sure I will see that movie, Talk to Me, but I will seek out the documentary.

Long story short, he was from Washington, D.C., a high school dropout, was kicked out of the army for drug use, and ended up with a 10-year prison sentence for armed robbery.

That's where he got his first "radio" experience - as the prisons's disc jockey. How fucking cool is that?

Anyway, that, combined with his idea to convince a fellow inmate to threaten suicide by leaping from a water only to "save his life" by talking him down, would take time off his sentence.

After leaving prison, he took a job at an AM station to host his own show, "Rapping with Petey Greene," and later ended up with a tv show.

Howard Stern was/is a big fan, and enjoyed one of his first tv appearances thanks to Mr. Greene.

According to Wikipedia:
"On March 8, 1978, he was invited as a guest to the White House by President Jimmy Carter to honor visiting Yugoslavian President Josip Broz Tito. He famously quipped to the Washington Post that he 'stole a spoon' during the evening gala."


If you're not already convinced that this man is an entertainment god, check out his advice on eating watermelon.



Then a preview of his documentary.

Lubbock's "National" News...from nipple rings to the plague to bad teeth

I've been in Lubbock while now. I grew up here, then moved to San Antonio for high school and ended up moving back to attend Tech. (The original reasoning for coming back to Lubbock and Tech is kinda a long story and has nothing to do with this, but if you want to know...) Now, while I have my gripes about Lubbock, I don't mind it here. I mean I know where everything I need is, most of the people are friendly, the music scene is growing (slowly, but growing) and the driving is not bad (except for when the New Mexico drivers are in town) and it's pretty easy to get to most things.

Now most people, especially people outside of Texas, don't know anything about Lubbock; Hell, some people in Texas still don't know anything about Lubbock. UNLESS you mention Buddy Holly, Bob Knight (to an extent), and Texas Tech University - this again is only sometimes, some people hear of Texas Tech and think it's the other Texas University located in Austin.

Now, given that Lubbock is a (sorta) small West Texas town in the middle of no where; I mean really it takes at least 2 hours driving to get to anywhere worthwhile, sorry Levelland and the like; there really isn't much national news worthy stuff going on. By national news, I mean news that gets reported on CNN, CNN.com, MSNBC and other news and related Web sites.

That being said, when Lubbock is in any kind of "National" news coverage it usually isn't good...for Lubbock at least. Here's a look at a couple of National News making stories that really didn't speak well for Lubbock, Texas:

- About five years ago now, Dr. Thomas Butler, a Texas Tech Medical School Professor, reported "missing" vials of bubonic plague from a lab. This launched a national terror alert. He was charged with "allegedly smuggling samples of plague bacteria into the United States, improperly transporting them within the country, and lying about them to authorities. Additional charges of theft, embezzlement and fraud were added in a second indictment", according to fas.org. He later reported that he destroyed the vials and went on paid leave after being freed on a $100,000 bond shortly after being arrested.

- Last year, Lubbock Police arrested Chippendale Dancers and shut down local bar (the bar was shut down just that Friday night). "One officer said, 'One or more of the dancers engaged in and simulated sexual acts on one or more occasions and that violates the (city) ordinance; because the business does not have a sexually oriented business permit they can't do that,'" from kcbd.com. Lubbockonline.com - "The arrests come a month after the City Council strengthened its sexually oriented business ordinance, despite no such business operating in the city. The tougher ordinance requires nude or simulated nude dancers be on a stage 18 inches off the floor and at least six feet from patrons. Dancers can be closer to patrons if they are separated by a glass or clear plastic wall at least five feet higher than the stage floor. The ordinance also restricts dancers from accepting tips directly from customers. Rather, tips must be placed in a tip jar." This was also a big deal because they shut down the bar, everyone was forced to leave. That means people did not pay for their food or bar tabs, also people using a credit card for their tab were forced to leave it there along with their license in some cases.

