Exiled from FIRST

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 03:11:16 GMT

A major hatred of mine is a lack of respect. I give everyone respect, whether I care for them or not. All I deserve is a little respect in return. Not even as much as I give them, but just at least a minimum amount of respect is deserved.

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 18:47:12 GMT

ANSWER THE CALL - MAKE THE PLEDGE

If you're not watching Live Earth on Bravo or the internet (http://liveearth.msn.com/), you're missing out - Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rihanna, Blue Man Group, Duran Duran, Genesis, Black Eyed Peas, the list goes on and on!!!

Seriously. How much effort does it take to turn off the lights when you're not in a room, or to change to compact fluorescent bulbs? Just doing these simple steps could save you HUNDREDS of dollars a year.

Watch Live Earth, Answer the Call, Make the Pledge

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 22:36:53 GMT

"I didn't vote for him, but I hope he does a good job"
These immortal words of John Wayne, referring to John Fitzgerald Kennedy, became my mantra in September 2001. I believed in the checks and balances of the Constitution to keep America safe. I believed in the Bushies to keep us safe. I cheered when our American heroes conquered Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, but that was before the lies and corruption started. This was before the American people realized that the President was corrupt, incompentant, and a puppet to Dick Cheney and the counterfeit conservatives. The President has no respect for America or the laws that govern it. He proved that this week when he gave the finger to the Justice system by commuting the sentance of, effectively pardoning, Cheney's former Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby, for lying under oath and obstruction of justice. These people have no scruples. They are dangerous to America. On this our Independance Day, I urge everyone to think of how much having this country means to you, and what you're going to do to save it. The only choice the American People have left is IMPEACHMENT. The following are the charges, which are irrefutable facts.

The President lied to Congress and the American people when he said his infamous sixteen words about Nigerian uranium
The President and Vice President lied to the American people about weapons of mass destruction, which the United Nations has finally given up looking for after 6 years of futility.
The President and Vice President lied to the American people about a false connection between Iraq and Al Qaeda.
The Vice President committed a felony when he outed a covert CIA agent and her cover operation in charge of Nuclear Proliferation, endangering and possibly killing many of Americas finest agents.
The President and Vice President have obstructed Justice by deleting emails and shredding documents in clear violation of the Presidential Records Act, and claiming executive privilege.
The President and Vice President have obstructed Justice by firing US Attorneys prosecuting Republican corruption.
The President and Vice President have complete Contempt for Congress by ignoring Congressional Subpoenas regarding the US Attorney Scandal
The President and Vice President have sown irrational fear in the American people, in order to solidify their dictatorial power.
The Vice President has threatened attacking the soverign Democratic country or Iran, an ally to the United States.

The President and Vice President have shattered the Constitution, by
- violating the right to vote through "vote caging," a process to preclude Blacks and the Military from voting.
- sanctioning the suspension of the basic human right of Habius Corpus, the right of a fair trial.
- sanctioned cruel and inhuman punishment including torture, in clear violation of the Geneva Conventions and numerous other treaties as well
- violating American citizens right to privacy by wiretapping American citizens
- declaring that the Vice President is not part of the executive branch of government as perscribed in the Constitution
- perverting Justice by effectively pardoning their patsy for the CIA investigation, Scooter Libby, who was convicted of perjury and obstruction of Justice by a jury of his peers and sentanced to jail in accordance with the law. What Justice will come to the victims of the heinous crime he perjured himself to cover up?

I have sat quiet for too long, and refuse to let these crimes go unpunished. I humbly request that everyone contact your congressmen and your senators to support House Resolution 333 to IMPEACH Tricky Dick Cheney. It's only a start, but we can't leave these drunk drivers in charge of the Cadillac of Democracy. I don't trust them not to kill us all in a T-Bone of martial law or a Hit-And-Run of preemptive war. Call your congressmen and senators NOW, before it's too late:

Impeachment starts in the House Judicial Committee, headed by John Conyers (MI). Call him too.
Judicial Chairman John Conyers, Michigan, 14th (313) 961-5670 (Detroit Office) today or (202) 225-5126 (Washington) next week

Sandy Levin, Michigan, 12th (586) 498-7122
Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, 13th (313) 965-9004 or (313) 965-9005

Senator Carl Levin (202) 224-6221
Senator Debbie Stabenow (202) 224-4822

Also, call the people that you support running for President in 2008 and tell them that you refuse to donate money to their campaigns and you will tell everyone you know not to vote for them, until they come out in support of Impeachment. I support Barack Obama and John Edwards, and I'm calling them this week.

