Taxes and social responsibility...

It's called "responsibility" for a reason. The common tone seems to be, they shouldn't raise taxes, they should find the money somewhere else. Really? Where? No one wants cuts in services, but at the same time, they don't want to help pay for those services. There seems to be an innate hypocrisy in the conservative attitude that is anti welfare and other social services, but also anti taxes. If they're opposed to social service programs based on the idea that people shouldn't get something without giving something back, why do they feel a sense of entitlement when it comes to civil services like police, fire, and schools while they're strongly against raising taxes to fund them? That sounds more communist and socialist than anything Obama has suggested.

Books to read...

Just a list of books I'd like to read:

Nerd Do Well by Simon Pegg
Booky Wook and Booky Wook 2 by Russell Brand
The rest of the Jim Butcher Dresden series
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters
The Internet is a Playground by David Thorne

Books I don't want to read:

First Step 2 Forever: My Story by Justin Bieber

Let's go over a few things wrong with that item:
1) There's a number 2 in the title.
2) He's only 16. The book has 240 pages. Really?
3) Judging from his lyrics, his vocabulary mostly consists of the word "baby". 240 pages?

Not a usual post...

I've been thinking recently about things I'd like to do. Not like a bucket list, more like activities I'd like to take up...hobbies if you will. I'd really like to start woodworking, tshirt screening, and maybe even painting. I'd like to continue my composing and writing, too. I love creativity. There's a certain satisfaction from coming up with an idea, being able to make it happen, and then seeing it realized. Plus, I enjoy working with my hands. I really love working digitally and computers can for sure help with all the projects I mentioned, too. I just want to make things and be able to share them with others who will hopefully enjoy them. I guess that's part of the whole process...having created, then sharing whatever it may be that was created. Yes, creativity is a reward unto itself. I appreciate that. Self satisfaction. It's a very good thing to not have to find one's validation through others. There is something to external approval as well, though. Praise on top of your own knowledge of self-worth is gratifying. Not fulfilling, since true lasting fulfillment can only come from within, but definitely gratifying. If I could create things only for myself, I would be happy, but being able to share those things with other people feels like a kind of immortality...I guess like having children. What this all boils down to I suppose, is that I have a burning desire and passion to create. To be trite and hokey about it, you could say it's the chicken soup for my soul.

Well, I see this did turn out more like a usual post than I expected it to. My mind rambles and meanders, and my fingers just keep going.

Until next time...

Epicness...

Today's theme, boys and girls, is epicness. Things so truly awesome that they stand out in a crowd. There may be more posts on this topic to come, but for now, we will talk about today's Chargers game and key changes. Read on...it's gonna be epic...

Favorite pirates...

In honor of today, here are a few of my favorite pirates. Bonus points if you can tell me who they are, who they played, and what movie they're from. And imdb is cheating. :-P

Late nights, circulation, and bloggity blog blog?

I like writing late at night. You may have noticed that if you check the times I usually post. I'm not sure why it is, but it is. Maybe it's because the later it gets, the larger my vocabulary becomes. Another mystery. Though some of you may remember a rule that was put in place once upon a time that I wasn't allowed to use words over three syllables after midnight. Truth. It also might be that my mind has sifted through the thoughts of the day and settled on whatever it feels is important enough to urge me to share with you. Who knows. Maybe you have some ideas. Hmmm? Maybe?

Stuff...

This wasn't how I planned on starting this post, but imdb will do that to you. Did anyone else hear that Johnny Depp is rumored to be playing the Riddler in the next Batman movie?!? How awesome would that be? Of course James Franco is also rumored to be playing it, so we'll see. It is the first time I have seen imdb put up two people rumored to be playing the same role though. ::shrug:: Just was stoked & had to geek out for a sec. On to business...

Beverly Hills Cop III & other random thoughts...