- Bob Knight coming to Lubbock, TX to coach men's basketball at Texas Tech. Now, this was actually good publicity for Lubbock, for the most part. However, if you know Bob Knight's history, you know that anywhere he goes rumors start to fly and his past of throwing chairs, choking players, yelling at refs, etc comes up. ALSO, Bob Knight's recent resignation came up in National News.

Now these are all within the last 6 or so years. There have been many more "bad publicity" national news stories coming from Lubbock. But recently two stories one from CNN.com and the other from several sites are giving Lubbock more of a bad rap.

- From ABC.com (and Yahoo news and many local news sites) "Smile, You're Not in Lubbock: Lubbock ranks last in a bad Teeth survey. Lubbock Ranks last in Men's Health Magazine study of the worst teeth of 100 large cities." Now, this may not really be important news, but it is national. Also, why are they considering Lubbock a "large city"? I mean I guess it's ok when you look at other Texas cities from the list: El Paso - 95, San Antonio - 89 and Dallas - 87. The reasoning behind Lubbock being the worst? "Some blame the high level of fluoride in Lubbock's well water. Dentists say too much fluoride in the water may cause the enamel on teeth to become rough, leaving brown or white stains. Others say the high cost of dental care is to blame, leaving poor people without proper checkups or education."

I think I've saved the best (or worst) for last:

- From CNN.com, "Traveler says she was forced to remove nipple ring." Now, before I continue, yes I was curious about the story because it had "nipple" in the headline. Once I started reading the article, the first thing I noticed was that is a Texas woman. The first thing I thought was how great would this be if it involved Lubbock. Sure enough, third paragraph in, "Hamlin, 37, said she was trying to board a flight from Lubbock to Dallas on February 24 when she was scanned by a Transportation Security Administration agent after passing through a larger metal detector without problems." Basically, the woman was apparently "randomly selected" for "further screening", meaning SOMEONE thought she might pose a threat/doing something illegal, after being passed over with a wand, it beeped (or whatever it does) over her chest. She asked to show her piercings to a female TSA agent in private, but several male agents said she must remove them. "She was taken behind a curtain and managed to remove one bar-shaped piercing but had trouble with the second, a ring. 'Still crying, she informed the TSA officer that she could not remove it without the help of pliers, and the officer gave a pair to her,' said Hamlin's attorney, Gloria Allred, reading from a letter she sent Thursday to the director of the TSA's Office of Civil Rights and Liberties." "Hamlin said she heard male TSA agents snickering as she took out the ring. She was scanned again and was allowed to board even though she still was wearing a belly button ring." This goes to show you the type of people that are "protecting" us from another terrorist attack. "Hamlin filed a complaint, but the TSA's customer service manager at the Lubbock airport concluded that the screening was handled properly, Allred said." I really wish there was a way for the public to see the type of training TSa agents receive.

Do yourself a favor and read the entire article here.

The best part about this article is a quote towards the end, probably worthy of quote of the year (if such a thing exists):

"The last time that I checked, a nipple was not a dangerous weapon."

Classic.

How many lives does it take to win a war?

4,000 mark for the U.S. Death Toll reached today in the "Iraq War."



MILESTONE?!?! Now, I do not claim to be smart. But when I hear the word "milestone" I often think of progress or good things, like "a step in the right direction" kinda thing. I DO NOT see the mark of 4,000 troops dying for war I still do not agree with as a milestone. Granted, they do mention it being a "Grim Milestone."

Just for comparison, this is from CNN.com:

"Of the 4,000 U.S. military personnel killed in the war, 3,263 have died in attacks and fighting and 737 in nonhostile incidents, such as traffic accidents and suicides. Eight of those killed were civilians working for the Pentagon."

VS.

"Estimates of the Iraqi death toll since the war began range from about 80,000 to the hundreds of thousands. Another 2 million Iraqis have been forced to leave the country, and 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes within Iraq, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees."