Senator Barack Obama Campaign (866) 675-2008
John Edwards Campaign (919) 636-3131

Sun, 04 Feb 2007 20:02:56 GMT

So I'm here at the Elmira Library because Verizon is powning me and hasn't got my DSL set up yet. I'm mostly upset because it means that I can't really talk to my sister or my friends, and I can't webcam with my awesome girlfriend, or play Uno on MSN. Also, I can't use my TiVo yet because it requires a webupdate. So basically at home all I do is watch my new DirectTV. LIVE!!!! (ugh).

I realized I haven't updated since I moved. A week before my birthday, I was at dinner with my family when I got a call saying that I had a job, but they wanted me to start in one week. Thus started panic mode: packing, saying goodbye, etc. Friday the 19th was nice - I went out and had a birthday dinner with my family and Kati. I spent my entire birthday driving, through Canada to NY. So now I'm here living in Elmira, working at Corning, Inc. working with their puller designers for the Gen 9 Flatscreens (Used on 108" Plasma TV's). It's good work, exactly what I expected. My house is awesome for what you'd expect for $300 a month (split 2 ways). My room is kinda crowded though. Between my computer desk, my bed, and my storage bin TV stand - that's about the size of my room.

I can't shake this feeling that something is still wrong. I've had a lump in my stomach for 3 weeks now. I just can't wait until Spring and it's a bit nicer out. I miss everyone, and the lack of internet is definately not helping the situation. On the plus side though, I just Ebayed myself a treadmill. I figured it was cheaper than spending $40 a month to use the YMCA's treadmill. Plus, I don't have to worry about wiping down the machinery after use.

Well, off to the store to get some food, then time for a Superbowl Party of 1. I'm gonna have so much fun - I'm gonna have a football pool with myself, have an open bar, snacks, fry up some tofuburgers, break out the 14" TV - it's gonna be quite sweet. I might even get drunk and start making out with myself - who knows. Anything goes at a Superbowl Party!

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 05:13:07 GMT

Fox just killed The O.C., joining such Fox hits as:
Dark Angel
Firefly
Family Guy (Take 1)
Arrested Development
Wonderfalls
and Justice (?)

Peter: "Everybody I've got bad news. We've been cancelled."
Lois: "Oh no Peter! How could they do that?"
Peter: "Well unfortuantely Lois, there's just no more room on the schedule. We just gotta accept the fact that FOX has to make room for terrific shows like Dark Angel, Titus, Undeclared, Action, That 80's Show, Wonder Falls, Fast Lane, Andy Richter Controls The Universe, Skin, Girl's Club, Cracking Up, The Pitts, Firefly, Get Real, Freaky Links, Wanda At Large, Costello, The Lone Gunman, A Minute with Stan Hooper, Normal Ohio, Pasadena, Harsh Realm, Keen Eddy, The Street, American Embassy, Cedric The Entertainer, The Tick, Louie, And Greg The Bunny...."
Lois: "Is there no hope?"
Peter: "Well I suppose if ALL those shows go down the tubes we might have a shot."

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 06:16:54 GMT

New Years Resolutions:

Hang out with friends more. (What happened to all of them? I miss them)

Lose Weight by exercising

Get an engineering job

Apply to grad school for Fall

Be a good mentor

Find my fit in life

Have fun

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 07:15:33 GMT

Wow, you must really have to suck to be worse than Osama, Saddam, and Satan himself COMBINED in the eyes of Americans.

From PEER Website:

Grand Canyon National Park is not permitted to give an official estimate of the geologic age of its principal feature, due to pressure from Bush administration appointees. Despite promising a prompt review of its approval for a book claiming the Grand Canyon was created by Noah's flood rather than by geologic forces, more than three years later no review has ever been done and the book remains on sale at the park, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

"In order to avoid offending religious fundamentalists, our National Park Service is under orders to suspend its belief in geology," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. "It is disconcerting that the official position of a national park as to the geologic age of the Grand Canyon is ‘no comment.’"

In a letter released today, PEER urged the new Director of the National Park Service (NPS), Mary Bomar, to end the stalling tactics, remove the book from sale at the park and allow park interpretive rangers to honestly answer questions from the public about the geologic age of the Grand Canyon. PEER is also asking Director Bomar to approve a pamphlet, suppressed since 2002 by Bush appointees, providing guidance for rangers and other interpretive staff in making distinctions between science and religion when speaking to park visitors about geologic issues.