So, why the hell does Axel think Agent Fulbright is in on the counterfeiting ring? How was the audience supposed to suspect it? Why can't I find anyone else asking these questions anywhere else online? Seriously. Hugest. Plot hole. Ever. Oh well, other than that, I love that movie. I know all the horrible reviews it got when it came out, from the press and people involved with the production. Maybe it's just because of the association with a theme park...who knows, but I think it's awesome. Also, it's wonderful to have Bronson Pinchot reprise his role as Serge. Side note: Did you know that it was Pinchot's original portrayal of Serge in the first Beverly Hills Cop that got him offered Perfect Strangers? True. He was allowed to pick his costar even. Not too shabby for about 5 total minutes of screen time.

Well, well, well...

So, my laptop is either dead or in a very secretive state of suspended animation...kinda like Walt Disney, I guess...except I know where my laptop is and there still seems to be very minor signs of possible life... ... . Anyway, I suppose it's hopeful that it might pull through if I can fund its resuscitation even though it totally sucks that it's on the IR indefinitely. Lamest part is all the programs I no longer have access to since I'm using my mom's PC now and I don't wanna risk messing it up by downloading stuff (a fear I did not have while using my Mac.) This means no more Photoshop, FinalCut, Limewire, or anything else fun for a while. I'm pretty clever though, I'm sure I'll figure something out. I'm already working on disassembling my MacBook Pro to see if there's any glaringly obvious mishaps I can remedy. I'll be sure to let you know how that goes. The one nice thing is I no longer have to use apple-V to type the letter "e" any more, though it has been strange remembering how to type with all 26 working letters.

I scream, you scream, we all scream "O Tannenbaum"

Completely random. Today while I was hedging, I heard an ice cream truck. It was playing "Catch a Falling Star." It made me think of Lost...at least that's why I initially noticed it. Then, though, in a completely unimaginable turn of events, the ice cream truck began to play Christmas carols. Yes, plural. It had to be at least 4 or 5 in a row & continued till it was out of audible range. Times are strange, my friends, strange indeed.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Ego ipse efficio

What ever happened to the great position of respect once held by the self-educated man? The Renaissance man? Ben Franklin was an amazing individual; Inventor, scholar, author, politician, and much more. He was held in the utmost respect, even by other great men of his day. I like to think he was like Howard da Silva, but I know that probably isn't true. Still, even today, we study and revere him and his contributions to society in so many fields.

Posting is for posteurs...

So the format is going to change some now. Instead of being a video-almost-all-the-time type blog, I'm going to do more of a video-sometimes-when-I-get-a-chance type blog. Mostly will be posting from my phone, but from my comp when I get chances. Mobily, they'll probably be shorter, but we'll see.
So, this is mostly a NEWS UPDATE post. I'm about to post an actual, factual, real bloggy post. See you in a sec.

Onward...

Well...here we go. Off to the crib. Still trying to come up with a good name for it. I've thought of myPad, The Crib, Montana (406 is the area code for the whole state...didn't know that, did you?). Nothing is really sticking out at me yet, but I do kinda like myPad. As soon as I get internet, there will be a lot more blogging and more video posts I SWEAR. I do miss you all. Give me a call and come over to hang.

Till next time...

work...

yup...that's where i'm at. just chillin'. don't actually start till 115p, but i figured why not? free internet, good people, a/c, and coffee...not too shabby. sad news is i close today and tomorrow so no men's figure skating for me. :-( i'm gonna try to find video online. i open thurs and have an early mid fri so i don't hav to miss the amazingness that is ice dancing...woo...woo hoo...(what? there's no sarcasm there...riiight...)

till next time...

la la la...

la...la...late night. so, not much big going down. trying to catch as much of the olympics as possible and working. sounds pretty boring, huh? it's not all that bad actually. today was much more relaxing than expected...thought i had work at 1 or 2, but turns out i didn't work at all. took an hour bus ride for naught. no big though, it was pretty easy and not as bad as i thought it might be. did work a little bit (finished tips for westwood and missouri) and got to chill at w pico and westwood and lindbrook with ryphy for a while. tomorrow i actually do close, so work at 115p till 930p (except since we're rockstars, we'll be out by 915p latest). not much else to report.

till next time...