This shit has got to end. I have never really "protested" the war, but I was never for it either. I personally know 9 people who have been killed fighting in this war and I know about another 20 through friends. This is bullshit. I understand, although did not agree with, the reason for this war. But why the fuck are we still there. I mean it has been five fucking years now. What has been accomplished? It is time to pull out our troops now! Hell, it was time 2-years ago!

The sad thing is, IF McCain wins the Presidency (which, as much as I hate to say it, could happen with all this Democratic back and forth shit) this war will continue and who knows when it will end.

Now, before I have everyone pissed off at me, let me explain. I am against the reasoning for us being in Iraq. I fully support our troops who are over their fighting and giving their lives for us. Like I said, I have lost many close friends from this.

I just do not see how Bush, or any of his "advisers," can sit back and allow now 4,000 U.S. Troops to die and still say we are "winning the war on terror" and this war in Iraq is protecting us.

Really, Dubya? Really?

Are we safer? Maybe. Are we preventing another 9/11-like catastrophe? Maybe. Are we more paranoid in our daily lives because of this? Yes. Are we, as a country, becoming more nationally in debt? Yes. "The war has cost U.S. taxpayers about $600 billion, according to the House Budget Committee." - Also, from CNN.com.

Sure, sure, there are a lot of pluses to this war. I mean we caught Saddam right? Right. Iraq is a much more safer place to live? RIGHT. "Another 2 million Iraqis have been forced to leave the country, and 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes within Iraq." Safe as scuba diving with sharks while having beef steaks strapped to your ribs.


Alright, I am done bitching. I know we are stuck with a "great" (read shitty, in my opinion) President who thinks we are making progress in Iraq. AND we could possibly be facing a new President who fully supports us being in Iraq. Yet another reason to vote Democrat, regardless of whom you actually vote for.

Do you think they are trying to tell the world something?

So, it's Monday and I am back at work. Super excited. I was perusing the Internet and came across this:


I'm pretty sure this isn't anything official; but it's still pretty fascinating. I think they might be trying to tell the world something...especially when you compare
the "official" logo from the Beijing Olympics web site:


Personally, I am a fan of the first. I think it sends a pretty powerful message to the world.

Lord, Savior and...

BAD MOTHERFUCKER.


That's right America - this Easter...


He's back.






He died for your sins...



Now...


He's killing for them.









Half man, half machine, ALL BADASS.



The bad guys should have known that He's...






But can He defeat the deliciously evil Peep-Kid Peeps of the Easter Apocalypse?
Capable of withstanding shotgun blasts to their marshmellowy innards, they will surely prove a formidable foe!




Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion!


(Honestly, I was kind of torn on the name. First of all, technically speaking, shouldn't I hyphenate it, making it Cyber-Christ? Or should I forget that entirely and go with Christinator? Tough call, tough call.)

Spring Break...Part Dux

So it is now Thursday. The Thursday of (Tech's) Spring Break. Technically, tomorrow begins the Easter Holiday. We got screwed this year, thanks Jesus!

But yeah, my "break" is almost over. I cant believe how fast this week went by. And I haven't done SHIT! It's been nice for the most part, except now the reality of all the shit I NEED to do is kicking in. Although we have tomorrow, Friday, off I have a feeling I will be up here working on stuff. I did get caught up on a couple of things, but not much. AND, I did not do any work on school stuff...which is another thing I needed to do. I have a annotated bibliography due and then I needed to start my final video project. But I honestly don't have the motivation. I know I will end up throwing them both together at the last minute...meaning I will be working on them on the day they are due. I don't know what it is. I mean for work I still have to do 360 VR tours of our building and edit some video from like three or four weeks ago. I mean yesterday I FINALLY captured it. I was going to use Final Cut Express but I really don't want to take the time to learn it while I am doing something for the College, something I couldn't give two shits about. Fuck this place. The good thing, as I have mentioned several times, is that since I have turned in my letter of resignation, they haven't asked me to do shit; I am pretty sure they have given up hope of getting anything out of me between now and August 8.