Park officials have defended the decision to approve the sale of Grand Canyon: A Different View, claiming that park bookstores are like libraries, where the broadest range of views are displayed. In fact, however, both law and park policies make it clear that the park bookstores are more like schoolrooms rather than libraries. As such, materials are only to reflect the highest quality science and are supposed to closely support approved interpretive themes. Moreover, unlike a library the approval process is very selective. Records released to PEER show that during 2003, Grand Canyon officials rejected 22 books and other products for bookstore placement while approving only one new sale item : the creationist book.

Ironically, in 2005, two years after the Grand Canyon creationist controversy erupted, NPS approved a new directive on "Interpretation and Education (Director’s Order #6)" which reinforces the posture that materials on the "history of the Earth must be based on the best scientific evidence available, as found in scholarly sources that have stood the test of scientific peer review and criticism [and] Interpretive and educational programs must refrain from appearing to endorse religious beliefs explaining natural processes."

"As one park geologist said, this is equivalent of Yellowstone National Park selling a book entitled Geysers of Old Faithful: Nostrils of Satan," Ruch added, pointing to the fact that previous NPS leadership ignored strong protests from both its own scientists and leading geological societies against the agency approval of the creationist book. "We sincerely hope that the new Director of the Park Service now has the autonomy to do her job."

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 08:23:49 GMT

Stereotypes are funny, because usually they're based on a larger truth.

First of all, I don't consider myself racist in any sense of the term. I have many racially diverse friends. One of my best friends is black (Aaron). And yes, I think Michael Richards is the biggest idiot to lash out at a spectator since Ron Artest. So I can say without a doubt that not all black people are dumber, slower, meaner, etc. than white people. But I can say that if people at a Rap/R&B concert represent a sample of the urban Detroit population, no wonder Detroit sucks as a city.

First of all, one large difference between the Aerosmith and 89X concerts and the Scream and Dirty South concerts is color. At Aerosmith and 89X, the crowd was about 80-85% white, approxamately 50% male. At both "black music" concerts, the crowd was BY FAR black. Literally the only white people in my section at Dirty South were the two paramedics and the two of us ushers. Scream was 99% black, and 95% female.

So keeping in mind those ballpark figures, consider the following. About 70-80% of the crowd at the "black" concerts were obese. About 30-40% of Aerosmith were obese, and about 10% of 89X were. About 70% of the "black" concert-goers had white Tshirts on. White-colored shirts were not as prevalent at "white" concerts. After the "black" concerts, my jacket was saturated with about 10% cigarette smoke, 5% marijuana smoke, and 85% poly-cotton blend. After Aerosmith and 89X, my jacket was about 30% cigarette smoke, 10% ganja, and 60% poly-cotton. At Aerosmith and 89X, about 25-35% of the females were attractive, from 6-10's. At the black concerts, disregarding my immunity to jungle fever, at most 10% of the females were 6-10's, and most of those had floor seats.

At Aerosmith and 89X, I had to help 30% of the audience find their seats, and relocate about 20 people from seats that were not theirs. At the black concerts, 90% did not know where they were, nevermind where they were going or how to get there. I had to relocate at LEAST 100 people who were too dumb to see that they were sitting in the wrong section, including about 25 who were on the wrong floor, and 25 who were on the wrong side of the building. At Aerosmith, there were 0 stage rushes and a handful of ejections from the concert. At 89X, 0 stage rushes, 1 mosh pit, a few dozen crowd surfers, and subsequently a few dozen ejections. At the black concerts, 5 stage rushes, and almost 100 ejections. Finally, Aerosmith - 30% Cell phones, 89X - 60% cell phones, black concerts - 80% cell phones.

So based on these observations, assuming that it spoke for a majority of the state, it would be reasonable to assume that many Americans are overweight, many have cell phones, about 10% smoke, and about 90% of smokers are unable to read, considering that every 10 feet there are no-smoking signs. Along color lines, black people are twice as likely to get fat as white people, probably due to the abundance of fast food in the urban environment and poor nutritional education. White people are much more likely to smoke that black people, likely due to the fact that black people don't have $5 to spend on a pack of cigarettes, which in turn is because they all bought cell phones instead. Unfortunately, they don't know how to work them really well, because they tend to be dumber than white people, unable to read simple "Section 205 ->" signs, and thinking that their tickets say "Floor seats" when they actually say "Section 206 nosebleeds" Blacks are also much much more likely to start a riot because the "Buy a gun, Kill white people, Fuck the cops" music they're listening to told them to. People who listen to 89X are highly likely to crowdserf, smoke grass, and be about as intellegent as grass by the time the concert is done. Finally, Black people have an obsession with white t-shirts, and apparently have all been beaten with an ugly stick when they were young.