LOST blog...

so i finally got my LOST reaction vid up. check it out! lostwtfandtheories.blogspot.com or youtube.com/btight99 or "welcome to my life" on facebook.

till next time...

Insight...

A customer just said something beautiful to me. "The artistic conundrum is that our imaginations out pace our talents."

Till next time...

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

well...

i guess defense really does win championships. if it hadn't been for the single turnover in the game, it may very well have been the first overtime super bowl ever. well played on both sides. congrats to nawlins and condolences to indy.

till next time...

xliv...

so...super bowl sunday is upon us. it's a tough day cause we all know the bolts should have been there, but it's still gonna be a great game. i'm looking for it to be a shoot out. two amazing quarterbacks and some good d. other than that, mythbusters kicks ass. i am sad to admit that i got a twitter account...it's all daniel tosh's (@danieltosh) fault. i decided i really wanted to follow him. i figured that as long as i'm no twitter now, i might as well follow a few others, too, so i'm also following @mythbusters, grant imahara (@grantimahara), adam savage (@donttrythis), and of course stephen colbert (@stephenathome). also, ryphy the great (@ryryguy). kind of rambling here...distracted by tv. i'm gonna go now & i'll be back at half time or after the game.

till next time...

walking...

woowee...not too shabby. i walked from ucla to work (about 3 mi) carrying my backpack (about 10lb) in less than an hour. i love walking, i just wish it wasn't so time consuming. i'd walk everywhere if it was faster. other than that, i cut my close time down by about 20 min last night for my second close. if i keep it up, i'll be under half an hour by next week. nice! i also picked up a shift at the store right up the street from my apt for sat night. it's the store i saw eric mccormick and hank azaria chillin' out front of a few weeks ago. renee zelwiger is chillin in our lobby now and last night i helped libby from lost. la is bananas!

on a different note...does anyone remember xanga? that's what this feels like, except without knowing if anyone is reading it. haha. ah the olden days of xanga and live/deadjournal.

i feel a rant about starbucks (mainly the customers) is coming soon, so keep an eye out for that and if i don't write it, it'll definitely be in my next video. remember...you can catch those at youtube.com/btight99 or on facebook by searching "welcome to my life". thanks to all of you who have become fans...i'm over 20 now...who knew people found me even mildly interesting. :-)

till next time...

thinking...

k, so i'm waiting for my laundry to finish and i'm bored and facebooking. I notice that i only have about 160 photos of me and i got to thinking...does that mean that my life is boring or that i should be much more active in documenting it or that i'm just not a vain person? thoughts?

till next time...

First close...

Holy moly! So tonight is my first close at my new store. When I got here today, it looked like it was gonna be smooth sailing. That only lasted about 3 hours. There was apparently some mixup with shifts getting covered for tonight and so around 4p I started scrambling to figure it all out. Luckily, everything is copacetic now, but it just goes to show nothing comes too easy in life, but if you just ride it out and go with the flow, it all turns out ok. also, my team rocks so much that we're still ahead of schedule. Woot!

Till next time...

January '10

So...here I am...waiting for my first installment to upload to youtube. It ended up being too big to upload here, so a simple text blog + link will have to do. It's been a wild and crazy month (hopefully not a portent for the coming year.) I'd like to think of it as the storm before the calm. We shall see. I'll probably start writing more and better now that it seems my vids will be too large for this site, but I guess that'll do it for me for now. Don't forget to subscribe to me on youtube @ youtube.com/btight99 and become a fan on the "Welcome to My Life" facebook page.

Till next time...

ps...also make sure to check out my friends' new web series "Sticks and Stones" @ youtube.com/sticksandstonesshow.