Other than the lack of productivity, this has been a pretty good week. IT HAS GONE BY TOO DAMN FAST THOUGH! I thought since things would be SO slow, this week would drag out forever...which I would not have complained one bit about. I mean I have stuff to do and with no students here I COULD HAVE gotten things done. They, Mass Communications, don't realize how much time I DON'T HAVE when their are students here checking out equipment.

Enough bitching. I am turning into the people I work with by bitching so much. I am sorry.

So, I have recently decided to jump on the "Lost" band wagon. Until recently, I had only seen the Pilot. Yeah it looked cool, but I never got into it. Mainly because when I saw the pilot, Lost was already into the second season and I really didn't care to "catch up." Well that has apparently changed. I spent most of yesterday at work and most of last night watching Lost on ABC.com, supposedly in HD...although I do not think it was.

Needless to say this has been a very (UN)productive break.

Tomorrow I will finally start doing some work. Mainly stuff for school. And mentally preparing for whatever shit storm that will hit on Tuesday when all the students return.

Oh on a side note, Sunday is Easter Sunday. Which can only mean one thing. EASTER BASH!!! However, I do not think I will be attending. While I have never really gone for the bands, I mean does anyone go for the bands? Really?, I loved hanging out with friends and drinking beer outside. It used to be BYOB (bring your own beer - for those who didn't know) but this year I think it is not. Because of its location, AND all the people who are "involved" in putting it on. I am sorry, it just has not been the same since they stopped having it at the golf station when people would bring couches, chairs, etc and then burn them at the end of the night. Come to think of it, that is probably why they do not have it out there anymore and DO NOT allow couches. Oh well. I will probably be too busy working on school stuff anyway...or I should be too busy working on school stuff.

PS - Pictures from the last few weeks of random photo adventures coming soon!

Saint Patrick's Day 2000 and Eight

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, or St. Paddy's Day if you will. Now, I am part Irish and I find it my duty to go out and drink on this day paying homage. Well, I went out last night. I will be honest, I haven't gone out on St. Paddy's Day in a while...I used to feel like I was killing an infant somewhere by not going out to drink on this day, which is sort of part of my history (in some form). Now, I feel like I have made up for all the St. Paddy's Day's I haven't gone out and drinking and probably the many more I wont go out for in the future. Let's have a brief overview of my night last night...

I left work about 3:30 to run some errands.

Got home about 5:30 and had a headache and went to lay down. Already knowing that this would be another St. Paddy's Day spent in the comforts of me home. Sorry baby Irish infants I just killed.

Kyle knocks on my door and asks if I want to grab a beer or two. YEA! No Irish infants will die tonight! So I got up, head still hurting, put on some pants and went to Skooners.

Had two beers at Skooners (not green ones, in case you were wondering) and just talked with Kyle. Ran into some other friends who said they were going to Triple J's (a favorite spot o' mine) and that we should join them.

Picked up Allen and headed to Triple J's.

Had a lot of beer there and some food. Feeling pretty drunk. I think I had about 4 or 5 beers at Triple J's - oh and in case you don't know they brew their own beer, so its damn good and pretty strong. Met two other people up there and stayed until closing, which is only until 10.

*Now, before I continue, for those of you who really don't know me OR don't know my drinking habits, I usually drink liquor. I like the hard stuff as they say. I hardly drink beer. In fact, I can usually drink liquor all night and be fine, while after about 3 to 4 beers I am usually done. I don't know what it is, but I cant handle beer like I can liquor. It's a scientific mystery.*

So while at Triple J's, people start talking about what are we doing next. Great, Rob is getting drunk as hell tonight. So we all go to Bash's. Apparently every Tech student who did not go on Spring Break is here. Not that is was packed, but there were a shit ton of college-aged kids. That's not a bad thing, just surprised.