The point is - Rap and R&B (Which supposedly stands for Rhythm and Blues, which it sounds nothing like) are perpetuating the reasons why Detroit has high crime, and why Tricounty white people are scared of Detroit black people. The education in Detroit obviously sucks, and needs to be completely overhauled. If more black kids listened to REAL black person music, like Motown and REAL Blues, they'd be more cultured and less angry at the "white man" keeping them down. It is not the white man keeping Detroit down (there aren't any left), it is the hatred of the white man. And nothing keeps that fire of hatred burning more than "fuck whitey" rap and R&B.

Oh, and Detroit should take a cue from "liberal elite" New York and ban trans fats. We're all obviously too stupid to stop eating them.

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 09:09:02 GMT

Remember when the angels said, "O Mary! truly God has chosen thee, and purified thee, and chosen thee above all the women of the worlds!"

Remember when the angel said, "O Mary! Verily God announces to thee the Word from Him: The child's name shall be, Messiah Jesus the son of Mary, illustrious in this world, and in the next, and one of those who have near access to God; And He shall speak to men alike when in the cradle and when grown up; And he shall be one of the just."

She said, "How, O my Lord! shall I have a son, when no man has touched me?"

The angel said, "God will create what He will; When He decrees a thing, He need only say, 'Be,' and it is.

And God will teach your child the Book, and the Wisdom, and the Law, and the Evangel; and he shall be an apostle to the children of Israel. "Now have I come," he will say, "to you with a sign from your Lord: Out of clay will I make for you, as it were, the figure of a bird: and I will breathe into it, and it shall become, by God's leave, a bird. And I will heal the blind, and the leper; and by God's leave will I quicken the dead; and I will tell you what ye eat, and what ye store up in your houses! Truly in this will be a sign for you, if ye are believers.

... And Mary conceived the child, and retired with him to a far-off place.

~~~~ From the Quran

Sat, 23 Dec 2006 08:45:57 GMT

They say that after years of being together, married couples start to act like each other. The same can be said for people and their pets. My grandma's cat Cindy definately acts like my grandma sometimes. After 4 + 1/2 years, ancient by computer standards, I think my computer is starting to act like me.

Take the current situation, for example. There's something wrong where sometimes a program, usually firefox, starts using more and more memory until my computer completely shuts down. Not freezes, just completely reboots. Sometimes it's one program, sometimes it's a combination of a few.

Lately, I've been the same way, especially since I graduated. I seem to be having a problem with stresses. The stress starts building up and it gets worse and worse and worse until my brain completely shuts down. I can't think anymore, and I just need to reset. It really doesn't take a lot of stress either. It could be something as simple as an arguement, or getting rejected from yet another job. But all I know is that the stress keeps snowballing until I can't actually think, nevermind talk or try to respond to simple questions.

It just completely shuts me down, and I end up tired, and unable to think. I just want to curl up into a ball and die. And really, it seems much simpler if I do that. Just curl up into a ball and sleep until I can't sleep anymore. Maybe this is how Brian Wilson felt. I dunno. I just need a change. Some kind of change. I need something different. Something GOOD different. I'm too stuck in a rut to completely change it myself. It's like a car stuck in a rut - I could get it out if I pushed with all my might for 10 hours, but that probably wouldn't work, and it might kill me. It takes some help, like a lever, or a tow cable, or even a gust of wind blowing just the right direction, to realistically get it done.

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 21:55:47 GMT

News & Views HouseDemocrats.gov

A New Direction For America
Congressional Democrats believe America should work for everyone – not just those at the top – by building opportunity and prosperity for all, and guaranteeing real security at home and around the world. We know that Americans can work together to meet the serious challenges facing our country, create a stronger nation, and build a safer world.
With a firm commitment to honest leadership and tough budget discipline to end record deficit spending, we propose a legislative agenda – A New Direction - that unites rather than divides our country. Beginning with our goal of an America that strives for the common good, these are our legislative priorities in the 109th Congress for a New Direction.

SIX FOR '06

REAL SECURITY AT HOME AND OVERSEAS
Reclaim American leadership with a tough, smart plan to transform failed Bush Administration policies in Iraq, the Middle East and around the world. Require the Iraqis to take responsibility for their country and begin the phased redeployment of US forces from Iraq in 2006. Double the size of Special Forces to destroy Osama Bin Laden and terrorist networks like al Qaeda. Rebuild a state-of-the-art military capable of projecting power wherever necessary. Implement the bipartisan 9/11 Commission proposal to secure America’s borders and ports and screen 100% of containers. Fully man, train, and equip our National Guard and our police, firefighters and other first responders. Honor our commitments to our veterans.

BETTER AMERICAN JOBS - BETTER PAY
Prohibit the Congressional pay raise until the nation’s minimum wage is raised. End tax giveaways that reward companies for moving American jobs overseas.

COLLEGE ACCESS FOR ALL
Make college tuition deductible from taxes, permanently. Cut student loan interest rates. Expand Pell Grants.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE - LOWER GAS PRICES
Free America from dependence on foreign oil and create a cleaner environment with initiatives for energy-efficient technologies and domestic alternatives such as biofuels. End tax giveaways to Big Oil companies and enact tough laws to stop price gouging.

AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE - LIFE-SAVING SCIENCE
Fix the Medicare prescription drug program, putting seniors first by negotiating lower drug prices and ending wasteful giveaways to drug companies and HMOs. Promote stem cell research that offers real hope to millions of American families who suffer from devastating diseases.

RETIREMENT SECURITY AND DIGNITY
Stop any plan to privatize Social Security, in whole or in part. Enact real pension reform to protect employees’ financial security from CEO corruption and mismanagement, including abuse of the bankruptcy laws. Expand personal savings incentives.

THE WRONG DIRECTION
The policies of the Bush Administration and the Congressional majority have taken the country in the wrong direction, making us less secure and putting the privileged few ahead of the common good.

WEAKENED SECURITY
Failed to capture Osama Bin Laden or destroy al Qaeda; rushed to war in Iraq on manipulated intelligence with no realistic plan to win the peace; failed to provide strategy to stabilize Iraq or begin the responsible redeployment of our troops; strained the U.S. military; wasted billions on no-bid Halliburton and KBR contracts; failed to protect our borders, ports, transportation systems, and chemical plants; received failing homeland security grades from the nonpartisan 9/11 Commission; cut veterans’ health care.

RISING ECONOMIC INSECURITY
No minimum wage increase for 6.6 million Americans since 1997; real family income down since 2001 as CEO compensation soared; support for subsidies for outsourcing American jobs; $5.6 trillion budget surplus turned into $3.2 trillion deficit; national debt doubled to $12 trillion by 2011.

RISING COLLEGE COSTS
$12 billion cut from college student aid; cost of loans increased; college Pell Grants frozen as tuition soars - 57% at public universities and 32% at private schools since 2000.