So I have two more beers, including finally a "green" beer. I feel the night is complete. I am drunk. I had a "green" beer and I saw one of my best friends and old roommate Eric. However, this was not surprising to see him there because Bash's is like his second home. I then make the mistake of ordering one more beer. The night was done. I was drunk and needed food.

Kyle and myself left the bar sans Allen. He apparently met up with some other friends and was taken care of. So we left. To Whataburger. I got breakfast - the number 14 and a bacon egg and cheese taquito. Heaven. Until about 5:00.

That is when I woke up, stumbled to the bathroom and...you guess it...puked.

I also noticed parts of my body hurting. I now have three random bruises and I do not know where I got them from. I find myself turning into Eric more and more when I drink. In that I mean I will drink so much and the next morning I will find random cuts and bruises and not know how I got them. Oh well, I guess I have learned a lot from a master of drinking...or a master of alcoholism, however you want to look at it.

I took a "sick" day today. It was great. I did nothing but lay in bed most of the day napping. While I was sitting around doing nothing, I started to wonder why I went out drinking. Why do we celebrate St. Paddy's Day.

More importantly, how did we get drinking and wearing green from something that started as a religious holiday. Well, I went to Wikipedia and read about St. Paddy's Day and Saint Patrick himself. Well, I have my interpretations, but I want you to decide for yourself.


Read about St. Paddy's Day here.

Read about Saint Patrick here.

I am not sure how much this relates, but I am pretty sure I could have filled one or all of their shoes last night/early this morning:


Enjoy and I hope all had a great St. Paddy's day!

Spring Break!!! WOOOO!!!....

...Only that I am stuck in Lubbock.

Yeah, working sucks. Not having money sucks. The "Real World" sucks. I love having all these students ask me what my Spring Break plans are. "Do you get a break?" Yes, I get a break. Kinda. I think we get Friday off of this week. I was going to take off and just bum around the house all week; mainly because I have all this time off I thought I needed to use before I quit in August. But then I found out I can get paid for all that vacation time I still will have. So, I figured why use the vacation time when all I am going to do is sit around the house on the Internet and watching TV/movies when I can do the exact same thing at work? The answer is pretty obvious to me. ALSO, I am broke. Not broke as in I have some money in my checking account...broke as in I have a $0.00 balance. SWEET!

Actually, not really. I don't want to be here for spring break. But I am. I could have gone home, but honestly I would have been more miserable there. And at least in Lubbock I will know a couple of people...not that I am going to do anything fun. Ive noticed that I don't enjoy going out much anymore. This is sad. I would rather sit at home and relax/sleep/be lazy. I used to love drinking. I mean LOVE drinking! I used to get so drunk it was great. I would pass out and not remember what I did. Man those were fun times.

Oh if you noticed by now, this blog really has no point. I mean I could look up something cool to talk about, but I just don't want to.

I really need to figure out what I am going. This year hasn't been the greatest. Not that it has been bad, just not what I wanted it to be.

So I started grad school this semester. Needless to say its kicking my ass. I realize now how much I dislike school and homework and tests and listening to lectures and everything else. Well, I am taking two class; one is a blow off, sadly because I was really hoping to learn something in that class, while the other research methods is really puttin a hurt on me.

But, since I am quitting Mass Comm in August, I have no idea what is next. I originally thought this would be my chance to escape from the buckle of the Bible Belt that is Lubbock, TX. However, I am looking into the possibility of gaining a graduate assistant position at the TTU Health Science Center. I would be working in medical video and photography, which is an area I am greatly interested in. But I do not know where things currently stand. A couple of weeks ago we toured an OR to see some of the equipment that is used, the next step is supposed to be sitting in on several operations and actually seeing the equipment being used. Needless to say I am excited.

However, I need to figure out what their plan is, especially in regards to me. Meaning are they going to be able to pay me? How much? Are they going to want me to take some medical related classes? I do not know the answers to these questions and many more.

I need to because if this does not work out then I will surely leave Lubbock. To where I have no clue, but away.