RISING ENERGY PRICES
Gas over $3 per gallon; growing dependence on foreign oil; billions in new subsidies for oil and gas companies despite record profits; blocked efforts against price gouging; opposed energy efficient technology and alternative fuels.

RISING HEALTH CARE COSTS
Family health insurance costs up 70% ($4,500 per family) since 2000; 6 million more uninsured; confusing Rx drug benefit prohibits negotiating lower drug prices; stem cell research obstructed.

RISING RETIREMENT INSECURITY
Promoting substantial privatization of Social Security and benefit cuts for millions of retirees; employee pensions collapse while CEOs get golden parachutes.

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 00:27:20 GMT

HELL LEVEL 1

Raw score: 57%

You're a fallen angel. There's some innocence there, but the sexual dark side has called you and, possibly, is already using you. But you're not evil, just naughty; dirty, but not filthy. You're certainly hellbound, and you'll most likely seek out other imps like yourself to work your wicked will. There might be a moral core inside you, but it's been overtaken by lust.

AVOID: the heavenbound. Your path is downward, and you'll need a guide.

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 99% on hellishness

Link: The Sexual HELL Test written by jason_bateman on OkCupid, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 05:33:39 GMT

Would you:

Catch me if I fell down?
Help me move in?
Invite me to a party?
Be my wingman?
Want me to be your wingman?
Introduce me to your friends?
Stay up all night talking to me?
Help me solve a problem?
Teach me a new game?
Share your deepest secrets with me?
Tell me the truth?
Even if it hurt my feelings?
Do a musical duet with me?
Dance with me?
Help me with women trouble?
Go with me to the doctor?
Stand me up?
Help me get in shape?
Housesit for me?
Back me in an argument?
Leave a party early if I wanted to go home?
Pick me up if my car stalled?
Call me if you were depressed?
Let me help you with problems?
Call me if you were in prison and had one phonecall?
Bail me out?
Ask me for help in class?

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 17:15:06 GMT

Lance Bass Is Gay

Like that's a big surprise. On the other hand, it's slightly ironic. Although, chicks really dig those gay guys too.

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 07:01:37 GMT

Survey - What're your favorite places to go on a date?

Focus

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 07:00:56 GMT

Figured out what's wrong -

I'm not being challanged. I'm not inspired. I don't have a reason to be better than I am. I have no focus. I can't focus on revenge, or... well, actually I think it was just revenge that kept me going. What's inspiring to me? Robots, Politics, Intellectual stimulation. I need to be intellectually stimulated.

I need goals. Getting a job is more of a means to a goal. I really need a focus.

1st Monday of summer term for everyone still in school...

Simply being loved...

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 04:19:03 GMT

From Fina's Journal: One quality you find attractive in swadan? sweet temperament

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I feel so frustrated right now, which has been happening more and more frequently lately. I feel like I want to break something, preferably something fragile. I've had a shorter temper lately, which is annoying me because I usually am pretty calm, which frustrates me more.

Sometimes I feel used.

It seems that my girlfriend likes my sister more than she likes me. They were ganging up making fun of me today. They're all buddy buddy and I feel left out. They both keep bugging me to update myspace and stuff online. Like I'm not here? Like you can't just come out and ask me stuff, I have to post it online? Why do I have to spend so much time updating my computer life when my real life is complicated enough?

My mom's yelling at me now because I haven't cleaned up my stuff from unpacking. She says that I can't see Kati until it's all done because "all she does is distract" me. She's also yelling at me to lose weight since I've gained like 20 lbs since January.

I still don't have a job. It's worrying me. I have no money, and I've got $30,000 in loans that I need to pay off. On top of that, I have $3,000 of Visa bills from groceries, gas, misc stuff, and on top of that, I have to pay for EVERYthing.

I need to go to the dentist, I need to go to the eye doctor, I need to go to the allergist, I need to mail Sarah's DVD's to her, I need to mail my thesis, I need to email my fraturnity, I need to get a job, I need to make a budget, I need Sarah's help to make a good budget, I need to change my oil, I need to fix my computer, I need to start running again.

I should go hang out with Fina, Alex, Ivan, and others. I should clean my car, I should clean my room, I should clean up my computer, I should clean up my email, I should go back to therapy.

Week 2 of vacation. Why don't I feel relaxed?

Thu, 01 Jun 2006 23:18:50 GMT

I haven't been sleeping well lately. I've been restless. I've had strange dreams. I dream of Florida. I dream of friends. But they aren't good dreams. I don't understand why I'm being restless; why I can't sleep. Shouldn't I be happy? Shouldn't I be content? I have everything I needed - graduation, a wonderful girlfriend, lots of amazing friends, robotics.

But I feel cheap and artificial. There's something missing, and I don't know what it is. It's important. I had it last year, but I don't now, and I don't know what it is or how to get it back. I'm angry and impatient now, but it isn't me. I don't feel like me.

Whatever I need, I hope I find it soon. I need the peace of mind.

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 11:16:35 GMT

Somebody help me out here:

Music Man
My Fair Lady
Gay Musical Review
Annie Get Your Gun
________ (Oliver?)
Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Fiddler On The Roof
Brigadoon
Oklahoma
Music Man

Was the ______ Oliver? If So, why don't I remember it? Did I trama-block out that entire year?

Anyways, does anyone see something wrong here?

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 23:28:06 GMT

Re: Last Post. I'm packing and sunbathing. Miami is 3 hours away, I have to be out of here on Sunday because my retarted A-Sec Counterpart just up and decided to start work Monday, and I have to be up in Flint by Monday so I can party Wednesday so I can leave for Toronto Thursday and come back up to school Saturday night so I can move in Sun morning.

So don't be jealous. I'm not going.

Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:39:31 GMT

The Killers
The Prodigy
Paul Oakenfold
Hot Hot Heat
Paul Van Dyk
Armand Van Helden
Carl Cox
Benny Benassi
Jose Nunex

In the most beautiful city in the world, Miami, FL

...........Or pack...

Decisions, decisions

Bored

Tue, 14 Mar 2006 20:23:31 GMT

I was bored and tried to see if I could alphabetize everything screwed up about Republicans. I did it :-p.

9-11
Abortion
Bird Flu
Cindy Sheehan
Duke Cunningham
Environmental Protection (Oil, Global Warming)
Frist, Senator Bill
Gay Marriage Ban
Harriet Myers
Iraq
Jack Abramoff
Katrina
Libby, Scooter
Medicare
"Nucular" Weapons Program in Iran
Osama Bin Laden
Ports, Dubai
Quailhunt Shooting by Cheney
Religion
Social Security
Terry Shaivo
United Nations shunning
Valerie Plame
Wiretaps
Xmas, War On
Y2K Elections
Zero, Ground

A Letter to Seacrest

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 19:34:49 GMT

"Bill Foster" <bfoster@seacrest.org>

"Dr. Lynne Powell" <lpowell@seacrest.org>; "Marty Durham" <mdurham@seacrest.org>; "Basye" <basyex4@aol.com>; "Sibylle Baumgartner" <sibmail@comcast.net>; "Bodell" <tbodell704@aol.com>; "James Borden" <jimborden@earthlink.net>; "Brashares" <bubbleseb@aol.com>; "Brashares" <jeff1952@pacerglobal.com>; "Bill Brock" <lbrock57@aol.com>; "Brown" <brownje@collier.k12.fl.us>; "Daniel Burzynski" <dab@burzynskilaw.com>; "Decker" <blockburgerk@aol.com>; "Kandel" <mkandel05@comcast.net>; "Max" <teggun01@comcast.net>; "Max2" <ruthlowther@earthlink.net>; "Miller" <surfinfreak11@aol.com>; "Mary Zoe Bowden" <mbowden@seacrest.org>; "Tenreiro" <billandmaryzoe02@aol.com>; "Tenreiro" <edgardo.tenreiro@nchmd.org>; eduffy@seacrest.org; "Nick Bodell" <smackpaintball@hotmail.com>; "Jeffrey Brashares" <jbaseball3241@aol.com>; swan5206@kettering.edu; "Tim Durham" <timdurham@wilsonmiller.com>; mzbowden@seacrest.org; eduffy@seacrest.org; mbowden@seacrest.org; "martyathome" <mdurham@swfla.rr.com>; "Lisa Brock" <lbrock57@aol.com>; "Sibylle Baumgartner" <sibmail@comcast.net>

To the Math Teacher of Seacrest High School

You have insulted your students and me beyond belief through your actions this season. I volunteered my services on the understanding that we would work together to mentor the students of this team to build a robot. I assumed that you actually had understood the purpose and goals of FIRST were to inspire and recognize science and technology. I had great hopes when you explained that these were bright, resourceful students that would be able to reach for the stars, and when you quoted the great Woodie Flowers on Gracious Professionalism. I have been astonished on how you have shown even less Gracious Professionalism that I had even thought possible from a teacher of a prestigious school which prides itself on focusing on the students.

You ignored my pleas to gather more help, and instead chose to lead this project alone. You rejected my years of knowledge and experience for your own selfish control. There were offers of help from other FIRST TEAMS, local engineers, and even other teachers at Seacrest, which you rejected because this was "your project" and "your class." Though I acknowledge that there is always some one person in charge of each robotics TEAM, what makes FIRST successful is the combination of engineers and students and teachers working together as a TEAM. This is the first point at which you failed. You chose to split the TEAM into two rival groups so that you would have more control over them. You further instructed them to not listen to my guidance if it went against your wishes. Finally, you threatened them with failure of the class if they refused to go along with your plans. I do not see these actions as gracious, professional, or even worthy of an outstanding teacher such as you. I furthermore don't think that this falls in line with the Seacrest Philosophy, from the little that I know about it.

Secondly, you refused to let the students build the robot that they wanted to build. I had little influence on the design of the robot. The goals that were selected by popular vote of the students were to A) Shoot 3 point balls, B) Pick up balls from the floor, C) Be able to get balls from the Human Player Station. The TEAM picked these goals, not myself. My ideal robot would have been simply to get balls from the HP station and shoot, and skip the 1 point balls altogether. Obviously the final design did not represent my beliefs. The students designed each component of the robot themselves, from the 6 Wheel Drivetrain voted on by all of the students, to the Picking mechanism designed by Peter and Blake, to the Shooting mechanism designed by Tenreiro, Baumgartner, and Brashares.

I did select motors and transmission options for these mechanisms by myself, since you neglected to teach them about these things. I helped guide and encourage the students along their design process to get to the visions that they created for themselves, but I never made them do anything that they didn't want to do themselves. I even took sketches drawn by the students and created a CAD model with them to better visualize what the students wanted.