If this does work out then I will continue my education (I think) at Tech. BUT, I have not looked at any classes to take in Summer or Fall. I wanted to wait to see if they wanted me to take any medical courses or something else. Also, I am supposed to be doing a workshop for Mass Comm over summer, but I have not heard any more mention of it.

I hate not knowing what lies ahead. It causes sleepless nights. Even though I usually don't know what lies ahead, this is different. This opens up the possibility for many things. I am through with Mass Communications August 8, 2008. I am pretty sure they are already finished with me though since they no longer come to me to do anything...which is fine with me.

Well, I think that is all. This is the first day of what will probably be a long work week. Especially since I just don't care about anything here (work wise I mean). Basically, this was my Monday - came in about 9:30; screwed around on the Internet for a while; cleaned up my office a bit; talked to Amy; went to lunch with Amy, where I had two Blue Moon's; walked around and took some pictures; and now I am back in my office finishing up this blog. I am about to go home for the day. HA! It's going to be a long week.

I assume I will have more posts up since A) I will be bored over the next few days of work and B) I really need to start contributing to this blog, especially since I may not be escaping anything any time soon...well unless you count escaping my own reality...

The Terrorist Two-Step

I bet Iowans are "dancing in the streets" after these comments from their charmingly racist, fearmongering, and lying Representative, Steve King.

I don’t want to disparage anyone because of their, their race, their ethnicity, their name - whatever their religion their father, father might have been.

Hey, what a great thing to say! You know what would be even greater? Not then turning around and doing what you just said you didn't want to do. Just, you know, throwing that out there. But hey, I'm not the representative of over half a million 5th district Iowans, am I. So what do I know?

I’ll just say this, that when you think about the optics of a Barack Obama potentially getting elected President of the United States — and I mean, what does this look like to the rest of the world? What does it look like to the world of Islam?

Optics? Oh, but that's only a hint of the goodies to come.

And I will tell you that, if he is elected president, then the, the radical Islamists, the, the al-Qaida, and the radical Islamists and their supporters, will be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11….

It does matter, his middle name does matter. It matters because they read a meaning into that in the rest of the world, it has a special meaning to them. They will be dancing in the streets because of his middle name. They will be dancing in the streets because of who his father was and because of his posture that says: Pull out of the Middle East and pull out of this conflict.

But I'm sure his name and uh, "optics" as you say, have no meaning to you and your WASP, Republican pals? Just the bad guys?

So there are implications that have to do with who he is and the position that he’s taken. If he were strong on national defense and said ‘I’m going to go over there and we’re going to fight and we’re going to win, we’ll come home with a victory,’ that’s different. But that’s not what he said. They will be dancing in the streets if he’s elected president. That has a chilling aspect on how difficult it will be to ever win this Global War on Terror.”

So, let me get this straight. The only thing that can defeat these "optically-challenged" (read: not white), Muslim, wacky-named terrorists, is what? A good Christian white man? Gotcha. And, by your definition, to be "strong on national defense," you have to employ rhetorical strategies of oversimplification and jingoistic, macho bullshit? Gotcha there, too, tough guy.

But Rep. King? One question. How will the radical Islamists be able to commit acts of terror if they are so busy dancing? That doesn't sound like a "chilling aspect," that sounds like world peace. And to mix in something topical from the world of entertainment into this blog, why can't we send the ailing Patrick Swayze as an ambassador of dirty dancing, in order to encourage further peaceful displays in the streets? Perhaps Obama could appoint him as some sort of dirty, sexy, peacekeeping hunk of man? And what is Baby doing lately? That Jennifer Grey could probably use some work herself.

Or, if Swayze and Grey are out of the question, there's always Usher. And from what I've heard, he has "optics" pretty similar to Senator Obama.




Ooohh...but wait. Then again, maybe this will just be a sign of a terrible new form of terror, around which your Republican friends can refresh their fearmongering tactics...

Suicide dancers! Dun Dun Duuunnnn!