Your third failure was a failure to communicate with your peer mentor, me. You decided that your word was final and that I had nothing to say about the matters such as TEAM unity, structure, or schedules. I was not informed of this opinion until your idea of the smaller subteams had frustrated the students to the point that I was forced to confront you about it. After this confrontation, I called a meeting of the entire team so that we could clear up the complaints that the students had been imploring me to tell you about, including your dismissal of some students as "slackers" and "looking to get a free pass" which you confided in me. I personally believe that you are wrong about this point, and instead think that the timidness of certain students comes from shyness. You responded to this situation by telling the students that they either come every day or fail the class, or stick with the "Alpha" and "Beta" teams, which incidentally, is quite insulting to the students. Needless to say, the students voted 10-1 to have "Mandatory Every Other Day" vs. "Mandatory Every Day." You further sent an email behind my back misrepresenting the situation as me forcing a design on the students. You further stated that "There should be no doubt in the students’ minds as to who is the adult in charge of this endeavor."

A further email states that "15 people working in such a small space with power tools and a powerful robot quickly became an unsafe situation. This alone would be reason enough to split the class into two smaller teams." I counter this argument by saying that there have been TEAMS of 60 or more students working in the same amount of space that we had, with hardly more than a scratch, cut, or scrape to show for it. The difference is leadership. The students had no leadership except for the meager amounts that you and I provided. They needed more guidance.
Time management is also important. I personally participated in Robotics in High School while also being captain of my Quiz Bowl team, playing in Marching Band, holding a part time job, and still somehow having enough time to get a 3.8 GPA in class. This is no excuse for forcing the students to come only every other day without substitutions to allow for extracurriculars. It should be up to the students (with their parents) to budget their time accordingly, not up to a teacher.

The last straw was the events of this week, the last few days before shipping the robot. I now know that you've been working on your own alternative design to the robot for the past weeks, and I am shocked and horrified to find that you forced the students to ditch their own design for YOUR OWN design at the last second. You waited until I and many of the more involved students were absent to do this, to get as little objection as possible, and at the last possible second. How is this a good example to set for the students? To show them that they shouldn't reach for the stars, and should instead lower their expectations? To avoid confrontation and do things behind people's back to get the results that you personally desire? Even if the robot hadn't worked well at the competition, at least the students could have said, "I made it, and I'm damn well proud of it anyways." This was a cruel trick to play on the students, their parents who watched the test run on Sunday, and to myself, who had faith in you and your TEAM to do the best that they could do.

I promise you this: You will not win any awards with this kind of attitude. You will be embarrassed and embarrass Seacrest School in front of the entire nation. You did not read the rules, so you will either end up with a very weak robot at the competition, or be disqualified for breaking the rules, unless of course you lie about what and how much you shipped in the crate, which is again a GREAT example to set for the students.

I am CCing all of the parents on this note, because you have publicly lied and mislead them about me, so they are now involved parties that should learn the truth of the past few weeks. After I receive my reimbursement for the expensive parts that I bought for the TEAM (or the unused parts themselves), you will never hear from me again.

I hope that you learn the lessons from this year and that maybe next year your team can be a successful one.

Regards,

Daniel R. Swando

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 16:00:11 GMT

You Are a Friendly Ex

While the guys you've dated haven't been perfect, you've kept most as friends

In fact, one or two of your exes may be your best friends - after all, they know you best

And though your mature attitude is awesome, make sure nothing gets too weird

Or else you could lose these friendships, simply because your exes' new women think you're *too* friendly

What Kind of Ex Are You?

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 05:38:05 GMT

The song of the day is Don Henley's "The Heart of The Matter." Go read the lyrics yourself.

Today's word is "FORGIVENESS." To forgive someone means "to renounce anger or resentment against" and "to excuse for a fault or an offense."

Who deserves forgiveness? Is there anyone that doesn't deserve forgiveness? Maybe murderers and other fellonious chaps.

What about backstabbers, betrayers, manipulators? Do they deserve forgiveness? The advantage of not forgiving them is caution. You know that you can't trust them, so you don't associate with them. The disadvantage of not forgiving, well, it's pretty obvious.

But maybe you can forgive someone and still be cautious of them. Do you condemn a snake for biting you? Do you condemn a plant for being poisonous? Of course not. That's what they do. It doesn't mean that they are necessarily evil. You just have to be careful when handling them. You make sure that they're never in a position to harm you. That's when it helps being an expert in the field, so you know where the fangs are and how to avoid them.

But you don't learn without catching and observing a specimen. And when a specimen continuously makes itself visible and available, there's no reason not to take advantage of that. It certainly gives you the upper hand, having that advantage, just as long as you remember that the snake still is poisonous, that it can still bite.

So I think I'll do it. I'll give it one chance, and if I sense the slightest sense of another betrayal or manipulation, I should have the presence of mind to hit the abort key. I think I'll do it.

I'll forgive her.